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Connect the World

Questions Over Race And The House Of Windsor; Prince Harry: Tabloid Racism "Large Part" Of Why We Left UK; Meghan Complained To UK Network Over Piers Morgan's Comments; COVID Variants Spiking Across Brazil, Hospitals Filling Up; Several European Nations To Make Russian Vaccine; BAFTA Film Awards 2021: Most Diverse Nominees. Aired 11a-12p ET

Aired March 10, 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)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The British Royal Family is now speaking out. The whole family is saddened to learn the full extent of how challenging the

last few years have been for Harry and Meghan.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The idea that there was going to be any change, it was always a fantasy.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The Royal Family simply doesn't recognize some of the things that Harry and Meghan told Oprah.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is actually a slap in the face I think.

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

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BECKY ANDERSON, CNN HOST: Well, it is 4 in the afternoon in London. It's 6 pm in Beirut, and it is 8 in the evening here in Abu Dhabi. Hello and

welcome back to the program. It is a message. The world had been waiting for Britain's Royal Family at last acknowledging the explosive allegations

of racism and emotional abuse allegations by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.

But this has become so much more than just a royal gossip story. It's a reckoning for the UK and the monarchy. And so for many it's far past time,

Buckingham Palace releasing a statement Tuesday saying, "The issues raised particularly that race are concerning. While some recollections may vary,

they are taken very seriously and will be addressed by the family privately they said"

The statement made no mention of investigating the couple's claims of racism within the monarchy. But just last week, the Palace was quick to

promise an investigation into allegations of bullying against the Duchess of Sussex.

Let's bring in CNN's Max Foster. He's live from Windsor Castle, where the Queen is currently in residence. So she's been there the entire time during

this pandemic. What's the reaction been to this statement, Max?

MAX FOSTER, CNN ROYAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, you know, you say there won't be an investigation to the race elements. I think that people within the

Palace would point to that statement saying they are going to look at it. But this combined with this fact that it's exclusively linked to a

breakdown of family relationships.

So they want to take it offline whilst they deal with that. But I think the point that you've been making throughout the show today, this culture war

is going to have to be addressed by them at some point. So they do have to speak publicly about race and diversity and mental health issues.

I think that they're very aware of that as it plays into the Royal Brown, the monarchy, which goes back 1000 years, and they're just, you know,

temporary custodians of that monarchy, they need to think how they're going to deal with that.

So the Queen can leave that legacy, ultimately, when she's no longer on the throne. But for right now they need to look at the private family matters.

So we're left in a situation where you do have, as you've been describing a culture war in the UK, so many loaded issues coming into this.

And it all comes out, doesn't it Becky from effectively a family breakdown in the House of Windsor and that interview, which really blew into the wide

open.

ANDERSON: Meanwhile Max, we've heard from the Palace, and you say that they sort of want to take it offline. They want this to be a sort of family

affair. But quite frankly, it's gone way beyond that. Piers Morgan hosts of ITV's "Good Morning Britain", which yesterday, in fact, was the biggest

rated morning TV show left his job.

After the show, following a disagreement with management about comments that he made about Meghan, and the interview lots of discussion on social

media about this. We are now learning that Meghan herself actually called ITV to complain about his comments. What do we know about this?

FOSTER: We have to look at the sequence of events because ITV and Piers haven't really said what happened in that meeting. but I think you can sort

of read quite a lot into it by the sequence of events. So Piers being hugely critical and Meghan, he has been as you know, for some time, but on

Monday he really did lay in tow is very personal.

He basically said he didn't believe a word she had to say particularly about the mental health issues. There were tens of thousands of complaints

to off calm, which is the British broadcast regulator. That led to a meeting with the Chief Executive of ITV and after that, Piers resigned and

rumor has it that he was asked to apologize.

He refused to do that. He's refusing certainly to do that today in front of the cameras because he says it's a freedom of speech issue.

[11:05:00]

FOSTER: Separately we learn CNN learns that Meghan did but a formal complaint directly into ITV not based on any personal attacks, but on the

concern that she has that by speaking out on mental health and being knocked down and disbelieved by Piers Morgan.

That would have an impact on Piers Morgan's audience to Brits more widely, that they won't come out and talk about their mental health issues. She was

very worried about the impact that would have so she thinks is a mental health issue. He says this freedom of speech issue, and everyone has an

opinion about it again Becky, the culture wars.

ANDERSON: Fascinating, couldn't do more on this Max for the time being thank you. Well, the Sussex's interview has certainly job one thing is

thrust the issue of race and racism back into the spotlight specifically in the UK.

But look, I mean, people have been watching this interview around the world and talking about this interview around the world. And you know, the issue

of race and racism isn't peculiar to the UK, but that is where this is focused today.

More than 160 journalists of color in the UK have taken a stand against a British press group saying they "Deplore and reject the society of editor's

statement denying the existence of racism and bigotry in the United Kingdom's press".

Well, this is just one example of the conversations happening across Britain at this very moment. CNN's Salma Abdelaziz with this report now on

how the Royals tabloids and the British public are all reacting to what is this moment of racial reckoning?

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

OPRAH WINFREY, AMERICAN HOST: Did you leave the country because of racism?

PRINCE HARRY, DUKE OF SUSSEX: There was a lot -- it was a large part of that.

SALMA ABDELAZIZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): It's the interview stirring emotions across Britain. Reactions ranging from shock to vitriolic

rants by a popular white TV host.

PIERS MORGAN, FORMER HOST, GOOD MORNING BRITAIN: This is a two hour Trashathon. They portrayed the Royal Family as racist, and it's a very

incendiary charge. And I don't think it actually is fair to the Royal Family.

ABDELAZIZ: To angry and protective tabloid headlines. So why the mention of racism does provokes such defensive reactions in Britain? In the months

after Prince Harry and Meghan step back as senior members of the Royal Family, Britain faced its own moment of racial reckoning.

Black Lives Matter protests in the U.S. spread to the UK tens of thousands directed their anger at the country's elite institutions of power. Toppling

icons of British colonialism that ignited a national debate yet the topic of race is considered culturally awkward, if not outright taboo.

DIANE ABBOTT, FIRST BLACK FEMALE BRITISH MP: The British like to think of themselves as quite liberal, the small owl and the British get quite

offended. If there's something about black women I think that some people in this country find particularly triggered. I don't know why. But it's a

combination of misogyny and racism and they're triggered. And Meghan came in for that, in space.

ABDELAZIZ (voice over): From the moment Meghan's relationship with a member of the Royal Family became public; her race became the subject of constant

tabloid fodder and discontent. During the couple's engagement the Queen's cousin's wife apologized after wearing a controversial broche many

considered racist when she met Meghan for the first time.

The couple's multicultural Royal Wedding, offered hopes of societal change but soon after the racist backlash continued. Meghan endured attacks for

things as mundane as avocados, while her white sister in law by comparison was praised.

When Meghan became pregnant with her first child, a wave of racist online abuse followed from social media trolls. After her son was born, one

television presenter was fired for linking him to a picture of a chimpanzee.

Through the barrage of racist attacks against his wife, Harry says he came to terms with his role in historically white institution.

HARRY: My upbringing in the system of which I was brought up in and what I've been exposed to. It wasn't -- I wasn't aware of it to start with sad

as it is to say it takes living in her shoes.

ABDELAZIZ (voice over): There is only one person in the world who knows what it means to be a British Royal of color Meghan.

MEGHAN MARKEL, DUCHESS OF SUSSEX: Growing up as a woman of color as a little girl of color. I know how important representation is. I know how

you want to see someone who looks like you in certain positions?

[11:10:00]

ABDELAZIZ (voice over): Buckingham Palace has responded to allegations in Harry and Meghan's interview, promising issues of racism will be addressed,

leaving hope that Meghan's stories of struggle will usher change elsewhere in Britain. Salma Abdelaziz, CNN, Windsor.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: Well, you saw our next guests at the beginning of Salma's report Trisha Goddard is a Former British Talk Show Hosts. She says the Palace

statement on Harry and Meghan's concerns is a big first step, saying we hear your pain we take these things very seriously. And we are going to

talk about them is a massive first step.

I think it's wonderful. Journalists, Trisha Goddard are joining us now it's good to have you on Trish. You call the Palace's response, a big first

steps why and what needs to happen next?

TRISHA GODDARD, JOURNALIST, FORMER BRITISH TALK SHOW HOST: Is a big first step for the Palace. People forget that they don't often respond as

quickly, as they have. I know in the United States, they expected things to be even faster. But as we know, they usually take a long time to do

anything.

I think it's a really good first step however; it's going to have to be backed up with some actual action. I mean, in an ideal world, what would

really be fantastic. And I think what would certainly help is the Palace getting involved with the society of editors, because for them, to claim

that there is no racism in the British press is absolutely demonstrative of the problem, if they genuinely can't see that. That is, that is definitely

the problem.

The British press gets away with printing things that the American press can't for instance. So you know that they have no idea. And here's the

difference Becky that something that I've noticed, talking to the U.S. press and talking to British press, and audiences.

I don't use the term institutionalized racism in Britain, because by and large, it's misunderstood. I'm not saying everybody, but to the general

population. And I think that's because of history. It's all sorts of reasons. If you know, if you look at history, racism happened, you know,

the slavery happened on American soil.

So, you know, people were lynched, there was slavery, they have redlining of districts, it's all around them, it's in Americans history on their

soil, whereas with the British Empire, all of those things happened offshore, if you like, in the colonies. So, you know, it was out of out of

sight, out of sound.

So there is a difference. Americans understand institutionalized racism, whether they agree with the response or Black Lives Matter or what have

you, there's a basis of understanding the average British person --

ANDERSON: Yeah, go on. I think you're making a really good point here. Unconscious bias, perhaps, is something that we should -- that we should

all be talking about. And this is an issue that came out of course, during the Black Lives Matter protests in the summer.

I know there are a lot of organizations, including our own, here at CNN, who are making a real effort to ensure that all of their staff and wherever

our staff are based around the world at CNN unconscious bias is something that people, you know, understand, get to grips with and do something

about.

Look, you talked about the British society of editors who put out that statement, rejecting claims made by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex there is

racist and discriminatory treatment of Meghan in the British media. More than 160 journalists of color from British media organizations have said

that they "Deplore and reject the statement".

This is an opportunity to reopen the window that you and I, you grew up in the UK, no, needs to be wide open, which is a wider narrative and

discussion about race in British society. I'm thinking back to 1997.

The discussions people had openly then about Princess Diana, who was dating Dodi Al Fayed at the time. And, you know, if she got pregnant, you know,

what would that child look like? You know, I think if we could look forward at this point and say, we know there are issues, what do we do about them,

Trish?

GODDARD: Well Becky, just let me jump in there. As a demonstration, what's going on? I was doing a radio debate with a journalist that I respect and I

asked this female journalist that were very, very senior and newspaper, to name three of her black colleagues.

[11:15:00]

GODDARD: They were there with zero none she couldn't. Her response in a fairly easy debate was. And I quote, Trisha, how offensive have you to

suggest just because we have no black journalists? I have no black colleagues that we don't know, as journalists, exactly what black people go

through.

This was a year ago. Hello, what is to happen going forward? I think the sorts of -- I think it's got to be more than lip service. It's got to be

more than just putting black faces in front of the camera, if I can put it that way. Often, what we seen, I'm picking my words carefully here.

Sometimes what occurs is that people -- the viewers at home, think, what are they going on about? There are so many black presenters on television?

Are there any black producers are running the show in senior management positions?

And what have you, then that starts to become a different, you know, a whole different topic. So I think it's got to be more than just lip

service. And I think there are two different things. I also think in Britain, what and I've gone on we've -- we've talked about this, and I

signed a petition.

There has to be this white washing of history taught in schools. If that doesn't change, you're talking, you know, you're talking Latin to people

who only speak -- I don't know Urdu. Or you're, you know, you're speaking Greek and hieroglyphics to people who only speak Gaelic.

So you have to have an education base where people understand where it started, and that black people are just referred to in terms of slavery.

And then Martin Luther King came along and said, I have dream, and then everything was okay. It has to be --

ANDERSON: This is really interesting. Yeah, no, no, no, you're making a really good point. I want to before I lose you here, because I will at some

point. I want to talk about Piers Morgan and you were a guest on his ITV show "Good morning Britain".

The morning after the interview with Oprah was released, you called out it appears on his comments about Meghan saying, "You don't get to call out

what is and isn't racism against black people". I think this speaks to your earlier point.

Yesterday, Piers Morgan fell on his sword, not his words, not mine, as it was announced that he's leaving that show. He says he stands by his words.

Let's just have a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MORGAN: I have to fall on my sword for expressing honestly held the thing that Meghan Markel and that diatribe are builds that she came out with an

interview.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: CNN, by the way, has learnt that Meghan Markel, actually called the CEO of ITV to complain not about specifically what he said about her,

but she was so concerned that his comments about mental health wouldn't be taken seriously.

And perhaps could actually be that and that could be very damaging to those who may be struggling, who are watching -- watching the interview. What do

you make of what Piers said there?

GODDARD: Piers is Piers. I mean, he's been a colleague of mine for many, many years. And, you know, I'm happy to call Piers at any time. I mean, I

really am. And I'm getting a lot of flack as well. But one thing is, a lot of us are black journalists in television, or what have you.

Since Black Lives Matter we have -- if you like, behind the scenes, really had to support each other. We go on air, we talk and I guess I've been

around well for 35 years, but black colleagues have reached out to me and we've reached out to each other and some have been really distressed behind

scenes.

You don't know we go on and do our job. Piers is Piers. Piers is Piers, but here's the thing. When we come on and you know what is an opinion and what

is journalism? And in that show, you can switch between the two. And Piers has done really great work. Let me tell you, you know, with during the

Coronavirus, holding the government to occur --

ANDERSON: Absolutely.

GODDARD: Yeah, but here's the thing. If you've got a family member who might be a bit of a problem or have an issue or showing us up or whatever

you want -- whatever they way you want to put it. You might have a word with them behind closed doors.

[11:20:00]

GODDARD: You might have arguments behind closed doors, but I find it very difficult to believe that the Queen who was so supportive to Meghan Markel,

and apparently she was talking to the Queen recently about, you know, worried about Prince Philip and so loving of her grandson.

You don't want any family member bashed relentlessly in public, you don't care who it is. I've had fallouts with my daughter. I do not want to have

to hear hour after hour after hour diatribe against that person because after all, that's the you know, your grandson's mum or your great grandsons

mother.

And so I think it's a bit disingenuous to pin this. I'm sticking up for the Queen and yeah, how awful Prince Philip is suffering? When they also be

suffering that their great grandson's mother is being trashed un- relentlessly.

ANDERSON: Trish, its good having you on.

GODDARD: Nice to meet you, thank you.

ANDERSON: Thank you. When we come back, we'll go live to Brazil for a look at how that nation is dealing with its deadlier state yet, during the

pandemic? Plus, not enough doctors, not enough medical gear, and certainly not enough vaccines, ahead Lebanon's dire COVID battle.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ANDERSON: Well, more and more Brazilians are questioning their nation is handling the Coronavirus pandemic. Brazil is second only to the U.S. in

total deaths from COVID-19. And Tuesday was its deadliest day yet with almost 2000 deaths.

COVID variants are running wild across Brazil and the healthcare system is barely keeping up. In many Brazilian states ICUs are already over 80

percent some at 90 percent capacity. Well joining us now is Dr. Fatima Marinho, a Former Director of Information and Health Analysis at Brazil's

Health Ministry.

She is now a Senior Advisor with Vital Strategies which is a public health organization operating in Brazil. It's good to have you on. Let me start

with this very simple question. Is it fair to say Brazil's healthcare infrastructure is close to or is already collapsing?

DR. FATIMA MARINHO, SENIOR ADVISER, VITAL STRATEGIES: Yeah. Hello Becky, so nice to talk to you. Yes, it is collapsing and it is collapsing in some

states like in the south of Brazil, the states. They are -- they have more than 100 percent occupancy in hospitals.

[11:25:00]

DR. MARINHO: People waiting for beds in hospital. Also they decided today to get people hospitalize in ambulance. So intubating people in the

ambulance because they don't have any other space in the private hospitals, there is no more beds. So the situation really is a humanitarian crisis.

ANDERSON: Why, what happened? Who is to blame?

DR. MARINHO: A list of problems. No, since the first one for me, it is in its circumstances here. It's a lack of a national coordination since the

beginning. So there is some people, especially in the federal government, represented by the president of the country, so resisting so fighting, and

not to accepting that we have a crisis.

We have a pandemic situation, and we have to take it differentials. No, so we have to take measures now to stop it. But to deny the treatment deny the

public health measures to prevent a spreading the virus and nowadays, also they deny to expanding hospital beds.

So they deny further -- do it. So this is since the beginning, so we have low testing, local contact tracing, crowded public transportation, no

vaccine is designed to take the decision last year when had to take the decision to buy vaccines didn't take.

So it was ended in December. So we don't have enough vaccines by now. So it's a chaos. Now, it was really --

ANDERSON: And then the variants of course.

DR. MARINHO: The variants itself spreading in the country. Now, the variants then to start with the crisis in Manaus, in the north of the

country, are a spread in the entire country by now and other variants as well as growing and spreading without any control.

ANDERSON: So on Monday, the Brazilian President, Jair Bolsonaro, said he has the power to issue a national lockdown, but he will not use that power.

He will not do that. He has stated for some time that he doesn't believe that lock downs have worked anywhere in the world.

And let's be quite frank, you don't need to look any further than the UK and other European countries to dispel that. Do you believe that the

country can now get this thing under control without a national lockdown without a national strategy?

We've been talking to Governors, for example, who are, you know, the Governor of this State of Sao Paolo now instituting you know, a very severe

lockdown. What can be done at this point to try and get this thing under control?

DR. MARINHO: The Governors they are taking the direct so national intervention. So must be someone has to do something. So a National

Salvation Committee, lead by Governors now states health departments, universities, foundations, public health foundations, and civil society in

general. So it's a national crisis really.

Fear is why people die a lot. So yesterday almost 2000 by our estimate, much more than 2000 died because thinking we have people with chronic

disease. I was talking to a friend of mine here director of largest hospital in Brazil.

He told me look, no one is affecting patients with cancer patients with cardiovascular disease severe cardiovascular disease, because no one has

room. So we are taking them here. So our ICUs are 50 percent full with the basic non-COVID patient. And we have a new line of COVID patient waiting.

So it is really a national crisis, humanitarian crisis and you see the position of the president it's really I don't know what I have to say. I

don't want to get caught decides anything but I won't. We will not go on so we want to move the -- laws together civil society and we will have an

intubation national coordinators interface.

ANDERSON: Your analysis is extremely important your insight very valuable for us. I'm sorry that this is happening in Brazil and do come back and

explain to us how things are getting on in the days and weeks to come. Thank you. We'll be back after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[11:30:00]

ANDERSON: Thanks to vaccines, some countries of course are now seeing a distant light at the end of the Coronavirus tunnel, others are still

struggling. Lebanon has had more than 400,000 COVID cases with over 5000 lives lost.

The country began rolling out its vaccination program last month more than 86,000 doses have been given out. But there are an awful lot of hurdles.

Lebanon's economy was in tatters before this pandemic began, which has made the battle even harder.

A short time ago I talked with Dr. Nisrine Bazarbachi, who runs the largest hospital in Northern Lebanon. It's in Tripoli, which is Lebanon's poorest

city. And I began by asking her how the pandemic has hit her hospital?

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DR. NISRINE BAZARBACHI, CEO, HAYKEL HOSPITAL: The country has collapsed. The COVID pandemic has added to those a very big problem that we believe

will only get worse. In this situation and the whole country is so bad and the north and especially in Tripoli is much worse is due to malefactor.

As you know, Tripoli is considered the poorest city of the Mediterranean. We have a high percentage of unemployment. It's around 60 to 70 percent

actually unemployed people. It's the whole family without medical coverage without income without education.

So the COVID pandemic we're facing actually started exactly one year ago. We've suffered for many problems. We have many lockdown, some partial other

complete, but it was not respected and Tripoli is due to the poor economic situation.

People have to work on a daily basis to get their money. They have choices to die from either hunger or COVID.

ANDERSON: How have this political uncertainty and the financial ruin that is facing Lebanon specifically impacted the health system and your

hospital? Tell me what's going on in your hospital on a day to day basis? How are you coping?

DR. BAZARBACHI: We have many, many problems as I told you. The main problem is the lack of medical teams.

[11:35:00]

DR. BAZARBACHI: Every day we have a large number of our doctors leaving the country. We don't have enough nurses to keep on a daily basis with the

activity. We're facing with a large number of COVID patients. We've adopted our activity, mainly two thirds of our activity actually as a COVID

activity.

We're suffering a lack of as I told you, medical equipment, gas oil. We have a problem to cope with all these lack of equipment medicines, gas or

personnel equipments. It's really a hard problem to deal with.

ANDERSON: Dr. Nisrine the World Bank has spent $34 million to fund Lebanon's COVID-19 vaccine drive on the condition that doses would go to

the most vulnerable groups first. Now lawmakers in Lebanon breached that deal by jumping the vaccine queue.

In response, the World Bank's Regional Director has threatened to withdraw the funding tweeting, and I quote him here upon confirmation of violation

at World Bank may suspend financing for vaccines and support for the COVID response across Lebanon. I appeal to all he said I mean, all regardless of

your position to please register and wait for your turn.

This suggests that corruption and nepotism continues through the vaccine rollout. Just how is that impacting on Lebanon on those who clearly need

and should get these vaccines at present?

DR. BAZARRBACHI: -- violation as a normal is actually a fact that we are accustomed to in our daily activity. And Lebanon is not the only violation

we have. For the vaccination there's many, many problem we're facing actually.

Do imagine that we don't have enough vaccine for the medical staff. We started our vaccination three weeks ago. And until now, our medical staff

is not completely vaccinated. Our front lines are not completely vaccinated. So we have a lot of problems we've started without the

implication of the private sectors I don't think we can manage this big problem.

ANDERSON: How long do you think it will take for the majority of eligible Lebanese adults to get vaccinated?

DR. BAZARBACHI: It will continue like it's happening like right now. I think maybe you will need two or three years to vaccinate Lebanese eligible

people. It's a big problem we're facing actually, and we're raising the voice every day to save without the intervention of the private sector

we'll not be able to manage this pandemic of the COVID-19.

We need the intervention of the private sector so we can vaccinate the majority of the Lebanese people and very quickly.

ANDERSON: And refugees and migrant workers, of course account for roughly 1.5 million of these 6 million people in Lebanon. Migrant workers at least

seem to be ineligible for the vaccine based on guidelines from the Ministry of Labor. Just how dangerous would it be to exclude them from these from

this vaccine rollout?

DR. BAZARBACHI: They are living in the country so they have to be vaccinated like the other -- like the other population of the country

otherwise the pandemic will continue to grow and will not be resolving any problem. They have to be registered on the list of the people to be

vaccinated of course.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: Dr. Nisrine Bazarbachi, who runs Haykel Hospital in Northern Lebanon there just laying out how hopeless it is at present. Well, Europe

also trying to overcome hurdles to get vaccines distributed. Ahead on the show why several European countries have decided to start producing

Russia's Sputnik V vaccine? And why not everybody is happy about that?

And a bit later diversity playing a starring role in this year's BAFTA film nomination shortly a live report, BAFTA is sorting out last year's big miss

step?

[11:40:00]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ANDERSON: Russia's Sputnik V vaccine is going to be made in Europe starting this summer. The Russian Direct Investment Fund told CNN has made deals

with production facilities in Italy, in Spain, France and in Germany. CNN's Matthew Chance with the details joining me now live from Moscow. Matthew,

Sputnik going to be supplying the vaccine to the EU or to individual countries. Is it clear at this point?

MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, it's clear what the Russians want, which is what it was, they want the European sort

of medical authorities to finish their rolling review of the Sputnik vaccine and to give it sort of blanket approval so that all the countries

in the European Union can order it and use it as they see fit.

That's not what's happening at the moment. What's happening at the moment is that individual countries like Hungary, like others inside the European

Union are sort of sidestepping the general European Union rules and going directly to Russia.

And, you know, ordering that vaccine and legislating for its registration, slotting fees registration inside those individual countries. And so, you

know, it's kind of, you know, what its doing is it's sort of like dividing opinion in the European Union.

And, yeah, that's sort of talks to this allegation that Russia uses Sputnik V as a political tool. Its long standing, sort of political diplomatic

objectives when it comes to foreign policy is to undermine Western institutions and by driving little wedges with its vaccine into the various

countries between the countries of the European Union. You could argue that Russia is in part achieving that objective.

ANDERSON: Let's be quite clear here for transparency sake, the vaccine has been peer reviewed by "The Lancet" which is the British Medical Journal

well respected and has given it you know, an extremely high rating as far as efficacy is concerned.

Hungary, as you rightly pointed out, already approving Sputnik, others, such as Lithuania, for example, vowing not to accept the vaccine arguing

exactly what you have just been suggesting there the argument that Russia is using this vaccine as a way to increase its soft power.

I spoke with Kirill Dmitriev, the CEO of the Russian Direct Investment Fund recently. Have listen to what he told me about that accusation.

[11:45:00]

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

KIRILL DMITRIEV, RUSSIAN DIRECT INVESTMENT FUND CEO: It's not about politics, and that basically we feel that it's just enemies of vaccine who

run out of all of the other arguments and all the arguments that have the thought can of Sputnik is a political one.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: Does he have a point?

CHANCE: I think it's -- I think he might have actually, in the sense that look, it's unquestionable that there are sort of political motives behind

the way in which Russia is promoting its Sputnik V vaccine. I mean, the fact that it's called Sputnik harks back to the glory days of Soviet

Science with the launch in 1957 the satellite.

Russia was obviously trying to sort of tap into that when it called this vaccine, Sputnik V. And so there's undoubtedly a nationalistic element of

it. And for countries like Lithuania, other countries in the Baltic States that have a long and painful history, Poland is another country. Ukraine is

not part of the European Union.

But nevertheless, as a painful history of Russia, it's the fact that it is Russian that is deterring many people in that country and the governments

of that country from considering it as a vaccine option. But, you know, even though that there's a certain amount, a high amount of PR, and sort of

vaccine nationalism, nationalism concern with the Sputnik V jab.

That shouldn't detract from the fact that it is a highly effective vaccine. You mentioned "The Lancet" its results have been published in that medical

journal. It's been found to be 91.6 effective and efficacy of a level which is right up there with the best vaccines that have been produced so far to

combat this COVID-19 pandemic.

ANDERSON: I think you've got your second dose today. Thanks, Matt Matthew Chance on the story for you. Alright, what are we doing next vaccines

expected to be a major talking point as Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov tours through the Middle East. Mr. Lavrov meeting a short time ago

with the Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al-Saud in Riyadh.

Look, that meeting is just one stop on Lavrov's tour of the Middle East. He was here in the UAE on Tuesday, and he will also visit Qatar. We've been

discussing that this is a very, very busy period around this region. I have to say there are revolving doors as far as diplomats are concerned here in

Riyadh and in Doha, in Qatar.

Well, Russia's Sputnik vaccine was named for the pioneering Soviet Spacecraft of the Dawn of the Space age, as Matthew was pointing out. Well

now, Russia is planning a bold new space project with China. The two countries announcing plans to build a space station that will orbit the

moon.

Will Ripley tells us more about this new endeavor and how it impacts Russia's decades old space alliance with the United States?

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

WILL RIPLEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): As two long time space powers, Russia and the United States start to distance themselves from one another.

Russia and China are teaming up with plans to build a new research facility that could orbit the moon beyond the surface of the moon, or even a

combination of both.

Inviting cooperation from around the world and signaling that the Russia U.S. space alliance may be on the way out. Russia did not sign the Artemis

support for lunar exploration led by NASA. And Roscosmos the Russian Space Agency also lost its monopoly on manned flights to the International Space

Station after SpaceX jumped into that game.

But now China's National Space Agency CNSA, which has a lot of money, is looking to work with Russia and their 60 years of experience. It was 60

years ago this year, in fact that Russia launched the first human into space, and this would be China's biggest space cooperative operation to

date.

They already have a probe orbiting Mars. Last year, they brought rock and soil samples back from the moon. It was the first mission of that kind in

more than 40 years. And so China and Russia are looking to compete with NASA as it continues to make strides.

There is of course, the perseverance rover that NASA has that did a test drive on Mars last week sending back audio and high definition pictures

looking for evidence of life. There are early plans for the U.S. to send humans to Mars and there is also a plan to send the first woman to the moon

in 2024.

Russia looking to regain some of its space supremacy built over decades but lost in the post Soviet years. But they're facing increasing competition

not only from other governments but also from private enterprise. SpaceX led by Elon Musk has plans to fly members of the public to the Moon in

2023.

[11:50:00]

RIPLEY (voice over): A mission paid for by a Japanese billionaire at a time of so much turmoil here on earth a lot of people may be looking forward to

the next exciting things could be happening up in space. Will Ripley, CNN, Hong Kong.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: BAFTA gets its act together. Up next how the prestigious film awards are saluting diversity with this year's nominations more than that

after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ANDERSON: Here on "Connect the World" we are always working to bring you the deeper meaning the wider implications of the immediate and breaking

stories of the day that is our job. But in this moment, we seem to be in the midst of a seismic shift in addressing how we live and how we treat one

another?

Some observers proclaiming this may be the "Me Too" moment first stopping racism. Well, against that backdrop the creators have been busy and along

come the BAFTA nominations, which are we are promised the most diverse ever. Let's get to Lisa Respers France who Senior Writer for CNN

Entertainment. Just walk us through these nominations if you will Lisa.

LISA RESPERS FRANCE, CNN ENTERTAINMENT SENIOR WRITER: Hi, Becky. Well, you need only to look at the pictures to see that there's a great deal of

diversity this year. There are four women nominated in the director category. When you look at the best actresses you have women of color from

newcomer Bookabach Ray (ph) to Alfre Woodard (ph) who of course has an institution in the best actor category.

You have Riz Ahmed going up against Chad -- Chadwick Boseman. And even in best picture when you're looking at the best film, women directors are

definitely represented. So the BAFTA's have made good they were promised that they were going to be more diverse this year.

ANDERSON: How did BAFTA get here, and what's its history with diversity? Just walk us through where the organization is hat as it were.

FRANCE: Well, last year, "#baftasowhite" began trending because there were no people of color in the acting categories at all. There also was the

complaint that there were no women recognized in the director category.

So BAFTA, they very quickly did a seven month review, they decided to do various and sundry things, including increasing their membership, that's

reaching out to more diverse people, increasing the amount of people who could be nominated.

They really open themselves up in a way that we don't really see here in the U.S. happening as quickly oftentimes with these award shows. So the

result has been you have you know, four women nominated which is incredible.

ANDERSON: So and that does beg the question and you just touched on it there. How does or do BAFTA then stack up with others? So I'm what's the

sort of precedent setting opportunity here as it were for these are the awards programs?

FRANCE: Well, we've already seen with the Golden Globes that -- became the first woman of Asian descent to win for director and only the second woman

in the history of the Golden Globes to win that directing trophy.

So you know, other award shows they have also said, you know, like the Grammys, of course, has said that they're working on having more diverse

membership and more diverse nominations for a long time with the BAFTA people said well, you know, they don't really have the work to pull forth

from in order to have these nominees.

[11:55:00]

FRANCE: You can't just nominate people of color just for the sake of nominating them. But creators have pushed back and said that there's plenty

of great content made for by and with people of color and women.

And so the BAFTA did not have any problem at all this year, as we can see, as evidenced by the nominations in finding those very deserving people.

ANDERSON: Yeah, which is a really good thing? I can't let you go without getting your sense of who's, who are the standout characters, the standout

actors and actresses and indeed, the standout movies.

FRANCE: You got to say Rox; it's a coming of age film. It's starring a group of diverse young women who many of them had never acted before,

directed tremendously by Sarah Gabon and a woman and it's such a compelling film. And it's rightfully gotten tons of buzz this award season. Everyone

should see it. It's incredible.

ANDERSON: Excellent, thank you. We will. Good to have you on.

FRANCE: Thank you. Take care.

ANDERSON: In tonight's parting shots, then I want to go back 20 years when the Taliban blew up two centuries old Buddha statues in Central

Afghanistan. They left a gaping hole where a cultural wonder once stood well to mark the anniversary of their destruction.

This a three dimensional image was projected onto the cliff where one of the real statues stood hundreds came to set a reminder of a treasure that

was lost and also of the heritage here, at least still shining bright. Thank you for joining us, wherever you are watching in the world as ever,

stay well. Stay safe. It is a very good evening from my team of me here in Abu Dhabi.

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END