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U.S. Warns Again Russian Invasion Possible "At Any Time"; Ontario Premier Declares State of Emergency; ITA Confirms Russian Olympic Skater Failed Drug Test; FDA Postpones Review of Pfizer Vaccine for Kids under 5; California under Rare Winter Heat Advisory. Aired 5-6a ET
Aired February 12, 2022 - 05:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
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KIM BRUNHUBER, CNN ANCHOR AND CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Hello and welcome to all of you watching us here in the United States, Canada and around the world. I'm Kim Brunhuber.
Ahead on CNN NEWSROOM, the White House gives its most dire warning yet about the threat of a Russian attack on Ukraine. We'll have a live report from the Russian border.
Then the other controversy involving Russia, new details on the star figure skater who failed a drug test. We're live from the Olympics.
Plus --
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BRUNHUBER (voice-over): A new state of emergency is in effect in Canada, as protests by truckers cut off major routes into the U.S. A look at whether Canada is seeing a rise in right-wing politics similar to America's populism.
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UNIDENTIFIED MALE (voice-over): Live from CNN Center, this is CNN NEWSROOM. With Kim Brunhuber.
BRUNHUBER: The U.S. and other countries have a dire warning for their citizens still inside Ukraine: leave the country immediately.
This comes as the U.S. military directs 3,000 additional forces to Poland to assist American evacuations from Ukraine. U.S. national security adviser Jake Sullivan says the latest intelligence suggests a Russian invasion is more likely than ever.
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JAKE SULLIVAN, U.S. NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER: We are not saying that a decision has been taken, a final decision has been taken by President Putin.
What we are saying is that we have a sufficient level of concern based on what we are seeing on the ground and what our intelligence analysts have picked up that we are sending this clear message. Yes, it is an urgent message because we are in a urgent situation. Russia has all the forces it needs to conduct a major military action.
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BRUNHUBER: Russia has deployed about 30,000 troops in Belarus along Ukraine's northern border. The U.S. fears they could launch a rapid assault on the capital of Kyiv, relatively close to Belarus.
U.S. President Joe Biden spoke with NATO and European leaders. He and President Putin are expected to speak later today. U.S. secretary of state Antony Blinken said he'll be speaking with Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov ahead of that call. And he's warning any Russian aggression on Ukraine will lead to more support for Kyiv and harsh sanctions on Russia.
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ANTONY BLINKEN, U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE: If President Putin decides to take military action, we will swiftly impose severe economic sanctions in coordination with allies and partners around the globe.
We'll bolster Ukraine's ability to defend itself. We will reinforce our allies on the eastern flank.
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BRUNHUBER: CNN correspondents are covering the story from across the region. Nic Robertson is in Moscow, Sam Kiley is in Ukraine and Fred Pleitgen is in Bucharest, Romania.
We begin our coverage with Sam Kiley in Eastern Ukraine.
Sam, the tension already very high, seems to be intensifying.
What's the latest?
SAM KILEY, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, the mayor of the capital, Kyiv, which as you said in the introduction there, Kim, according to U.S. analysts, could be the target effectively in an attempt to decapitate the government; if not literally, then politically.
The mayor there has reassured his population with reissuing instructions that there are plans for evacuation, for the use of Soviet era bunkers, for emergency use of electricity-generating capability and even communications if they get cut.
Here, close to the Russian border, just 30 miles away from Russia, if there is an invasion on a broad front -- and there are a significant number of Russian troops amassing on this northeastern edge of the Ukrainian border, with Russia to the east, where you talked about those 30,000 troops being concentrated in Belarus, then there are also deep concerns that there could be an attempt to slice off this very important industrial and intellectual center for Ukraine.
Now the authorities here have not yet mobilized the National Guard or called out reserves. There are military exercises planned for military training areas nearby on the Ukrainian side, kind of in parallel with those that have been planned on the Russian side, as they kind of mirror-image of a show of force.
There's some 200,000 people in the Ukrainian armed forces, a very significantly bigger force than existed in 2014, when Russian backed separatists --
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KILEY: -- and Russian special forces sliced off the Crimea in the Donbas region of the country.
But there doesn't, on the ground, I have to say, Kim, feel like this is a city of 1.5 million people that feels like it's going to get invaded at any moment. Partly, I suspect, because there isn't a great deal that can be done until a decision has been taken, until those vehicles start rolling in this direction, by which time, of course, it could be too late.
There's a lot of focus also on the separation line between the Russian area -- the area of Russian influence in the east of the country where the separatists are. Speculation as to whether or not a Russian invasion would come in from the east.
But a lot of military analysts would look more closely at invasions coming from the north, from Belarus, close to where I am, also coming up from the south, out of the Crimea, where substantial amphibious forces are conducting naval drills on the Russian side, having closed large areas of the Black and Azov Seas, Kim.
BRUNHUBER: The world watches and waits, Sam Kiley in Eastern Ukraine, thank you so much, appreciate it.
As we mentioned, the Russian president is expected to speak today with both French president Emmanuel Macron and U.S. President Joe Biden. CNN's Nic Robertson is in Moscow with the latest.
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NIC ROBERTSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMATIC EDITOR: The Kremlin spokesman has reacted to all of this, saying that they repeatedly reject the accusation that they intent to invade Ukraine.
He says this is a provocation and the provocation will be used by Ukrainian forces to attack the pro-Russian separatists in the Donbas region in the east of Ukraine.
The ministry of foreign affairs spokeswoman taking an even harsher note, saying that this shows hysteria at the White House, that this is provocation, disinformation, threats even, to cover problems in the United States.
If all of this sounds a little bit familiar, it is, because this is sort of language we've been hearing from Russian officials over the past month, every time the issue of their intention -- or not -- to invade Ukraine comes up.
And it does seem to indicate what we've seen all along, that President Putin has not yet responded to the United States' and NATO's letters, telling him they reject his demands, that Ukraine be rejected from NATO, that NATO roll back to its 1997 levels.
There is no movement at the top. The officials are saying the same line, still space for diplomacy. President Macron expected to have a call with President Putin earlier in the afternoon Moscow time and, early evening, President Biden having a phone call with President Putin -- Nic Robertson, CNN, Moscow.
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BRUNHUBER: For more on this, we are now joined by Peter Zalmayev, the director of the Eurasia Democracy Initiative. That is a group promoting democracy and the rule of law in the former Soviet states. He is speaking to us from Kyiv.
Thank you so much for being here with us. The warnings from countries like the U.S., are becoming more urgent, telling their citizens to get out. As you've said before, for Putin, all options are on the table.
What is your sense?
Do you get the impression an invasion, indeed, could be imminent?
PETER ZALMAYEV, DIRECTOR, EURASIA DEMOCRACY INITIATIVE: Obviously, Vladimir Putin wants to continue making a credible threat. So everything that is happening could be interpreted as either a sign of an imminent invasion or Putin's bluffing.
But part of his bluff is once again to make it seem like an invasion can happen at any moment. This is done by negotiations are happening, just took place in Berlin, as part of the Normandy talks, to try to renegotiate the Minsk agreements, et cetera.
And I think Vladimir Putin believes this brinkmanship will finally produce fruit. He is already seeing what he thinks are cracks in the resolve of Western countries, to be a united front against Vladimir Putin.
President Macron's personal initiative to negotiate with Putin, it can be taken as a sign like that. There is a precedent for French mediation, in 2008, with the war between Russia and Georgia, where the French side helped the Russian side cement some of its gains, at the expense of Georgia.
So Vladimir Putin, definitely, wants to achieve his goals, the main goal, and that is, to keep Ukraine on a short leash, to keep it from drifting ever closer to NATO and the European Union.
He would rather choose less painful measures, such as a full blown invasion. And I think, he is still hoping that this kind of show of force will bring him what he needs.
BRUNHUBER: But there are cracks, as you, say but no concessions yet.
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BRUNHUBER: Many experts have noted Putin's approach to diplomacy has changed over the past year, becoming more confrontational and more aggressive. He's acting as if he's in a hurry.
Do you agree with that assessment?
If so, any idea why?
ZALMAYEV: You could also look at it from the perspective of a game of chicken. It's political economy 101, whereby the two sides are careening toward each other on a highway and each driver is expecting the other driver to swerve.
So it is a game of nerves, obviously. While the White House is engaged in preemptive, informational warfare, trying to warn about Russia's escalation over imminent invasion, Russia is saying, they're warmongering and it may look like they're just looking for a pretext, to say that is the West that started the war all along.
Once again, I think that Vladimir Putin has an arsenal at his disposal that is much wider than a full country invasion, which will cost untold misery for both Ukrainians and Russians and will lead to political, economic and financial crisis.
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BRUNHUBER: On that front, let me ask you, if there were an invasion -- Putin seems to have a hope that Russian forces might actually get some support from Ukrainians. Polls suggest, at least nationally, that resistance is very robust.
What sense do you have?
Have attitudes in Ukraine hardened, since, say, 2014?
Or do those attitudes change based on geography?
ZALMAYEV: Well, if that is Vladimir Putin's calculation, that the Ukrainians will come out in droves and support Vladimir Putin, that is a big miscalculation. Compared to 2014, when that was the case in the Crimea, that Russia occupied; that was kind of a case in the east of Ukraine, where Russia instigated a war.
Ukraine is much, much, much more antagonistic toward Russia and it will not be an easy way to just waltz into Ukraine and expect some kind of support. Ukrainians are digging in for the long haul. They've been in it for eight years, they're kind of hardened. It will
be much, much harder for Putin to expect any sort of warm welcome from Ukrainians.
BRUNHUBER: So they are hardened to this.
But do they have the sense that they have been abandoned?
You've put it, many feel the West is willing to flush them down the toilet.
But despite all the military supplies sent, despite all the effort Western leaders have expended on diplomacy, does that feeling still persist?
ZALMAYEV: It does persist, because, up until now, most Western leaders, like Joe Biden, has drawn a red line; that is to sending troops on the ground. They have made it clear it's not going to happen; the Ukrainians are aware of it.
They know that they will be getting military supplies. So once again, they are digging in for the long haul. They know that there is no one else who will protect their sovereignty from Russia but them.
BRUNHUBER: All right, we will have to leave it on that note. Peter Zalmayev, thank you very much, we really appreciate it.
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BRUNHUBER: Coming up on CNN NEWSROOM, how extreme right-wing politics are playing a part in the Canadian trucker protests. I'll speak with an expert just ahead.
And in spite of arrests and trucker fines, those protests don't seem to be slowing. We'll have the latest when we come back. Stay with us.
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BRUNHUBER (voice-over): Defiant anti-COVID mandate protesters have continued to block North America's busiest international crossing, even an after an order from a Canadian judge. It's one of the several key border crossing scene disruptions. Even more demonstrations are expected this weekend. CNN's Lucy Kafanov has more.
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(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) LUCY KAFANOV, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): In a battle that started over vaccine mandates for truck drivers entering Canada, now a state of emergency in Ontario, Canada, the premier pushing back against blocking border crossings.
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DOUG FORD, ONTARIO PREMIER: It is illegal and punishable to block and impede the movement of goods, people and services along critical infrastructure.
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KAFANOV (voice-over): Truckers protesting on the Canadian side of the border now facing legal action.
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DOMINIC LEBLANC, CANADIAN MINISTER OF INTERGOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS: We think that that will help remove the illegal blockades at border crossings that have threatened not only the Canadian economy but thousands of jobs that depend on that very active cross-border trade.
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KAFANOV (voice-over): Three Canadian-U.S. border crossings in Michigan, North Dakota and Montana have been at times cut off by the demonstrations . The U.S. auto industry particularly hard hit by the protests. Michigan's governor sounding the alarm.
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GOV. GRETCHEN WHITMER (D-MI): Every minute this goes on is lost wages. It's damage to our businesses. This is an illegal blockade. And while people have the right to protest, they don't have a right to illegally block the largest land border crossing in North America.
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KAFANOV (voice-over): U.S. automakers are cancelling shifts and running on reduced capacity. By one estimate, workers in Michigan could lose up to $51 million in wages just this week. Some truckers they are frustrated by the slowdowns that have persisted for days.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Keep one lane open. If they want to do their little show, let them do it but keep a lane open.
KAFANOV (voice-over): The American Trucking Association says they don't support vaccine mandates but strongly opposes any protest activities that disrupt public safety and compromise the economic and national security of the United States.
Truckers in Canada are actually vaccinated at a rate of nearly 90 percent yet a slow roll convoy of trucks is expected to head to a border crossing in Buffalo this weekend to support the protests, stoking fears that continued slowdowns could worsen the impact of rising inflation in the U.S.
KAFANOV: And even though any protesters blocking the Canadian side of the border are now facing legal action, you can see behind me, the crowd is still here, the mood festive. They're staying firm for now but, of course, a lot can change overnight -- Lucy Kafanov, CNN, Windsor, Canada, Ontario.
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BRUNHUBER: For more on this, let's bring in Eric Kaufmann in London. He's a professor of politics at Birkbeck College at the University of London.
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BRUNHUBER: He's the author of "Whiteshift: Populism, Immigration, and the Future of White Majorities."
Thank you for joining us here. You grew up in Canada. You've studied the right wing in Canada and the changing attitudes in that country.
Are you surprised at what you're seeing there now?
ERIC KAUFMANN, BIRKBECK COLLEGE, UNIVERSITY OF LONDON: Yes and no. It happens a lot less in Canada than in other countries.
But at the same time, beneath the surface, if you look at public opinion, there's been a polarization along party lines in Canada that's not a million miles as well as from what's happening in the U.S.
For example, approval of Justin Trudeau among conservative and people's party voters has typically been in single digits for, you know, for years. And that's sort of an indication.
And also very little switching between liberal and conservative. So a hardening really of political boundaries is a prelude, I think, and a backdrop to some of the very strong anti Trudeau sentiments we see expressed in the protests, which I think they are kind of a vector for.
BRUNHUBER: That's interesting, the link with the U.S. The thing that's striking is exactly that, the links between this movement and the pro-Trump right-wing forces in this country. It's something that already you've been interested in. You've written about this before the so-called freedom convoy.
Now we're seeing so many parallels, whether it's Confederate flags, Trump flags, and so on. Canada doesn't have a Trumplike figure but you see some of the same forces behind Trump's rise, let's say, awakened and energized in Canada.
KAUFMANN: Well, I think yes and no. I think there is resentment of a certain kind of progressive urban elite and that which is directed against Trudeau and the liberal party and so on. So that is in common.
But I think this issue, the anti-vaccine mandate issue, is not the same issue as some of the issues driving either right wing populism in Europe or the Trump phenomenon, where immigration is absolutely central to both of those.
I think in this case we don't see that. And despite the existence of the odd Confederate or Nazi flag, I think that's pretty fringe. This is largely Libertarian-inspired type protests. Really what we know, is libertarianism has a relatively shallow base within most electorates, including Canada. That's not really likely to sustain a significant populist party.
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BRUNHUBER: Let me jump in there since you mentioned fringe. That's quite right. Those involved here are a fringe element. But they are getting huge financial and logistical support from groups inside of Canada but very much so abroad.
How significant of a factor is that?
KAUFMANN: Oh, yes, these movements are very transnational with the internet and social media and I think it is significant. There is certainly a strong reservoir of antivax type libertarian support for this movement internationally and we see it in Britain, too.
My only point was, no, when I said fringe, it was more about the sort of racist element in the protests. I think that's quite a fringe part of this trucker convoy. I think the main thrust here is the libertarian, anti-vax element. So that's more what I meant. But yes, this is absolutely an international influence.
BRUNHUBER: Yes, and groups around the world are watching and learning. There have been copycat efforts in different countries.
So even though you have said things are a bit different in terms of the right wing populism in Europe and so on, how do you think this will resonate maybe in countries like the U.S.?
KAUFMANN: It will definitely have a resonance in the U.S., absolutely. And again, mainly, however, with that libertarian -- and there's a certain degree to which there's a sort of anti- establishment, anti-metropolitan, anti-elite flavor to this as well.
So I definitely think it will resonate. But I'm skeptical that parties that have attempted to organize on the anti-vaccine issue have had limited success. I don't see that -- and also as the pandemic fades, this issue is not going to be, long term, a winner.
So I think temporarily there is international solidarity in the group, people who are worried about this issue. But I don't see it as having the potential, say, that the immigration issue has, which really ignited the populist wave.
BRUNHUBER: But let's say it's not really about the anti-vaccine movement per se. It still must be very empowering for the more extreme elements to see that they could have such a huge effect and get so much support.
So could this could be a spark, let's say, of a tea party movement in Canada and maybe elsewhere?
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KAUFMANN: Yes, I mean, I think there is -- it certainly has energized that sort of minority segment of public opinion.
And certainly, the truckers do seem to have this sense, that they are in the spotlight and feel a sense of power. Whether, you know -- it depends what you mean by tea party movement.
Canada has got a populist party, the People's Party, whose polling has seemed to increase somewhat during the pandemic. But I suppose just the issues around the pandemic and freedom, I don't think are enough to reach the kinds of support of the tea party or a populist-type party.
You have to have something else that is more enduring, especially as the pandemic might actually fade away. You need something that is a little more durable. Also those who tend to vote for populist parties are those concerned with security and identity issues more than liberty issues actually.
There are some libertarians but they're not a large segment of any electorate. Again, I think it's skeptical that's really going to lead to a large movement.
BRUNHUBER: Well, we'll see. It's going to be interesting to see where it's all headed. I appreciate your insights. Eric Kaufmann, thank you so much.
KAUFMANN: Thanks very much, Kim.
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BRUNHUBER: The U.S. and France make another attempt at diplomacy when they speak today with Russia's president. We'll have the latest ahead.
Plus, a doping scandal is playing out on the ice at the Winter Olympic. Officials say when they hope to have the issue resolved. More on that after the break. Stay with us.
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BRUNHUBER: And welcome back to all of you watching us here in the United States, Canada and around the world. I'm Kim Brunhuber. This is CNN NEWSROOM.
The U.S. and other countries are urging their citizens in Ukraine to leave immediately because a Russian invasion could happen at anytime. The warning comes as the U.S. military directs 3,000 additional forces to Poland to assist American evacuations from Ukraine.
The White House has confirmed U.S. President Joe Biden will speak with the Russian leader later today. U.S. secretary of state Antony Blinken says he will speak with his Russian counterpart ahead of that call.
And just moments ago, the U.S. embassy in Kyiv posted this, "Today the State Department ordered nonemergency U.S. employees at the embassy to depart due to continued reports of a Russian military buildup on the border with Ukraine, indicating the potential for significant military action."
And U.S. lawmakers are getting regular briefings on Ukraine. Adam Schiff, the chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, spoke with CNN earlier about what he expects to happen. Here he is.
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REP. ADAM SCHIFF (D-CA), CHAIR, HOUSE INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEE: Yes. In fact, I've already had two briefings today on it, from the head of our intelligence community, as well as top State Department officials.
And I think the threat is very real and I think it is fairly imminent. And the advisory that we've given our folks to leave Ukraine, I think, is a very smart one. Tragically, if Putin hasn't made the decision, then one may be fairly imminent.
And, personally, I find it hard to conceive that he would go to the trouble of this massive buildup, for the second time, merely as a show of strength. So there could be a very substantial invasion of Ukraine.
It could include trying to take down the capital of Kyiv, trying to change the government. And as the intelligence community has declassified, it also may involve a false flag operation, where they stage something and blame Ukraine for the outbreak of hostilities.
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BRUNHUBER: NATO's secretary-general Jens Stoltenberg says there is, in his words, "a real danger" of a Russian invasion. He spoke exclusively with CNN at a military base in Romania, where U.S. troops have been deployed to support NATO allies.
The secretary told our Fred Pleitgen, Moscow is definitely ramping up its capability to move into Ukraine.
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JENS STOLTENBERG, NATO SECRETARY GENERAL: Russia is increasing both the number of troops but also their readiness and the capability to act and to conduct aggressive actions on very short notice. So the number of troops is going up while the warning time is going down. FREDERIK PLEITGEN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Do you think there is a chance that Russia will invade?
STOLTENBERG: There is a real danger. And we are prepared for many different scenarios, everything from a full-fledged invasion, to smaller scale military action, aggression against Ukraine, to subversion and big cyber attacks.
So the thing is to be prepared. But as we prepare for the worst, we also work strongly for a political peaceful solution. And it's still possible for Russia to de-escalate.
PLEITGEN: How important is the commitment from United States, to send reinforcements here to NATO's eastern flank?
STOLTENBERG: I strongly welcome the deployment of more U.S. forces, partly because the United States by far is the biggest ally and they contribute thousands of troops. But also, because it, of course, sends a very strong message of the ironclad commitment of the United States to NATO and to European security.
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BRUNHUBER: It's the eighth day of competition at the Beijing Olympics and there are several key events. The mixed team snowboard cross event made its debut at the Winter Games earlier today and there was a clash of the giants, the U.S. taking on Canada in men's ice hockey. More on that coming up.
First, all eyes on a Russian figure skater and the doping scandal overshadowing competition on the ice. The head of the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency says that the United States could prosecute any Russian individuals allegedly involved in the case of 15-year-old Kamila Valieva.
Officials have announced they should have a resolution by Tuesday. CNN's Coy Wire joins us just outside of Beijing. First, let's go to Kristie Lu Stout in Hong Kong.
Kristie, as we wait for the judgment on the controversy, what is the latest on the story?
KRISTIE LU STOUT, CNN ANCHOR AND CORRESPONDENT: We were following a press conference out of Beijing earlier by the International Olympic Committee.
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STOUT: And an IOC spokesman said, as you just mentioned, Kim, yes, there will be some form of resolution, with regard to the case of the Russian figure skater by February 15th -- that is Tuesday of this coming week -- as to whether or not there would be a suspension.
This comes after that revelation on Friday from the International Testing Agency, who said that Valieva had failed a drug test in December. She tested positive for a banned substance, a heart medication used for performance enhancement.
And that result didn't come to light until in Beijing this week. A number of open ended questions, one about Valieva and her team.
Team ROC, who won that gold medal on Monday for the team figure skating event, will that gold medal be taken away?
Another question about the skater herself and whether she will have that opportunity to compete on Tuesday.
She, of course, is a figure skating sensation. She has been this breakout star at the Beijing Olympic Games. And she managed to do that incredible accomplishment that we saw on Monday, becoming the first woman to land those quadruple jumps during the Olympic competition. And she's only 15 years old.
And yet, the world is also witnessing in real-time her Olympic dream turning into this Olympic nightmare. And that has prompted athletes and organizations around the world to chime in and fire their ire and their anger, not at her but at Russia and its enablers.
This is from the Global Athlete Movement, they write this, quote, "Valieva's positive test shows the severe ramifications of the international community's failure to hold Russia accountable, a 15- year-old athlete testing positive for a potentially harmful prohibited substance."
Kim, again, Valieva is one of the youngest Olympians ever to test positive for a banned substance. Back to you.
BRUNHUBER: All right, thanks so much for that and we'll keep following that story.
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BRUNHUBER: Coming up on CNN NEWSROOM, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration delays its decision on a COVID-19 vaccine for kids under 5. We'll explain why it says more data is now needed.
Plus, the search is on for who will be London's next top cop. A shocking report that led to the resignation of London's first female police commissioner. Stay with us.
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BRUNHUBER: So the U.S. will now have to wait a few months longer to get their youngest children vaccinated against the coronavirus. The Food and Drug Administration is postponing an advisory panel meeting on authorizing the COVID-19 vaccine for children under 5. It had been scheduled for next Tuesday.
Pfizer needs more time to gather data on whether three doses of its vaccine might be better than two doses. It's hoping to have results by early April.
Child vaccinations for ages already authorized have been slowing down in the U.S. Vaccinating those under 5 could help raise overall numbers. There are about 18 million children, aged 6 months through 4 years.
Now the delay is likely to have parents concerned about how much longer it will take to get their kids protected from COVID. Vaccine expert Dr. Peter Hotez explains why it's important to wait for the data. Here he is.
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DR. PETER HOTEZ, PROFESSOR AND DEAN OF TROPICAL MEDICINE, BAYLOR COLLEGE OF MEDICINE: A lot of parents were really hoping they were going to protect their kids under the age of 5. I think there's a few things going on. First of all, we've known for a while that this was going to be a three-dose vaccine. And the two doses just weren't cutting it in terms of the level of immune response needed to protect --
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HOTEZ: -- partly because we went way down on the dose, from 30 micrograms in adults to 10 micrograms in the 5-11, down to 3 micrograms in the under 5. And for the 2-4 year-olds, it just wasn't as immunogenic as needed to induce the strong immune response in the 2-4 year-olds.
So we knew it was going to be a three dose for a while. But I think there was some additional data that gave some optimism.
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BRUNHUBER: Here's a look at some COVID-19 headlines making news around the world.
South Korea reported a record high number of COVID cases Saturday. Officials recorded nearly 55,000 cases. It's the third day in a row. More than 50,000 cases have been reported.
Hong Kong also reported a record number of COVID-19 cases Saturday for a second day in a row. Over 1,500 new infections were recorded. Health authorities are saying they aren't ruling out a citywide lockdown.
Meanwhile, France is loosening some of its mask rules February 28th. Masks will no longer be required in establishments where a vaccine pass is necessary for entry. But masks will still be mandatory on public transportation and in spaces where the vaccine pass isn't required.
The search is now on for a new police commissioner in London. It comes after the city's first female police commissioner resigned on the heels of a scathing report. CNN's Salma Abdelaziz has the story from London.
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SALMA ABDELAZIZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): London's top cop is on the way out barely a week after a damning, independent review found a toxic culture of racism, sexism and homophobia and bullying at the Met Police and revealed highly offensive language used on social media platforms by officers at a London police station.
The city's mayor, Sadiq Khan, says he has lost faith in Cressida Dick's leadership.
SADIQ KHAN, LONDON MAYOR: It's clear that the only way to start to deliver this scale of the change required is to have new leadership right at the top.
ABDELAZIZ (voice-over): The first woman to lead London's force and in her 40-year policing career in disgrace.
CRESSIDA DICK, METROPOLITAN POLICE COMMISSIONER: The murder of Sarah Everard and many other awful cases recently have I know damaged confidence in this fantastic police service.
ABDELAZIZ (voice-over): The brutal kidnap rape and murder of Sarah Everard by serving Met officer in March last year left many Londoners feeling scared and unprotected. And the police's handling of a street vigil in Everard's honor showed callousness in the face of anguish and anger, activists say.
For years critics accused the commissioner of running a systemically racist and sexist police force. The police chief has previously denied institutional discrimination on the force.
LEROY LOGAN, FORMER METROPOLITAN POLICE SUPERINTENDENT: Trust and confidence is the cornerstone of police legitimacy. And you cannot expect to serve the needs of the public if they don't trust you. They're not going to work in partnership with you.
ABDELAZIZ (voice-over): That trust was eroded by multiple scandals during Dick's five year tenure as chief. In December, a pair of officers were jailed for taking photos of two murdered sisters, which they shared on WhatsApp.
In 2020, Black Lives Matter protesters demanded the commissioner step down and the Met Police is under fire for being slow to investigate multiple allegations of partying at 10 Downing Street dorm lockdowns.
DICK: I can confirm that the Met is now investigating.
ABDELAZIZ (voice-over): As of late January, a police inquiry is now underway to determine if COVID rules were broken under the prime minister's roof. But the commissioner's resignation is not enough. Activists say radical reform of the Met Police is long overdue -- Salma Abdelaziz, CNN, London. (END VIDEOTAPE)
BRUNHUBER: Well, the Super Bowl is almost here and, with it, record hot weather. After the break, we'll go to the CNN Weather Center for details on this rare wintertime heat. Stay with us.
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BRUNHUBER: All right. We want to take you now live to Kyiv.
You're looking at the U.S. embassy in the Ukrainian capital. A short time ago, the embassy posted this.
"Today, the State Department ordered nonemergency U.S. employees at the embassy to depart due to continued reports of Russian military buildup on the border with Ukraine, indicating potential for significant military action."
The U.S. and other countries are urging their citizens in Ukraine to leave immediately, fearing a Russian invasion could happen at anytime. The White House has confirmed U.S. President Joe Biden will speak with the Russian leader later today. Stay with CNN for updates.
All right. Super Bowl Sunday could go down as the hottest Super Bowl on record. Now we're talking about the actual temperature, not the game. Nearly 20 million people in southern California are under heat advisories this weekend.
Experts say the temperatures will be 15 to 20 degrees Fahrenheit above normal in some areas. We could see new record hot weather set in the next couple of days.
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BRUNHUBER: That wraps this hour of CNN NEWSROOM, I'm Kim Brunhuber. "NEW DAY" is next. For the rest of the world, it's "CONNECTING AFRICA."
