Return to Transcripts main page

Connect the World

Trump to Attend U.S.-Saudi Investment Forum; Iran Open to Talks with Trump, Conditions are Unchanged; Trump to Designate Saudi Arabia as Major Non-NATO Ally; Saudi Arabia Hosting Investment Forum at Kennedy Center; Nvidia to Announce Earnings as Fears of AI Bubble Grow. Aired 9-10a ET

Aired November 19, 2025 - 09:00   ET

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

[09:00:00]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BECKY ANDERSON, CNN HOST, CONNECT THE WORLD: Well after designating Saudi Arabia as a major non-NATO ally, President Trump will join the Saudi Crown

Prince at an investment forum later today. It is 09:00 a.m. in Washington. It is 06:00 p.m. here in Abu Dhabi from our Middle East programming

headquarters.

I'm Becky Anderson, you're watching "Connect the World". Also coming up, a senior Iranian official says that Tehran is ready for new nuclear talks

with the U.S., if certain conditions are met. And a show of force, the bill to release the Epstein files heads to Donald Trump's desk after every

single Senate and House member except one agree to it.

The stock market in New York opens about 30 minutes from now. Futures indicating relatively flat to slightly higher open after a run of losing

sessions as investors wonder out loud whether the party is over. That's the tech party that is all eyes on chipmaker Nvidia, the world's most valuable

company in the backbone of the AI boom.

It reports its earnings after the bell on Wednesday. We will lot to more on that later this hour. We start though with the Saudi Crown Prince's visit

to Washington and the huge military and economic wins. Mohammed bin Salman is scoring in his meetings with U.S. President Donald Trump.

One of the most notable President Trump's moves to boost U.S.-Saudi defense ties announced at a black-tie White House dinner last night. Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: We're taking our military cooperation to even greater heights by formally designating Saudi

Arabia as a major non-NATO ally, which is something that is very important to them. And I'm just telling you now for the first time, because they

wanted to keep a little secret for tonight, I just heard him say, oh, that's nice.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: The White House dinner, part of the Crown Prince's trip to D.C. that has all the trappings of a state visit. The two countries also

reaching agreements on developing the kingdom's civilian nuclear program and on rare earths and on AI. And while both countries touting these

bilateral deals is designed to deepen the U.S.-Saudi partnership and spur investment and jobs in the U.S. and in the kingdom.

The agreements are so far at least short on details, save for NBS is Oval Office commitment to top out Saudi's investment in America at a headline

grabbing $1 trillion. Well, all of this happening without what had been a key U.S. demand in the past, Saudi normalization with Israel.

Well, this is also the Crown Prince's first trip to the U.S. since the 2018 murder of the journalist Jamal Khashoggi, which the CIA believes he likely

ordered, though no evidence was provided, to back up that claim. President Trump angrily dismissed the question about Khashoggi in the oval office

yesterday and backed up Prince Mohammed's, Crown Prince Mohammed's claim that he knew nothing about the murder.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TRUMP: You're mentioning somebody that was extremely controversial. A lot of people didn't like that gentleman that you're talking about, whether you

like him or didn't like him, things happen, but he knew nothing about it, and we can leave it at that. You don't have to embarrass our guests by

asking a question like that.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: Well CNN's Senior White House Reporter Kevin Liptak, joining me now. And you, Kevin, are at the Kennedy Center where Saudi Arabia is today

hosting an investment forum as seeking further opportunities to wink deals that will help boost investment in the kingdom.

Kevin, who is expected to attend today, and what can we expect in terms of business?

KEVIN LIPTAK, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE REPORTER: Yeah, and it's interesting, when you look at the roster of people who are attending this event. It

really is kind of all of the different buckets that the two men spoke about yesterday in the Oval Office. And the event is underway behind me, which is

why I'm talking a little quietly.

But you have, you know, executives from Aramco and Chevron, obviously, energy a key underpinning of the U.S. Saudi relationship. You have

executives from major defense firms, General Dynamics, Lockheed Martin, which is the maker of those F-35 fighter jets that the president says that

he will send to Saudi Arabia.

And you have a number of tech and AI executives, including Jensen Huang from Nvidia, Elon Musk, both of them were in the East Room yesterday for

that black-tie dinner.

[09:05:00]

And clearly this issue of chips and advancing AI partnership between the two countries is something that the two men emphasized yesterday when they

were in those discussions and the president agreeing to send, you know, some of the most advanced American made chips to Saudi Arabia as Prince

Mohammed bin Salman tries to increase his footprint in that growing sector.

And so, you see how the president here is using these investments and as well as how the Crown Prince is using this idea of more partnerships on the

business front between the U.S. and Saudi Arabia to really try and gain reentry into the U.S. diplomatic fold after so many years in isolation

after the killing of Jamal Khashoggi.

And it seems to be his viewpoint that if Saudi Arabia and the U.S. can partner on the most advanced chips and on the most advanced fighter jets,

that Saudi Arabia will essentially be integrated into the U.S., a technology sphere. And clearly President Trump is very eager to see that

happen.

And the prince, the Crown Prince, seems to know his audience very well when he's talking about all of these major new investments that Saudi Arabia

plans to make into the United States. And it was that headline, a figure yesterday, that he unveiled about these new investments that I think really

caught President Trump's attention. Listen to that moment from the Oval Office.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PRINCE MOHAMMED BIN SALMAN, SAUDI CROWN PRINCE: We are going to increase that 600 billion to almost $1 trillion of investment, real investment and

real opportunity, by details in many areas and the agreement that we are signing today in many areas, in technology, and AI and materials, magnet,

et cetera, that would create a lot of investment opportunities --

TRUMP: So, you are doing that now. You're saying to me now that the 600 billion will be 1 trillion.

SALMAN: Definitely, because what we are signing it will facilitate that.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LIPTAK: Now you notice he didn't specify a timeline for that trillion- dollar investment. You know, the Saudi sovereign wealth fund is itself only about $1 trillion and the kingdom is experiencing a cash crunch with lower

oil prices. The Crown Prince was asked whether he could actually fulfill this commitment with oil around $65 barrel, which is where it is now.

And he said, we're not creating fake opportunities to please America or please Trump. So clearly this investment, in the view of the Saudis is

real. And we just heard from Howard Lutnick that it was not sort of an illusionary number that this will come to fruition. But obviously a lot of

the details remain to be worked out, Becky.

ANDERSON: Yeah, and I've been in other countries over the last decade, and the files that they are very specifically talking about that you've just

laid out there very, very important priority files for the diversification of this economy, away from its reliance in the past, of course, on

hydrocarbons and into what is a new world of sort of AI, advanced tech tourism and beyond.

Thank you for that. A lot more on this story and the specifics that we have learned about the agreements throughout this two-hour show. Well, to CNN's

exclusive reporting out of Iran and Tehran. Very specifically, a senior Iranian official says his country is willing to resume talks with the

United States under some conditions.

And this comes as the U.S. President made these comments at the supper last night honoring the Crown Prince in Washington.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TRUMP: They'd like very much to make a deal with us, and they call us and we'll end up probably doing that. That's Iran.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: Well, this reporting coming to us from our Senior International Correspondent, Fred Pleitgen, who is tonight live in Tehran. What more can

you tell us about that conversation? What came out of it?

FREDERIK PLEITGEN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Hi there. Becky. Well, first of all, it's a pretty big step for the Iranians, because they

keep saying that they felt betrayed by the United States because they were, of course, involved in negotiations between Steve Witkoff and the Foreign

Minister of Iran, Abbas Araghchi, when Israel attacked Iran, leading to that 12 day war between the Israelis and the Iranians, at the end of which,

of course, the U.S. then bombed several nuclear sites of the Iranians.

So, a lot of bad blood on the Iranian part, however, what this senior official, this is Kamal Kharrazi, the Foreign Policy Advisor of Iran's

Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, told me, is that the Iranians are willing to enter into talks, but only on their terms. Here's what he had to

say.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

PLEITGEN: Who do you think needs to make the first move if you want to start talking? And do you think they need to come to you, or would you be

willing to contact them also?

KAMAL KHARRAZI, SENIOR POLICY ADVISER TO THE SUPREME LEADER OF IRAN: They have to make the first move to show that they are ready to engage with us

on the conditions that we put?

PLEITGEN: What does that mean as far as Iran's nuclear program is concerned?

[09:10:00]

KHARRAZI: The nuclear program of Iran is indigenous and cannot be moved simply by force.

PLEITGEN: What are your red lines as far as the enrichment of uranium is concerned?

KHARRAZI: We have to continue our enrichment because we need to produce fuel for our power plants as well for our medical activities. Therefore, we

cannot just stop enriching uranium. The degree of enrichment is the question of negotiations.

PLEITGEN: And do you think that there could be a common understanding here?

KHARRAZI: I think so. If there would be genuine negotiations between Iran and the United States, there are ways and means how to ensure that Iran can

continue its enrichment and in the same times, assure the others that it's not going to look for nuclear weapons.

PLEITGEN: One of the things that Iran prides itself on, and one of the things that's very important to this country's defense, is your ballistic

country's defense is your ballistic missile program. How are you looking to enhance that program?

KHARRAZI: Certainly, we have to defend ourselves. Whatever we can do in producing our missiles, certainly we do not neglect and that's I mean

weapons that can defend ourselves and safeguard on national security.

PLEITGEN: So, Iran is going to continue to expand its ballistic missile program, because I know that some of the ballistic missiles are very

sophisticated.

KHARRAZI: -- no question about that. And it is only nuclear issue that we are ready to engage with the United States and others. We are not going to

speak to with others or negotiate with others on the other issues, including missile activities.

PLEITGEN: What as we sit here, what is your message right now to U.S. President Donald Trump?

KHARRAZI: Start with a positive approach with Iran. If it would be positive, certainly it would be reciprocated. But for that, they have to

refrain from any force against Iran.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PLEITGEN: So, there you see Kamal Kharrazi, Becky, speaking to me there in Tehran with some pretty frank words as far as Iran's ballistic missile

program and also its nuclear program is concerned as well. And Becky, of course, as you know, living in this region, there is a great deal of

concern in the greater Middle East that there could be another military confrontation between Iran and the United States, between Iran and Israel,

of course, as well.

I put that question also to Kamal Kharrazi, and he said he believes anything is possible, but he also says it's something that Iran believes it

is prepared for, Becky.

ANDERSON: Good to have you, Fred. Thank you very much indeed. Exclusive reporting there by Fred Pleitgen, who is in Tehran. Well, a hard-fought

battle over the Jeffrey Epstein files crosses a key hurdle today. A bill requiring the Justice Department to release its documents related to the

case is now making its way to President Trump's desk for approval.

The legislation sailed through both Houses of Congress with only one dissenting vote. The president has said that he would sign it, but only

after months of resisting, despite saying he has nothing to hide, personally from his onetime friendship with the convicted sex offender.

One of the survivors of the Epstein abuse told CNN this is long overdue, and she feels betrayed by President Trump.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JENA-LISA JONES, JEFFREY EPSTEIN ABUSE SURVIVOR: He owes us an apology, for sure, and I think that would be one way of showing some remorse for this

drawn-out process that didn't need to be.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: Let's get the view from Washington. CNN's Alayna Treene joining us live from the White House. So, President Trump is expected, as I

understand it, to sign this bill forcing the release of these files. Do we have any idea yet on when this will happen?

ALAYNA TREENE, CNN WHITE HOUSE REPORTER: Well, we were told by White House officials, Becky, that it should likely happen as early as today, and part

of that is because ever since the president kind of reversed course over the weekend and essentially said that he was going to encourage Republicans

to back this measure again.

That is a reversal. He had previously been working to try and stop this bill from passing. Ever since then, the posture of the Trump Administration

has been to essentially, kind of get this over with, to try and go through these motions to do what they need to do, and essentially have this vote to

compel the Justice Department to release whatever files they can, so that they can back, get back on message to the things that the president wants

to talk about.

But I think a key thing here to just highlight is that this is a moment that many of the survivors, you played some of the sound from that

interview last night, never thought would happen, and then see yesterday that you had every single person in Congress, except for one House

Republican from Louisiana, Clay Higgins, actually back this measure was remarkable.

[09:15:00]

Then to see the House who knew that the House was likely going to pass it. They were going to big numbers, we saw that last night, but then to go to

the Senate and have them unanimously pass it in such a swift time frame that was not anticipated. And so that's why we're now seeing, I think the

fact that the president is going to be, or likely to be, signing this today is a very fast timeline that many of the survivors, but also a lot of

Americans who have been pushing for this for months, if not years now, were very surprised by.

ANDERSON: Alayna, we just got some breaking news into CNN. So, I just want to run this past you, Russian officials telling CNN that high level contact

is occurring between Russia officials and the U.S., including Steve Witkoff. Now, as I understand, you got further details from Washington

about what they are discussing.

TREENE: That's right. So, I was told by a person who has been familiar with these talks that there has been a renewed focus on these negotiations. And

that the Trump Administration has been privately working with the Kremlin on a new potential draft plan to try and end the war between Russia and

Ukraine.

I'm told, Steve Witkoff the president's top envoy, he has really been at the center of these talks, not just these current ones, but also throughout

this entire second term of the Trump Administration, to try and negotiate some sort of ceasefire and peace plan. And what we're hearing, or what I'm

hearing in my conversations with them, is that essentially, they believe that Russia is signaling an openness that they hadn't in the past.

Now, of course, we've heard this many times. The Trump Administration has tried and failed repeatedly now to work out some sort of deal between

Russia and Ukraine that could, at a minimum, have a ceasefire, but of course, longer term, be a much more substantial peace agreement.

And every turn of those talks, we've actually seen Russia kind of disappoint the president. He said that many times that he's been

disappointed because basically the Russian President Vladimir Putin is not willing to make the commitments needed. So, we have to actually see how

these go.

But what we have heard as well is that President Trump has dispatched his Army Secretary, Dan Driscoll to Kyiv to have some of these talks as well

with the Ukrainians. We know again, Witkoff is talking on the Russian side. So, there's a big Pentagon delegation that was essentially there to talk

more through the weapons needs of Ukraine with the Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, but also about these new renewed peace efforts.

So, we have to see where this stands. It was not immediately clear, Becky, in my conversation with the people who have been in talking through this

process, whether or not Europe and Ukraine were firmly involved in some of these talks. So, I was -- it was characterized to me as they are quietly

working with the Russians on a new plan. Now we have also heard from other outlets.

Axios was reporting that it is a 28-point piece plan. We know that the president likes 20 or so point plans. That's what he did in the ceasefire

agreement between Israel and Hamas. But this is still in a very fragile state. And of course, it's incredibly notable, just given that talks fell

through just a couple weeks ago, late last month between President Donald Trump and the Russian President Vladimir Putin, because Putin was not

willing to go as far as the Trump Administration thought in order to secure some sort of summit between the two leaders.

All to say we're going to be staying on top of this and bringing you any updates as we get it.

ANDERSON: Good to have you. Thank you very much indeed. Lots going on in Washington today. Thank you. Well, we are already seeing some fallout from

the release of some of those Epstein records by the House Oversight Committee. Former Treasury Secretary Larry Summers says he is resigning

from his position on the open AI board.

Summers earlier said he would step back from public engagements after the House Committee released emails from the Epstein estate last week showing

years of correspondence between the two men. Some included Summers making sexist remarks and seeking romantic advice from Jeffrey Epstein.

Summers has said he is deeply ashamed, and I quote him there. Well, next hour, a federal judge will hear oral arguments from lawyers representing

the Former FBI Director James Comey. They are attempting to get Comey's criminal case dismissed, arguing that it is based on a quote vindictive and

selective prosecution brought at the direction of President Donald Trump.

Comey is charged with lying to Congress and obstructing a congressional proceeding in 2020 in has pleaded not guilty or Comey argues he has been

unfairly targeted by Trump for publicly speaking out against him. More on that as we get it.

[09:20:00]

And just ahead this hour is the AI industry facing a reckoning with earnings from chip making giant Nvidia looming. Investors are questioning

whether the current AI hype will turn into reality anytime soon. We're checking the bigger picture for you, up next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ANDERSON: After months of explosive investment in artificial intelligence, observers and investors want a closer look under the AI hood. They want to

know if there are signs of what's being called AI fatigue. Those concerns have in large part fueled recent stock market volatility.

And it will be more than a numbers game later, when the gold standard for AI computing power chip maker Nvidia unveils its quarterly earnings. Well,

it could tell observers from Wall Street to Main Street whether fears of an AI bubble are actually well founded.

Well, I want to bring in CNN Business and Economics Reporter Anna Cooban. Anna, big picture here is the AI industry facing a reckoning. We see this

enormous capex, explosive investment in artificial intelligence. And the question is, has it been too much, too soon?

ANNA COOBAN, CNN BUSINESS & ECONOMICS REPORTER: Well, Becky, it's a difficult question to answer. Are we in a bubble? Because we don't really

know, unless it, you know, eventually pops. But certainly, the signs are quite concerning. You mentioned capex. This is, you know, the craft I've

got behind me right now. Now, capex is just a bigger, fancy way of saying, you know, spending money on stuff, physical assets.

And a lot of those physical assets, at the moment are going on data centers, the engines of this, AI boom. You've got the four big hitters

here. You've got Amazon, Alphabet, the owner of Google, Microsoft, Meta. Now together, they're spending on capex is expected to reach nearly $600

billion by the end of the decade.

And we had an estimate recently from the International Energy Agency saying that this year, it's expecting that the global spending on data centers

will supersede that spend on the global supply of oil. So that gives you a sense of how much money is going into this. And then this chart here is

particularly worrying for investors.

You've got tech companies spending billions, investing billions, and other companies agreeing to buy their technology in this kind of mass, this

enmeshed circle with many companies' financial fates in some ways, relying on each other. And the worry is, is that one quarter there might be some

disappointing results.

And not only will investors run for the exit with one company, but they'll do so for other companies too, that are connected, and that's what might

cause this bubble to pop, if there is one. Now this chart is interesting. S&P 500 price to earnings ratio. Now a high P/E basically means, or could

mean that a stock is overvalued.

And we are now reaching a level that we haven't seen since the late 90s, during that so called .com bubble, which then did pop, as we can see here.

[09:25:00]

Now it doesn't mean that it's going to pop, but it certainly is another worrying sign for investors, especially when you consider that a really big

chunk of the value of the S&P 500 is from tech companies, the so called Magnificent Seven, many of whom are investing.

Sign for investors, especially when you consider that a really big chunk of the value of the S&P 500 is from tech companies, the so called Magnificent

Seven, many of whom are investing heavily in AI. Now, just finally, I want to point you towards Nvidia, and we're going to see the results later

today.

Now, this company has been on a tear $5 trillion valuation, just a few weeks ago. Its stock has fallen about 12 percent since. I mean, it's still

very much up on the year, but we've seen big investors, Peter Thiel's hedge fund, we've seen soft bank in Japan dump all of their Nvidia stock for

different reasons.

And it doesn't mean that they think the company is not doing well, but again, it's another sign, Becky, that investors are getting a little bit

worried. They're worried are we in a bubble and is it going to pop.

ANDERSON: Yeah, absolutely good to have you. Thank you. Anna Cooban in the House.

Let's get you up to speed before we take a break at the bottom of the hour and wait for these markets to open. Let's get you a look at some of the

other stories that are on our radar right now.

And Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has arrived in Ankara in Turkey to try and revive peace talks with Russia. Before meeting with president,

Turkish President Erdogan, the Ukrainian Leader stopped at the mausoleum to honor the memory of Turkey's first president.

While Zelenskyy meets with Erdogan, Ukrainian officials say Russia went on a widespread missile and drone attack overnight, killing at least 25 people

in the City of Ternopil. Ukraine says dozens of others were injured in strikes targeting energy and transport infrastructure in seven Ukrainian

regions.

Well Israel issued an evacuation order for several buildings in Southern Lebanon saying it will strike infrastructure belonging to Hezbollah. Now

this warning comes one day after it attacked a Palestinian refugee camp in the same region, killing 13 people, according to Lebanon's Health Ministry.

The series of strikes hit a car near a mosque, the mosque itself and a cultural center in the vicinity. Israel says it was targeting and Hezbollah

training compound. Well, you're up to date watching "Connect the World". There's a lot more news ahead. So please stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ANDERSON: Welcome back. I'm Becky Anderson in Abu Dhabi. You're watching "Connect the World" from our Middle East programming headquarters. Good to

have you on board. These are your headlines. Legislation requiring the release of the Epstein case files will be sent to President Trump for his

signature today, but the White House has not said when the president will actually sign it.

[09:30:00]

The bill was approved by both Houses of Congress nearly unanimously. U.S. President Donald Trump says he is designating Saudi Arabia a major non-NATO

ally. That boost in security ties announced during a black-tie dinner with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman during his visit to Washington.

Well, that is the bell on Wall Street and ringing the bell today. AI Infrastructure Acquisition core, and it is perhaps a fitting day that it is

a company associated with AI ringing the bell in. Investors are keenly awaiting earnings from Nvidia today. Let's have a look and see how Wall

Street is faring on the open and this is the story, a very mixed picture.

Nvidia, of course, one of the stars of the AI boom, the chip making giant, is set to unveil its quarterly report after the Wall Street closed today.

And investors will be looking for signals about whether the artificial intelligence boom is accelerating or cooling. Tech stocks have come under

pressure this month, largely over concerns about massive AI spending plans that we've been discussing here by big tech companies.

Well as global markets wait for Nvidia earnings and for key economic indicators. There is one industry that is seeing immense growth and

innovation, and that is the space industry. Now we're here in the UAE, nation that has become a leader in space innovation, much of which was on

display at the space pavilion at the massive Dubai Air Show this week.

Conversations around the commercial future of space flight, government cooperation and private ventures, as well as new strategies and projects,

all in focus. And leading the UAE ambitious plan is Ahmed Belhoul Al Falasi, he's the Chairman of the UAE Space Agency joins me now from Dubai.

It's good speak to you again, sir. Thanks for joining us. According to a report by McKinsey in the World Economic Forum, the global space economy

will be worth $1.8 trillion by 2035. And if that isn't a significant enough number for our viewers, that is up from 630 billion in 2023.

That is a massive rise forecast. Here in the UAE, you've said that building up the space economy is a priority for you. So, explain your strategy, if

you will, in growing the sector.

AHMAD BELHOUL AL FALASI, CHAIRMAN OF THE UAE SPACE AGENCY: Yes. So really, as you know, as a newcomer, relatively speaking, to space and with any

country, usually the first investment comes through government. So, our role is to be a catalyst to attract private sector investment.

But as of today, of the total investments in space, about 45 percent as of today comes from private sector. So reached a point where the basic is

becoming attractive. We're getting countries across the value chain, or companies across the value, excuse me, working downstream on data, working

with stream on -- manufacturing, and also architects as well here in the UAE.

ANDERSON: So, let's talk about one of the initiatives the Space Agency is set up. That's a Space Economic Zone program. What types of startups and

businesses are you hoping to target with this program, specifically?

FALASI: Yes. So, as you know, space is a very broad sector, right? And we're targeting companies that work in space across the value chain. We

have companies that are capex light. So, they focus on data. They get data from satellites, and they provide solutions for different customers,

government and private.

These companies typically what they require is access to data, and what we have done is we've created a platform that connects them. Think of it

almost like an Amazon for satellite imaging, which makes their access to data much easier. That's one way where we're helping a specific type of

companies.

Now, when it comes to the higher capex investments, the industrial type, there are companies like orbital works, which was recently integrated. It's

a 50,000 square feet facility that manufactures cutting edge satellites, 50 satellites a year that are AI enabled. On that front, we also help them in

terms of with our bilateral agreements that we've done, with the ciphers that we have done the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement.

ANDERSON: Yeah.

FALASI: We always align for space. We want them globally as well. And there are other companies. For example, have a company called LEAP 71 that's

developing rocket engines. They look at more testing facilities. They'd like to test their engines in the UAE, and potentially in the short term to

medium term, to be able to launch as well.

So, our role is to understand what is the requirement and to provide that for this company for the value chain.

[09:35:00]

ANDERSON: Yeah, so as long as I've been here, I've been charting the sort of development of the Space Program here, and I spent quite a long time

down at the NBR Space Center, and there has been this conversation about developing the space ecosystem, which I think is a, you know, is really

rich for opportunity.

I know that Jeff Bezos, for example, with his Blue Origin, has said that they see an opportunity in the UAE. You've had sort of agreements with them

before. Are they, for example, an organization that you expect to see yourselves collaborating within the future? And if so, how?

FALASI: -- we just started agreeing to Blue Origin during the White Air Show. We're looking into working with them, whether providing launch

facilities or even as well human capital development. We do, as I said before today, the UAE may not be the ideal location for launches, so we

look at commercial launches.

We either sign up with company -- U.S. like SpaceX or -- Blue Origin, or in, for example, Japan like JAXA, or French like CNES. So, for us,

predominantly, our collaboration right now is on rocket launches of our own satellites. Now, in the future, this could develop something more, but

that's an area today that is under developing UAE, where we require facility provided outside the UAE.

ANDERSON: Got it. I've always wondered whether this would be an opportunity for a new launch pad. So, thank you for explaining you know where your

thinking is on that. Look, we're seeing a boom in the commercial space industry. In a new Johns Hopkins report, they've said that the driving

forces behind this boom were the following the major changes in launch, the advancement of autonomous systems and AI and renewed global competition,

alongside the role of governments and academia.

Do you agree with that assessment? There are some real sweet spots in there. Aren't there for the UAE, and I'm thinking very specifically the

role of AI and autonomous files?

FALASI: 100 percent and as the example I gave on satellite manufacturing with a company called Orbitworks, their value proposition is two fronts.

One is speed of delivery. So, they will be delivering satellites and within 16 to 18 months, which is quite fast for the industry.

But equally important, these are AI power satellites. So instead of just putting a satellite that will send images to the ground segment will have

to analyze it on the ground. These would have embedded technology where it will analyze the images that they send them ready made to the UAE.

So -- you know, is an area that we focus on within the UAE, and one application satellites. We also see it on the mid three manufacturing. So,

the example I gave on the startup company called LEAP 71 based in the UAE. They are actually using AI to optimize and design rocket engines, and

they're quite successful right now.

They still have a lot of rockets, but they've just signed an agreement with a company called Aspire Space that uses reusable rockets, and they

providing them with engines in the near future. So yes, AI, we've seen it with this analysis and satellite manufacturing, or even when it comes to

rocket engines.

ANDERSON: Right.

FALASI: So, AI will be a big part of the space sector going forward, definitely.

ANDERSON: And we've seen a lot of cross sector initiatives here in a country that wants to be and is building itself into one of the key leaders

in the global AI race. Good to have you, sir. Always a pleasure. Fascinating on the next steps there for space innovation. Thank you.

Coming up, small but mighty, a moment of history as Curacao become the smallest nation ever to qualify for World Cup finals. That is coming up.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[09:40:00]

ANDERSON: Well while four-time champions Italy will face a playoff to try and avoid missing a third straight World Cup. Tiny nations, Curacao and

Haiti booked their tickets to next year's event on Tuesday. Curacao shocking the world as the smallest nation ever to reach the finals with the

population get this less than 200,000 good for them.

Amanda Davies joining me now. And Amanda, safe to say that scenes like the ones that we witnessed yesterday are very likely what Gianni Infantino had

in mind when he decided to expand the number of teams in this World Cup next year, right?

AMANDA DAVIES, CNN WORLD SPORT: Yeah, I think, Becky, we need to get ready if these scenes that we saw in Curacao and in Haiti and in Panama are

anything to go by, epic scenes of celebrations, firework displays, bus parades. It seemed at times, entire nations were at these games, watching

their teams, not necessarily win.

Curacao, it was a goalless draw against Jamaica, but that was enough for them. As you rightly said, this is going to be the first 48 team World Cup,

expanded from 32 teams.

ANDERSON: Yeah.

DAVIES: The draw is taking place on December the fifth. But I also have to -- have a word for Scotland back at a World Cup final. Such a proud

footballing nation, aren't they? And we are heading live to Scotland to get more reaction to their qualification in just a couple of minutes in "World

Sport".

So, I hope everybody be able to stick around. It's one of those joyous days on "World Sport". I have to say.

ANDERSON: Yes, isn't it? Just I love that, and that's why I love you being integrated into this hour that we do together, because it gives me so

often, so much joy to listen to your broadcast. So, thank you for that. "World Sport" coming up after this short break, stick with Amanda. More

news after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[09:45:00]

(WORLD SPORT)

[10:00:00]

END