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Countries Shut Down Travel With U.K. Over New COVID Variant; Navalny Speaks Directly To Toxin Team That Tracked Him; Joe Biden To Receive First Dose Of Pfizer Vaccine. Aired 10-11a ET
Aired December 21, 2020 - 10:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
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[10:00:19]
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (voice-over): This variant could potentially increase the rate of infections about to 70 percent.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (voice-over): The U.K. is now becoming isolated. More and more nations banning travelers from Britain then.
ALEXEI NAVALNY, RUSSIAN OPPOSITION LEADER: If he had flown a little longer, and perhaps would not have landed so quickly, and perhaps would not have
landed so quickly and all. Perhaps if would have all gone differently.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MAX FOSTER, CNN ANCHOR (voice-over): Alexei Navalny speaks to a member of the elite toxin team that trailed him. We'll bring you that exclusive
recording. And --
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I do have my Merry Christmas.
FOSTER (voice-over): We take you inside Santa school to see how far the Christmases helpers are adapting to the pandemic.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
FOSTER: I'm Max Foster in London in for Becky Anderson. Hello and welcome to CONNECT THE WORLD. We start with to developing stories on coronavirus,
the EUROPEAN UNION on the cusp of authorizing the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine after the E.U. drugs regulator recommended it move forward. The head of the
European Commission says final authorization will likely happen in the coming hours. That means people across Europe could be getting their COVID
jobs in just days.
Also, an emergency meeting of the British government is happening today in London over the new coronavirus variant racing through parts of the U.K.
The variant is thought to be far more transmissible and is having a global impact with more and more countries banning or restricting travel in and
out of the U.K. Right now, that number is now around 30. It's been growing throughout the day.
And all happening as Prime Minister Boris Johnson puts London and other parts of the country under the toughest lockdown measures yet and just days
before a possible no deal Brexit as well. Our team is covering this for you. Nic Robertson isn't Downing Street with more on that emergency meter.
Salma Abdelaziz is at the port in Dover, England. One of the main ports is in the U.K.
The ferry terminal there now closed in the face of these growing travel restrictions. Let's start with you, Salma because I'm seeing images on
social media of hundreds of trucks lined up. What's going on?
SALMA ABDELAZIZ, CNN REPORTER: Well, I know where you're talking about. And that's essentially because part of the highway, Max, has been turned into a
parking lot to keep all of these drivers and their trucks for moving. They've shut down the motorway between Kent and Dover to keep those trucks
there, to keep that gridlock they say from happening. But if you take a look behind me here, I'm just going to show you we are at the entrance of
that for -- you can see these trucks are being redirected by the authorities.
They're passing through, port is close today, French-U.K. border close, you can see a sign in just a moment. Once these trucks start moving, you're
going to see that sign, there's a policeman in their high vis jackets just turning everybody around. We understand, of course, that there was a
meeting with the E.U. member states just a short time ago. Essentially the plan is that they want to put into place a Europe wide protocol.
A health protocol, so that imports and exports can continue so that these countries can continue to trade but in a safe way without spreading this
variant further. But looking at all of this, trains now stopping, trucks now being stopped, boats now stopping, planes being stopped as well. I
mean, this is an out of control virus, as the government says that is creating an out of control response, Max.
FOSTER: These preschools will mean more bureaucracy, more paperwork, it's not going to clear those long lines probably is. It's going to involve
testing probably as well. I understand that something like 10,000 trucks pass across the English Channel every day this time of year. This is a huge
impact, isn't it? On deliveries into the U.K. and going across to the continent.
ABDELAZIZ: It's absolutely massive. And the concern is of course, food and medicine. Now the transport secretary of this country did a short time ago,
go on the air and say listen, don't worry, it's going to be OK, we are going to find a solution. We've had breaks before, we've had moments before
in which the tunnels have been closed or the ships haven't been going in, we're going to figure it out.
But this is concerning. You are right up to Christmas. And we actually just heard from some of the truck drivers that are stuck in those areas right
now. We're right up to Christmas. So truck drivers need to get their goods across. They need to get themselves across to get back home to their
families in time for Christmas. So, you're looking at a whole group of drivers who are stuck there with no food, no water, no accommodation with
goods that needs to be moved across.
And a country right now that's looking at potential shortages as it has not only into the Christmas season, but also into Brexit. We can't forget that
that's all part of this. I mean, we were expecting chaos to happen but that was supposed to happen on the 31st.
[10:05:04]
ABDELAZIZ: Now all of this taking place again because this variant that they're saying is up 70 percent more transmissible. They're trying to keep
that from spreading any further out of the U.K. Max?
FOSTER: Salma in Dover. Thank you. Let's bring in Nic who's in Downing Street. Nic, have you ever known a situation like this where a country's
effectively been put into isolation?
NIC ROBERTSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMATIC EDITOR: Certainly not in the U.K. and not in -- not in recent history. I mean, this is obviously a
concern for the government as they tried to deal with the European Union and European partner nations on multiple levels. Brexit as Salma was saying
there but trying to find what will become a way that the U.K. citizens and importantly, the freight movement of freight can actually move forward.
What protocols can be put in place. And what we've -- what we've come to know during this pandemic, Max, that when the government hopes and wants to
do something and tries to do something that is ambitious, and trying to achieve those goals, it doesn't necessarily happen quickly. So, issues like
food coming into the country parts for factories coming into the country, these are things that need to be dealt with quite -- in a very immediate
fashion.
It's clear the country is now as a consequence of all these things arriving at the same time is going to be in a -- in a choppier period than anyone
might have anticipated. And certainly, this will not be a Christmas where the government's able to relax, we know the Prime Minister because he's in
tier four, he's planning to spend his Christmas here in Downing Street and his message to the rest of the people in Tier four, 16.4 million, one-third
of -- one-third of England, they will have to do the same.
So, this is a country really, I would say, Max, getting to grips with a situation it did not envisage in its wildest dreams. And the ways out of
it. Those are still being figured out. It's not entirely clear.
FOSTER: Yes, so we've got this crisis meetings, a Cobra meeting happening today. Boris Johnson will presumably address the nation in some way later
on today. But how much can you really achieve here? Because (INAUDIBLE) for example asking him to speak to France and get them to do something about
this band but they can't do that, can they? On the basis of the pandemic spreading so quickly?
ROBERTSON: Countries are going to act in their national interests. And despite the European Union being a group of 27 nations, what we saw at the
beginning of the pandemic, you remember the trains being stopped going from the north of Italy into Switzerland, you know, and elsewhere in Europe
within the European Union. Switzerland, of course, not in the European Union.
But the movement of people in the border shutting between Italy and France, between Belgium and the Netherlands, all these countries. This is in
essence being replicated to a degree here again. So, finding a solution where all nations can work together with us isn't -- with these new
variant, clearly isn't going to come very quickly, Max.
FOSTER: OK. Nic in Downing Street, thank you. While many countries are imposing travel bans on the U.K. alone, two nations in the Gulf are
temporarily putting all international travel on hold because of the virus variants. Saudi Arabia is now suspending all international flights for at
least a week. The kingdom is temporarily closing its land and sea borders as well, while similar measures will go to effect in Oman on Tuesday.
The pandemic peaked in Saudi Arabia back in June and the country is now reporting around 160 new cases per day. Scientists know that all viruses
mutate over the -- overtime and new variants are as common as a disease spreads. But like so many aspects of this coronavirus pandemic, the
detective work goes on every single day as we find out more about it. Sterghios Moschos is here to walk us through some of the confusion and even
fear around this mutation as well.
He's Associate Professor of Molecular Virology at Northumbria University. Thank you so much for joining us. What have you learned about these new
variants that we can rely on? Because it feels like a lot of politicians are acting before they know everything about it which of course is a
legitimate question for some.
STERGHIOS MOSCHOS, ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF MOLECULAR VIROLOGY, NORTHUMBRIA UNIVERSITY: I need to emphasize that it is the most legitimate course of
action. And it is actually an implementation of the learning of the mistakes we did in the first wave. It's not appropriate not to listen to
the precautionary principle when a new uncharacterized disease emerges. Just to say, oh, well, it will just run its course and then everything is
going to be fine.
We saw what happens when you do that. So that the politicians other countries around the world are taking the precautionary principle
seriously, it's actually a huge boom. Much as I and all my other fellow Britons are going to suffer over the next few days, perhaps weeks, because
the ports are going to be shut and God knows what's going to happen with, you know, support for the economy with Brexit around the corner as well and
we'll see what the days ahead are going to be to us.
[10:10:15]
MOSCHOS: Now with regards to the question you asked which is the virus itself, what we seem to know at this point in time is that this virus
version appears to have infiltrated a larger proportion than would be expected in the population in the southeast of the U.K. It has an
accumulation of changes to this all important spike protein, this spike protein is what governs if the virus can enter the cells and how
effectively it can do so.
So, the idea that you see more people with this virus is suggestive that the virus is able to transmit better. Just because it's crossing the sky.
It's got a pair of what look like wings, it doesn't make it a bird, it doesn't make it an airplane, it definitely doesn't make it aliens.
So, let's not overstep the mark. At this point of time, we have reasons to be concerned, we also have reasons to be concerned because it does transmit
more effectively, it means you need to vaccinate more aggressively. Otherwise, it will spread faster and undo what the vaccine effort is about
to start doing. If it is -- go on. Please ask.
FOSTER: Well, on the -- on the vaccine, as you understand it, this variant would respond to the vaccine that also is not going to be more likely to
harm people if they contract it. But you've made the point though because it spreads more quickly, it is likely to cause more illness and potentially
death. So, it is more dangerous.
MOSCHOS: It's very important that we're very clear with the wording here. Will it cause more illness to an individual? The data that has been
disclosed so far does not suggest that your eye if we get it, we're going to be more likely to end up in hospital or dead or less likely, it seems to
be about the same. But at the country level at the population level, the city level if you like, if the virus spreads faster, then it will be
pushing people into hospital faster.
And if the hospitals are already approaching capacity, because it's the depths of winter in the Northern Hemisphere. That's not going to end up
well. OK. So, we need to make those two distinctions. And it's not because we indeed, as individuals will have a worse chance. It's because our
society will have a worse chance of looking after us if we end up ill. But we need to go, you know what? Turkey isn't going to taste as good this
year. We better not have it incumbent and we better have it on the road.
FOSTER: I'm looking at the multiplication rates of this virus of absolute frightening, aren't they? This variation of the virus. I mean, what sort of
state will southeast of England be in, for example, within a couple of weeks, if it's -- if people don't take all of the safety measures
seriously?
MOSCHOS: Look, I'm not a modeler, and I can't tell you that this particular version of the virus has gone to make this or that happened to hospitals,
et cetera. But what I can tell you is that we've have multiple examples in our recent history, look at Thanksgiving in the United States for God's
sake. And what happened as a result of that in terms of sparking transmission and sparking more infection and more people in the hospital.
So, new strain or not new strain, whether this is just an artifact of people that just don't listen to the rules and just go on about their own
business or if it's a product of the schools opening. We don't know. But whatever the causes, contact breeds transmission, transmission breeds,
hospitalization, hospitalization groups death. So, let's not give this virus the opportunity to harm us more as a society, as an economy, as
individuals.
FOSTER: OK. Associate Professor Moschos, thank you very much indeed for joining us with your insights. We learn more and more about these new
variants. The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine could be coming closer to distribution in the European Union. The E.U.'s drug regulator just a short
time ago recommended the vaccine setting the stage for the European Commission to prove it later today.
Commission President Ursula on the line tweeted it was a decisive moment in the efforts to deliver safe and effective vaccines to Europeans. The
vaccine could become available to Europeans this week. The E.U. has an agreement with Pfizer for 300 million doses, which can vaccinate 150
million of this 448 million citizens. CNN's Jim Bittermann joins us now from Gilles, France. No surprise this but, you know, as you saying it's a
huge moment.
JIM BITTERMANN, CNN SENIOR EUROPEAN CORRESPONDENT: Well, exactly, Max. I think it is a huge moment because vaccinations, as you just mentioned,
could start pretty much right away. I mean, they -- this is a conditional authorization but it's really means it's authorization and the E.U.
commission is expected to offer the right things this evening.
[10:15:01]
BITTERMANN: And then it was supposed to be a coordinated rollout which is going to take over -- take place over weeks but now it looks like countries
will be pretty much on their own to develop their own rollout schedules, and probably a lot more quicker than what was once thought. I think the
Frank for example we're talking about, originally, we're talking about no vaccination so after the first of the year,
Now, I'm sure it's going to be much sooner than that. As soon as the vaccines are available, there's going to be inoculations begin here. So
it's a -- it's a big moment just as the European president said, it's a fantastic time I think this sort of at least bring a little bit of hope,
especially when you see what's happening and what has been happening with these new variant over the last 24 hours, kind of blockades and that sort
of thing. Now at least there's a reason for people to halt next.
FOSTER: OK, Jim, appreciate it. Thank you. This concern grows about the new virus variant. The old versions are by no means out of the picture. Let's
connect you now to the latest COVID headlines around the globe.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ANGUS WATSON, CNN PRODUCER: I'm Angus Watson Sydney, Australia where authorities are cautiously optimistic that they may be starting to get on
top of a new cluster of coronavirus that broke a run of days with no community transmission in the city. Just 15 new cases announced Monday from
38,000 tests conducted on Sunday but authorities still unsure who patient zero is.
They believe that this variant of the virus may have come from the United States, but there's still contract tracing work to do.
PAULA HANCOCKS, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: I'm Paula Hancocks in Seoul. The rush is on to build more makeshift hospital beds like these
dedicated to coronavirus patients, as numbers stay high here in South Korea.
Seoul City has just announced that from Wednesday gatherings of five people or more will be banned until January 3rd in the greater Seoul area.
Meanwhile, in Japan, they have just reported almost 2-1/2 thousand new daily cases there as in here. It is the capital city that is taking the
brunt. And in Hong Kong, stringent social distancing measures stay in place.
STEVEN JIANG, CNN SENIOR PRODUCER: I'm Steven Jiang in Beijing where CNN has confirmed the Chinese government plans to inoculate 50 million people
with home grown COVID vaccines ahead of February's Lunar New Year holiday. Although details are still sketchy officials have said priority will be
given to essential workers including medical professionals. There are currently five Chinese made vaccines are in the final stage of clinical
trials.
Although there have been complaints over lack of transparency. Officials here insists their vaccines are safe and effective based on results from an
emergency use program.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
FOSTER: Thanks to Steven. The U.S. start doling out the first doses of the Moderna vaccine today. Meanwhile, it's the second vaccine the country's
approved for emergency use or thrice, just last Friday. In Delaware, Joe and Jill Biden received their first round of the Pfizer vaccine with the
President-elect like other officials expected to take the vaccine on camera. But it'll be a while before the effects of these vaccines are felt.
More than 2600 Americans on average are dying every day from the virus and the U.S. is expected to hit 18 million total cases later today. Now to
break through on Capitol Hill. U.S. lawmakers will soon vote on a long awaited COVID-19 relief package after reaching a $900 billion deal
overnight. Here's what we know the deal includes direct payments of up to $600 per adult and child out of work Americans would also receive enhanced
unemployment benefits of $300 a week.
Those payments are just half of what they were in the first stimulus package this past spring. The bill also includes aid for struggling small
businesses and money to purchase and distribute vaccines as well. But for many struggling Americans already unable to pay their bills or even put
food on the table. This relief is little too little too late. Just ahead. Another Brexit deadline falls by the wayside.
How the U.K.'s COVID emergency is piling pressure on the trade talks still on the way. Plus, breaking news about the alleged plot to poison Russian
opposition leader Alexei Navalny. What one Russian security agent accidentally revealed, next.
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[10:21:24]
FOSTER: A Russian agent sent to tail opposition leader Alexei Navalny has accidentally revealed how he was poisoned in August. The agent a member of
an elite toxins team in Russia's FSB security service. So, the lethal nerve agent Novichok was planted in Navalny's underpants. Last week a CNN
Bellingcat investigation revealed the unit has chilled Navalny the valley for more than three years. Clarissa Ward broke this story. She joins us now
with more details. Clarissa, take us through it.
CLARISSA WARD, CNN CHIEF INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, Max, you know, every once in a while you come across a story that literally leaves your
mouth hanging open, you just can't quite believe it. And this is one of those. Essentially what happened is this. While we were in Russia reporting
out the details of this investigation. Alexei Navalny himself, the Russian opposition leader who was poisoned with Novichok back in August nearly --
very nearly died, called one of the FSB operatives who was part of this toxins team.
Now Navalny pretended in this phone call that he was a senior aide with the National Security Council and that he was carrying out an investigation
into how the poisoning operation went. And remarkably, after some persuasion, this operative actually took the bait and he started talking
about the details of how the poisoning was carried out. The aide is -- sorry, the operative, His name is Konstantin Kudryavtsev.
He graduated from the Russian Academy of Chemical Warfare. And he talks about how the Novichok was actually planted in Navalny's underwear giving
details about how it was put particularly on the inside seams of the crotch area. We've spoken to chemical weapons experts who say that that's a
particularly porous area of the body. So it would make an obvious target. Kudryavtsev also told Navalny about how he participated in the cleanup
operation.
Flying to the Omsk, the city where Navalny's flight was diverted to when he got sick, not once but twice to take charge of Navalny's clothing to make
sure that any residue of Novichok had been scrubbed from those clothing. And he offered a few ideas as to why the operation did not result in
Navalny's death as was presumably the intention. Take a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KONSTANTIN KUDRYAVTSEV, FSB AGENT (THROUGH TRANSLATOR): If he had flown a little longer and perhaps would not have landed so quickly and all, perhaps
it would have all gone differently. That is had it not been for the prompt assistance of doctors are ambulances on the landing strip and so on.
NAVALNY (through translator): The plane landed after 40 minutes. Basically this should have been taken into account while planning the operation. It
wasn't that the plane landed instantly. They calculated the wrong dose the probability. Why?
KUDRYAVTSEV: Well, I can't say why. As I understand it, we added a bit extra, so.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WARD: You heard those chilling words. We added a bit extra, well, despite that added dose, Alexei Navalny is still alive and this story has now
punctured a huge hole in the Kremlin's repeated denials that the Russian state had nothing to do with this poisoning. Believe me, Max, we have
reached out to the Kremlin. We have reached out to President Putin spokesperson, we've reached out to Kudryavtsev himself none of them yet
have replied for comment.
FOSTER: (INAUDIBLE) think a lot about all this detail that you found or that other details that have come out of this that grabs your attention.
WARD: Yes, I mean, there's a few things that are sort of killing, the operative talks about how Navalny behaved on the road, how he was always
very cautious and changed rooms and didn't sleep in the same room twice.
[10:25:12]
WARD: Details like this that you can clearly see, when you're watching the conversation are a result of the fact that this team was trailing Navalny
for years and years. They knew his habits, they knew his every move. He also talked about how they tried to protect themselves from being caught
out saying that they never flew on the same plane as Navalny but would take parallel flights at the same time.
How they regularly changed their clothing. This wasn't just an operation to try to poison Alexei Navalny. This was well thought through and years in
the making, Max.
FOSTER: Not a huge shock, presumably to Navalny. I mean, what's his reaction to this latest -- these latest revelations he got?
WARD: Well, I think the real shock to Navalny was not that, you know, this operatives, or this team of operatives have been responsible for
essentially his attempted assassination. But the fact that this guy was actually willing to admit it on an open line and I should say that Navalny
was able to disguise his phone number to look like it was coming from a landline within the FSB headquarters, within Russia security services
headquarters.
So, presumably, that gave the operative Kudryavtsev a little more comfort. But Navalny said essentially, listen, we know that Putin -- President Putin
was a part of this, and he still says he does not expect them to open a criminal investigation into this poisoning despite the overwhelming burden
of evidence, Max.
FOSTER: Fascinating. Clarissa Thank you. For more on this latest revelation and the alleged plot to poison Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny do
go to our website cnn.com. Now, up next new. A new COVID crisis and deadlock Brexit talks the British Prime Minister has a lot on his plate
again. I'll be talking to a European Parliament member who focuses on the U.K. Plus.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Now more than ever before, we must show that the Christmas love and warmth is there for everyone to take off. Everyone can
be part of earlier in the world.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
FOSTER: Meanwhile, in his own words, Santa telling us he's really there despite the challenges of COVID-19. The king of Christmas goes digital.
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FOSTER: More now on our top story. Growing isolation for the United Kingdom. More countries are banning U.K. travelers in an attempt to contain
a mutated variant of the COVID-19 virus. The spreading of faster than the original.
[10:30:01]
FOSTER: In the past few hours alone India and Hong Kong slapped travel bans on U.K. flights, joining many European countries closing their doors to
Britain and in North America. Meanwhile, France says it is working on a European plan to get traffic going at the Dover port and other borders.
That's over major concerns about food supplies as well. Millions of clinically vulnerable adults in the U.K. fourth in the priority list for
COVID-19 vaccine.
CNN's Nina dos Santos explores whether more discretion should be given to people with certain conditions whose time to enjoy life has been impacted
by quarantines and lockdowns.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
NINA DOS SANTOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): For (INAUDIBLE) cystic fibrosis sufferers like Michael Winehouse, the pandemic has been painful.
His family has spent much of this year sheltering at home. But with a disease that limits Michael's life expectancy each moment is precious. And
those moments would be easier if he had immunity to COVID-19.
MICHAEL WINEHOUSE, FATHER WITH CYSTIC FIBROSIS: We have to shield for a significant period at the start of March. And we didn't leave the house for
something like 100 days, we've had to make sacrifices much like everybody has, especially those who are vulnerable.
DOS SANTOS: Clinically extremely vulnerable people with a range of health problems, lobbied hard to get swifter access to the U.K. vaccination
programs. And were recently pushed up the priority list to fourth place alongside those aged 70 to 74. But most still have no idea when they'll get
the jab.
WINEHOUSE: I wish the government were providing stats on who's getting it and when whilst I appreciate everybody needs it, and everyone will get it.
I'd like to know when it's my turn.
DOS SANTOS (on camera): It's estimated 3.3 million people across the U.K. are at a very high risk of COVID-19 because of their acute medical
conditions. This country was the first in the world to approve the Pfizer vaccine and to begin rolling it out. However, those early supplies are
limited, and they're reserved for now for frontline healthcare staff, caring workers and the elderly.
Meaning there are eight million people further up the priority list above the clinically extremely vulnerable. The government watchdog anticipates
that less than half of the U.K. 66 million population will have been vaccinated by the end of next year.
MARTA KOCH, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF, THE LANCET: It's really important to emphasize that these are extremely complex decisions. And they have to be evidence-
based. Many people who are extremely clinical vulnerable will be immunocompromised as well. And at this stage, we don't know how they will
respond to the vaccine or which vaccine may be more suitable for them. We need more evidence.
DOS SANTOS (voice-over): Kate Blagojevich has just survived cancer, but treatment has ravaged her immune system. She's not sure how she'll respond
to the vaccine, but does see room for greater discretion in its distribution.
KATE BLAGOJEVICH, CANCER SURVIVOR: I'm in my early 40s, I've got a three- year-old. I want to go out and live my life. I've had cancer, it was awful. And now I just really want to get on with the rest of my life and live it
as fully as happy as possible. As soon as possible.
MURTHY WORTHY, HUSBAND: I did that a vaccine could take that away and just kind of relieve all of that stress and pressure would be -- yes, it would
make a huge difference to our lives.
DOS SANTOS (voice-over): For some of the vulnerable. Having the vaccine means both having a life and a livelihood. Like Ashley Herman was multiple
sclerosis.
ASHLEY HERMAN, FATHER WITH MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS: At the end of November was made redundant. And so things are pretty tricky at moments.
DOS SANTOS (voice-over): How would your life change if you were to be able to get access to the vaccine?
HERMAN: I will -- first I will jump for joy.
DOS SANTOS (voice-over): Michael son Oscar is also jumping for joy. When his dad gets his vaccine, he'll be able to do so safely outside as well.
Nina dos Santos, CNN, London.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
FOSTER: The British Prime Minister holds an emergency meeting about the latest COVID crisis. He's also got the Brexit deadlock hanging over him the
U.K. and E.U. are still at the bargaining table but another deadline for a trade deal has come and gone. In the next hour of CONNECT THE WORLD we'll
have some insights on those deadlock Brexit trade talks. We'll be asking the Irish Minister of State for European affairs Thomas Byrne why he says
anything will be better than tariffs on goods in the event of a no deal Brexit.
Now, so a story just coming to CNN. Four men have been convicted here in the U.K. in a case involving the deaths of 39 migrant men, women and
teenagers from Vietnam. The migrants were found dead in the back of this truck east of London in October last year. Now British Corps has found two
men guilty of manslaughter while two others were convicted of conspiracy to assist illegal immigration.
Investigators said the victims ran out of air after spending more than you 11 hours in the refrigerator container the trunk.
[10:35:03]
FOSTER: Four other suspects pled guilty to charges before the trial. I will be back after this break.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
FOSTER: Now with nearly 20 million people in the U.K. under severe lockdown restrictions, Christmas bans have had to be shelled for many families in
the country and indeed abroad but they'll take more than that to stop a man who's working day and night to make sure Christmas is delivered on time.
Anna Stewart has more on some mix plans for this year.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I do have my Merry Christmas. So what am I about? I can mask up then make everybody else feel safe as well.
ANNA STEWART, CNN REPORTER (voice-over): He's been ice elating in the North Pole for 11 months. Now Santa is ready to get back to business with a
little help from his friends.
STEWART (voice-over): This year many of Santa's grottoes are closed due to COVID-19.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (INAUDIBLE) we threw, we threw.
STEWART (voice-over): Which means, Santa's helpers who kindly step in when he's busy are having to learn some new skills.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Welcome to a slightly different but still wonderful Santa school.
STEWART (voice-over): Santa H.Q. is an app allowing for Zoom chats with Santa.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Very good indeed. Now what we need to do is just scale it down slightly.
STEWART (voice-over): It's run by the Ministry of Fun. One of the biggest center recruitment firms in the U.K. who see plenty of benefits.
MATT GRIST, MANAGING DIRECTOR, MINISTRY OF FUN: You get to see Santa in his home, you get longer with him because normally, there's a queue and there's
lots of people that want to see the great man and it's much more personal.
STEWART (voice-over): One of Santa's helpers on this project, although you may not recognize him here is Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales.
JIMMY WALES, FOUNDER, WIKIPEDIA: Children really shouldn't visit Santa in Santa grotto this year. They should do it on Zoom. And so, came across
these guys here at the Ministry of Fun, I'm basically helping them think about digital strategy. Think about going international.
STEWART (voice-over): Of course, there may be concerns for Santa's on the big night itself. An elderly man carrying a little extra mince pie weights
wouldn't be advised to travel the world and enter millions of homes. At least not this year.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It always seems I'm always wearing gloves no matter what happens. So I don't have to touch any surfaces which is a really good thing
to do. The gloves and sanitized at all times.
STEWART (on camera): Christmas is going to be different this year. It's been a really tough year for people all over the world.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It certainly has. It certainly has.
STEWART: What's your message to everyone?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Now more than ever before, we must show that the Christmas love and warmth is there for everyone to take part. Everyone can
be part of it. And though it can be slightly different but by using video and all this technology we can see our family no matter where they are in
the world.
[10:40:03]
STEWART (voice-over): And you can see Santa too, now he's Zoom ready. Anna Stewart CNN reporting from Santa's London office in the U.K.
FOSTER: While Santa's helpers are adapted to the current times, the big man in bread is still set to make a lap around the world on Christmas eve. Some
people are calling it irresponsible, but Dr. Anthony Fauci lettings kids around the world in on a little secret.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, Santa still be able to visit in coronavirus a season? But if he can go to anyone's house or near his raindeer?
DR. ANTHONY FAUCI, DIRECTOR NATIONAL, INSTITUTE FOR ALLERGIES AND INFECTIOUS DISEASE: Well, I have to say I took care of that for you because
I was worried that you'd all be upset. So what I hit a little while ago, I took a trip up there to the North Pole. I went there and I vaccinated Santa
Claus myself. I measured his level of immunity and he is good to go. He can come down the chimney. He can leave the presence, he can leave and you have
nothing to worry about.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
FOSTER: There you go. Now you know. And after such a rough year, Christmas has gone to the dogs. These pups in Peru are on parade. You can see them
looking quite fetching and Santa hats and Jingle Bells. It was all part of a Christmas canine costume party. You might have guessed these pampered
pitchers were ready to strut their stuff. And it was for good cause as well only speaking out against the use of fireworks around the holidays because
of their sensitive hearing many dogs suffer from anxiety for the sound of these loud noises.
As you'll probably know as a dog owner, so put away your fireworks because Santa Claus is coming to town. The writers on the show are geniuses. And
from a salt wart of the season to golfing great. Transitions are brilliant too. Tiger may burn bright. But is he about to be outshone by his own son.
Alex Thomas is with me with more without a Santa hat yet.
ALEX THOMAS, CNN SPORTS ANCHOR: Give it a couple of days, Max. This is a genuine story actually. It was a exhibition golf event for 20 major
champions and a member of their family which in Tiger Woods this case, man, his 11-year-old son Charlie and for the first time in Tigers golfing career
the spotlight was off him and on his son who played exceptionally well. They managed to finish seventh in the tournament. I've got much more coming
up in WORLD SPORT for you in just a moment.
FOSTER: OK. Let's forward to Alex, thank you very much indeed. WORLD SPORT up next.
END
