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Connect the World
Petrinja Mayor Says One Child Has Been Killed In Quake; UK Awaits Regulatory Approval For Oxford/AstraZeneca Vaccine; How Joe Biden Will Change U.S. Foreign Policy; Croatia Hit By 6.4 Magnitude Earthquake; Lampard Urges COVID-19 Caution; Koeman Plays Down Messi Move To PSG. Aired 11a-12p ET
Aired December 29, 2020 - 11:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[11:00:00]
KAMALA HARRIS (D), VICE PRESIDENT-ELECT OF UNITED STATES: All right, OK. Awesome. Thank you very much.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Thank you.
HARRIS: Well, I want to thank United Medical Center for the work that you do in Southeast D.C. serving a community that is often overlooked. So it is
good to be here, and I have now been vaccinated. As Joe likes to say there's a big difference between vaccines and vaccinations.
I want to encourage everyone to get the vaccine. It is relatively painless. It happens really quickly. It is safe. The Moderna, the Pfizer today, I had
the Moderna vaccine and my husband is going to have it today as well. I look forward to getting the second vaccine and literally this is about
saving lives.
It's literally about saving lives, and I trust the scientists, and it is the scientists who created and approved this vaccine, so I urge everyone
when it is your turn get vaccinated. It's about saving your life, the life of your family members and the life of your community, and so thank you and
let's all just do what we need to do to stay healthy and safe this holiday season and every day of the year. Thank you all.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Madam Vice President-Elect, I have two questions. Taking this test, this vaccine -- broadly black community, is this an
effort to dispel fear and mistrust in the minority community with this vaccine?
HARRIS: First of all, we have phenomenal health care providers like Nurse Patricia who serves the community, and we have hospitals and medical
centers and clinics like this all over the country that are staffed by people who understand the community, who often come from the community and
who administer all year round trusted health care.
And so I want to remind people that right in your community is where you can take the vaccine, where you will receive the vaccine by folks you may
know, folks who otherwise are working in the same hospital where your children were born, folks who are working in the same hospital where an
elderly relative received the kind of care that they needed.
So I want to remind people that they have trusted sources of health, and that's where they will be able to go to get the vaccine, so I encourage
them to do that.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And lastly on the stimulus checks, Chuck Schumer -- to decrease the 2,000 with unanimous consent today it may not passed -- do you
want to respond to the increase to the 2,000 which may not pass? What say you?
HARRIS: Well, I actually have a bill for that where a while back I recommended that folks receive a $2,000 check and so I would urge Mitch
McConnell to put my bill on the floor for a vote. Thank you all.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Thank you.
HALA GORANI, CNN HOST, CONNECT THE WORLD: Vice President-Elect Kamala Harris in Washington, D.C. at the United Medical Center in the nation's
capital getting her first dose of the Coronavirus vaccine. She said that she got the Moderna vaccine that's the same one the top infectious disease
official Anthony Fauci received.
Her husband Dough Emhoff is going to be receiving as well his first dose. Both the Moderna and the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccines require two jabs. This is
the first of two jabs. This of course is part of an effort to build trust in the vaccine.
The vice president-elect says that she trusts the scientists and urges everyone to get vaccinated when it's their turn. There she was moments ago
there confirming her details, her name, her date of birth before receiving that first jab.
Of course, the key thing is when it is their turn, because the United States has so far administered just a little over 2 million doses of the
Coronavirus vaccine. The anticipation, the expectation the hope was that the U.S. would have vaccinated 20 million people at this stage and that has
not happened.
It's the same story around the world wherever you're watching us from. The doses will be there. They will be available. It's logistically how you
distribute? How you add minister these vaccines? Where you are on the list? At what point a vast majority of people around the world are vaccinated and
we can all go about living our lives as normal?
So there you have it. The Vice President-Elect Kamala Harris at the United Medical Center in Washington receiving her first jab on camera. All right,
let's move on to the other news of the day. This is "Connect the World." I'm Hala Gorani. Thanks for being with us right here on CNN.
[11:05:00]
GORANI: We're following breaking news out of Central Croatia where rescuers are going through the wreckage after a powerful 6.4 magnitude earthquake
struck just hours ago. It was centered southeast of the Capital Zagreb. Just yesterday a smaller quake caused damage in that area.
Now, images we're getting out of the area show rubble and collapsed buildings, and a local mayor has announced that sadly one child has died in
this disaster. There you are seeing images coming to us from Petrinja from Croatia. The quake was centered just 44 kilometers southeast of Zagreb.
Reporter Hrvoje Kresic is in Croatia's capital with more. Can you hear me?
HRVOJE KRESIC, JOURNALIST: Yes, I can.
GORANI: There you are. Tell us more about the damage. Tell us more about the damage and sadly that one confirmed loss of life.
KRESIC: Well, unfortunately, the death toll has risen. We have now confirmed information that two additional people have died in villages near
Galena which is a small city near to Petrinja where the center of the earthquake evidently was. Those are rural areas.
There are many dislocated houses that are currently being investigated and in many of those houses old people are living and they don't have
telephones so, unfortunately, what we are hearing from the officials off the record, they are expecting that this number will, unfortunately, arise
throughout the evening and throughout the night.
The third victim was an older man who was underneath the rubble. He was accompanied by a female. She's still alive and prior to that, half an hour
before that we received confirmation that a young man in his 20s has also been killed under the rubble and that he -- he was, unfortunately, nobody
was able to save him as well.
He was in family house the rest of the family is fine. The city of Petrinja and the whole region is rather poor. It's been heavily struck by war in
Croatia and in -- almost 30 years ago, and many of these houses, many of these areas are still feeling the repercussions of war.
Life has never been fully back in those areas. Many old people are leaving there. Petrinja for instance was a strong industrial city prior to war,
prior to the -- prior to the -- wars today it is a city where most of the old people live, young people are immigrating from those parts of Croatia
either to other parts of Croatia or to other EU member states, and they are leaving behind old houses.
Some of them were built in the Austro-Hungarian Empire. They are being neglected. Buildings are being neglected. Many of them are -- literally
nobody is living there anymore so they pose a great threat in situations like this one to anybody who is trying -- to anybody who is passing by, and
this is the case in Petrinja today as well.
GORANI: All right. Thanks very much for that report from Zagreb, Croatia. Well, just a few minutes ago we showed you Kamala Harris, the Vice
President-Elect of the United States getting her first jab of the Moderna vaccine. Now the options are Moderna right now or Pfizer/BioNTech but here
in the UK regulators are expected to approve a third vaccine developed by Oxford and AstraZeneca very soon. Their decision could come as early as
today.
Britain is already distributing the Pfizer and BioNTech vaccine but exploding case numbers show why obviously people cannot become complacent
until these vaccines are made more widely available. The UK just recorded more daily new infections than ever before over 41,000 on Monday.
You can look at the graph there compared to June, compared to July, compared to August. Look where we are at the end of December?
Hospitalizations are also nearing record highs. This is putting a huge strain on the National Health Service in England. It is reporting more than
20,000 Coronavirus patients are being treated right now.
That's more than at the peak. The NHS Chief says the UK is back in the eye of storm. CNN's Salma Abdelaziz joins me now. Do we -- but let me first ask
you about the vaccine. This Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine it can't come soon enough. What's the expectation?
[11:10:00]
SALMA ABDELAZIZ, CNN REPORTER: It can't come soon enough, that's absolutely right Hala. We expect it to be approved any day now, any moment now. And
there is a lot of excitement around this of course because it is a cheaper vaccine only cost about 3 pounds, 4 pounds.
Its home grown, developed right here in the UK so a lot of national pride around it. It doesn't need that special refrigeration capacity so it will
be easier to transport logistically easier to vaccinate people and it could be rolled out as early as January 4th. And in the first two weeks the
government is looking at potentially vaccinating up to 2 million people.
So a lot of hope but at the same time health officials are warning. As you said, everyone has to stay vigilant. This is not widely available to the
rest of the population. They are ringing the alarm. You have more patients in hospital with Coronavirus than ever before breaking records of daily
Coronavirus cases, and the Head of the NHS is just pleading with people, please, follow the rules. Take a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SIMON STEVENS, CHIEF EXECUTIVE, NATIONAL HEALTH SERVICE ENGLAND: This has probably been the toughest year that most of us can remember. That is
certainly true across the health service where we've been responding to the worst pandemic in a century. And now, of course, again, we're back in the
eye of the storm with the second wave of Coronavirus sweeping Europe and indeed this country.
And so by late spring we think with vaccine supply continuing to come on stream we'll have been able to offer all vulnerable people across this
country this COVID vaccination.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ABDELAZIZ: Back in the eye of the storm very concerning words there, but that's what's on the line, Hala. We're talking about the doctors, the
nurses and medical workers that have been fighting this pandemic on the front lines since the spring and now they are pleading for help they're
saying they are overwhelmed.
These hospitals are on the brink and they themselves are being affected. You have health care workers that are calling out because they have to
isolate. So you're looking at short staffing on top of hospitals that are overwhelmed and it's important to remember the worst might yet to come.
We've yet to see the spike that we expect from Christmas time. Christmas was just last week. There's always usually a two-week lag so you're looking
at even more Coronavirus patients. Short staffing in hospitals that are overwhelmed and potentially they could run out of capacity next year, Hala.
GORANI: All right. Salma, thank you very much. Some health leaders in the UK are raising concerns that the government is not getting the
Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine out quickly enough. One of them is Dr. Richard Vautrey the Chair of the British Medical Association and General
Practitioners Committee he joins me now from Leeds. What is your concern with the distribution, the administration of this vaccine, doctor?
DR. RICHARD VAUTREY, CHAIR, BRITISH MEDICAL ASSOCIATION, GENERAL PRACTITIONERS COMMITTEE: Well, as you just heard in that package the Pfizer
vaccine is a bit more challenging than many vaccines that we've had to handle because of the requirements for deep freezing and then when its
defrosted needs to be used within a very short time frame.
That puts limitations on how it can be delivered, and we're very used to in the UK providing big vaccination programs. We've just completed a massive
flu vaccination program and that's through every practice within the UK giving the vaccine directly to their patients.
So we won't be able to do that but hopefully we will be able to do that with the Oxford vaccine that is hopefully going to be approved very soon.
GORANI: That was going to be my follow-up. The Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine does not require that intense level of refrigeration that the
Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine demands. So hopefully this will mean what as for as your concern that these -- this vaccination program can take place in GP's
offices, medical centers that kind of thing instead of specialized hospitals.
DR. VAUTREY: Yes, we have seen many hundreds of thousands now of vaccines given by GP practices in the community using the Pfizer vaccine, but that's
been a huge test for them to do that.
GORANI: OK.
DR. VAUTREY: But we would hope that the Oxford vaccine once approved will enable a step change in the vaccination program. We want to protect our
vulnerable patients as quickly as possible, and by having a more flexible vaccine in at every center that will enable us to do that very soon.
GORANI: OK. But that being said, even if vaccinations take place let say a million a week, you're still looking at months and months before this
country, and it's a similar picture in other countries around the world for our viewers watching us from elsewhere reaches that critical mass level of
vaccination so that we can go back to living a normal life, correct?
DR. VAUTREY: Yes, that's true. I think particularly we have to remember that we have to give two vaccines to every patient for them to get the
maximum protection, so providing large numbers of the most vulnerable patients in January with a vaccination, we'll need to do it all over again
in February to ensure that they get the maximum protection from this deadly infection.
[11:15:00]
GORANI: But there's still somewhat protected after one jab, right, which is better than nothing?
DR. VAUTREY: Yes, indeed, and I think it's really important that we give people who are the most vulnerable, particularly those in their 80s and 90s
the vaccination as quickly as possible.
That first vaccination will give them some degree of protection but to get the full benefit we need to give people two vaccinations and at the moment
we're doing that with the Pfizer vaccine and so those who have had the Pfizer vaccine already in the UK, that's over 500,000 people, will need to
have a second dose in the coming days.
And those who continue to get the Pfizer vaccine will need to have a repeat vaccination so we'll continue to have those challenges of the storage and
the distribution of that particular vaccine for the foreseeable future.
But hopefully having more sites, offering more vaccine more quickly will enable us to get on top of this vaccine -- on top of this pandemic just a
bit quicker, but this is going to be a mammoth task for everyone working in the NHS, and we'll need the support of everyone to enable us to deliver
this vaccination program.
GORANI: Dr. Vautrey, one quick last one. Why are the numbers so atrocious right now in the UK? More hospitalizations today, December -- today is
December 28th than at the peak in April. What's happening?
DR. VAUTREY: I think what we're seeing is the expected increase within the winter period. We know that during the winter, you know, people are more
likely to contract the infection in household groupings, people meeting indoors, whereas previously during the summer people were more likely to be
outside and thereby less likely to contract the infection.
We also have a new variant of the Coronavirus circulating which is more infectious, spreads more quickly, and it's inevitable, so in those
situations that more people will contract this infection. We do need to limit the spread by limiting the social contact of people with one another.
That's very hard when people have been trying to do that for many, many months but we're not out of this pandemic yet. We need to maintain our
guard and we need to continue social distancing and we need to continue that for the next few months at the very least.
GORANI: Yes, another few months of alone time. Lots of alone time, but it's for the greater good. Thanks very much, Dr. Richard Vautrey, of the British
Medical Association. We appreciate you joining us.
We will be right back. When we come back, coming up next, the early stages of America's vaccine rollout are going much slower than planned. Dr.
Anthony Fauci gives his country a blunt assessment. And Joe Biden is getting sick of the delays in transition. Why he believes the Trump
Administration's stalling tactics could present opportunities to U.S. adversaries. We'll be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[11:20:00]
GORANI: The U.S. President-Elect Joe Biden says his transition team is not getting key information from the outgoing Trump Administration. On Monday
he said the Trump Administration is acting irresponsibly by holding up transition meetings, especially at Defense Department.
The Pentagon is defending its work with Biden's transition team. Still a source familiar with the matter tells CNN critical meetings have not yet
happened. Biden also repeated his pledge to break from Mr. Trump's foreign policy.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOE BIDEN (D), PRESIDENT-ELECT OF UNITED STATES: We're stronger and more effective when we're flanked by nations that share our vision in the future
of our world. That's how we multiply the impact of our efforts and make those efforts more sustainable. That's the power of smart, effective
American leadership, but right now there's an enormous vacuum. We're going to have to regain the trust and confidence of a world that has begun to
find ways to work around us.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: Well, how will the Biden Administration be different in handling foreign affairs? Our viewers around the world are all, you know, very
interested in knowing how the Biden Administration will break or not as the case may be with the Trump Administration in terms of its policy towards
international, multi-national organizations, the Middle East, China and Russia?
Joining me now is CNN Political Analyst and "The Washington Post" Columnist Josh Rogin. Hi, josh. First, let me ask you about these multi-national
organizations whether it's NATO, whether it's the World Health Organization, the Paris Climate Accord that Donald Trump pulled the U.S.
out of or even the Iran deal. How will things change with Biden in the White House?
JOSH ROGIN, CNN POLITICAL ANALYST: Right, well first of all what you'll see right off the bad are a change of tone and attitude towards these multi-
lateral organizations and towards allies in general. The easiest thing that the Biden Administration can do is to stop the damage that the Trump
Administration was quite intentionally inflicting on these organizations by withholding funds and by disparaging them in public and private.
So after that it gets a little bit more difficult. Some of these things will be easy to fix. The Biden Administration can easily rejoin the Paris
Climate Accord, right? Fixing data with restoring trust in NATO and relationships will be more difficult and the Iran deal which will require
not only the participation of European partners but also Iran getting back to some sort of path towards U.S. participation to Iran.
That will be the hardest thing of all, and that's something that the Biden and Harris Administration is promising to engage in, but they are light on
specifics as they don't know exactly how they are going to do it other that they are promising to try.
GORANI: What about the U.S.' relationship with, for instance, Saudi Arabia? I mean, we saw the sentencing of the Loujain Hathloul the Saudi Arabian
human rights activist. She was sentenced to almost six years in prison could be released in the spring of this year according to her family.
But obviously the Joe Biden team will be less likely to, you know, gloss over some of these human rights issues with countries like Saudi Arabia
than say the Trump Administration was.
ROGIN: Well, that's exactly right. One of the things President-Elect Biden as a candidate was very consistent on was that he plans to rethink and then
reset the U.S.-Saudi relationship with an eye towards holding the Saudi regime accountable for a range of human rights violations, including the
killing of Jamal Khashoggi, a "Washington Post" Contributing Columnist inside the Saudi Consulate two years ago in Istanbul.
And then also dialing back U.S. support for the Saudi war in Yemen and a range of arm sales and other agreements. Now, when that actually happens,
the devil will be in the details. It's easy to campaign on campaigning for human rights but it's very hard to govern that way.
And the question is whether or not the Biden Administration will be willing to impose harsh measures on a U.S. ally at the same time that it's doing
all of the other things that we just talked about including trying to reset relations with Iran.
Will the Biden Administration use sanctions in order to punish an ally for human rights violations? We just don't know I think that's a fight that the
Biden Administration will have to have within itself after the inauguration.
GORANI: It's not just strategic relationship but it's also very lucrative business relationships as well. Brexit, I wonder how a Biden Administration
will approach Brexit because Trump was -- was a fan. He thought Brexit was a great idea.
[11:25:00]
GORANI: Biden, even when he was only running for the presidency, warned against any deal with the EU that would re-impose a hard border between
Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. So I wonder how things will change there.
ROGIN: Right. It's not likely that the Biden/Harris Administration will try to get in the middle of negotiations or discussions between the UK and the
EU, but what is very certain is that the Biden/Harris Administration will refocus attention on the U.S. /EU relationship and away from the U.S. UK
relationship.
Because, one, that's exactly the opposite what Trump did, and, two, they are going to need European partners more than they are going to need the UK
to do the things that we just talked about including re-engage with Iran.
So that spells probably a deep prioritization of the U.S.-UK free trade agreement and a real ramping up of ties between the Biden Administration
and countries like France and Germany who they feel have been disparaged and disrespected for the last four years.
GORANI: All right. Josh Rogin thanks very much. Have a good New Year.
ROGIN: You, too.
GORANI: The initial goal was to get 20 million Americans vaccinated by year's end, but that's falling way short. With just a few days left in
2020, barely more than 2 million have received the two vaccines currently authorized for emergency use and only about 11 million doses have been
distributed so far. Dr. Anthony Fauci calls the numbers troubling.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DR. ANTHONY FAUCI, DIRECTOR, NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ALLERGY AND INFECTIOUS DISEASES: We certainly are not at the numbers that we wanted to be at the
end of December. You heard talking about 40 million doses for 20 million people I mean, if you undercount, 2 million is an undercount, how much
undercount could it be so we're below where we want to be.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: The vaccine slowdown is happening has hospitalizations in the U.S. reached record highs with overwhelmed doctors warning they will have to
start rationing care if things don't improve. Now the pandemic has put a huge financial strain on tens of millions of Americans, and that's playing
out in Washington with a drama ahead in the Senate after two high-stakes votes in the House.
One of them overriding a presidential veto and the other approving President Donald Trump's wishes to more than triple the amount in stimulus
payments that many Americans would receive from $600 to $2,000. This bill, those two bills now go to the Senate.
I want to bring in Suzanne Malveaux on Capitol Hill. What are the likelihood that they will pass specifically and especially the stimulus
bill that would increase direct payment to Americans to $2,000?
SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN U.S. CORRESPONDENT: So, Hala, it's fascinating to watch because you're talking about these rare alliances, unusual alliances
that are happening here with the House just yesterday, Democrats aligning with the president on that $2,000 direct COVID stimulus relief and then
House Republicans essentially abandoning the president and overriding the veto on this defense spending bill.
What's going to happen in just about 30 minutes, we're going to see Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, what is he going to do? There's a number
of options he could in fact bring this stimulus bill to the floor, that $2,000 per person bill and what he is seeing and what we're seeing is more
Senate Republicans signing on to it now.
Before they were vehemently opposed to adding to this big COVID relief package what we've now seen Trump allies jump on the bandwagon with Senator
Rubio, Senator Graham and then these two Senators that are engaged in the runoff, the Senate runoff in the Georgia race, which could determine, will
determine whether not Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell maintained his leadership and so that's a critical battle.
Those two Senators now saying they are on board with the $2,000 relief bill, relief check here, and so we will see how this plays out. Potentially
McConnell could attach this to something that the Democrats don't care for and don't like and see how much leverage he could get there.
He could simply introduce it as a stand-alone bill and see how much support he gets on that end. We do expect that Senator Schumer will introduce it
with unanimous consent essentially saying let's just quick pass this, but that would require all 100 Senators on board.
That's not likely to happen and so we're seeing a bit of gamesmanship here going on here, Hala, a little bit of political back and forth, a power
play. Meantime, President Trump tweeting, calling the leadership disgraceful and cowardice without naming names trying to exert more
pressure to try to get what he wants, Hala?
GORANI: All right, Suzanne Malveaux thanks very much. One Croatian Mayor says half of the town has been destroyed. We'll bring you the latest on a
powerful earthquake in Croatia, and a frantic rescue and recovery operation now under way.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[11:30:00]
GORANI: An update now our breaking news from Croatia some dramatic pictures from the town of Petrinja where a 6.4 magnitude hit as the Mayor was giving
a news conference. At least three deaths are now confirmed in the region after this powerful tremor.
Military troops have been mobilized from the government in the capital Zagreb, and there you're seeing kind of sort of the aftermath the immediate
aftermath there of that quake. Families are searching for their loved ones still at this point.
Meteorologist Jennifer Gray joins me now with the very latest. Now, we know that the magnitude was 6.4. Do we know the depth because that's usually
quite important in determining just how much damage a tremor can cause?
JENNIFER GRAY, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Right. Well, the likelihood of an earthquake this size you would expect anywhere from 10 to 100 deaths
typically, of course the economic loss with this as well could be up to $1 billion so this was a very significant quake.
Came just one day after a 5.3 earthquake was felt in the same region just yesterday, so a lot of people were on edge already, and then one much, much
bigger happened today. So that 6.4 occurred we could see 100 to even thousand aftershocks after this in the days, weeks, even months ahead.
So definitely it's going to be unsettled over the next couple of months as the ground starts to settle and we start to get past this, but the quake
was felt very, very far away. It was felt as far away as Munich, Bucharest and Rome felt very far away.
Of course, the very strong shaking was felt just around the center of this, but to be felt in countries as far away as Italy, as well as Germany,
Austria is definitely significant, so we'll zoom in on the shake map and you can see people can report if they felt shaking and so all of those blue
dots are reports of shaking felt from the quake.
The yellow and orange colors those are the very strong shaking and then the lighter colors the blues and purples are the lighter shaking. So right
around that center was ten kilometers deep so very shallow quake. So the shaking is going to be much more violent with this one, but that's a large
area.
Even the capital cities felt very strong shaking from this. The economic loss as we were talking about could be up to $1 billion. That's 34 percent
likelihood with a quake of this size. A lot of structures have been there for more than 100 years and they have been crumbled, as you said, the town
just devastated.
[11:35:00]
GRAY: The estimated fatalities with the quake this size 10 to 100, a 40 percent likelihood of that. Of course, you hope that that's not the case,
Hala. But this was a devastating quake for region, for sure.
GORANI: Absolutely, and we'll keep our eye on developments there. Jennifer Gray thanks very much. Let us return to the pandemic now and Spain says it
will keep a register of anyone who refuses the vaccine. The Spanish Health Minister says the list will be shared with EU member states but will not be
made public in line with data protection laws. Vaccinations will also not be made compulsory. Al Goodman is in Madrid with that story. How will this
work?
AL GOODMAN, JOURNALIST: Hi, Hala. Well, first things is lots of eyebrows being raised here in the health care community and beyond with these latest
comments from the Health Care Minister in a TV interview on Monday where he mentioned that as you say that if people are offered the vaccination
against the Coronavirus and they decline it they will go on this registry despite his assurances that everything will be fine about that.
Now a leading official of the agency in Spain that credits all of Spain's nurses 300,000 of them says the key here is how the registry will be used?
He says that if the information is unanimous, if it's used for public health purposes to understand better where, what parts of Spain are not
going for the -- going for the vaccination, he says that's OK.
But he says to the contrary. If the information is used to create what he called a list of bad people that could then infringe on liberties that
could get into the hands of possibly employers who could use it against employees he says that clearly would not be all right.
As this was brewing, a top aide to the Health Minister, Hala, the Director of Spain's Medicines Agency went on radio later in the day on Monday to say
that a key reason for this registry is to try to understand more about why people might reject getting the shot in the arm with the Coronavirus
vaccine?
She says is it just because they have doubts, they don't have enough information or is it an outright rejection? And she, again, reiterated that
there would be no way under any circumstances that this information could get out into the public. There are some doubters about that, Hala?
GORANI: Al Goodman in Madrid thanks. Still ahead, protests in the streets of Buenos Aires as lawmakers decide whether to legalize abortion.
Argentina's decision could have an impact across Latin America. We are live in the city after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[11:40:00]
GORANI: Welcome back. Distribution of a Coronavirus vaccine began today in Argentina. The country ordered 300,000 doses of Russia's Sputnik vaccine.
Frontline workers are getting the first jabs followed by security forces, teachers and the elderly.
Argentina has recorded more than 1.5 million COVID cases and nearly 43,000 deaths. It's expected to be a long night for lawmakers in Buenos Aires as
the senate discusses legalizing most abortions. Protesters from both sides of the issue are holding vigils in the capital city. The vote could go
either way. Matt Rivers has more.
MATT RIVERS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Women's rights supporters in Argentina proudly waved their green scarves, hug each other and cheer in jubilation
as the conservative country is one step away from legalizing abortion. The lower House of Congress passed a land mark bill two weeks ago and many are
waiting as the senate debates the issue.
If the law passes, Argentina would become one of the few countries in Latin America to legalize abortion. The chamber of deputies of Argentina approved
the legislation with 131 members in favor and 117 against. Now the bill faces an even tougher vote in the senate.
Abortion in Argentina is only legal in cases of rape or if the women's life is in danger, but activists argue that even in those situations women don't
receive proper care. According to Amnesty International since 1983, more than 3,000 women have died in Argentina as a result of unsafe abortions.
The new law would allow a woman to terminate her pregnancy up to the 14th week in all cases. It's an historic move for the predominantly Roman
Catholic country with strong opinions both for and against the procedure.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No, no, I'm not in favor of abortion. The 14th week or whatever, it doesn't seem right.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm in favor of this legislation. I think it's correct that each person can choose what to do with their body.
RIVERS (voice over): Not surprisingly Argentine native Pope Francis is opposed the bill upholding Catholic Doctrine for bidding abortion. He has
been outspoken about the legislation writing in a letter to Argentinean anti-abortion activists "The problem of abortion is not a primarily a
question of religion, but of human ethics, first and foremost of any religious denomination".
Passing the law is also about President Alberto Fernandes fulfilling a campaign to make abortions legal so women don't resort to risky back room
procedures.
ALBERTO FERNANDEZ, PRESIDENT OF ARGENTINA: The first of them is to legalize voluntary pregnancy interruptions and guarantees that the health system
allows their realization under sanitary conditions that ensure their health and their life.
RIVERS (voice over): Argentina lawmakers also take up the issue back in 2018 after intense debate rallies on both sides that bill passed in the
house but was struck down in the Senate. If the current bill becomes law it could pave the way for a wider shift in similar laws throughout the region
as calls for greater reproductive rights for women ring louder.
And as we wait to see what the senate decides. It's an emotional time for many women and it is a defining moment in history of Argentina. Matt
Rivers, CNN.
GORANI: I'm Hala Gorani. Thanks for watching. I'll see you next time. Sport is next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[11:45:00]
CHRISTINA MACFARLANE, CNN WORLD SPORT: Hello and welcome along to CNN "World Sport" with me, Christina Macfarlane, where we begin with the
fallout from the Premier League's late postponement between Manchester City and Everton due to COVID-19.
Everton have requested full disclosure from the league to find out how the game came to be cancelled just hours before kickoff at Goodison Park? The
Manchester Club returned a number of further positive Coronavirus cases can on Monday that's in addition to Christmas Day when they confirm their
players Gabriel Magalhaes and -- staff had tested positive for the virus.
A city statement revealed that they have now temporarily closed their first team training grounds saying that with the security of the bubble
compromised that posed a risk that the virus could spread further among the squad, the staff and potentially beyond.
Well, in a strongly worded statement back, the home team said it regretted the postponement. Quote, not only for the 2000 fans who would have been
attending but for supporters on mercy side and across the world adding Everton will always have public safety upper most. We'll be requesting full
disclosure of all the information that Manchester City provided to the Premier League so the club can be clear on why this decision was taken?
Well, so far the Premier League says the decision to postpone was taken as a precaution and that it continues to have full confidence in its protocols
and rules. Also mentioning the game will be rescheduled, but they also released some concerning figures just a couple hours ago on the latest
round of testing saying that 18 players and club staff have now tested positive. That is the highest number reported so far since the start of the
COVID crisis.
Well, all of this has cast some doubt on whether City's premier league clash with Chelsea will go ahead as planned this Sunday. The blues are in
something of a crisis at the moment after failing once again to record a win. Things started well enough against Aston Villa at Stanford Bridge.
French Veteran Olivier Giroud in rich goal-scoring form right now putting the hosts ahead here.
It has to be said their opponents are enjoying a superb campaign at the moment considering how close they came to relegation last season. They were
level here early in the second half the young Dutchman -- also in fine form of late making no mistake about that finish to finish game level-pegging in
West London.
Well, with much to contemplate, afterwards Manager Frank Lampard was asked for his thoughts on if Sunday's game against City could be postponed?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
FRANK LAMPARD, CHELSEA MANAGER: COVID is a strange time for all of us for different reasons, and I think we all sense that this month or the next
period might be a tough one with what's been happening pre-Christmas with COVID in general and the surge and the difficulties that the public have
got and football has as well, so secondary will be football.
In the sense if we don't play those games, we'll keep working and keep everyone safe. That's first and foremost.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MACFARLANE: Well, amidst growing concern for what this could spell for the Premier League football expert Kevin Egan discussed how difficult this
could become given the congested schedule that's facing clubs.
KEVIN EGAN, CNN SPORTS CONTRIBUTOR: A very difficult schedule right now. You add to this the pressures of the COVID-19 positive cases. There are
1479 players and club staffs tested 18 new positive cases, double the previous round and as you mentioned the most this season in the Premier
League.
That's a major concern given this congested schedule and now Chelsea look ahead. They have their next game against Manchester City so there are major
concerns, and I thought you saw a real Frank Lampard there. In the previous game he criticized his players and you saw a Frank Lampard that was nearly
taken aback by the question, something that really doesn't involve football all that much and you saw the human that is Frank Lampard.
So hopefully we can get this under wraps. The Premier League, as mentioned, are very confident in their protocols, but as we see throughout the country
and throughout the world COVID-19 is causing havoc so if it affects football so it be.
MACFARLANE: Yes, I mean, Frank Lampard, of course, has a lot to contemplate both on and off the pitch at the moment. He talked after that game about
needing to find a rhythm for Chelsea to dig themselves out of what is rapidly becoming a bit of a crisis for them, but how much time has he got
now to put this right, Kevin?
EGAN: You know, I think he does have time. Frank Lampard has been thrown into a crisis here. Remember, on December 12th Frank Lampard woke up,
jumped out of bed and had a game against Everton that day, you know, the prospect of going top of the Premier League if they win.
They were on a 17-match unbeaten run at the time, keeping clean sheets for phone and producing brilliant results both in the Premier League and
Champions League. They lose that game to Everton. They have not looked good since then and now all of a sudden Frank Lampard is thrown into a crisis
mainly because the team cost so much money.
Look at the recent form. 3-0 win against West Ham was thrown in between here and that was not a good performance all around from Chelsea.
[11:50:00]
EGAN: So you look at the main reasons for me, Christina, are that he spent $272 million, that is, on players in the summer, five players at that, and
they have not produced mainly -- five goals between the pair from a combined 30 Premier League games this season, that's simply not good enough
for two extremely high-profile German internationals that came across from the Bundesliga.
Frank Lampard took to criticizing his team and he looked like a much different manager and happier manager after the 1-1 draw against Aston
Vila. But it was an interesting approach to take given the congested schedule to go at his players the way he did and knowing that we've never
really seen Alex Ferguson or Jurgen Klopp or Arsene Wenger through Premier League history do that.
MACFARLANE: Yes, as you mentioned that spending over the summer is slightly coming back to bite him at this time but it could as you say turn around.
Before we move on to Arsenal, Kevin, I just want to get your thoughts on Aston Villa because I know you are a lifelong, perhaps long-suffering fan.
And, of course, what we're seeing at the moment is a remarkable turnaround from relegation haunted side last season to now fifth in the table. You've
watched them week in, week out. What's inspired this impressive upturn?
EGAN: Huge credit to Dean Smith, you know. They do survive relegation, as you mention on the final day of the season last year. They finished with
what, 35 points from 38 games. They already have 26 from 14. They bring in a new sporting director a couple of days after surviving relegation and
they get rid of their old guy and they bring in Lang and he's done wonderful work.
Four new sign that have all produced that have all played 12 or more games. Ali Walkins the man in your picture has been sensational since coming
across from Brantford and it's clicked for Villa. Add to that Jab Grealish, a Villa boy and a local boy and captain of the football club at 25 has been
on a different planet this year.
He has created the most chances in the Premier League ahead of Bruno Fernandes and Kevin De Bruyne and he is in very good company and in high
demand. And Villa can keep hold of him and certain other stars like Luiz in midfield and -- at the back they are in very good shape.
MACFARLANE: They absolutely are. Keeps a smile on your face, I'm sure, Kevin. Now in the battle of the beleaguered managers, I guess you could say
Lampard is now edging Miguel Arteta following Arsenal's turnaround against Chelsea on Boxing Day. How likely are we now to see a revival from the
gunners? Was that a one-off?
EGAN: I don't know. It's a fascinating question because they were on a 56- day drought. Seven games without a win for the gunners and they go and produce a wonderful performance, all things considered against Chelsea at
the weekend winning 3-1.
Now what Miguel Arteta did, he put Nicolas Pepe and he put Aubameyang and he put Mustafi and Sebayas (ph) all on the bench and he played the kids.
Famously Alan Hanson said you can never win with kids -- Miguel Arteta went and played his kids and he got a great result.
Does he do that again? They play Brighton today and then they've got a relatively kind schedule to come. So we'll see if Arsenal can produce good
result and play the kids again against Brighton, West Brom, Crystal Palace and Newcastle to come. It's going to be fascinating to see. It's a lot of
pressure now on the young manager who is only 38 years of age.
MACFARLANE: Kevin Egan giving me his thoughts there. Now after his revealing interviews gave us a glimpse into Lionel Messi's future, find out
what his Barca Coach had to say about a possible move to Paris St. Germain?
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
MACFARLANE: Hi. Welcome back. India's Head Coach Ravi Shastri has called his side's second test victory versus Australia one of the great comebacks
in cricket history.
[11:55:00]
MACFARLANE: India have been crushed by eight wickets in the first test after scoring just 36 in Adelaide but it was a very different scene at the
Australia's famous Melbourne Cricket Ground just before lunch on day four. The home side were bowled out for 200 runs and India Captain Virat Kohli of
course missing the match due to the birth of his child but without him the visitors managed to reach the target of 70 stand in skipper Ajinkya Rahane
sealing the eight-wicket victory.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
RAVI SHASTRI, INDIA HEAD COACH: I think this will go down in the -- of Indian cricket, world cricket as one of the great comebacks in the history
of the game. To be rolled over for 36 and then three days later to get up and be ready to punch was outstanding. I think that the boys deserve all
the credit for the character for sure.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MACFARLANE: Now a week after reportedly bringing down the axe on Thomas -- Paris St. Germain have confirmed the sacking of their coach just four
months after German guiding them to big Champion's League final. The Liga side didn't not name a successor yet although it's widely expected that
he'll be replaced imminently by Mauricio Pochettino.
He'll leave the club with a pretty solid record two league titles and a French Cup and a French league cup all in 2020 as well as their first ever
Champions League final appearance in August. Regardless, the club said in a short statement that after an in-depth analysis of the current state of the
club they would be parting ways with the 47-year-old.
Meanwhile, speculation continues as to whether fellow Argentine Pochettino's appointment at PSG could entice Lionel Messi from Barcelona
next summer. Messi recently revealed his frustrations with the club and hinted at his intentions to start negotiating and move away from the club
next month during a tell-all interview on Spanish TV.
But despite this current Barca Coach Ronald Koeman says he's grateful to Messi for his support and endorsing his appointment in August and
continuing to make an impact for the club despite their worst start in 33 years. Speaking ahead of Barca's game against -- later on Tuesday in which
Messi will not feature due to injury, here's what the Dutchman had to say about talk of Messi's move to Paris.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
RONALD KOEMAN, BACELONA MANAGER: I think that Messi will decide his own future. It doesn't depend on either a coach or a country. I think that
these are decisions that must be taken with his family so I do not think that a coach can influence his destiny.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MACFARLANE: And that is it for this edition of "World Sport." I'm Christina Macfarlane. Thanks so much for joining us. Stay tuned the news is coming up
next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
END
