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The White House Announces Immigration Reform Bill; Social and Economic Catastrophes Brought on by COVID-19; Soon: NASA Expects to Land the First Rover on Mars in Nearly a Decade. Aired 11a-12p ET

Aired February 18, 2021 - 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)

BECKY ANDERSON, CNNI HOST: Tonight, if you are trying to get your hands on an American passport, your life just might get a whole lot easier. It is

an intractable issue that has stumped nearly every American president, immigration reform. And now Joe Biden is tackling it head on.

The White House has announced the first major attempt in more than three decades to grant a pathway to citizenship for millions of undocumented

immigrants. It's one of President Biden's top priorities, as he made clear during a CNN town hall on Tuesday night.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNKNOWN: You do want a pathway to citizenship --

JOE BIDEN, U.S. PRESIDENT: Yes.

UNKNOWN: -- for roughly 11 million undocumented immigrants.

BIDEN: Yes.

UNKNOWN: And that would be essential in any bill for you?

BIDEN: Well, yes. But if you had a refugee bill by itself, I'm not suggesting that, but I would -- there's things that I would deal by itself.

But not at the expense of saying I'm never going to do the other. There is a reasonable bath to citizenship.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: But immigration reform is highly complex and an issue that faces an uphill battle in the U.S. Congress.

Remember scenes like this? Refugees at the southern border desperately trying to enter the states. President Biden's plan is the polar opposite

of his predecessors and comes during a time when there are more displaced people on the planet than ever before.

Well, Democrats are set to unveil the bill today, which sources say is the center piece of a broader strategy. Jeremy Diamond has the details for

you.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JEREMY DIAMOND, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, on his first day in office, President Biden unveiled a framework for comprehensive immigration

reform legislations that he wanted to see introduced in Congress.

And today that is exactly what is happening with the U.S. Citizenship Act set to be introduced in the House of Representatives and next week in the

Senate by allies of the president.

We're also learning of the details that are in this piece of legislation. An eight year path to citizenship for the estimated 11 million undocumented

immigrants already living in the U.S. with a more expedited short path for some of those undocumented immigrants, including those who are brought to

the U.S. as children.

There are some changes to the legal immigration system proposed in this, including making it easier for spouses and children of legal permanent

residents in the United States to actually come and also immigrate to this country.

Now there are not a lot of resources for border security funding, which is something that Republicans are likely to demand in exchange for some of the

provisions the president is calling for here.

But instead there are some investments in Central America, for example, to try and address some of the root causes, the push causes as they're called,

of migration to the United States.

One thing to keep in mind here, Becky, is the fact that this is all facing a very, very uphill climb in Congress. Democrats have a very slim majority

in Congress. The slimiest of majorities in the Senate with just 50 Democrats plus the vice president as the tie breaker. And so far, no signs

that there will be 10 Republicans to join with those Democrats to be able to pass this legislation in the Senate.

That is why the president has suggested he would be open to piecing this up into smaller pieces of legislation. But the White House for now not

tipping its hand on whether it will follow that path. Becky.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ANDERSON: That's Jeremy Diamond reporting for you. Being a refugee anywhere is a challenging situation at best, but my next guest says the

world's poorest people, code for the world's poorest people, COVID-19 has brought social and economic catastrophe.

Filippo Grandi, the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees, joining me now from Geneva. And it's good to have you, sir. Thank you for joining us. I

want to start in the United States, immigration; a huge issue and has been, of course, for quite some time. President Biden has promised to reform it.

He's done that on the campaign trail and now he's attempting to do just that. What do you make of this bill?

FILIPPO GRANDI, U.N. HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES: Well, this bill is about immigration. So it's much broader than just refugees. What my

organization is particularly keen on is to see some aspects of the U.S. refugee policies improved, humanized and strengthened.

[11:05:00]

The asylum policy, asylum practices at the U.S. Mexican border and resettlement which means the program through which the United States like

other countries accepts refugees that are already refugees in a country but particularly vulnerable and takes them to the United States where they can

have a better future.

This program was severely reduced and diminished in the past few years. We heard in -- during the initial days of the Biden presidency that it would

be restored and strengthened. And we're working with the U.S. for this to happen.

Of course the whole infrastructure to deal with these programs has been dismantled in the past few years so any reestablishment of them will be

gradual inevitably.

ANDERSON: You were recently in Columbia where the country's president announced he will give temporary protective legal status to Venezuelan

migrants of Columbia's 1.73 million Venezuelan migrants, sum 996,000 do not have legal status. Do you consider this a win, sir?

GRANDI: Absolutely. This is one of the greatest humanitarian gestures that have happened in Latin America in decades. 1.8 million Venezuelans have

found refuge in Columbia fleeing from the crisis in their country.

And this decision by the Columbian government regularizes them, gives them the possibility to have access to services including the all important

health services in this time of pandemic to education to the labor market.

But gives also Columbia the tools, the way in the means for a better management of this large population which otherwise would be of liability

from the security point of view. So it's a win-win from all points of view.

But it will require international support. Columbia is a middle income country granted it's not one of the poorest countries, not at all, has

resources but not enough to conduct this inclusion program, integration program for this vast Venezuelan population.

So, I was next to the president -- to President Duque when he announced it and the message was very clear. We're doing it. It's important for us, for

the Venezuelans, for the Columbians but we need international help.

ANDERSON: We were in Columbia just last hour with our correspondent on the ground who was reporting on the beginning there of the vaccine roll out. So

that is one less country that hadn't actually got access to vaccines. I think there was something like 129 other countries around the world where

we are not seeing a single dose.

And I know that the UNHCR is working around the clock to try and ensure that sum 18 million forcibly displaced in more than 100 countries are

including in COVID-19 vaccine roll outs. Jordan for example has already begun vaccinating its refugees. What is it going to take, sir, for other

countries to follow that example?

GRANDI: Well, first of all, you're absolutely right. The first order of business here is to ensure that in every country vaccination campaigns for

the coronavirus include all those that are on the move, refugees, displaced people but also migrants, especially vulnerable ones that may be at risk of

exclusion.

Now, the response we've got from most countries is that they will include them, which is great. But then some of these countries -- many of these

countries remember of those 18 million, 90 percent are in poor countries or in lower middle income countries.

So these countries will not have the means even for their own immunization campaigns. So, we must ensure that they get those means and that there are

additional means given to those countries to include sometimes very huge refugee populations.

Think of Lebanon, one in four or five people is a refugee, one million (inaudible) refugees in Bangladesh. We spoke about the millions of

Venezuelans. So, you know, an international effort is needed in addition to national efforts in each of those countries.

ANDERSON: And I hear you. You say we must ensure that these countries get the means.

(LAUGHTER)

ANDERSON: With the greatest--

GRANDI: Yes.

ANDERSON: -- sort of respect, sir, do you see those funds coming?

GRANDI: Not yet. And, you know, the Secretary General Dian has been very clear even yesterday.

(LAUGHTER)

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GRANDI: Only very few countries are getting the bulk are able to buy the bulk of the vaccines now. We are moving into a world in which we will have

a small and minority immunized and the majority infected. We can't do that because then the immunized themselves will be at risk. So we really need to

have a more concerted efforts so that the immunization campaigns are equal - are more equal throughout the world.

Security Counsel debated this yesterday and I hope that some of the conclusions will be implemented. We haven't seen much of it yet.

ANDERSON: The Economist (ph) Intelligence Unit releasing modeling, which I found really fascinating. It found that most poor countries won't achieve

mass COVID-19 immunization until at least 2024. And some may never get there. That is what you are speaking to when we have this discussion,

correct?

GRANDI: Absolutely. And I hope that we have learned the lesson last year that unless we all proceed together towards the result, that result, that

objective of immunization we're all at risk, even those who do get immunized because eventually, you know, the risk will exist for them as

well.

So I think it is not just the humanitarian necessity and imperative it is about the health of us all.

ANDERSON: I want to get a little specific because I know that you've been on the move recently and in February you were in the Tigray Region. Just

describe for our viewers what this crisis in Ethiopia looks like on the ground.

GRANDI: Well, in the Tigray Region of Ethiopia where a conflict - the conflict continues the assessment of all including of the Ethiopian

Government is that the humanitarian needs are rising very, very fast; food, basic items, and everything else that in situation of isolation and

conflict produces.

Now I was in Ethiopia, myself, a couple of weeks of ago, the Head of the World Food Program, my colleague David Beasley, was there just after me. We

had very good discussions with the government and we got the assurance that access to that region by Humanitarian Agencies will be escalated and

accelerated. And since then we have got more clearances to send our staff, our colleagues, our teams on the ground to distribute food and other

necessities to the people.

I think it needs to be accelerated because otherwise the crisis will go beyond the point where it can be - it can be pushed back and people can be

- can be rescued literally. Access is difficult; this is still an insecure (ph) region so we have to deal with that as well. But we have also

established a system of coordination between civilian organizations like ours, the military, the Ethiopian military in the Tigray Region that was

also a request that we had made.

I hope that, you know, all these foundations now will allow for this humanitarian operation to speed up and reach the people in need how are in

the millions.

ANDERSON: You say before it is too late. I wonder how you feel about the Sahel Region, something that I had spoken to David Beasley, the WFP, about

on a number of occasions. Yesterday we reported extensively on the violence in Africa's Sahel Region which is now displaced as I understand it, more

than two million people within the borders of their countries for the first time ever.

How big of a tinder box is this? And just how concerned are you, the UNHCF about the situation? The destabilized, escalating situation on the ground?

GRANDI: It's a very big tinder box and I am very concerned of course. Now the question is very complex. There is a security factor there. There are

armed groups, terrorists groups that terrorize the population, force them to be displaced, destroy villages, destroy schools. So that has to be dealt

with with a security response but that is not enough.

That cannot be the only response because the space acquired by this group is built on a situation of underdevelopment that also has to be addressed.

Otherwise there will always be resurgence of insecurity.

[11:15:00]

So we have to address a huge education gap, a huge food security gap. And the two, security and development, have to go more hand in hand with more

resources and more coordinated resources by the international community. I think this message is beginning to be heard, but we haven't seen enough

action yet.

And in the meantime, if I may say, Becky, the 2 million displaced, and many others that are not displaced but in acute need of assistance, they need

humanitarian assistance. They need food. They need medicines. They need shelter.

I was, myself, last year in Burkina Faso, a country that went from zero displacement to 1 million-plus displaced people, a small country. It's

horrifying what I saw there. The most basic needs were not met, and it's terrible human rights situation.

I have never seen in my life, and I've been many years in this - doing this work, I've never seen - heard so many women come to us and say that they

have been tragically raped as a tool of control of the territory. It's one of the most abysmal violations that you can think of. So we need to think

also of those more, let's call them, protection aspect of the crisis.

ANDERSON: Well, the world's worst humanitarian crisis, as we speak, is Yemen. I just want to close with your thoughts on the ground. The U.S.

administration has sort of delisted the Houthis as a terror organization, a decision made by the new U.S. administration.

They have put Yemen front and center, desperate to be seen, to be sort of negating their complicity in that conflict. But the U.S. moves, not at this

point, at least, creating any solutions. And only two days ago we have seen the Houthis in Marib, reports that they are bombing civilian refugee camps

outside Marib with rockets and sending children to Marib on suicide missions to try and capture oil and gas production facilities.

Not my words, but the words of the former ambassador in Syria from Yemen, Yemen's former ambassador to Syria. Those are serious allegations, sir.

Just how concerned are you at this point that this conflict will get worse, not better?

GRANDI: Unfortunately, Becky, very concerned because in spite of so many appeals for peace, for at least the cessation of fighting and violence that

have been made over the past few years, the situation continues to be very, very bad in Yemen.

You are - you're right to say that this is still continues to be the biggest humanitarian crisis in the world - of the world. We estimate that

more than 20 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance. Many, many are displaced and, you know, I saw a statistic the other day, 1 in 4

household of displaced people is headed by a woman with children.

So this gives you a sense of the extreme vulnerability of the population, all this population in a war zone where different armed groups, Houthis and

others, are fighting for the control of territory. So, of course, the solution to all this is a political solution that allows for the country to

get back together and progress towards peace.

But in the meantime, we need humanitarian assistance. I'm very sorry that I have to conclude every chapter of our conversation with that, but

unfortunately if there are no political solution, we need at least to help the people that are most hit.

You know, Yemen is very difficult to fund. In spite of the tragic situation, we have every year big challenge in mobilizing funds. In a few

days, there will be yet another donor conference, I think 1st of March, coordinated by Switzerland and Sweden.

I hope that there will be a good response because unless the situation improves, hunger, epidemics and other humanitarian catastrophes are likely

to just grow in this country, in Yemen. And I'm very sorry that I'm giving you today very negative reports. I'm glad you asked me about Colombia

because at least one positive story there.

ANDERSON: Well, no, and Filippo, look, you know, you are always welcome on this show. And I know how hard you work with the agency that you head. And

you're absolutely right, like bring us some good news stories because the world can be a very dark place.

[11:20:00]

But it's so important to continue to report on those areas of the world where are displaced and need assistance and it's out job as it is yours to

try to ensure that those people are given a voice. Thank you, sir. Filippo Grandi for you. The U.N. has been twisting itself in knots over the

humanitarian crisis unfolding in Africa's Sahel Region.

The crisis one of the most volatile and complex on earth as Filippo was suggesting. The Sahel has become a breeding ground of terror groups that

trade in people, drugs, and fear. We've heard how the Islamic insurgency there has forced millions of people from their homes. Many of those who

have stayed have also been suffering for years and are wondering where is the help.

This is Africa's Sahel Region, a semi-arid landscape stretching all the way from the Atlantic Ocean eastward through Mauritania, Marley, Burkina Faso,

Niger (ph), Chad and into Sudan.

Drought, hunger, poor governance and the lack of development have long plagued this part of the world. But in recent years the people hare are

facing another threat. Spreading Islamic militant groups.

Armed insurgents with links to ISIS and Al-Qaeda have ravaged the (ph) Sahel for the past decade. Capturing territory, launching indiscriminative

attacks on civilians and helping spark a major humanitarian crisis.

The United Nations Refugee Agency says this violence has displaced over two million people and pushed communities to a breaking point. With the support

of the governments of Burkina Faso, Chad, Marley, Mauritania and Niger (ph) collectively referred to as the G5 Sahel, French troops have led a counter

terrorism mission across the region know as Operation Barkhane.

Since 2014 the U.S. has supported this multi-billion dollar effort by providing military aid, intelligence surveillance and reconnaissance

support. But in 2017 ISIS linked fighters killed four American servicemen in Niger (ph). And the Trump administration began considering a troop

drawdown in the region. After military officials began questioning France's approach.

U.S. President, Joe Biden has promised the Sahel will remain a foreign policy priority. And in a message to the G5 on Tuesday, Secretary of State,

Antony Blinken reaffirmed the U.S. commitment to the alliance. While highlighting the need for stable governance throughout the region.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ANTONY BLINKEN, US SECRETARY OF STATE: As ISIS and Al-Qaeda affiliates seek to expand their reach across Africa, the United States will continue to

work closely with our African partners. Tactical counter-terrorism work is essential but on its own we know it's not enough. Instability and violence

are symptoms of a crisis of state legitimacy.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: As Jihadists expand their networks beyond the Sahel and tighten their grip on vast swaths (ph) of territory discussions over how to improve

Operation Barkhane dominated this year's G5 Summit. Six U.N. workers have been killed in Marley this year alone. And France has lost at least five

soldiers since December.

On Tuesday President Emmanuel Macron said France would step up efforts to quote "decapitate" Al-Qaeda groups operating in the Sahel and called on the

international community to bolster aid to G5 forces.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

EMMANUEL MACRON, FRENCH PRESIDNET: (speaking foreign language)

UNKNOWN: (translated) The first message to underline is that we must not ease off the pressure on terrorist groups. We must now continue to solicit

all of our international partners to give visibility to our joint forces and obtain long term financing.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: Experts from the International Crisis Group cautioned in a report on February 1 that focusing solely on a military strategy wouldn't fix the

growing crisis. And like Blinken urged France and the G5 leaders to quote "reorient" their military centered approach towards helping improve

governance in the region by soothing escalating tensions among communities and between communities and the state in rural areas which Jihadist

exploit.

As thousands continue to flee a path to peace cannot come soon enough.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ANDERSON: Coming up we're going to head to Beirut. More than half a year after the horrific port (ph) blast the investigation into what went wrong

may be delayed. More on that coming up. And it's been more thank six months since this dramatic liftoff to Mars.

[11:25:00]

Now, in just a few hours, the real drama as the Rover Perseverance makes its fiery entry to the surface of the Red Planet.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNKNOWN: Is that a bomb? Oh my god. Oh my god.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: Yes, that horrific moment in August of 2020 when one of the most powerful non nuclear explosions on record leveled big chunks of the

Lebanese Capitol. It killed more than 200 people and it injured thousands.

Well, several former law makers have been charged but now the search for answers may have just hit a snag as the judge heading up the investigation

was literally just removed. CNN's Ben Wedeman has been reporting on this awful tragedy since -- well, since the moment that that cloud became

visible -- since the moment he heard what felt like an -- an earthquake. I seem to remember you suggesting.

He joins us now from Beirut. Ben.

BEN WEDEMAN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Becky. Well, anybody who lives in Beirut we lived through that moment, we all wince when

we see those pictures of the blast again.

And many people were hoping for some sort of speedy investigation and some justice into this atrocity. But it seems that's not going to happen.

Today, the Court of Cassation passed a ruling that Judge Fadi Sawan who was appointed just days after the blast to investigate the incident has been

dismissed.

This was after two former ministers; Ali Hassan Khalil, the former minister of finance and Ghazi Zeaiter, the former minister of Public Works had gone

to the court on the -- in December and questioned the legal validity of the fact that Judge Sawan had basically accused four officials.

The current caretaker, Hassan Diab; and three former ministers of negligence leading to the blast. Now there was some criticism that these

were the only ministers or politicians who were going to be questioned. But all of them, including the caretaker prime minister, refused to be

questioned.

And so really this investigation has been on ice since December, the 17th of December and then it was further put on ice because of this lockdown

that we've been under for more than a month.

Now we don't know exactly why the judge was dismissed from this case but some Lebanese media are reporting that one of the reasons given was that

his apartment, which is the neighborhood of Achrafieh was damaged in the blast, and therefore he's not a partial person to investigate.

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The long and short of this is that many people believe that this case, like so many others going back decades involving the assassination of prominent

public figures, will never see the light of day. Justice will never be realized in this case and so many others. Becky?

ANDERSON: It's shocking, but hardly, sadly, surprising. Ben, thank you. We will be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ANDERSON: In just a few hours, NASA expects to land the first rover on Mars in nearly a decade. The mission of the rover "perseverance" is to search

for signs of ancient life on the red planet. And if all goes well, the mission will collect rock samples that will be returned by future mission

and could help pave the way for human explorers.

But after years of preparation, calculation, and dedication, it all comes down to this, what's known as the seven minutes of terror when the

spacecraft has to put on the brakes and parachute down to a landing site filled with craters and boulders.

Astrophysics - astrophysician Thomas Zurbuchen is one of the NASA scientists on pins and needles right now joining us from California's jet

propulsion lab, and I'm going to say that again because it just sounds so fabulous, NASA's jet propulsion lab.

It's just about the coolest name for a place that one can imagine. This is the nerve center of what is this ambitious space flight. So for our

viewers' sake and indeed mine, just how difficult is it to build and send a rover to Mars?

THOMAS ZURBUCHEN, ASSOC. ADMINISTRATOR FOR NASA'S SCIENCE MISSION DIRECTORATE: Well, it's really difficult. In - at TAPL (ph), where I'm

sitting right now, there are 3,000 individuals that have worked on this rover. There's thousands more internationally who have and contributions

for several countries, and this rover has been on its way for six months, and it all comes down to the seven minutes you just talked about where all

this work will pay off. It's very hard.

ANDERSON: Who's in charge? Who's driving, as it were, back at base?

ZURBUCHEN: So this is an interesting question, of course. You know, so I run NASA science program and, you know, awhile ago I said, let's go. And

what's happening right now is because light is so slow, it takes ten minutes to get there or 11 minutes and 11 minutes to go back.

[11:35:00]

It's all autonomous. The spacecraft is in charge and doing things on its own. We're basically hands off and watching. That's what we're doing right

now.

(LAUGHTER)

ANDERSON: Which makes it even more nerve-racking I should think that you have absolutely no control. Perseverance is the first rover to reach Mars

since Curiosity as I understand it back in 2012.

I'm sure you are well aware where I am. The UAE said its Hope Probe to Mars that landed just after seven months in orbit. What is unique about

Perseverance?

ZURBUCHEN: So what's really exciting about Perseverance is really a consequence I would say of the research and the results that we've gotten

as an international community for the last 20 years.

We now know that where we're going to land Jezero Crater was an ancient riverbed. Three billion years ago there was water flowing in there down the

river into that crater. And if you looked at the Earth at the same time there was also water flowing. There was an atmosphere just like at Mars. We

all learned that.

But what we now have a question about which is really exciting. See, on earth three billion years ago is when the first single cell organisms

formed. So the question is did that occur on Mars? It's really an astrobiology mission the first of a kind in this generation of new

spacecraft.

ANDERSON: This is remarkable. And how does this mission set the stage for future human missions to Mars? Are they going to get any easier after this?

ZURBUCHEN: Ha, ha, ha, ha (ph). We all wish but that's usually not the way it goes, so.

(LAUGHTER)

What we're going to do with this mission is we're going to do the exploration (ph) and collect samples. And we're working with the European

Space Agency here with NASA as well to go -- in the late `20s we're going to go pickup those samples with two missions and bring them back.

That will be the first round trip to Mars. Humanity's first round trip to Mars. As we're landing there with advanced landing technologies and brining

them back we're proving technologies that will really advance the likelihood of going there with humans.

So, there's a lot to learn still for human exploration of Mars. But we're really making progress with this particular rover and the investigations

that are on there right now as it (inaudible) the planet.

ANDERSON: Amazing. Sir, you are a genius and we salute you. Thank you for helping us explore our interstellar neighborhood. Back on Earth we have a

show to do. Thank you. Still ahead a group of Russian footballers appear to have become rather bored during the winter break, details on the hotel high

jinks up next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[11:40:00]

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SHAMIM KASSIBAWI, FOUNDER, PLAY:DATE: How old is she?

UNKNOWN: Just nine months.

SHAMIM: Aww.

JOHN DEFTERIOS, CNN INTERNATIONAL EDITOR (voice-over): It's a big day for Shamim Kassibawi, one which could determine the future of her fledgling

startup.

SHAMIM: So, today we're at Kids HQ, it's really exciting to see all these ladies turn up with their little ones.

DEFTERIOS: In 2017, Dubai-based, Shamim, started Play:Date, a mobile app where parents build their child's social circle. Before the Coronavirus

pandemic, her company regularly hosted children's events like this. They were key to her business model. The two (ph) Shamim organized each month

accounted for 80 percent of the companies revenue.

SHAMIM: This is for you love. Thank you so much for coming.

DEFTERIOS: Today's gathering is the first in nearly a year. It's a chance for Shamim to test the waters. It looks and feels different, to say the

least. Attendance is capped at 25 percent usual capacity and masks are required. Companies like Play:Date that relied on face-to-face meetups have

been particularly hard hit by COVID lockdowns and social distancing, many going out of business.

SHAMIM: Typically we're full in 48-hours for an event, this one not so much because parents are worried.

DEFTERIOS: As the event side of her business dried up, Shamim's been busy pivoting her strategy to find new ways to bring in the money. She's

building an additional feature on her app to accommodate virtual Play:Date's, something her users have been asking for.

SHAMIM: Hey, how are you?

UNKNOWN: Hey, how are you?

SHAMIM: Good, how's New York? Cold?

DEFTERIOS: Shamim's also expanding her operations in the United States and partnering with brands connecting retailers with her user base.

SHAMIM: People are open to things, brand managers, marketers, PR agencies; they're open to new ideas. So, I've been very blessed to have various

brands come on board. They need to reach consumers and we give them access to real families.

DEFTERIOS: There will come a time when Shamim will host events like this again but not just yet. Until social distancing measures are relaxed and

customers regain their confidence, Shamim says she will go on finding new ways to make money and keep her users engaged. It's vital to Play:Date's

success.

John Defterios, CNN Dubai.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ANDERSON: Well you know what game isn't played nearly enough? Mattress Dominoes, yes. In the Russian premier league teams are preparing to emerge

from their long winter break but it seems as if the players at Rubin Kazan have become very attached to their beds during their hibernation. Now,

actually -- it does actually look like a bit of fun. to be honest, doesn't it, Don? Don Riddell in the house.

DON RIDDELL, CNN ANCHOR: It looks like loads of fun, Becky, can't wait to get a bunch of mates and go and try that out. I mean, it's probably a

hotel's worst nightmare. There's a line in the bible, "take up thy bed and walk," this is not what they had in mind. This is not what you're supposed

to do. But very, very cool, very creative and as you say, looks like an awful lot of fun.

ANDERSON: Yes, doesn't it, just right. You're back with World Sports after this short break. That's it for Connect the World this evening, goodnight.

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