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U.S. Suffers Deadliest Day In More Than Six Months As Millions Travel For Thanksgiving; Soon: Biden To Give Thanksgiving Address To American People; Lockdown Tactics Create A Tale Of Two Europes; Deadline For Tigray Surrender Drawing To A Close. Aired 10-11a ET
Aired November 25, 2020 - 10:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[10:00:21]
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(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The safest thing to do this Thanksgiving is not travel.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's potentially the mother of all super spreader events.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: This is, again, the time for us to really hunker down. Do not gather indoors with anyone who is not in your immediate household
right now.
JOE BIDEN, PRESIDENT-ELECT OF THE UNITED STATES: America is back. We're at the head of the table once again. America is going to reassert its role in
the world.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The White House has signed off on Joe Biden getting that president's daily brief. He does expect to start potentially as soon
as today.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BECKY ANDERSON, CNN HOST: This hour, Biden gets going as America is on the move in the middle of the pandemic.
I'm Becky Anderson. Hello and welcome to the program.
There is a lot to get through, so get comfy. It is after all Thanksgiving eve across the United States. It's an all-American favorite, a time honored
tradition, the chance to break bread, roast a turkey, squabble with your family you don't often get to see, and catch up with old friends.
Thanksgiving is in a word huge, but this will be a Thanksgiving like no other. Many Americans are taking a risk not just themselves, but for
everyone they come into contact with by traveling this year for the in- person experience, if you will, and then there are those who will gather without a much-loved family member or friend. That is the real meaning
behind all of the numbers we tell you about.
The heartbreak for so many related to the 2,100 Americans killed just yesterday, the highest number since early May. It will be a grim holiday
for their families and others. And, sadly, more could lose their lives.
Right now, more than 88,000 are in hospital, gasping for breath, trying to beat the virus, and that number yet another record.
With cases surging across the country, the White House coronavirus task force now calling for more aggressive testing and says that must be
combined with, quote, significant behavior change of all Americans. That as we see millions traveling.
Well, this will all soon fall to Joe Biden to deal with. He will speak in the coming hours and we are told will chart out a path forward, out of the
pandemic's grip for the country. We will have more on that in a moment. As we heard at the top of the show Thanksgiving could be what one expert calls
the mother of all super spreader events.
We caught up with one traveler in Miami who tells us he's taking a lot of precautions to stay safe. Have a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yeah, I'm a little worried, but I'd rather take the chance and go see my family because I haven't seen them in a while. I'm
wearing gloves, I am just making sure I have wipes and wiping down the seats, putting hand sanitizer, just trying to be as safe as possible, but
we're in an airport and everybody -- some people go close together and they don't really pay attention to the guidelines, but I will try my best to.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: CNN's Rosa Flores, she is also at Miami International Airport, connecting us to the latest on what the U.S. is facing, especially over the
big travel weekend.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ROSA FLORES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Millions of Americans are expected to travel for Thanksgiving. I'm here at Miami International Airport. Take a
look and you will see that a lot of the travelers that we've seen are wearing masks. Some of them are also wearing face shields.
According to officials here more than 621,000 passengers are expected to crisscross this airport during a 12-day period during thanksgiving. That's
a 59 percent decrease compared to last year, but that is still a lot of people.
Now, medical experts say that the way that this virus is transmitting right now is indoors, with younger people who do not have symptoms sharing it
with older people. That's why medical experts are so concerned about Thanksgiving because how does that sound? That sounds exactly like people
meeting for Thanksgiving to have a meal.
That's why medical experts are asking, urging Americans, to stay home instead of traveling and perhaps having a thanksgiving meal over Zoom or
other virtual capabilities to make sure that people stay safe.
Now, for those Americans that will be traveling to go see their families, because we know that millions of them are doing that, what medical experts
recommend is for these gatherings not to happen indoors, but instead to happen outdoors, for people to be wearing masks, to social distance and
also to experience good hygiene, which is one of the simple things that medical experts say will help stop the spread of the virus, wash your
hands, wash your hands, wash your hands.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
[10:05:19]
ANDERSON: In fact, you can't wash your hands enough during this pandemic.
Now, you will remember that New York was the original hot spot in America. They got things under control, but this hour, the governor warning that a
major spike is on the way. Hospitalizations more than doubling this month alone, so the city's mayor announcing new restrictions like shutting down
bars and gyms are very likely in the next week or two.
So, as serious as this coronavirus spike is now, it could get much worse. CNN's Shimon Prokupecz has more on a field hospital that is opening in New
York where they are bracing for an influx.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SHIMON PROKUPECZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Becky, we're here in Staten Island where there is a lot of concern as city and state officials here in New
York concerned over the number of people that have been hospitalized with the coronavirus. They have seen an explosion of cases here, in some cases,
hospitalizations are three times what they were three weeks ago, so they're seeing this steady climb of cases and so state officials along with the
hospital people here on Staten Island have decided that they need to open an extra hospital so they can have room for some of the new cases that are
coming in to the hospitals across this borough.
Across New York City, also other parts of New York, of course, seeing a rise in cases, but nothing like what we're seeing here in Staten Island
where what's really concerning officials here is that the number of people that are going into the hospital.
Also here on Staten Island because of the increase in cases, bars and indoor dining and gyms and salons all have to close today. The number of
cases here continuing to rise and so the governor says that those restaurants, those locations, salons and the bars, they need to shut down.
This as the city prepares for Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving which is tomorrow and also in the days and weeks after Thanksgiving where they are expecting
to see a rise in cases as people get together in homes, as people go out and shop and get together, they are concerned that the number of cases are
going to rise here in New York City -- Becky.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: Yeah, those are the pandemic case numbers for you, rising and rising.
Let's take a look at the economic numbers now. We're keeping a close eye on the Dow Jones Industrial Average this hour, which you will remember we
broke news for you here on CONNECT THE WORLD this time yesterday as it went past a record 30,000 points. It's just down slightly from that but only
just. In the last few hours, new numbers showed 787,000 Americans applied for unemployment benefits for the first time last week, 30,000 more than
the week before.
And this has been a paradox of the pandemic, stocks strong overall while many Americans are still losing their jobs and struggling to make ends
meet. Well, that struggle playing out across America, cars lining up for miles at food banks. The organization Feeding America predicting that one
in six Americans and one in every four children will have experienced food insecurity at some point this year.
Yes, I'm talking about America, folks, and that is putting a strain on food banks.
CNN's Adrienne Broaddus live from Chicago for us -- Adrienne.
ADRIENNE BROADDUS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning to you.
The pandemic has exposed a problem we already knew existed, food insecurity. But food banks across the country are trying to fill that gap.
We are in Chicago at Lakeview Pantry and they are prepared to serve at least 600 people today. The boxes are food are already ready to go. You can
see here fresh produce already prepackaged for families, on the other wall there lined up in those brown boxes, nonperishable items as well as a
turkey for Thanksgiving.
And this is something different. Normally this pantry is set up like a grocery store where people can come in and pick out the items they need,
but because of the pandemic they can't do that, the food pantry is doing its part to maintain social distancing.
I spoke with the CEO a short time ago, she says this week they expect to see 5,000 families walk through the door. And some of the people walking
through the door are showing up for the very first time.
[10:10:00]
Listen in.
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KELLIE O'DONNELL, LAKEVIEW PANTRY CEO: We're seeing thousands of people, many who have never had to go to a food pantry before, these are folks who
were hospitality workers or hard-hit industries that were probably laid off or recently separated from their job, and we're seeing increase in
families, we're seeing more kids and we're seeing a lot of seniors who are now isolated in their homes.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BROADDUS: Families with children, think about it. Before the pandemic kids were in school, a lot of families depended on free and reduced lunch, a lot
of those children were getting their meals from school, but that's not happening now.
So they're here this week to fill the need and they will be here for the weeks to come.
Back to you.
ANDERSON: What a -- what a story. Thank you.
Well, that's the America that Joe Biden will inherit, then. That is a big ask. We're going to hear what he thinks about all of this in just a few
hours from now when the President-elect delivers his Thanksgiving address to the American people.
Now, he plans to discuss the shared sacrifices being made during the holiday season as he urges vigilance as we've just seen. He's got a long
way to go getting that message across.
Let's talk more about the transition with CNN's Senior Washington Correspondent, Jeff Zeleny.
This has to be priority number one, two and three, doesn't it? Containing this pandemic and getting the American economy back on its feet.
JEFF ZELENY, CNN SENIOR WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT: Becky, there's no doubt about it, that is his urgent priority, both domestically here in the United
States and indeed his message for abroad, too. If the United States does not get its hands around the coronavirus, excuse me, how can they do
anything else? It sends a signal if nothing else.
But all of this is coming as Mr. Biden will be delivering an address later this afternoon, even as he forms his own government.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ZELENY (voice-over): President-elect Joe Biden is building his new government.
BIDEN: It's a team that reflects the fact that America is back, ready to lead the world, not retreat from it.
ZELENY: And making clear he's not fixated on punishing President Trump.
BIDEN: I will not do what this president does and use the Justice Department as my vehicle to insist that something happen.
ZELENY: Biden telling NBC News that investigating the president is not his priority, but adding that some probes are beyond his control.
BIDEN: There are a number of investigations that I've read about that are at a state level, there's nothing at all I can or cannot do about that, but
I'm focused on getting the American public back at a place where they have some certainty, some surety, some knowledge that they can make it.
ZELENY: For the first wave of nominees to his cabinet the president-elect is turning to long-time advisers, steeped in Washington experience.
BIDEN: They will tell me what I need to know not what I want to know. What I need to know.
ZELENY: It's a changing of the guard, at least from the Trump era. But with familiar faces from the Obama and Clinton administrations, and an eye on
restoring America's place in the world.
BIDEN: This is not a third Obama term because there's -- we face a totally different world than we faced in the Obama/Biden administration. The
president -- President Trump has changed the landscape, it's become America first, which meant America alone. We find ourselves in a position where our
alliances are being frayed.
ZELENY: For secretary of state, Biden said he will nominate long-time adviser Tony Blinken who told of his stepfather's holocaust survival as an
example of America's unparalleled promise.
TONY BLINKEN, U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE NOMINEE: He ran to the tank, the hatch opened, and an African-American G.I. looked down at him. He got down
on his knees and said the only three words that he knew in English that his mother taught him before the war -- God bless America. That's who we are.
That's what America represents to the world.
ZELENY: For homeland security secretary, Alejandro Mayorkas, an immigrant and veteran of government service.
ALEJANDRO MAYORKAS, U.S. HOMELAND SECURITY SECRETARY NOMINEE: The Department of Homeland Security has a noble mission to help keep us safe
and to advance our proud history as a country of welcome.
ZELENY: And as director of national intelligence, Avril Haines, the first woman to lead the intelligence community.
AVRIL HAINES, U.S. DIRECTOR OF NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE NOMINEE: You have selected us not to serve you but to serve on behalf of the American people,
to help advance our security, our prosperity, our values.
ZELENY: And U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, Linda Thomas-Greenfield.
LINDA THOMAS-GREENFIELD, U.S. AMBASSADOR TO THE UNITED NATIONS NOMINEE: In my 35 years in the foreign service across four continents, I put a Cajun
spin on it. I called it gumbo diplomacy.
ZELENY: The Biden team also featuring John Kerry as a special envoy on climate, elevating addressing the crisis to a cabinet-level post.
[10:15:02]
They will all face Senate confirmation and the new lineup is hardly a guarantee of success, but a key part of Biden's effort to turn the page.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: And we will keep connecting you to the story, the changing face of American foreign policy under a Biden administration. About 45 minutes
from now, we will be speaking with Mara Rudman, whose name has been floated as the president-elect's potential senior advisor on the Middle East.
As Joe Biden builds his team and pledges to restore America's place in the world, Donald Trump keeps on choreographing a weird attention-seeking
sideshow. Mr. Trump expected to join his attorney, Rudy Giuliani, at a, quote, voter fraud event in Pennsylvania in a few hours from now.
There is nothing official about this event. Pennsylvania has officially certified its election results, naming Biden the winner. It is just the
latest attempt by this president and his allies to undermine confidence in the 2020 election and change the result of a contest that he lost. It's
also seen as a possible moneymaker for his future projects.
Also on Trump's to-do list, pardons. Maybe a lot of them. Michael Flynn believed to be high on that list, Flynn had a very short stint you may
remember as Trump's national security adviser, but was fired for lying to the FBI about his contacts with Russia.
A deep dive into the mindset of the far-right group the Proud Boys coming up in our next hour.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's too much like a nationwide criminal gang is where they're heading towards, and I didn't want any part of that.
This is for Proud Boys and only Proud Boys. We need more political activists on the right side. More. Not less.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: CNN gets remarkable access to the group that's among Donald Trump's fiercest supporters.
Also ahead on the program, some lockdowns in Europe have been strict, others not so much. And that is having a major consequence for the holiday
season. We will go live to France and to Germany for you.
We are now counting down the minutes for Ethiopia, nearing a deadline that could lead to a civil war there. Thousands fleeing this hour. More is just
ahead.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
URSULA VON DER LEYEN, EUROPEAN COMMISSION PRESIDENT: I know that shop owners, bartenders and waitress and restaurants want an end to
restrictions, but we must learn from the summer and not repeat the same mistakes. Relaxing too fast and too much is a risk for third wave after
Christmas.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Well, it's a tale of two Europes, one taking the more aggressive response to the pandemic and they are now able to line up on restrictions
in time for Christmas, the other taking a somewhat lighter approach, now having to tighten rules back up again.
[10:20:08]
A few weeks ago as cases surged in Europe, France imposed a strict nationwide lockdown, requiring people to stay in their homes except for
essential activities.
Now, it looked much like lockdown it imposed back in March. Germany, too, went back into a semi-lockdown but it stopped short of for forbidding
people to leave their homes.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JEAN CASTEX, FRENCH PRIME MINISTER (through translator): It will not be possible for you to go to visit friends or to welcome family members into
your home both at day or at night during the week or on weekends. It's prohibited for you to travel more than one kilometer away from your home
other than the permitted reasons.
ANGELA MERKEL, GERMAN CHANCELLOR (through translator): We demand from people to refrain from private travels and visits, including visiting
relatives if these travels are not absolutely necessary. We will drastically cut back on leisure activities. Theaters, operas, concert
houses and similar institutions, cinemas, amusement parks.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Just have a look here the difference between the two countries in terms of new confirmed cases now makes things abundantly clear.
On the ground in both countries for you, Fred Pleitgen is in Berlin, first, Jim Bittermann outside of Paris.
And how do people feel now? It's been a tough period of time, but clearly there is some light at this point, Jim.
JIM BITTERMANN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, there is some light and I think people are a bit frustrated at how long this process is
taking, but it looks like after President Macron's speech last night, it's going to take a little while longer.
Basically began in his address to the nation by saying in fact the numbers are actually going pretty well and the fact is that they started off at the
beginning of the month to something around 60,000 new cases per day, that was the high that they've never had, and that now it's running around
10,000. He used it as a way to compliment his country and their perseverance. Take a listen to this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
EMMANUEL MACRON, FRENCH PRESIDENT (through translator): During my last speech, we were sure of having figures that were well worse and we have
avoided them. On one hand because of our efforts, your efforts, have paid off. The civic spirit that you have demonstrated has been efficient.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BITTERMANN: So then he went on to outline exactly how his three-phase ease/reopening plan is going to work and the first phase starts on Saturday
at which time the shops can reopen, some of the ones that have been closed, houses of worship can reopen and the extended -- the exercise period which
has been limited to one hour per day is going to go up to three hours per day.
Then a little bit later on if the numbers stay good and the French behave themselves December 15th if the targets are met, there will be limited
Christmas travel that will be allowed, cinemas, heaters and museums can reopen but there's going to be a curfew and that curfew is going to remain
in place with the exception of Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve until January 20th.
At which time, again, if the numbers are going in the right direction, they're going to allow bars and restaurants and cafes to open and things
will pretty much return to normal -- Becky.
ANDERSON: Fred Pleitgen is in Berlin where this story not as optimistic as that of France. As Jim rightly pointed out, I mean, it's still tough in
France.
FREDERIK PLEITGEN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yeah, it certainly is and I think one of the things that Angela Merkel is seeing
pretty much for the first time in this pandemic is that a set of measures that were put in place by her government of course while talking to state
governors here in Germany, obviously, Germany has very much a federalistic system, is that the current measures simply aren't working.
If you look at the numbers at the German Center for Disease Control put forward today, it's 18,633 new infections in a span of 24 hours, that's
about 1,000 more than Wednesday last week. So, essentially what the Germans are saying is, look, the numbers aren't going up as fast as they were make
a couple weeks ago, but they certainly also aren't going down, that's something very concerning to the Germans.
And essentially what Angela Merkel is saying today and right now she is in negotiations once again with those state governors, trying to push her
measures through because she's always wanted a tougher lockdown but hasn't been able to institute that over the past couple of weeks, essentially what
she's saying is they wanted to decrease the lockdown measures at the end of November, they're not going to be able to do that, it's probably going to
go all the way to December 20th and they're going to have to tighten up restrictions even more.
That means stricter mask mandates, for instance, in schools and also further restricting the amount of contacts that people are going to have.
One of the things that I'm seeing right now in those negotiations is apparently one of the things they want to do is allow fewer people to
actually be inside shops, which, of course, is something that's very difficult in the season leading up to Christmas.
[10:25:03]
And that's the big talk here, Becky, in Germany right now is essentially what Angela Merkel has been saying, what a lot of senior politicians are
also saying is they need to increase this lockdown until about the end of December to try and then ease things a little bit up for Christmas once
again, they're saying Christmas obviously not going to be like in years past, but at least they want some people to be able to visit their
families, Becky.
ANDERSON: To both of you, thank you very much indeed.
We have taken you across America, then, and there is a lot more to see from there. Just ahead, we've just been in Europe, let's whip you around the
west -- the west of the world -- the rest of the world. Our reporters stationed all over the map with the latest. Have a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
KRISTIE LU STOUT, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I'm Kristie Lu Stout in Hong Kong.
On Wednesday, the city reported 85 new cases of the coronavirus, the highest daily total since early August and the government is taking action.
Starting on Thursday, all bars, night clubs and party rooms will be closed for a week, restaurants must limit the number of customers to half their
capacity and no more than four diners are allowed to sit at the same table. In her policy address today, Hong Kong's top leader Carrie Lam said some of
China's COVID-19 vaccines are reserved for Hong Kongers but warn that the community should remain vigilant despite the promise of an expected
vaccine.
JOMANA KARADSHEH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I'm Jomana Karadsheh in Istanbul.
Turkey is reporting an unprecedented number of COVID-19 cases and death, ICU occupancy levels at an all time high during the pandemic at more than
71 percent. Last week, the government introduced measures the strictest since June. They include the shutting down of all cafes and restaurants,
only allowing takeout and delivery service. There is a partial weekend curfew and an age-based lockdown.
Now, they say they believe this will bring down the surge in the coming weeks, but if people don't comply, they say stricter measures are on the
table.
SALMA ABDELAZIZ, CNN REPORTER: I'm Salma Abdelaziz in London, where Christmas bubbles are being formed.
The government has announced a limited time special Christmas dispensation between December 23rd and 27th. Social restrictions will be eased to allow
three households to come together to form a Christmas bubble so that they can celebrate in a safe but limited way. The prime minister has described
this as a cautious approach that allows people to enjoy the holidays but we've already heard opposition from scientific advisers saying it's like
throwing fuel on the fire and will cause another spike in coronavirus cases.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: OK. Well, that's a really good sense of what is going on around the world.
While the rest of the world is focused on fighting the pandemic, Ethiopia is fighting in Tigray. We'll have more on the near civil war as the 72-hour
deadline to surrender ends. That's up next.
Plus, the duchess of Sussex reveals a painful incident and uses it as a moment to talk about helping one another in the pandemic. We'll bring you
more on that.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[10:30:29]
ANDERSON: Well, in a little over an hour from now, we could see Ethiopia descend towards civil war in an instant, then the deadline set by the
Ethiopian federal government will run out and become what it promises to be an all-out, no mercy assault on renegade Tigrean forces. Envoys from the
African Union are headed to Ethiopia ahead of the deadline, but the prime minister tweeted a statement earlier day for other international parties to
stay out of it.
Well, the conflict has already forced more than 40,000 people across the border into neighboring Sudan, and the U.N. high commissioner says the
conflict risks placing already vulnerable and frightened civilians in grave danger.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
FILIMON, ETHIOPIAN REFUGEE: We never expected to be refugee. We never expected to see those shelters. We never expected.
Everyone -- everyone never expected for these things. Because we were in a very safe country, we were in our -- in our developing, you know, everyone
trying to have family, everyone works, everyone studies, some of them work to help the family.
We never expected to be refugee. We never expected. I can tell you for sure 100 percent.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Well, CNN's David McKenzie has been covering this story for us on weeks, on a slight delay tonight. He is joining us out of Johannesburg.
Stay out of it is Ethiopia's advice to the rest of the world.
David, what is going on, then, on the ground and just how bad could things get?
DAVID MCKENZIE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, it's very hard to ascertain exactly what's going on on the ground around the regional capital Mekele,
Becky, because of that media and communications blackout.
The U.N. Human Rights Commission say they're worried because of reports of tanks and artillery circling that regional capitol that there could be
significant bloodshed in the coming days. As you say, the prime minister of Ethiopia, Abiy Ahmed, has said stay out of it, stay away from trying to
intervene at this point. He said this is an internal matter, calling it a law enforcement operation.
Remember, the prime minister launched this operation because of what he said was seditious actions by the Tigrean people's liberation front on
taking over a federal military camp in Tigray at the beginning of November. So, from the point of view of the national authorities, this is really
trying to quell that -- that behavior from the Tigreans.
The worry is at this point, it really gets to the messy stage of a very potentially bloody conflict if they do move on to that regional capital, a
capital with a population of nearly half a million.
ANDERSON: Other parties have been told to stay out of it as far as the Ethiopian government is concerned. I do understand the new Biden
administration has weighed in. What have they said?
MCKENZIE: Well, the incoming national security adviser tweeted this -- this is Jake Sullivan -- I'm deeply concerned about the risk of violence against
citizens, civilians, including potential war crimes.
He goes on to say that the sides should begin to talk and it should be facilitated by the African Union. As you said envoys are on their way to
try to broker some kind of agreement.
But it's clear that the prime minister is not interested in this at this point. He is trying to show that he is in charge. He says that the Tigrean
officials have held elections against the rule of the federal government, have really showed that they are trying to break up the Ethiopian nation.
But because of the ethnic dimension to this and the already bloody massacres allegedly that have happened potentially on both sides it means
that the worry is if the shelling and artillery happens and if people move -- if forces move into the capital, this could drag on. The Tigrean
officials, of course, denied that deadline that was given of 72 hours which expires in about an hour or so, they said that they will continue to fight
even if they have to move it into an unconventional campaign, something they certainly are used to from the fighting with Eretria years back.
So, there is pressure mounting to try to come up with some kind of a solution before this goes beyond the point of no return -- Becky.
ANDERSON: And, David, if this does drag on, as you say, there is potential for this.
[10:35:01]
The U.N. high commissioner suggesting that this conflict risks placing already, and I quote her, already vulnerable and frightened civilians in
grave danger. Just before I started talking to you we heard from some of those who have crossed the border into Sudan.
Refugees who said they never ever expected to be in this position. They have left their livelihoods. They have left their homes, their jobs. They
can't believe that this is happening to them.
MCKENZIE: Well, no, and there have been thousands scream streaming over the border in the western part of Tigray into Sudan, as we've been reporting,
telling horrible stories of being pushed out by fighting and insecurity.
It's worth remembering that there are many, many thousands of internally displaced people in Tigray itself, and we just don't know exactly how bad
the humanitarian situation is. Even before this conflict started the U.N. Office for Humanitarian Affairs said that already, you know, potentially
millions of people in need of food assistance in that region.
The prime minister will be hoping and he has promised a swift end to this conflict. I do think the next few days will be critical both in terms of
potential diplomacy and unfortunately in terms of humanitarian impact.
ANDERSON: Yeah. David McKenzie on the story for you this evening. David, thank you.
And it's an important story so we will keep you bang up to date on the very latest on this. We'll be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CHRISTINA MACFARLANE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Stroke by stroke, Monika Seryu canoes down the Kyunaka River in Tokyo's Koto Ward which will
play host to many of the water sports in next year's games.
The 23-year-old knows the waterway well. She's been coming here for more than a decade.
MONIKA SERYU, CANOE SPRINT (through translator): What I like about being a canoeist and an athlete is that I've gained so much muscle and physical
strength and as I've gained this strength I've become more confident in myself.
MACFARLANE: One day in a high school gym class, Seryu's life changed forever.
SERYU (through translator): We were practicing a mat exercise called a handstand forward roll but I lost my balance and fell vertically towards
the ground in a strange manner, then I heard a crack from my back which I have never heard before. I was unable to breathe.
MACFARLANE: Seryu was rushed to the hospital, the injury had left her paralyzed below the chest.
SERYU (through translator): After I was injured, I was deeply shocked by the fact that the life I was envisioning vanished all of a sudden. I was
canoeing before I got injured and thought I would never be involved with canoe again.
MACFARLANE: In 2014, only a year after her injury, the Tokyo Paralympics were announced for 2020 and Seryu decided to begin training in paracanoe
which shortly afterwards was added to the games. At the 2016 Games in Rio, with only two years of training under her belt, Seryu was able to place
eighth.
SERYU (through translator): As the Olympics and Paralympics will be held in Tokyo, I personally feel very secure and I think it will be a great
advantage to compete in my hometown.
MACFARLANE: Christina Macfarlane, CNN.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: Inspirational stuff.
Now, no Messi, no problem. It seems so. Barcelona at least, the team cruising into the last 16 in the Champions League, with a win against
Dynamo Kyiv. While they're all time top scorer, Lionel Messi watched on from the sidelines.
Amanda Davies in the house.
Not a team that armchair supporters would have recognized and certainly no GOAT.
AMANDA DAVIES, CNN SPORTS ANCHOR: No, there were actually eight changes to Ronald Koeman side from the team that played in La Liga in the weekend. I
think fans might argue with the "no problem", but certainly it went pretty well in the Champions League last night. A very different looking bars is a
so the one we might be used to.
No Messi, no Frankie de Jong, but Koeman, one of the managers who's resting players because they've been talking openly about the challenge of the
schedule at the moment in football, so many games in such a condensed period of time as they try to get back to something of a new normal with
the coronavirus pandemic.
One night, though, that was no problem at all for Erling Haaland, a 20- year-old who another night breaking new, new records, we are talking about him in "WORLD SPORT" in a couple of minutes.
ANDERSON: Fantastic. You might be able to play football without Messi, but there is no TV without us, Amanda. I will see you in a moment.
Folks, it's "WORLD SPORT" after this.
(WORLD SPORT)
DAVIES: Becky, I know there is no one rule fits all with all of this, is there, but for me I took Dan Carter saying he gives himself permission to
take 24 hours, think of it for 24 hours, and then move on. I found, you know, something very useful.
ANDERSON: Yeah, absolutely. You know, I'm sure you will all agree, Amanda, we can't emphasize how important mental health is, especially at a time
like this. There is no shame in asking for help.
So, folks, for those of you who are watching do so, from friends, family, professionals, whomever, it's an issue we have devoted time to here on this
show. Amanda is doing on "WORLD SPORT" and has been doing for some time, we are going to be covering it a lot more in detail ahead on CONNECT THE
WORLD.
For now, we're going to take a very short break. See you in a couple of minutes.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
END
