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U.N. Holding Virtual Donor Conference For Yemen; U.S. Outlines Recalibration Of Relations With Saudi Arabia; Israel's P.M. Blames Tehran For Ship Blast In Gulf Of Oman; Families Grieve After At Least 18 Killed In Crackdown. Aired 10-11a ET
Aired March 01, 2021 - 10:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[10:00:00]
ANNOUNCER: Live from CNN Abu Dhabi, this is CONNECT THE WORLD with Becky Anderson.
BECKY ANDERSON, CNNI ANCHOR: It is 10:00 a.m. in Villa Hermoza, 5:00 p.m. in Jerusalem, it is 6:00 p.m. in Sana'a. Tonight, we are connecting your
world through all of them. Thanks, sir for spending your time with us. Hello and welcome to the program. We are this evening connecting a complex
and distressed region here in the Middle East, captured in roiling conflict and endemic corruption. We're doing the right thing or what may seem as
such, can all too quickly lead to the wrong outcome.
A special kind of hell, that tragic assessment direct from the U.N. Secretary General describing what it is like to be a child in Yemen. In
fact, the United Nations says for just about anyone living in Yemen now, life is unbearable. A newly released report says, years of brutal conflict
have left two-thirds of the country's population in desperate need of help.
One official warning Yemen could slide into a famine unlike any the world has seen for decades. So, today, the United Nations is launching a global
effort to raise almost $4 billion for Yemen. It is holding a virtual donor conference, a second in nine months with more than 100 governments and
others taking part. Here is the Secretary General Antonio Guterres.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ANTONIO GUTERRES, U.N. SECRETARY GENERAL: It is impossible to overstate the severity of the suffering in Yemen. More than 20 million Yemenis need
humanitarian assistance and protection with women and children among the hardest hits. That's me means two out of every three people in Yemen needs
food aid, else scared, of other life-saving support from humanitarian organizations.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Already, the United Arab Emirates where I am broadcasting from has pledged $230 million dollars, so good start but just a fraction of what
is needed from governments around the world. This conference is coming on the heels of an attack in Yemen Sunday that killed five people, including a
child. The Saudi-backed coalition, and Houthi rebels, each blaming the other for that attack.
This is such an important story and one that we all really, really need to take note of. Achim Steiner, the United Nations Development Program
Administrator, joining me now via Skype from New York. And it is good to have you with us. An adequately funded aid operation will prevent the
spread of famine and create the conditions for lasting peace.
If you are not feeding the people, you are feeding the war, says Mark Lowcock, the U.N/ Emergency Relief Coordinator. He went on to say, "We are
at a crossroads," the Yemen, "we can choose the path to peace, or let Yemenis slide into the worst famine for decades." How sir, would $4 billion
be spent, and by whom to avert what the UNA Chief has said, would be a large-scale man made famine?
ACHIM STEINER, UNITED NATIONS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM ADMINISTRATOR: Thank you, Becky. And as Mark Lowcock and the Secretary General have said, we face an
unprecedented crisis. And it is one that the international community over six years of war has been trying to at least mitigate with humanitarian aid
and also developing interventions. Because the two things that define the ability of people to survive right now is, first of all, access to food;
and secondly, income.
And these are the two major thrusts that are clearly at the center of these appeals. And right now, humanitarian aid means also basic healthcare
support. We have to imagine a country that after six years of war has essentially lost its health care infrastructure, a significant part of its
education infrastructure; the economy is really on its knees, and even the importation of food and through the ports is severely hampered because of
the destruction of infrastructure, making it even more expensive.
These are the areas into which the humanitarian appeal tries to immediately provide support. And as you have heard, this is literally a matter of life
and death for hundreds of thousands of people and in terms of chronic food shortages for millions of people. That is why this appeal is so dramatic,
so urgent, and a reminder that in 2020, we only managed to mobilize less than half of what was needed. So, the country is chronically and acutely in
crisis.
ANDERSON: How confident are you that you will get anywhere close to the target of 3.75 billion?
STEINER: Well in a world that is currently distressed, where aid budgets, humanitarian budgets are obviously being stretched. It is always difficult
to predict. But I think the understanding of the dramatic nature of the crisis, the urgency Sweden, Switzerland and the United Nations coming
together to host the international community, I think all goes well. And certainly the prospects of peace. Also with the work of the special envoy
of the Secretary General Martin Griffiths, progressing the changed us position in terms of the dynamics in the region.
[10:05:27]
All this also holds promise that there may finally be an end to this war. And that is the precondition also for recovery, and for development. So, I
think the international community both cannot turn away from the human desperation right now. But perhaps also with a greater sense of hope and
possibility will come back to where it was in 2019, which was a funding level more equivalent to what is being called for right now.
ANDERSON: What happened, of course, in late 2019, was that countries became very concerned about how any money might be spent, and by whom it has to be
said, How do you reassure countries that any money pledged won't get funneled to the very actors on the ground, causing this cruelty and I am
specifically talking here about the Houthis who run Sana'a and much of the north scene of the worst suffering set?
STEINER: Well, first of all the humanitarian agencies whether in the United Nations system, the World Food Program, UNICEF and others, we clearly have,
and UNDP on the country as well, because we actually work in most of the governments of the country right now in order to provide the fiduciary
supervision and integrity to ensuring that these funds actually reach those who are in need.
And together with the international NGOs. Also, that is a key task. And I think while there might be instances where food sometimes gets stolen, the
chain of custody and the supervision and the monitoring certainly are part of the backbone of the international community's commitment to helping
bring those funds to the people that need it. But let us also be clear, we operate in a war zone and sometimes you have not got absolute control over
it. But this is what our commitment as the United Nations system is to ensure insofar as we can maintain control and the chain of custody that the
support does reach people.
And if you look at the record, in recent years, whether in Yemen or in other countries, then with the exceptions, and sometimes beyond the control
of anyone, this is largely what has happened. And so, I think there should be no reason to withhold any support right now, because of that potential
risk, which is minor, because of the many measures that have been put in place. And the way that our agencies work on the ground with staff were
actually posted in the country and are risking their lives to ensure that the international community handle it with aid.
ANDERSON: Staffs who are overstretched and underfunded. Sir, thank you. That is the story on the ground. And that is the narrative about why the
world needs to pony up on Yemen. Thank you for joining us. We'll have for much more on this crisis ahead. Next hour, I'll talk with Jan Egeland of
the Norwegian Refugee Council.
He is in Yemen and says the suffering there is quote, beyond belief. Well, now Yemen not the only thing of bringing heat upon, the Kingdom of Saudi
Arabia of late growing pressure from the U.S. could come to a head later Monday when the US State Department outlines what it calls its
recalibration with Saudi Arabia. This comes after Friday's bombshell report on the death of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, which declared in no uncertain
terms that Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman gave the okay for the murder.
Well, now it seems the report itself is coming under scrutiny. After it was initially published, the second version was published in the names of three
alleged co-conspirators were taken off. Nic Robertson is covered Saudi Arabia for years. He has very close sources there. And he now takes a
closer look at those names left off the report and what it means to the bigger picture.
NIC ROBERTSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Becky, I think one of the things that was quite striking about these three names that were on the
list that was taken down a few hours later put back up without those names on there is that over the weekend, neither the White House nor the Office
of the Director of National Intelligence, which put out their intelligence assessment have actually put forward a reason why that happened. One of the
names appears to be the brother of a minister involved in state security. That, in of itself raises questions about how when this lists this
intelligence assessment, which have been in preparation for a long time, how could such a mistake be made in this context.
An interest focus today as well that over the weekend, U.S. President Joe Biden has said that he will release information about how the United States
would generally handle its relationship with Saudi Arabia, which has given rise to speculation what's he going to say? I think what I'm hearing from
Riyadh is that they're not expecting anything particularly new. But we did hear from the President that he was going to demand and want absolute
accountability and transparency on human rights. The United States would not tolerate any human rights abuses in Saudi Arabia. So, that seems to be
on the record. Is that part of it? This just isn't clear at the moment.
[10:10:29]
But over the weekend, the United States having to take a different tone with Saudi Arabia coming to its support, when Houthi militias, backed by
Iran in Yemen fired a ballistic missile at the Capitol Riyadh, that's over 600 miles, almost 1000 kilometers away, causing damage in the capital. The
United States saying that it will stand behind the defense of Saudi Arabia. So, you know, this has been a rocky weekend for Riyadh. And when a missile
comes back close to the Capitol and part of the debris falls on buildings in the Capitol, that's a difficult position for the crown, the Crown Prince
Mohammed bin Salman as well, Becky.
ANDERSON: Nic Robertson on what is this sort of difficult diplomatic dance between the U.S. and Saudi and present explained by the British Foreign
Secretary Dominic Raab, a little earlier.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DOMINIC RAAB, BRITISH FOREIGN SECRETARY: Obviously, we coordinate very closely with our U.S. allies on this. Look, Saudi is an incredibly
important partner in that region. The stability of the region is at stake, the security of the region, and indeed, of many Western countries,
including the U.S. and the U.K. is at stake.
But we certainly, the U.K. never ducks its human rights obligations and our commitment to stand up for those principles and values, which is why, well
before any of the latest report last year, with the new Magnitsky legislation that I introduced to the House of Commons here in the U.K., we
targeted 20 individuals directly responsible, directly responsible for the murder of Khashoggi with asset freezes and visa bans.
So, we're very clear on it and I understand the question you're asking, and people take different views on that. But I do think it's important that
you're able to hold directly to account those directly responsible but also to maintain your engagement with the kingdom on so many important issues
that we have to work together on.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Dominic Raab speaking earlier. While a raft of Middle East challenges on President Biden's very full plate at present, Iran not
feeling receptive to his administration's offer to talk nukes. The White House saying it is disappointed but undaunted. And Tehran explaining that
now is not a good time. After all, just days ago, the U.S. military struck a site in Syria used by Iranian backed militia groups.
Then, there's last week's blast on an Israeli-owned ship in the Gulf of Oman, Israel blames Tehran. Iran says Benjamin Netanyahu his allegation is
"only a projection of the corrupt Prime Minister." The ship is now docked in Dubai for repairs. A lot to cover, Sam Kiley connecting us to the facts
from Jerusalem. Sam, a geopolitical blame game during the rounds present when it comes to this ship. What do we understand to be the details here?
SAM KILEY, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, the details are that the Helios Ray, which is Israeli-owned Bahamian of rather Balbadon
flagged, was holed in some way in the Straits of Hormuz, just off the coast of Oman. Now, this is an area as we know, only too well, where there have
been other ships that have been struck by in mysterious mind strikes that the western Gulf powers have attributed to Iran. Although sometimes
somewhat reluctantly, since it's been seen as a way of signaling power and strength without starting an actual war.
The opinion of the Israeli government was very quick in coming. They have sent experts out to Dubai to look at the damage to this vehicle carrying
ship that was traveling from (INAUDIBLE) in Saudi Arabia heading for Singapore, but has since gone back for repairs. Already, though, the
Israeli Defense, Chief of the Defense Staff, and the Prime Minister now Benjamin Netanyahu have both attributed this attack, indeed, to Iran. And
if I encode it up, this is what Benjamin Netanyahu said only this morning on Khan Radio.
He said that, "First of all, this was indeed an operation by Iran. That is clear. And as for the response, you know, my policy, I think that Iran is
Israel's biggest enemy." He went on to say that, "We're striking Iran all over the place all of the time." And indeed, as you just mentioned in the
introduction, Israel has attacks on Iranian backed targets in Syria have been attributed to Israel without cause, as is almost always the case the
Israelis never say whether or not they actually carried out those operations. So, that from the Israeli perspective, though, does require
some kind of response in their calculation.
And clearly, Benjamin Netanyahu has said he would make that response. But this all comes, Becky, amidst the time when Joe Biden's administration,
along with the Europeans are trying to get the Iranians to attend even unofficial talks and have been rebuffed over the, a nuclear deal.
[10:15:37]
ANDERSON: Yes, and that's the much wider story, isn't it, going on here regarding Iran, the positioning between Saudi Arabia and Iran with places
like Yemen getting caught up in that? critics suggests that Yemen was the sacrificial lamb in the early 2015. deal that was struck by the Obama
administration, with Tehran. There are of course attacks on Saudi Arabia itself. What's the big picture in this cold war or rather hot war as it
were between Iran and the rest of this region, specifically, of course, at the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia?
KILEY: Well, I think you're, the hot, the nearly hot war is exactly the way to kind of look at it, if you look at it, from the perspective of Saudi
Arabia, Bahrain, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, to a certain extent. Oman trying to play a diplomatic role into sort of switch role of the region.
But really the situation is that the Iranians, for all of the sanctions that have been imposed on them seem to be forging ahead with the nuclear
program that only this week, the International Atomic Energy authority has said, may have thrown up some suspicious looking presence, or allegations
of a presence of nuclear material that hadn't even been declared.
The great concern for the region, and indeed, the wider world is that Iran should not be able to develop a nuclear weapon. That's the grand strategic
picture. But the hotter area is across the Arabian Gulf there, the Persian Gulf, depending on which side you sit on, of it, and that is very intense,
indeed. The attacks on the Aramco facilities, some months back now have been attributed by Western intelligence sources. They liked people to talk
about it being a Houthi attack but actually, were reliably informed several of us here at CNN by Western intelligence sources, that these were missiles
are fired with deadly accuracy from Iranian territory.
The Iranians have the capacity to strike very, very accurately and there is deep concern that these Arab Gulf countries and Israel may have to go it
alone in some kind of future defense pact as the United States, particularly under Joe Biden seems to be withdrawing from direct interest
in such matters, Becky.
ANDERSON: Fascinating. Sam, thank you. Sam Kiley in Jerusalem for you. We are watching what the White House is doing as it recalibrates its
relationship with Saudi Arabia. We are also keeping one eye on how it prepares to impose sanctions on Russia.
Administration officials say the idea is to send a strong message to the Kremlin about the poisoning and jailing of opposition leader, Alexei
Navalny. Sanctions are expected to roll out this week setting a new, tougher tone for American policy towards Moscow.
The Biden administration has been taking a softer tone on immigration. That's one reason why so many people are flocking to the southern border.
Our cameras joined two teenage brothers making the trip on foot from Central America.
Crowds of anti-coup protesters returned to the streets of Myanmar one day after the military's deadliest crackdown yet.
The U.S. races to get millions of doses of a third vaccine delivered. We'll take you inside the shipping facilities where people are working around the
clock.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[10:21:16]
ANDERSON: Welcome back. Right now we are seeing pro-democracy protests face violent crackdowns in three places across Asia: Thailand, Hong Kong, and
Myanmar. That is a massive problem for any American president as it represents an assault on the values that Washington looks to support. Well,
in Myanmar, in the words of one activists the bloodshed is only made the resistance stronger.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON (voice over): Protests returning to the streets spelling makeshift barricades a day after the deadliest crackdown on anti-coup demonstrations
so far. The U.N. says security forces turn their guns on crowds in multiple cities on Sunday, and at least 18 people were killed. Meanwhile, the
nation's ousted civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi has appeared in court by video link.
She was charged with a third set of crimes, this time having to do with communication laws against causing quote fear or alarm. Well, there are no
reports of fatalities so far from the latest protests in Myanmar but activists say the death toll from Sunday's violence may be higher than
reported. And some of the victims' families sharing their pain connecting us tonight is CNN's Ivan Watson.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
IVAN WATSON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Shock and grief after the deadliest day since Myanmar's month-old military coup. 43-
year-old, Ko Ko Aung and his mother mourn the sudden loss of his twin brother Nyi Ni. He was one of the victims of Sunday's burst of bloody
violence.
KO KO AUNG, VICTIM'S BROTHER: I mean, we go to the roads and then we fight for our democracy, but they shoot my brother, my brother.
WATSON: Ko Ko says, the twins attended many protests against the military dictatorship after the February 1st military coup.
AUNG: We are against the military coup, and we all really want a democracy.
WATSON: On the night of Saturday, February 27th. Nyi Ni posted what would be his final message on Facebook: #HowManyDeadBodiesUNNeedToTakeAction.
On Sunday morning, the twins were part of this crowd in front of Yangon's number five business education High School.
Half hour earlier, police had fired tear gas down this street sending protesters running. But at 9:20 a. after a brief moment in attention, this
was Nyi Ni crumpled in front of the school gates.
Amid more gunfire, bystanders struggled to drag him to safety. The brothers had been separated in the panic. Ko Ko only learned that his brother was
fatally wounded with a bullet to the stomach after he repeatedly called his twin's phone.
AUNG: I called my brother again and again. After that, one time, he, he, he took my call and he says: "This is not your brother. Your brother had been
shot by the military."
WATSON: The spasm of violence erupted across Myanmar, Sunday claiming victims in at least six cities according to the United Nations Human Rights
Office. The U.N. Secretary General and U.S. Secretary of State both condemned security forces for attacking peaceful protesters.
CNN has tried to reach the military for comment but it has not responded. The military-controlled media insists police only used tear gas and stun
grenades against what they describe as rioting protesters. On Monday, protesters were back out on the streets of Yangon rebuilding their
barricades. Sunday's killings have only angered the anti-military movement, this activist says.
THINZAR SHUNLEI YI, ACTIVIST: Even today after many people got killed yesterday. Even today, we see a lot of people out on streets. They
resistant in the same scale. So, nothing can eventually stop us. That's what the military needs to be convinced about that.
WATSON: There's a memorial on the street where Nyi Ni bled. Ko Ko hopes his brother's death will not be in vain.
AUNG: Please help us, the Myanmar people. Please reject our military because they are not our leader. They are not our government. They are not
our future.
WATSON: Ivan Watson, CNN, Hong Kong.
[10:25:59]
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: Well, as bad as things are in Myanmar, anti-democracy protests being suppressed on unique I'm afraid to the country. We are seeing new
protests in Hong Kong after dozens of activists were charged with conspiring to commit subversion. Defendants includes prominent critics of
China's control. CNN's Will Ripley has been outside the courthouse where demonstrators are undeterred.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
WILL RIPLEY, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Becky, the arrest of 47 pro- democracy politicians who are having their hearings inside this court house in West Kowloon has sparked new outrage and new protests here on the
streets of Hong Kong. Peaceful protests, only verbal exchanges back and forth between the police officers warning some of these people that their
slogans and their banners get them arrested under the National Security Law, and also efforts by the police who have a large contingent out here to
keep the crowd sizes as small as possible by cordoning off the surrounding area.
Keep in mind that pandemic restrictions on gatherings of more than four people are still in place. So, theoretically, all of these people could be
arrested simply for being out here. Never mind the fact that some of them are holding up slogans and holding up banners that could be considered
subversive under the national security law that Beijing imposed on this city last summer. You can see by the size of the crowd that kind of goes
around the block here. This is certainly the largest protest that I've seen since Beijing imposed national security law on this semi-autonomous
territory last summer.
And essentially what you have now is a situation where nearly all of the high profile pro-democracy politicians and activists, including, Joshua
Wong, and others, are now detained and facing charges or in exile from Hong Kong. That is the reality less than a year after this national security law
has been imposed. People out here say they're not giving up the fight for Hong Kong's freedom to elect its leaders. But in fact, the people who are
in the courthouse behind me are being charged simply because they want to stand in a primary election that was postponed last year because of the
COVID-19 pandemic.
The charges are that because these people wanted to run for office and try to establish a controlling majority that could veto things like budgets
that the probation government impose. That, apparently, is enough under this new (INAUDIBLE) security law for prosecution. Prosecutors holding
these people denying them bail, their future, much like this city's future very much uncertain right, Becky.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Well, that is Hong Kong, we've also been in Myanmar. Now, to Thailand for you. Police fired rubber bullets at an anti-government
protesters in Thailand on Sunday. They clashed outside a military base in Bangkok that houses the Prime Minister's residence.
Now, Police also use water cannon and tear gas after they say they were pelted with rocks and firecrackers. Dozens of people on both sides were
injured and police say one officer died of a heart attack. The demonstrators there are calling for the prime minister to step down.
Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy has found out his legal fate. Details on his punishment and the reasons for it are just ahead.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[10:31:42]
ANDERSON: Well, among diluted unmitigated good news to bring you now. A new vaccine that's one shot and extremely effective, it could represent a whole
new way for us to fight diseases for generations to come. In fact, and that is the good news. Before we get to that big picture. Let me take you
through some of the micro details here. Nearly four million doses of the new Johnson & Johnson vaccine have been handed over to the U.S. government
which is working with states to get these vaccine doses out to communities' major benefit.
This is only one dose required. CNN aviation correspondent Pete Muntean and his team got access inside secure shipping facilities in the State of
Kentucky.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
PETE MUNTEAN, CNN AVIATION CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): An army of people and planes are standing by to deliver the new Johnson & Johnson vaccine. It
is the newest logistical challenge here at UPS Worldport in Louisville. Truck fulls of the vaccine will make their first step here after leaving a
McKesson warehouse so short drive away in Shepherdsville.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There's a lot of work that goes behind the scenes.
MUNTEAN (voice-over): Brandon Fortson helps run the key facility where vaccine shipments are first sorted. Workers here unload containers by hand.
Then machines scan and sort each package bound for delivery the next day or the day after. 3.9 million doses are in this first Johnson & Johnson wave.
On Sunday the majority were made available for state and local governments to order. The rest available to pharmacies as well as federally qualified
and community vaccine centers.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Everybody knows what's going through this facility and everybody understands the importance of it and what it means to everybody.
MUNTEAN (on camera): This is what ups calls the primary matrix the center of 150 miles of conveyor belt long enough to go from D.C. to Philadelphia.
This is where vaccine shipments are sorted automatically on their way to deliveries coast to coast.
The longest part of this journey is by air. Vaccines are loaded into UPS aircraft, each individual box broadcasts its position in real time to the
UPS healthcare command center. A critical feature when last month's massive snowstorm slowed vaccine deliveries and even shut down Worldport for a day.
For the first time ever.
ALYSE ADKINS, UPS 767 CAPTAIN: Every package is important.
MUNTEAN (voice-over): Captain Alyse Adkins pilot some of the nearly 400 flights that operate from Worldport each day. UPS says it has already
delivered tens of millions of Pfizer and Moderna doses. The 11,000 people who work here say they are ready for more.
ADKINS: Obviously, the vaccine we all think of it as just a shot in the arm, right? But it's not. It should be a shot of hope for everybody.
MUNTEAN (voice-over): Pete Muntean, Louisville, Kentucky.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: So, some promising news is this Johnson & Johnson vaccine, a game changer though in the coronavirus battle. How it works is very different
from the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines and explaining all.
[10:35:00]
ANDERSON: That can be a little confusing but what most Americans and indeed those around the world who will hope to get their hands on the Johnson &
Johnson vaccine is that it is a one-dose wonder as it were. The company has pledged to have 20 million available to Americans by the end of March and
100 million by the summer. Let's break down the facts and figures on all of this.
CNN's senior medical correspondent Elizabeth Cohen is in the house. Elizabeth always good to have you. So, Johnson & Johnson, a new vaccine. Is
it a game changer and if so, why?
ELIZABETH COHEN, CNN SENIOR MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: You know what, Becky, I'm going to speak for the United States right now because I'm more
familiar with the situation in the U.S. If they can get out, if they can pump out a lot of doses, then this will be a game changer. The issue in the
U.S. and actually really around the world is that there just isn't enough vaccine out there. So, they can manage to get a lot out.
It's only one dose, as you mentioned. So, so much easier to get it to a larger number of people, then it will be a game changer. Now as far as its
efficacy, I wouldn't use the word game changer, it's highly effective. It works very, very well, not quite as well as Moderna and Pfizer, but still a
highly effective vaccine. And Becky, let's take a look at those numbers. And then there's a little bit of explaining to do on the other side.
So, the vaccine was 72 percent effective in U.S. trials but it just in general at preventing various kinds of COVID-19 from moderate to severe.
But it was 85 percent effective against severe disease. And that second number, that's the number that experts are telling us we really want to
focus on because what that -- what we really want out of a vaccine is for to keep you out of the hospital and for it -- to keep you from dying.
So, 85 percent effective against severe disease is really terrific. And Becky, as you pointed out, there are advantages to this vaccine over Pfizer
and Moderna. One dose and doesn't need to be frozen. It just needs to be kept in regular refrigeration temperatures. Those are two really important
points there. It makes it a lot easier to get to more people and you can reach out to some more worlds or more rural places that might have some
issues with the -- with the frozen vaccine. Just easier to get it to people. Becky?
ANDERSON: And it is being distributed in other countries around the world. Not least in some of those countries where distribution will be really
significantly important. So, that is -- that's really good news. I wanted to just get you to address some of the turnaround numbers in the States.
Quite remarkable with cases falling dramatically and vaccine rates increasing significantly. Just walk us through where you think the states
is at this point.
COHEN: Right. So, I think that you framed it correctly and framed it well, which is that the cases are coming down. And vaccinations are going up.
Still, it's -- you know, there aren't enough people vaccinated in the United States, it is still a challenge to vaccinate as many people as
public health experts would like on the timeline that they would like but it is moving along and different states have different requirements about
what age you need to be or do you need to have an underlying condition?
But still it is -- it is indeed chugging along. And if this third vaccine can get a lot more out there, I think that will really be -- that could
really change things. So, 3.9 million doses, almost four million doses are expected immediately. That's not a lot in a country of 33 million people
but still -- 330 million people rather. But still that is -- that's terrific. There is more to be -- and those doses are expected as early as
tomorrow.
Twenty million doses at least are expected by the end of this month and 100 million doses delivered by the end of June. So, those numbers look like
they could get quite big by the end of June and that would be extremely helpful. Becky?
ANDERSON: Elizabeth Cohen on these story stateside for you. Elizabeth, always a pleasure. Thank you for that.
Hungary wants to vaccinate nearly a quarter of its population by Easter early next month. The government says it is racing against time. Rolling
out doses of two vaccines yet to get a green light from the E.U.'s medical chiefs. Well, in the next hour I'll be asking the Prime Minister spokesman
why the country is facing more equals its most difficult two weeks.
And Britain's Prince Philip has been moved to a new hospital two weeks after first being admitted for an infection. Duke of Edinburgh as he is
known was transferred to some Bartholomew's from King Edward VII earlier today. Buckingham Palace says he is under observation for a pre-existing
heart condition. 99-year-old royal has now spent 14 days in hospital. His longest day under a doctor's care to date.
[10:40:06]
ANDERSON: Well, ahead on this show, CNN sits down with the CEO of BioNTech which helped lead the development of one of the world's main COVID-19
vaccines. Why the CEO is confident his company's vaccine will be able to keep all of the variance under control.
And New York's governor facing another accusation of sexual misconduct. More on that after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: New York governor Andrew Cuomo is under increasing scrutiny today after a second allegation of sexual misconduct. Allegations catching the
attention of the White House which is calling for an independent review. One woman says last June Cuomo asked her questions about his sex life and
said he was open to relationships with women in their 20s. A second accuser says Cuomo kissed her on the lips in 2018. He denies that that happened.
Well, Athena Jones joins me now from the New York State Capitol of Albany. Athena?
ATHENA JONES, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Becky. Look, this is just the latest of several situations or crises we could say that Governor Andrew
Cuomo is dealing with. He's facing a federal probe into his administration's counting of COVID related deaths in nursing homes. He's
facing accusations of bullying and intimidation from a Democratic state lawmaker and now not one but two women have come forward to accused him of
sexual harassment, forcing him to address the allegations.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JONES (voice-over): Pressure mounting against New York Governor Andrew Cuomo after a second former aide has come forward accusing him of sexual
harassment. Cuomo addressing the allegations writing a statement, I now understand that my interactions may have been insensitive or too personal
and that some of my comments given my position made others feel in ways I never intended.
I acknowledge some of the things I have said have been misinterpreted as an unwanted flirtation. To the extent anyone felt that way. I am truly sorry
about that. The statement in response to a former aide who came forward and recounted to the New York Times, instances where she says the governor
inappropriately questioned her about her sex life in a June conversation.
Charlotte Bennett says Cuomo ask her such questions as if she was monogamous in her relationships, and if she has sex with older men. Bennett
tells the Times, I understood that the governor wanted to sleep with me and felt horribly uncomfortable and scared. Adding she was wondering how I was
going to get out of it and assumed it was the end of my job. Cuomo denied Bennett's allegations in a statement Saturday.
Bennett told the Times, she reported the conversations to the governor's chief of staff and was transferred to another job. She learned the
governor's office in November.
JEN PSAKI, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: There should be an independent review of these allegations. They're serious. It was hard to read that
story as a woman.
[10:45:08]
JONES (voice-over): Bennett's allegation came on the heels of former a Lindsey Boylan's accusation last week. In a post online, Boylan says Cuomo
asked her to play strip poker on his taxpayer funded chat. In another instance, after a one-on-one briefing with the Governor in 2018, she says
she got up to leave and walk toward an open door. He stepped in front of her and kissed her on the lips. She writes, I was in shock, but I kept
walking.
Cuomo denied Boylan's accusations in December when they first surfaced. Cuomo initially tried to appoint an independent reviewer to look into the
allegations. But New York's Attorney General Letitia James rejected that. Insisting on an independent investigation by an outside law firm with
subpoena powers. Several high-profile New York Democrats also rejecting Cuomo's effort, arguing that he should have no role in shaping the probe.
REP. ALEXANDRIA OCASIO-CORTEZ (D-NY): If these investigations bear out, it really starts to I think, call into question the leadership that we
currently have.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
JONES: Now CNN has reached out to Bennett for comment on this latest accusation has not received a response. CNN has not been able to
corroborate the allegations. And when asked for further comment, Boylan, who was running for Manhattan Borough President said she wanted her medium
post to speak for itself. Becky?
ANDERSON: Athena, it is his performance in his COVID press conferences at the beginning of this pandemic that is very much for Andrew Cuomo on the
international map. If people didn't know the politician before, internationally, they are likely to know him now. He is a politician with a
long history in Democratic politics, correct?
JONES: That's right. Just for -- just in this latest office, he served for 10 years. I mean, he was -- he came into office in 2011. But, you know,
this is possibly the series of crises among the biggest certainly as a group that he has faced as a governor. So, it's very, very challenging.
This is someone who people, as you mentioned, came to -- he hailed as a hero during the height of the pandemic in New York because of his messaging
is calm and direct and clear messaging during the height of the coronavirus pandemic in the State of New York.
And he was awarded, he was given accolades. He wrote a book. Now a lot of that is coming into question. People are saying, look what's going to
happen in terms of his political future. Some said he would have been on a glide path already to a fourth term. Now the concern is whether what all
this is going to mean. We'll have to see what comes out of out of this investigation -- these investigations I should say. Becky?
ANDERSON: Athena, appreciate it. Thank you very much. Indeed. It's a chilly day in New York. Thank you.
An historic decision in France for the first time in its history. Sentencing a former president to jail but will Sarkozy actually ended up in
the big house? Details ahead.
Plus, Hungary says it is in a race against time battling new COVID variants. In the next hour. I'll be asking the country's Prime Minister
spokesman. Why it is using vaccines not approved by the European Union of which of course it is a member.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[10:50:01]
ANDERSON: Nicolas Sarkozy is now the first president, French president to be sentenced to prison in the country's modern history. A French court
sentenced him to three years for corruption and influence peddling. Sarkozy won't see the inside of jail though. One year will be spent under house
arrest and the other two were suspended. Cyril Vanier is in Paris with the details on Sarkozy's punishment. So, what did he do? And why this sentence
do you believe?
CYRIL VANIER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Right. Well, Becky, I mean, this is a -- this is an earthquake in French politics and also really in the -- in the
long and rich history of how the French legal system deals with misbehavior by French politicians. And obviously, this is a huge signal sent because
we're talking about a former president. You spoke in your intro about the historic nature of this really.
Nicolas Sarkozy was found guilty by the judge today just a few hours ago of having bribed a judge. So having used his position as a former president to
influence a judge to obtain information on an investigation that concern Nicolas Sarkozy, right? Nicolas Sarkozy and his lawyer were promising the
judge a prestigious position in Monaco for his retirement in exchange for information stemming from an investigation into Nicolas Sarkozy.
That's what the judge found Nicolas Sarkozy, the judge, and Nicolas Sarkozy's lawyer who also happens to be his friend guilty of. And as far as
the sentence, well, the prosecutor had asked for a four-year jail sentence. The judge decided on a three-year sentence, two of which are suspended.
Meaning because Sarkozy does not have to do them. That leaves us with one year of firm jail.
But under French rules, he doesn't actually have to see the inside of the jail cell, as you mentioned, and he is going to be wearing an electronic
bracelet if and when he carries out his sentence, Becky, but he might not because we believe although it has not yet been announced that he will
appeal this decision.
ANDERSON: What does this mean for his political ambitions, Cyril?
VANIER: Well, we believe it puts paid to his political ambitions as far as next year's presidential election is concerned. Look, Nicolas Sarkozy has
always said and continues to say that he wasn't about to run for -- in the next presidential election. But that's what all would be candidates say
until they actually run. And the fact remains that Nicolas, there hasn't been another prominent figure of the fringe right that has emerged.
And so, Nicolas Sarkozy is still seen by many within his political camp as a potential savior for the right wing in France. And there was chatter that
maybe he would run again, if no strong candidate emerged. Well, now it's going to be very, very difficult indeed, for him to do so. He has just been
found guilty of bribing a judge. Even if he does appeal by next year when we'll be in the midst of the presidential campaign.
He would likely be right in the thick of his appeals trial. So, it's going to make it very difficult for him, Becky. Although not legally impossible,
politically very perilous for him to run again anytime soon.
ANDERSON: Fascinating. Cyril, always a pleasure. Thank you, sir. Cyril Vanier is out of Paris for you. Finally, the Golden Globes on Sunday proved
Hollywood is still trying to find its rhythm in this pandemic. Tina Fey and Amy Poehler hosted the show put on by the Hollywood Foreign Press
Association with awards given to nominees' video chatting from their homes. Film and T.V. nominees were notably different with streaming media
dominating categories.
British royalty drama Crown swept the T.V. categories taken home for trophies including best drama actor and actress. Nomadland director Chloe
Zhao made history as the first Asian woman and second woman overall to win best director. Her film will say took the award for best motion picture
drama. But the night also had its share of funny moments. Actress Catherine O'Hara won best actress in a musical for -- or comedy for her work in
Schitt's Creek and was played off the stage by her husband just a few words into her speech.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CATHERINE O'HARA, ACTRESS: It's an experience I will forever hold dear to my heart and I'm proud to be part of their family although I'm not really.
But, thank you Deb for loaning me your -- no. What? OK. Thank you CBC for making a show in Canada, thank you POP network for -- seriously? Thank you,
Netflix while we were sheltering in place, Netflix brought the show around the world.
Very happy to our family in lockdown (INAUDIBLE) I hope it won't take you six years to realize your greatest asset is who you manage to love!
(END VIDEO CLIP)
[10:55:16]
ANDERSON: We'll be back in a moment.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANNOUNCER: Live from CNN Abu Dhabi. This is CONNECT THE WORLD with Becky Anderson.
ANDERSON: Welcome back. You're watching connect the world. I am Becky Anderson. This hour, how would you recall your childhood? Well, if you are
a kid growing up in Yemen it's a special kind of hell. Those the tragic words of the U.N. Secretary General. Imagine food so scarce mothers have to
watch their children's little bodies with away because they aren't getting the nutrients to grow.
We've been seeing these stock images for years in Yemen as the country spirals deeper into civil war and famine.
[11:00:09]
END
