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Russia Launches Huge Drone Attack Ahead Of Donald Trump-Vladimir Putin Call; Israel Says It Will Allow "Basic Amount" Of Food Into Gaza Amid 11-Week Blockade Of Aid Into The Enclave; Qatar Airways Announces Its Best Ever Results; Boeing Secures Bumper Order From Qatar Worth $95 Billion; Qatar Airways CEO Expresses Confidence In Boeing Deal. Two Fatalities After Mexican Ship Strikes Brooklyn Bridge. Aired 10-11a ET
Aired May 19, 2025 - 10:00:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[10:00:18]
ANNOUNCER: Live from CNN Abu Dhabi. This is CONNECT THE WORLD with Becky Anderson.
BECKY ANDERSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL ANCHOR: Welcome to the second hour of the show from our Middle East programming headquarters here in Abu Dhabi. I'm
Becky Anderson. Time just after 6:00 p.m.
Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelenskyy both expected to speak on the phone with Donald Trump today. U.S. president growing frustrated with the lack of
progress towards peace in Ukraine.
Israel launches an extensive ground operation in Gaza after intense air strikes. Officials in the enclave say over 100 people were killed overnight
as attacks forced the last functioning hospital in northern Gaza to close.
Former U.S. President Joe Biden is diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer. His office says the cancer has already spread to his
bones.
This hour, we could see the wheels of diplomacy start gaining some traction on ending the war in Ukraine. We could is what I said. Donald Trump due to
hold a call with Russia's Vladimir Putin, which is the only way Mr. Trump has said they will make progress towards peace.
Well, the U.S. president also expected to speak with the Ukrainian president and some NATO allies today. European leaders have demanded an
immediate cease fire, and they are skeptical that Mr. Putin is serious about ending the war.
Let's get you the view from Kyiv, first CNN's Nick Paton Walsh is there. And first, Nick, this call comes on the heels of Russia's biggest drone
attack on Ukraine since its full scale invasion began. Just tell us about what happened Sunday and what sort of message that might be sending about
President Putin's intentions at this point.
NICK PATON WALSH, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes. I mean, it's been, I would say a standard weekend almost here in Ukraine, given the
relentlessness of the barrage, it rarely lets up. But the numbers have been superlative. 273 drones fired in the night between Saturday and Sunday, and
indeed, on Saturday itself, nine people killed in a minibus was struck in Sumy region, not far from the Russian border. Civilians' grisly images
posted by Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The barrage of strike drones that roughly half seem to have been decoys. 88 shot down by
Ukraine's Air Force, it seems to have contributed to the two deaths in that 24 hour period there and dozens injured.
But this is, I think, possibly messaging from the Kremlin showing that their ferocity is not letting up as this diplomacy grinds very slowly on.
And it's also, I think, key in terms of how we begin to frame this phone call between President Trump and President Putin.
Interesting also too exactly what the vice president has just been saying in the last hours or so about how he perceives and how his administration
perceives this potential phone call and the peace process.
Interesting messaging to say, J.D. Vance said on a plane just now, it takes two to tango. I know the president is willing to do that, but if Russia is
not, I paraphrase, we're eventually going to have to say this is not our war. It's Joe Biden's war. It's Vladimir Putin's war. We're going to try
and end it, and if we can't, we're eventually going to have to say, you know what, that was worth a try, but we're not doing any more.
Interesting messaging, because ultimately, the U.S. saying we're going to have no more to do with the conflict in Ukraine, it's exactly what Russia
wants, its dream news, frankly.
And so, I think you could read in J.D. Vance's idea that they're running out of patience, and the sanctions may indeed be coming. Like European
allies said last weekend, Donald Trump had supported on a phone call with key European leaders. Or is it the broader part of patients being expired,
and as Marco Rubio has said in the past, they might just, "Move on."
That's why this particular moment is so key, because I think Donald Trump has put himself in a bit of a bind when he posted the fact this phone call
would happen on Saturday, he said he talked to Putin at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time, and then Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine, and then NATO leaders,
essentially meaning he has to update them with the progress or lack of it from the discussion with Putin.
Does that put pressure on Putin to give him something to report? Maybe. Or does Vladimir Putin, like some argue, we've seen over the past 10 days,
really not care that much.
What else sanction wise the West can throw at him, or really what the opinion in the White House of him indeed is? We're going to learn that
answer in the hours ahead, Becky.
ANDERSON: Yes, and it is 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time now. Nick, stand by. Want to bring in CNN's former Moscow bureau chief Jill Dougherty. She's the
author of My Russia: What I Saw Inside the Kremlin and CNN Senior Political Reporter Stephen Collinson joining us from Washington, D.C. It's good to
have you both on board.
[10:05:05]
Jill, let's start with you. We heard from J.D. Vance a short time ago, Nick paraphrase it. Let's just have a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
J.D. VANCE, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: The president's been very clear, this is not the United States -- it's not going to spin its wheels
here, we want to see outcomes. The talks have been proceeding for a little while. We realize there's a bit of an impasse here. And I think the
president is going to say to President Putin, look, are you serious? Are you real about this?
Because the proposal from the United States has always been, look, there are a lot of economic benefits to thawing relations between Russia and the
rest of the world, but you're not going to get those benefits if you keep on killing a lot of innocent people.
So, if you're willing to stop the killing, the United States is willing to be a partner for peace. That's been the proposal to the Russians, to the
Ukrainians, and, frankly, to nations and other hot spots around the world.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: So Jill, if that is the sort of pressure and the narrative that Donald Trump is prepared to use on this call with President Putin, how is
the Russian leader likely to respond?
JILL DOUGHERTY, ADJUNCT PROFESSOR, GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY: Well, he's going to respond the way he has been responding, actually, since three years ago.
I mean, this idea, I totally agree with Nick, that they would walk away if Putin isn't serious. Putin has been saying, we're serious, we're serious,
but and then he reverts to the demands that he made way back through more than three years ago, which are really kind of for, you know, an entire
settlement of what he calls the root causes. And that always means, among other things, no NATO. No NATO in Eastern Europe, either, which is even
more than Ukraine.
So, and then also that idea that, you know, we have business deals we can do, businessmen are not going to be tempted to go back to Russia. I've just
been at a security conference here in Tallinn Estonia, and many people were talking about precisely that that, you know, Putin has nationalized foreign
countries.
So, the idea that you would walk back into that is, I think, a little specious. So, I think the worst thing about this right now is that the
stakes have been President Trump has set this with enormous stakes, but they are not talking about the same thing.
You know, the demand is, let's have a cease fire, and then let's discuss a longer determination of ending the war. And Putin is saying, no, I want the
whole thing. I want the demands that I had at the beginning.
So, I'm dubious, really, truly, that a lot can come out of this.
ANDERSON: Yes, Steve, let me bring you in, and I want to bring up the pictures of Zelenskyy and Vance in Rome yesterday. This was their first
time sitting down since that very tense exchange in the Oval Office. He has since, of course, seen Donald Trump in Rome.
You can see that it looks like quite a different atmosphere this time around between Vance and Zelenskyy.
I just wonder whether you've got a perspective of where things stand with Kyiv and Washington as Trump gets ready to speak to Putin.
STEPHEN COLLINSON, CNN POLITICS SENIOR REPORTER: Well, I think those pictures are a reset of imagery. As you said, they're the first since that
disastrous meeting in the Oval Office in February in which Vice President J.D. Vance played a key role.
I think Vance is in many ways, a pretty fascinating figure in American politics right now and in these negotiations, while it's possible that his
comments on the plane about the U.S. walking away, this not being Trump's war, and it's been Biden war, it's possible that is a tactical move to try
and create some pressure on Russia, perhaps on Zelenskyy to make even more concessions.
But I think also that Vance is saying what Vance truly believes, he is the most -- he's on the most isolationist wing of the MAGA movement. I think
that he is the most skeptical official of the United States being involved in European security affairs that we have seen in many years, certainly at
the high level of a vice president.
There is a sense in this administration that officials use the media not just to raise pressure on outsiders, but to communicate with the president
himself, because he's such a avid viewer of cable news and consumer of news.
I'm sure these are the arguments that Vance is saying in this administration. The question is, however, Trump has put so much prestige,
as Jill was saying, onto these talks. It's almost as though this process is for the benefit of Trump and his image and his credibility, as much as it
is now about ending the war and bringing peace to Ukraine.
[10:10:07]
ANDERSON: Yes, now you make a very good point. And as you were speaking, I was trying to think of whether I can actually remember a more isolationist
U.S. high level official in the last 40, 50, or 60 years, and I'm struggling to come up with somebody.
Nick, European leaders, of course, have stepped up their role in supporting Ukraine. They want an immediate cease fire. So does Ukraine of course.
President Trump, to Stephen's Point, wants to be the deal maker here.
I just wonder, from those that you've been speaking to, where is Kyiv putting its confidence at this point?
WALSH: I think they have to place whatever confidence they can in their ability to maintain a good relationship with the Trump administration,
because ultimately they know they have the Europeans with them alongside. They know that their security is ultimately European security. They've seen
the heads of the four largest militaries, the leaders of the four largest military powers in Europe, France, Germany, U.K. and Poland travel to Kyiv
last weekend to demand the cease fire together and threaten sanctions on more military aid if they don't get that.
So, the Europeans feel so much like they're in the bank, the current political climate assured what they think they have to try and maintain
some confidence in its ability to explain to President Trump why Ukraine success is important to the United States, to explain the benefits
economic, frankly, of that to this particular White House, hence the rare earth minerals deal.
But that's, I think, where their sense of confidence really drops. I mean, there are many other Western nations who are avidly supporting Ukraine, but
without the military heft of the United States, even the Europeans, except they can't really do this without Washington's backing.
And so, I think that's the crux moment here, and this, when you hear Vice President J.D. Vance saying, well, maybe it's time we just sit down and
give it a rest, it harks back to Rubio's previous comments, and potentially Trump's feeling that he's being tapped along, that lack of patience or
interest could work either way.
It could be harsh sanctions and more military aid for Ukraine, but remember, that would mean Trump is doing more to assist Ukraine than Joe
Biden ever did, and that may be a place where he's not entirely comfortable.
So, the second option, perhaps sounds like they're going to do less, will be less involved, and that's exactly what the Kremlin wants.
ANDERSON: And Jill, to the point on further sanctions at least. How might further sanctions against Russia impact these negotiations at this point?
DOUGHERTY: Well, I mean, ultimately, if they really, really had very stringent sanctions, even more than they have now, you know, it might have
an effect down the road. This is not going to -- even now, it's not going to have an immediate effect.
And I think the problem with, you know, threatening sanctions, Putin has already answered this a million times, saying the sanctions aren't hurting
us. You know, essentially we're not afraid of sanctions, that type of thing. He's already batted away that idea.
But I think one thing, Becky, that will be interesting to see, and probably very shortly here, is, you know, the sequence of talking. You have
President Trump talking to President Putin first, and then he talks to President Zelenskyy, and then the Europeans.
Now, over the weekend, the Europeans were talking to Trump to try to prepare him for this conversation with Putin, because Putin is a skilled
manipulator. That is what he did for a living when he was with the KGB.
And he can sound very rational and almost legalistic, so he can make a convincing argument to someone who does not essentially know the issues,
and that's the danger. And then he sets it up. And then President Zelenskyy has to deal with a mindset already, I would say, you know, influenced, to
put it mildly, by what Putin is saying.
ANDERSON: Right. Nick, let me just bring you back in, because one of my producers telling me you have got some breaking news, some more
information. What have you got?
WALSH: Yes, we understand from Ukrainian officials that we've just learned that Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has spoken to U.S. President
Donald Trump. Now that is key, because it was supposed to happen after Trump spoke to Putin.
Now, we don't know if this means the Trump-Putin phone call has occurred. I was listening to the White House press briefing about half an hour ago, and
they said that the call with Putin was due to get underway in the next few minutes. Maybe they brought it forward. I'm purely speculating here, but
clearly, things are moving reasonably fast here.
[10:15:02]
Is this a bid by Kyiv to try and get into Trump's ear before he talks to the Kremlin? Or is this a sign that the Trump call was pretty fast with
Putin? We don't know, but things are certainly moving, Becky.
ANDERSON: Right, OK, well, to that point, Stephen, this is going to be a tough one for you to answer, but I'm going to throw it at you anyway. How
will Donald Trump frame these calls? Very specifically, the call with Putin if nothing significant comes out of it?
COLLINSON: Well, I think the danger here is that the White House to protect Trump comes out and says, look, we've got an agreement with Russia for some
more talks. We're going to set up a mechanism to talk about how we can get these moving forwards, potentially even a summit between Putin and Trump.
This could all play into Putin's hands, because it's clear that what he wants to do is to delay here, not to necessarily alienate the United
States, but the Russians have a record of fighting while they are talking.
So, I think it would be very easy for the White House to walk into a Russian trap, if you like, by committing to more process, putting pressure
on Zelenskyy to take part in that process. But this is just something that goes on for many more days and weeks, and they continue to string along
Trump without giving him the impression that they're stringing him along.
ANDERSON: It's good to have you all. Thank you very much indeed. Marco Rubio, just in the last couple of days, I can't remember when now, who did,
you know, pose the question, we don't know whether Donald Trump is being tapped along by the Russians. We wait and see. Clearly, that may be
something that comes out of this call today.
Anyway, when we get the information on it, folks, we will get it right to you. You will be the first to know what came out of that call as soon as we
do.
Next up, days after intensifying air strikes in Gaza, Israeli forces are beginning an extensive ground operation in several parts of the enclave.
Let me tell you what the Israeli Prime Minister says he wants to achieve after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: Israel's Prime Minister vowing to take full control of Gaza less than 24 hours after the start of a major new offensive there.
On Sunday, Israel launched a ground operation in addition to its air strike campaign, it says it hit dozens of targets over the weekend. Gaza health
officials said at least a hundred people were killed from Saturday into Sunday, and at the last functioning Hospital in northern Gaza has been
forced shut. Medical workers say the situation is truly dire.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
[10:20:02]
DR. ATEF AL-HOUT, DIRECTOR, NASSER HOSPITAL (through translator): We now have nearly 30 patients in the intensive care unit, and I have seven
patients who need intensive care in the emergency room that I can't find space for.
Until when will this global silence continue? Until when will the Security Council stand idly by? Until when will the United Nations, the European
Union and other institutions stand watching this situation?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: It comes amid an Israeli blockade that for 11 weeks has prevented any food, water, fuel or medicine from entering the enclave, putting
everyone there at risk of famine according to the United Nations.
Now, Israel says it will allow a basic level of food into the enclave because it does not want a hunger crisis to jeopardize its new military
offensive. But the risk of starvation inside Gaza severe according to the U.N.'s chief humanitarian Tom Fletcher, who is urging global leaders to act
decisively to stop what he called a genocide.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TOM FLETCHER, U.N. UNDER-SECRETARY-GENERAL FOR HUMANITARIAN AFFAIRS: Israel is deliberately and unashamedly imposing inhumane conditions on civilians
in the occupied Palestinian territory, every single one of the 2.1 million Palestinians in the Gaza Strip face the risk of famine. One in five face
starvation.
Despite the fact that you have funded the food that could save them. And now the ICJ is considering whether a genocide is taking place in Gaza.
So, for those killed and those whose voices are silenced, what more evidence do you need now? Will you act decisively to prevent genocide and
to ensure respect for international humanitarian law, or will you say instead that we did all we could?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Well, UNICEF's global spokesperson James Elder sharing a similarly stark warning about Gaza, saying, "What's unfolding is not a
tragedy we couldn't stop. It is one the world is watching, excusing and slowly learning to live with." And he joins us now live, and it is not by
any stretch of the imagination the first time that I've heard you express those concerns.
Let's talk about the reality on the ground right now. Israel saying it will provide a very basic amount of aid. Just how big is the need, particularly
for children after 78 days, 11 weeks of nothing coming in, James?
JAMES ELDER, GLOBAL SPOKESPERSON, UNICEF: It's catastrophic, as you say, 11 weeks, 11 weeks after 20 months of bombardment. So, we've had -- the key to
note here is as well, during that cease fire, that critical two months, the game started to change in Gaza. Now there's the unprecedented devastation,
but we started to see a real change in the nutritional situation children and on the back of clean water and so on.
Now, that has gone rapidly backwards. We've seen a doubling in the malnutrition of children right now. So we don't need a little bit of aid.
We need some of the thousands and thousands of trucks that are at that border to flow into Gaza. It can't just be tokenistic. It can't just be in
the South. It needs to be as during the cease fire when hostages went home, because that's what cease fires do. They stop bombardments, they let aid
flow, and they stop this abhorrence of hostages being held in Gaza. We need those 400 distribution points in Gaza to be utilized, not drip, drip, drip,
to prevent political pressure.
ANDERSON: I want to talk about how this aid is likely to get in and be delivered. Firstly, though, very specifically, from your understanding, how
many kids have died of starvation and how much worse could it get imminently, should aid not get to the kids who need it most?
ELDER: It gets worse every day. Just to give you -- we don't know exactly the numbers, simply because, as you showed in your program, Becky, the
hospital in the North has now been closed. Hospital in the south, the only one doing cancer treatment, has been closed in the South. That's two
hospitals hit in a matter of days.
We go back a step to starvation, having seen starvation of a child is when the body starts to eat its own fat and then it's muscle. The child will
grow cold and then stop crying. And that's your fear. When a child stops crying, that's when starvation is occurring.
Now we know it's occurring. It's been felt many times, and we will increase dramatically without the care. And again, it's right there. We don't need
air drops. We don't need all these things. This is not a remote area. This is where people are living, very well, 30, 40, miles away.
So, during the ceasefire, the United Nations and very partners on the ground showed what needs to be done, and they did it. That's what we need
now.
[10:25:06]
ANDERSON: Right. Well, that is not what is likely to happen next, a U.N. coordinated humanitarian effort. It is a new controversial aid mechanism
set up possibly by the end of this week to take over delivering aid and humanitarian groups like your own not on board with this plan, including
all U.N. agencies.
Very briefly, because I want to -- I want to get some other questions. Very briefly break down why it is that you are not on board with this new plan?
ELDER: Very simply, it's unworkable. We can talk principles, we should, but they're being discarded every day, Becky. And Gaza, let's just talk
practically. 2.1 million people at its best, this promises to reach half. Everyone has to move to the south in a militarized zone. People know that
as they move, their risk of being shot by quadcopters, bombed whatever, that instead of having 400 distribution points, there will be a handful of
distribution points.
So, think of a mum who's got a couple of children and her husband's been killed because there's thousands of those, she's got to walk three or four
miles, pick up 25 kilograms in a militarized zone, and then walk back.
So, children, disabled, women, and it enforced the entire population to go to the south. It just doesn't work. But we know what does work, because we
just did it during the ceasefire.
ANDERSON: Yes, got it. Listen to what Jack Wood, who is the American heading up this new plan, is saying about the concerns from the
humanitarian community very specifically. This is during an interview conducted by my colleague, Jeremy.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JACK WOOD, GAZA HUMANITARIAN FOUNDATION EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR: I cannot blame the humanitarian community for crying foul amid that misinformation. I
would not have participated in a plan that did those same things.
However, that is not the plan, and as we have been communicating the actual plan to NGO partners, potential NGO partners, they are singing a much
different tune. Unequivocally, I will not be a part of anything that forcibly dislocates or displaces the Palestinian population.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: So, he is calling that displacement that you were speaking to misinformation. So, again, how do you respond to Jack Woods, and how do you
see it?
ELDER: It's quite -- it's quite confusing, in a way, Becky, because we can only go with what we're told in the plan and what we're told by Israeli
officials, which is this will -- this will -- everyone will be forced south.
So, misinformation, disinformation, you know, a handful of sites versus 400 sites, forced displacement, a militarized zone people expected, and it is
meant to be where people need it, not where you're forcing them to go.
Irrespective, I guess the point is, the reality is, what does work is those brave partners on the ground and the World Health Organization, UNRWA,
UNICEF, World Food Programme, who have been doing this in scores of countries for more than half a century, it works, and there's 9000 trucks
sitting on the border. So we don't quite know why, apart from political or military reasons, baiting people, weaponizing aid, why you'd need a new aid
modality.
ANDERSON: So, who do you point the finger of blame at for the U.N. system not being acceptable on the ground at this point?
ELDER: Oh, Becky, there's no -- I mean, it's a very simple -- it's just international humanitarian law. It's not my opinion. It's that Israel, as
the occupying power, has a legal responsibility, actually, to provide aid, but we've moved beyond that, but certainly to facilitate aid.
And the facilitation of aid goes through as it always has in war zones, crisis zones, conflict zones goes through the United Nations. That's worked
everywhere, continues. That's what these people do on the ground, despite more aid workers being killed in any other conflict, more journalists being
killed in any other conflict. Brave people are ready to do that job. They need to be allowed to do it. They did it during the ceasefire. We saw the
game start to change for women and children. We just need that modality which is across -- used across the globe, to be put in place, not, as I
say, not to bait people into areas, not to as the United Nations at the highest levels have said, weaponize humanitarian aid for children and
women.
ANDERSON: James, I know that you are returning to Gaza in about two weeks. I know that you will be extremely concerned about what you might find there
and what might happen between now and then.
For the time being, it's good to have you on sir. Thank you very much indeed for your time today.
ELDER: Thanks.
ANDERSON: Coming up on CONNECT THE WORLD, one of the biggest deals Donald Trump signed during his trip to the Middle East last week was Boeing's
largest ever order from Qatar Airways.
[10:30:00]
It comes as the airline unveiled its best ever financial results. I spoke to the CEO about all of that-- the CEO about all of that, more. You can see
that interview just ahead.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: You're watching CONNECT THE WORLD with me, Becky Anderson. Here are your headlines.
And we have just learned Donald Trump has spoken with the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy. That was supposed to happen after a call
with the Russian President Vladimir Putin, aimed at ending Russia's war against Ukraine. It is unclear if that call with Putin has indeed happened
at this point.
Israel's prime minister vowing to take full control of Gaza less than 24 hours after the start of a major new Israeli offensive.
On Sunday, the IDF launched a fresh ground operation in addition to its campaign of air strikes, Gaza health officials say at least 100 people were
killed from Saturday night into Sunday, and the last functioning Hospital in northern Gaza has been forced to shut.
Former U.S. President Joe Biden has been diagnosed with what his office calls an aggressive form prostate cancer that has spread to his bones.
While a serious concern, that type of cancer can be treated and managed, and the Bidens are currently reviewing the medical opinions and options.
The global airline industry has seen some major turbulence over the last couple of years. Pun intended, the years after the COVID 19 pandemic have
been studded with midair horror stories, speaking some people away from traveling altogether, but now it does seem like it's all slowly rebounding.
As testament to that, Qatar Airways, one of the world's largest airlines is announcing its strongest financial results in the company's 28-year
history. Profit climbed 28 percent to more than $2 billion U.S. dollars.
Earlier, I spoke to the CEO, Badr Mohammed Al-Meer. He told me it was a very important day.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BADR MOHAMMED AL-MEER, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, QATAR AIRWAYS: Recorded a record-breaking profit in the history of Qatar Airways. And today, we are
proud to announce that we have recorded the highest profit in history, in the history of Qatar Airways.
Last year, which was a record-breaking profit for us. We, at our profit was -- at what $1.67 billion. This year, we managed to increase our profit by
28 percent to achieve $2.15 billion. This is, of course, with the -- with the increase in revenue from both passengers and cargo operation.
[10:35:03]
We can anticipate and predict that the demand will continue to be very strong, and we will continue to have a growth in our passenger number.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Well, Qatar Airways also announced that it would require a 25 percent stake in Virgin Australia, and another 25 percent stake in South
African Airline, air link. The CEO touting the importance of these kinds of partnerships in dealing with what is an ever-changing industry landscape.
And of course, there is one huge partnership, Qatar Airways just secured during U.S. President Donald Trump's visit to the region, and that is with
Boeing. And I discussed that deal and the challenges the industry faces from tariffs, in my interview with the CEO. Have a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
AL-MEER: The main problem that we have, and we can't predict in this region Becky, is the geopolitical situation. When wars take place, when attacks
take place, when air spaces get closed, while we are flying our aircraft.
However, we have proven so many times that we are agile and we are resilient and we are always ready with Plan B and Plan C, in case something
happens.
ANDERSON: What sort of impact might you expect on Qatar Airways, should these trade wars continue and the prospect of tariffs not go away?
AL-MEER: The two impacts I could see from tariff as what it could affect the supply chain. Especially today, as you're aware, Airbus manufacture
their aircraft in Europe. However, they get so many products and spare parts and material from the U.S. And the same with Boeing.
So, this could impact the deliveries or the prices of aircrafts as well as we need spare parts. We have our operation, and we continue to require
spare parts. So, this could have an impact on the prices of spare parts, but not the availability.
However, we are ready to overcome this. We are building in our budget year after year after year, in case something goes wrong, whether it is
geopolitical, whether the fuel prices go up, or this can be also applied for the tariff.
So, in our -- in our budget, there is an amount that is reserved to cover and protect us from these situations without having to pass the extra costs
on our passengers.
ANDERSON: I want to move on to what was arguably the biggest business deal that was announced during Donald Trump's visit to the Gulf region. Boeing,
securing a deal with you, Qatar Airways, for up to 210 jets, in what the White House is calling the aircraft makers' "largest ever widebody order".
This is worth $96 billion.
Talk to us about that deal and how it came together.
AL-MEER: It's a massive order, Becky. We started the process almost a year and a half ago, and we decided to create some sort of a competition through
this RFP between both aircraft manufacturers: Airbus and Boeing. As well as both engine suppliers, G.E. and Rolls-Royce.
And it was a very tough competition between all four of them. And certain times it was going towards Airbus, then, it moved to Boeing. So, it was a
very tough competition between the four manufacturers, and it was -- when it was decided, it was a very, very, very close call, but it was in the
favor of Boeing. And the outcome was that we placed an order of 160 firm aircrafts and 50 options of a -- with a total value of up to $97 billion.
We decided to go ahead with Boeing and General Electric G.E. for the engines.
ANDERSON: Well, Boeing, CEO, Stephanie Pope said, and I quote here. "We are deeply honored that Qatar Airways has placed this record-breaking order
with Boeing, one that solidifies their future fleet, with our market leading wide body airplane family at its center."
And this is certainly enormous news for Boeing, a company that has struggled of late. It has had delays in deliveries. It has had cost
overruns. Ultimately, that's the reason why Donald Trump or the U.S. government has accepted the gift of a $400 million Qatar jet, as the new
temporary Air Force One.
[10:40:03]
Do you not have any reservations about a deal with a company that has had a recent history of cost overruns and delays on deliveries?
AL-MEER: Becky, this is why there was a change in the management of Boeing. This is why Kelly and Stephanie came and took over the management of
Boeing, to address all of these issues.
And we don't -- we don't need to focus on Boeing only. Airbus has their -- they have the same problem. They have delays and deliveries. G.E. has the
same problem. Rolls-Royce has the same problem. It's all linked to supply chain.
We have delays and the deliveries of Airbus as we speak. No. We have delays with Boeing as well. But we understand and we have trust that Boeing will
be able to overcome these issues in the near future.
ANDERSON: Well, you certainly seem confident that you have made contingencies for what could be supply chain issues because of tariffs and
indeed increased costs to both G.E. and to Boeing. You accept those, do you?
AL-MEER: We have -- with the contract that we have signed with both Boeing and G.E. We have fixed prices.
And the prices will not change regardless of tariff. We have a contract. We agreed on the prices, we agreed on the maintenance prices and both
organizations will stick to the agreement that they have signed.
ANDERSON: How much concern do you have of a global slowdown as a result of these trade wars and tariffs, perhaps, led by a recession in the U.S. And
how do you organize the airline for the prospects of that?
AL-MEER: You know, we cannot predict the future, Becky. We don't know if there will be a recession or things will go back to normalize based on the
discussion the American the US administration is having with their counter parties in China or in Europe.
I'll take you back in history. When COVID hit us, all of us, we managed to continue our operation. We managed to continue carrying passengers, and we
made profit that year. We showed the industry that we are an agile and a resilient airline.
Today, if there is a recession in the U.S., it doesn't mean that we are going to be impacted to this level. We are still flying everywhere, and we
are a global airline.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: New York authorities are investigating exactly what caused the Mexican Navy sailing ship to strike the Brooklyn Bridge, Saturday night.
[10:45:00]
Two people killed and more than a dozen were injured on board.
New York police say a preliminary investigation suggests that the ship had some mechanical issues before it plowed into the bridge.
Officials also say there was no visible damage to the bridge and it appeared to be structurally intact.
Let's get you to our reporter, Gloria Pazmino is live from New York. And the NTSB, the National Transportation Safety Board, as we understand it,
will hold a news conference later today. Where is that investigation right now?
GLORIA PAZMINO, CNN NEWSOURCE NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: That's right, Becky.
And we are hoping to get some brand-new information and hopefully some answers about exactly what happened here.
Because what we know so far is that the captain of that ship reported a loss in power because of a mechanical issue. He said that once the ship
lost power, it caused an issue with the ship's rudder. When you cannot access a rudder, you cannot steer. And they were unable to get that ship in
the right direction.
Another critical point here the east river current, at the time, extremely strong, likely to have pushed the ship in the wrong direction, which is why
we see that shocking video of the ship approaching the bridge and eventually the top of the mast of the ship hitting the underside of the
Brooklyn Bridge.
As you said, the bridge was shut down for a while after the incident, it has since reopened, and officials here in New York City say that there was
no structural damage to the bridge.
Now, tragically, two people that were aboard that ship, part of the crew of the Cuauhtemoc sadly, lost their lives. They have been identified by
Mexican authorities as America Yamilet Sanchez and Adal Jair Maldonado.
We have also learned overnight, Becky that the remainder of the crew of the Cuauhtemoc, actually headed back to Mexico late last night. They have
arrived in Mexico. Two people who were injured in that accident remain in the hospital here in New York City, and they are in stable condition, and
we heard from President Sheinbaum in the last few minutes during a press conference in Mexico, where she thanked the New York City authorities for
the way that they have handled the incident so far, and said that the Mexican government is providing support to the families. She expressed her
condolences to the families of those who have lost their loved ones.
And she also said, Becky, that the ship, The Cuauhtemoc, which you can see behind me, will remain here in New York, while it is repaired so that it
can set sail again.
In fact, throughout the day, we have been watching as the remainder of the crew that's here has been up and down those masts, apparently, repairing
the ship.
So, I think the critical information that we are looking forward to in the next several hours is whether or not the NTSB can give us any more
indication about what exactly happened here, what resulted in that loss of power, why the ship was heading in the direction that it was heading, and
if there's anything new that we can learn, whether it was purely a mechanical failure, perhaps human error, these investigations usually take
several months.
But I also want you to hear directly from the commissioner for the New York City Emergency Management Office here in New York City. I spoke with him
yesterday, and here is what he told me about that conversation with the captain. Take a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ZACH ISCOL, COMISSIONER, NEW YORK CITY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT: Something happened during that period of time where the ship reportedly lost power,
possibly lost steerage, and that's when it ended up going in the wrong direction towards the bridge. But that's very preliminary at this point,
and there still needs to be an investigation that will take place.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: And Gloria Pazmino reporting, we thank you for that.
Well, still to come on. CNN, former U.S. President Joe Biden's aggressive form of prostate cancer has spread to his bones, according to his office.
We're going to take a look -- a closer look at his diagnosis and possible outcomes. That is after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[10:50:39]
ANDERSON: Just get you bang up to date on what is going on our headline today Donald Trump's phone call with the Russian President Vladimir Putin.
It was scheduled to start this hour. It is now underway. That is, according to a U.S. official.
Well, the former U.S. President Joe Biden has posted a message of gratitude following the news about his prostate cancer diagnosis.
He wrote on X, "Cancer touches us all, like so many of you, Jill and I, have learned that we are strongest in the broken places. Thank you for
lifting us up with love and support."
While his personal office announced Sunday that Biden's cancer has spread to his bones, and the former president, who is 82 years old, is reviewing
treatment options as we speak.
Here is CNN's medical correspondent Meg Tirrell, with more.
MEG TIRRELL, CNN MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Prostate cancer is one of the most common cancers in men, and many times it can be very, very slow growing.
But the way it's characterized is by something called a Gleason score. And we learned from President Biden's office that his cancer has a Gleason
score of nine, and typically that describes essentially the way the cells look under a microscope. And lower numbers, closer to six show that the
cells look closer to normal. A higher number, closer to 10, suggests they look more abnormal, and suggest it is a more aggressive form of cancer. And
we know from President Biden's office that the cancer has spread to his bones.
They say also that the cancer is sensitive to hormone therapy, and that that's a good thing. Doctors we spoke with said that that is typical. When
you first start to treat prostate cancer, often you do see it respond well to therapy that blocks male hormones. And a question will be, does that
continue to work for the president?
They say that will guide really future treatment options, which could include things like chemotherapy as well as radiation therapy. So, we
understand that the president is working with his family and doctors to think about treatment options now.
Now, a lot of folks might be asking, you know, how did this only get caught after it had already spread to the president's bones? And doctors say
that's a complicated question. Because if you look at the screening guidelines for prostate cancer in the United States, for men below the age
of 70, it's really an individual decision with their doctors whether to screen routinely for prostate cancer based on just how fast the cancer
often is growing if it's caught at that stage, and the outcomes that change whether you're screening or not.
But for men over the age of 70, the recommendation isn't to routinely screen using PSA or Prostate-Specific Antigen testing for prostate cancer.
And so, while it's unclear if a president would be getting different treatment than the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force guidelines, it's
typically not recommended for men over the age of 70 to be routinely screened.
But prostate cancer is a very common cancer. One out of eight men in the United States are estimated to have a diagnosis of prostate cancer in their
lifetimes.
The National Cancer Institute estimates that more than 300,000 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2025 and more than 35,000 men will die
from the disease.
But a lot of folks are living with prostate cancer. In 2022, the estimate was 3-1/2 million people living with prostate cancer. Doctors recommend
folks, you know, really keep on top of their health, talk with their doctors about their own personal risk factors, and make decisions about
whether screening works for them based on the guidelines and everyone, of course, wishing the Bidens the best in this journey.
ANDERSON: Well, messages of support for the ex-president coming from across the political spectrum. Former President Barack Obama, among those wishing
him well, saying, "Nobody has done more to find breakthrough treatments for cancer in all its forms than Joe, and I am certain he will fight this
challenge with his trademark resolve and grace. We pray for a fast and full recovery."
And there were these words from Biden's political opponent, President Donald Trump. "Melania and I extend our warmest and best wishes to Jill and
the family, and we wish Joe a fast and successful recovery."
Just time for today's "PARTING SHOTS". And can the film festival now underway in France, and the movie "Eddington" is igniting an already
politically charged film festival set in a small town in New Mexico. It touches on multiple hot button topics in a press conference over the
weekend. Journalists asked the cast about the current state of America.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
[10:55:00]
PEDRO PASCAL, ACTOR: I want very much to live on the right side of history, and I'm an immigrant. My parents are refugees from Chile. I, myself, was a
refugee. We fled a dictatorship, and I was privileged enough to grow up in the U.S. and after asylum in Denmark. And if it weren't for that, I don't
know what would have happened to us. And so, I stand by those protections always.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Well, on the festival's opening night, actor Robert De Niro called Donald Trump, a "Philistine president".
Well, that is it for connect world. Stay with CNN. "ONE WORLD" is up next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
END
