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Russia Faces International Pressure Over Navalny's Health; Closing Arguments In Chauvin Trial Begins In Two Hours; India Records More Than A million New Cases In Five Days. Aired 8-9a ET
Aired April 19, 2021 - 08:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[08:00:25]
BECKY ANDERSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL ANCHOR: Russia's biggest critic gets moved to a prison hospital as international pressure grows over Alexei
Navalny's health.
Then India just months ago declared success against COVID. Now it's recorded over a million COVID cases in five days.
We're in New Delhi to look at where it all went wrong.
Plus, Europe's biggest football clubs to move their goalposts. The battle over New Super League is just ahead.
ANNOUNCER: Live from CNN Abu Dhabi, this is CONNECT THE WORLD with Becky Anderson.
ANDERSON: Well, it's 8:00 a.m. in Washington, 4:00 in the afternoon right here in Abu Dhabi, it's 5:30 in Delhi. I'm Becky Anderson. Hello and
welcome. At this hour, the U.S. City of Minneapolis is on edge. Closing arguments in the Derek Chauvin trial is set to begin in just two hours.
He's the police officer charged with killing George Floyd last year. In anticipation of a verdict this week, National Guardsmen are on the street.
We bought you every second of testimony and will of course take you live to the courtroom and closing arguments get underway today.
Well, first, to Russia though, where President Vladimir Putin is under growing pressure from the international community on multiple fronts.
Firstly, the health of Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny a few hours ago, Russia's prison services say they moved the jailed opposition leader to
hospital. His aides in Russia saying Navalny is dying 20 days into a hunger strike. He says he started to protest lack of proper medical care.
Well, the European Union demanding Navalny be granted access to his own doctors. Well, America's national security adviser is warning Russia will
face consequences if Navalny dies in costudy. Will this pressure move the needle? Well, that is a question also being asked about Russia's troop
buildup along Ukraine's border with calls for deescalation. France's president calling the situation unacceptable and pushing for open and stern
talks with President Putin.
Now you'll recall CNN's Matthew Chance was on the front lines there just last week. And adding further fuel to the diplomatic fire. Friction between
Russia and the Czech Republic after Moscow awarded 20 Czech diplomats to leave Russia. That in retaliation for Prague, expelling 18 Russian
diplomats accusing them of being secret agents. Let's start with the health of Putin's biggest critic.
Connecting us in Moscow today is senior international correspondent, Sam Kiley, and chief international correspondent Clarissa Ward is in London.
Sam, let's start with you growing international condemnation, the response from Russia is what?
SAM KILEY, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, the Russians have been saying that through the Kremlin's official spokesman today that the
health of a criminal is not a concern directly for the Kremlin. But as you were saying there in the introduction, Alexei Navalny has been moved to a
hospital within a penal colony, his supporters of saying that is no improvement at all.
Indeed, it's being interpreted as a sign of his failing health just in the last 48 hours or so, doctors -- supporting doctors of Navalny. And we've
only got their words to go on this, saying that there are indications that he may be in danger of renal failure, and some kind of heart condition as
the -- as he goes into the 20th day of his hunger strike, Becky. And of course, he's still not fully recovered from that Novichok nerve agent
attack on him back in August last year, which required intensive hospital treatment in Germany.
Now he chose to return to Russia to face charges and indeed, was jailed on embezzlement charges that his supporters say should be now and void and a
bogus. But the authorities here have not yet reacted to the explicit threat from the administration in the White House saying that they are considering
what actions they will take in the event of his death. But they do say out of the White House, Jake Sullivan, telling CNN that they have communicated
what those threats are to the Kremlin, to Putin's regime.
So, it's going to be very interesting indeed to see whether or not that has any effect. And of course, there has been a lot of criticism from the
European Union from France. United Kingdom halls are all raising the flag of profound concern over the future health of Mr. Navalny.
[08:30:06]
KILEY: Of course, his supporters also calling for mass demonstrations here in support of him on Wednesday, Becky.
ANDERSON: Let's just hear from the Russian ambassador to the U.K. This in response to this latest news on Mr. Navalny. This was an interview that he
conducted as I understand it on Sunday.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ANDREY KELIN, RUSSIAN AMBASSADOR TO U.K.: Of course, he will not be allowed to die in prison. But I can say that Mr. Navalny and he behaves -- like a
hooligan, absolutely. In trying to violate every rule that has been established, his public purpose, all of that is to direct attention for him
also by saying that today his left hand is sick, tomorrow his leg is sick and all of that stuff.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: His purpose is to attract attention, says the Russian ambassador, Clarissa, to the U.K. You interviewed Alexei Navalny before he returned to
Russia. I just want our viewers to hear part of that exchange.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CLARISSA WARD, CNN CHIEF INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: So you've said that you want to go back to Russia?
ALEXEY NAVALNY, RUSSIAN OPPOSITION LEADER: Yes. And I will do.
WARD: You're aware of the risks of going back?
NAVALNY: Yes, but I'm Russian politician. And even when I was not just in hospital, I was in intense therapy. And I said publicly, I will go back and
I will go back because I'm Russian politician, I belong to this country. And definitely, which I -- especially now, when this actually crime is
cracked, open revealed, I understand the whole operation. I would never give put in such a gift.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: He was aware of the risks, Clarissa. He told you that. And yet, this is where we are at. You've met Alexei Navalny. You've spent some time
with him. Will he be regretting that move?
WARD: Based on my understanding of his character, I would doubt that he would be regretting any of his actions so far. This is a man who thinks
very carefully before he acts. And once he acts, he does it in a very intentional and single-minded way. He understood implicitly that for him to
stay in Europe would be to risk becoming irrelevant to the people he wishes to serve, which is the Russian populace.
I think he understood that it was very likely that it wouldn't be possible at least that he would be arrested upon his return. But these are
sacrifices that he's deemed, you know, that he's ready to make, essentially in the service of the Russian people, in the service of trying to expose
the corruption as he sees it of the Kremlin. And in the service of trying to expedite a better political future for the Russian people.
Now, the real question becomes, what happens on Wednesday? How many people come out into the streets? You heard Sam mentioned there that Navalny's
allies have called for really huge protests on Wednesday. This is also the day that Putin delivers his State of the Nation address. And this will be
critical in determining, you know, what happens next for Navalny movement because really, it will require hundreds of thousands of people to be out
in the streets and sort of a full throated cry of anger at the Kremlin in order for there to be some kind of sense of momentum still being on their
side.
The very real fear for all of -- for all of Navalny's allies is that if God forbid, he were to die in custody, what then happens to the movement? Where
does it go from here? And you may have mentioned as well, Becky, forgive me if you did, that Moscow state prosecutors have also announced that they are
actually requesting to have Navalny's organization labeled as an extremist movement.
This would be roughly the equivalent in the U.S. of being designated a terrorism movement. And that would really be the death knell for this
organization in terms of it being able to have offices and operations on the ground in Russia. So, I think this is definitely a moment of high
tension and high anticipation for the Navalny movement. But knowing the little that I know of him I would say he does not have any regrets.
ANDERSON: Clarissa Ward is in London for you. Sam is in Moscow. Thank you both. Well, I've lost my father. Now. My mother is serious. I am crying.
The lement of a man desperately seeking oxygen and an ICU bed for his remaining parents. One of many people in India, taking to Twitter asking
for help during the country's explosive second wave of COVID-19. On the show, we don't like relying on the numbers to tell the story of human
tragedy but they are absolutely staggering in India.
Today alone, the country is reporting more than 270,000 cases. That is a record-high with more than five million cases recorded in just five days.
[08:10:09]
ANDERSON: Let me correct myself, that's a million cases in the last five days. Delhi, the capital is especially hard here. Take a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ARVIND KEJRIWAL, NEW DELHI CHIEF MINISTER (through translator): The beds for COVID-19 patients are filling up rapidly. The patients are being
admitted to the hospitals very speedily. There is especially a shortage of the ICU beds in less than 100 ICU beds are available in Delhi.
DR. N.K. MISHRA, MEDICINE SPECIALIST: Presently all the hospitals are over well, even in our place. Also, our hospitals are stressed. So what will
happen in the coming week, so I'm really afraid this time that the desk gone out of control.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Right now I want to connect you to Delhi where Dr. Ramanan Laxminarayan is with us. He's an epidemiologist, a senior research scholar
at Princeton University, and the founder and director of the Center for Disease Dynamics, Economics and Policy in Washington. Sir, what is going on
in India?
DR. RAMANAN LAXMINARAYAN, DIRECTOR, THE CENTER FOR DISEASE DYNAMICS ECONOMICS AND POLICY: We're pretty much as you heard from the other
gentleman things are out of control, there's no oxygen, a hospital bed too hard to find. It's impossible to get a test. You have to wait over a week.
And pretty much every system that could break down in the healthcare system has broken down.
In response, New Delhi has just announced a lockdown, the first time in months which will last the week and potentially could go on longer than
that. So, what we're seeing is a situation that was created by complacency. And this is exactly the sort of surge one might have expected a year ago,
but was averted because of a massive lockdown. But without controls and population movement now we've seen the rise in cases.
ANDERSON: And let's be quite clear, India did see a significant decline in cases earlier this year, Prime Minister Modi going as far as declaring
victory in January and now a million cases in five days. Let's be also quite clear and over a billion people in the population there. The
religious festival Kumbh Mela has finished early due to the increasing cases. I just want our viewers to hear what one of the religious leaders
there said.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MAHANT SADANAND, LEADER, AGNI AKHADA RELIGIOUS ACT (through translator): With a philosophy in mind that everyone should stay safe. As long as there
is life, there is the whole world to explore in future. We are leaving the fair. Now the Kumbh will only be in our hearts, only symbolic from now on.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Key little too late at this point? I mean, you've been -- you've been talking about what went wrong, we have to drill down here.
LAXMINARAYAN: Well, the Kumbh is only one of a number of mass gatherings going back to cricket matches and weddings and movies cinemas being open
and of course, you know, local trains and so forth. Some of these made sense because they were attempts to bring the economy back but others
simply did not. And the Kumbh particularly, you know, could go down as one of the largest mass, you know, super spreading events ever.
Simply because of the size of the -- of the -- of the number of people who show up there for the ritual bathing in the Ganges. And unfortunately, it's
already gone on for a couple of weeks. And now of course they're dispersing but they may be carrying the virus back to their homes at this point.
ANDERSON: Yes. We hear that there are 100 ICU beds left in Delhi. It's not clear what the situation is elsewhere. But we have clearly heard from
people who are desperate to get their relatives oxygen and/or a bed in an ICU department. It is critical. India's vaccination rollout did also speed
ahead at one point? It was an ambitious plan. And why is it slow down so significantly?
LAXMINARAYAN: Well, vaccinating in India is always a mammoth challenge given the size of the population. And to be fair, India has rolled out, you
know, quite a significant number of vaccines. 120 billion vaccine doses already handed out but 120 million and the size of population 1.3 8 billion
is only about 16 million vaccinated -- fully vaccinated on average at best. So, you know, that's about it.
You're talking about four percent assuming that, you know, all those people got both the -- both the doses. And on top of that the production capacity
has not kept up with the demand either in India or the demand from other countries which are relying on India for the vaccine supply. Now at the
current rate of vaccination and production, it will take India at least two years to vaccinate 70 percent of its population.
That simply won't do and the country has to find ways to increase vaccine supply very quickly. And that's a bit of a shock to other countries that
were hoping to depend on India for the vaccine supplies but now find that India will have to import its vaccines.
ANDERSON: Yes, the significant number of vaccines being produced there for KOVAX for example. Very briefly, sir. 30 seconds, you are in New Delhi, Dr.
Laxminarayan. Just how concerned are you?
LAXMINARAYAN: Well, things are really bad here. If there are 100 ICU beds in Delhi, I don't know where they are. Because just before the show, I was
trying to find one for a father of a friend who's dying. And so, it's virtually impossible. There are ministers in government who have tweeted
out that they're looking for beds. And so even people of influence and money you have no way to find beds, let alone the common man. It truly is a
terrible situation at this point.
ANDERSON: Well, we will keep in touch. Thank you for your time. You're clearly busy with other things, important things, but having you on the
show is incredibly important and we will stay on this story. Thank you very much. Indeed.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has decided to call off his planned trip next week to meet with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The U.K. and
Indian government say both men will remain in regular contact. And Mr. Johnson says he's got a massive amount of sympathy for what is going on in
India and what the country is going through at this point.
Well, coming up, some seismic news in the world of soccer. Outrage pouring in is 12 of the biggest football clubs say they are going rogue with a new
European Super League. Plus, piloting a remote control helicopter is nothing new. You can find them in toy stores, right? But imagine piloting
this on another planet. Details on that are just ahead.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: I want to connect you now to a massive announcement. That is rocking the very foundations of the biggest sport in the world. 12 of
Europe's most successful football clubs say they want to start a new breakaway Super League. And let me tell you, it is not going down well with
many involved in the game. Fans, players, managers governing bodies like FIFA and UEFA hate this. They are furious. They say it would threaten the
DNA of domestic leagues.
We could see the world's biggest stars not appearing in the World Cup, Champions League and other competitions. And is if a new league would not
enough, one of those teams that says it's signing up is losing its manager. Tottenham Hotspur has sacked Jose Mourinho. He was in charge there for just
17 months with more than a year left on his original contract. Alex Thomas joining us now from London to help break down all of this.
[08:20:00]
ANDERSON: You know, I'm a Spurs fan. I don't know how I feel about Mourinho going because we had such a good start to the season. It's all gone sort of
pear shaped on us. But look, let's do the big story here today before we talk Mourinho. Explain why this European Super League, ESL, as people are
calling it is such a controversial move.
ALEX THOMAS, CNN WORLD SPORT ANCHOR: Becky, it's going to fundamentally change the way the top football clubs operate. It's the biggest shake up in
the most popular sport in the entire world in its history I would say. Here's what we know so far. Here's what's been announced. 20 teams they say
we'll take part, there'll be 15 founding clubs who will always be in the competition, they can never get relegated no matter how badly they perform
in it.
Only 12 have confirmed so far. Five other teams will join the Super League on an annual basis based on how they play in their domestic leagues in
their own countries. Assuming they're allowed to more on the legal things to come. That with two groups of 10 teams playing home and away, like the
current champions, the midweek games, eight qualifying for knockout stages quarterfinals and onwards to one or final in May.
And they say crucially, they've already secured billions of dollars in funding. We know that the financial services firm, JPMorgan have confirmed
they're the ones stumping up the cash. There's an unnamed broadcast partner already in place as well. And they are vowing as well to distribute up to
$10 billion in solidarity payments to the lower leagues. So they're saying they're not just in it for themselves, they can give more money to
grassroots football than the current European governing body, EUFA.
The Real Madrid president Florentino Perez is the chair of the new Super League. He said football is the only global sport in the world with more
than four billion fans and our responsibility as big clubs is to respond to their desires. In other words, we're going after new digital global fans.
We don't care so much about the supporters who turn up at the grounds week in week out.
Although of course they haven't been there during the global pandemic times. Lots of developments today, a very fast moving story.
ANDERSON: Well, they would have been there had it not been the pandemic and we all know what it feels like to be at a packed stadium. Like my next
guest. Thank you, Alex. Like my next guest, I'm a huge spurs fan. Martin is a board member of Tottenham Hotspurs Supporters' Trust. He's joining us
from Bedfordshire in England. So, Tottenham, one of the teams that say they're going to join this Super League.
And it seems they're sort of not interested in the likes of you and many more. Thereafter, a whole load of new super fans who are into super sports
stars, it's all about the money in it.
MARTIN BUHAGIAR, BOARD MEMBER, TOTTENHAM HOTSPURS SUPPORTERS TRUST: Absolutely, Becky. It's -- and I feel your pain. Absolutely. It's -- we
feel very let down. We feel betrayed at a plan like this to be hatched without any consultation whatsoever with supporters, probably because they
knew this would be the reaction. They knew we'd be dead against it. And this is the look and feel of a -- of a deal done in dark corridors or
behind closed doors with no regards whatsoever for the largest stakeholders in the game. The most important people in football and that is the
supporters.
Gary Lineker says football is nothing without its fans. We've seen that clearly over the last 12 months. If fans stand as one against what he
describes as this anti-football pyramid scheme, it can be stopped in its tracks. Do you believe that? I mean, just where do you think this is at
because there are those out there saying listen, this is just leverage against you wait for this point. Yes, it's all about big money. But is it
really going to happen? Is it -- is it real at this point? How do you feel?
BUHAGIAR: Well, we feel that together football fans can stop this. Football fans united and we will -- we will be talking to other supporters' groups
and this is a time for rivals to come together and to -- and to fight together because as Gary Neville said yesterday these -- we've seen the ---
these owners as custodians but now we see them as imposters. It's, you know, football is in a state of civil war today. Let's make no mistake
about that.
And we need to fight together and I hope the Premier League, the F.A., the Football League, the government politicians will apply the pressure as they
said they will yesterday as strongly as they've indicated because we need to keep fighting. And I know football supporters will. It's just it's just
a really dark day. It's -- the one thing that football fans are against is a closed shop
competition which this is.
You know, a -- almost a closed group of European football elite, some of whom aren't even in the Champions League. Tottenham, Arsenal, Manchester
United aren't even at the Europe's top table this season. Why should any club have a divine right to stay at that level with no sporting merit? No
relegation, no promotion? No, the hopes and dreams and ambitions, smaller clubs.
ANDERSON: What do you make of the fact that there are three U.S.-owned Premier League clubs involved in this?
[08:25:06]
ANDERSON: There is a model that this European Super League of course is based on and that is that of the NFL with -- and Dan Rome making this point
in a tweet, today's a big football journalist, saying that they're, you know, this star clubs, players driving value. And that's -- and that's the
extent of it. It is literally all about the money and the fans don't matter.
BUHAGIAR: Yes, absolutely. That's the feeling, isn't it? It's all about -- it's pure greed. And it's all about the clubs and the ownership. And as you
say, the some of these, these clubs are owned by American owners. And I think it'd be good to hear from some of the players because of course we're
hearing that the clubs could be -- that I think the worrying thing for us fans involved -- the fans of plot involved in these plans is that we --
we're seeing our country's founding partners.
So this either happens with these clubs, or it doesn't. What will the -- what could the punishment be? Could we be expelled from domestic
competitions? Spurs are in a cup final next week against Manchester (INAUDIBLE) what's gonna happen there, European football will be expelled
from European football. There's so many indicators. And also, there's so many things to be scared about. Sorry.
And also our players, you know, the talking about maybe not allowing footballers, at these clubs to perform in Europe -- to play in the European
Championships, a world class -- the risks are enormous that and the fact that this has happened with no consultation at all, is just mind boggling.
And I think it shows that, you know, I saw what the interview that you were talking about earlier this morning, particularly where they were talking
about legacy fans.
As well as we were legacy fans and they're going up with new fans who don't care. You know, I want to go to Brighton on a Wednesday night, I want to go
to Leeds. I want to play clubs in the championship in the F.A. Cup. I don't want to be playing Barcelona, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich every week. It
doesn't appeal to me. That's not what football is about. But I think they knew that would be the response of football fans in this country and across
Europe which is why we didn't tell us.
ANDERSON: What do you say that you will travel to, you know, wherever it takes -- wherever the game takes you on a Tuesday or a Wednesday wet
evening in November. That is the sign of a true long-suffering spurs fan. And that's clearly what you are. Look, I can't leave you without -- I'm
just having you address what has been somewhat buried by the club today in this mountain of news about the European Super League, which is the
departure, let's call it, of Jose Mourinho. The former special one. What's happened? What's going on? Who's next?
BUHAGIAR: Oh, goodness knows. One thing we wouldn't say is that, I think it's fair to say Spurs fans at the beginning and at the end weren't fully
behind. Jose Mourinho results have been really inconsistent performance is not reflected through traditions or the belief -- or the beliefs or an
associated with Tottenham Hotspur. So, on the one hand, I'm relieved. I don't think this was the greatest timing.
I don't think the club have covered themselves in glory with this. There's rumors I know you spoke about just broke came on about it being linked to
the Super League and him refusing to take players out onto the -- onto the pitch or onto the training field. If you did do that it goes with my full
respect for standing up for support in that way. Who's next? Who knows? We'd be left with Julian Nagelsmann of Red Bull Leipzig.
I don't know who else there would be. Obviously our agreeing manager will be the manager we had 18 months ago Mauricio Pochettino now he's a PSG.
It's going to be very interesting. I think there's rumors that it might be Brian Mason, Ledley King and Chris Powell until the end of the season. It
just feels like we're in a bit of turmoil at the moment. But that small fry compared to the extreme turbulence that's going on within for now because
of this breakaway plan.
ANDERSON: Martin, it's a pleasure having you on. Let's see what happens.
BUHAGIAR: Thank you.
ANDERSON: Lots of unanswered questions at this point. Who knows, it may still not happen. Thank you, sir. Still to come tonight on CONNECT THE
WORLD here on CNN. It is massive and moving fast. This fire devoured historic library in Cape Town as it edges closer to the city center. More
dramatic pictures are just ahead.
Plus, Iran and Saudi Arabia could be taking the first steps of repairing that rift. We'll have a lot more on what this means for the dynamics in the
Middle East. Just ahead.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[08:31:53]
ANDERSON: Well, Iran recently began indirect nuclear talks with the United States and now it is apparently opening up a dialogue on another front with
its neighbor, Saudi Arabia. We're hearing that representatives of the two countries met earlier this month in Iraq. We're adding Tehran break off
diplomatic ties several years ago. With more on what this could mean for the region. CNN's Nic Robertson is in London.
Arwa Damon is in Istanbul spent many, many a year in Baghdad. Let me start with you, Nic, low level, but significant. What more do we know about these
talks?
NIC ROBERTSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMATIC EDITOR: Well, we know that it was a meeting between intelligence or people from the intelligence
departments of both countries. Saudis officially are saying that talks didn't happen. Sources reporting to us our Iraqi sources who are aware of
the meeting and of some of the parameters around it. For the Saudis, it really offers a first time reset since -- well, going back to January 2016
when the Saudis executed Shia Nimr Baqir al-Nimr.
And that was followed by protests in Tehran, the Saudi embassy in Tehran was stormed and damage was created there. Then, of course, you're the sort
of next really big flashpoint incident was September 2019 when Iran was blamed by Saudi by the United States by others for being the source of
missiles that were fired at Saudi oil refineries. A huge damage, dropped the Saudis oil output significantly for a short period.
This offers an opportunity to bridge that gap. But of course, the subtext behind this is the war in Yemen, Iran backing the Houthi rebels there. The
Houthis since President Biden came to office, and this is the big clue here to what's going on, have really ramped up their attacks against Saudi
Arabia. Saudi also wants to be a part and have a voice in the talks that Biden's trying to kick start their nuclear talks with Iran.
So, I think when you look at this in the round, you really have to look at it and understand that President Biden coming to office and changing,
changing the U.S. relationship with Saudi Arabia, stopping military support for the -- for the Saudi campaign in Yemen, switching to diplomatic support
for that. And also backing off, taking away revoking the Houthis designation as foreign terrorist organization has changed the dynamic in
the region.
And perhaps, it's not clear but perhaps, this is part of the outflow of that. That Biden's managed to kick start some ratcheted up diplomacy in the
region by these -- by these longtime enemies.
ANDERSON: Arwa, two sources telling CNN as Nic alluded to here that the Iraqi Prime Minister is directly supporting the talks in his country which
does back a very good question, why Iraq and why now?
ARWA DAMON, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, Iraq has a huge stake in this potentially especially given Iranian influence and Iraq, Becky, that
you are well aware of.
[08:35:05]
DMAON: Iraq does not want to see the region dissolve into even more unrest, even more tensions as these two regional superpowers Iran and Saudi Arabia
go after one another. Iraq is also personally very well aware that the U.S. is quite keen on decreasing its footprint in the Middle East and that its
track record, since the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq back in 2003 has not exactly been the greatest.
And so it very well could be also that Iraq is perhaps potentially looking at trying to position itself as being something of a bridge between these
two countries. These talks are reportedly being supported by the Iraqi Prime Minister himself happening at this stage. We are hearing between low-
level intelligence officials from both of these countries, and that they're centering around trying to bridge it, Saudi Arabia and Iran differences
Of course, that is a massive task and one that is going to take as we are also hearing numerous, numerous talks moving forward and may ultimately be
unsuccessful. But Iraq for one knows very well what it means to be a proxy battlefield. It has been a proxy battlefield between the U.S. and Iran,
Saudi Arabia and Iran for years right now. So it's very much in Iraq's own personal interest as well to see some level of reconciliation or at least
(INAUDIBLE) between these two regional superpowers.
ANDERSON: Arwa Damon is in Istanbul, was four years in Baghdad. And you have seen her reporting from there just very recently. And always a
pleasure. Thank you. And to Nic who is in London, our international diplomatic editor. To both of you, important story, thank you.
When the Wright brothers took the first flight 1903, they probably never imagined more than a century later that we would see the same achievement
on Mars. Details of this historic flight is coming up.
And emotional reunions in New Zealand now welcoming Australians without quarantine. Details on what is the new travel bubble between the two
nations.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[08:40:36]
ANDERSON: NASA wants to fly the friendly skies of Mars.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Landing, touch down and spend down.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: I have to say rather understated because that was the moment that NASA launched then landed a tiny helicopter on the red planet for the very
first time. The aircraft named Ingenuity sent back a picture in flight of the shadow it cast on the ground. This is NASA's first attempt at flying a
helicopter on another planet, though it just lasted 40 seconds. Let's bring in Thomas Zurbuchen, he's the Associate Administrator of NASA's Science
Mission Directorate. What a day, once again. Last time you and I spoke it was a big day, how significant is this, sir?
THOMAS ZURBUCHEN, ASSOCIATE ADMINISTRATOR, SCIENCE MISSION DIRECTORATE: It's a wonderful day. And it's just one of those amazing historic moments,
you know, first control flight on a different planet that just, you know, forever, that will be what just happened now. And of course, for us, it's
creating a new tool in the toolbox of exploration, something that we can use from now on going forward.
ANDERSON: Why and how?
ZURBUCHEN: So, until now, all the exploration that we've done of Mars, of course, is in the, you know, is flat, two dimensional. It's on the surface.
But we just added today is the aerial dimension to exploration, we can now fly into craters, for example, explored our walls where we know that water
is seeping out, or at least we believe, and we've never really observed them up close because of the fact that we can reach it.
We're imagining humans exploring in the future and having scouts that are flying ahead of them all that we demonstrated today.
ANDERSON: So, how far away are we realistically from having those humans taking a flight to Mars, sir?
ZURBUCHEN: Or there's a number of steps that are still ahead of us, you know, we're really making enormous strides forward, you know, with that
selection of the first human landing system on the moon, that just happened last week. And with that, you know, we're going to learn, you know, to get
astronauts out of low earth orbit and then as an international community and then go from moon to Mars.
So, it's going to take a few more years, of course, to get to Mars, because we have a number of things yet to invent. One of the things for example, is
to do the first round trip to Mars which is also planned for later this decade.
ANDERSON: The U.S., Russia, China, the E.U., the EUA, why is it that it seems that travel to Mars, this galactic -- these galactic missions are so
fashionable again now?
ZURBUCHEN: Well, I think it's really exciting to see the international interest then in Mars, right? Mars is much more interesting today than it
was even 20 years ago. Remember, what we learned from missions that are there is that Mars, also a lot more similar to the earth three billion
years ago with flowing water on the surface, with an atmosphere. All that we really proved in the last two decades or so.
So, because of that there's a tremendous international interest and really exploring our kind of near-Earth neighbor here, Mars, right? And doing so
right now with robotic means but of course, having an eye on to human exploration are just -- I mean, I would say that Mars exploration has never
been more exciting than it is right now. And I think that's what we're seeing.
ANDERSON: And more competitive. But I know as countries compete to be the first, the biggest, the best as it were, so countries also collaborate in
their efforts. The Moon says UAE is the first step to a city on Mars according to a top Emirati space official. They are sending the Rashid
rover to the moon in 2022. They say this is only the beginning. What do you make of a small country like the UAE population, 10 million out and about -
- in and around the red planet at this point. Just provide us some context for this.
[08:45:09]
ZURBUCHEN: So, I think that Emirates have just been incredibly impressive to all of us, right? And I think what they are doing and I have talked to
their ministers and their leaders, what they are doing is really, frankly, inspiring their own workforce and educating their own workforce for a
future in which technology and get off the -- and also, our aerospace technology may have a much bigger role in the autonomy of the Emirates.
And so for me, you know, to wing that has really helped, you know, the Apollo moment in the United States has been a transformational event for
all of the United States as a technological kind of injection of excitement and so forth. And for us, you know, for the UAE, I think it's -- what they
have done is -- they've done it in partnerships and done it in ways I think that that really shows that unique elements that I can bring to the table.
I mean, we couldn't be more excited to working with them on so many of these missions.
ANDERSON: Let me tell you, I mean, for those of us who live here, I mean, it really is something to be -- to be proud of. And our Emirati friends
really are proud of this mission and rightly so as you -- as you point out. So, so give them a big clap and a moment for some applause today. It's
exciting stuff to you guys. Congratulations. We wait to see what information is returned. Thank you so much for joining us.
Now, check out these images from South Africa today. One man is in custody in connection with this huge fire burning at the edge of Cape Town. It
began Sunday on Table Mountain National Park and it has destroyed the historic Library at the University of Cape Town. And as the winds continue
to whip up firefighters are trying to keep the fire from entering the city center. Some people are evacuating. Listen to one woman story of our
running the flames.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
LISETTE LOMBARD, WITNESS TO TABLE MOUNTAIN FIRE: I was just praying. I just felt so helpless at that stage. I didn't know where to go to. I was just
running and I didn't know whether I was going to make it or not. I think I'm still in shock today. At that stage when I was running, I was running -
- I was just thinking I was doing my normal trail run on Table Mountain. I didn't expect anything like this.
And I saw a little flame when I started, you know, a little smoke in the in the one corner. But it didn't look serious at all. There was no wind and
within seconds there was a wind and there was a huge fire.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Well, fire another blow to the tourist sector that already hampered by COVID-19 lockdowns. And in part of Europe, things are looking
up somewhat when it comes to COVID. We'll tell you which country will soon open back up to tourists.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: Well, after months on hard lockdown, parts of Europe are making moves to open back up to tourists. The French President told CBS News that
E.U. countries are working on what he calls a special pass for U.S. citizens who are either vaccinated or can show a negative COVID test.
Greece, which relies on tourism for about a fifth of its is also taking the first steps to reopen for tourists. Journalist Elinda Labropoulou is on the
coast near Athens, Greece with the details. First, though, to CNN's Melissa Bell in Paris with more on what the French president said, Melissa?
MELISSA BELL, CNN PARIS CORRESPONDENT: Well, Becky, this is an idea that euro has been discussing for some time. The idea is that by mid-June we're
going to have functional and operational these COVID passports which will essentially and this was the first hurdle that Europeans really wanted to
be able to jump, be able to travel amongst European countries. Once again, it's been such a blow to Europe's tourism industry.
Essentially, after that brief reprieve last summer, everything more or less at a standstill, different restrictions in different countries. The idea is
that the passports will be operational from mid-June and that that really is being extended to other countries. So already countries beyond the
European Union, Switzerland, Norway will take part Iceland as well. And the idea is that possibly this could be extended to the United States so that
Americans who've been vaccinated or could be shown to be negative would be allowed once again to come and visit places like Paris, Becky.
ANDERSON: Linda, Greece so badly impacted at the beginning of this COVID pandemic. Just how important are these lifting of quarantine restrictions
today?
ELINDA LABROPOULOU, CNN JOURNALIST: Well, they certainly send a signal that Greece will be opening for business on May 14 which is the official opening
of tourism in Greece. What the Greek government is saying that it will take gradual steps in the weeks ahead to make sure that everything is ready for
those arrive as of the 14th of May. So, what's happening today is a lifting of quarantine for -- of citizens from over 30 countries, the entire E.U.,
the U.S. the U.K., Israel, Serbia and the UAE.
They no longer have to quarantine instead they have to provide a valid CPR test taken within 72 hours prior to arrival or vaccination proof. And there
will be targeted testing at the airports and other entry points. A number of international flights have also been allowed to resume as of today to
some of Greece's major destinations. And those who do come to Greece, they will find that cafes, restaurants are still closed.
They will have to respect curfews and other limitations. But what they will find is certainly archaeological spaces to themselves, beaches to
themselves. And this is what the Greek government is putting forward as a suggestion for people to come even before its official opening in mid-May.
ANDERSON: And Melissa, Elinda talking there about targeted testing which is not a surprise, clearly not a surprise when we see what is going on in your
presence. These are -- these are really good headlines. And it's fantastic to be able to report these stories. But of course, a backdrop of this is
still incredibly high numbers of cases in European many, many places. And also a relatively slow getting better, but still relatively slow vaccine
rollout.
BELL: That's right, Becky. The figures still very difficult here in France. ICU is under pressure in Germany as well. A slight improvement these last
few days in France in terms of the numbers of COVID-19 patients in ICU, but still a great deal of strain there in the healthcare system. So, this is
really authorities beginning to look ahead and the hope for instance here in France that beyond May 15th things will allow the reopening of cafe
terraces, for instance, and museums which have been closest the month of October.
So, some much needed relief from so many months of lockdown and restrictions that have given such a hit to economies like the French. But
they do say (INAUDIBLE) boy told the man in charge of the vaccine strategy said it is because we're ramping up these vaccine deliveries and
productions and abilities to get vaccines into arms. And there has been a slight improvement although they are still a long way off from their
targets, Becky.
That he said is what is behind their ability now to start offering these passports in the hope that at least some countries will be spared too much
-- too much more economic misery, Becky.
ANDERSON: Yes. The summer is fast approaching. Thank you. Well, for some people reopening borders means that -- well, they get to see their loved
ones once again. I guess is the important thing here. There is a new travel bubble between New Zealand and Australia.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ANGUS WATSON, CNN JOURNALIST: A travel bubble opening between Australia and New Zealand on Monday, with the first of 140 flights planned this week
across the Tasman Sea with no passengers having to quarantine on arrival. That author previously was available to New Zealand is traveling into
Australia. Now New Zealand returns the favor making that one-way travel corridor into a two-way travel bubble.
[08:55:05]
WATSON: New Zealand says that will mean billions for its economy with Australian tourist dollars targeted and of course, families split by these
border closures for over a year will be reunited again.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: That's really important. We're going back for my dad's funeral. And we are taking this little guy to meet his family for the first
time. He's just two months old, so it's going to be exciting for us.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There's no replacing the human touch and those human relationships. We look forward to getting over to New Zealand, speaking to
our people, making sure that their health is great, but also, that our business continues to prosper.
WATSON (voice-over): Both countries entering into this agreement tentatively. Each say they're willing to pop the travel bubble, if there is
an outbreak of COVID-19 on either side of the Tasman Strait.
Both countries have had success with that sort of strictness when it comes to COVID-19. Just around 2,500 cases in New Zealand since the pandemic
began and just under 30,000 in Australia.
That platform means the countries want to extend these travel bubbles further into the region. New Zealand wants to incorporate Pacific islanders
into its travel bubble. Australia has earmarked Singapore as a potential country that it could have a travel bubble with.
But that will also rely on vaccine rollouts in Australia and New Zealand, where governments have been criticized for being slow to get vaccines to
their people.
Angus Watson in Melbourne, Australia.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: And we spotted a granny, didn't we? At the beginning of that. Look like she's meeting her grand son or daughter for the first time. How
wonderful. Well, a World War II airplane made quite a splash in Florida. Take a look at this. The pilots forced to make a water landing when the
plane's engine failed during an airshow. He was the only one on board and nobody was hurt, thankfully. U.S. federal authorities are though
investigating the incident.
Well, that's it from us for today. You can catch me on Twitter @BeckyCNN. Our first move is up next with my colleague, Alison Kosik.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[09:00:00]
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