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U.S. and EU Warn Russia Over Navalny's Health; Chairman of Proposed League: Football Has Taken A Huge Hit; Growing Opposition To Plans For Breakaway League; India Reports Its Highest Daily Death Toll In Nearly 10 Months; Deby's Son Will Head Up Transitional Military Council; Priceless Collections Damaged In University Library. Aired 11a-12p ET
Aired April 20, 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, CNN HOST, CONNECT THE WORLD: Well, this hour Russian Opposition Leader Alexey Navalny fear to be close to death after a three
week long hunger strike. We begin with mounting international pressure on the Kremlin.
The Biden White House and Brussels wanting Moscow Russia will be held accountable as Opposition Leader Alexey Navalny dies in custody. The
world's most famous Kremlin critic is in a prison hospital this hour after that hunger strike in a nearby penal colony.
His lawyer says Navalny is in solitary confinement at that hospital. His supporters frantic saying his health is sliding fast and they are calling
for nationwide rallies on Wednesday the same day the Russian President delivers his State of the Nation Address CNN's Sam Kiley connecting us to
the details coming out of Moscow this hour, Sam?
SAM KILEY, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well Becky, as you say there is this real test of popularity, if you like in terms of the Navalny
Movement, and it is often seen as something of a personality cult versus Vladimir Putin's effectively State of the Nation Address to the political
classes and the rest of the country here in Moscow tomorrow.
Of course, nobody could accuse Vladimir Putin of not having a personality cult. Nevertheless, the focus at the moment is on the failing health of Mr.
Navalny, we've only got really serious indications from his people very little independent verification of his state of health. But what of his
status more broadly, this is a piece that explores that.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KILEY (voice over): Cries of pain caused by poisoning an attempt to silence Russian Opposition Leader Alexey Navalny permanently it failed. Today he
languishes in a penal colony hospital in his homeland. Again, his staffs say close to death. Others - now speak for him.
DR. YAROSLAV ASHIKHMIN, PHYSICIAN AND NAVALNY ALLY: We see that very weak, fragile patient with extremely high pain syndrome, with deterioration of
leg and arm function with extremely elevated levels of potassium that might cause fatal arrhythmia or fatal heart block.
KYLIE (voice over): 20 days into a hunger strike over his demands for independent medical attention. The international protests that are failing
health have been led by the U.S.
JAKE SULLIVAN, U.S. NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER: We have communicated to the Russian government that what happens to Mr. Navalny in their custody is
their responsibility and they will be held accountable by the international community.
KYLIE (voice over): Barely recovered from the nerve agent attack that nearly killed him. Navalny returned to Russia from Germany in January,
where he was detained for violating the terms of his probation in a year's old fraud case, which he said was politically motivated and then
predictably, sentenced and imprisoned.
KYLIE (on camera): Is there an element here that he is seeking martyrdom?
LEONID VOLKOV, NAVALNY'S CHIEF OF STAFF: No, of course not. I mean, he's just doing what he has to do. So he kept returning because he did not
anything wrong. And when he was not given this medical treatment, he used the hunger strike well as a last resort, but still as a legitimate
political instrument as a legitimate tool of well, political file.
KYLIE (voice over): Breaking down the walls of political power around the Kremlin will take much more.
KYLIE (on camera): Any hopes that Alexey Navalny might have of displacing Vladimir Putin from that building behind me remain pretty remote approval
ratings for him are at 19 percent. For Putin, they're about 64 percent. And there are also concerns within his movement.
The efforts being made here in Moscow to prescribe it as an extremist organization could snuff it out completely.
KYLIE (voice over): Meanwhile, the pro democracy movement plans mass demonstrations on Wednesday against Putin and in support of Navalny, a man
that the Kremlin is keen to dismiss as insignificant.
ANDREY KELIN, RUSSIAN AMBASSADOR TO THE UK: Mr. Navalny behaves like a hooligan, absolutely in trying to violate every rule that has been
established his purpose all of that is to attract attention.
KYLIE (voice over): Whatever the outcomes for Navalny and his movement inside Russia beyond its borders it's the next moves of Vladimir Putin that
will receive the most attention.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
[11:05:00]
KYLIE: Now there is going to be something of a face off in terms of public perceptions and levels of public support clearly Navalny is not as popular
as Vladimir Putin. But Vladimir Putin does have almost total control over the media here.
And simultaneously is locked in a much more potentially damaging in terms of Russia's strategic interests, Becky, in arguments and tit for tat
exchanges, or expulsions of diplomats, not only across Europe, but also in the United States.
ANDERSON: Sam Kylie is in Moscow for you thank you Sam. My next guest is an ally of Alexey Navalny. He co-authored a letter to EU Ministers pleading
with them to put pressure on Moscow. Navalny's own Doctor Vladimir Ashurkov joins me now from London. It is good to have you. In your letter you raised
concerns about Navalny's health.
You say he has numbness in both legs, left hand pain in his back muscle impairment fever, heavy cough, and you say he was moved into a prison
hospital. And that as we understand it is correct. What do you understand about whether or not he is receiving treatment there, treatment that you
believe he needs?
VLADIMIR ASHURKOV, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, ANTI-CORRUPTION FOUNDATION: When they talk about hospital, it's really a tuberculosis ward in original
Russian hospital for a lawyer has seen him briefly today. And he was told that the only medical care that is administered is glucose drips.
Obviously, this is inadequate medical care in his condition. We were particularly concerned on Friday when received blood tests which showed
abnormal level of potassium, which is associated with the potential imminent kidney failure and heart issues. So I think the situation is quite
critical and the count is in days.
ANDERSON: There are many doctors who have warned that he could have only days to live. The Biden Administration has said severe consequences would
follow if Navalny were to die in prison. I just want our viewers to hear this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JEN PSAKI, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: We're not going to telegraph our punches. If Mr. Navalny dies well there will be consequences to the Russian
government and we reserve those options. But in the interim, our objective is of course, continuing to call for, push for his release and reiterate
our view that he must be treated humane like.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Well, it's not clear what those consequences would be? Do you have any faith that the Kremlin will be listening to Washington's pleas and
threats at this point?
ASHURKOV: Putin is a tactician; he always calculates what he considered beneficial for him. So I believe the international pressure and domestic
pressure we are putting together math products tomorrow throughout the whole country. We believe that this will be a significant factor
influencing his decision.
Again Navalny is on a hunger strike. Today is his 21st day. His demand is just getting adequate medical care without it, he is likely to die.
ANDERSON: The Moscow prosecutor's office issuing a statement earlier saying it is "Comprehensive evidence" that Alexey Navalny's organizations conduct,
"Extremist activities", your response to that.
ASHURKOV: Russian law enforcement has for decades been used as an instrument of intimidation of political opposition. This is not the first
unlawful pressure that is put on our team members and on our organization.
We have always advocated peaceful protests and labeling our organization extremist puts us on the same level as it is our organization our Alexey
Navalny, as its founder have million supporters in Russia. And this is such - this is quite a serious move on behalf of Russian government completely
unfounded and unlawful.
ANDERSON: Alexey Navalny was aware of the risks of going back to Russia and he told my colleague Clarissa Ward about why he was willing to take those
risks before he returned. Have a listen.
[11:10:00]
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ALEXEY NAVALNY, RUSSIAN OPPOSITION LEADER: 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 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 Putin such a gift.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: You have said that you fear for Alexey Navalny's life at this point as others do. Given is worse - given his worsening conditions do you
believe that he regrets his decision to go back?
ASHURKOV: I don't think so. His return was not a matter of calculating pros and cons. It was a matter of principle. Why shouldn't he return? He has
done nothing wrong. The work of his life is in Russia, millions of supporters, a political organization that he built his in Russia. So after
medical treatment in totally makes sense to him to return.
Yes, there was danger that he would be incarcerated but nobody knew it for sure. I believe that he doesn't have regrets. And it's important for him to
live up to his values and principles. And that's what he does. And we all watch him in admiration.
ANDERSON: How is this going to end?
ASHURKOV: We believe that the pressure will make the Russian authorities provide him medical care and popularity of Putin is declining. A lot of
people are discontent. We believe that that in time this will lead to a political crisis which will result in the start of liberalization of
Russian political system that says the end that we are working towards.
ANDERSON: With that we'll leave it there. We thank you very much indeed for joining us. You're watching "Connect the World" with me Becky Anderson
coming up Europe reacting plans for a breakaway football Super League my interview with the CEO of Brighton Hove Albion Football Club one of the
premier league squads not among the founding members of this breakaway league.
And worse than a Tsunami that is how one doctor in India describes the volume of COVID-19 cases there. We've got the latest on that. And the
President of Chad has been killed on the battlefield. Coming up, we'll look at what's next for that African nation?
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: Backlash growing across Europe to the proposed European Super League. 12 of the continents' top teams announcing plans to break away from
regular European football and eventually expand to 20 clubs.
[11:15:00]
ANDERSON: Three from Italy, three from Spain and the remaining six from England. Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson saying no action is off the
table to stop this new league including government intervention England's Premier League exploring all actions available to prevent the league its
statement coming after a meeting of the 14 clubs that are not announced as founding members.
The President of UEFA, European Football's Governing Association saying ethics don't exist within the new group and calling the plans shameless.
Well, the Chairman of this new Super League also happens to be the President of Real Madrid, says football clubs have taken a huge hit during
the pandemic. He cites a lack of interest in the sport amongst young people and a declining audience.
Well, earlier I spoke to the CEO of Brighton and Hove Albion Football Club. I started by asking him if he agrees with that assessment, if indeed, the
Chairman of this new Super League has a point?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PAUL BARBER, CEO, BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION FC: He must be talking to different young people than the ones I talked to. Because the young people
that I talked to want good competition, they want exciting football. They want the competitions to be as competitive as possible so that the big
clubs don't always win the games or certainly not winning by a large margin.
So he must be talking to very different people to us. You know, for over 150 years, football has existed on healthy competition clubs, having good
years, bad years, winning games, losing games, winning trophies, and missing out on trophies, that's part of the drama, the jeopardy, the
emotion that actually goes to create the narrative around what is the biggest sport in the world.
If you start concentrating wealth and power in the hands of just a few small clubs, who win everything all the time, by large margins, then
frankly, we are going to turn off not just young people, but old people as well. And that's really not what we're about. That's not what this sport is
about.
ANDERSON: Paul, I just want to hear just a little more from the new Chairman of this European Super League, of course, the President of Real
Madrid. Have a listen.
FLORENTINO PEREZ, REAL MADRID PRESIDENT & SUPER LEAGUE CHAIRMAN: Interest in football has already been lost. First, we have to analyze why 40 percent
of the young people between 16 and 25 are no longer interested in football so why they are not interested in football?
Well, because there are too many matches of poor quality and there aren't interested. They have other platforms to entertain themselves with. This is
the reality. They're not going to kick us out of the Champions League. Not Madrid, not city, none of them? I'm sure, completely sure. Not from La-Liga
from nothing.
ANDERSON: Your response?
BARBER: Well, I can't - I can't speak for the level of competition in his league. But what I can speak to is a competition in the Premier League
where the smallest teams, the lowest positioned teams are regularly giving the biggest teams tough games, it doesn't mean to say that we win all of
those games, we almost don't expect to win all of those games, because already there's a huge disparity between the wealth and power of the top
clubs in the Premier League and those of us that are at that level.
So what I can say is there's a huge amount of competitive football played in the Premier League. There are very few games where we go into those
games, knowing full well what the outcome is going to be. There are very few games that are dead rubbers. There are very few games that don't
attract good audiences. There are very few games that don't attract a huge amount of attention from the media, not just in this country, but across
the world.
But of course, it may be different in Spain. We can't speak for the Spanish. And he is obviously perfectly entitled to his own views about
that. But it's not something that we're seeing in the Premier League.
ANDERSON: What we are seeing in response to this is outrage by fans, by footballers, by Managers, by the CEOs of clubs, like you from the Prime
Minister in Britain, from the President of France from Prince William, a member of the Royal Family in Britain. Let's follow the money on this.
The organizers claim the ESL will generate more money than UEFA Champions League competition and will result in a greater distribution of revenue
through the sport. Well, that to be real realistic. That would be good news, surely, Paul.
BARBER: It sounds to me very much like a statement from an opposition party that wants to be in government. You know, it's very easy to promise the
earth when you haven't actually got the responsibility for delivering it. And at the moment, we have very significant distribution systems throughout
the English football pyramid that are sustained by the Premier League and the championship and the leagues that go below that.
And they work very, very well at the moment. There's always room for improvement. There's always ways in which we can actually make the system
of distribution of money within the English game better.
But as it stands, is the Premier League is hugely competitive a European Super League wouldn't be there on merit clubs would simply be members of
it. There will be no qualification.
[11:20:00]
BARBER: There will be no aspiration for those clubs like ours that want to play in European competition. Now the most important people that we have in
our business or our fans they are the people that turn up, fill out stadiums create the atmosphere, generate the huge interest amongst TV
companies and radio stations because they love screening those matches of top level sport with huge crowds in attendance, creating great atmospheres.
And they are universally against this idea. You know, there are fans protesting as we speak, at clubs up and down the country opposing this,
including those of the of the six clubs in England that that want to be part of it. That should tell those clubs something about the idea and how
unpopular it is not just with others who aren't involved, but also many of those people that that support the clubs that are involved.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Well, Hove CEO Paul Barber there. I want to bring in Pedro Pinto, Football Communications Consultant and Former Managing Director of
Communications at UEFA and Former Colleague of ours here at CNN. It's good to have you. And if everyone thinks this league is such a bad idea, then
why do you think these top clubs are launching it?
PEDRO PINTO, FOOTBALL COMMUNICATIONS CONSULTANT: Becky, it's great to work with you again as well. I think there's a huge - I think there's a huge
disconnect between the ownership of these clubs and their respective fans, because a lot of these gloves are owned by businessmen who are in other
countries, many of whom are in the United States where a closed league is common practice.
They don't have the same kind of structure that football has in Europe, and football is more than a business. I think they've misjudged that situation
dearly, and it's costing them now with burning bridges with their own fans and seeing their brands negatively affected by the entire negative PR
coming their way.
So they've clearly focused on Euros rather than on points one on the field. They're treating fans like customers, they're treating competitions, like
content, and it's not going down well.
ANDERSON: It is ironic that fans and footballers alike are completely aligned with the sports two governing bodies at present. Well two of the
sports main governing bodies that have UEFA and FIFA who have been mired in controversy themselves.
Is - and we've talked for years about the potential for some sort of Super League and UEFA and FIFA have been or certainly UEFA has been accused of
just not getting themselves sorted out and not ensuring that the sport is fit for business going forward should some blame be laid at their feet at
this point?
PINTO: Becky, historically, the UEFA Champions League has been a competition which is open to all and that is something which the UEFA
President Aleksander Ceferin wants to maintain. Of course, revenues have gone up substantially in every cycle of the competition, because there's
more interest in football around the world contrary to what Florentino Perez says.
And networks are willing to pay big dollar to have the right to broadcast these spectacles around the world. Now UEFA has shown through their
management that they want to keep the football pyramid alive. Nearly 90 percent of the money that UEFA generates from its elite competitions is
distributed back into the football pyramid.
A lot of that money is used for development, women's football grassroots and that is what all the stakeholders that have been coming out speaking
against the Super League are arguing. The system is not broken. It's broken for an elite few who have mismanaged their clubs have spent too much money
on wages, too much money on agents fees, and then are trying to blame the pandemic for taking this decision.
ANDERSON: These clubs tone deaf when it comes to many of their fans, Amanda Davis and I just sort of, you know, musing about the fact that, you know -
did they have any idea that the reaction would be as universal as it is and if they did, and they've just gone ahead with it anyway, they clearly don't
care about the fans who travel under normal circumstances clearly not this shape of travel, miles and miles across borders, to see these clubs, play?
The bottom line here is we - you know apart from this announcement we really know very little about when this is going to start? How it's going
to start?
[11:25:00]
ANDERSON: The extent of the clubs involved. We know 12 of them at the moment. Are you convinced that this is for real? Or do you genuinely
believe this is a bunch of elite clubs, using this as a threat to leverage their power with UEFA going forward?
PINTO: Becky, as opposed to what has happened in the past, with a lot of threats being made, and a lot of speculation in the international media
about the creation of a Super League, I do you think this is real? I think it's real because there was a statement announcing the creation of the
Super League with clubs who have attached themselves to it knowing perfectly well the backlash that they would have, because they can't be
that disconnected from reality.
So when you have a statement with quotes from Andrea - from Juventus, you have a quote from Joe Glaser from Manchester United from - from Real
Madrid, you have to take it seriously. And I think that's why we've seen governments, as you've mentioned, football stakeholders, players, and fans.
And I really do honestly feel sorry for the players and the managers who are getting questions from journalists before games after games, and they
know nothing about it. They weren't consulted. So Jordan Henderson from Liverpool has called a meeting of the Premier League captains.
I think we'll see more football stakeholders mobilizing to try to make sense of all of this and try to find a unified position and say football
isn't for sale.
ANDERSON: A battle for the soul of European football is how "The Financial Times'" editorial described this today. And for those fans out there, who
are concerned that they won't see the superstars of their clubs playing, for example, in the European Champions - the championship going forward,
possibly not in the World Cup playing for their national teams, you say what?
PINTO: I say let's wait and see. I say there are a lot of people looking over contracts. I say that there are some clubs, from what I've heard from
good sources that are considering their options after announcing that they will be part of the Super League.
But seeing this backlash and maybe wavering a little bit I say let's wait and see. There's no rush to take drastic decisions. There has been an
intense crossfire in the media. And you can tell how much this means to not only the people running the game, but fans especially around the world
whose voice needs to be heard.
And let's hope that that common sense and good sense prevails. And there will be a way to have a European Championship this summer and a World Cup
next year with all the major stars present. If there is the continuation of a rupture between these clubs and UEFA and FIFA, then it will be
interesting to see what contracts allow and what sanctions can be legally applied without being challenged to those clubs not necessarily to the
players.
ANDERSON: Pedro it is always a pleasure. It's been too long. Let's talk soon. Thank you.
PINTO: Same.
ANDERSON: Pedro Pinto in the house for you folks. Up next, the EU drugs regulator talking about a possible risk and the benefits from the Johnson &
Johnson COVID vaccine. We'll - a live report for you up after this break.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[11:30:00]
ANDERSON: Vaccines seen as a key piece in the solution to the COVID-19 crisis, which the World Health Organization now warns, is only
accelerating. Last week more new cases were reported than ever before 5.2 million to be precise. The W.H.O. says new infections have been rising at
an alarming rate for eight consecutive weeks.
Well, deaths also increased for a fight straight week the pandemic now claiming well over 3 million lives. It is difficult to state just how bad
the situation has got in India? On Monday, the country of 1.3 billion reported more than 259,000 new cases it's the sixth day in a row. The daily
infections there topped 200,000.
Oxygen and intensive care unit beds are running short. To conserve the supply the government is banned using oxygen for industrial purposes.
Meanwhile, five Indian states holding state elections in recognizing the surging cases. The Prime Minister's ruling party has said it would hold
what it called small public gatherings, limiting them to 500 people. Vedika Sud reports from New Delhi for you.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
VEDIKA SUD, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Bodies piling up in crematoriums. These raging fires continued through the day and night
graveyards running out of space. Hospitals filled to a breaking point. Some patients left with no choice but to share a bed.
Dozens of being treated in ambulances India known as a power house for vaccines some states say they're running low on supplies. India's
healthcare system is collapsing under the crush of COVID-19. Dr. Jalil Parker as a frontline worker in a top Mumbai hospital that had to convert
its lift lobby into an additional COVID-19 ward Parker says there's an overwhelming increase in cases and patients.
DR. JALIL PARKER, SENIOR PULMUNARY CONSULTANT, LILAVATI HOSPITAL: The volume is humongous. It's just like a tsunami, or you can say worse than a
tsunami.
SUD (voice over): Thousands have taken to social media desperately looking for beds, oxygen supplies and medicines, all of which are running out.
Ignoring the alarming surge, millions attended the Kumbh Mela festival, one of the largest festivals in the world.
Despite strict guidelines and a truncated schedule, thousands of devotees have tested positive in India's northern city Haridwar.
DR. AMBRISH MITHAL, CHAIRMAN AND HEAD OF ENDOCRINOLOGY, MAX HEALTHCARE: On the one hand, we are struggling to increase beds, increase oxygen supplies;
increase drug supplies to those who need them to save lives. On the other hand, we have gatherings all across.
SUD (voice over): Festival patrons are finally moving out after belated appeal by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Even after surpassing
200,000 new daily cases, Modi and politicians across party lines have been sending a mixed message by campaigning for state elections with thousands
in attendance. People queuing up to vote flouting basic safety guidelines, migrant workers are fleeing big cities after local governments announced
partial lockdowns.
ASHOK KUMAR, MIGRANT WORKER: Everything is shut. How do we earn to survive? We'll come back once things are better.
SUD (voice over): This deadly second wave has India facing a health emergency like never before. Many asking did India lead down its guard?
Vedika Sud, CNN, New Delhi.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Well, this wave prompting lockdowns, closures. Vaccine shortages across Asia, Thailand seeing a record number of infections each day forcing
businesses to shut down.
[11:35:00]
Officials there concern this could stop plans to reopen the country to tourists Paula Hancocks with this report.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PAULA HANCOCKS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): It's one of Thailand's most popular festivals. Songkran or the New Year better known as the Water
Festival, where you are almost guaranteed to get soaked the second you walk outside. It was canceled for a second year running last week. The country
is now starting the New Year gripped by record numbers of new Coronavirus cases.
HANCOCKS (on camera): Considering this latest outbreak in Bangkok started within the entertainment district than inevitably it is streets like this
one that have been shut down first. All bars, all nightclubs and all massage parlors have been ordered to shut.
HANCOCKS (voice over): Road known as backpackers central used to see the vast majority of business from foreign tourists. Local say they've been
struggling to get by for a year. And now this latest outbreak has sparked a mass testing campaign in the neighborhood and businesses have been forced
to close once again.
YADA PORNPETRUMPA, STREET VENDOR SPOKESPERSON: More than 50 percent of businesses have closed down. But once the country's opened up, they may
come back. The only problem is we haven't seen a solid plan for opening up the country.
HANCOCKS (on camera): The plans at this point are more focused on dealing with the immediate health crisis as hospital beds fill up. Field hospitals
to ease the strain and house asymptomatic patients' positive cases are not allowed to shelter at home.
This gives us some idea of just how bad officials here in Thailand fear that this latest outbreak could get? This sporting arena just on the
outskirts of Bangkok can hold up to about 500 COVID patients and this has been replicated across the country. They have at this point more than
20,000 extra field hospital beds.
ASWIN KWANMUANG, BANGKOK OVERNOR: I think it would gradually get better, as we put plans in place. But we need cooperation from the public.
HANCOCKS (voice over): Officials are concerned that the latest outbreak could jeopardize plans to open up at least some of its borders to foreign
tourists in a few months. Plans were being made to open up the Island of Phuket in July. But it's a plan that relies almost entirely on vaccination.
In Thailand, that process is slow with the death toll around 100 the need to secure doses was less acute than elsewhere. But now in the midst of its
worst outbreak yet, the government finds itself lower down the priority list in a world desperately short on vaccines. Paula Hancocks, CNN Bangkok.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Well, an update now on vaccinations and concerns about the Johnson & Johnson Coronavirus jab. The European Medicines Agency says the
vaccine should carry a warning about "Unusual blood clots", but the regulators say the clots should be considered very rare, and they maintain
the benefits of the vaccine and preventing COVID-19 do outweigh the risks.
CNN's Melissa Bell connecting to the latest developments there is a feeling of deja vu isn't there after the news and the findings on AstraZeneca? So
we hear very similar story now from the EMA on Johnson & Johnson.
MELISSA BELL, CNN PARIS CORRESPONDENT: Becky, I was about to say you will have a sense of deja vu because you and I had this precise conversation
after the EMA delivered its verdict the AstraZeneca. You're right in remarkably similar terms.
Of course, these two vaccines, the Johnson & Johnson and the AstraZeneca use similar technologies. So perhaps it is no surprise that that warning
that should be applied to the AstraZeneca vaccine said the EMA should also now be applied to warn people of those very rare incidences of unusual
blood clots.
Now, what's going to happen now, we don't know exactly when these deliveries of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine will resume? They stopped the
very day after they'd begun last week. Becky for now, the company hasn't said whether it will or will not resume its deliveries to Europe
immediately what it awaits the FDA's advice and while its rollout remains paused in the United States.
So we await that also, of course, the national health agencies of the individually the EU countries will now have to decide how they want this
vaccine to be rolled out and whether any restrictions age restrictions should apply? As so many countries made them apply to the AstraZeneca
vaccine.
Only then will the 200 million doses that were bought by the European Union for 2021. There's an option of further 200 million but for next year, be
able to get back to those much needed European vaccination campaigns and once again, be able to get back into European arms Becky?
ANDERSON: Yes, what we know and what we still don't know at this point, Melissa, it's always a pleasure. Thank you very much indeed. Melissa Bell
is in Paris.
Well, the President of Chad has lost his life as his country battles rebel forces. Coming up what we know about his death and the future of the
African Nation.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[11:40:00]
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: Well, you're watching "Connect the World" with me Becky Anderson. I'm going to get you a story out of Chad now where one Africa's longest
ruling leader has died.
[11:45:00]
According to the Army President Idriss Deby died of injuries that he sustained while visiting frontline troops who were battling rebels from the
country's north. He had been in power for 30 years and it just won his sixth term. This comes after the army says it had one a major battle
against the rebels the statement, the rebels deny.
Deby's son has been named President of the Transitional Council. Let's bring in David McKenzie who's in Johannesburg keeping a close eye on what
is going on in Chad. And what do we know of the details of his death at this point?
DAVID MCKENZIE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Becky, the details of Deby's death are very murky. And it is extraordinary that right after being announced
the winner of this presidential election, a disputed election, and that he would go and visit trips on the front line not entirely out of character.
He is a former general who came to power through force but in an announcement announced on State TV by the Military Spokesman. They said he
was injured in the front lines and then died from his injuries back in the capital of --. It certainly will create shockwaves through that region and
also in Paris and Washington. Here's the announcement they made.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
AZEM BERMENDO AGOUNA, CHAD ARMY SPOKESMAN: The transition on Military Council assured the chatting people that all positions have been taken to
share the peace, security of Republican order. Long live the republic. Long live Chad. The President of the Transitional Military Council General will
be Mahamat Idriss Deby.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MCKENZIE: So his son will take power. They said there'll be 18 months of transition that the French government has weighed in calling him a brave
friend of France for these many years Becky.
ANDERSON: Deby was - he known as a key Western ally. He had though developed a very different reputation at home. What do we think the
consequences of this untimely death will be?
MCKENZIE: Well, there could be very grave consequences. You're right. I mean at home politically and also amongst the people he was not allowed to
president. 30 years out in power accused of corruption, also accused of clamping down on the opposition parties ahead of this most recent election,
as well as others.
But within the U.S. and particularly France, he was seen as a steady ally in the fight against terror, Islamic insurgency in the Sahel and in the
Lake Chad region. And he hosts still thousands of French troops in the Capitol or near the Capitol as part of an operation that is regularly
taking on those insurgents.
Now the question now in the short term, Becky will be those rebel groups that the government said were under control but others including the U.S.
and the UK and other powers saying that their citizens needed to get out of the Capitol because it was presumably under threat whether this will create
a power vacuum with this longtime strong man departing the stage?
At this stage though a journalist we spoke to says the Capitol is calm, but it will need to be watched closely in the coming days and whether France
steps in as it has before if the Capitol is threatened.
ANDERSON: Yes, David McKenzie watching this from Johannesburg for you, David thank you. Still to come on the show, you're watching "Connect the
World" with me Becky Anderson. A new era new challenges for Cuba we are live in Havana as the island looks to a future without the Castro's in
charge.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[11:50:00]
ANDERSON: Well, it seems like it may never come to a time when a member of the Castro family wasn't in charge of Cuba or its only political party.
Well, now, he was Communist Party is pick the President Miguel Diaz-Canel to be its new leader, and he succeeds Raul Castro. He stepped down as party
leader last week.
Well, his brother Fidel, of course, formed the Human Communist Party more than 50 years ago. CNN's Patrick Oppmann in Havana has been watching
history unfold yet again. And he joins us now. Patrick?
PATRICK OPPMANN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi there, Becky. I think of this is one of the longest job interviews in history for years there's been speculation
ruling around who would replace a Castro's? And Cuba experts like me would often identify somebody who seemed like the ideal candidate.
And then no, that person would get tripped up there would be some behind the door, closed doors scandal or, or some kind of fall from grace and we
would start all over again. And so here we have seen the - searching from somebody for - somebody from the next generation who they consider to be
incredibly loyal someone who is just as revolutionary as they are. And at last they seem to have found that person.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
OPPMANN (voice over): Already President of Cuba, Miguel Diaz-Canel is now also the First Head of the Island's powerful Communist Party since the
revolution to not be named Castro. Diaz-Canel was chosen on Monday as the First Secretary at a closed door Congress of the Cuban Communist Party.
Well, the only political party allowed on the island after Raul Castro said he was retiring if not completely ending his influence. He will be
consulted on the most important strategic decisions affecting our nation. Diaz-Canel said of his predecessor.
At 61 Diaz-Canel's far younger than the 80 and 90 year olds, who fought alongside Fidel Castro and since the revolution, have occupied most of the
top positions in Cuba. U.S. officials, who have met Diaz-Canel, see while he is less likely to lecture about the evils of imperialism than the
Castro's. He's a firm believer in the system they created.
JEFF FLAKE, FORMER U.S. SENATE REPUBLICAN: Really to move on and to enact the kind of reforms that Cuba is going to need to enact they got to move
well beyond the Castro.
OPPMANN (voice over): Well, few expect younger officials like Diaz-Canel, who was handpicked by Raul Castro to deviate from the party line. The
symbolism of Cuba without the Castro's officially in charge is striking.
Most Cubans were born after the 1959 revolution, and until recently have only known a Castro at the helm of their country. Now this famous family
that has impacted Cuba so deeply is beginning to let go of power. The question becomes whether the Castro's revolution can survive without them?
Despite the injection of new blood at the top, the Cuban government is struggling to adapt to the times. Critics on the island use increased
internet access to show what they say are growing poverty and injustice. An economy ravaged by COVID has led to longer and longer lines for food.
The Trump Administration plays some of the toughest sanctions on Cuba in decades, which President Biden so far appears reluctant to lift. As he
announced his retirement Raul Castro said he was leaving power but not giving up his long fight.
I will continue soldiering on as one more revolutionary combatant, he says ready to make my modest contribution until the end of my life. But Castro
will turn 90 in June. The age his brother Fidel was when he died. And in Eastern Cuba Castro has already built a tomb for himself next to the grave
of his wife, who died in 2007. Cuba's future is uncertain, but the era of the Castro's uninterrupted long rule is coming to an end.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
OPPMANN: And yesterday when we heard President and now Party Chief Diaz- Canel talk about U.S. sanctions, what they call the blockade here, and then he referred to dissidents anti government activists on the island as
mercenary scum in the employ of Americans.
Well, Becky, you close your eyes and it felt like Raul or Fidel Castro was actually doing the talking. So it may be new face but not necessarily new
policy. We'll just have to see how this all plays out?
[11:55:00]
ANDERSON: Yes, fascinating. Patrick. Thank you. Patrick Oppmann is in Havana for you. Well, thank you for joining us this evening. A quick update
from what is this devastating fire in Cape Town. South African firefighters say they have contained about 90 percent of the fire around Table Mountain
National Park. Nearly 60 hectares of land have been burned since the fire began on Sunday.
Well, authorities have detained a man in connection with the fire. All neighborhoods around Table Mountain were evacuated that includes faculty
and students at the University of Cape Town where a number of buildings were damaged.
My colleague Robin - spoke to the Vice Chancellor of the University earlier on the phone just have a listen to part of that conversation.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MAMOKGETHI PHAKENG, VICE-CHANCELLOR, UNIVERSITY OF CAPE TOWN: What's lost includes the African studies collection, as well as about 3500 Africans
collection and part of the government publication collection and several other collections that we - police have been working on. So it's an
incredible loss.
We besides the resources I mean, they - the roof has collapsed and the basement, we can't access the basement yet. And we think there might be
something saved in the basement because what we have in the basement and we hoping that - basement ceiling because in the basement - some manuscript.
20,000 pages of the Queen's manuscript may be saved in the basement. But otherwise everything that's on the floor has been destroyed.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: So sad. Wherever you are watching in the world, including in Cape Town, stay safe, and do stay well. It is a very good evening from all of us
here in Abu Dhabi.
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