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Baghdad Intensive Care Unit Responds In Infection Surge; Son Crusades For Mask-Wearing In Honor Of His Mother; Inspection Cut Off Averted But Iran Shows New Defiance; Lithuanian President: Enough Vaccines For Herd Immunity By July; CNN Speaks To ESA Astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti; Inside Abu Dhabi's Plan To Minimize Risk In Schools. Aired 11a-12p ET

Aired February 23, 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)

ANNOUNCER: Live from CNN Abu Dhabi. This is "Connect the World" with Becky Anderson.

BECKY ANDERSON, CNNI HOST: It is 11 in the morning in D.C. It's 7 in the evening in Baghdad and it is 8 pm here in Abu Dhabi. We are connecting your

world and beyond.

Tonight as the European Space Agency looks to recruit new astronauts for the first time in over a decade find out whether it could be you that is

ahead this hour? But we will start down here on Earth in Iraq, that country now feeling the weight of a second COVID surge.

The government imposing yet another lockdown as Iraqi hospitals starts to fill with patients sparked in large part by the more contagious Coronavirus

variant first seen in the United Kingdom. Now this chart tells the story in stark and sobering detail new data cases now topping 4000 the first time

numbers like these have been seen since last fall.

COVID-19 has killed more than 13,000 people in Iraq at least by the official count the actual death toll may be much higher, or for many Iraqis

too many. In fact, hospital visits are a last resort especially for COVID patients. My colleague, Arwa Damon got rare access inside an Iraqi Hospital

in Baghdad where doctors explained why so many people are reluctant to seek treatment until they get very sick, or indeed died at home.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ARWA DAMON, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): The constant beeping of the machines is mind numbing, but at least here there is something rarely seen

inside a COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit. Those struggling for each breath are not alone.

This week, laugh is muffled an inside joke shared with the doctor. It's about how her daughter - is constantly hovering over her. The family went

to a wedding, no masks, no social distancing, a decision they all bitterly regret.

I also have COVID but I've forgotten about it with the state my mother isn't. She says as her voice starts to cry. They filled the house with

oxygen tanks, but it wasn't enough. And then we brought her here and then nod her head. She is doing much better now.

The - family also tried to treat her using oxygen at home. They did not want to bring her to a hospital, not an uncommon occurrence in Iraq.

DAMON (on camera): Why do you think people are reluctant to come to the hospital initially?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Maybe because of culture, Iraqi culture?

DAMON (voice over): For some it's fear of being stigmatized, having caught a virus that has brought the world to its knees? There are people even now

who say what this Corona is? Her daughter - tells us they don't believe the virus exists until it hits them.

But it's also a misunderstanding that oxygen and vitamins are enough to treat the symptoms of the virus. And there's also a lack of faith in Iraq's

healthcare systems, which have yet to fully recover from sanctions dating back to the Saddam Hussein era, and then nonstop war.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is very bad thing to keep patient in home, treatment at home.

DAMON (voice over): Iraq's first COVID-19 wave devastated the country hospitals were overwhelmed. This particular infectious diseases hospital in

Baghdad that the government facilitated access to so it's patient numbers triple in the last two weeks.

DAMON (on camera): Are you ready for maximum capacity or more?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We have beds we have doctors we have nurse.

DAMON (voice over): And they do not have a choice.

DR. HASSAN ALAA, CHIEF RESIDENT: Two months ago the virus nearly from - from all people. So all people leave facemask, leave the sterilization with

everything and neglected everything, neglected all the protection.

DAMON (on camera): Does this make you stress? Does this make you worried?

DR. ALAA: Friends of our family, our sales from the single vitals but do what we can and that benefits for the patients.

DAMON (voice over): By new virus Dr. Alaa means new variant. Iraq's Ministry of Health recently stated that 50 percent of the new infections

are of the highly contagious B-117 variant first identified in the UK. The government only just made facemasks mandatory and re implemented stricter

restrictions like nighttime and weekend curfews.

It should have happened before not now at the end - says of the government's measures as her mother's chest heaps with each labored breath.

She won't leave her side. No matter the risk, no matter the circumstances. In Iraq no one stays in the hospital alone.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

[11:05:00]

ANDERSON: And Arwa Damon joins me now from Baghdad. Arwa you have spent much of your career reporting from - on Iraq. This was the first time that

you've been able to, to get back to the country since the Coronavirus pandemic, what's been your experience of the situation there?

DAMON: Becky, it's been more than a year, and I don't think I've ever been away for this long. It's hard. It's been so hard for this country just like

it has elsewhere in the world. But even before COVID hit the economy here was on a downward spiral. Unemployment was incredibly high was one of the

many reasons why so many were out demonstrating in the streets.

And then COVID-19, brought about lock downs brought about the decreasing oil prices that further exacerbated the economic problems here. And out in

the streets where we were earlier today, going through one of these marketplaces, all anyone was talking about was the unemployment, the lack

of opportunity, how they don't know what to do with their lives?

And right now they have to deal with this second wave, these increasing numbers. And it's, again, one of those very difficult decisions, you know,

do you sacrifice the economy at the expense of the health of the country? Or do you try to figure out some sort of balance so that the economic blow

is lessened a little bit.

And when you talk to people about this, Becky, they're resigned to a certain degree, they have this attitude of, you know, we've been through so

much already with the wars and ISIS, you know, when are we ever going to catch a break? That's really what you hear.

ANDERSON: The Pope expected to visit Iraq next week, how you would describe the significance of that trip coming, as it does at a time, which you've

just described for the country and what we know of the details of his trip to Iraq?

DAMON: It's actually incredibly significant, Becky, for a number of reasons. This is the first ever palpable visit to Iraq. And if we just look

at this country's history, with Christianity, and all of the historic sites that are here, and how many of Iraq's Christians actually trace their roots

back to the very beginning of the faith.

And then one looks at what happened since 2003, since the U.S. led invasion that toppled Saddam Hussein, and then the sectarian civil war that ensured

that saw Christians, among other religions, but especially Christians, as a minority here, being very deliberately targeted, churches were bombed, they

were assassinated.

There is one particular incident that, for me, at least really resonates when you say the Christian community in Iraq, and it was back in 2010, when

gunmen stormed into the Lady of Salvation church here massacring more than 50 of the worshipers.

I and you know, my crew, we all have a very vivid recollection of walking inside that church, seeing the pews overturned, going into one of the small

back rooms with bloodied handprints on the wall, many Christians had already fled at that point, and those who had stayed behind, were the ones

that were really reluctant to leave their country.

And then, of course, you had ISIS taking over in 2014 and sweeping through Mosul and all of the Christian communities that exist around Mosul, forcing

them once again out of their homes, forcing them once again, to be displaced.

And to now have someone like the Pope coming to visit with this message of interfaith meeting with a number of religious leaders here meeting with

government leaders, visiting sites that are important to Christianity meant to be mingling with Muslim communities. It does send a very powerful

message at a time when many people perhaps need that.

ANDERSON: Yes, Arwa Damon I appreciate it. Your reporting is, is second to none as ever, thank you. Well, from Iraq to the U.S., which has recorded

way more deaths from COVID-19 than it did from all the fighting of World War II.

In just over a year, half a million lives have been lost more than there ever had to be. President Joe Biden led a vigil last night along with Vice

President Kamala Harris and their spouses with amazing grace wringing out over the White House lawn. Mr. Biden spoke of nation's collective grief and

of his own.

[11:10:00]

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOE BIDEN, PRESIDENT, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: We often hear people described as ordinary Americans. There's no such thing. There's nothing

ordinary about them. The people we lost were extraordinary. They span generations born in America immigrated to America.

But just like that, so many of them took their final breath alone in America. I know all too well. I know what it's like to not be there when it

happens. No one is like when you are there holding their hand, look in your eye and they slip away.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: Joe Biden, well, hundreds of thousands of lives lost each, of course with their own individual story. 61-year-old Cheryl Burch was a

wife, a mom, and a grandma, she had underlying health conditions. But her son says before her diagnosis, she lived a completely happy and healthy

life or since her death last summer.

Her son has become a crusader for mask wearing you see here, his own masks bear some powerful messages, including my mom died. That's why I'm like

this. Aaron Burch joining me now from Pontiac in Michigan and tell us about your mom, what did she mean to you?

AARON BURCH, LOST MOTHER TO COVID-19: Well, first of all, thank you so much for having me on. It really means the world to be able to have to share her

story. My mom was single handedly the most kind and influential person in my entire life.

She was, you know, she was my emotional confidant, she was my professional confidant. And since her passing, things have just gone so hard. I turned

33 next Monday, and she every year for my birthday, she'd call me up or you know, or wake me up and sing me happy birthday, this will be the first time

in my life that you know that you will not be able to do that.

ANDERSON: I'm so sorry so, so sorry for your loss.

BURCH: Thank you.

ANDERSON: And thank you for joining us tonight. I wonder how you reflect on your mom's death and the 500,000 people who have died in the states from

COVID-19. How do you reflect on that number?

BURCH: Well, if we were to take a moment of silence for all that we have lost, we would never speak again. There's just been so many. And the

lingering the nagging thought, in my mind is that it didn't have to be like this. It just didn't.

So many of these tests, so many of these infections could have been avoided if we followed proper masking protocols and if we had the leadership at the

time to stand up and say, this has to be done. We are we are Americans; we look out for each other. We've done it before. We'll do it again. And we

will continue to do it.

It's just - it's just completely staggering half a million deaths in less than a year. I just can't believe it. And the worst part is that my story

isn't unique. She - I'm one of 500,000 others while at least connected to those 500,000 people who have felt this pain.

You know, a week after my mom went on the ventilator. We had found out that you know what, what gender the child my wife was carrying, and I had to

tell my mom while she was on a ventilator that she was going to have her first and probably like grandson VSL.

I never got to say goodbye to my mom. And I know she fought so, so hard. She was in the hospital for 51 days. 51 days. And she was just - she was

just so, so strong. I just sometimes I can't believe it. How reality doesn't seem that way. You know, losing someone to losing someone to add to

this to this pandemic, let alone losing half a million people and over 2 million worldwide.

[11:15:00]

BURCH: Now we've, we've lost so much.

ANDERSON: Aaron I'm so sorry. We've been running some wonderful images of your mom, while you've been talking, so that our viewers can see her and

help you remember her. And your words echo what the President of the United States said yesterday that everybody is unique. Everybody is an individual.

And this, the process of grieving is so, so hard. You I know are urging everyone to wear a mask. What overarching message to your fellow Americans,

and indeed Aaron, to those watching around the world?

BURCH: My message is as such, I won't lose you. The woman who made the mask, you know, my mom died. That's why I'm like this mask worked with me

on this mask. And every single purchase of it gets donated to a charitable cause that my mom championed in my mom's name. And it doesn't matter if I

haven't spoken to you in years.

It doesn't matter if I see you every day. And it doesn't matter if I never meet you. I won't lose you. I can't I refuse. We have to draw the line

somewhere that enough is enough. Frankly, it should have been a long time ago. But we need to act if not if not now then soon.

ANDERSON: Aaron, the walls has just heard your message. Stay strong. Thank you.

BURCH: Thank you so much.

ANDERSON: We will be right back. Thank you for joining us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ANDERSON: An abrupt end to nuclear inspections in Iran may have been avoided by a last minute deal but Iran is making its terms clear. The

country says there will be no more snap U.N. inspections that was something that had been allowed under what was the so-called additional protocol.

And the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei says Iran just might start enriching uranium up to 60 percent the defiant stance raising the

temperature in a standoff between the U.S. and Iran over the conditions of a possible return to the Iran nuclear deal.

Well, that agreement the JCPOA fell apart under the Trump Administration but back in 2015 it was a picture of hope this was the finalization day

photo op. You can see the Secretary of State back then, John Kerry and on the very right the U.S. SEC Energy Secretary at the time Ernest Moniz who

helped negotiate the deal? Well, all honesty is now the CEO and Chairman of the Nonprofit Nuclear Threat Initiative and he joins me from Massachusetts

tonight.

[11:20:00]

ANDERSON: So thank you, as I understand it before, just before you join me on the show, you held a public event with the Director General of the IAEA,

who has recently been in Tehran. What came out of that, sir?

ERNEST MONIZ, CO-CHAIR AND CEO, NUCLEAR THREAT INITIATIVE: Yes, I should first emphasize, Becky that the seminar was scheduled long before his

weekend trip to Tehran, but it was quite timely.

I think the important point that the Director General made is that he was in a unique position to ensure at least continuity of information in terms

of the monitoring of Iran's nuclear activities. So that if some form of agreement is reached in the next three months, which is fundamentally all

the time there is with the Rouhani Administration, then there will not be gaps in knowledge.

Because those gaps means as to use his words, we would be flying blind and that would be very dangerous, because it is the verification mechanisms of

the JCPOA, which are paramount importance.

ANDERSON: Let's be quite clear here. The agreement that the DG of the nuclear watchdog has reached was also met with a relatively defined stance

by the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khomeini, who says Iran just might start enriching uranium up to 60 percent and to which the U.S. certainly the

State Department has said that sounds like a threat. What do you make of that?

MONIZ: Well, I believe Iran is frankly playing a losing game, thinking that all of these steps somehow increase their leverage in negotiation. What

they are doing is narrowing the opportunities for negotiation, which would be a very unfortunate end for everyone, including Iran.

So I think that the much more professional statements that we heard a few minutes ago from Director General Grossi, for example, somewhat

technocratic, but you know, that's probably what we need right now. He's not sugarcoating it.

There's no doubt that we've lost some, some important tools right now, in terms of undeclared sites, but we shouldn't lose sight of a very important,

again, progress, that they have found a way that should we be able to get back into political agreement, they will not have been a loss of

information in these in this intervening period.

And that is critical because if that were not the case, we would we would need extraordinarily intrusive measurements, to make up for the gap. And

that, in turn, would be very hard to do in Iran. So this is - I think that the Director General really performed a terrific service creatively

intervening at the right time, and leaving space for the political negotiations, which of course, is not his job that's the job of the Biden

Administration, and our partners in Europe, Russia, and China.

ANDERSON: OK, well, let's talk about what happens next with regard this diplomacy? You've said that if the Biden Administration office to restart

nuclear talks that quote, Iran will come back because they need to, and we want to, in order to relieve some of the regional tensions while achieving

the essential goal of having the world is sure that Iran is not reinvigorating a nuclear weapons program.

Well sir, frankly, the U.S. has said they are prepared to restart negotiations. But let's be clear with this latest move from Iran, OK, we

get this kind of temporary reprieve that the IAEA has organized. But there will be those watching this who says it doesn't indicate that Iran is

necessarily playing ball or a weakened hand here.

In fact, there are those who suggest that Iran sees a weak Biden Administration coming back to the table. How do you read where we are at,

at this point?

MONIZ: I think we are at the threshold where a strong Biden Administration, an administration that's prepared to put diplomacy ahead of other military

actions for example, a position of strength, in my view.

[11:25:00]

MONIZ: Well, we are at the point where what we need to do is to follow up on what the Deputy Foreign Minister of Iran, Mr. Araghchi said, which was

that, if the United States wants to go by steps we'll go by steps, that's what we need to do.

We can't afford, we don't have the time, frankly, to posture about who moves first and all of this. We need to go step by step, mutual steps taken

until we can finally get to the place where the JCPOA is back in force. That's the assurance on the nuclear weapons side.

But where, at least, I would hope that that is, again, to be as we planned in 2015, and 2016. It's the beginning of going beyond the JCPOA to address

the many other challenges that we have, involving Iran's missile activities, regional activities, human rights issues.

So I'm encouraged by again, political space being afforded. And now I think the E-3 plus 3 United States, Europeans, Russia, and China and Iran. Now we

need the political courage to start taking those first steps quickly, because we've only got about three months to get this resolved.

ANDERSON: Absolutely and you're talking about the upcoming Iranian presidential elections, of course, which are at present, we see - you know,

we see a president who is termed by the West at least as a moderate as opposed to a hardliner. And there were those who will argue the toss over

the over the delineation of those terms.

Very briefly, very briefly, should others be at the table? I'm talking about America's Gulf allies here who didn't get a stake in the fire last

time around and the world? Certainly this region has changed. I'm coming to you from Abu Dhabi in the UAE, you know, the regional security file here is

a very different one from that of 2015. Should Gulf parties be at the table?

MONIZ: I'm not sure at the table. But I've said all along that the Biden Administration needs to start by having conversations in Congress, the U.S.

Congress, across the aisle, and then with our allies in the region, and certainly the Emirates qualify for that, for sure. Because I'm not

suggesting that anybody has a veto over the negotiations.

But I think getting prepared, understanding the perspectives of members of Congress and of our regional allies, is absolutely critical. Both in order

to not have them impede the rate of progress to restoring a political agreement, but also to make the agreement at least more nearly stable for

the long term because if everybody is shooting inward, it's kind of difficult.

So I think those conversations have started. I think they need to be sustained through negotiation. And certainly, in going beyond the JCPOA,

which will undoubtedly be in the next Iranian presidential administration, and then I think that they need some form of seat at the table.

Because clearly, if once you're going to address regional issues, the regional players need to be part of that discussion.

ANDERSON: Fascinating insights, your analysis is important, sir, I appreciate your time. Thank you very much indeed for joining us. Next up,

COVID vaccines have joined the world of statecraft and soft power, Russia's Sputnik V vaccine, recently slammed as a geopolitical tool by Lithuania.

I'll be talking about the pandemic and power just ahead with Lithuania's Foreign Minister.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[11:30:00]

ANDERSON: Well, you're watching "Connect the World". It is 31 minutes past A-tear in Abu Dhabi. We've been showing you the rollout of vaccines across

the world now for some weeks and the European Union has had or quite frankly some major stumbles with significant delays getting shots into arms

across the bloc.

But what happens to countries like those North Eastern Europe that may not be in the EU, they are faced with a question of whether it's by vaccines

developed in the west or accept offers from China or Russia?

Well, Lithuania a member of the EU has been talking to Brussels trying to secure vaccines for its Eastern European neighbors who aren't in the block.

The Prime Minister making headlines recently says no way to Russia's vaccine, calling it a geopolitical tool. The Lithuanian Foreign Minister

has also been speaking describing the rollout as a complicated process.

Gabrielius Landsbergis is joining me now from Ukraine's Capital of Kiev. Thank you, sir, for joining us. Let's start in Lithuania. After look,

frankly, a disastrous start by the European Union. As I understand it, Lithuania now does have enough secure doses to speed up its rollout the

president setting a target of 70 percent of the population vaccinated by summer. Are you on track for that goal?

GABRIELIUS LANDSBERGIS, LITHUANIAN FOREIGN MINISTER: Well, first of all, I think that we're quite happy with the process that's been in Lithuania so

far. You know, when we're considering that, without the EU's purchase of the vaccines, we would be at the end of a row for any purchases of

vaccines. So what we got, were quite happy with that.

Now the question remains that we would vaccinate everybody with the vaccines that we're getting. And I think that currently we are at around

number five or six in the EU with a vaccination plan. So we might not be there in the middle of summer. But I think we're still confidently on our

way to get vaccinated this year.

ANDERSON: That's good to hear. And I'm sure those watching in Lithuania will be delighted firstly with your transparency and quite frankly, your

truthful statement, but to that, that you genuinely feel that you're on track to get as many people as vaccinated as possible.

You say that you've spoken to the EU about securing vaccines for those these neighbors who aren't in the blocks such as Belarus, Georgia and

Ukraine where you are, how are these talks going? And what timeline are you looking at given the issues that Europe has had getting vaccines to their

own people? Do you genuinely believe the offer to others is likely at this point?

LANDSBERGIS: Well, firstly, I believe that we are not safe till everybody is not safe. We have a lot of people to people connections with, with

people from Belarus, Ukraine, coming to work to Lithuania. And if they're not vaccinated, we know we cannot open up. That's one thing.

The second thing is that, as our prime minister said very rightfully is that vaccines currently are not a tool just for health. It's political and

even geopolitical tool as well.

[11:35:00]

LANDSBERGIS: We've seen what Vladimir Putin is doing offering vaccines outside Russia, even though he has not enough of it for his own people.

He's using it to draw countries closer to Russia. And that's why when EU and U.S. need to be there for the countries that are our neighbors that are

democratic, that are based on rule of law that are looking for the western countries to provide them with this remedy that is so badly needed at this

time in pandemic.

So, the message from EU was not very reassuring at this point. That means that U.S. first needs to secure their vaccines that is needed for its own

people, and the countries that can share should share. And just today I had a discussion with Ukrainian colleague, Mr. Dmitri - and I said that

whenever Lithuania feels that we have enough, we will definitely share it with Ukraine and other Eastern partnership countries.

ANDERSON: Russia wants the EU to take the Sputnik V vaccine. This has been peer reviewed by "The Lancet" and has great reviews from the Medical

Journal. Hungary, already approving its use, Germany currently considering it your Prime Minister, though has said that Lithuania will not purchase

vaccines from Russia, even if the shot is approved by the EU adding that Lithuania will only rely on medicines produced in the West.

The Prime Minister going on to say she has no doubt that Russia's attempts to sell the vaccine just yet another political game. Do you agree with

that? Do you believe that Russia is playing a political game with these vaccines?

LANDSBERGIS: Absolutely. You know, considering that only at around 1 million people have been vaccinated in Russia with Sputnik and almost about

a billion vaccines promised to the countries across the globe. So no, it was very good question that was posed by Ms. Von Der Leyen when she said

why doesn't Putin wanted to vaccinate his own people first and then start selling his vaccine to western countries and countries further, further

abroad?

I think that EU and U.S. have spent so much money in developing the vaccines, that the ones that are - the ones that we can trust. And I think

that Lithuania will stand firmly with the countries that will use western vaccines well, firstly.

ANDERSON: I just wanted to follow up on what we have been discussing earlier than this. Does that mean that that you are encouraging European

countries not in the EU bloc? To - you say you're trying to help in securing vaccines to also avoid the Sputnik V vaccine from Russia?

LANDSBERGIS: Well, I personally believe that it could be a very difficult decision for some countries, because if the EU and well, other countries

cannot provide vaccines like Moderna Pfizer, or AstraZeneca to the countries like Ukraine, and Georgia, Moldova and other countries in the

Eastern Partnership region then they would be pressed so hard to accept either Sputnik or even Chinese vaccines.

And they would be very tough position. For example, Russia is still fighting war in East of Ukraine. And you know there are people dying in

front. So for them, it would be not only a health-choice, it would it would be a moral choice as well.

Could we buy a remedy that is needed? But could we buy from our enemy? And I think that's, you know, we shouldn't put our friends in that sort of

position where they would need to choose between, you know, health and geopolitics, I think that Europe has to be there for them.

ANDERSON: OK. Thank you, sir for your thoughts. This is interesting. I do just want to press you on one other issue because it's important the

European Union announcing it would impose sanctions on Russia for the imprisonment of the Opposition Leader Alexey Navalny.

Russia's Foreign Minister has responded in calling the sanctions quite disappointing when it comes to Mr. Navalny. Do you really believe that

Russia can be pressured to listen to the international community with the threat or imposition of sanctions? What do you want at this point from the

EU?

LANDSBERGIS: Well, at first, you know, we have to understand that to agree for 27 countries within the EU is quite a challenge.

[11:40:00]

LANDSBERGIS: So at this point, I'm happy that we were able to agree on that - on what we call on Navalny's list that people would be added to the

sanction list. Secondly, we need to understand that this year Russia will have an election in autumn and I think that there's a possibility to give

current regime a chance to allow opposition to participate in this election.

Therefore, my message to my colleagues in Europe was that it would be wise to consider stopping projects like Nord Stream II that are currently being

built in the Baltic Sea bed, and give Russia a chance to organize a fair and free election.

And I believe I truly believe that that democratic people, people of Democratic Russia really deserve a pipeline like Nord Stream. And I would

trust them that they would use the money that they were getting from selling gas to EU for a good purpose.

But first, they need to have a normal election. And this is the pressure point that EU could put on pressing, we need the election to happen in

Russia, and it's not so far away from now. So but this debate is only starting. I'm not sure how fast or how far it might go? But if you're

asking what I would, I would expect? I would expect a fair election in Russia.

ANDERSON: Sure. Sir it's a pleasure having you on and come back. Thank you for your perspective, not just on other Navalny case and the wider story of

EU sanctions against Russia. But for your thoughts on the vaccine rollout and access to vaccines as well. Thank you.

We have new information on the condition of Britain's Prince Philip; Buckingham Palace says the 99-year-old is being treated for an infection

while he is in hospital. CNN's Max Foster is standing by outside that very hospital in London. What do we know at this point, Max?

MAX FOSTER, CNN ROYAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, as you say, we just found out what the illness is? He's suffering from it is an infection but we're told

that he is responding well to treatment, but he's not expected to leave hospital for several days, we're told.

Presumably that's because he is 99-years-old and any sort of treatment he does receive needs to be monitored for a period of time before he's allowed

to be released. We've also heard from his youngest son today, Prince Edward, he's speaking to Sky News today. As far as I'm aware I did speak to

him the other day. He's a lot better. Thank you very much indeed said Prince Edward.

He's looking forward to getting out which is the most positive thing sounds very much like Prince Philip isn't Becky?

ANDERSON: Absolutely. I think he was asked frustration of being in hospital and Prince Edward but just a bit. He laughs I think it gets to all of us.

Prince Philip, not a man to - certainly doesn't have a reputation for being the most patient of people I'm sure it is difficult for him. All right,

yes, thank you, Max. Thank you. We'll be right back after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[11:45:00]

ANDERSON: We'll check out the first video to ever show a spacecraft landing on Mars. NASA released this footage of the Perseverance Rover making its

descent on the red planet that gives us mere earthlings a better sense of the sights on Mars but what about the sounds? Take a listen to this.

What you're hearing is a few seconds of a Martian breeze, amazing. Well, if you've ever wanted to breach the boundaries of Earth's atmosphere and

ventured into space, now just might be your chance. The European Space Agency is recruiting astronauts for the first time in more than a decade.

It is a rare and highly competitive opportunity that is only being afforded or has only been afforded three times before by the agency and in a global

first, it has launched the Parastronaut Feasibility Project aimed at removing barriers for people with disabilities.

Well, Samantha Cristoforetti was selected as an ESA Astronaut back in 2009, and describes her job as a dream come true. She is the ESA's only female

astronaut and has the distinction of being the first Italian woman in space. Samantha also holds a record for the longest, uninterrupted

spaceflight by a European Astronaut at 199 days and 16 hours.

And we are thrilled to have - joining us now from Cologne in Germany. And that was quite some time. What did you do over those near 200 days? May I

ask?

SAMANTHA CRISTOFORETTI, ASTRONAUT, EUROPEAN SPACE AGENCY: I was a crew member on the International Space Station. And what do we do up there? The

ISS space station is mainly a laboratory. It's a laboratory microgravity was just a fancy word to say weightlessness.

And so a lot of time it did experiments or researchers, scientists all over the world, then of course, it's a complex machine, you also have to

maintain it. So I did maintenance work, I did cargo operations, loading and unloading cargo vehicles. I supported spacewalks of my colleagues. I

operated the robotic arm and many, many other things.

ANDERSON: Amazing, amazing. Listen, there will be people watching this, who would love to spend time in a lab in space? You and I know that this is the

stuff that dreams are made of? Did you want to be an astronaut when you are a little girl?

CRISTOFORETTI: I did. I actually did. I started reading about traveling to space when I was very small. And then as I grew up, I developed I guess the

right interests and passions for science for technology. I ended up studying engineering, and then I became a combat pilot. And eventually,

over 10 years ago, I was lucky enough to be selected as an astronaut. And now we are selecting new ones.

ANDERSON: Well, that's and that's the point, isn't it? That's what I want to talk to you about. Because this is the first time the ESA is recruiting

in 12 years, they've only recruited three times in their history. I wonder why the recruitment process is so few and far between and who are you

looking for this time around?

CRISTOFORETTI: Well, of course, we need to select astronauts not that often because we also need to make sure that the people we select also have an

opportunity to fly one or hopefully a couple of missions before new ones come along.

What are we looking for? The basic qualifications are actually quite generic, you know, you need to have a degree in a stem subject or in

medicine or be a test pilot. You need to have three years of some kind of professional experience.

But then we are really looking for all-rounder, like people who are eager to learn who do not necessarily excel in one thing, they don't need to be

the best person in this one thing, but they kind of need to be able to master a number of different skills, you know, from mechanical skills to

outreach to operating complex machines to perform experiments to you know, working out to keeping yourself fit.

And who are we looking for? Definitely, we're hoping this time for a more diverse pool of applicants. So we are specifically really also reaching out

to women in you know, back in my selection women are only 16 percent I believe of the - of the pool of applicants.

[11:50:00]

CRISTOFORETTI: And I think this time there's a lot more skilled and tough and confident young women out there who will apply.

ANDERSON: And Samantha, what struck me was that you are also looking for applicants with disabilities. ESA's Parastronaut Feasibility Project is a

global first and good for the ESA, I say, and what will that entail?

CRISTOFORETTI: So that's, as you said, Becky, a feasibility project. So we want to recruit people who are, you know, psychologically, cognitively,

professionally, technically absolutely qualified to be astronauts who normally would be selected except that they have a physical limitation that

would prevent them from using the normal space hardware that people like me use.

And so normally, we would not be able to select them. And so ESA, the European Space Agency is willing to invest in this project with the help of

these people we are going to recruit, to see what are the changes we have to make to space hardware, because in the end, you know, I always say when

it comes to go into space, well I disabled right, we were never meant to be up there in space.

And what makes the difference is technology. So what do we have to do? How do we have to adapt the technology? So that also people with some physical

disability are able to fly to space and be you know, crew members like everybody else?

ANDERSON: Samantha, thank you and to our viewers out there, folks, if you have always wanted to be an astronaut, you now know that there is an

application process there and give it a go I say. Samantha thank you. Well, keeping kids social while - social distancing, I had my visit to a school

here in Abu Dhabi that is trying to strike that balance.

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BIDEN: So it's about needing to be able to socially distance, smaller classes, more protection. And I think that teachers and the folks who work

in the school the cafeteria workers and other should be on the list of preferred to get a vaccination.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: The American President Joe Biden talking about the importance of vaccinating teachers so that more kids can get back into class. And we are

hearing that narrative in many parts of the world. The UAE where I am, has one of the highest vaccination rates in the world teachers are included in

the program and that makes getting back to school easier.

Well, for the more than 200 schools here in Abu Dhabi vaccines are only part of the plan for staying open though the government's education

regulator has laid out specific plans for when and how schools open? And we want to give you a sense of what is going on? Have a look at this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON (voice over): It's an unusual first day back at school. Temperature checks, social distancing, mall squaring and sanitation and

here in Abu Dhabi, this is how schools are opening their doors once again.

[11:55:00]

MONIQUE FLICKINGER, ACS SUPERINTENDENT: We were ecstatic when we found out that we would be able to bring students back on campus. But that brought

with us a whole host of new rules and regulations and stipulations for our safety and for children's safety.

ANDERSON (voice over): This is school, but not as we know it, extracurricular activities, shutdown, common areas all closed off, and even

how and where you walk around the campus is being controlled?

FLICKINGER: One of the things that has really changed is that our hallways are one directional, so we've had to put stickers down, that first tell

students how far apart they need to be, but also shows the direction in which they can travel. So kids know which way they have to walk down

hallways, which way they have to walk into their classrooms and which way they exit out of their classrooms.

ANDERSON (voice over): And those stickers along with assigned seating have helped the school's faculty ensure rigorous contact tracing, when needed.

FLICKINGER: We have actually had some kids that have come down with COVID; we've had staff that has come down with COVID. Within a matter of minutes,

we have the ability to trace every classroom that child has been in and any potential students they have been in contact with.

With contact tracing, we've actually had very few people that have had to be put into quarantine because of that.

ANDERSON (voice over): Although kids have the option to study at home, the majority of them at this school, say they prefer to be in the classrooms.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It feels really good to be back at school because I think I really missed the human connection.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I definitely prefer in person school, opposed to online school.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I feel really fantastic finally, being back in school. I have not been in school for almost a year.

ANDERSON (voice over): In addition to these safety protocols put in place Flickinger says over 80 percent of the school staff has already been

vaccinated against COVID-19. And still teachers and faculty are required to get COVID tested every two weeks. And that has helped put some parents at

ease.

VILLIERS TERBLANCHE, ACS PARENT: We're fortunate to be living in a country and in a city where the authorities have been ahead of the pandemic for the

most part. And that as a package, I think is about as much comfort as a parent can get in the middle of a global pandemic.

ANDERSON (voice over): But for other parents that still not satisfied.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: COVID for us has been a new revelation, the rational that we took as a family was from a security point of view; we thought that

it would be better for - to do home learning.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Going back to school is something that's really amazing. However, just meeting my friends during breaks and lunch and

talking to them was, I guess the best part of my day, it was where I could like de stress and not having that anymore is a little I guess sad.

ANDERSON (voice over): Schools may never go back to the way they used to be. But at least here in Abu Dhabi, this school is confident they have what

it takes to adapt to this new normal.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: A dilemma faced all over the world. Stay safe stay well, and a very good evening.

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