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Joe Biden Rolls Out National Security & Foreign Policy Team; U.S. Expert: A Negative COVID Test Is Not A Free Pass; Turkey Reports Highest Number Of Daily COVID-19 "Patients"; Germany Expected To Extend Lockdown Measures; Maradona Had Surgery Earlier This Month For Blood Clot On Brain; Football Legend Diego Maradona Dead At Age 60. Aired 11a-12p ET
Aired November 25, 2020 - 11:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[11:00:00]
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOE BIDEN (D), PRESIDENT-ELECT OF THE UNITED STATES: America's 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 daily brief. He does expect to start potentially as soon as
today.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: America at its best still has a greater ability than any other country on earth to bring others together to meet the challenges of
our time.
ANNOUNCER: Live, from CNN Abu Dhabi, this is CONNECT THE WORLD with Becky Anderson.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BECKY ANDERSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL HOST: Well, this hour an incredible contrast the pandemic in America worse than ever and yet millions of
Americans are traveling around the country against all expert advice.
It's the day before Thanksgiving in America and millions upon millions of Americans ignoring warnings from health officials to travel to visit
families and friends potentially making the worst COVID outbreak in the world even worse and it's against that backdrop that Joe Biden will address
the American people in a few house, delivering a Thanksgiving message in which he'll urge the nation to remain vigilant in the fight against the
pandemic.
And though Donald Trump is refusing to concede, the rest of the world seems ready for a Biden Administration. Chinese leader Xi Jinping sent a
congratulatory message to the president-elect on Wednesday saying he looks forward to a relationship of mutual respect and win-win cooperation.
Well, Biden's first wave of cabinet announcements on Tuesday was largely focused on repairing America's image on the international stage, unveiling
an experienced team that can hit the ground running.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BIDEN: It's a team that will keep our country and our people safe and secure, and it's a team that reflects the fact that America is back, ready
to lead the world, not retreat from it. Once again sit at the head of the table.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Let's do more on the Biden foreign policy then for those of you who are watching around the world, particularly those in the region of the
Middle East where we are. We are joined by Mara Rudman. She was a Middle East Policy Adviser to the Biden Campaign, was with the State Department
during the Obama Administration and is currently the Executive Vice President for policy at the stern for American progress, and we welcome you
to the show, happy Thanksgiving ahead of tomorrow.
Biden's nominees for Secretary of State and for National Security Adviser, Antony Blinken and Jake Sullivan, have outlined what seems to be a dramatic
shift in Middle East policy from President Trump at its core an emphasis on diplomacy and human rights. What do you think that will look like
practically?
MARA RUDMAN, EXECUTIVE V.P. FOR POLICY, CENTER FOR AMERICAN PROGRESS: Well, I think practically is a key point that you make, Becky, and thank you for
having me on. Tony Blinken and Jake Sullivan are both longtime friends and co-workers, and I have seen their approach to working with us whether it's
at home or internationally, they know how to maintain and retain important friendships and to build new ones?
And that's a key part what we need to do going forward in the Middle East and for the United States in the world. It's an important moment for
rebuilding. There is much that we need to work on together. I noticed at the top of the program you referenced the tremendous challenges that the
entire world is facing with the Coronavirus pandemic.
And it's no secret that we in the United States unfortunately that lead on that front in the difficulties we're having but tremendous opportunities to
move forward with Tony Blinken and Jake Sullivan and Linda Thomas Greenfield and - I mean, across the board, the team and I would have the
reported pick for Treasury Secretary as well because that's a key role in all the things that we need to do around the world.
ANDERSON: Let's focus specifically on the Middle East. What chance Biden will impose more pressure on Saudi Arabia and Egypt, for example, over
human rights? We know Biden famously called the Saudis "Pariah State" after the killing of Jamal Khashoggi.
[11:05:00]
RUDMAN: Well, I think overall a Biden Administration is going to look to more accurately to align American values and American interests around the
world and at home. And then, you know, in the Middle East as a subcomponent of that, and so I think that that applies to all of our relationships,
though as I said that also involves continued dialogue, conversation, a key eye to the very important interests and values that the United States holds
with - with the Saudis with the Egyptians and with the Emirates and with a number of other countries in the region.
ANDERSON: Yes, and I want to come to the gulf allies and specifically Abu Dhabi where we're based in a moment. Let me just do Iran with you because
this is a big talker, of course. Biden has said that his administration would continue sanctions on state institutions and high level officials for
human rights abuses.
Now during the campaign he repeatedly pledged to re-enter the Iran Nuclear Deal that President Obama negotiated in 2015 and Trump abandoned in 2018,
although he did suggest it needs to be updated and broadened alluding to its ballistic missiles program and maligned behavior around the region.
I'm showing some words from an op-ed that he wrote for CNN back in September. Does Biden's team take on the Tehran file from a position of
strength or weakness, to your mind, after four years of Trump's maximum pressure campaign?
RUDMAN: There are challenges that this new team will face around the world based on how President Trump and his administration has proceeded? And the
Iran file is I would put firmly in that category. I believe this team, certainly President-Elect Biden, as well as those he has designated in his
important lead positions have the experience, have the knowledge base.
Jake Sullivan is a prime example was front and center in working on negotiating the Iran Nuclear Deal with the United States is no longer a
part of, and so they will have the ability to move forward picking up from where we are for sure which is not a great place but also understanding how
to get us to rebuild and re-imagine so that not only the United States is in a better place vis-a-vis Iran, that we've made significant progress in
halting Iran's dangerous nuclear enrichment.
But also that we're working with others throughout the region in dealing with a number of other challenges, significant challenges that Iran poses.
ANDERSON: Yes, and that will come as music to the ears of many of the states and gulf allies, not least Abu Dhabi here in the Emirates. And I
wonder what you expect policy to be with regard America's traditional gulf allies, the UAE and Bahrain, for example.
Joe Biden has applauded the normalization that the UAE has established as has Bahrain with Israel, for example. Will a strategic alliance that
includes the U.S., Israel and the UAE suit Joe Biden, and should we expect Washington to lean on its regional allies here, to do more to take
responsibility for their security, not less going forward?
RUDMAN: Well, I think - I would take a step back first to say that economic security and national security are very much integrated and increasingly
difficult to separate the two. And so I would expect the United States to be eager and interested and needing to - to play a role.
But also looking - and in that role to also be saluting and supporting regional structures for dialogue going forward on a range of security and
broader issues. But when I talk about security I think I'm consistent with how the incoming administration with its securities, both economic and what
seems more I guess traditional national security.
ANDERSON: Do you expect Jordan to be a key ally and back in the tempt it were. I know that the King Abdul has spoke with Joe Biden just in the past
48 hours I think. And Jordan is being somewhat sidelined it's seems over the past four years or so I'm not sure whether the royal court in Jordan or
Trump's Administration would concede to that?
But certainly, the sense is that there is - that, you know, reimagining once again or the re-emergence once again of Jordan as a key Washington
ally, is that your sense?
[11:10:00]
RUDMAN: Absolutely. I would just underscore the important role that Jordan has played and we would hope would continue to play and I would expect that
there's a strong interest which is - I want to be clear on this, a bipartisan interest among American leaders on the critical role for Jordan
and the importance of a - of a very solid relationship with the United States.
And an interest, I would say, in maximizing what we can do. When I speak of allies and partners for the United States moving forward and - and as well
as traditionally, Jordan is strongly in that group.
ANDERSON: Fascinating. Before I let you go and enjoy Thanksgiving however you are doing that this year because it is an odd one, isn't it? I do just
want to talk about Lebanon. It's a country that figures highly on our show and it's been such a tough life for so many Lebanese this last year or so.
It's been one of crisis upon crisis upon crisis. Washington it seems has lacked a joined up policy when it comes to Lebanon. Do you believe it will
be any more of a priority for a Joe Biden Administration at this point?
RUDMAN: I think that working with Lebanon and trying to figure out how to help the Lebanese people is part and parcel of all the other things that
we've been discussing, Becky. There are critical humanitarian issues there. There are very challenging political issues and Lebanon plays a key role in
the region.
And so it will be important. It's hard to imagine a U.S. strategy and approach to the Middle East that does not look carefully at Lebanon and
where the United States can be of help.
ANDERSON: We've been around the region. There's more, a lot more to talk about and we'll have you back because we should pursue this conversation in
the weeks and months ahead. I do though finally just want to ask how big a priority on the five, as it were, will the Middle East be in its entirety
going forward? Does it lose - does it lose ground or does it gain ground at this point?
RUDMAN: So, I would say that it is - the Middle East is a priority in terms as are many other parts of the world. I don't think that's losing ground. I
think that broadly speaking the new administration needs to re-establish, reassert, re-imagine how much you can get done by talking with people, by
working with people?
The Middle East is no exception to that, and also fits into the broader challenges that we have in terms of being more effective at competing
against China and working with as many as we can around the world to do that, and so I would - I would underscore that point as well.
ANDERSON: Thank you. As I say, happy Thanksgiving however you are spending it this year. I hope you enjoy yourself and whoever you're spending it
with. Thank you very much indeed.
RUDMAN: Thanks, Becky. We have a lot to be thankful for at this point and so really appreciate your words on that.
ANDERSON: Absolutely. Thank you. Well, as we watch for that address from the president-elect we're watching millions of Americans on the move during
some of the worst days of this pandemic. Many are telling us they want to be with loved ones for one of America's biggest and best loved holidays.
Thanksgiving is in a word huge. It's just a day away, but this will be a Thanksgiving like no other. Many Americans are taking a risk to themselves
and others by traveling this year, and we are well aware of those who will have a grim holiday because they are grieving for a loved one lost to
COVID-19.
That's the real meaning behind the numbers that we tell you about, the true sorrow for more - of more than 2,100 Americans killed by the virus in the
past day, the highest number of confirmed U.S. deaths in a single day since early May.
At this hour we know more than 88,000 people are hospitalized in the U.S., an all-time record with COVID cases surging across the country interest.
The Assistant Secretary for Health has a warning for everyone who celebrates Thanksgiving. Have a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ADMIRAL BRETT GIROIR, ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR HEALTH, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES: The safest way, thing to do this Thanksgiving is
not travel. It is certainly not wrong to get a test before you travel because if you're positive you need to stay home. No questions asked, but
if you do get a negative test it doesn't give you a free pass.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: CNN's Rosa Flores is at Miami International Airport connecting us to the latest on what the U.S. is facing, especially for the big travel
weekend, and she joins us now live.
[11:15:00]
ANDERSON: What do people tell you in why they are traveling?
ROSA FLORES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: You know, Becky, I've been asking that question to multiple travelers, both departing from Miami International and
also arriving here to this airport. And I can tell you that, there's a mixture. There are some people who are here to visit family. Some people
are in Miami for a vacation, believe it or not.
Now, I want to show you around because this really tells you the picture. We've seen this airport be a lot busier earlier this morning. Right now
we're in a little bit of a lull, but you can see that this airport is still pretty packed. The floor is marked to social distance, to allow for social
distance.
We've seen some people get up a little too close and cozy. Others, you know, take a little more space. Most of the people we've seen here are
wearing masks and some are wearing face shields, but here's what medical experts in America say right now that this virus is spreading inside homes.
What they are seeing is that younger people who are asymptomatic are going home and then spreading the virus to those who are older and more
susceptible to this virus. Now what I'm describing really sounds like a Thanksgiving dinner in the United States that's what happens.
People get together, in large families there are large family gatherings for Thanksgiving. So what medical experts here are recommending for all of
the people that you see around me that are not heeding the warning, that are deciding to travel anyway, is they are asking them to please have these
gatherings at least outside, to wear a mask, to social distance and also to exercise sanitation.
Now I can tell you from talking to people here that there's a mix of emotions in the people who are traveling here today through Miami
International Airport. I talked to one woman who is on her way to New York. Her name is Anna Sanchez. She hasn't seen her parent in two years.
Her dad is 90 and her mom 87, and she says that she wanted to travel today because she's afraid that if she doesn't travel to New York to go see them,
she might never see them. Take a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I don't know if getting emotional if at Christmas they are going to be around, given this with what's happening. I have double
clothes on, so when I get there I can shed all my clothes, leave them at the door and then I can give them a hug.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
FLORES: Now, Becky, as you were listening to that woman. She is wearing two layers of clothing. She plans to take off that clothing right as she walks
through the door so that she can hug her parents.
I think that is some of the experiences that a lot of people are going to be facing this Thanksgiving, especially since many people have not visited
their parents for that very reason, because of COVID-19 and, again, CDC asking Americans not to travel, but as you see around me, Americans are
doing it anyway. Becky.
ANDERSON: Yes. Rosa Flores is at Miami International. Thank you, all of this is, of course, impacting millions of Americans who are now out of work
due to COVID. In Washington we're being told there is some progress on a spending plan which could include a Coronavirus relief measure, but there's
still a long way to go, and it's of little consolation to people who are losing jobs and businesses. Take a listen to the White House Economic
Adviser.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PETER NAVARRO, WHITE HOUSE ECONOMIC ADVISER: What I'm seeing is this economy needing a bridge from the first three phases of the stimulus
relief, stimulus and relief package to a phase for you, and my concern, Sandra, unless we provide that bridge, we should have done it two months
ago to be honest, and there's a lot of people who have fallen through the cracks, a lot of small businesses have fallen through the cracks, and once
they fall through the cracks, it's hard to get them back up.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: CNN's Stephanie Elam is in Los Angeles where in the coming hours restaurants won't even be allowed to serve of people outside for now at
least. And this is California moving several of its counties backwards in its four-tier system of COVID restrictions. You've been talking to business
owners. How is this impacting them?
STEPHANIE ELAM, CNN CORRESPONDENT: This is devastating Becky, obviously the idea that you can't serve customers at all on your premises that's going to
eat into a lot of their profits and it is also going to meet job losses just as you were talking about there.
Normally this restaurant would always be super busy but this is the last day that these tables will be out probably until next year. Outdoor dining,
it's a year-round perk. Restaurants can usually offer their customers in Southern California.
[11:20:00]
But during the pandemic, it's been crucial for eateries helping to keep many of them afloat while still complying with COVID-19 restrictions.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We have customers that come here almost three to four times a week.
ELAM (voice over): Yet as COVID cases soar, hitting record daily numbers surpassing the highs of the summer surge, L.A. County is once again pausing
outdoor dining, this time for at least three weeks.
BARBARA FERRER, DIRECTOR, LOS ANGELES COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT: We do, of course, like every other county have examples of people who have become
infected while they're dining at restaurants just having a few thousand restaurants that are not in compliance, particularly on the distancing
requirement, can create additional risks for exposures.
ELAM (voice over): In mid-March, we visited Toast Bakery just as they were forced to shut down. Clearly this was even before masks were mandatory.
BILL RICKETT, HEAD SERVER, TOAST BAKERY & CAFE: This is a ghost town compared to what generally we have business-wise in the early morning. Like
this restaurant is pretty popping with people sitting outside and enjoying being able to coming to a cafe and right now we have nobody.
ELAM (voice over): Over the summer restaurants adapted new protocols, from face shields and digital menus to less tables and more space as their
county allowed outdoor dining again, helping some restaurants limp along in a painful year and that pain is why some officials are against the renewed
ban.
County Supervisor Katherine Barger says restaurants are being punished for the recent surge they have done everything in their power to prevent.
Restaurants like Toast will be forced to cut jobs again this year. Many on their team have been with the business since it opened nearly 18 years ago.
LORI AGUAYO, CASHIER, TOAST BAKERY & CAFE: We ended up losing probably more than half of our staff. We had to re-hire new staff once we got back to
outdoor dining.
ELAM (voice over): And in L.A. County do you feel that this is the right decision right now?
AGUAYO: I feel like we want to support obviously and be part of the solution, but because we've taken such precautions and we've done so much
to try to keep our staff and our customers safe, I really feel like we're not so much the part that's making the numbers go up.
ELAM (voice over): Customer Kenn Viselman agrees. He says he's eaten at Toast just about every day for 15 years.
KENN VISELMAN, CUSTOMER, TOAST BAKERY & CAFE: You're going to put all these places out of business. They are barely surviving now. You're basically
saying if you're going to socialize do it inside, do it in your house and I think that's just going to raise this infection rate instead of lowering
it.
ELAM (voice over): As for Toast, it will rely on to go and delivery orders to get by as well as what has made them such a popular eatery.
AGUAYO: I think we give one of the best customer services in town, and our food is delicious.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ELAM (on camera): Now, it's worth noting that the City Council for Los Angeles voted overwhelmingly to try to keep these restaurants open, but the
County Board of Supervisors voted narrowly to close them down in line with the health guidelines there. The issue is there's no real data showing that
there's been a widespread outbreak from dining outside.
However, they are saying any time people have their masks off for a prolonged period of time, that's the danger, Becky, and that's why they are
making this decision starting tonight.
ANDERSON: Yes, absolutely. I mean, it's quite something. I was really struck, Steph, by the number that we heard today 50 million going hungry in
the states. Who would have forecast America with food insecurity to that degree? The country needs a stimulus plan and it needs it quickly. Thank
you, Steph.
The U.S. isn't the only country struggling to keep the virus at bay. We'll take you to Turkey next as it records the highest daily death toll since
the pandemic began. Plus--
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: A glass of brandy, I nearly ran you over with the car, and I don't feel bad about it at all one bit. You're lucky I didn't kill
you.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Chilling words from a former proud boy. CNN gets inside the mission and the mindset of what is this far right group? Plus, Germany sees
more deaths from COVID-19 in a single day than it's ever seen before while in France. Hospitalizations are now declining. How the different tactics
that two countries took are now playing out?
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[11:25:00]
ANDERSON: On the show we've taken you to the U.S., to Europe, to Hong Kong all suffering from new spikes or continuing waves of Coronavirus cases.
Among the worst hit is Turkey. It's recorded the highest number of COVID-19 deaths ever for two consecutive days.
The Health Ministry there reported 163 deaths on Tuesday, up from the previous high that was set on Monday, and Turkey has more than 7,000
patients who are showing symptoms and tested positive for the Coronavirus.
Well, Jomana Karadsheh is watching the situation in Turkey for us in Istanbul and joins us now. Explain first why the surge in cases and second
as I understand it no other country counts their cases like Turkey does. Explain what the difference is, if you will?
JOMANA KARADSHEH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well look, Becky, what you're seeing here is what you've seen in other parts of the world. What you're seeing
unfold in other countries right now. It did seem like Turkey did get that first wave under control earlier this year as the country began to open up
again in June.
Life started going back to normal, a bit too normal, if you will. It did seem over the summer months that it was business as usual. The only real
restriction you would see is the mandatory wearing of masks. So that coupled with the colder weather, according to health officials here, more
people indoors in recent weeks, they have started seeing a rise in the number of COVID-19 cases.
And as you mentioned over the past week, Turkey has shattered its own daily records. More than 160 deaths were recorded yesterday, the most deadly
single day since the start of the pandemic and more than 7,300 patients as you mentioned.
And also this is one of the problems here, Becky, is that Turkey does not disclose the total number of positive cases in the country. What they do is
they only announce since July the number of people who tested positive and who show symptoms and they have come under a lot of criticism for that.
Basically, you can't compare Turkey to other parts of the world, other countries that disclose all their positive cases and also they have been
accused of basically the government trying to mask the true extent of the outbreak and how widespread it is?
But if you look at the trends over the past few days, the past few weeks, if you look at the data that's already available, we're talking about more
than 70 percent ICU occupancy and also just this past week the number of so-called patients has doubled in the country.
So it really does show how dire the situation really is? It did seem, you know, for some time that the government was resisting calls for stricter
measures, for some sort of a lockdown and last week they basically had no other choice.
President Erdogan came out and announced saying that these are painful measures, they have to do this to try and control the spread of the virus
right now to alleviate the pressure that's on health care workers so they did introduce some measures.
These are the strictest since June. A bit less restrictive than what we saw back in the spring and, you know they went into effect over the weekend.
You've got basically an age-based lockdown, a partial weekend curfew and then restaurants and cafes all across the country have been closed down.
They can only provide a delivery and takeout service.
You've got critics here of the government opposition parties and medical groups saying this is not enough, that the country needs stricter measures,
perhaps a two to three-week lockdown. We heard from President Erdogan over weekend saying that they believe that this is enough for now to try to
bring the surge down over the next few weeks.
[11:30:00]
KARADSHEH: But he did warn that if people do not comply with these restrictions, you know that stricter measures are on table, Becky.
ANDERSON: All right. That's the story in Turkey. We're going to take a very short break back after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
URSULA VON DER LEYEN, EUROPEAN COMMISSION PRESIDENT: I know that shop owners, bartenders and waiters 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.
Weeks ago I've said that this Christmas will be different, and, yes, it will be quieter.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Well, that was the President of the European Commission calling on leaders not to relax COVID-19 restrictions too quickly. Germany just
reported its highest jump in single day of deaths from COVID-19. There are calls to extend what is called a semi-lockdown that it imposed nearly a
month ago. We expect to hear from the Chancellor there soon. CNN's Fred Pleitgen has the very latest for you from Berlin.
FREDERIK PLEITGEN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Hi there, Becky. And I think one of the things that we're seeing right now in Germany is
that these negotiations between Angela Merkel and some of the State Governors here in Germany taking a lot longer than many people would have
thought and that shows that they are very tough negotiations that are going on.
Angela Merkel in general wants very strict new measures to be put in place. Some of the German State Governors don't necessarily want that and that's
one of the reasons why all this is taking so much time? But one thing they can all agree on is that the current lighter lockdown that for instance
that you've seen in places like France or in places like Spain simply isn't working.
If we look at the amount of new infections that we heard from the German Center for Disease Control today, it was 18,633. It's about 1,000 more than
Wednesday of last week and these measures have been in place for quite a while now so some of the things that you're probably going to be seeing at
the end of the day today are an extension of the current lockdown.
And on top of that new measures restricting the amount of contacts that people are allowed to have of course, that's something that's going to be
devastating, especially for shop owners here in Germany as we move towards Christmas.
But one of the things that the Germans have said is that they want to be able - want to have people be able to have Christmas holidays, to be able
to visit their relatives, but Christmas it is going to be a lot smaller in German families as no doubt for a lot of other Europeans as well. Becky?
ANDERSON: Fred Pleitgen is in Berlin. Meanwhile, the situation in France appears to be going in the complete opposite way.
[11:35:00]
ANDERSON: The nation is going to start easing its strict lockdown that it imposed a few weeks ago due to a slowdown in new infections and a decrease
in hospitalizations. Let's get you to Jim Bittermann outside of Paris.
We're a few weeks away from the festive period. It's Christmas for those who celebrate and not the best time, it does seem, to be easing
restrictions and it's a dilemma that so many governments face around Europe. What is the French government's plan?
JIM BITTERMANN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: President Macron addressed the nation last night and tried to outline what his thinking is
and what's going to happen over the next couple of months and especially over the Christmas holidays?
Basically he started out by outlining some of the numbers and where are they going? He was saying at the beginning of this month when the lockdown
here began, the new cases of COVID in one overnight period was as high as it's ever been, 60,000, and now it's running around 10,000 new cases per
day.
He would like to see it around 5,000 cases her day. In any case that - that sort of reduction in the number of cases per day was good enough so that he
was able to start off with a kind of compliment to his countrymen for their perseverance. Here's what he had to say.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
EMMANUEL MACRON, FRENCH PRESIDENT: During my last speech, we were sure of having figures that were well worse, and we have avoided them. On one hand
because our efforts, your efforts, have paid off. The civic spirit that you have demonstrated has been efficient.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BITTERMANN: In fact, then he went on to outline how the program is going to work? It's going to start on Saturday with the lockdown eased somewhat,
very little in fact, but in the initial easing shops can reopen, houses of worship can reopen and the exercise period, the period in which people will
be outside is going to be extended from one hour a day to three hours a day.
That's going to continue at that rhythm until the 15th of December at which time if the targets are met and if the number of cases stays down, a
limited amount of Christmas travel is going to be allowed, and theaters and museums and cinemas can open up with proper distancing.
But there's going to be a curfew on, and that curfew is going to remain on until January 20th with the exception on Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve
there won't be a curfew. In any case curfew until January 20th and at that point for the first time in some months now - there it will be some months
at that point the bars and restaurants and cafe it's going to open and that will signal I think that life is kind of returning to normal here. Becky?
ANDERSON: Jim Bittermann is in Paris. Well, vaccines, of course the - that the world needs to emerge from this pandemic, but delivering billions of
doses to the entire world efficiently will involve hugely complex, logistical obstacles.
Well, here in Abu Dhabi the Department of Health has just announced the launch of the hope consortium, a local collaboration set to deliver more
than 1.8 billion vaccine vials or 18 billion vaccines doses by the end of 2021. Earlier I spoke with the Department's Under-Secretary who says Abu
Dhabi is positioned to become the global logistics hub for COVID-19 vaccines. Have a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DR. JAMAL AL KAABI, UAE UNDER SECRETARY OF HEALTH: As you know, the development of the vaccine itself is a worldwide challenge but transporting
the vaccine is an equal challenge and that's why we developed in collaboration with other parties here in Abu Dhabi and worldwide of what we
called the "Hope Consortium".
It represents a complete supply chain solution to address vaccine transport, demand planning, and sourcing, training and digital technology
infrastructure and facilitate vaccine availability across the world. This is being led by the Department of Health in Abu Dhabi it compromise leading
Abu Dhabi and global entities such as Etihad Cargo, Abu Dhabi Port Company - which is the health care - Abu Dhabi based EVQ Company and Switzerland
award winning --.
I think that this will position Abu Dhabi as the global logistical hub to facilitate COVID-19 vaccine distribution across the world. The "Hope
Consortium" has pooled its collective expertise to garner a multi-facet capability whether and single or multi-doses in cold or ultra cold
conditions in 2021 which will be the largest capacity and capability originally and one of the largest globally.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Well, Dr. Al Kaabi the Under-Secretary of Health on the announcement of the "Hope Consortium" here in Abu Dhabi.
[11:40:00]
ANDERSON: Well, just ahead on "Connect the World" are they patriots or patriots or a criminal gang? A former member of the "Proud Boys" reveals
the doctrine and the chaos within the far right group. Plus, the Duchess of Sussex writes a personal op-ed about a tragic incident she endured over the
summer and now she wants to break the painful stigma surrounding the issue and help others to heal. That is up next.
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ANDERSON: Well, news just coming in to CNN. Football Legend Diego Maradona has died. Let's go straight to Amanda Davies in London for more on what is
this extremely sad news. What do we know, Amanda?
AMANDA DAVIES, CNN WORLD SPORT: Indeed, Becky, as you said. This is breaking news, just breaking within the last couple of minutes or so. Very
much trying to gain a picture of what has happened, but we understand at the age of 60 Diego Maradona has died. That is according to report from his
attorney.
We know that in recent months the Argentinean has been in and out of hospital. He underwent brain surgery just last month, but we understand
that he has died from a cardiac arrest in the last few hours. As I said, this is very much breaking news.
The details as things stand aren't too forthcoming, but incredibly sad news if not particularly surprising because, as I said, in recent times we have
been reporting time and time again really, Diego Maradona in and out of hospital with a run of health issues.
But really such sad news for a man, a footballer widely fared as one of the greatest of all time. Diego Maradona, a World Cup winner with Argentina,
has died at the age of 60.
ANDERSON: Amanda, I've met Maradona twice. First time was back in 2006 during the World Cup in 2006 in Germany. I met him in a bar, and he
recognized me from CNN, and he had me come up and head the ball with him back and forth, and he was such a, as you know, such a gregarious
character, surrounded by sort of - he just wanted to sort of play footsy, keep the ball up with him, and, you know, it was remarkable.
[11:45:00]
ANDERSON: I met him again in - in 2015 here in Dubai where he had a house and we talked about his - his footballing days and, of course, his life
outside of football. I mean, he just a charming - whatever else was going on in his life and as you rightly point out he had a lot of health issues
towards the end.
But whatever else was going on Diego Maradona was a charming, charming man when you met him. Really sad, and, you know, just a day that football will
mourn, and we all remember 1990, of course. It was Diego Maradona's hand of course which - them out of the World Cup but he's been massively forgiven
for that over the years.
Really, really sad news not just to those of us who are big football fans he was, of course, one of the sport's biggest legends. Just before we have
a look at his celebrations and sometimes troubled history, how do you think people will remember him, Amanda?
DAVIES: Yes. Of course, people talk about Diego Maradona, Becky. They think of the hand of God 1986. That World Cup the match Argentina against
England. The hand of God, of course, one of the goals he scored in that game, but arguably, you know, the best goal, one of the best goals of his
career was the other goal that he scored in that game, and he went on to captain Argentina to World Cup success in Mexico in 1986.
He was the first player to set a world record transfer fee twice, firstly for his move to Barcelona and then when he moved to Italy, to Napoli, where
he really transformed Serie A, and he helped Napoli to their first Serie A title.
And, you know, he is a player who undoubtedly had a genius on the pitch but was one of these great sportsmen who had the other side and the troubled
side to him off the pitch with those well-documented drink and drug problems, famously sent home from the World Cup in America in 1994 for
failing a drug test as a player.
And like you I have a Maradona story. I was in a famous Chinese restaurant in Manchester called "Wings" after a Manchester United Champions League
occasion, and Wayne Rooney was in the same restaurant with his family after the game, and there was a fantastic moment where Maradona was sitting on
one side of the restaurant.
Wayne Rooney was sitting at the other side of the restaurant, and Maradona got up from his table, walked across the restaurant and shook hands with
Wayne Rooney and the pair of them actually exchanged ties, and you could see that Maradona was as excited to - to have a moment with Wayne Rooney as
Wayne Rooney was as excited to have the moment with Maradona.
ANDERSON: That's brilliant.
DAVIES: Maradona one of the world's greatest players, the greatest ever number ten in many people's eyes and a very, very sad day for football.
ANDERSON: Yes, absolutely. Thank you, Amanda. He was one of the sport's biggest legends. Patrick Snell, our colleague, has this look at his
celebrated and sometimes troubled history.
PATRICK SNELL, CNN WORLD SPORT: For many Diego Armando Maradona will be remembered as the greatest footballer of all time, but he's also go down as
one of the sport's most controversial and polarizing figures.
After bursting on to the scene as a free-scoring teen in his homeland of Argentina the South American moved to Europe when he joined Spanish giant
Barcelona before heading to Italy's Napoli, moves that saw him become the only player in football history to set a world record transfer fee twice.
Maradona became an instant cult hero in Serie A during a trophy-laden period in the late '80s in which he helped the Neapolitans win the Scudetto
for the first time in their history as well as the UEFA Cup. But a dark side had been brewing and reported drug problems from earlier in his career
came back to haunt him when a 15-month ban for testing positive for cocaine was handed down in 1995.
If the there's one match though that best sums up his life it has to be the 1986 World Cup Quarterfinal with England that took place in Mexico. A match
set against the backdrop of the recent Falklands war between the two countries.
The fame number ten's now notorious first goal was allowed to stand despite the fact Maradona who would later referred which is the hand of God it
actually punched the ball into the back of the net.
[11:50:00]
SNELL: Minutes later though, he left England's players trailing in his wake scoring a goal that would later be voted the greatest in tournament
history. Argentina would go on to beat West Germany in the final.
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JURGEN KLINSMANN, 108 CAREER APPEARENCES FOR GERMANY: A favorites World Cup memory of Maradona I mean, and people would instantly say the goal that he
scored against England in 86 but at the same time you would bring up the hand ball in that game so that maybe shows also the kind of extremes of
Diego Maradona in the positive and negative way.
That's what often soccer is about. It's about extremities and about all the different emotions and depending on what side of the field you are on you
take it positively or you take it negatively.
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SNELL: But at the 1994 tournament in the USA Maradona would again hit the headlines for all the wrong reasons after being sent home from the
tournament after failing a drug test for ephedrine.
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JIMMY BURNS, AUTHOR, "HAND OF GOD: THE LIFE OF DIEGO MARADONA": For him it was a shattering moment, and it also was a shattering moment for Argentina
and Argentine fans. This was really the end of the road. I mean, you couldn't have more of a humiliation than have to your great icon, your
great national figure expelled from a grandstanding sporting event like the World Cup and particularly the first one to be held in the United States.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SNELL: Despite his health problems, Maradona surprised many in the game, and he returned to the national team as manager, leading the - to the
quarterfinals up to 2010 tournament in South Africa. In 2000 he was joined winner with legendary Pele of the FIFA Player of the Century Award.
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KLINSMANN: He was not only an amazing player he was an artist. He could see through people. He could see through back lines. He could pass, you know,
in moments where you don't think it's the right pass and, boom, it goes through a couple, three, four guys and finds a striker and they finish up
scoring or he does it himself.
So you have this artistic brain and then the sad part he was not capable to get his own personal life under control, you know, with drug issues and -
and with whatever personal issues, and you settled with Diego Maradona, you know, because he was one of the most outstanding players in soccer history.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Well, let's get straight to Amanda Davies in London with more on what is the sad news. I know the details there are pretty scarce at this
moment. What do we know?
DAVIES: What we know Becky is that Diego Maradona has died at the age of 60, just a couple of weeks after undergoing an operation for a blood clot
on the brain. He has been in and out of hospital in recent weeks and months, being treated for a number of different conditions often related to
his heart.
But, you know, Diego Maradona has still been acting as a Football Manager in recent times. He retired as a player in 1997 but has often been seen on
touch line in Argentina, in Argentina's top flight in between receiving the treatment for these health issues. His attorney has confirmed that he has
passed away, but more details other than that at the moment are pretty scarce.
ANDERSON: Patrick reminding us of the highs in his footballing career and the lows in his personal life, and it was sort of the story of two lives if
you will, Amanda.
DAVIES: Yes, absolutely. I think you would say Diego Maradona is the epitome of a troubled genius and really could do what very few, if any,
other footballers on the planet could do with a football, stunning football fans around the world, whichever country, whichever club you supported.
You couldn't help but sit and watch and appreciate what Diego Maradona could do with football, you know. His highlights, of course, leading his
country Argentina to that World Cup success in 1986 they finished runners up in 1990.
He represented his country in four World Cups scoring 34 goals in 91 caps but the player that will forever be known is a the instigator as the famous
"Hand of God Goal" against England, but it is interesting.
[11:55:00]
DAVIES: What Jurgen Klinsmann was talking about there, this is the goal that so many people talk about, but arguably it was his second goal of the
game that was the best footballing goal and one of the greatest that he ever scored.
But for everything that he did, he achieved on the football pitch, sadly towards the later stages of his life and career so often we were talking
about Diego Maradona in terms of his battles with drink and drug use.
I remember sitting at the World Cup in Russia in 2018 and there were really sad pictures of Diego Maradona in the box watching Argentina's game against
Nigeria where he slumped to the floor midway through that game. It didn't go so well, that game, for Argentina.
You could see just what it meant to him, how his country was doing in that tournament and on the football pitch. As I've said, he's been in and out of
hospital in recent weeks and months. We've had the sad news today that Diego Maradona has died at the age of 60.
ANDERSON: Yes. I mean, watching - somebody has just written on Twitter actually. Diego Maradona with a football at his feet was the purest joy.
Let's remember him that way, absolutely. I interviewed the legend that was Diego Maradona in Dubai back in may of 2015.
And we were discussing the now discredited Sepp Blatter bid to stay on as FIFA President, a man Diego Maradona described as a freezer someone who
should live in a block of ice. He told me what he thought football at the time needed most. Have a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DIEGO ARMANDO MARADONA, ARGENTINA SOCCER: That all the World Cups, what's happened to all the money that was collected? There is no transparency.
That is where we need to direct our efforts. We need to target the kids, the young players. We need to work for football to be seen all around the
world.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: That was Maradona speaking to me at his home in Dubai where he lived for much of the time, much of the year for some years towards the end
of his life. Amanda, you're still with us. We've just got about 30, 40 seconds before I want to take a break. We will come back after that, -
closing thoughts at this point as we report on the very sad news that Diego Maradona has died.
DAVIES: It is just incredibly sad news, Becky. You have to say news that perhaps isn't a surprise that given his troubles fighting drug and alcohol
problems in recent years. But for all of that you cannot take away from what Diego Maradona was and what he achieved as a footballer.
Interestingly Napoli, the club who perhaps he made his name with as he helped them to their first ever Serie A title in 1987 have tweeted a
devastating blow for club and the city. Napoli in action in Europa League action on tomorrow night so it will be a very, very emotional evening for
them, you would think, as tributes continue to come in and no doubt will be paid for the coming hours and days to come. Becky?
ANDERSON: Yes, absolutely. When we talked, he described football as the most beautiful sport and the most passionate sport in the world. It was his
all, right? It was when he was talking football that he was absolutely at his best. We're going to take a very short break. We'll be back after this.
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