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Connect the World
How A Religious Festival Turned Into A Massacre In Ethiopia; ICC Investigating Alleged War Crimes In Palestinian Territories; Extremists Target Afghanistan's Media Workers; Two Cuban Vaccine Candidates To Start Late-Stage Trials; Germany Mulls Next Steps As Cases Rise, Vaccinations Stall; Photo Journalist Shares Intimate Portraits Of Afghanistan. Aired 11a-12p ET
Aired March 03, 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: It is 8 pm here you're watching "Connect the World". I'm Becky Anderson. Welcome back to the
program. The world is facing an urgent humanitarian crisis.
U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken spoke with Ethiopia's Prime Minister Abby Ahmed on Tuesday, he expressed concern over allegations of
genocide against his government and its Eritrean allies in the Tigray region. Blinken urged the country to take immediate steps to protect
civilians, including refugees.
Meanwhile, CNN has learned that the UN Security Council will discuss the situation in a closed door meeting on Thursday. A month long CNN
investigation has uncovered detailed evidence of the massacre of dozens of civilians in the Tigray region of Northern Ethiopia overcoming the
information blockade around a pattern of atrocities that may have claimed thousands of civilian lives.
Since November, the Ethiopian government has waged war on the Tigray region with assistance from neighboring troops from Eritrea. Journalists have been
severely restricted in their access it has been an extremely difficult story to cover. But in this exclusive report, CNN has been able to speak
with dozens of people who say they witnessed a massacre at the hands of invading a Eritrean troops in a town in Tigray on one of its holiest days
on November the 30th last year.
I've got to warn you. What you are about to see and hear is disturbing. Here's CNN's Nima Elbagir.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
NIMA ELBAGIR, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): A bloody jacket. Some rope used to tie the victims shoes worn by a Sunday school boy, the haunting
remnants of a brutal massacre in a village in Northern Ethiopia's Tigray region. A massacre perpetrated by Eritrean soldiers on Ethiopian soil.
52 out of the 54 pictures you see here are victims whose identities have been verified by CNN. This is the village of - where CNN investigation
uncovered the murder of dozens, possibly even more than 100 civilians. Witnesses tell CNN people were murdered here, over three days of mayhem,
with video and communication limited due to an Ethiopian government imposed blackout on the region, and fear of government retribution rife.
CNN has had to illustrate witness testimony through animation and use of actor's voices to describe what happened in December last year. When I
witnessed Martha, not her real name, told CNN they were returning for morning church service. When they got home they were confronted by Eritrean
troops.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: They came to our house then they told us to get out. There were a lot of soldiers outside and they were saying, come out, come
out, you bitch. We said we are civil, and we are civil and showing our IDs. They didn't ask any question they just opened fire.
ELBAGIR (voice over): To understand what happened here over the course of these three days, you need to understand what's been happening over the
last few years in Ethiopia. Under the country's former rulers, the Tigray People's Liberation Front, Ethiopia waged hostilities with Eritrea for the
TPLF's, almost 30 years in power.
Abby Ahmed won a Nobel Peace Prize for bringing all that to an end. The Tigray region has always been distinct in culture and language, and its
leadership is battling for autonomy from Ethiopia's government.
Now the two former enemies stand accused of working together to crush Tigray's fight for autonomy, and civilians are being killed in what could
be war crimes, and something the ousted Tigray leader described as acts of genocide.
This video was secretly taken and smuggled out to CNN to avoid Ethiopian and Eritrean troops. It's footage of the graves that I witnesses described
to CNN in harrowing testimony. Underneath the branches and sticks are the grave sites for the victims.
Another eyewitness Abraham again, not his real name was supposed to help clean the church at - before the festival, instead, he became a grave
digger.
[11:05:00]
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They were all so young and they took them and killed them together in a field.
ELBAGIR (voice over): Among those he buried were 24 Sunday school children. Abraham and others registered the kid's names as best they could. One by
one, the shallow graves were uncovered, and parents came to identify their children. Some was so badly disfigured; they could only be identified by
their clothing.
This is not the only massacre perpetrated in Tigray. Using satellite images and interviews with witnesses, Amnesty was able to find evidence of at
least one other separate massacre involving hundreds of civilians believed to be carried out in another city days earlier.
A day after the investigations by CNN and Amnesty International, U.S. Secretary of State Blinken said those responsible for them must be held
accountable. Strong words but will words be enough when the crimes described by all the hallmarks of a possible genocide? Nima Elbagir, CNN.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Well, CNN put the findings of its investigation to the governments of Ethiopia and Eritrea, along with the TPLF. In response to a
U.S. statement, the Ethiopian government responded that it's fully committed to undertake thorough investigations of alleged human rights
abuses while adding that it found American comments on Ethiopian internal affairs, "Regrettable" that his forces were conducting lawful operations.
The TPLF said its forces were not in the vicinity of - before or after the massacre, and called for a UN investigation to hold all sides accountable
for atrocities committed during this extended conflict. As we said earlier, the UN Security Council will discuss the ongoing situation behind closed
doors on Thursday.
Eritrean government has not responded to CNN's request for comment. On Friday the government vehemently denied that its soldiers had committed
atrocities along during another massacre in Tigray reported by Amnesty International.
Well, to Iraq now after another rocket attack targeted U.S.-led forces. No damage is reported but we have just learned an American civil contract has
suffered a fatal heart attack while sheltering in place. This video said to show the burned out vehicle carrying the rocket launcher used in the attack
on the Al-Assad airbase which the attack which happened less than a week after the U.S. struck Iranian-backed militia in Syria.
And just 16 days after rockets targeted U.S.-led forces in Northern Iraq. The base hit today is the same one attacked by Iran earlier this year after
a U.S. strike killed Iranian General Qassem Soleimani last year.
Today's attack coming just days before Pope Francis is set to visit the country Ben Wedeman now joining me from Baghdad for a closer look at what
this attack could mean for the region going forward? Let's start Ben with the details as we understand them at this point.
BEN WEDEMAN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Now what we understand from the Iraqi military is that this morning 10 broad missiles were fired
in the direction of the Al-Assad Airbase and very large air base that hosts not only the Iraqi Air Force and other branches of the military, but also
U.S. and coalition forces.
Now that base is about 180 kilometers Northwest of Beignet. Now the rocket, the initial reports coming out of both the coalition and the Iraqi military
was that there was no damage and no casualties.
And as you just said the Pentagon has just rather the coalition has just announced that a U.S. contractor suffered what they called a cardiac
episode while sheltering during this strike, and shortly afterwards, passed away.
Those are all the details we have at this point. But keep in mind, of course then on the 15th of February when there was a rocket attack on the
Erbil International Airbase where coalition forces are also located. Another U.S. contractor, I believe a Filipino National was killed in that
strike as well.
So that's two within essentially the last two and a half weeks being killed as a result of these strikes. What we're seeing is this pattern of strike
and counter strike by the U.S. and by these Iranian backed militias. And then this continues now, this happens at the same time when the United
States is trying to resume some form of dialogue with Iran.
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WEDEMAN: And let's keep in mind that Iran is not a monolithic country, you do have hardliners who don't necessarily want to resume semi cordial
relations with the United States. At the same time, you have moderates who do want to get the United States back in the JCPOA, the Iran nuclear deal,
which was negotiated back in 2015, between the United States, Russia, China, Germany, France, and England, on one side and Iran on the other.
And of course, we have in just a few months, Iranian presidential election, so there's a lot of moving pieces out there. And it's hard to tell at this
point, whether this is going to lead to an escalation, or perhaps there will be some sort of breakthrough in these attempts to restore dialogue
with Iran, Becky?
ANDERSON: Yes, very good point, Ben. And this latest attack, of course, happening just a couple of days before Pope Francis's visit to Iraq, many
had cautioned that that would be a risky trip, not least because of the prevalence of COVID in the country, but also because of the security risks.
How has the Vatican responded, if at all?
WEDEMAN: Well, apparently, off the record Vatican officials, some of them have said it's not a good idea. And we've heard Benedict, the 16th, the
Pope Emeritus, describing it as a dangerous trip, and certainly for a man of Pope Francis, his age and state of health, perhaps it's not the wisest
idea.
Nonetheless, he is determined to go and let's keep in mind that John Paul II, Pope John Paul II, back in 99, was supposed to be hoping to visit Iraq.
It's not at all clear why in the end, the trip was canceled? Some sources tell us it was because the Iraqi government then of course, led by Saddam
Hussein was asking him to say and do things that would have served their political purposes.
But the Vatican wasn't happy with other church officials here in Iraq are saying that the Americans didn't want and pressured the Vatican for John
Paul not to come here. So it'll many again, to repeat myself many pieces at play here.
But Pope Francis is a man who when he decides to do something he does it despite the obvious risks from A, COVID even though he and his entire
entourage have been vaccinated, but also the obvious security risks in the country. That for the last 40 years has gone through one form of war
upheaval after another, Becky.
ANDERSON: Ben Wedeman is in Baghdad for you. Ben, thank you, important stuff. We are following breaking news from the International Criminal Court
this hour. The court says it will investigate alleged war crimes in the West Bank, Gaza and East Jerusalem.
Palestinian Authority says it welcomes the probe calling justice and accountability the pillars of peace. Sam Kiley is in Jerusalem for us
tonight. Just how significant is this move by the ICC, Nic and Sam?
SAM KILEY, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, it's also been welcomed strangely, perhaps by Hamas, the military organization, a militant
organization rather that controls Gaza that most certainly has been named as being in the crosshairs of the International Criminal Court's
investigations into alleged war crimes in that area alongside other what they call Palestinian armed groups because Hamas welcoming it because it
does also name Israel as a nation that will be investigated or other Israeli individuals will be investigated.
Now we haven't yet heard officially, at all from the Israeli government, we do know that they are bitterly opposed to these investigations and question
the right of the International Criminal Courts to have jurisdiction here because the ICC is doing this work.
And it's taken five years just to get to this position, Becky, at the request of the Palestinian authority, which in the definition of the ICC.
They're calling it the Palestinian state. That is a condition that the Israeli say does not exist.
Nonetheless, this investigation is going to go ahead it will relate in the view of Benny Gantz, for example who is now a leading contender for the
premiership in March 23rd elections but he's also a Former Head of the IDF the Israeli Defense Forces. It could involve up to 100 members in his view
of the IDF in some sort of investigations, particularly into what happened in the 2014 Gaza War.
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KILEY: But it's not limited to that from the Israeli perspective one of the more awkward issues is that the ICC investigation, we'll also be looking at
the continued construction of settlements on the West Bank, which in the view of most in the international community are illegal under international
law and breach the Fourth Geneva Convention.
Palestinian authority has quite a lot of gain from this not least been considered a state in this context but also because it's perhaps one of the
few groups who are not necessarily going to be in the crosshairs of investigations on both sides of this conflict, Becky.
ANDERSON: And we are just getting as you are speaking to me a response or a pretty heavy response I've got to say from Israel's President, I'll read
that to you Sam for your benefit and the benefit of the viewers. The decision of the International Criminal Court at "The Hague" commence
investigations against the State of Israel is scandalous, says Reuven Rivlin in a statement.
We will not accept claims against the exercise of our right, and our obligation to defend our citizens. The State of Israel is a strong Jewish
and democratic state which knows how to defend itself and to investigate itself, when necessary.
The International Criminal Court's decision to commence investigations, he says is a scandal. Yuli Edelstein, we were just speaking to in the past
hour. He responded, first government official to be able to respond to us, and just simply call this a hypocritical decision by the ICC.
Listen, it's an interesting time in Israel, given that we are, what three weeks and counting away from the fourth elections in just two years. Sam,
what do we know at this point?
KILEY (on camera): Well, as Israel goes into these elections, and they'll be - I think unanimity in response right across certainly the Jewish
elements within the Israeli body politic. Apart from some on the extreme left, who would condemn the ICC, broadly speaking; it will be condemned for
launching this investigation and violating what the Israelis see as their sovereignty elsewhere, though, Becky.
There are bitter divisions of enormous smorgasbord of party's right across the pitcher, the whole menu of potential political attractions here. And
for that reason, Benjamin Netanyahu has to reach out and grab some of the more unpalatable dishes if you don't mind me extending the metaphor, and
this is what he's up against at the moment.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KILEY (voice over): His government's run a world beating COVID vaccination program, heralding a vigorous return to near normality, but it's done
little to guarantee electoral success for Benjamin Netanyahu. So he's scraping for ballots from voters, he's shunned in the past, Israeli Arabs.
BENJAMIN NETANYAHU, ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER: It is a chance to start a new era and the relations between Jews and Arabs.
KILEY (voice over): And extremist parties peddling racism and homophobia, some using fake messages, including the Holocaust joke and admiration for
Hitler. For Netanyahu's Likud Party, courting the far right has become a political necessity.
ELI HAZAN, LIKUD PARTY SPOKESMAN: It looks that the election is going to be very tight, and we need to maximize the potential to win the election.
KILEY (voice over): The arithmetic of opinion polls is dangerous to Israel's longest serving Prime Minister.
It's very unlikely to be a decisive result in the March elections, which means there'll be coalition horse trading, just as Benjamin Netanyahu,
heads back into court on corruption charges. If convicted, he could face several years in jail. Even in such jeopardy, he still dominates Israel's
political landscape.
EYAL ARAD, POLITICAL ANALYST: I think that what would eventually happen is that the criminal process would decide the fate of the political process.
KILEY (voice over): In the meantime, he's determined to win and everything.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: And Sam Kiley is reporting there, Sam, thank you. Well, family and friends made the final goodbyes one of three female journalists shot
dead in Afghanistan. One big question remains when will other journalists be saved? That more is after this and--
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(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There are many other developing countries have competed with richer nations to import vaccines against the Coronavirus. Cuba has
been making its own vaccine.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Cuba may be on the brink of a remarkable scientific achievement producing its own COVID-19 vaccine despite the many challenges it is facing
that is coming up.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: Welcome back. You're watching "Connect the World". I'm Becky Anderson. I want to talk about a potentially risky business - one that I
do. In Afghanistan journalists often have to put their lives on the line to cover the news.
The latest case in point three female journalists gunned down in the City of Jalalabad on Tuesday. As you can see here, family and friends did their
final goodbye to one of them this morning. All three were recent high school graduates who worked for broadcasts at any caste TV.
The monitoring website site now says that a local ISIS branch has claimed responsibility. A suspect is under arrest. But that was just the latest in
a string of recent deadly attacks on media workers in Afghanistan can that, will that change? And when will Afghan journalists be able to do their jobs
without fearing for their lives, particularly female journalists?
I want to talk about that with Fatima Gailani; she is a Member of Afghanistan's Negotiating Team at the ongoing peace talks with the Taliban
in Doha in Qatar. And you and I spoke before Christmas. I'm so sorry that we are speaking again, on what is such a tragic, tragic day. How did you
react when you heard the news of these three young female journalists getting gunned down?
FATIMA GAILANI, AFGHANISTAN PEACE TALKS NEGOTIATOR: Well Becky, what do you expect? It is heartbreaking. It is shocking. And as much as many of these
killings that we see, we don't want to get used to it. We should not get used to it today.
I mean, yesterday, were these journalists the other day it was the judges, female judges. And they were targeted. I mean, really - I mean, they were
targeted exactly where they were going and how it had to be done.
It has to end we are here. Isn't it ironic that we are here talking piece? At the same time, endless killing are happening in the capital and in other
cities in Afghanistan? We have to come to a conclusion. We have to finish this not in the battlefield but in - on the on the negotiation table.
ANDERSON: Well, this is the problem, though, isn't it that government authority pointing the blame at the Taliban. They have denied involvement
and at this point, the site website is suggesting that a local ISIS branch has claimed responsibility. I mean, look Fatima, who do you think is
responsible at this point?
[11:25:00]
GAILANI: Well, I suppose we gave this benefit of doubt. Suppose it is not the Taliban but it is because of the war that someone else or whoever is
coming and is able to do that. If we have peace, if we have stability, why would anyone do such thing?
How anyone could - would be able to do such a thing? I believe that our side of the negotiation table, the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, as well
as the Taliban Movement, we have responsibility to the people of Afghanistan, to come to a proper ceasefire, and finish this talks and come
to the peace.
So the people of Afghanistan will have to see an end to all this 42 years more than actually 42 years, isn't it enough? And now this new thing,
targeted men and women who matter who are educated in such a difficult time, they are targeted, this has to stop, it should not be tolerated by
us, or people who are helping us.
ANDERSON: Since 2001, the main arena of conflict in Afghanistan has been the countryside. Taliban forces Fatima now control the countryside as they
did before. And they appear to be poised for a final spring offensive against the parts of Afghan cities that remain under government control.
Where does this leave the ceasefire at this point?
GAILANI: Exactly. Where and where would they leave us? And what could be answered to the people of Afghanistan, that on one hand, we are taking the
flag - white flag of peace, and we are trying to achieve peace here sitting and talking peace. And on the other hand, people are killed left and right.
And this is not the way it should be done.
We can connect the ceasefire, too many things, too many other things that the other side. I mean, the Taliban wants to achieve. They are always away
if we are really serious in this job.
ANDERSON: Well, let's talk about what's going on. Because, as you rightly point out, the backdrop to this violence is what many people are describing
as a failing peace agreement brokered by the U.S. with the Taliban and the looming possibility of a U.S. troop withdrawal.
Last time you and I spoke in December, you were really, frankly, quite hopeful and optimistic for peace in Afghanistan. Are you still hopeful?
GAILANI: Yes, I am hopeful, if only both sides will take the responsibility towards the people of Afghanistan, and take the ownership of the peace
process. OK. Yes, it did start with a Doha agreement and the agreement was between the Taliban and the United States of America.
But now it is in our hand, it is in the hands of Afghans? Don't we have this responsibility to finish this? Don't we have this responsibility to
our people? Do you remember Becky, when this peace talk started, the day of inauguration, the face of these old and young?
I mean, they were full of hope. Are we allowed to break their hearts? Are we allowed to betray them really? I don't think so. This has to carry on.
It has to carry on with or without outsiders. We have taken this responsibility. We have gone forward towards it. And let's end it, to peace
of course.
ANDERSON: We applaud your efforts. And we well; we applaud your sense of optimism as well. It must be so difficult, particularly on a day like this,
but you know, you are right. You have to go on, if not just out of respect for the memory of those who lost their lives in the last 24 hours and all
of those who have lost their lives over the last 20 years. Fatima, thank you.
You're watching "Connect the World". We are going to take a very short break. Do you stay with us?
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
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ANDERSON: --seem improbable a country struggling with bread lines and food shortages on the brink of cutting edge medical technology that could help
other nations around the world. But Cuba says it is starting final stage trials for two of its own COVID-19 vaccines, two others are in progress
that is despite a crippling U.S.
Pandemic has hit Cuba's tourism industry hard and hopes the vaccines will leave to a medical and economic pay off. CNN's Patrick Oppmann spoke to
some of the scientists working on the potential break through. And he joins us now live from Havana, Pat?
PATRICK OPPMANN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (on camera): Hi there, Becky. And yes, we were waiting confirmation from the Cuban government expected to come
this week any moment really. They have begun these phase three trials for not one vaccine but two vaccines and of course, right now in many countries
they're lucky if they have one vaccine.
And so the idea that Cuba very soon, within a month they expect that's how long this trial should take could have to working vaccines would be a total
game changer. Because they say they as it is a government run system here can vaccinate people incredibly quickly once they have vaccines in hand.
And for the first time Becky that goal is now in sight.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
OPPMANN (voice over): Cuba hopes this is what the payoff looks like a big gamble. Well, many other developing countries have competed with richer
nations to import vaccines against the Coronavirus. Cuba has been making its own vaccine.
In March, two out of four potential vaccine candidates made in Cuba will begin their third and final trials. If the trials are successful, Cuba's
would be the first vaccines developed in Latin America.
DR. DAGMAR GARCIA RIVERA, CUBAN SCIENTIST: And the main objective of this clinical trial is to show that clinical efficacy of our vaccine candidates.
After that we could be in condition for a massive immunization in Cuba or in some other countries of the world.
OPPMANN: You believe that everybody in Cuba, the 11 million people live here could be vaccinated by the end of this year.
DR. RIVERA: Yes.
OPPMANN: Well, Cuba is only now just beginning to vaccinate people on a large scale as part of the third trial. Cuban scientist tells CNN they have
already produced more than 300,000 doses of Sovereign II one of their vaccine candidates and could eventually make millions more doses each
month.
The pandemic is all but destroyed Cuba's economy. Beaches that usually would be full of tourists are now empty. The vaccine though could help
change Cuba's fortunes, as researchers here say they can produce enough to sell overseas and even market vaccination vacations, offering the vaccine
to tourists as a way to restart the Cuban tourism industry.
OPPMANN (voice over): It may seem unbelievable that a poor island where there are shortages of food and basic medicines, like painkillers and
antibiotics can create a cutting edge vaccine but Cuba has produced its own vaccines going back decades.
[11:35:00]
Cuban scientists say the same U.S. sanctions that isolated the island forced Cuba to become a biomedical pioneer. Cuba has been following
established protocols and providing updates on their vaccine development international observers say.
DR. JOSE MOYA, WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION: This is very good news and we are following these results carefully. He said first because the Cuban
population will directly benefit from their vaccine candidates and this at some point could control the transmission in the country.
OPPMANN (voice over): Cuban scientists say the island likely could not afford to import vaccines from abroad and pursued multiple vaccine
candidates in case some did not pass the trials. If Cuba ends up with more than one working vaccine, it could allow doctors a greater arsenal to wipe
out the Coronavirus here.
DR. TANIA CROMBET, CUBAN SCIENTIST: I also think that the end we might be able to implement what we call prime and boost, which is using some
vaccines for the first doses and then bolstering or re immunizing - says second vaccine candidate in order to enhance the previous immune response.
OPPMANN (voice over): Ron is carrying out large scale trials with Cuban vaccines. And Mexico is expected to begin trials as the world struggles
with vaccine shortages other countries may be calling soon.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
OPPMANN (on camera): And Becky, of course, we're talking about Cuba. So this is a political story as well. And Cuban scientists say they didn't
develop these vaccines to try and convince the United States to lift the 66 decades old trade embargo.
But certainly that is in the back of their mind and they would be happy if the U.S. sees that Cuba is able to develop a vaccine against the
Coronavirus and that perhaps makes some in the administration rethink of the U.S. trade embargo and current sanctions against this island. Becky?
ANDERSON: Oppmann is in Havana, Patrick Oppmann, thank you, sir. Well, the worst hit nation in the world when it comes to the Coronavirus pandemic is
seeing some light at the end of the tunnel. In the United States a third vaccine is now available with the Johnson & Johnson shot now in the mix.
And President Joe Biden has moved the target to secure doses for every American adult two months earlier to the end of May. But he is begging
weary residents just to hang on a bit longer until those widespread vaccinations can happen.
That's why public health officials in several states are both baffled and angry at Governors who are jumping the gun the latest announcement from the
Governor of Texas Republican Greg Abbott announcing he is lifting the mask mandate and allowing all businesses and facilities to go back to full
capacity, starting next week. Lucy Kafanov has more on that story from Houston.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
LUCY KAFANOV, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Shipments of the third Coronavirus vaccine arriving in Texas. As the Governor says he's loosening
restrictions in just one week.
GREG ABBOTT, TEXAS GOVERNOR: Effective next Wednesday all businesses of any type are allowed to open 100 percent. Also, I am ending the statewide mask
mandate.
KAFANOV (voice over): The announcement frustrating some local leaders.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: To put it in very stark terms. It makes no sense.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's mind boggling given where we are.
KAFANOV (voice over): And in Mississippi the Governor also lifting mass mandates.
TATE REEVES, MISSISSIPPI GOVERNOR: This new order removes all of our county mask mandates and allows businesses to operate at full capacity without
state imposed rules or restrictions.
KAFANOV (voice over): And as more states roll back restrictions, health experts warn.
DR. LEANA WEN, CNN MEDICAL ANALYST: It's just irresponsible and goes against science to try to open up.
KAFANOV (voice over): The White House is asking Texas and others to keep safety measures in place.
ANDY SLAVITT, SENIOR WHITE HOUSE ADVISER FOR COVID-19 RESPONSE: We think it's a mistake to lift these band aids too early masks are saving a lot of
lives.
KAFANOV (voice over): Meanwhile in Ohio a single shot of history with the first Johnson & Johnson vaccines administered.
DR. CARLOS DEL RIO, EXECUTIVE ASSOCIATE DEAN, EMORY UNIVERSITY OF MEDICINE AT GRADY: It's definitely a game changer. The problem we have right now it
says you know there are only about 4 million doses available so they really need to ramp up production.
KAFANOV (voice over): President Joe Biden using the Defense Production Act to speed the manufacturing process, making a deal with Merck to help
pharmaceutical competitor Johnson & Johnson produce its single dose vaccine.
JOE BIDEN, PRESIDENT, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: We're now on track to have enough vaccine supply for every adult in America by the end of May.
KAFANOV (voice over): The president is also asking states to prioritize teachers and school staff on their vaccine list an effort to allow more
classrooms to reopen safely.
BIDEN: We want every educator, school staff member and childcare worker to receive at least one shot by the end of the month of March.
KAFANOV (voice over): Biden urging the public to keep wearing masks and following safety protocols.
BIDEN: There is light at the end of the tunnel. We cannot let our guard down now. We must remain vigilant.
[11:40:00]
KAFANOV (voice over): Health experts agree as new highly infectious variants spread across the nation.
DR. ALA STANFORD, FOUNDER, BLACK DOCTORS COVID-19 CONSORTIUM: There's a race between these variants and getting vaccinated and we've just got to
push and push with that and not remove these public health measures that have been helping us to reduce the transmissibility.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Lucy Kafanov reporting. Well, German leaders are under pressure to start easing Coronavirus restrictions, just head on "Connect the World".
Angela Merkel doing a balancing act after what has been a sluggish vaccine rollout.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: Welcome back. As we continue our coverage on the Coronavirus and the global scramble to find it German Chancellor Angela Merkel meeting with
state premiers today to discuss whether to extend the current COVID-19 lockdown there for another month.
Ms. Merkel has said the German government has to "Regionalize" more to enable more freedoms the government under pressure to restore normal
activities after four months of restrictions while the country is still playing catch up trying to get enough vaccines for everyone in once. Fred
Pleitgen has more on the frustration with a small dose of celebration during the country's still rigid lockdown.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
FREDERIK PLEITGEN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice over): This isn't a birthday party or a wedding anniversary. Nope, it's Germans
being allowed back to the hairdresser after months of lockdown leaving both the coffer and his customers ecstatic.
It's like Christmas, New Year's and my birthday combined he says I'm allowed to do again what I love most working with hair. Hair and nail
salons are among the few businesses allowed to open again in Germany since the start of this week. Other than that the country remains in a hard
lockdown.
Shops, cafes, restaurants all shot and Chancellor Angela Merkel reluctant to allow for the restrictions to be loosened. First we need to see how well
we can manage contact tracing the Coronavirus warning app and re enforcement's for health authorities, better test strategies and so on, she
said, we then need to see how we can step by step allow for more openings without risking another exponential growth.
Public support for Merkel's course is waning in Germany, especially as the country's vaccination campaign is only slowly moving ahead. This
vaccination center we visited in Berlin is running like clockwork, mostly elderly folks and frontline medical workers getting their shots. The
Managing Director saying, most are grateful to get the vaccine.
MARKUS NISCH, MANAGING DIRECTOR, VACCINE CENTER: Everyone is really happy to meet each other. And so that's why the old people are very grateful to
be here and to have a nice treatment.
[11:45:00]
PLEITGEN (voice over): But the staffs also acknowledge they could be vaccinating almost twice as many people each day if they could get their
hands on more vaccine. The problem social democratic politician and health expert Karl Lauterbach says is that Germany relied on the EU to order
vaccine doses and it didn't order fast enough.
KARL LAUTERBACH, GERMAN SOCIAL DEMOCRATIC PARTY: Procurement of the vaccines was slow. Past considerations were overwhelming. Capacity was not
given the attention it should have been given. So we lost time and we are basically suffering from a shortage of all major vaccines.
PLEITGEN (voice over): The German government acknowledges there have been lapses in its vaccine rollout, but says there will be a lot more vaccine
available soon as many citizens grow tired of waiting as their politicians tell them to be patient just a little longer. Fred Pleitgen, CNN, Berlin.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Well meantime, Israel's vaccine rollout being held up as a success with nearly 40 percent of its population now inoculated. Last hour,
I asked Israel's Health Minister, what his country has learned about what has been a major medical undertaking.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
YULI EDELSTEIN, ISRAELI HEALTH MINISTER: We've learned so far that the vaccine is effective. Pfizer promised us about 95 percent of the
effectiveness of the vaccine that's more or less what we find in our research. It reduces deaths in the age categories that have been highly
vaccinated to nearly zero or to a percent of two.
And we still checking what it says about carrying the disease whether the person who's been fully vaccinated, still can carry the disease still can
infect others. We have some positive signs on that. But we are still not 100 percent sure, that's why our demand is to still wear masks, even if you
are fully vaccinated.
ANDERSON: Fascinating. Israel's rate of infection does remain stubbornly high despite this vaccine rollout. What if anything, have Israeli
scientists learned about how effective Pfizer and Moderna are against these new variants of the virus?
EDELSTEIN: Well, the good news is that it is effective. We are using Pfizer at this stage it is affected against the - what we call the British variant
and the South African variant. Still we are carefully learning about new mutations, new variants and the possibility to find them here in Israel.
I do have to say that the numbers of newly infected are still as you rightly mentioned, pretty high, but they are much lower in the age groups
that have been nearly fully vaccinated. I'm talking about those who are over 50, 50 plus, there, we see fewer cases there. We see obviously, less
people, people hospitalized.
So the younger generation right now, especially children under 16, who are still not getting the vaccine, we still don't have permission from FDA to
vaccinate them nearly or we can say a nearly the majority among the newly infected in Israel.
So the vaccine is effective in the age groups that have got it but defer the virus is a very cutting and dangerous enemy and it's moving towards
younger population.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: That is the Israeli Health Minister speaking to me in the past hour. All worlds the stage, a few theaters are opened during this pandemic.
Up next we need some performers who have crossed the globe to find a stage to call home.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's not just a job for us. This is our lives.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We want to do this and we need to keep doing this. So we're just pushing through and hope for better days.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Coming up how a bit of Broadway's making a song and dance in Australia?
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[11:50:00]
ANDERSON: The show must go on. Just ask any performer but live performance of course has been devastated by this pandemic.
In New York, Broadway went dark last spring, but some of its talent has been flown to the other side of the world enjoying a warm welcome in
Australia one of the few places on earth, where live theatre venues are back in business or for many actors and other artists being on stage is
about much more than survival. CNN's Will Ripley talked to some of the creators who say they are hoping for better days.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
WILL RIPLEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): The brilliant lights of Broadway dark for almost a year. New York's iconic theaters empty likely
for many months to come. Nearly 10,000 miles away in Sydney, Australia the show goes on.
Kismet created by Broadway performer Reed Kelly and Australian Acrobat Jack Dawson, the aerial straps duo to fathom.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Right now this is really the only place that both of us can be and do what we do.
RIPLEY (voice over): What they do takes hours of daily practice, discipline, athleticism and sacrifice.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm away from my family. I'm not at home. I don't get to see my husband we Face Time every day and but it's been such a challenge.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm good. How's your day?
RIPLEY (voice over): Kelly's husband, a doctor in Los Angeles. They've been apart for almost a year. If Kelly leaves Australia, his visa won't allow
him to return Sydney, one of the only places in the world where theaters have reopened.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We seem to be doing really well.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We're really grateful to be here where everything seems to be really under control.
RIPLEY (voice over): Broadway Star Gabrielle McClinton just returned to the U.S. She spent months in Australia as the lead player in hipping. The Tony
Award winning Broadway musical was a smash hit in Sydney.
RIPLEY (voice over): Does that give you hope about Broadway?
GABRIELLE MCCLINTON, ACTOR: Absolutely. I definitely had its challenges. But we got through the season and people came to the show wearing their
masks and we would get COVID tested every week. And when we were on stage, we were in our masks and everybody obeyed all the rules. And we did our due
diligence when we were outside of the theater to make sure that we weren't putting people at risk.
RIPLEY (voice over): A model for reopening Broadway and beyond, says Australian Playwright Tom Wright.
TOM WRIGHT, BELOVIR ST THEATRE ARTISTIC ASSOCIATE: You need political and social leadership to provide a safe set of circumstances for theatre to
reopen.
RIPLEY (voice over): Sydney's Belvoir Street Theatre has been open for five months, strict COVID-19 lock downs worked, virtually eliminating local
cases.
WRIGHT: The reason why Sydney has been able to reopen is because people at local state and federal level took seriously the safety of the most
vulnerable people in their society. And were a reflection of that.
RIPLEY (voice over): The pandemic's devastating toll goes beyond empty theaters. Artists around the world are struggling.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I've lost three people this year to suicide. And that's on top of the people that I know that have actually died from COVID. It's
not just a job for us. This is our lives.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We want to do this and we need to keep doing this. So we're just pushing through and hope for better days.
RIPLEY (voice over): Giving hope to performers everywhere. Their future remains up in the air. Will Ripley, CNN.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: We've spoken tonight about the bravery of female journalists in Afghanistan bravery in just doing their jobs in the face of near daily
threats and sadly, for three young female journalists in Jalalabad this week death.
Well, back in 2001, American Photo Journalist Paula Bronstein was initially sent to Afghanistan to document the U.S.-led attacks on the Taliban there.
She has been covering Afghanistan.
[11:55:00]
ANDERSON: Since then she focuses less on war itself, and more on the Afghan people documenting the hope in their daily lives. In today's parting shots,
Paula shares some of her most intimate portraits from her book "Between hope and fear".
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PAULA BRONSTEIN, JOURNALIST: When the book came out in 2016, I had no idea if it would still be relevant today. And I could never have imagined the
war, still continuing. My images of Afghanistan look at life in the war torn country starting from late 2001. So that's covering 20 years of war,
quite unbelievable.
I returned often for the ongoing news coverage, but found myself really absorbed with the human condition, and the Afghan diversity of daily life.
As a female photo journalist, I have focused on stories that bring a voice to those who have none, especially concerning the plight of the Afghan
women who continue to persevere really in the face of extreme difficulties and human rights abuses.
Even with the Taliban talks, we don't know how this is going to affect women's rights down the road? It's very important to continue focusing on
them. My stories also deal with civilian casualties, especially the war wounded because for me, it's so important to highlight the silent victims
of this endless war.
Those families have shattered their lives are never going to be the same again. When we talk about the title "Between hope and fear", the Afghans
are living through that every day. They want hope. But there's a lot of fear.
Afghans want stability, they want a future for their families, for their children. And unfortunately, many of them have fled the country to find it
else.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Well, as we remember the murder of those three brave young journalists in Afghanistan this week, it is an acute moment to remember the
devastation wrought upon Afghanistan for decades and the countless and senseless killing it has witnessed.
I want you perhaps to think on their memory tonight and to always consider the country and others like it, suffering through that lens of hope for the
future and fear of what's worse, still yet to come. From the team working with me here in Abu Dhabi and around the world is a very good evening.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[12:00:00]
END
