Return to Transcripts main page

Early Start with Rahel Solomon

World Economic Forum Begins Today In Switzerland; Canada's Prime Minister "Concerned" Over Trump's Threats; Zelenskyy: Diplomacy Is Not A Priority For Russia. Aired 5:30-6a ET

Aired January 19, 2026 - 05:30   ET

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

[05:30:00]

SALMA ABDELAZIZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: You have, again, eight of Britain's most famous faces -- most famous celebrities who are backing Prince Harry in this. And for him, yes, there are huge legal costs at stake here -- as I mentioned, $53.5 million -- but this is going to be about proving the wrongdoing of the press.

And he's been rewarded in the past for this actually. In 2023, he took The Mirror to court, and he was awarded damages by a judge. Last year he settled out of court with the tabloid The Sun reportedly for millions of pounds.

So for Prince Harry this is going to be about detailing these allegations of wrongdoing. Providing that evidence of those accusations, which again, include hiring private investigators to follow these famous individuals. Tapping their homes, tapping their cars, tapping their phones. Planting listening devices. These are the accusations we're looking at here. Impersonating individuals in order to obtain medical records.

So really lurid details that are going to play out over the next nine weeks behind me here in the high court.

RAHEL SOLOMON, CNN ANCHOR: We know you'll be watching it. Salma Abdelaziz there for us in London. Salma, thank you.

And still to come, the World Economic Forum begins today in Davos. We'll take a look at how U.S. President Donald Trump's tariff threats already ruffling feathers on the ground. That's coming up next.

(COMMERCIAL)

[05:35:57]

SOLOMON: Welcome back. The time now is 5:35. Let's check some of today's business headlines.

President Trump's tariff threats are sending shockwaves across Europe as the U.S. seeks full control of Greenland. The EU is weighing possible retaliation using its so-called anti-coercion instrument known as a trade bazooka. The countermeasures could include blocking U.S. access to EU markets and imposing export controls, among other restrictions.

China's National Bureau of Statistics revealed the country's birth rate hit a new record low. Its population has shrunk for the fourth year in a row. The new data released also shows that China met its economic growth target for 2025 despite a trade war with the U.S.

And Oxfam's latest inequality report has found that the collective wealth of the world's billionaires skyrocketed by $2.5 trillion last year alone. The study also found that the richest people in the world are 4,000 times more likely to hold public office. Oxfam says that its findings highlight the outsized political power that billionaires have over the rest of the world.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent shared his opinion of Europe during a discussion about President Trump's proposed takeover of Greenland. Sunday, Bessent called Greenland essential to U.S. national security as part of a broad defense against China and Russia gaining a greater foothold over the Arctic.

He felt that European leaders would come around to the Trump administration's way of thinking on the issue and explained his reasoning.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SCOTT BESSENT, U.S. TREASURY SECRETARY: I believe that the Europeans will understand that the best outcome is for the U.S. to maintain or receive control of Greenland -- make it part of the United States. And there will not be a conflict because the United States -- right now, we are the hottest country in the world. We are the strongest country in the world. The Europeans project weakness, the U.S. projects strength.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SOLOMON: Meantime, the World Economic Forum kicks off today in Davos, Switzerland. World leaders, including President Trump, and the top names in business are set to meet and discuss major global issues. And Greenland very likely to make the list of topics.

Security is tight this year. More than 3,000 delegates from more than 130 countries are expected to attend, including the largest U.S. delegation ever to attend.

Let's get to CNN's Anna Cooban following all of these developments for us from London.

Anna, as my guest, who was in Davos, told me the last hour, Greenland is apparently dominating the conversation there.

What impact is it having on the markets? What are you seeing?

ANNA COOBAN, CNN BUSINESS AND ECONOMICS REPORTER: Well Rahel, you're right. You know, this forum is going to shape out to be quite consequential. The expectation had been that it was all going to be about AI. Are we

or are we not in an AI bubble? But within the space of a few days this year, President Donald Trump has really reset that agenda. It's now all about geopolitics. We're looking at potentially a meeting between Zelenskyy and Trump on the sidelines to hash out a potential peace deal to end the war in Ukraine. But you're right. Greenland is really the object of focus for this meeting.

And we've seen over the weekend Trump has used his go-to cudgel to pressure countries to what he wants, which is tariffs. He has threatened a 10 percent tariff on eight countries if they don't come to some sort of a deal for him to annex Greenland, rising to 25 percent in June if no deal is struck.

Now, markets are not enjoying this at all. Tariffs essentially raise the cost of doing business. And we have potential retaliation from the EU -- 93 billion euros worth of retaliatory tariffs. We see Dow futures down today. We see European markets down as well. And gold, which is a safe haven asset -- investors tend to rush to it in times of turbulence -- that is up today.

So yes, Trump has within a matter of really two weeks this year managed to completely reset the agenda for Davos. It is now really mostly about geopolitics and tariffs.

SOLOMON: OK. A lot to watch here in Davos. Anna Cooban, we appreciate you. Thank you.

All right. Still to come, as other world leaders express outrage over Trump trying to force the sale of Greenland, one important U.S. ally to its north remaining low-key. Canada's reaction to Trump's Greenland threats coming up next.

[05:40:07]

(COMMERCIAL)

SOLOMON: Welcome back. I'm Rahel Solomon. The time now is just about 5:45. Here are some of the stories we're watching for you this morning.

European allies are uniting in the face of President Trump's latest tariff threats. EU ambassadors held an emergency meeting on Sunday to discuss how to respond to Trump's threat of new 10 percent levies, which would take effect February 1 for countries that stand in his way of acquiring Greenland. Last hour, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer held a news conference where he said that the use of tariffs against allies is completely wrong.

[05:45:00]

At least 39 people are dead and dozens more injured after a high-speed train crash in Spain. Authorities say that a train traveling from Malaga to Madrid derailed, crossing onto an adjacent track where it crashed into a second train. The cause of the incident remains unknown. The Pentagon has ordered some 1,500 active-duty soldiers to stand by for a possible deployment to Minnesota. State leaders condemning the move, saying it is clearly designed to intimidate Minnesotans amid anti-ICE protests. The mobilized Minnesota National Guard troops to support local law enforcement and to "protect Minnesotans' right to peacefully protest."

And the British prime minister is speaking out about President Trump's quest to control Greenland, as well as the U.S. president's threat to impose tariffs on some European countries that stand in his way.

Here is what Keir Starmer had to say at a news conference last hour.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

KEIR STARMER, BRITISH PRIME MINISTER: Alliances endure because they're built on respect and partnership; not pressure. That is why I said the use of tariffs against allies is completely wrong. It is not the right way to resolve differences within an alliance nor is it helpful to frame efforts to strengthen Greenland's security as a justification for economic pressure. Such measures hurt British workers, British businesses, and the British economic.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SOLOMON: President Trump's latest tariff threats have sparked widespread condemnation from leaders across Europe. At that news conference, Starmer called for calm discussion between allies and said that Britain's relationship with the U.S. matters profoundly. But he also reaffirmed that the decision about the future status of Greenland belongs to its people.

And as the U.S. ratchets up its threats to acquire Greenland, one important NATO ally to its north has yet to weigh in on whether to send troops to the Arctic island.

CNN's Paula Newton explains where Canada stands on the issue of Greenland.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

PAULA NEWTON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Canada is treading cautiously when it comes to the issue of Greenland but standing firm with its NATO and European allies. Important to keep in mind here that Canada shares one of the longest maritime borders in the world with Greenland and it has continued to work with Denmark and Greenland on Arctic security.

Prime Minister Mark Carney was in Qatar when he spoke about his opinion about what he called this latest escalation by the Trump administration, and that he found it concerning -- listen.

MARK CARNEY, CANADIAN PRIME MINISTER: We always will support sovereignty and territorial integrity of countries wherever their geographic location. The future of Greenland and decisions about the future of Greenland are for Greenland and Denmark to decide -- and the security of Greenland. Security is first and foremost for them, but very much falls within the responsibilities of NATO. And there is a full commitment, not surprisingly, as is appropriate, of NATO partners to the security of Greenland.

NEWTON: So Carney saying there that it is about territorial integrity, even at the same time as Canada is trying to bolster its own Arctic security. It is something it has been working on for more than a year now and something that the United States has seen as a clear priority.

Now, Canada is opening a consulate next month in Nuuk. It wants to expand relations with Greenland. And that was scheduled for months now and yet, there will be a lot of questions about where Canada stands and if Canada, too, is thinking about sending troops to Greenland given the escalation.

Paula Newton, CNN, Ottawa.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SOLOMON: Survival gear has become a hot commodity in Greenland as locals worry about the possibility of military action. Sales of items like camping stoves, freeze-dried meals and dried foods are up. Meanwhile, Greenlanders are speaking out about the escalation between the U.S. and Europe with most firmly against any sort of U.S. annexation of their territory.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LARS PEDERSEN, PROSECUTOR, GREENLAND RESIDENT: I think it's a little bit silly and a bit sad. A really sad situation we're all living in because what we really need is to be together -- stand together and not fight each other inside, especially NATO.

JENS KJELDSEN, PENSIONER, GREENLAND RESIDENT: It's a bit like a spoiled child turned old. And you think you can, and he thinks that he can scare people. He can't scare Greenlanders. We're not scared. We'll fight him to the end, and we will never give in. And we are so happy we have so good allies.

[05:50:00]

PERNILLE ANDERSEN, NURSE, GREENLAND RESIDENT: I cannot imagine -- I cannot really imagine that he can have Greenland. And he can put pressure on, yes, but I hope really, he wouldn't succeed in it. So -- but we don't know.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yeah.

ANDERSEN: Nobody knows.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SOLOMON: Ukraine's president says that work is underway on documents needed to end the war against Russia after the latest rounds of talks with the U.S. A Ukrainian diplomat says that negotiations have focused on economic development, security guarantees for Ukraine, and how to implement and enforce them. But President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warns that Moscow is showing no real interest in diplomacy.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY, UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT (through translator): If the Russians truly and seriously wanted to end the war they would focus on diplomacy rather than missile attacks, blackouts, and attempts to cause damage even to our nuclear power plants. We have data on the facilities that Russia has conducted reconnaissance on p reconnaissance in preparation for strikes. Everything clearly shows that diplomacy is definitely not a priority for Russia. This must be acknowledged.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SOLOMON: Trump has suggested that he may meet with President Zelenskyy at this week's World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

Meanwhile, emergency workers in Kharkiv, Ukraine say that a Russian drone strike on a house killed at least one person and wounded three on Sunday. It comes as many Ukrainians are struggling with power outages and the lack of heat during the harsh winter, a product of relentless Russian strikes on Ukraine's energy infrastructure. Zelenskyy now working to speed up imports of electricity and power equipment.

Members of Donald Trump's so-called "Board of Peace" for rebuilding Gaza will get permanent membership on that board if they pay a billion dollars. That's according to a U.S. official who says that all the money raised will go towards the reconstruction. We're told there is no requirement to contribute funds to the board and that members who don't make the billion dollar payment -- well, they will have three- year terms.

President Trump will chair the board, and other members include former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

Still ahead for us, parts of the U.S. saw the first snow of 2026 this weekend and the winter weather -- well, it looks like it might be here to stay for a bit. We'll look at how long it's expected to last coming up next.

(COMMERCIAL)

[05:56:38]

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

Clip from 20th Century Studios/Lightstorm Entertainment "Avatar: Fire & Ash."

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SOLOMON: Well, it appears that the "Avatar" franchise cannot be beaten. Variety reports that "Avatar: Fire & Ash" topped the U.S. box office for the fifth week. So far, the film has generated more than $1.3 billion globally. They still have some ground to cover because the first two installments -- well, they earned more than $2 billion each.

Parts of the U.S. are getting a hefty dose of winter weather. Arctic air sweeping across much of the eastern half of the country Sunday with freeze warnings and reports of snow as far south as Alabama, Georgia, and even Florida.

CNN meteorologist Allison Chinchar has more.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ALLISON CHINCHAR, AMS METEOROLOGIST: More than 40 million people are under some type of cold weather alert across portions of the U.S. That includes the Midwest, the Northern Plains, and yes, even as far south as Florida looking at some freeze watches in effect.

And that's because Monday morning, Jacksonville, Florida will see that temperature right around 31 degrees -- below the freezing mark. Normally, they would be right around 44. Orlando, even Fort Myers, a place in South Florida, looking at those temperatures well below where they normally would be this time of year.

And it's even colder off to the north. You look at places like Minneapolis, Chicago, and St. Louis looking at those temperatures 10 to 15 degrees below average.

Now, for Washington, D.C., New York, and Boston, the cold is coming it's just going to be a bit more of a delayed affect. You'll notice Monday morning those temperatures not too far off from where they should be this time of year, but Tuesday and Wednesday -- that's when we start to see those temperatures dropping back.

And that's going to be the first of a few waves this week that bring chilly air to much of the northern tier of the U.S. Here is that first wave Monday into Tuesday. A little bit of a break and then by the time we get to Thursday and into Friday you start to see more of that reinforcing cold air begin to dive back south into some areas of the U.S.

Take Chicago, for example. Again, very chilly Monday. You see that brief little warm-up although, again, in perspective it's still going to be colder than they normally would be this time of year, just not as bad as Monday. But then the temperatures once again dive as we head into the latter portion of this week.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SOLOMON: Allison, thank you.

Wildfires in southern Chile have killed at least 18 people and forced more than 20,000 from their homes. Chile's president has declared a state of catastrophe in the regions where the largest fires are burning. As of Sunday morning, firefighters have been battling more than two dozen actives fires across the country. Authorities say that strong winds and heat are fueling the flames with highs expected to reach up to 100 degrees Fahrenheit today.

All right -- turning to sports.

Venus Williams has set a new record at the Australian Open. Williams became the oldest woman to compete in an Australian Open singles main draw on Saturday. The 45-year-old, seven time major winner, played on a wildcard entry and lost in the first round. Williams was just 17 years old when she made her Australian Open debut back in 1998. She entered this Australian Open on a five-match losing streak following the first and only win in her comeback to the tour at Washington last year. And she is still in the doubles competition in Australia.

[06:00:00]

All right. The Indiana Hoosiers and the Miami Hurricanes will face off for college football's national championship tonight. Indiana is undefeated and looking for its first-ever football national title. Ranked number 20 in a preseason poll, and Indiana win would be one of the biggest turnarounds in college football history.

Meanwhile, Miami is seeking its sixth national championship in program history and its first since 2001. The game will be played in Miami.

OK, that's going to do it for us here today on EARLY START. I'm Rahel Solomon live in New York. I'll see you tomorrow, but "CNN THIS MORNING" starts right now.