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Connect the World
Overwhelmed Crematoriums Operating Around the Clock; Boris Johnson Grilled in UK Parliament During Tense Session of PM's Questions; British Prime Minister Under Growing Political Pressure; President Ramaphosa Testifies in Court; Brazil Rejects Russia's Sputnik V COVID Vaccine; Couples Have To Adapt To COVID, Celebrate Wedding Virtually. Aired 11a-12p ET
Aired April 28, 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)
LYNDA KINKADE, CNN HOST, CONNECT THE WORLD: Hello and welcome to "Connect the World". I'm Lynda Kinkade filling in for my colleague Becky Anderson.
Good to have you with us.
Well, we begin with an unwanted global record and a grim warning about the coming months. India's COVID crisis is getting worse by the day, the
country reporting more than 360,000 new cases today the most anywhere in a single day since the start of this pandemic, and nearly 3300 people died
the most ever in India in one day.
India's official death toll now topped 200,000 an influential model here in the U.S. projects nearly 1 million people in India could die of COVID-19 by
this coming August. Video from Delhi shows just how bad things have gotten.
You can see empty oxygen tanks lining the streets of this neighborhood with many hospitals running out of oxygen patients and their families are forced
into a desperate search some willing to pay exorbitant amounts of money to fill a tank.
Those who don't survive are filling crematoriums which are now sadly operating right around the clock. The North Delhi - is requesting a steady
supply of firewood to keep their crematoriums running. He tells CNN they're committing more than 600 bodies today double the official daily death toll.
Well, India's government has been criticized for a slow vaccine rollout. Today Serum Institute of India, the world's biggest vaccine maker announced
an immediate price reduction for COVID vaccines for about $5.30 a dose to $4. Its CEO says the move will hike the number of vaccinations in India.
Senior International Correspondent Sam Kiley is on the ground for us in New Delhi. Whichever way you look at it, Sam, it's a pretty dire picture there
in India. And it seems that even as horrifying as the numbers are, the real figure may be far worse than official government data.
SAM KILEY, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes, I mean, that is the case, Lynda, right across the world, no nation has ever been able to get
any kind of anything approaching an accurate idea of how many people have been infected.
And therefore very inaccurate idea about how many people has died. But here in a country of 1.4 billion people with a widespread poverty and fairly
rudimentary systems of administration out in some of the far flung areas, those figures are obviously going to be even lower.
So we do have this report coming from the United States that by August, they could be - they can - they've been modeling for about a million dead
in India. The figures now over 200,000 but again, medical experts here are analyzing what's been going on, I believe that that could be a very
substantial underestimate.
As indeed is the numbers of people actually infected, it tends to be people who were either anxious that they got the disease or actually having the
disease they're trying to get tested that that we got reports here in Delhi that a number of test centers have been overwhelmed and effectively had to
shut up shop just as there are rather a catastrophic shortage of oxygen right across the Indian Capital and in other States too and of course a
shortage of actual beds for patients to be treated in.
So we've seen examples of people getting hold of bootleg oxygen very often, and being treated from their cars pipes going from oxygen cylinders into
the back seats of cars where patients have been languishing across the back seats.
There's also of course, inevitably, with the high death toll, a surge in the number of people being cremated here with some really terrifying
medieval apocalyptic scenes in some of the extended crematoriums that now burning well into the night long after the ceremonies are being conducted
simply because there are so many people that have to - have their last rights here.
And there's no sign at all of neither the numbers of people being infected nor the numbers of people being affected who are dying, easing off. Indeed
all of the indications are that things are going to get a lot worse before they get better Lynda.
KINKADE: And obviously, people are desperate to get a vaccine for COVID-19 there. And despite the fact that India is the world's largest producer of
vaccines, very few people have had the opportunity to get a vaccine, just a few over 1 percent, I believe.
[11:05:00]
KINKADE: Why is that the case?
KILEY: I think essentially there are two issues here. First is that the vaccine producers have been exporting to countries that have been
aggressively buying their vaccines. You've talked earlier on in your introduction about one of the major producers of the AstraZeneca, the major
producer of the AstraZeneca vaccine dropping their price that is on in order to relieve the burden on state governments.
Because in places like Maharashtra, for example, where they have the capacity or had the capacity to vaccinate some 800,000 people a day,
they've actually closed a lot of their vaccination centers because they can only get supplies of some 200,000.
That is partly due to logistical holdups, partly due to the fact that there's been a prioritization perhaps of export of vaccines. But that's
against the background of a national sense, driven by the central government driven by Prime Minister Narendra Modi that India had seen the
COVID pandemic of.
That essentially, one against the pandemic without the necessity for mass vaccinations on the scale of in terms of percentages of the population that
we've seen in countries like Israel, the UAE, United Kingdom and the United States.
But rather that the country somehow miraculously reached a level of herd immunity. If you combine that with large numbers of mass gatherings for
religious festivals, many millions turning out for religious festivals to political campaign rallies, you create essentially a perfect storm for a
disaster and that is exactly what is unfolding particularly here in New Delhi Lynda.
KINKADE: It's sad but true. All right, Sam Kylie for us, it's good to have you on the ground in New Delhi. Thank you. Well, India's government has -
India's devastating COVID chaos is now spreading to neighboring countries with Nepal facing an alarming surge in cases.
The Ministry of Health there is sourcing 20,000 extra oxygen cylinders from abroad as they prepare to deal with the country's limited supply. Don't
just say they're worried things will get worse and with the devastation they're seeing across the border. It's no wonder they're concerned. Take a
look.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: In parts of Nepal hospitals are struggling to cope with this sudden surge in cases. We brought him to hospital in an ambulance
because he was having trouble breathing, says this woman whose husband has COVID-19 but she says no doctor has seen him yet. Everyone is busy.
The medical staff is struggling to keep up with new infections. John Hopkins University data shows cases are rapidly rising across the country
with the highest number of daily infections since the October peak.
DR. SHER BAHADUR PUN, SUKRAJ TROPICAL AND INFECTIOUS DISEASE HOSPITAL: Now the hospital beds are full. This is the beginning of another way. We are a
little surprised, as the people are getting infected and falling sick rather quickly and are having to get admitted to hospitals.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Some public health experts warn that thousands of people may have caught more infectious variants first identified in the UK
and in neighboring India. Now some border cities have become hotspots, raising fears that the situation will only worsen.
DR. PUN: I call that a mini India. If the same thing replicates in a densely populated city like Katmandu, then it may give rise to a difficult
situation.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Nepal's Capital is one of a number of cities across the country imposing lockdowns starting Thursday, local governments hoping
to prevent infections from spreading as vaccination campaign could soon be in peril.
Nepal depends in part on India's Serum Institute for vaccines. But India is prioritizing its own needs as infections there spiral out of control. In
Nepal, the decision to reopen Mount Everest to climbers is proving challenging COVID-19 has reportedly reached base camp.
The government however, denies those reports and Nepalese officials say they haven't received any official notices of that.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KINKADE: We're going to connect you to Colombia, where a nationwide strike is getting underway over the economic fallout after COVID-19. Speaking in
numbers, unemployment shut up from nine to 16 percent during the pandemic, many Colombians cannot even put enough food on the table anymore.
New government report shows that food insecurity has more than tripled reaching more than 30 percent. Well, Columbia's Unions have said enough is
enough and called for a nationwide strike. The final straw for them was a proposed tax reform. Stefano Pozzebon is on the ground in Bogota near the
site of one of the rallies.
[11:10:00]
Give us a sense of the turnout there because the economy has essentially been decimated by the pandemic. As I mentioned, looking at the job numbers
that have shot up and also the one in three families that now can't get three meals a day.
STEFANO POZZEBON, JOURNALIST: Yes, exactly Lynda. The pandemic has devastated the economy, but it's also having a devastating impact on
general life. Right this week, Columbia has reported more new cases than India, relative to the size of the population.
And it's a measure of this double edged sword, this double crunch that it is affecting, dramatically affecting the nation. The economy is in tatters
because they have been in lockdown for over 12 months. But the health emergency is not passed there yet.
And at one point here Lynda that we need to make sure and for the audience to really understand is that nobody here is discussing the impact of the
pandemic, nobody here is protesting against the lockdown. But what the unions are saying is that they need more aid, to the lower classes, to the
working classes, to the people who have lost their jobs.
The pandemic has meant an increase in unemployment, over 8 percent. And this is an economy that used to grow. It's been growing steadily for the
best part of the 21st century. So it's a population that is not used to live in such a dramatic crisis, just when the ICUs are still very much
filled to capacity, Lynda.
KINKADE: And in terms of how it's handling the pandemic, give us a sense of the infection right there? Where do things stand right now?
POZZEBON: We know that Bogota and the rest of the nation are currently going through the highest peak of the pandemic so far. We've been in the
third wave of - the third wave of the virus. And this is why authorities have urged the march and not to go ahead. Late last night, union leaders
here in Bogota and other Colombian cities have said that they intended to proceed because they think this is the only way to have their voice heard.
It will be an interesting day; Lynda to understand whether the march will be allowed to the march behind me will be allowed to continue up to the
city center of Bogota? And the turnout of these protests that Bogota is preparing for the beginning of an electoral campaign because we're having
elections next year. And there is a lot at stake in a day like these the country is on the border of ever rising COVID numbers, economy and factors,
politics at play, Lynda?
KINKADE: All right, Stefano Pozzebon. We will check in with you again later. Thank you. Take care. Well, still to come here on "Connect the
World" an agitated Prime Minister faces some tough questions in the UK Parliament. I'll be talking to the man who was once Boris Johnson's boss
Columnist and Historian Max Hastings that's coming up next.
Plus, at the five year mark, Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince gives us a status report on the Kingdom's plan to ease its dependence on oil. And South
Africa's President Ramaphosa in the hot state grilled about corruption I'm going to take you live to the courthouse.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[11:15:00]
KINKADE: Well, Boris Johnson might have been expecting a stunning spring but given Britain - given Britain's successful vaccine rollout, but instead
the Prime Minister's engulfed in a growing political crisis. He is accused of lying about who paid for renovations to his Downing Street home? Well,
now Mr. Johnson is facing a formal investigation by Britain's political spending watchdog. He's also faced a heated grilling in Parliament a short
time ago. Take a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KEIR STARMER, BRITISH LABOUR LEADER: Could Prime Minister tells the House does he believe that any rules or laws have been broken in relation to the
refurbishment of the Prime Minister's flat?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Prime Minister?
BORIS JOHNSON, BRITISH PRIME MINISTER: Mr. Speaker, what I believe has been strange to breaking point is the credulity of the public. He has half an
hour every week to put serious and sensible questions to me about the state of the pandemic about the vaccine rollout about what we're doing to support
our NHS about what we're doing to fight crime about what we're doing to bounce back from this pandemic about economic recovery about jobs for the
people of this country.
And he goes on and on Mr. Speaker about wallpaper when, as I've told him umpteen times now I paid for it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KINKADE: The dispute over the wallpaper well, Mr. Johnson is also accused of showing a callous disregard for COVID victims. Just days before local
elections across England CNN's Isa Soares is in the UK connecting us to the details.
We don't have that piece right now. But I want to bring in a guest to discuss this further. Author Max Hastings is a Columnist and historian.
He's also Boris Johnson's former boss, and he joins me near London. Good to have you with us Max. You were as I said, Boris Johnson's boss, when he
worked at "The Daily Telegraph", and you've said in the past that he's utterly unfit to be Prime Minister. Is that what your assessment still
stands?
MAX HASTINGS, COLUMNIST AND HISTORIAN: I don't think he's done anything in part that has changed my view of him. He's a brilliant popular entertainer,
a brilliant journalist. But he's not essentially a serious person. He has a chronic of lifelong problem with a truth that Boris Johnson will say to any
audience exactly what he wishes to hear.
But he does have a huge popular following. One of the things I've repeatedly argued through this, I'm still not sure whether it is a crisis
is that he may well still be able to weather it, because he's managed to first of all, to change the rules to convince the British people or a large
part of the British people that there are no rules.
He's discounted because everybody knew from the day that he became Prime Minister, that he was what he was that we're not allowed to ask him how
many children he's got, that he's almost pathologically incapable of telling the truth.
That therefore, whenever some new scandal which would ditch any other minister, never mind, Prime Minister comes up, that everybody is inclined
to say, starting with Boris Johnson himself, oh, it's just Boris being Boris. And he may yet be able to weather this because politics, not only in
Britain, but in some degree around the world have stopped being normal politics, they become vaccine politics.
And I could keep you here all night, cataloguing, Boris's ghastly mistakes and failures since he became Prime Minister. But he's delivered one huge
thing, the most successful vaccination program in the world with the possible exception of Israel. And the British people are enormously
grateful for that.
And right now, I keep meeting people again and again, who say yes, yes, we know that Boris has been Boris again. And of course he may have lied about
this refurbishment. He may have taken money from who knows, but he's still delivered the vaccination program.
And all - most of the British people are thinking about at the moment is when they had their last job and when they make their next one, and that
may not be very noble, but it's the way that politics look at the moment.
KINKADE: Yes, I mean that that is playing on people's minds right now understandably. But if anyone were to watch questions on today, we did see
the Prime Minister grilled and he was asked why he allowed political donors to pay for his renovation on the flat in Downing Street?
[11:20:00]
KINKADE: His Former Political Chief Adviser Dominic Cummings caught it unethical, possibly illegal. Boris Johnson continues to deny it saying that
he took out a personal loan any so paying for this expensive divorce. If this is all above board, why's me showing this money trail how this all
unfolded?
HASTINGS: The one thing I think we can say confidently and this is certainly not above board. It's been an open secret for many months that
Johnson is seriously financially embarrassed, partly as a result of his divorce. And there's been an awful lot of gossip and rumor over the last
few months about him looking for various outsiders for financial assistance.
So now I don't think it's aboveboard, but I stick with the fact he's got a majority of ATM parliament. And a very distinguished conservative veteran
who does not like Boris Johnson said to me the other night rather ruefully. He said Boris is very fortunate with these enemies.
He said, on the one hand, the European Union have just screwed up their vaccination program big time, the Scottish nationalists, who looked as if
they work could be poised to break away from England, a very serious constitutional issue, are fighting among themselves - Britain's Labour
Leader is not making a very convincing impact.
And Johnson has the majority of ATM parliament. So I would unhesitatingly say that he deserves, he should - he should never be prime minister, but he
deserves to have to resign over this. But I still do not believe he is going to have to resign because there isn't going to be enough political
pressure on him to force him to do so.
KINKADE: And it's not just political pressure, as you said, public pressure. I mean, how much do people there really care about this because
he's not a politician known for a lavish lifestyle?
HASTINGS: I don't think they do that. As I said a few minutes ago that everything about Boris Johnson is discounted, that with any other
politician, if you - if you look at his record on this whole record of receipts, his whole record of failures, and all the promises you've made
during the Brexit leave campaign about what it would deliver for Britain that it has not delivered.
He was in a terrible mess about the future of Ireland as a result of his own duplicity about Ireland. But you can make an almost endless list but
the British people to an extraordinary degree one effect of lockdown one effect of everything that's happened since this pandemic regard.
All people talk about is the pandemic. I sometimes say to intelligent, educated people. But aren't you interested in what's going on in Ireland?
Aren't you interested in the fact that Britain's exports have slumped dramatically since Brexit? Aren't you interested all this stuff?
And they all say, we don't want to hear about that, or we want to hear about is when we're going to be allowed to go into the pub again? When
we're getting our next vaccination? And it's a crazy a completely artificial situation. But this is the weird situation in which we are.
And I would say, unhesitatingly that the British people ought to care about Boris Johnson's pretty shocking catalogue of failures. But I'm not
persuaded they do care that much.
KINKADE: It doesn't seem and obviously, Boris Johnson wants them just to focus on the success of the vaccine rollout, right? How much credit does he
deserve for that?
HASTINGS: Quite a lot that he did place a big bet on the vaccine program, at a time when other nations and especially our European partners, are not
willing to, to place huge advance orders for the vaccines. So Johnson, he is like a gather on the horses, which - he's placed a lot of bets, which
have rather conspicuously not come off.
But this is the big one. And this has come off. And there's enormous popular gratitude. And the other thing, which is - I mean, I wrote before
he became prime minister, that I thought that if Johnson ever did become Prime Minister would give a signal to the world that Britain had stopped
wanting to be treated as a serious country.
And that remains my view because Boris Johnson is not a serious person. But to a remarkable degree, we live in a world of celebrities and entertainers,
and Britain is not the only country where people like that, in Italy, in Ukraine and other places are popular entertainers have come to the top of
political.
And yes, it's shocking that it should have been a measure of democracy. But a lot of people out there they like Boris Johnson because he makes them
laugh. And we are in this weird world where some of us are arguing that we should be willing to discuss the serious issues, but a lot of people are
still grateful to Boris Johnson for making them laugh.
He's managed to produce a sort of perverted kind of sincerity. He said, look, I don't pretend to be a saint. I don't pretend to be faithful to
women. I don't pretend to be willing to tell you how many children I've got. But I'm the real thing.
[11:25:00]
HASTINGS: I'm the real deal because I tell it like I am. It's almost spooky how many people like that?
KINKADE: We will continue to discuss it no doubt. Max Hastings good to get your perspective on all of this. Thanks for your time.
HASTINGS: Thank you.
KINKADE: Well, Saudi Arabia's make of a plan known as vision 2013 is hitting the five year mark. One of the key ideas is to transform the
economy by lessening its dependence on oil. The plan also includes a number of public works projects.
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman tells the Saudi journalist they missed their target for non oil growth. He blames the pandemic for that, but he
says there's been progress in areas like housing, and he just missed suggestions that the plan is too ambitious.
Well, let's bring in CNN's John Defterios from Abu Dhabi to talk us through it all. Good to see you again. Let's just take a listen to what Anthony
Blinken had to say about Saudi Arabia. Take a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ANTHONY BLINKEN, U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE: Like it or not, we were going to need to continue to work with Saudi Arabia, which remains a partner in many
respects. And one of the things that we're trying to do, as you know, is bring the war to Yemen to an end.
The Crown Prince is likely to be the leader of that country for a long time in the future. We have to work with leaders around the world who are
engaged in conduct that we either object to or in some cases find reprehensible.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KINKADE: Well, that was the U.S. take, John, take us through what the Crown Prince had to say about the Biden Administration in his interview?
JOHN DEFTERIOS, CNN EMERGING MARKETS EDITOR: There's a lot to tackle here and unpack as you suggest, Lynda. Let's start with Anthony Blinken. I think
there was a shift of sorts from the United States beneath that tough language there is a recognition of clearly that the MBS Mohammed bin Salman
will be in power perhaps for decades.
Right now he has a firm grip on power. And they clear heir apparent for his father, King Salman. But I don't think it's going to derail the plans that
the U.S. has to re engage with the Iran. So this is kind of the bitter medicine for Saudi Arabia.
And I thought that was also fascinating in the interview on Saudis State TV that MBS was suggested he would like to see the relationship with Iran
prosper. It's the first time I've heard him say that. So something more even tone from the Crown Prince, although he did mark, particularly for
regional purposes and domestic purposes, the nuclear development but Iran they can't support also the proxies that Tehran is using, particularly in
Yemen, but also in Syria.
They've had attacks against Saudi Arabia facilities and major cities for the last two years. Right now he says that has to end. But we also have to
remember that the Crown Prince at the start of the year before the Biden Administration went into power reconciled its differences with Qatar and
the economic embargo, which lasted nearly four years.
So again, an all brands saying I can work with the regional players here and find peace. And despite the very tough CIA language pointing the finger
at MBS on the murder of Jamal Khashoggi, the Crown Prince was suggesting that 90 percent of the time, the U.S. and Riyadh are in alignment. He's
just working on the final 10 percent. Let's take a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MOHAMMED BIN SALMAN, SAUDI CROWN PRINCE: We have more than 90 percent in agreement with the Biden Administration when it comes to Saudi and U.S.
interests, and we are working to strengthen them in one way or another. We are all working to promote our interests with all countries of the world to
serve us and serve them.
Also, the matters that we disagree about are less than 10 percent. We're working to find solutions to them in order to determine the danger in our
two countries. USA is without a doubt a strategic partner of Saudi Arabia. The partnership started 18 years ago.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
DEFTERIOS: And pointing again to King's - meeting with FDR back in 1945, which built that relationship. So the message here back to Washington and
that interview on Saudi TV late last night, regional time, is that despite the fact we have fights and disagreements spats, obviously the killing of
Jamal Khashoggi, we can move forward. He's trying to pivot to the future, obviously, with this tone that he's taking, Lynda.
KINKADE: And John, what else did the Crown Prince have to say about business and specifically about the Kingdom's crown jewels, Aramco?
DEFTERIOS: Sure, we can talk about vision 2030 in a moment, but let's cover the wealthiest oil company in the world that is Aramco. Kind of unearthing
this very polished gem and trying to get more money out of Aramco is the target here.
You know, they did this limited IPO at the end of 2019. It was in Riyadh relatively controlled and in terms of how IPOs go? They didn't go to New
York and London because of financial reasons and the threat of lawsuits in the United States.
[11:30:00]
DEFTERIOS: And this time around, they're taking the direct path, the Crown Prince, suggesting that he is going to push ahead here with a sale of 1
percent. That could rise up to $20 billion, although the timeline is pretty far away, one to two years.
KINKADE: One to two years, right. And just a little bit more on his visions, his 2030 vision Saudi Arabia, what are the next priorities?
DEFTERIOS: Well, we can't forget the first five years, Lynda was the focus on major projects here in tourism, the theme parks that are out there
liberalizing society, particularly for the youth, women to drive trying to create job opportunities for two thirds of the society that's below a 30.
But I think the second wave here, he has to deal with unemployment, bring it down below 12 percent to 7 percent is his target by 2030.
KINKADE: All right, John Defterios good to have you with us on the story. Thanks so much. We're going to take a quick break. We'll be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KINKADE: Welcome back to "Connect the World". I'm Lynda Kinkade, good to have you with us. Well, South Africa's President has been spending the day
answering questions in a corruption inquiry. Cyril Ramaphosa has testified as Leader of the African National Congress.
Prosecutors say Former President Jacob Zuma left businessmen close to him influence policy and win government contracts. Mr. Ramaphosa was Zuma's
deputy at the time. Zuma denies the allegations. The President says his party should have done more to prevent abuses of power.
Well, our Correspondent David McKenzie joins us now from outside the courthouse in Johannesburg. We're actually you might be in his studio by
the looks of it. David, just give us a sense of what your impressions are from the first day and has Ramaphosa faced difficult questions?
DAVID MCKENZIE, CNN CORRSPONDENT: Well, it's a good question, because I don't think so not at this point. There haven't been very challenging
questions put to the president. But that might happen. And one shouldn't lose sight of the significance of this moment a sitting president,
particularly a sitting African President, going to an anti corruption commission that has been running for some time now.
And he has been looking into very serious allegations of corruption that have tainted the ruling ANC of which he is ahead. Now that allegation has
been over massive amounts of money allegedly given to politicians for toeing the line with corrupt relationships in state owned enterprises for
paying weddings for giving bags of cash for political favors, the list goes on and on.
[11:35:00]
And Ramaphosa has called that the wasted years of his presidency. But he was the Deputy President at that time, Lynda. So the question is, how much
does he know? When did he know it? And what did he do about it at the time?
But it is certainly significant that there is enough transparency to at least sit here for the first day of what will be at least three more days
of this questioning lender Lynda.
KINKADE: And, of course, the Former President Jacob Zuma has refused to sit before the commission. Is the ANC actually serious about changing?
MCKENZIE: It's a very good question and many people are skeptical. And President Former President Jacob Zuma has refused as you say to go to this
commission. He faces jail time for that, in a legal matter that is still to be decided.
Now with him not going and with other members of the ANC directly implicated in corruption, not wanting or refusing to acknowledge their
partners. The question is, is the ANC too rotten, to be fixed? But there was one striking moments today I felt of President Ramaphosa, where he did
acknowledge the wrongs of the past, take a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CYRIL RAMAPHOSA, SOUTH AFRICAN PRESIDENT: Things went horribly wrong. But we are here to work with everyone to correct us. And we do so with
humility. We do so you know, in a way, also by bowing our heads and say, because we are - if you like it, a feature of the superstructure of this
country, we cannot run away all these matters.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MCKENZIE: The impact on the country has been severe, say analysts and economists. Right now you're looking at 50 percent nearly unemployment in
this country now, not all of that is because of the corruption. But a large, large, large amount of money was stolen allegedly from what should
have been programs in one case to go to black farmers from the state owned airline from the power utility.
I could go on for the next 15 minutes. The point is Lynda; will these questions get tougher? Will specifics be put to the president? I think
that's what South Africans are hoping for in the coming days.
KINKADE: All right, David McKenzie, we will touch base with you in the coming days. No doubt. Thank you. Well, the world's most famous Kremlin
critic was honored for a brief time in St. Petersburg. A mural saluting Alexey Navalny as "Hero of the new time" appeared on a wall in the Russian
city before being painted over. Navalny, who is currently serving time in a penal colony, is due to make a court appearance on Thursday.
For the second time this month, U.S. ships found themselves being taunted by Iranian warships. U.S. military officials say this time the Iranian
vessel can within 62 meters of hitting a navy patrol boat in the Persian Gulf. Well, the Iranians didn't respond to warnings the USS Firebolt fired
warning shots. The military says the ship's crew fall of protocols to de escalate the situation.
Coming up after the break, global citizen is once again trying to help put an end to the COVID pandemic. A year after raising funds to help healthcare
workers it's now planning a new concept it helps spread COVID-19 vaccines to the countries which most need them.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[11:40:00]
KINKADE: Welcome back. We have been talking this hour about the crisis in India, which has been so devastating for so many people, even those far
from the country. The Chief Executive of Google was born in India and he says the company is now pledging $18 million for oxygen and other supplies.
My colleague Poppy Harlow spoke with him exclusively.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SUNDAR PICHAI, ALPHABET & GOOGLE CEO: The situation there is dire and it's been heartbreaking to see and I think there the worst is yet to come.
What's been heartening, at least being here is definitely seeing the attention here.
I realize that at the highest levels from President Biden, Secretary Blinken, there's been focus on engaging to see how we can help India and
the other countries being affected. And particularly over the last week and in an unprecedented way more than 100 CEOs, the U.S. Chamber the Business
Roundtable and the U.S. India strategic partnership forum came together with the administration to mobilize and do our part to help. So that's been
good to see and India deserves our attention right now.
POPPY HARLOW, CNN HOST: India deserves their attention right now. And you think the worst is still to come. I know you met with Secretary Blinken,
Dr. Ashish Jha also an Indian American said only the United States has the capacity, resources and technological know-how to bend India's catastrophic
second wave of disease. What more did you tell Secretary Blinken, you want the Biden Administration to do?
PICHAI: I think there was a lot of focus on making sure anything we can do to increase vaccine production and supply, you know, is being mobilized
helping with oxygen concentrators and supplies. And then different companies have different capabilities. And the U.S. government has its
unique capabilities.
From our side, we're really focused on providing the most helpful information. There are 600 million people connected to the internet. And
they are really looking for information about vaccine and testing. And so working with the Ministry of Health in India, making sure we can get the
right information on the ground has been a big focus for us.
HARLOW: I want to talk about the Modi government in the handling of this pandemic. Have you spoken to Prime Minister Modi?
PICHAI: Not - I have been in touch with Prime Minister Modi at other times not in the context of this occasion?
HARLOW: Not at this time. I asked because there are members of his party that still this morning are announcing plans to continue carrying on these
big rallies, which contributed in part of this is big political rallies ahead of the election. What is your assessment this morning of the Modi
government's handling of this any message to anyone there who will listen, if you think it's just going to get worse from here?
PICHAI: Look, we've been, you know, in our interactions as a company, this definitely focus on what can be done to help the pandemic? I think if you
look around the world COVID has been humbling in the sense that, you know, when you think you're on top of it there can be a surge back.
I think, you know, engaging good public safety measures and paying attention to the crisis is the only thing you can do in the short term.
And, you know, that's the effort I'm seeing. And as a company, you know, we stand by ready to help.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KINKADE: Well, Brazil's President is coming under fire from his own country's lawmakers all over his handling of the Coronavirus pandemic. The
Senate has launched an inquiry into the federal government's response. President Jair Bolsonaro has long downplayed the seriousness that the
pandemic now his country as the second most COVID deaths in the world.
All this comes as the country's Health Regulator has unanimously rejected Russia's Sputnik vaccine. Health Regulators say Russia hasn't demonstrated
its safety or effectiveness. Russia blames politics for the decision, not science. Matt Rivers is following these developments from Mexico City and
joins us now live.
[11:45:00]
KINKADE: Matt, I want to start first on the vaccine issue, because I mean, clearly they are in desperate need of more vaccines, and they've rejected
the Russian one on Alpha. Take us through the reasons.
MATT RIVERS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, so basically Brazilian Health Regulators have been looking at this for a while, and they ultimately
rejected the emergency use authorization request in that country, because of what they say, are a number of different problems.
They say that there is a concerning lack of transparency and data given by the Russians about everything from quality control measures during clinical
trials to the vaccines effectiveness. They have concerns that there were flaws throughout the entirety of the clinical trials conducted by the
Russians.
They basically say that they don't have enough information to tell Brazilians that this is a safe and effective vaccine. And so even though
Brazil is desperately in need of more vaccines, even though some 66 million doses of the Russian vaccine have already been agreed to between several
different Brazilian States and the federal government, ultimately health regulators there took the somewhat controversial decision to reject the
use.
Now what you're hearing from the Russians from the CEO of the agency that is funding that Russian vaccine is that he saying this is a political
decision, and he's actually involving the United States. He's saying, without offering any evidence to this, that the United States actually
pressured the Brazilians to make this a political decision, as he calls it.
KINKADE: Yes. And of course, we've discussed many times the very poor response from the outset to this pandemic by the president, and now
lawmakers there have launched their own inquiry into the federal government response. Take us through how this could play out.
RIVERS: Yes, this is a formal inquiry that's going to be launched by the Brazilian Senate. And it's going to look into the federal government's
response here in a number of different areas. They're going to look at things like that the government, according to them sabotaged isolation
measures threatened Governors and Mayors who applied restrictive measures refused to wear masks, had negligence and incompetence in purchasing and
administering vaccines.
They look specifically at the City of Manaus, which was devastated. They say that they the federal government did not have a good response. There's
going to be a number of points that the Senate goes through. Ultimately, the Senate is authorized to gather evidence in a formal way for what could
be an eventual impeachment proceeding against Jair Bolsonaro.
We're far away from that point. It's unclear if the political will to impeach Bolsonaro over his handling of this exists. But this would be the
first step in that process, the gathering of evidence and a formal inquiry, Lynda?
KINKADE: All right, Matt Rivers thanks so much. John - there playing during last year together at home concert which held raise funds to help frontline
responders in the COVID-19 pandemic. Well, now you - global citizen is planning a new concert "Vax Live" the concert to reunite the world.
It's being led by Harry and Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex and hosted by Selena Gomez some of the other big names taking part Jennifer
Lopez and the Foo Fighters just to name a few. Well, this time participants want to address vaccine inequity and vaccine hesitancy because as we
continue to say here, no country is safe until all countries are safe. I spoke to the Co-Founder of Global Citizen Hugh Evans about what they hope
to achieve?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KINKADE: Last year's "One World Together Home" concert hosted by Lady Gaga setup to raise funds to support frontline workers. I mean, talk about big
names Elton John there performing. You certainly tapped into some incredible support from celebrities. And that concert raised almost $130
million to assist with the pandemic efforts. What are you hoping to achieve this time?
HUGE EVANS, CEO, GLOBAL CITIZEN: Well, firstly, I should say yes, Lady Gaga and everyone who curated "One World Together Home" did an extraordinary job
and it raised $127.9 million. I'm pleased to be able to tell you viewers today that 100 percent of that money has been deployed to provide frontline
community health workers with personal protective equipment.
[11:50:00]
EVANS: And so today we're thrilled to be able to announce "Vax Live" the concept to reunite the world. It's a first of its kind global broadcast
really focused on calling on world leaders and others business community to urgently support vaccine equity, but also to encourage vaccine uptake.
KINKADE (voice over): This year's "Vax Live" concert is set to be held in a stadium in Los Angeles. Global Citizen Co-Founder Hugh Evans says the
constant will encourage donations to help provide vaccines to health care workers in the poorest countries.
EVANS: There are so many nations on the planet that haven't received a single dose.
KINKADE (voice over0: According to the Duke Global Health Innovation Center, most wealthy countries have procured far more vaccines than what
they'll need. Here in the United States there's enough for almost four doses per person. In Canada, they bought enough for almost nine doses per
person.
EVANS: I would just encourage those nations that are on track to vaccinate the majority of their populations to immediately start donating those
excess doses. We know that here in the United States by June, the U.S. alone will have 45 million excess doses just sitting in warehouses.
There are 27 million frontline health care workers around the world doctors and nurses the true heroes of this pandemic, let's give it to them.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KINKADE: Concert "Vax Live" will air around the world on May 8th. Well, still here at "Connect the World" the Coronavirus pandemic has dealt a big
blow to the wedding industry. But like other businesses it's learned to adapt. We're going to look at how some couples that are taking the big day
online.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KINKADE: Well, now I want to connect you with a special project we've been working on. If you've been watching this week, you've heard us talking
about the CNN Academy, based in the UAE young Emirati nationals and other residents of some of the 200 nationalities who live there got the chance to
learn from CNN's best.
They were taught the finer aspects of reporting a story how to make it compelling for you to watch? Well, our very first class graduated earlier
this month and a lot of these reports have looked at how people are coping during pandemic? And today Javeria Khalid connects us with a young couple
who had to change their wedding plans in a big way.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JAVERIA KHALID, CNN ACADEMY: Once upon a time in a land before COVID wedding looked like this. Thousands of guests back together dancing the
night away. And then the world changed. Elica and Brandon were planning the wedding for months. But when the pandemic hit in 2020 they were forced to
say I do through with cream.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Ours is probably one of the first few weddings that had to very quickly go from an in person wedding into like a Zoom COVID
friendly wedding. We get some flowers and some balloons. Both of us got dressed up. It seemed a little silly to be getting dressed up in like a
beautiful suit in beautiful gown for just sitting on your couch, but that's how you made it special.
[11:55:00]
KHALID (voice over): In 2018 the Middle East accounted for 5 percent of the global destination wedding industry valued at $4.5 billion. The United Arab
Emirates emerged as one of the top destinations for South Asian weddings. Chaitanya used to plan lavish South Asian weddings before COVID. But these
days, he is taking his business online to cater to the demand for virtual weddings.
CHAITANYA BOOBNA, WEDDING PLANNER: We changed the format a little bit. We did a lot of online things, you know. So then we hired a company to do the
live streaming for the wedding. So we gave a Zoom link to all the guests who were in their respective houses. And they're all saw the wedding on the
Zoom and the close family became a part of the wedding.
So you can see the whole wedding going live. So camera is created in a way that you virtually see the entire wedding. So yes, I mean, even the parents
were seeing it from home. So what more can you think of?
KHALID (voice over): For some couples, a smaller, more intimate wedding is a welcome reality.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: When viewers are seeing that they rather have special small weddings then like have - like a big fat wedding where they're more
stressed. They're more under pressure, both - like the bride and the groom. And then they rather spend time traveling after they get married. So I feel
like it will - it's also encouraging more people to you know, just get married.
KHALID (voice over): Although COVID has changed the way we get married, but one thing is for sure for a happy couple the wedding day will forever be
memorable.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KINKADE: Memorable, no doubt. Well that does it for our team here at "Connect the World". Thanks for watching. I'm Lynda Kinkade; I will see you
all tomorrow.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
END
