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Connect the World

World Health Organization Hopes To Return To Study Blood Bank Samples In China; Lebanon Begins Vaccinating Frontline Workers; Turkey Accuses Kurdish Militants Of Executing Hostages In Iraq; Trump Facing Criminal Investigations & Civil State Inquiries; Health Officials Scramble As Virus Emerges Again In Guinea; Soon: U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson Gives Update On COVID-19. Aired 11a-12p ET

Aired February 15, 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: If you're just joining us, you are more than welcome. This hour we're connecting you to a changed world, a

world where our individual and collective behaviors towards the Coronavirus matter more than ever.

A world where the path forward relies on our actions right now, and there is no better place to start than where it all began. Right now I want to

connect you to an exclusive report from CNN revealing that the original Wuhan outbreak in late 2019 may have been wider than previously thought.

The lead investigator for the World Health Organization investigation team in Wuhan has given us an interview on their findings, their trip to the

epicenter wrapping just last week. CNN's Nick Paton Walsh conducted that interview and is here with me now.

Nick, over a year into this pandemic, what have you learned? And importantly, why do these findings matter now?

NICK PATON WALSH, CNN INTERNATIONAL SECURITY EDITOR: Well, they matter obviously, most importantly, because as you said, unless we work out how

this virus got from what think scientists think was bat into humans, then we can't prevent this sort of widespread pandemic from happening again.

Fundamentally, that's the ultimate reason why all this matters. This particular mission well, it was delayed by a year because frankly, China

didn't want them in and now they were in. It was shrouded with controversy about how close to this Chinese state narrative their initial results were?

But since those scientists from the W.H.O. have emerged, they've been slowly letting people understand quite what they found out. And despite

what many have said, was China's reluctance to let them in, they still say China gave them quite a lot of data. And some of that has been

extraordinarily revealing.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

WALSH (voice over): The leader of the W.H.O. mission to China, investigating the origins of the Coronavirus, has told CNN the virus was

likely much wider spread in China in December 2019 than was thought.

Peter Ben Embarek revealed the 174 positive cases found that first December, likely severe cases meant there could actually have been an

estimated 1000 plus total cases in and around the city of Wuhan that month.

PETER BEN EMBAREK, HEAD, THE W.H.O. MISSION TO CHINA: The virus was depleting widely in Wuhan in December, which I think is a new finding. And

the 100 numbers to confirm and 74 clinically diagnosed, we haven't done any modeling that are safe.

But with what we know the ballpark figure out of the infected population, you have about 15 percent that go end up in severe cases and the vast

majority of my cases about--

WALSH (on camera): 174 would suggest 1000 or so plus even.

EMBAREK: Yes, probably very likely. Because that's again, that would fit with all the parameters that that we have looked at.

WALSH (voice over): The team also established that in that first December, there were as many as 13 slight variations of the virus from samples of all

or bits of its genetic code, circulating in and around Wuhan where this seafood market is thought to have played a role.

EMBAREK: We have 13 strains covering individuals in December. Some of them are from the market or into the market. Some of them are not into the

market. Though this is something we found as part of our mission--

WALSH (voice over): That many variations so early on could suggest the virus had been circulating for some time some analysts told CNN although

precise timing is still unclear. Their work heavily scrutinized tense and frustrating conditions.

EMBAREK: Here remember we've had the entire credit on our shoulders 24 hours a day for months, which doesn't make the work among scientists easier

once in a while you as always with between passionate scientists who you get - you get heated discussion and argumentation about this and that.

WALSH (voice over): They hope to return to access biological samples they say China has yet to share, especially hundreds of thousands of blood bank

samples from Wuhan dating back two years. China's pledge transparency with the investigation.

EMBAREK: There are about 200,000 samples available there that are now secured and could be used for new set of studies.

WALSH (on camera): And you want to look at that urgently.

[11:05:00]

EMBAREK: Yes, that would be that'd be fantastic if we could move with that.

WALSH (on camera): Is it not amazing that they haven't already looked through those samples?

EMBAREK: You could say that. But we understand that these samples are extremely small samples and only used for integration purpose.

WALSH (voice over): So many more questions still to answer first, if China would let them back in?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WALSH: And what's key I think, because at this stage, they don't reveal a confirmed date for a return visit, even though it's utterly clear, as you

see that there. There's a lot of biological material, they would still like to look at they may hold some of these utterly vital answers Becky.

ANDERSON: I ask the international community reacted to these findings, Nick?

WALSH: Well, I mean, to some degree, it splits down geopolitical partisan lines here. China was very keen at the initial press conference last week

to push the line they've been pushing domestically, that frozen food somehow imported this virus from outside of China, despite the fact there

is virtually no evidence to that effect.

I have to say at the same time for the Trump Administration, we kept hearing from senior officials, the same sort of evidence free accusations

particularly that emerged from a laboratory leak inside of Wuhan where the Wuhan Institute of Virology is located.

So this W.H.O. mission has gone in with an exceptionally large cloud hanging over it and very high expectations. And they have emerged with as

we pointed out there some key data points now, Embarek himself, Ben Embarek is clear that he doesn't think any of the information they have found

necessarily suggests much of a trail before December.

But many other scientists look at it and say, well, it just increasingly asks louder and louder questions about what was happening in October and

November in 2019? The United States has seized upon some of the comments by some of the scientists in the W.H.O. mission saying that they weren't given

everything they wanted to push China to reveal its raw data.

Obviously, you'd think that's something a fully transparent nation would be utterly willing to do would have done possibly at the start, but those who

defend China it say, well, look, hang on. There were 72,000 cases of possible influenza they looked at in that period, and they brought forward

the 92 ones that look closest to Coronavirus.

So a lot still in the mix here essentially, there are those inside China who say someone else gave it to us and those outside geopolitically who

oppose China who say you wrote this upon us. A lot more questions to be answered, though, but it's quite clear the answer does increasingly lie on

Chinese territory, Becky.

ANDERSON: Thanks, Nick. Well, three more of Nick's reporting on the W.H.O. investigation does head over to cnn.com. Well, turning now from where the

pandemic started to where it's heading, after months of spiraling out of control cases are now on the decline in many parts of the globe.

That though, does not mean we can see the finish line just yet. In the U.S., the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation has laid out four

factors that could determine the pandemics path ahead, the first two vaccinations and warmer weather are already moving forward.

Next and more worrying is the so called U.K. variant, the institute warning that failure to contain this more contagious strain could result in another

spike of cases in the states at least. Lastly, and I must say very crucially, our individual and collective behaviors if we give into

complacency, and pandemic fatigue, relaxing basic restrictions, such as wearing a mask or social distancing, we could once again face arise in

cases which issue well, no now will result in more lives lost.

Well, let's talk more about this with our Senior Medical Correspondent Elizabeth Cohen and as cases decline, Elizabeth a huge pressure on

governments to begin lowering restrictions. We hear it all over the world. Is it safe to do so or have we learned nothing from previous waves?

ELIZABETH COHEN, CNN SENIOR MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Becky if we take those steps, if anybody takes those steps that does mean that we have learned

nothing from previous times. You can remember for example, over the summer, when in many parts of the world cases were going down.

And so what people did is they kind of let their guard down. That is a mistake. It doesn't mean you need to hold up in your house and not see

anyone but it does mean you should still wear masks, you should still practice social distancing and abide by all of those rules. It is not

terribly difficult to do and it can be so helpful in containing the spread, Becky?

ANDERSON: Good, OK that's clear. In the last wave hospitalization numbers were key in indicating when more restrictions should be enforced.

[11:10:00]

ANDERSON: So, to your mind, what numbers should we now be watching in order, that we understand why governments might start lowering restrictions

again?

COHEN: Becky, I think we want to see really, really low numbers before we start lowering restrictions, such as masking, and social distancing, just

because the numbers are better than they were a month ago, does not mean that the situation is good.

And I'm thinking, you know, my reporting is very much centered on the U.S. So I'm really thinking about the U.S. Are the numbers down, yes? Are they

where they where we want them to be, absolutely not? People are still dying in huge numbers every day.

So there is every reason to keep wearing a mask or even double masking, there is every reason to practice social distancing. Now, you know,

different states have different rules about other kinds of things, like, for example, are we going to allow, you know, indoor dining or you know,

those kinds of things, and those need to be made sort of on an area to area basis.

But as far as the basics, which is masking and social distancing, we still want to do those, even though we're seeing the numbers coming down.

ANDERSON: Elizabeth, how about those who've been lucky enough at this point to have had both doses of a vaccine, what guidelines should they follow and

why?

COHEN: I know I'm sounding repetitive, but people who have been vaccinated, even if they're well past their second dose, they still need to wear a

mask, and they still need to practice social distancing. I'll explain why?

It is possible that someone who is fully vaccinated could still have the virus in their nose, and they wouldn't know it because they don't get sick

because they've been vaccinated, but they could potentially spread it to someone who isn't vaccinated and hurts them.

If you look back to those clinical trials, Becky, that you and I talked so much about over the summer they didn't measure infection they measured

whether or not people became symptomatically, ill with COVID-19? Those are two different things.

So it's wonderful that the vaccine prevents people from becoming ill with COVID-19. But we don't know yet if it prevents actual infection. So until -

until we get the answer to that question, we have to assume that even if you've been vaccinated, you could still be infected and hurt people who are

not vaccinated.

ANDERSON: Thank you. Finally, pandemic fatigue we know is real. We all feel it wherever we are in the world, whether we know we're practicing social

distancing, and wearing masks, but it's particularly difficult for those who are in these, you know, really quite swinging lockdowns and it's hard.

It's a strain and our mental health. And there's so much focus on dates, aren't they, when we can travel and when we can get our kids back to

school, when we can go back and meet those that we work with? Or we can see our loved ones, which is why people are asking so many questions about when

can we get back to normal?

I just want you to give us your sense of what that new normalcy might look like not about when you know the U.K. or France or Germany might start

easing restrictions. But what our world might look like going forward? What will our collective behavior need to look like? And how will it need to

change?

COHEN: Yes, it's interesting, Becky, because even it depends how far forward you want to look, right? So if we look way for forward when

hopefully the world has been vaccinated, and there are boosters if necessary, and COVID-19 is sort of a distant memory.

I think that there still may be some pretty permanent changes. I think that the world may think differently about how much we want to get physically

close to other people? Do we want to wear masks, even if there isn't any sort of apparent threat like COVID-19? Do employers really want to bring

everyone back into a single building?

Maybe working from home isn't such a bad idea, at least some of the time it will be you know; I don't have a crystal ball. I can't predict the future.

But I do think that there will be some rethinking of those questions even when COVID-19 is a distant memory.

ANDERSON: Elizabeth Cohen in the house it's always a pleasure. Thank you very much indeed. Well, as we said repeatedly, the vaccine is only one of

the tools in our toolbox, but it is a very important one. And for countries like Lebanon, which are far behind the rollouts in other nations, the first

injections are a really big deal.

Lebanon has been under lockdown for a month now but last over the weekend, the country did receive its first shipment of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine

and they it to dozens of frontline health care workers. CNNs Ben Wedeman is there in Beirut where this rollout Ben has begun. What can you tell us?

[11:15:00]

BEN WEDEMAN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, what we know is that on Saturday evening 28,500 doses of the Pfizer vaccination arrived

here in Beirut, and they began to administer them yesterday morning. Across the country we understand more than 1000 people were vaccinated.

Now, in Lebanon, like in many other places, there is hesitation about this vaccine. Not everybody trusts it. But now that at least it's here. People

have a choice.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

WEDEMAN (voice over): And so it begins perhaps the beginning of the end here of the Coronavirus pandemic, alas, just one of Lebanon's myriad of

misfortunes. The first to get a shot was Dr. Mahmoud Hassoun, the Head of the Intensive Care Unit at Beirut's Rafik Al Hariri University Hospital.

DR. MAHMOUD HASSOUN, ICU DIRECTOR, RAFIK HARIRI UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL: For us as Lebanese population, we should think of vaccine because it is the only

solution to finish this pandemic.

WEDEMAN (on camera): Trust in the authorities in much of anything is in short supply here. A recent survey found that less than a third of those

polled are willing to take the vaccine. For more than a year the country has been convulsed by sporadic mass protests in violence.

Lebanon was already careening toward financial and economic collapse before COVID-19 reared its head. And last August, massive Beirut Port blast added

more injury to injury. In a country where the rich and powerful tend to get all the breaks the Vice President of the World Bank, the institution, which

is financing this vaccine campaign, has warned that nobody should be using - that's Arabic for connections to jump the queue.

Caretaker Prime Minister Hassan Diab was scheduled to receive the first vaccination, but stepped out of the queue, deferring to frontline medical

workers. The country has been under a total lockdown for a month, those workers pushed to the brink.

FIRASS ABIAD, DIRECTOR, RAFIK HARIRI UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL: The fight is going to be a long fight. We know that. But I think that today, really, we

turned a corner.

WEDEMAN (voice over): One corner turned many more to go.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WEDEMAN: Now the Ministry of Health here has set up a website where people can register to get the vaccine to date, only about 500,000 people have

registered for it and the population here is somewhere between six and 7 million, Becky.

ANDERSON: Vaccine hesitancy is a real concern, isn't it? Ben, just before you go, we've been talking this hour about, about easing restrictions and

the risks of easing restrictions. While this pandemic is still clearly doing the rounds in so many societies, and obviously governments and

leadership looking at caseloads to try and work out, you know whether or not they should ease. What's the situation in Lebanon at this point?

WEDEMAN: There was as of a week ago, today, there was a slight easing of those restrictions, but they're still pretty intense. I mean, I biked to

work every day. And I get stopped twice by the police, usually on average on my way in, and I have to show them my press card and whatnot.

And so they are fairly strict, certainly in Beirut as far as the numbers go, yes, they are down after a month of lockdown but they're still worrying

high. For instance, the number of cases reported yesterday, the latest numbers here in Lebanon, were greater than the number of new cases in Italy

and Italy has a population of 10 times, Lebanon.

And of course let's keep in mind that Lebanon is a country in the midst of a deepening financial political economic crisis and it simply does not have

the wherewithal to deal with this. Fortunately, the World Bank has given Lebanon $34 million to purchase these vaccinations.

Lebanon has secured more than 6 million vaccinations but given that with the Pfizer vaccine - vaccination at least you have to get to so that's only

enough to vaccinate the population. And we're talking about refugees here as well. Just once, so only half the number of vaccinations they actually

need.

[11:20:00]

ANDERSON: And you've been reporting of course over the past two weeks on the impact of this significant caseload on the hospitals, particularly

those in Beirut and hospitalizations. One of the really, really risky factors of course, in places where capacity is just stretched to its limit,

Ben, thank you for that.

Well, that is the story in Lebanon as the world continues to battle the Coronavirus pandemic and Ebola outbreak becoming a looming threat in

Guinea. We'll have a live report on that just ahead. Plus, Turkey says its Kurdish militant group executed several Turkish hostages a claim the group

denies we are on the ground for you in Turkey coming up.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ANDERSON: Well, Turkey is accusing Kurdish militants of executing more than a dozen Turkish hostages. And this all happened during a Turkish anti

terror operation at a cave in northern Iraq.

The operation targeted the Kurdish Workers Party also known as PKK, and the PKK says they were prisoners and denies killing them instead of blaming

Turkey for attacking the cave knowing full well they say that the Turks were inside.

Well, clashes between the two sides have been ongoing since the peace process broke down in 2015. There's a lot to cover here CNN's Jomana

Karadsheh connecting it all for us from Istanbul. Turkey's president, President Erdogan lashing out at the U.S. for supporting armed Kurdish

militants who allegedly executed these hostages.

And what do we know about this incident and connect us if you will to the wider narrative of play here?

JOMANA KARADSHEH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Becky, about a week ago, last Wednesday, Turkey launched a military offensive into Northern Iraq. These

are usually they're fairly common Turkey does launch these operations it has for the past couple of years.

They're very limited in scope. And they target the PKK as you mentioned their hideouts in Northern Iraq. Of course, the PKK considered a terrorist

organization not just by Turkey, but also by the United States and the EU.

And the mission here, according to the Turkish Ministry of Defense is that they were going to secure the border region. This is an area called the

Gada region and they were also going after PKK hideouts and in rescue operation of Turkish hostages.

Now, according to the Defense Minister, he says that Turkish ground forces entered a cave in that region and they found 13 Turkish hostages executed

12 shot in the head and one shot in the chest. They said that they were trying to rescue them but they found them executed.

As you mentioned, the PKK telling an affiliate website basically a whole different version of events saying that they were engaged in clashes with

the Turkish military and that Turkey, knowing that this site is where these hostages were being kept carried out an airstrike and killed them.

[11:25:00]

KARADSHEH: And what we're hearing from Turkish officials, of course, completely dismissing this version of events from the PKK, saying that the

bodies of these hostages were transferred to Turkey to Malatya Province, their autopsies were carried out.

And according to the Governor of that province, 12 of the hostages were shot in the head all at close range. They say there are entry and exit

wounds, and another one shot in the chest and dismissing what's coming from the PKK basically, as rumors and false information.

And, you know, Becky, we've had condemnations coming from the EU and the United States. The State Department statement really has infuriated many

here in Turkey, including President Erdogan, because of the wording that they chose, basically saying that they stand by their NATO ally Turkey, but

saying, "If reports of the deaths of Turkish citizens at the hands of the PKK are confirmed, we condemn this action". Take a listen to what President

Erdogan had to say today.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

RECCEP TAYYIP ERDOGAN, TURKISH PRESIDENT: If we are together with you and NATO, if we are to continue our unity in the world and in NATO, then you

will act sincerely towards us, then you will stand with us not with the terrorists.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KARADSHEH: And Becky, President Erdogan describing that statement from the U.S. State Department is ridiculous as a joke, and as you heard there, in

what he said, this incident has brought back to the surface what has been a major dispute at the heart of this strange relationship between the United

States and Turkey.

And that is America's support for the Kurdish fighters in Syria, the YPG, which they see the United States considers them as a separate organization

from the PKK. But for Turkey, Turkey considers them to be one of the same. They consider the YPG to be the Syrian branch of the PKK.

And they have been infuriated by the U.S. as support choosing the YPG as its partner on the ground in that fight against ISIS. So we're seeing this

resurface again. And while this operation Becky in Northern Iraq has concluded for now, it does seem from the reaction that we're seeing here in

Turkey that we will likely see escalation on many different levels.

ANDERSON: Yes, fascinating keeping one eye on that burgeoning or not relationship between Ankara and Washington at this point all right. You're

watching "Connect the World" What do you escaped conviction in the Senate. But some say Donald Trump's biggest battles could lie ahead. And a young

activist tries to rally support for a farmers protest in India but now she is in jail for that effort, more on that after this?

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[11:30:00]

ANDERSON: Well, five days after it began, it was all over and now fresh off an acquittal in the shortest impeachment trial in U.S. history. Donald

Trump says his effort to achieve American greatness as he calls it has only just begun.

The former president is assuring supporters he will continue his political movement but he's still facing a number of legal challenges including

criminal investigations in Georgia and in New York civil state inquiries and defamation lawsuits by women accusing him of sexual assault.

Well, let's bring in CNN's Boris Sanchez he is live in West Palm Beach, Florida near Donald Trump's new home at Mar-a-Lago. And Boris, what does

the path forward now look like for the Former President Mr. Trump?

BORIS SANCHEZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Becky over the weekend, Donald Trump put out a statement expressing relief over his acquittal in the

Senate impeachment trial and foreshadowing his political future insinuating that he would campaign and fundraise against Republicans that he feels

betrayed him first by voting for impeachment than voting for conviction, or even simply by not defending him strongly enough.

But before Trump can focus on 2022, and even a potential second run for the White House in 2024, he does have a series of legal hurdles that he will

likely have to overcome.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SANCHEZ (voice over): Without the protections of being Commander in Chief Former President Donald Trump has a growing number of legal concerns and

investigations. Trump is facing at least two investigations in Georgia, including one a source tells CNN about the former president's phone call

pressuring Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger to find votes to overturn his election loss.

Another by the Fulton County District Attorney's Office looking into Trump's alleged efforts to influence the administration of the 2020 Georgia

general election.

FANI WILLIS, FULTON COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY: Something occurred here within my jurisdiction that may be criminal and if that is the case, it

needed to be investigated.

SANCHEZ (voice over): And there are multiple criminal and civil probes in New York, investigating Trump's properties and alleged insurance and tax

fraud. There could also be charges filed against Trump in Washington D.C.

Federal prosecutors stressing that nothing is off the table when asked if they were looking at Trump's role in inciting violence during the Capitol

insurrection in January?

SEN. CHRIS COONS (D-DE): I think there are grounds for further proceedings, both civil and criminal against Former President Trump that phase of

accountability moves to the courts.

SANCHEZ (voice over): Nearly a month after leaving the White House, Trump's influence on Senate Republicans could interfere with President Joe Biden's

agenda. Democrats noting a preview of that possibility, after all, but seven Senate Republicans voted to acquit the former president in his

impeachment trial.

SEN. CHRIS MURPHY (D-CT): The rest of them I think it effectively made the decision that you know, Donald Trump's going to be in charge of their party

for the next four years as they were deathly afraid of him for the last four years. They are going to continue to be afraid of him for the next

four years.

SANCHEZ (voice over): Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell directly blaming Trump for inciting the riots despite voting that he is not guilty.

McConnell also saying the former president could still face criminal charges.

SEN. MITCH MCCONNELL (R-KY): President Trump is still liable for everything he did while he was in office. As an ordinary citizen, unless the statute

limitation is Ron still liable for everything he did while he's in office.

SANCHEZ (voice over): For some of his top Republican allies, Trump remains the future.

SEN. LINDSEY GRAHAM (R-SC): The Trump movement is alive and well the most potent force in the Republican Party is President Trump.

SANCHEZ (voice over): But for others, it's time to move on.

LARRY HOGAN, MARYLAND GOVERNOR: You got to look at what's good for the country and not worry about the next election.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SANCHEZ: And as you noted, Becky, he's also facing a number of defamation lawsuits, including from two women who claim that the former president

sexually assaulted them. We should point out Trump has denied any wrongdoing in all of these cases.

And the Trump Organization maintains that all of their business exercises have been aboveboard and in compliance with local laws Becky.

ANDERSON: Boris Sanchez, telling the story for us. Thank you, Boris. And do join CNN for a town hall with the U.S. President Joe Biden moderated by my

colleague, Anderson Cooper that is Wednesday morning 6 am, here in Abu Dhabi, that's 10 am in Hong Kong.

[11:35:00]

ANDERSON: Of course, this town hall will be broadcast live stateside that's why the times are slightly odd internationally. You can also though catch a

replay of that event at times that might be more convenient for you and watch out for those.

Well, I want to connect you now to India, where the country is cracking down on activists fighting for farmer's future. Farmers have been

protesting for months against new agricultural laws, which they say can ravage their livelihoods.

But now police are going after a young activist who supports that movement, her alleged crime, telling others how to help the protest and getting a

prominent climate campaigner on board with that Ivan Watson has the story.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

IVAN WATSON, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): A young activist locked up in India accused of criminal conspiracy provoking a riot and sedition. Her

alleged crime contained in a tweet sent by another young woman on the other side of the world, Greta Thunberg.

Early in February Thornburg shared a protest toolkit with her nearly 5 million followers a guide to supporting striking farmers in India. Police

in India say the unsigned document was compiled by Disha Ravi and at least two others sought by police then sent on to Thunberg.

Police say the main aim of the toolkit was to create misinformation and disaffection against the lawfully elected government. The document declares

the world needs to know that India is ignoring the voices of marginalized communities.

COLIN GONSALVES, HUMAN RIGHTS LAWYER: So it's totally legal. There's nothing wrong with the toolkit. It's in fact quite a wonderful instrument

for coordinating demonstrations against the government, which is a very good thing to do as long as it's peaceful and democratic.

WATSON (voice over): There's nothing in the short English language document that appears to support violence. Instead, the document suggests that young

people call their local government rep sign petitions and share on social media.

Indian farmers have been gathering across India in the thousands since September, to demand the repeal of new laws, they say weaken their

collective bargaining power.

ASHISH KOTHARI, ACTIVIST: I mean, obviously, the government wants this to have some sort of a chilling effect so that people don't speak up. They

don't dissent. But I doubt that's going to happen.

WATSON (voice over): For colleagues say Ravi is a member of Greta Thunberg's group Friday's for future and has previously warned against

climate campaigns that could be deemed unpatriotic.

DISHA RAVI, DETAINED ACTIVIST: As climate activists we have refrained from doing anything that could be considered anti national.

WATSON (voice over): Now that's exactly what police say she's guilty of, "Economic, social, cultural and regional war against India". Ravi will

remain in police custody for at least five days but it's not yet clear what the sentence could be for this young woman accused of sharing a document

online. Ivan Watson, CNN.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: Well, - Russia supporters of the jailed Russian Opposition Leader Alexey Navalny are finding new ways to protest. Matthew Chance shares us

how they are getting their message across while avoiding the police?

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): For a moment Russia seemed on the brink mass protests across the country, angry demands for Alexey

Navalny, Russia's jailed opposition leader to be released. These are the very different scenes now sweeping Russia.

Cell phones briefly held up in solidarity with the opposition calls one protesting couple even posting a valentine's marriage proposal. Public

anger, a close Navalny ally told me has been intentionally dialed down.

LEONID VOLKOV, CHIEF OF STAFF FOR ALEXEY NAVALNY: So we definitely needed to regroup and to alter our strategy in terms to get those people involved

who are not ready yet like to withstand the police brutality, but still want to express their solidarity and love.

CHANCE (voice over): It's certainly not love the riot police have been expressing cracking down hard on unsanctioned demonstrations detaining

thousands of people nationwide in multiple protests amid international condemnation has been little sign that the Kremlin is backing down.

But President Putin has made a rare mention of the unrest. But though he's still didn't utter Alexey Navalny's name, referring to him this time only

as that figure.

[11:40:00]

VLADIMIR PUTIN, RUSSIAN PRESIDENT: Do you know what that figure is being used right now, at the moment when people in countries all over the world,

including Russia are getting tired, and frustration is showing itself dissatisfaction, among other things, was the living conditions and income

level.

CHANCE (voice over): And while that figure continues to languish behind bars now appearing in court on libel charges, which he denies, analysts

suggests that Russian government may unveil a new economic package to ease this content ahead of key parliamentary elections later this year.

CHANCE (on camera): How shaken how concerned do you think Vladimir Putin is seeing the extent of those nationwide protests with people coming out onto

the street? How threatened do you think he is by this?

VOLKOV: I want to believe he is very much threatened. I want to believe he fears very much because for the first time, this is something that looks

like really a popular nationwide protest. And this is something Putin never faced before and so I hope he really feels threatened.

CHANCE (voice over): He may also feel the strategy of confronting protesters has paid off. And while the opposition says it's planning more

mass protests in the spring, for the moment, at least, Putin's grip on Russia seems to be holding. Matthew Chance CNN, Moscow.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: The Ebola virus, making a comeback in parts of West Africa that thought they'd seen the back of it still ahead how health officials are now

trying to make sure the latest outbreak is contained? And an image that is truly out of this world a close up view of the Red Planet coming up.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ANDERSON: While the COVID pandemic may be starting to trend in a positive direction, another deadly disease threatening to make a comeback in West

Africa. We're talking about Ebola, which is recently infected at least seven people in Guinea that country suffered the world's worst Ebola

outbreak seven years ago.

Well, now it is scrambling to keep the virus in check connecting you to the significance of this latest outbreak and the possible implications David

McKenzie from Johannesburg in South Africa, David.

DAVID MCKENZIE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, that's right Becky. This is a very troubling outbreak. It happened in the southern part of Guinea, in - and if

you look at that border region on the border of Liberia and Ivory Coast, this is exactly the same kind of scenario that happened in 2014, which then

spread into an uncontrolled outbreak to all of those countries immediately around Guinea where more than 11,000 people were killed. Certainly At the

time was the biggest health emergency of its kind.

[11:45:00]

MCKENZIE: Now, details coming in, this appears to have been a nurse who fell sick then several people who attended the funeral of that nurse also

fell sick, at least two of them later died. And because it was a nurse who appears to have had Ebola, that is probably not the index case, it's

possible that that nurse got the virus from someone else.

Now authorities are scrambling to the scene to try and contain contact trace. And importantly, as these days as opposed to 2014, when we

extensively covered that outbreak, there is an experimental vaccine that is available, they will rush that vaccine to the scene and go through ring

vaccination.

So anyone who is in contact of that nurse or in contacts of their contacts, it could be a hopeful way to try and stamp this out. But speed is really

important. And this outbreak is a reminder of how dangerous this disease can be in West as well as Central Africa, Becky?

ANDERSON: No, absolutely. David and you know you spent so many months reporting on that story back in 2014. Very worrying that is something that

we are now discussing once again on CNN. And there has also as I understand it been a resurgence of the virus reported earlier in the month in the DRC.

What's the latest there?

MCKENZIE: Well, this is a different Ebola outbreak. But certainly it was a very worrying in Butembo in North Kivu there has been a resurgence of the

disease. We reported late last year on how they managed to stamp out that outbreak which was the second deadliest outbreak on record.

And a very tricky scenario because it's in the midst of a conflict zone there in north south Kivu and the - in the Eastern Congo now again, they

have sought vaccinated and people in that area. And that could possibly sort of end this before it gets out of control.

It's worth remembering that the DRC has had the most known Ebola outbreaks, it was discovered Ebola in the DRC in the 70s. So they do have a level of

experience but you see these repeated outbreaks of Ebola and overall scientists worry with the effects of climate change and deforestation,

people getting closer to nature and more susceptible to be coming up against these genetic diseases.

This will just be a factor of life in the future. And it certainly is a reminder that these outbreaks not just COVID but Ebola and all possible

future viruses need to be watched and prepared for very carefully, Becky.

ANDERSON: Absolutely, you make a very good point David McKenzie out of Johannesburg for you this evening. Thank you. Well still ahead this hour,

Britain's Royal line of succession will soon be growing as Prince Harry and wife Megan announced, baby number two is on the way more than after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ANDERSON: Well, its baby number two for Britain's Prince Harry and his wife Megan. The Royal Couple released this photo on Sunday with the announcement

that Archie will soon be a big brother, making them a family of four. The news comes after the Duchess of Sussex revealed she had a miscarriage last

July.

Well, a spokesperson for the pair says they are overjoyed to be expecting their second child the new baby will be eighth in line to the British

Throne. Well, my colleague Max Foster following the news for us from Hampshire in England this evening. And so much for their appeals for

privacy their critics will say, Max the couple back in the limelight with this happy news?

[11:50:00]

MAX FOSTER, CNN ROYAL CORRESPONDENT: At the same time, they also aware that they're public figures and they would probably argue back to that statement

and that has been made over the course of the day that they feel they have a duty to update their followers on the progress of the family whilst also

protecting that privacy.

So all we really have is the photograph, we don't know what sex the baby will be or when it's due. And I don't expect to hear much more about that

either. But as you say, particularly poignant when you consider that the Duchess went through this miscarriage last summer, wrote about it very

powerfully in "The New York Times" in November.

Encouraging people to talk about their miscarriages as the first step in the healing process, a taboo subject for many people around the world. And

that really resonated at the time. So very sort of positive story generally, in this very gloomy news agenda.

I'm sure you'll agree, Becky, but also particularly for this couple and what they've been through over the last year.

ANDERSON: Yes, and any word from the Queen?

FOSTER: With the Queen, was told shortly before the announcement, I'm told and she's delighted as his Prince Charles and his, the rest of the family.

Some constitutional experts poring over this as well, would you believe because we have this slightly odd situation where this baby will be born in

the United States, so we'll have U.S. citizenship?

But we'll also be eighth in line to the throne, as you described earlier, potentially, meaning this baby could become U.S. presidents and king or

queen of the United Kingdom at the same time, obviously, I'm getting ahead of myself here, Becky. But it has raised constitutional questions here and

all sorts of theories about novels coming up, and storylines of potential coming up.

And also some people saying, well, what would you do? Would you choose to be U.S. President? Or would you choose to be King or Queen of the United

Kingdom? I leave it you.

ANDERSON: Yes. What would you do? What would you do?

FOSTER: What? I might get out of it? Yes.

ANDERSON: Well done. Well done. Just very briefly, because I know there's a - there's a rather nice little story to the image. And let's just bring

that image up again. I mean, this wasn't, as I understand it, an image taken by a sort of professional photographer with a whole sort of, you

know, bunch of people sort of hanging around, sorting out the lights, right? This was - this was a pretty basic technology this one.

FOSTER: Well, sort of. It was a professional photographer, and he took the picture remotely, we're trying to work out what that means. They had a

tablet computer there with them. Presumably, he directed them on how it should work? But it was a team effort, but they're describing it as a

professional photo, but without anyone else there.

ANDERSON: It's fascinating, isn't it? Thank you, Max. Shokran, as they would say, from this part of the world, and Merhaba from Mars, the "Hope"

probe has sent back its first image of Mars since entering orbit last week.

The Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, tweeting out this image, calling it a defining moment in our history. This close up picture was taken from 25,000

kilo meters in space. The Emiratis "Hope" probe is the in a planetary mission by an Arab Nation.

In addition to take gorgeous photos, it will be gathering data on how the Martian atmosphere actually works. Right, it is a very good evening from us

for the time being, but we are expecting to hear from the British Prime Minister Boris Johnson in just a few minutes.

So we'll extend this show "Connect the World" through the top of the next hour. So I will see you on the other side.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[11:55:00]

ANNOUNCER: This is CNN Breaking News.

ANDERSON: --joining us, I'm Becky Anderson. Any minute now we will hear from the British Prime Minister Boris Johnson updating developments on the

vaccine front there the country reaching an important milestone administering 15 million first doses it is a much needed win for a British

Government after accusations that it bungled its early pandemic response.

Well, this is mandatory quarantines go into effect for those entering England from dozens of Coronavirus hotspots. We will get to the news

conference live as soon as it happens. The podium is set up for the British Prime Minister and a number of his advisers there at Downing Street.

Let's get to our team first on the ground CNN's Scott McLean outside Downing Street and Salma Abdulaziz also with us at Heathrow Airport. To you

first Scott, what can we expect to hear from the British Prime Minister tonight?

SCOTT MCLEAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hey, Becky, you know, for the first time in a while the British Prime Minister can really take a victory lap here he

promised to set out the minute details of how they managed to pull off this a pretty extraordinary feat? That's what he called it when it comes to

vaccinating more than 15 million people.

The government also says that it has offered the shot to everybody over the age of 70 everybody living and working in a care home and everybody on the

frontlines working as a health care worker.

But as you mentioned, this government has taken plenty of criticism for its handling of the pandemic and rightfully so this country has one of the

highest mortality rates on Earth. Some critics say that it was too slow to lock down too slow, to close the borders. The list goes on and on.

END