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Teen Gunman Dead After Killing Teachers in Thailand; Iran, Oman Close to Proposed Framework on Strait of Hormuz; Pakistan, Turkey Sign Defense Pact with Riyadh; Syria's Economic Growth Accelerating After Conflict; Trump Targets Birthright Citizenship with New Executive Orders; Mo Salah Signs Two-Year Deal with Trabzonspor; BFI IMAX Brings "The Odyssey" to London Audiences. Aired 10a-11a ET

Aired August 07, 2026 - 10:00   ET

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

[10:00:33]

BECKY ANDERSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL ANCHOR: Welcome to the second hour of the show. I'm Becky Anderson in London with CONNECT THE WORLD, where the time

is just after 3:00 in the afternoon.

And we are tracking a tragic situation in Thailand, where a school shooting has left five teachers dead and injured more than 30 other people. In the

Middle East, a significant alliance now cemented into a defense pact. Turkey joining Saudi Arabia and Pakistan in a NATO-style agreement signed

in Mecca, Islam's holiest site. And in the United States, fresh economic headwinds for the Trump administration's new jobs numbers show an

unexpected loss of 23,000 jobs.

Well, breaking this hour, a shocking attack in Thailand. Police say a teenage gunman killed five teachers and two family members in a deadly

rampage. The 14-year-old allegedly killed his grandparents in their home before shooting the teachers at his school. The suspect later took his own

life.

CNN's Kristie Lu Stout following the tragedy for you.

KRISTIE LU STOUT, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Becky, it was a horrifying act of violence carried out by a 14-year-old. On Friday, a student opened fire at

a secondary school just north of Bangkok, taking lives before taking his own.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

LU STOUT (voice-over): Sheltering in place during a school shooting, boys and girls crouching under their desks with gunshots heard in the

background. This is at a school in Thailand. On Friday, a 14-year-old student opened fire at a secondary school just north of Bangkok. Several

teachers are among the dead. His grandparents were found dead at the home where he lived. The suspected teen shooter turned the gun on himself before

going to hospital. He was later confirmed dead by the prime minister.

In this social video verified by CNN, we see students evacuating. In uniform they rushed to leave the halls of their school as a staff member

helps to evacuate them.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): We started hearing some noise in building five and we had no idea what happened after that. At first I

thought they were sounds of firecrackers or someone banging on to something loudly, but then we started realizing they were not. And then it started

getting more frequent. Like bang, bang, bang. And then it went quiet at one point and the shooting started again.

I didn't think it was the sound of a gun. After that, we went to the toilet. We thought it was over. I walked over there when a teacher shouted

quickly, run here. He's gone to building four. So we had to run here.

LU STOUT (voice-over): This is believed to be the weapon that was used. Police handout reveals a handgun along with several rounds of ammunition

scattered on the ground.

People across Thailand have reacted with shock and sadness, including the Thai prime minister.

ANUTIN CHAMVIRAKUL, THAI PRIME MINISTER (through translator): I'm very sad that this has happened. I'm not only sad for the deceased, I'm sad by the

fact that this kind of incident could happen in our country. This is the reason why the government does not permit the extension of firearms

possession. This is exactly why.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LU STOUT (on-camera): Mass shootings are rare in Thailand. But gun ownership there is high compared to other countries in the region.

According to a 2017 survey, more than 10 million civilians held firearms in Thailand. That's 15 guns for every 100 people. After today's shooting,

police will investigate how a student managed to get hold of such a lethal weapon and why.

Thailand's Ministry of Education has expressed deep sorrow and pledged tightened safety measures for students, and this would include measures to

prevent weapons from being brought into schools. The ministry also announced financial aid for the families of the victims -- Becky.

ANDERSON: Let's connect you to the Middle East now and signs of a potential breakthrough in the Strait of Hormuz. Iran and Oman appear close to

finalizing what would be a proposed framework for commercial shipping through that waterway. Now, Iranian media report that the two countries'

shipping routes will remain in use temporarily before being replaced by a central route.

And in a landmark new deal, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Turkey have signed what is a new NATO-style defense pact. The signing took place in Mecca,

which of course is Islam's holiest city. Tehran was quick to respond, saying the deal will not ensure Riyadh's security.

[10:05:01]

Yasmine Farouk is project director for the Gulf and Arabian Peninsula at the International Crisis Group, joining us today from Paris.

And it's good to have you. And we're going to get to that pact, Yasmine, in a moment. I just want to start with the big picture of where we are at in

this conflict and these regional issues. It's frankly been another week of watching and waiting. Iran and Oman inching closer, it seems, to a deal.

The caveat, though, being U.S. sanctions could make any route unworkable.

Can you hear me? OK. Let's --

YASMINE FAROUK, GULF AND ARABIAN PENINSULA PROJECT DIRECTOR, INTERNATIONAL CRISIS GROUP: I cannot hear you. I couldn't hear the question --

ANDERSON: Let's get back to Yasmine. Yes. Let's get back to Yasmine. I want to take a break, see if we can reconnect with Yasmine. And we will also

continue to unpack the big regional picture with the IMF's Middle East and Central Asia director. That is after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ANDERSON: Right. We were trying to reestablish with Yasmine Farouk, who's the project director for the Gulf and Arabian Peninsula at the

International Crisis Group. I think we've got her. She's in Paris.

And thank you for your understanding with our tech issues there, Yasmine. Let's just have a look at the sort of big picture, end of this week. What

is your understanding of the diplomacy around, let's start with the Strait of Hormuz at this point?

FAROUK: So at this point, I think, Becky, we are very clearly seeing that there is a consensus in the region, and there's a push by the region to

find a way out of this war, starting with the Strait of Hormuz. So even if the outcome is not the best outcome that the Gulf countries and the rest of

the region would have wanted to see, but it is better than resuming the war and resuming the strikes on Iran and hence we see Gulf countries insisting

on a temporary arrangement with Iran.

That leaves Iran at least seemingly having more control than they were willing to allow it to have over the strait. We are also seeing more

coordination with the Omani side and the other GCC countries than we had seen previously during this war.

ANDERSON: I'm really interested to get your thoughts on this pact we've seen signed today in Mecca between Saudi, Turkey and Pakistan. An historic

moment today. It's a pact long in the making. You and I have been following these three countries and Egypt's regional alignment for a long time.

You've written that it, quote, "reflects a hard won realization amongst these four states, security in their neighborhood can no longer be left at

the mercy of rivalry between the U.S. and Israel on the one side and Iran on the other." Egypt, of course not specifically in this defense pact

today. This is sort of NATO-style pact.

[10:10:01]

And I want to get your thoughts on its significance and its consequence. And I have to say, we've just heard from the Turkish communications

director for the presidency who says that this pact isn't sort of aimed or directed at any one country. We've had a pretty negative response to it, of

course, from Iran already today.

FAROUK: Look, Becky, if you remember when Saudi Arabia and Iran signed that pact, it was in September of 2025. And immediately afterwards, we started

hearing that the Saudi-Pakistan defense agreement was not -- was going to be regionalized, there were discussions of a regional defense pact,

insisting that it is not against a specific country. And here, what the two countries had in mind is that this is not against Iran, but it is meant to

deter Iran and any other country, including Israel, that had just attacked Saudi Arabia's neighbor, which is Qatar.

You had a confirmation in January of this year from both the Turkish foreign minister and the Pakistani defense minister that indeed some kind

of regional agreement was being discussed. It is very clear, even if the countries do not want to use it and stress that it is a defensive pact,

that it is coming at a moment where the region is absorbing the rebounds of the war, Becky. We are seeing, you know, the conflicts being metastasized

in the region, whether involving Saudi Arabia and Iraq, Saudi Arabia and Yemen. We have seen an attack on Egypt.

So while you are seeing a de-escalation between Iran and the U.S. pushed by the region, you have a new layer of regional conflict that is threatening

to continue despite the de-escalation. And this explains this move by the three countries. But I also expect to see other moves among other countries

in the region heading in the same deterrence and defense direction.

ANDERSON: Yes, fascinating. What we are clearly seeing is an additional layer of defense, as it were, for the kingdom. You talk about recognizing

that the U.S. cannot be the only defense partner, and we are seeing more sort of coordinated action and rhetoric from the GCC as a whole when it

comes to regional security. I mean, they've got various different sort of different narratives when it comes to where they are at as far as bilateral

agreements, perhaps with Iran and all the rest of it, but certainly regional security is a tightly coordinated pact at this point.

I want to talk about the U.S. and Donald Trump at this point. The latest U.S. jobs report shows an unexpected loss of more than 20,000 jobs. And we

are less than 90 days away from the midterm elections. Those I speak to in the Gulf region, you know, acknowledge that Donald Trump's focus is

increasingly likely to be on domestic politics. How do you think the Gulf region is navigating what is this U.S. political picture ahead of midterm

elections? And what is their sort of ultimate kind of outlook at this point?

FAROUK: Look, I feel that this kind of regional reconfiguration of defense, of coordination of significantly less public divergences than we saw during

this war as part of this reaction, Becky. These are countries, all of them, are U.S. partners. And they still prioritize their strategic relationship

with the United States. And they will continue to, including Turkey and Pakistan by the way.

And so the reaction to what has been very, honestly, a very hectic strategy in their own region, but also a U.S. focus on domestic politics and hence a

more incentive to end the war is by the region trying to come together, but also supplementing it with a layer of international strategic partnerships.

We have seen countries like the UAE, but also Qatar and Saudi Arabia itself approach other countries, particularly in Europe, for example, for enhanced

defense agreements.

And so while the United States' role presence and power projection will continue to be valued, the Gulf countries know that it should no longer be

guaranteed or taken for, you know, a conflict that these elections might change things, that the war itself might change the American footprint in

the region. And they are racing against the clock, whether trying to find a modus vivendi with Iran, whether coming together, whether concluding their

own regional and also international defense agreements in reaction to these politics in the U.S.. Excuse me.

ANDERSON: And finally, because I just want to wrap up this week that we've just lived and reported through.

[10:15:05]

Maritime security, we started talking about the Strait of Hormuz. There is, of course, another really strategic choke hold, the Bab El Mandeb in the

Red Sea, bottom of Saudi Arabia, Yemen. We have seen again this week a significant sort of pact coming together for securing those waterways.

Again, Egypt, Pakistan, Turkey playing a role there in offering some sort of policing of that area.

And I know having spoken to sources around the region, again, the region leaning into the Europeans and others, we may see evidence out loud of some

of the support from others, perhaps other support behind the scenes. I guess sort of my closing question is, you know, we've got this maritime

security story. We've got the wider defense and security story, you know, Saudi saying they expect to get further attacks from the south, from the

Houthis, from the north, from the Iran back aligned groups in Iraq.

You step back and take a sort of 30,000 foot look at what is going on. What do you make of these -- I don't know whether to describe these as shaping

or sort of shifting alliances, whether they are deepening alliances, the wider story when we talk about navigating what might be a new and different

looking Middle East? What's your sort of 30,000 foot perspective at this point?

FAROUK: I see from that, if you zoom out, if you want, I see two tracks. I see the track that wants the war to end. So a track of de-escalation. But I

also see the region stepping up, Becky. And we have seen it stepping up not only by building coalitions and being willing to, you know, put something

on the table and not just calling, you know, maritime -- the freedom of maritime navigation as an international responsibility in an abstract way.

What we are seeing is the region willing to invest in implementing its own security. We are seeing it through direct military strikes in Iraq and

Yemen, which is something that is dangerous, that we don't want to see, that we hope to end with the end of the U.S.-Iran war. But we're also

seeing a willingness to invest resources in maritime security, which was not the case before this, Becky. The Gulf countries' position has always

been that this is an international responsibility, that the U.N., the international community, the U.S. should be doing this.

What I am seeing is the region stepping up and saying, OK, we are willing to contribute to this, but in partnership with this international community

that should be playing a role as well. And I expect this to continue, and I hope it leads to more convergence and not to divergence. And it was

promising to see the number of countries that came together in Riyadh for that meeting. I'm sure it did not escape you as it did not escape me that

countries that were publicly very divergent at the beginning of this war, among the GCC itself, were present in Riyadh.

ANDERSON: Yes. I think you're making some really, really good points. I mean, those waterways international. And you're right, you know, from the

outset, these countries have said, look, it's everybody's responsibility. But this effort to really take some sort of ownership of this with others

is of course important. These are international waterways, which at the end of the day, feed the world economy.

And we've seen the impact of these -- sort of this economic terrorism, call it that if you will, certainly the line from the UAE on the world economy

and people, you know, thousands of miles away.

It's good to have you. Thank you very much indeed.

And I want to pick up this conversation with Jihad Azour, who is the Mideast lead at the IMF for the region. He is also today focused on Syria's

transformation after the fall of the Assad regime. And we've had an IMF report on that. Syria, of course, front and center at this point, sitting

at the heart of the Middle East, making it a crucial geostrategic windfall for the U.S., Europe, the Gulf region. The closer sort of Middle East

region looking at its trade and energy routes for a post-war future.

But that will depend on Syria's economic recovery, its government leaning on international partners, including the IMF, for support and institution

building. The IMF returning recently from a visit to Syria and reporting that its economic recovery is strengthening, with double digit growth

expected in 2026 and continued strong growth in 2027.

[10:20:08]

The IMF citing improvements in agriculture, hydrocarbon production, electricity supply and trade, and rising numbers of visitors and returning

refugees. They do caution that poverty remains widespread and growth is uneven across regions.

Well, Jihad, who is the director of the Middle East and Central Asia Department at the IMF, is with me today.

It's good to have you. I want you, Jihad Azour, if you will, to just unpack the IMF's takeaways from its trip to Syria. I mean, I am actually, you

know, quite excited about the fact that we are, you know, reporting double digit growth for 2026 and a good story in 2027. That's not something we

could have said over the past decade or so. And what were these key takeaways from the trip to Syria, and how do you see the sort of burgeoning

economic picture in the country?

JIHAD AZOUR, DIRECTOR, MIDDLE EAST AND CENTRAL ASIA DEPARTMENT, IMF: Becky, thank you very much. It's a great to be with you. Of course, the Syrian

economy is recovering from a long period of war and destruction. 2025 Syria had a good performance in terms of recovering economic activity. 2026 the

recovery is expanding. Thanks to agricultural season. Thanks to the increase in oil and gas production, improvement in electricity and energy

connection, and also because of consumption, visitors, return of refugees and public spending.

So all these elements are improving the economic outcome. Of course, inflation is picking up. And this is because of the impact of the increase

in oil price and also the increase in consumption. This is a journey. The first steps are going in the right direction. Now what is important is to

strengthen this recovery by building institutions to manage the economy. Strong central banks, strong ministries dealing with economic issues, but

also having the right legislative framework backed by strong security that allows people to invest, circulate, and do business with Syria.

ANDERSON: And your team noted, and this is important, the uneven growth between Damascus and the rest of the country, the continued endemic poverty

and the need for more international support. The World Bank estimates Syria's rebuild will cost $216 billion. It's just pledged $100 million more

today to modernize its financial sector.

Can you talk to us more about the international efforts and needs to unlock Syria's economy going forward?

AZOUR: Well, we have to remember, Becky, that Syria was under sanctions for decades, starting last year in the middle of the year. We saw the removal

of those measures, which allowed Syria to reintegrate the global international economic and financial system. The fund has been very much

engaged with Syria, helping the authorities through technical assistance for the Ministry of Finance, for the central bank, build their statistical

framework, help also increase the capacity to manage a complex economic recovery.

In addition to that, Syria is also facing a big challenge of years and debts, and therefore it's important to help Syria address those issues in

order to regain access to international financial market. But of course, Syria also, because of all this destruction, refugees displaced, more than

one third of the population was displaced or in a refugee situation, this will take time. And also the security situation is improving, but it's not

yet the level of security and stability that could allow the economy to recover across the board.

Therefore, what we saw are steps in the right direction, needs to be consolidated by now. Moving to strengthening the institutional framework,

building also a social protection framework that provides education, health and social protection to those who need it and modernize the whole

legislative framework that would allow Syria to attract investment, to trade more, and to connect, especially in the world that is currently

changing, especially in the region.

ANDERSON: I do want to look at the wider region and take a macro look at that. You're in Lebanon, and of course, which is keenly feeling the pain as

others are of this regional conflict. So let's have a look at that macro perspective across the region. You've argued that in the short term, the

oil market has absorbed the disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz. Saudi Arabia and the UAE have developed alternate export routes, for example.

[10:25:06]

How do you see the regional picture right now? And what are you forecasting for the rest of the year and into next?

AZOUR: Well, of course, the situation is highly uncertain, which cast an additional shadow on the projections. Of course the war had an impact and

this led to a downward revision of our growth outlook. Yet this impact is differentiated between countries, including those who are oil producing

countries. Those who are at the epicenter were more affected than others. And this is why we saw a drop in growth this year.

We project for 2026 almost no growth, or minus 0.5 percent. But for 2027, we see a rebound in growth. A growth that will reach 7.7 percent of GDP. Of

course, we have huge unsettled when and how the trade routes will open and how easy will be to trade. This one. Second is the capacity for countries

to address through different routes the issue of shortages in supply, not only oil and gas, but also the region is very important for a certain

number of strategic commodities, fertilizers, some of the important chemical products.

We saw huge capacity of resilience and also a capacity to use all the flexibilities needed in order to redirect trade and also use the

infrastructure in a very smart way. This has helped reduce the impact of the war, but also global demand has helped by reducing the demand of oil

and gas. But still, I think what we are seeing today is, A, there is an impact of this war on the economy of the region. And this impact is

differentiated. Oil importing countries are pretty well preserved.

And the only impact they are seeing is through the increase in oil price. They didn't face a big shock in terms of capital flows or remittances. But

I think what is going to be very important for the future is what type of framework and what type of agreement we are going to see coming out of this

negotiation and out of this MOU.

ANDERSON: Yes, and that is the $64 billion question at this point. And I'm not going to pursue it with you because we're at the end of another week

when we are no more sort of wise as to where this goes next. Certainly we expect to see some sort of deal -- framework deal cut between Oman and Iran

on, you know, how physically the Strait of Hormuz might work now and going forward. But that wider deal, still very elusive between the U.S. and Iran.

Good to have you, sir. Always a pleasure. Thank you.

Well, still ahead, a renewed push in the fight to limit birthright citizenship in the United States, despite a recent Supreme Court ruling

that rejected the Trump administration's previous attempts. Well, that is up next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[10:30:59]

ANDERSON: Welcome back. You're watching CONNECT THE WORLD. I'm Becky Anderson for you. These are the headlines this hour.

The U.S. economy unexpectedly lost 23,000 jobs in July. That is far worse than the roughly 95,000 gain that economists had expected. The unemployment

rate, however, did edge slightly lower to 4.1 percent. And Friday's report adds to signs that employers are becoming more cautious about hiring as

they navigate growing headwinds.

Well, Iran and Oman do appear close to finalizing a proposed framework for commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. Iranian media says the

two countries' shipping routes will remain in use temporarily before being replaced by a central path.

In Thailand, authorities say a teenage gunman carried out a deadly rampage at his school before taking his own life. He's accused of killing at least

five teachers in one of the country's deadliest school attacks in recent years. Authorities say the teen also killed his grandparents at their home

before heading to the school.

Well, CNN's Ivan Watson has just arrived in Bangkok to cover this story for us.

And, Ivan, I know that you have just arrived. Just catch us up on this shooting, if you will, and what you have learned so far.

IVAN WATSON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Sure. Well, the prime minister of Thailand has been at the school. He's talking about the scale

of the violence. Again, at least five school teachers killed, some 30 people injured, including nine seriously injured. And then police

discovered when they -- the shooter, believed to be a 14-year-old boy who turned the weapon on himself and was discovered with another 30 rounds

worth of ammunition. When the police subsequently went to the alleged shooter's home, they found the boy's grandparents had been shot dead.

They believe that happened around 4:00 in the morning with the school shooting happening around 9:30 in the morning. This is a large high school.

Some 3,000 students. So you can imagine the shock and the panic as students started to hear the gunfire. And it hits very close to home because our own

CNN producer, Karla Cripps, her 17-year-old son actually goes to that very school. And she described in harrowing detail how parent group's WhatsApp

group started blowing up. And her son, who was fortunately away for an athletic event, frightened and terrified about this deadly violence hitting

so close to home.

Now the police, they have seized a number of computers and electronic devices, and they say that there's evidence that the alleged shooter was

researching mass shootings on those devices, that the gun that was used was legally registered to the now deceased grandfather, and that the alleged

shooter had photographed himself and posted something on Instagram in possession of that gun in the past, prior to this terrible event taking

place.

Now, our producer also on the ground, Kocha Olarn, has actually spoken with the father of the alleged shooter, who's been at a police station being

questioned by police. The father has said that he never saw any signs of violence from his son. He says, quote, "My son was guilty. He hurt people.

I have nothing more to say." And he said that his son's hobbies were playing with pet birds, dogs, and he went out to play football sometimes.

So this, of course, comes as a devastating shock and a tragedy for the community.

The prime minister of Thailand has said there will be compensation paid to the victims to the equivalent of around $600 U.S. for every person killed,

for their families, about the equivalent of about $150 for people who have been wounded.

[10:35:04]

He's talked about setting up kind of crisis meetings to figure out how to deal with this going forward, and also suggested that police should begin

searching for firearms at checkpoints in the future to make sure that they're legally registered. But a devastating and dark day for Thailand

today, and certainly for this community north of the Thai capital.

ANDERSON: Absolutely. Good to have you, sir. Thank you.

Well, U.S. President Donald Trump once again pushing to scale back birthright citizenship. He signed two executive orders on Thursday while

criticizing the Supreme Court's rejection of his 2025 attempt, which the court of course blocked six weeks ago. The administration targeting what it

calls birth tourism and alien enemies, and the orders do appear to be more limited than last year's order.

CNN's Priscilla Alvarez has been speaking to my colleagues in the United States.

PRISCILLA ALVAREZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: This is yet another swing at birthright citizenship and birth tourism. However, it is far more narrow

and at least with birth tourism, it's still unclear what exactly would change because there's already U.S. law that prohibits what they are saying

people do.

So let me explain and break down all of this. First of all, immigration hawks and allies of the president have wanted the president to still do

more on this, despite the Supreme Court's decision in June, which upheld birthright citizenship. So yesterday in the Oval Office, the president

reflected on that decision and announced these two executive orders. The first one you see there, it targets alien enemies, members of foreign

terrorist groups, and people who lobby and act on behalf of foreign governments.

There are already exceptions to birthright citizenship on this front. What this executive order appears to do is broaden those exceptions, though we

don't exactly know what that would look like in practice.

The second is on birth tourism. And on that front, U.S. law already bans people from obtaining a visa, quote, "for the primary purpose of obtaining

U.S. citizenship for a child by giving birth in the United States." Now, Stephen Miller, the architect of the president's immigration policy, said

that this is an outright ban. But how that is different from what U.S. code already says, again, is a bit unclear.

What does remain clear, however, is that the president is not backing down from this and is still furious about the decision in June. Take a listen to

what he had to say.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: We had a very unfortunate decision in the Supreme Court concerning birthright was close, but a very,

very unfortunate decision. So we're making adjustments.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ALVAREZ: So the question is, will there be litigation again on these fronts? We will keep an eye out on that. But for now what we did see is a

far more narrow approach to birthright citizenship and birth tourism. Now it's a matter of how it's done in practice.

ANDERSON: All right. You are up to speed and we will be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[10:40:17]

ANDERSON: Well, unless you missed it, the big news this week, Mohamed Salah has officially signed for Turkish side Trabzonspor. The 34-year-old

Egyptian forward joins on a free after leaving Liverpool, signing a two- year deal worth almost $20 million a season, plus 20 percent of merchandise sales tied to him.

CNN's Patrick Snell has more.

It might be the merchant side -- merchandise side of this is going to pocket him, you know, a shed load more than his actual salary, I would

expect, because the atmosphere in Turkey just electric. I want our viewers to have a look at this, Patrick.

A lot of fans wondering why Trabzonspor and not other major clubs. Those fans are absolutely loving it. What do you think influenced his decision?

PATRICK SNELL, CNN WORLD SPORT: That's just incredible video right there. That might be a reason in itself, although I think there's a lot more to

it. Look, you mentioned the merchandizing and the appeal of that, highly lucrative indeed. No question about that. Mo Salah is a huge international

brand. The king of world football, not just Egyptian football.

But look, his salary with Trabzonspor, Becky, is not going to be insubstantial in any way at all. It's going to run to millions of dollars

reportedly per season on that two-year contract. But on top of that, as you mentioned, the highly lucrative rights when it comes to merchandizing as

well. I am, though, still surprised that he didn't go to one of the top five European clubs or even the Saudi Pro League, or potentially Major

League soccer as well.

But I think it speaks volumes to the fact that Turkish football, the Turkish Super League, is a league very much up on the rise. It pays big

money now. I'm still surprised, though, if you're going to pick Turkey, if you're going to pick the Super League, then why not pick one of the big

three in Istanbul, Fenerbahce, Galatasaray, Besiktas as well. Besiktas reportedly were very interested in him. But why not pick one of the big

three in Istanbul, where he flew into the airport there, of course, and we saw the crazy scenes of the fans at the airport there.

Trabzonspor, though, of course do have their own pedigree when it comes to Turkish football. They are seven time Turkish champions. But, Becky, this

is really important in my book. They are not in the champions league. Over the years that Liverpool, of course, Mo Salah, he won the champions league

with the Merseysiders, with the reds. He's accustomed to Champions League Football. They're in qualifying right now for the Europa league.

So, you know, and if that doesn't go well they could end up in the conference league this season as well. But it's important to hear from Mo

Salah. So let's hear from Salah and what he had to say about his big money move to the Turkish Super League.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MO SALAH, TRABZONSPOR FORWARD: The last couple of days it's an experience I never had in my life. I just want to thank every one of you for being here

today and yesterday. You showed me so much love and I never expect that reception. I'm here -- I'm here to win. I want to win something with this

club because you guys show me so much love. And I really, really appreciate that.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SNELL: Yes, I bet. It's a great signing. It's a massive, massive coup for Trabzonspor, no question about it. And I think he'll be a success there.

He's still a wonderful player. Recently turned 34 years of age. Look, he could be around for many more years to come, Becky. We saw at the recent

World Cup Messi still playing great football at 39 years of age. Cristiano Ronaldo at 41 as well. So fascinating to see how this all plays out.

ANDERSON: Yes, I also think it's a big message about the fact that, you know, Europe isn't the only game in town. You're right to point out that

this is a sort of, you know, not the biggest league in the world, but a burgeoning league. Turkey itself, which got dumped out of the sort of World

Cup unceremoniously, really needs to invest in its football. And maybe having Mo there is going to be really good news for Turkish football, but I

think that's probably going to start at the grassroots and investment through that.

Sixty-one, that's the number he picked for his arrival and flight and unveiling. He will, of course, wear number 10 when playing. Has he still

got the legs on him, do you think?

SNELL: I think so, yes. And I think he'll be a big success, no question, in the Turkish Super League. I think he would have been a big success in the

Saudi Pro League and Major League Soccer as well. And there was no way he was going to pick another premier league team given his allegiances to

Liverpool.

[10:45:03]

But the number 61 absolutely very significant as well when it comes to this particular club in Turkey, Becky, as you referenced. Why the fans of

Trabzonspor so big, so big into that number, because it means such a lot historically in terms of culture as well. It's the local area code for that

city in Turkey. It's the number that you get on the number plates of the cars as well. And there's a quote from a fan, I read a quote from a fan who

says, whenever the team, Trabzonspor, whenever they're six-nil up in any game, they actually want the opponents to score just one so that it ends

six-one.

(LAUGHTER)

ANDERSON: I love it, love it. I don't know how often they're six-nil up, but I mean.

SNELL: Exactly. Good point.

ANDERSON: If that's their sort of pedigree that's good news. Yes, exactly. Good. I also think it may be, you know, he's thinking about the family and

not a bad place to be taking your family, having spent some time in the north of England, of course.

SNELL: Yes. Yes.

ANDERSON: A different environment for his wife and the kids as well.

SNELL: Much --

ANDERSON: Which is also important. He's a good family man.

SNELL: Yes. To your point, Becky, much closer to his native Egypt as well. And that's important to him and his family, as you say.

ANDERSON: Correct. Yes, absolutely. Good to have you, Pat. Thank you very much indeed.

Well, you will remember perhaps the story of Amanda Knox's conviction and acquittal in an Italian court. This is some years ago in the murder case of

her British roommate, Meredith Kercher. That story dominated the headlines for years. Well, it's now going on stage at Edinburgh's festival fringe in

the form of a comedy show performed by Knox herself.

She says it's a comedic take on how she will explain her time in Italy to her own daughter. Well, no surprise the show is the target of criticism,

but Knox herself says she's not the first to turn traumatic experiences into material.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

AMANDA KNOX, WRITER: I would hope that people will honestly engage with my work and recognize like the deep heart and sensitivity that I bring to it

as I tell a very personal story.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: The problem, critics say, is that this trauma is not hers alone to share. At least that's one point Meredith Kercher's sister Stephanie

made to the BBC.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

STEPHANIE KERCHER, SISTER OF THE LATE MEREDITH KERCHER: Last I appreciate comedy is there to push the boundaries and, you know, it very much

normalizes and trivializes violence against women and Meredith in particular. I think in this case, it's a position where it's not a generic

topic. It's targeting an individual traumatic case and an individual person and family. And I feel very strongly that Meredith wouldn't agree with

that.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: Well, the question of what, if anything, is off limits in comedy has been a long running debate. Some are asking in this instance if it's a

question not just of what you can say, but of what you should leave unsaid.

Well, when we come back, moviegoers lining up to see "The Odyssey" in its full IMAX glory, I take a look at how one of the U.K.'s largest screens is

bringing the epic film to audiences.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ANDERSON: Christopher Nolan's "The Odyssey" has become the fourth highest grossing movie of the year, already raking in $700 million worldwide just

12 days after its release, and moviegoers lining up in their droves.

[10:50:14]

In London, the British Film Institute's IMAX theater sold out until mid- September for every screening. I spoke with the cinema's program manager, Madeleine Mullett, to talk about what is this "Odyssey" craze.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MADELEINE MULLETT, PROGRAMME MANAGER, BFI IMAX: We are nearly up to 100 000 people will go through these doors to watch this film through September.

It's an awful lot of people, and it's an awful lot of communal experience. You know, the joy of cinema, the joy of watching something on celluloid in

500 seats with 500 other people. And it's a brilliant film.

ANDERSON: Talk to us about the enormity of the viewing experience for somebody coming here to see "The Odyssey."

MULLETT: Here at the IMAX, we show as much as we can on IMAX 70 mm, and that is a truly unique experience. It's a huge screen. It's the largest

screen in the country. It has those 500 seats. So when you walk in, you're surrounded by 500 wonderful people who are also as excited as you. And when

you see something on celluloid, there is just a different magic to it. There is a projection. You can hear the projector, you can see the flicker

of the lights.

You can -- the tones are different. And when you have directors such as Nolan working with celluloid as an idea to begin with and really working

with that format, the deliverable product that you see on screen is really amazing.

ANDERSON: Can we just talk about the technical "Odyssey," as it were, that Christopher Nolan goes on in order to shoot a film on 70 mm? From what I

can tell, it's enormous. I mean, it's wild.

MULLETT: It's a very big print. It's a very big -- it's a three-hour film. He shot just over two million feet of film.

ANDERSON: Two million feet of film.

MULLETT: Film. And the cameras can only shoot in about three-minute bursts before having to stop a scene and then, you know, start again. So it is a

very laborious process. It's very loud process. They made a specific sound blimp so that he could use dialogue in -- on the celluloid prints, but our

print here is if you roll it out on the road, it's 11 miles of print that would go around the IMAX I don't know how many times, but many. So it's a

beast.

ANDERSON: You have sold out, as I understand it, 191 back-to-back screenings. Had there been more than 500 seats in this cinema, could you

genuinely have sold it out two or three times?

MULLETT: We could run this film all day and all night, 24 hours a day, and it would sell out. It's -- the demand is enormous.

ANDERSON: Why do you think that is?

MULLETT: Many things. I think Christopher Nolan has been working as a unique storyteller for a long time. He's incredibly intelligent as a

filmmaker. He understands how to do narrative storytelling, but he also has something to say. He can also make something really entertaining, and he

can make it visually spectacular.

ANDERSON: What's been the response?

MULLETT: So exciting. It's -- people are pumped and this is a story that is 3,000 years old, and he's made it contemporary. There's something for the

politicians and I hope they all watch it. And there's something for everyone who wants to watch such a cracking story. There's a cyclops,

there's, you know, Circe, there's giants. So people are very excited. And we are seeing people coming back and back and back.

We've seen people come from all over the world to watch this film, which is also really exciting for our venue. People have come from Los Angeles to

the BFI IMAX in London to come to see it.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ANDERSON: We were able to go behind the scenes and learn how to roll -- how a roll of celluloid film actually makes it onto the big screen and art in

its own right. Have a look at this.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ANDERSON: This is six-foot of IMAX 70 mm and that is one second of film. Wow, we are in the projection room at the BFI IMAX in London. So this is 11

miles of film, 240 kilograms. That is what we're talking about when we're talking about "The Odyssey" IMAX 70 mm care of Christopher Nolan.

So we're between screenings now at the BFI IMAX in London. And so Michael is about to swap over the films, and that is a feat in and of itself.

You've been in the business how long?

[10:55:01]

MICHAEL FORD, TECHNICAL MANAGER, BFI IMAX: Forty-eight years.

ANDERSON: Forty-eight years as a projectionist. It's such a romantic idea, being a projectionist here.

FORD: We have to get the film out the center of the platter and thread it back through the projector and then back onto the platter so it's all ready

to show for next screening.

ANDERSON: How does that compare to 35 mm, just out of interest?

FORD: It's a lot -- when you see a 35 mm machine after using this, it seems like it's running in slow motion.

ANDERSON: How long does this whole process take to just refeed a movie this size?

FORD: About 40 minutes.

ANDERSON: Wow. The maximum sort of size of a film is the equivalent of, what, three hours?

FORD: Yes.

ANDERSON: For IMAX? That's the sort of limit.

FORD: Yes.

ANDERSON: Although they have built --

FORD: These. Yes.

ANDERSON: These, which would accommodate slightly more. Right?

FORD: Yes. But this is -- what they've done with this one, they've made it on thinner film stock. So we put this in. So now we lace it through these

rollers to get it over to the projector so as the project -- film runs through the projector, it runs like a wave. And each frame is held against

the back of this and take this over here.

ANDERSON: Wow, this is wild.

FORD: Yes, you want on a countdown then. Yes.

ANDERSON: The master at work.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ANDERSON: How wild is that? We'll leave you with that. Have a good weekend.

That's it from CONNECT THE WORLD. CNN with "ONE WORLD" is up next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

END