Return to Transcripts main page

Connect the World

Egyptian Stocks Soar Over Presidential Announcement; Venus Williams Dumped Out Of Wimbledon On Day One; Egypt's New President Appoints New Cabinet; Cyprus Asks EU for Help

Aired June 25, 2012 - 16:00   ET

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

BECKY ANDERSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL HOST: Tonight on Connect the World, and the celebrations are over now the hard work begins. Egypt's new president gets down to business, but with the military calling many of the shots his challenges are only just beginning.

ANNOUNCER: Live from CNN London, this is Connect the World with Becky Anderson.

ANDERSON: Well, Mohamed Morsi is not just facing questions over his authority, but Egypt's first freely elected Islamist head of state his intentions are also under scrutiny.

Also tonight as Turkey sets up a war of words with Syria over jets shot down in the sea, we're going to ask whether NATO could be persuaded to enter the fray.

And, while the tennis world -- one of the tennis world's past masters shares her memories and emotions with Wimbledon's reigning champion.

Egypt's first democratically elected leader is now working to appoint his cabinet. And while Mohamed Morsi considers the many challenges ahead, including a faltering economy, the control of the country still rests with Egypt's military. That's being the case since the ouster of Hosni Mubarak, of course, last year.

Well, tens of thousands of people jammed into Cairo's Tahrir Square for the election results Sunday, that's where Dan Rivers is now. He joins us with what is the day after the night before's reaction Dan.

DAN RIVERS, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: And the party is still going on in Tahrir Square down below us. Yes, more tens of thousands of people coming back into the square to continue celebrating tonight, but for a president-elect Mohamed Morsi now is the beginning of a long process of building his government. We've heard from his policy advisers that he does intend to be inclusive as possible, including possibly a Christian and a woman among the vice presidents in his cabinet.

Of course his powers are curtailed, but he is trying to reach out to those people who are skeptical about his Islamist agenda, certainly the stock market here seems to like it. It was up 5 percent before it was closed, an automatic shut down when it lurches more than 5 percent in either direction. When it reopened, it went up another 2.6 percent. So the market seems to have confidence that the crisis here has been averted and certainly the feeling on the streets down below is one of great relief although people are obviously worried about the direction that the country is heading in, generally people here feel that they have avoided more confrontation and more violence.

ANDERSON: All right, Dan. Stick with me for a moment. I just want to lay out, then, how the power is divided as we understand it if you will. Egypt Supreme Council of the Armed Forces, or SCAF, led by Field Marshall Tantawi controls the budget, foreign policy, and all matters of defense and national security. After dissolving Egypt's parliament, SCAF has also got legislative power. They can veto articles of the new constitution.

Now what does that leave, then, for the president-elect? Mr. Morsi has control of the day to day administration of the government. He also has the power to appoint government officials, name ambassadors to foreign countries, and grant pardons. Well, as he forms his government, Morsi will have to try to enlist support from other parties that have been resistant to the Muslim Brotherhood. All this while he jockeys for power with the military.

To say that Morsi faces a daunting task then, Dan, would be an understatement right?

RIVERS: Absolutely. And it must be quite bizarre for him coming to terms with the fact that just last year he was in prison and was sort of an enemy of the state if you like as a leading figure in the Muslim Brotherhood. Now, the former president Hosni Mubarak is the one in jail and he is beginning to occupy the presidential office and all the trapping of power. But some people are really unsettled in this country about the direction in which he's going to take it.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

RIVERS: It's easy to view the scenes in Tahrir Square as a country celebrating the defeat of an old regime. But now that the party is over in Cairo many people are wondering what the Muslim Brotherhood's victory means for them, especially some sections of society which feel threatened by their agenda.

About 10 percent of Egyptians are Coptic Christians. They've suffered years of persecution under Mubarak's regime. And things haven't got better since his fall last year. These clashes in 2011 highlighted the tensions. Some in the Coptic community are worried they'll be marginalized even further, despite President Morsi promised equality for Coptics in his inaugural speech.

Najeeb Jabril is a Coptic leader. He said the Coptic community is skeptical about the promises.

NAJEEB JIBRIL, HUMAN RIGHTS COPTIC ASSOCIATION: We feel afraid. And I can move to that silence of the Coptic -- of the Coptic people that left Egypt from the last march to abroad.

RIVERS: The exodus from Egypt isn't confined to Copts. The educated liberal elite is also worried amid concerns women will have their rights curtailed.

Last year there were confrontations between feminists and religious conservatives who want to control who women dress and behave. Nirvanne Mortagy is a business woman who fears the Muslim Brotherhood's victory will only increase pressure on women.

NIRVANNE MORTAGY, BUSINESSWOMAN: I do not want somebody to tell me that I should cover up. Many of our friends and many of our community have their plan Bs to exit Egypt and they've already begun immigration processes to other countries.

RIVERS: Ahmed Rasem heads the Al-Tarir party (ph) followed by many Shia Muslims. He's also fearful about the future.

AHMED RASEM, SHIA EGYPTIAN: Egypt and the area entered a dark tunnel and we'll not get out of it very easy -- getting out of this dark tunnel will be accompanied by bloodshed, huge, heavy economic losses.

RIVERS: It's a glimmer of hope that Egypt will somehow step back from the Muslim Brotherhood's Islamist agenda, but for some that hope has already been extinguished.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

RIVERS: Well, all of the signals that the President-elect Morsi is putting out today are ones on inclusion, of trying to boost the tourist industry. They're saying they want 24 million tourists up from 12 million. They want more direct foreign investment. They say they're going to respect the peace treaties with Israel. And he's even resigned his position with Muslim Brotherhood and the Freedom and Justice Party in an attempt to show that he's governing for all, but that won't allay the fears that the kind of people you've heard here who really feel that his election is bad news for Egypt.

ANDERSON: All right, Dan. Thank you for that. Dan Rivers for Cairo for you.

Well, the first time I spoke to my next guest was a year-and-a-half ago at the start of the revolution. Gigi Ibrahim is an activist and blogger. Sunday, she tweeted her initial reaction to the results and said if you would have told me in 2010 that in 2012 Morsi would be Egypt's president I would have given you a psychiatrists number.

Well, later she tweeted it's amazing how quickly all the celebration will fade away and reality sets in that SCAF is in control and Morsi is just a puppet.

Gigi Ibrahim joining us now from Cairo. Gigi, you heard Dan's report, we read your tweets. You share the concerns that are those that Dan spoke to.

GIGI IBRAHIM, BLOGGER AND ACTIVIST: Yes, for sure I have my concern, but it has nothing to do with Morsi being a Muslim Brotherhood -- an ex- Muslim Brotherhood member or being labeled as an Islamist. For sure, you know, he is an Islamist, but this is my last concern that he has this religion. My real concern is that first of all SCAF is in control and SCAF is our real enemy and the leader of the counter revolution to try to topple from the beginning.

Second of all that his economic policy are no better, if not worse, than the actual old regime. So with my concern is that I'm happy to see Morsi win because of Shafik defeat. Definitely happy to see Shafik out, but my concern is that the revolution demands. We will push and oppose Morsi from day one hoping that he will side with the revolution and not be a SCAF puppet.

ANDERSON: What about what he needs to do and what you expect from him in moment.

Firstly, an attempt to allay fears that he would immediately after Islamisize Egypt, he has promised to be a president to, and I quote, all Egyptians, amongst them Muslims, Christians, the elderly, children and women. In fact, when pressed on the issue of women, my colleague Christiane Amanpour pressed him on this, this is what he said in fact.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MOHAMED MORSI, PRESIDENT-ELECT: Loudly and clearly, all Egyptian women have the same rights like the men. They are all my sisters, my daughters, my wife, and my mother. They are all Egyptians. There is no differences whatsoever among the people in Egypt, the people of Egypt there is (inaudible) believe or the sex or whatever you call or you name.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: All right, well Christiane talked to the spokesman for Morsi today and you can hear that interview right after Connect the World.

Back to Gigi, so you're suggesting that his economic policies are no better than those of the past. You say you've got to get on with things and you will continue this revolution, you will continue to oppose anything that you believe isn't going to be good for Egypt coming out of his office.

So what does he need to do to satisfy you and others who were in Tahrir Square for all of those weeks 18 months ago. What does he need to do next to assure you that he's the right man for the job?

IBRAHIM: He needs to adhere to the immediate demands of Tahrir Square. Basically, you know to -- aside from SCAF -- the demands that we want from SCAF, but to release the (inaudible) -- to stop the military trials for civilians, to have a minimum wage that is no less than 1,500 Egyptian pounds. And he needs to have a clear plan with date of when the rest of the demands will be met. Anything other than that will -- you will see, you know, Tahrir not being you know, empty, streets will be still full of protesters and we won't stop until actual demands are met.

ANDERSON: And I understand what you're saying and I hear what you're saying. 52 percent of people voted for Morsi. They seem satisfied that he will come good on his promises. So you seem very negative. And I know that you certainly didn't vote, am I right in saying that? You didn't vote because you were concerned about the two principal candidates in the election.

If you don't vote, do you have the right to oppose as it were?

IBRAHIM: Of course, of course. Democracy is not just through a ballot box. And the reason why I didn't vote in any of this because I was 110 percent convinced the SCAF will pave the way and will rig this election for Shafik. So I'm actually thank god I was wrong and that democracy prevailed and that we actually have a democratically elected president.

Of course we know that he has no powers and we still under military rule which -- we knew nothing would elect a democratically elected president. But I am happy to see that SCAF is not able to rig an election knowing that they won't get away with it, that they fear -- they are afraid of the reaction and that is a win for the revolution.

ANDERSON: Gigi, always a pleasure to speak to you. We will continue to talk to you as Moris gets his feet under the table and gets on with running a better Egypt going forward. Gigi Ibrahim for you this evening.

You're watching Connect the World live from London. Our top story this evening the new Egyptian leader was in presidential office Monday planning a new government and choosing his team, but don't let the title of president deceive you, Mohamed Morsi faces a daunting struggle for power with the country's still dominant military rulers.

Nevertheless, relief at least for investors. The Egyptian stock exchange closing 7.5 percent higher on the results.

And still to come on the show, when it rains it pours. We'll take a look at the flood and bad news dampening the EuroZone's spirits. And a war of words between Syria and Turkey ratcheting up as the Turkish prime minister calls the shooting down of the Turkish plane at the Mediterranean as hostile act.

And a historic decision on a controversial law. We'll take you live to Washington where all eyes are on America's highest court. The reason after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ANDERSON: You're watching CNN. This is Connect the World. I'm Becky Anderson. And welcome back.

We are just days away from a critical EU summit. And the bad news just keeps pouring in, I'm afraid. Cyprus has become the latest EuroZone country to seek a sovereign bailout while in Greece the newly appointed finance minister has declined the nomination due to bad health. All of it on the heels of Spain officially requesting aid for its ailing banks. No surprise, then, that the markets take a tumble across the board.

Have a look at numbers out there today. And this is the story of the DAX down about 2 percent. The Milan market there down 4 percent, understandably so investors in the Italian markets really jittery around what they see across this EuroZone at the moment. Spain off some 4 percent. And the Dow Industrial there in reaction one assumes at least partly down more than 1 percent. Those markets settling out in the states.

CNN's Felicia Taylor is in New York.

So Felicia, not exactly a confidence boosting picture here in the EuroZone is it for investors in U.S. markets either?

FELICIA TAYLOR, CNN BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: No, absolutely not. And there's just more confusion out there. You know, when you've got Cyprus now being the fifth nation to ask for money to ask for some aid to shore up its banks, specifically because of their Greek exposure you begin to think of a domino effect and that's exactly what we're beginning to see.

And then of course the Greek finance minister, or soon to be Greek finance minister sets a very confusing state for this new Greek government to begin with when he's already had to step down, of course for health reasons. And we'll hope that he'll be fine, but nevertheless that opens the question once again.

And we were able to speak with the former deputy finance minister for Greece, Petros Doukas and here's what he had to say about how things need to be contained.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PETROS DOUKAS, FRM. GREEK DEPUTY FINANCE MINISTER: We need to stop any talk about returning to the drachma. That has been very, very damaging not only to Greece people taking their money out and nobody investing in the country, but it has spread over to Italy and Spain and now to Cyprus. So we need to help Greece sort the problems out. And we Greeks understand we need to deliver much more than we have delivered so far.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

TAYLOR: So of course the fallout with themselves and the U.S. in the American markets. And it was a broad-based decline. We saw not only the financials, but the tech sector getting hit pretty significantly. And obviously, you know, the financial sector has been of concern for such a long time, but also oil is under pressure. All the commodities pretty much down across the board. And significantly the VIX index was up about 11 percent today, that is a significant move and demonstrates you know just how volatile the markets, or the anticipation is going to be that the markets will continue to be volatile throughout the summer months.

And then of course the EU summit coming up at the end of this week. Expectations are very low that the world leaders are going to be able to do anything to help this crisis out. And that's really of concern. They've lost any kind of space in terms of leaders that are going to be able to do anything. There's a big gap, Becky, between what Germany is being asked to do and what Germany is going to be willing to do. And that's a very important question.

ANDERSON: We live in remarkable times when the Dax loses some 2 percent and the Egyptian markets gain some 7.5 percent. The Dax is the story of this Monday.

Felicia, thank you for that. Felicia Taylor for you out of New York this evening.

We are going to take a very short break here on CNN. When we come back, though, the first day of Wimbledon produced quite a shock. A five time champion makes an extremely early exit.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ANDERSON: Right, you're watching Connect the World live from London. Welcome back. I'm Becky Anderson for you.

This year's third tennis grand slam has begun outside of London. South of London as the tennis season quickly shifts from clay to grass. Wimbledon underway. And while there was no trouble on the men's side for the defending champion Novak Djokovic and six time champion Roger Federer, the women's draw really have seen quite a shocker.

Don Riddell joining us now. Venus Williams, unbelievable.

DON RIDDELL, CNN SPORTS CORRESPONDENT: She's not packing her bags, Becky -- and hello to you by the way -- because she plays in the doubles still with her sister, Serena. But, yeah, she is a first time loser -- or rather a loser in the first round of Wimbledon for the first time since 1997 when she made her debut as an unseeded player.

And you've really got to feel for Venus. She's rather popular in the game, because she's achieved so much. She's won 5 Wimbledon titles, the U.S. Open twice. She's won a record three Olympic gold medals. She's an icon in her sport. She's an inspiration, Becky, to African-American athletes. But she was dumped out today. She was beaten by the Russian player Elaina Vesnina.

So this is a first round defeat for her at Wimbledon. Remember she lost in the second round at the French Open in Paris just last month. And if you look at her form over the last couple of years in the major tournaments it really is quite desperate for a player of her standards.

This was what happened to her in 2011. As you can see, the fourth round of Wimbledon was the best she could manage. She was injured at the French Open. She went out in the second round at the U.S. Open, that's because she'd recently been diagnosed with that illness which she's been suffering with. And then the record for this year really is incredibly disappointing. She missed the Australian Open this year, out in the second round in Paris, out in the first round here.

She's 32 years old now, Becky. Some would say that's old in tennis. She's been playing for what, 15, 16 years, but she says she's going to dig deep. She's going to come back strong. But she's got an awful lot of ground to make up. And today really was quite a dispiriting defeat for her.

ANDERSON: I spoke to her about six or seven weeks ago, I think. And she was really looking forward to Wimbledon and looking forward to the Olympic games. This is not the last time that we will, of course, see her. You say that she's obviously still in the doubles. But she will, of course, be in London for the Olympic games. I guess a potential landmark decision for those games today, Don.

RIDDELL: Yeah, there's been a lot of friction between the International Olympic Committee and Saudi Arabia, which has so far failed to send any female athletes ever to compete in the Olympic games. And that standoff kind of eased today with Saudi Arabia saying, OK, we will now allow female athletes to compete if they qualify.

Of course, the thing is no one has actually qualified yet. And one of the best chances for a female athlete to compete in the games for Saudi Arabia is unfortunately missed out, that's the show jumper Dalma Rushdie Malhas who -- well, she can't come become her horse is injured, would you believe.

So I mean, hopefully Saudi Arabia are moving in the right direction, but remember this is a country where public sports events for women are banned. Female sporting activity is opposed by many religious conservatives. So Saudi Arabia has a long way to go. And let's hope they can send some female athletes to these games.

ANDERSON: Yeah, good stuff. All right, mate, thank you for that.

Later in the show we're going to get back to Wimbledon, Don, who will be of course with you in World Sport in an hour's time of course.

We're going to get back to Wimbledon, though, as Petra Kvitova prepares to defend her title. We're going to see what she makes of her chances as she tours Wimbledon with the grass court queen herself Martina Navratilova.

Still to come that, plus a hostile act of the highest order: Turkey blames Syria for shooting down one of its planes at firing over another at the seas. Turkish ministers prepare to address NATO.

Plus, the U.S. Supreme Court saves its most controversial cases for the end of the term. And today came the first of two huge decisions. That and your headlines up next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ANDERSON: Very warm welcome to our viewers across Europe and around the world. I'm Becky Anderson. These are the latest world news headlines from CNN.

Egypt's President-elect Mohamed Morsi is holding talks in Cairo to appoint his new cabinet. He's the first civilian president in Egypt's history but the military still holds legislative and budgetary authority.

Cyprus has officially asked the European Union for assistance -- the fifth Eurozone member to do so. Cyprus said it has made the request (INAUDIBLE) to help (INAUDIBLE) of its banks which are heavily exposed to the Greek economy.

Well, Greece's finance minister is resigning only days into the job. He cited health reasons to his decision. The incumbent minister was never even officially sworn in. The Greek prime minister is also ailing and missed a key EU summit this week.

There could be more trouble for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's regime. Turkish television reporting that more than 30 army defectors crossed into Turkey including a general and two colonels. The news coming (INAUDIBLE) increasing tensions of course between the two countries over Syrian downing of a Turkish plane on Friday.

Those are your headlines.

Well, Turkey's used its strongest language yet in its condemnation of Syria. The Turkish prime minister says "Syria has committed"- and I quote - - "a hostile act of the highest order" and that it will and I quote again, "not go unpunished."

Well, Syrian forces shot down a Turkish plane over the Mediterranean Sea on Friday and fired at another. Well, earlier, the EU urged restraint from Turkey while it's imposing further sanctions on a number of Syrian businesses and individuals. The Syrian foreign minister said the Turkish plane had violated Syrian air space and they had no choice but to shoot it down.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JIHAD MAKDISSI, SYRIAN FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESMAN (VIA TRANSLATOR): Regardless of whether it's a training mission, a reconnaissance mission, it was a violation and Syria was acting in self-defense. There is a campaign against Syria. They want to make a devil out of Syria and whenever they fail, they come up with other evil methods to do it.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: There've been a number of attempts to try and stop the bloodshed in Syria. Most of that has been focused on the UN Security Council. Let's just remind ourselves and look at the five permanent members -- those in red -- the US, France, the UK, Russia, and China. So far, those efforts have largely failed mainly because of opposition from China and Russia. But there is, of course, theoretically at least another route and this would be this -- these 28 countries here in purple who are part of NATO. The North Atlantic Treaty Organization will meet tomorrow to determine how to deal with the Syrian crisis.

Now, the US, France, and the UK in pink here now, members of NATO of course and permanent members of the Security Council. Russia and China specifically not in NATO, I'll remind you.

So Syria downs a Turkish military jet and Turkey immediately calls a meeting of NATO's governing body Tuesday to discuss the incident. Well, I'm now joined from Washington D.C. by retired Major General James "Spider" Marks.

And James, any NATO member can request consultations, of course, like Turkey has if their territorial integrity has been threatened. Is so action against Syria by NATO in any way realistic at this point?

MAJ. GEN. JAMES "SPIDER" MARKS (RET.), U.S. ARMY: Becky, I don't think so. Clearly, I think, NATO has all the indicators that they need in order to conduct operations or to conduct -- to begin operations against Syria and those pre-dated what just occurred in terms of shooting down the Turkish aircraft which was clearly a hostile act. And you would hope that because Syria and Turkey are neighbors, that there would be operations that would exist as a matter of routine between those two countries that would allow two prevent an escalation of what we just saw and unfortunately, that's not the case. Clearly, I'm sure, violation of air space takes place generally routinely and you would think that the capitals would talk but they didn't. So in this case, I don't think NATO has anything other than what it already has in order to do so.

ANDERSON: So do you believe that Turkey is addressing NATO Tuesday with action in mind? I mean, that's surely the reason (INAUDIBLE), they will not be letdown by NATO as an organization if it were prepared to at least concur with the fact that Turkey's territorial integrity has been (INAUDIBLE)?

MARKS: Clearly I think what's going to happen is Turkey is going forward to NATO because they think that they can broaden the engagement of the -- of what's taking place in Syria to include NATO. But as I -- as I've suggested, there have been enough indicators up until this point over the course of the last year plus that Assad and his regime are conducting themselves essentially illegally in a way to threaten the other -- its regional neighbors and certainly to bring NATO into this, there doesn't need to be much more of a justification.

So I think Turkey is ready for NATO to say, "We will diplomatically disagree with what Syria has done. We will diplomatically and we will economically continue to act." But I don't think that there is anything that we are seeing now, Becky, that would encourage NATO to take military actions.

ANDERSON: So diplomacy, economic sanctions -- we've seen this all before from the UN permanent security members. No action of course because we have Russia and China standing in the way of that -- specifically Russia at this point -- and now no action conceivably from NATO either. So do you write off any chance of military action against Syria any time soon?

MARKS: Well, I don't. And I think what we see right now is the ball is in Assad's court. It's up to him and maybe even Putin -- Russia's involvement to get Syria to back down. If they were to arrange a facade and Russia were to arrange some agreement where he could disappear, you might see military actions in the form of some peacekeeping force that would roll in to try to maintain some degree of stability or to try to establish some degree of stability if the warring parties were agreed not to participate in any more military action. What we see right now is Assad's military clearly is in control. They're acting illegally but they've been doing this for so long, what would have to happen is Assad would have to unilaterally agree to do something different that would allow the volume to decrease and the threat to decrease before military action would occur. So it's not unusual or we shouldn't be surprised if something happened but it wouldn't be a provocative act. It would have to be decreasing in terms of the threat picture.

ANDERSON: Retired Major General James "Spider" Marks, always a pleasure. Thank you very much indeed for joining us.

The story in Syria continues. You're watching CONNECT THE WORLD with me, Becky Anderson.

Up next, the US Supreme Court rules on a controversial immigration law -- how this could play out in a presidential election year. That's up next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ANDERSON: This is CONNECT THE WORLD with me, Becky Anderson, out of London.

For you, tonight, a historic decision by the US Supreme Court in a partial victory for the US government in a controversial case involving an Arizona law that saw to crackdown on illegal immigration.

Just to give you some context for this, US Homeland Security says that more than 11 million illegal immigrants are living in the US overall. More than half are from Mexico, they say. Well, Arizona who shares a border with Mexico, of course, making a key crossing point for immigrants entering the US illegally.

Right, that's the story. Well, striking down some of the law's major provisions (INAUDIBLE) which some critics had (INAUDIBLE) as racial profiling -- the high court justices did uphold checks on the immigration status of people stopped or arrested in Arizona.

Big decisions. CNN's Kate Bolduan joins us live from Washington from the bureau there.

Reaction to this, if you will.

KATE BOLDUAN, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Reaction from this is really kind of been all over the map. This is one of those very interesting decisions, Becky, with huge implications, but also interesting because it has both sides trying to kind of claim victory, if you will, spinning the decision to their favor because they're picking the parts that of course they want to pick that works in their favor. But bottom line, what we're seeing here is that the high court has put the breaks on aggressive state efforts to crack down on illegal immigration with one good warning at least for now.,

(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)

BOLDUAN (voice-over): From the Arizona border to the US Supreme Court, the justices Monday offered a split decision on Arizona's controversial illegal immigration law known as SB1070.

Writing for the majority in the 5-3 ruling, Justice Anthony Kennedy said Arizona may have understandable frustrations with the problems caused by illegal immigration but the state may not pursue policies that undermine federal law. And so the high courts struck down three of the four key provisions in the law, however, unanimously upholding at least for now the most controversial piece -- the requirement police check people's immigration status while enforcing other laws if the officers have reasonable suspicion they're in the country illegally, giving the law and supporters like Arizona Governor Jan Brewer reason to claim at least partial victory.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GOV. JAN BREWER (R), ARIZONA: Today, the state of Arizona and Senate Bill 1070 was vindicated and the heart of the bill was upheld.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BOLDUAN (voice-over): But the court made clear that "Show me your papers" section could face future challenges depending on how it's implemented including concerns over prolonged detention and racial profiling. Still, most of the provisions (INAUDIBLE) were tossed out -- one, allowing police to arrest immigrants without a warrant if they have probably cause, also the provision making it a crime for illegal immigrants to fail to carry immigration papers and a ban on illegal immigrants from applying for or soliciting work of any kind.

But writing a scathing dissent, Justice Antonin Scalia said, "We are not talking here about a federal law prohibiting the States from regulating bubble-gum advertising, or even the construction of nuclear plants. We are talking about a federal law going to the core of state sovereignty" meaning states securing their own borders.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BOLDUAN: So a big question now is what does this all mean for all of the other states that are considering similar laws. Well, at the very least, it seems to be a warning shot of sorts coming from the high court to tread carefully here in the area that has long been federal authority. We're talking immigration policy. You can be sure, Becky, this is not the last we're going to hear of legal challenges to these immigration laws.

ANDERSON: Yes. Fascinating stuff. But Kate, thank you for that.

So along with immigration, health care is also a hot (INAUDIBLE) issue in what is election year and come Thursday, the high court is expected to rule on the legislation on that signed into law by President Barack Obama.

So let's get a closer look now at how these rulings could impact the November election. Lynn Sweet, Washington Bureau Chief of the "Chicago Sun- Times" joins us from CNN's Washington bureau.

Thank you. I've got a couple of polls I want to give our viewers, just to get a sense of where we stand with all of this. We asked -- and these are CNN's polls, Lynn -- we asked some Americans what they think of Arizona's immigration law. The results were interesting. Three-quarters of those we polled say they support the contentious measure. 24 percent oppose it. We've also been asking about Americans and health care. But let's just talk about this immigration issue. Just how significant is this ruling in an election year?

LYNN SWEET, WASHINGTON BUREAU CHIEF, "CHICAGO SUN-TIMES": It's significant because for the short term at least, it leaves Mitt Romney boxed in and making an appeal to Hispanic voters and a handful of battleground states. That's the main impact today of this ruling from the Supreme Court. Right now, President Obama is wildly ahead in United States polling with this important voters segment which could tilt the balance of the scale in these battleground states. That's the problem right now for Mitt Romney coupled with a decision by President Obama a short time ago to basically suspend the deportation of any students or young people who are here in the United States who were brought here by their parents. That's a very popular provision. It was seen as humane. Students were here through no fault of their own. So Romney has -- doesn't get anything out of this.

ANDERSON: So Romney doesn't get a -- doesn't get a tick out of this one. Let's talk about the health care bill because Thursday is a big, big day. Again, polling by CNN, 51 percent of those we surveyed say that they are against the measure officially known as the Affordable Care Act. 43 percent of Americans favor it. So how's that going to play out?

SWEET: Well, I think this is -- this is a ruling that may be split. That's what the court watchers say here and I would think the -- here the pressure is on Obama because the court may strike down important provisions -- even though people in the United States are getting some of the benefit of this new law, it is just a wildly -- I think -- misunderstood law and the opponents have more to gain for the short-term in this ruling partly because this is President Obama's legacy achievement or what it was supposed to be his signature ruling. He put a lot at stake on this. The Obama people will say, "Well, our law was just based on Mitt Romney's Massachusetts' law." But politically, that will be a harder message so Obama has much more at stake Thursday than Mitt Romney does.

ANDERSON: Fascinating stuff. So to our international viewers, you won't be watching this sort of day-to-day machinations of the campaign -- the presidential campaign. Come the beginning of November 2012, is it any clearer at this point who will take office in the U.S. once again? Or once again (INAUDIBLE) sorry, go on.

SWEET: Well, I see -- I see the point for people out there listening. I think (INAUDIBLE) right now does go to President Obama partly because Mitt Romney -- he had come out of a primary where he had to appeal mainly to the Republican base vote. He's still defining himself to independent voters, swing voters whose minds aren't made up and that's why the Obama campaign is doing everything it can to define him for you before he does it for himself.

The polling is kind of even but again, for people who aren't familiar with our process, these elections -- the election is decided by each state and you just need enough states to decide they -- how they vote. We call that - - those states where you really have people undecided, these "battleground states" and even though we have 50 states, it really is an election in just maybe 10 of them. That's why all these rulings can be measured from the court as to how it will impact in specific states. That's why states have so much more importance right now in the election than you might hear about normally.

ANDERSON: Sure. Fascinating. Thank you.

Your expert on the subject tonight, you are watching CONNECT THE WORLD with me, Becky Anderson.

When we come back, she's certainly confident, to Petra Kvitova tells Martina Navratilova of her Wimbledon ambitions. (INAUDIBLE) startling prediction about her hopes of emulating the 9-time champ. That is coming up after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ANDERSON: Right. Well, amazingly, the sun actually shone on Wimbledon today bringing the crowd out in force. Thousands of fans flocked in to see a star-studded line-up in the (INAUDIBLE) race to be crowned "King" or "Queen" of the grass. Well, on a slightly chillier morning recently, who better to usher in (INAUDIBLE) tennis Martina Navratilova. She took a trip down memory lane with reigning Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova and reveals for her, one is never enough.

(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)

MARTINA NAVRATILOVA, 9-TIME WIMBLEDON CHAMPION: So how old were you when you started?

PETRA KVITOVA, 2011 WIMBLEDON CHAMPION: (INAUDIBLE) around four or five when I have the first time the racket in my hands but when the brother practiced, I was there like when I'm born so I was there all the time with my mom.

NAVRATILOVA: So where you a club brat? I mean, you hanging out at the club all day and just played with whoever or --?

KVITOVA: Well, actually no. It's not really many people who is playing there so I play only with my father and my two brothers.

NAVRATILOVA: Did you ever play against the wall 'cause I grew up -- for the first two years, I just hit against the wall.

KVITOVA: Me too.

NAVRATILOVA: Did you play at the wall?

KVITOVA: Yes, and I practiced my (INAUDIBLE) like on the wall and it was really, really fun. But actually, I didn't like it too much to play against the wall. It was boring for me.

NAVRATILOVA: The ball always comes back.

(MUSIC)

Well, I'm so glad that I get to do this (INAUDIBLE) with you 'cause I've never been to this museum. First time down this steps, you feel like a champion when you come here. I mean, now you're like part of history, you know?

KVITOVA: Yes, I know.

NAVRATILOVA: Nobody can take it away from you.

(MUSIC)

NAVRATILOVA: Oh, there's my clothes. Oh, there's yours.

KVITOVA: Yes. And my headband and everything.

NAVRATILOVA: And what does it say?

KVITOVA: Six times in a row.

NAVRATILOVA: (INAUDIBLE) 80s were very good for me.

KVITOVA: I said too --

NAVRATILOVA: You're going to do six in a row?

KVITOVA: Yes. Yes. I tell you this year.

NAVRATILOVA: It started and done so you just have to repeat. It's OK.

(MUSIC)

NAVRATILOVA: Well, there's the plate.

KVITOVA: Yes.

NAVRATILOVA: So what was the feeling when you finally got your hands on it?

KVITOVA: I can't find the words. I mean, it was special and I mean I had the trophy before from the tournament but it's -- this was a unbelievable, really. I mean, I was like surprised and happy and I didn't know what I had to do and--.

NAVRATILOVA: Well, thankfully, there is -- there is somebody to tell you, "OK, you stand here and you hold it there and you smile (INAUDIBLE)".

KVITOVA: Yes. And you have to go there and there. And you? What do you remember?

NAVRATILOVA: I held it (INAUDIBLE) and I forgot to put on my sweater. All I could think about afterwards, I'm like "Oh no. I forgot to put my sweater on and there's this big muscles." My mom always told me, "Cover up your arms. You have too big muscles. You have to cover up your arms." So I'm like "I forgot to put my sweater on!" And then I'm always worried about the hair. Was that -- what does the hair look like? But no. But really, the feeling of holding that for the first time, it's pretty cool.

(MUSIC)

NAVRATILOVA: So how many more of those -- are we going to see there? How many would you be happy with?

KVITOVA: You have nine. I have to be ten.

NAVRATILOVA: Nine. OK. That's a good number to aim for.

KVITOVA: But I will have to play a long time.

NAVRATILOVA: Well, I expect to see that name more than one, that's for sure.

KVITOVA: Yes.

NAVRATILOVA: Once is definitely not enough.

(MUSIC)

NAVRATILOVA: So you have your racket. Your heart starts beating. And now, we get the OK--

KVITOVA: Wow.

NAVRATILOVA: --to come on. And there's your friends in the box.

KVITOVA: It's nice to see the court without the mess.

NAVRATILOVA: And no lines. It looks like an electrified fence. Oh, but it's -- oops, I got zapped. Not too bad, though. It's nice to get back here again.

(END VIDEO TAPE)

ANDERSON: Petra Kvitova begins her pursuit of another Wimbledon crown Tuesday at the all-England club. (INAUDIBLE) the announcement she will be first up on center court. There's no doubt, Martina Navratilova will be keeping a close eye on that match.

And in tonight's parting shots, you are taking a trip back in time courtesy of English Heritage. Tonight, more than 10,000 never-before seen images released showing how Britain looks almost 100 years ago all from the sky.

First up, a look at Tower Bridge. You know what it looks like these days, well, this is how it looked to Londoners in the late 1920s. The bridge has a new coat of paint and is a top attraction for tourists.

Now, this is how St. Paul's Cathedral looked from the air in March 1921. Come forward to 2012, well, little has changed on the historic site aside from the big, tall buildings of course.

Around in Wembley Stadium during the FA Cup finals between Cardiff City and Arsenal in 1927. The scorecard: the City 1, Arsenal nil. The stadium was almost completely rebuilt and today holds almost 90,000.

And finally, a look at the historic West Pier in Brighton as seen from the air. Unfortunately, today, the pier has been destroyed and all that remains is this past -- this relic of the past.

Sad isn't it? Well, I'm Becky Anderson. That was CONNECT THE WORLD. Thanks for watching. The World News Headlines up after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ANDERSON: This is CNN -- the world's news leader. The headlines this hour - -

Egypt's president-elect Mohamed Morsi is selecting a new cabinet. Despite his history-making victory as the country's first freely-elected president, the military there do still hold much of the power as the legislative and the budgetary authority.

Cyprus has officially asked the European Union for assistance -- the fifth Eurozone member to do so. Cyprus said it had made the request for funds to help (INAUDIBLE) its banks which are heavily exposed to Greek economy.

Well, Greece's finance minister is resigning only days into the job. He cited health reasons for that decision. The incumbent minister was never even officially sworn in. And Greece's prime minister is also ailing and will miss a key EU summit this week.

Syria announced today that it was acting in self-defense when it shot down a Turkish fighter jet similar to this one on Friday. Turkey's called the incident "a hostile act" and now says Syria fired on a second plane that was part of a search-and-rescue mission.

Those are your headlines here on CNN World News. (INAUDIBLE) as seen here in London. AMANPOUR, though, starts right now.

END