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World Food Programme Chief: Every 75 Seconds, A Child in Yemen Faces Death from Starvation; Gunmen Storm Another College and Abduct Students; Sao Paulo Governor Announces New Restrictions in State Start Monday, Warns "Brazil is Collapsing". Aired 10-11a ET

Aired March 12, 2021 - 10:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

[10:00:26]

ANNOUNCER: Live from CNN Abu Dhabi, this is CONNECT THE WORLD with Becky Anderson.

BECKY ANDERSON, CNN ANCHOR: Well, tonight, we are connecting a world headed in new directions.

Hello and welcome to the program.

Before we get to that. I want to start with breaking news this hour. Nigeria grappling with another abduction of students, this time from a

forestry college in the northwestern Kaduna state. Now, officials tell us, an unknown number of students were taken after shots wrung out in the

overnight hours. It is Nigeria's fourth school abduction since December. I'll be talking live to the former senator of Mando, the town where the

latest kidnappings happened in just a few minutes' time.

Well, it's the worst humanitarian crisis on Earth. I know. It's a brief term. It's clinical. The kind of thing you hear at the U.N., but the

reality of Yemen today on March 12, 2021, belies a situation beyond brutal.

A child in Yemen starves to death on average once every minute. That is where we are right now. A kid, their life erased every 60 to 75 seconds. It

is harrowing, painful to report this but we must, because in reporting, highlighting it, these kids will not go forgotten. How on earth did we get

here?

Let's just rewind to 2015. After a failed political transition, the president of Yemen, Abdu Rabu Mansour Hadi is forced to flee the troubled

country by Houthi rebels. Those rebels are backed by Iran. Yemen right on Saudi Arabia's doorstep, so enter Saudi Arabia. The kingdom wanted to help

restore the internationally recognized government of Hadi, they said, and to essentially stamp out what they saw as an aggressive Iranian proxy right

on their doorstep.

To Saudi Arabia, the Houthis are a threat to their national security. And the Americans agreed. President Obama stepping in launching a coalition

launching another war in the region. What were the right reasons, D.C. would argue. And yet here we are.

The conflict raged for six long years and continues, mercilessly dispersing and displacing people in its wake, unending and unthinkable in its carnage.

What chance on a way out then?

Well, in the short term, humanitarian agencies, overstretched and underfunded, need cash. Cash not the least to provide the food the country

needs to help prevent full scale famine.

But in a recent funding round, the world pitched in less than half the money asked for by the U.N. less than half. Where is the United States in

all of this?

Well, the Biden has withdrawn full on no questions asked support of Saudi Arabia in this conflict but says, Washington, quote, we will ensure Saudi

Arabia and our regional partners have the tools they need to defend themselves.

But for Saudi Arabia, this is all a big defensive play. The Houthis are, after all, attacking the kingdom directly sending volley after volley

rocket and drone attacks. And those attacks are increasing. The new American secretary of state clearly calling out Houthis, quote, malign and

aggressive actions which include exacerbating conflict in Yemen, end quote.

And the Secretary of State Anthony Blinken went on to stay we again call on the Houthis to cease interference in aid operations to ensure assistance is

reaching its intended recipients.

Well, behind the scenes, there is some momentum for a political solution to this, at least that is what the local and international stakeholders say.

But as the diplomats (INAUDIBLE), on the ground, it is continued world war in what has been described in 2021 as the worst place on Earth.

Well, we've got a lot to do on this tonight.

[10:05:02]

Firstly, we've been granted a rare interview with a rare leading Houthi official in Yemen. CNN's Nima Elbagir met him in an undisclosed location

because his aides say he is under threat of assassination. So, have a listen to this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

NIMA ELBAGIR, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Do you trust America to take forward negotiations to bring peace here in Yemen?

MOHAMMED ALI AL-HOUTHI, SENIOR HOUTHI OFFICIAL (through translator): Today, America is seen as a murderer by whole of the Middle East and

Islamic world and most of the countries that it has reached. We consider America as the murderer of our people.

First of all, President Biden were a partner of President Obama. And during the time, they declared they would join the coalition against our country.

They also agreed and gave the green light for the coalition to perpetrate the killing in our country. Trust is created by actions, not words. Trust

must come about as a result of decisions. So far, we have not seen any decisions.

ELBAGIR: What is your responsibility for the humanitarian crisis? There are half a million displaced people within that city while the fighting is

happening on and the offensive continues?

AL-HOUTHI: The humanitarian crisis involves 18 to 19 million, a mall (ph), who are on the areas under our control, because they are suffering because

of the shortage of water, shortage of medication and shortage of food. And they are suffering from the suffocating and restricting blockade. Sick

people are dying here every day.

With regard to the children, according to statements from certain reputable organization, a child dies in Yemen every five or 10 minutes as a result of

the suffocating blockade.

ELBAGIR: In terms (ph) of the peace process, you said that so far, the American administration has not actually done anything, practically, it

hasn't come forward with a plan, it hasn't come forward with any points to bring about a resolution to this conflict. If they did come to you with key

points, would you be willing to go back to the negotiating table?

AL-HOUTHI: We always pro-peace, I have suggested and presented many initiatives to the Republican of Yemen. We have requested that that the

shelling on us stops, that the shelling on them stops and the blockade be lifted. We asked for the fight to cease on all fronts but they refuse to

stop it.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSEON: That is the Houthis view. Remember, they are at war with Saudi in Yemen.

Just before the show yesterday, I spoke with Saudi Arabia's permanent representative to the U.N. and International Organizations in Vienna. And I

asked him how long the situation in Yemen can go on?

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PRINCE ABDULLAH BIN KHALED BIN SULTAN AL SAUD, SAUDI AMBASSADOR TOO U.N.: As you know, Becky, Saudi Arabia has always looked for political solution

in Yemen. Saudi Arabia committed to the cease-fire the past year.

Unfortunately, the Houthis have not. They have launched dozens of ballistic missiles and drones in the past month. This is not the act of any party

that wants a ceasefire or that wants peace.

So, we are looking for the -- for a political solution. We commend and work with the U.N. envoy and we hope it comes to a good result in the near

future.

ANDERSON: I guess the question at this point is when does this humanitarian catastrophe out weigh the strategic benefit of a blockade of a

Saudi-backed Yemeni government. I understand where the bigger picture is and we hope and pray that a political solution is possible in the near

future but I want to just specifically drill down on this blockade of Hodeidah, if you will.

PRINCE ABDULLAH: Well, I think -- I think the place to look is to look at the Iranian-backed Houthi militias. The backing of the Houthi militias by

Iran has prolonged this situation for so long. Until then, I think that Saudi Arabia always stated that it wants a political solution and that it

will join any efforts to reach a political solution.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: That's the Saudi view. We'll have more of my interview with Prince Abdullah on the wider story between Iran and the kingdom a little

later on this show.

I want to step back again to take a look at what it is like on the ground, because you heard the stakeholders and politicians speak there.

Yesterday on CONNECT THE WORLD, we showed Nima Elbagir's heart-wrending report of life and death inside hospitals in Yemen. I just want to revisit

that. It is a good reminder of the daily tragedies faced by so many there.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ELBAGIR: Over half the hospitals in this district are threatened with shatter.

[11:10:00]

This is one of them. They need urgent support, urgent help. Can you imagine what it would do to this community if this facility were shut down?

Look at the chaos that there is already here and that's while it's functioning.

For years now, the U.N. has been warning that famine is coming to Yemen. Doctors across Yemen's north tell us famine has arrived. Another hospital

witnessing wave after wave of children in the red zone, severe malnourishment, impoverished mothers desperate to keep their children alive

are forced to make harrowing choices.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (through translator): Just to get to the hospital, I stopped eating and drinking, not even water, just to get him treated.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: That is just part of Nima's reporting from a trip recently to Yemen.

Well, World Food Programme executive director David Beasley is just back from the country. He calls the situation in many places hell on earth and

asks is the world really going to turn its back on collective suffering and look the other way?

Well, here is more of what he had to say.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DAVID BEASLEY, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, WORLD FOOD PROGRAMME: Around 400,000 children may die in Yemen this year without urgent intervention. That is

roughly (AUDIO GAP) every 75 seconds. So, while we are sitting here, every minute and a quarter, a child is dying.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: That is David Beasley speaking to the U.N. yesterday. And David joins us now. He is back in D.C.

David, you have called for an urgent intervention to end what is the blockade on Yemen after our investigation was released.

Here is how the U.S. responded to this investigation about a Saudi blockade of Hodeidah, which our reporting suggests is exacerbating the terrible

situation on the ground as far as fuel and food is concerned.

The U.S. telling my colleague in response to her reporting, quote: To clarify one of the claims in your inquiry. The tankers in question remain

off the port of Hudaydah which both the U.N. verification and inspection mechanism and commercial vessel tracking services can confirm. The ships

were not diverted to a Saudi port.

Anthony Blinken just tweeting, quote: United States joins France, Germany and United Kingdom condemning Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia and their

offensive in Ma'rib. We call on all parties to engage in a diplomatic efforts through the Yemen process to bring peace to Yemen.

David, that's the U.S. position on two factors, two explosive stories that speak to the heart of the damage being wrought on the country. What happens

next?

BEASLEY: You know, Becky, you and I have been dealing with Yemen for a long time. There was a blockade in Hudaydah port for matters, food and

everything, a few years ago and I came down pretty strong on the coalition back then and we worked through that.

Remember, the Houthis were -- say, yay, thank you for doing this. And I'm like, well, I'm not taking sides. I'm speaking for what is truth, was the

human principles here. You do the wrong thing, I'll jump on your back like I did on biometrics, as you know, about a year ago, and here we are again

with a blockade of fuel that's critical to the needs of many, many people.

As you well know, we are feeding and assisting about 13 million people out of 30 million in a war-stricken country, of six years of devastation. Out

of that, 5 million are literally knocking on the brink of starvation and famine. And you just gave the numbers with regard to the number of children

in critical condition.

And, Becky, I was just two days ago in one of the best hospitals watching children die before my very own eyes. This war needs to end, we need fuel.

Now, I do want to say this because the Biden administration came in and reserves the designation of the terrorist organization which took a lot of

pressure off. It didn't change the reality of what we are facing now from six years of devastation.

ANDERSON: I just want to bring back the Antony Blinken tweet here. The U.S. joining others including the U.K., Germany and France in condemning

the Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia in their offensive in Ma'rib, which is to the south. He says, we call on all parties to engage in the diplomatic

efforts through the Yemen process to bring peace to Yemen.

David, you are in and out of that country. I know you don't do politics, because you've got enough on your plate when it comes to trying to ensure

that this -- famine which you already see in pockets of the country doesn't become more widespread.

But it is important to talk about their politics at this point. What chance a political solution at this point? Because humanitarian crisis equals

political crisis equals -- political crisis equals humanitarian crisis. You and I know that.

BEASLEY: Well, you know as well as I do, we are here in this crisis state because of politics. This is a man-made conflict. It is going to be a man-

made solved. I mean that in a gendered way, because this is nothing but men fighting, I mean, recklessly, in a nation where nothing but innocent

victims are just dying and suffering and struggling, the future is literally going down the toilet. As I said, this is literally hell on

earth.

When I was with the Houthis just two days ago, I talked to them and said, you've got to sit down and work out a cease-fire. The Biden administration

literally wants to push for resolution. This is a window of opportunity that I do believe you need to take advantage of right now, this window now.

So, we need money, we need access, we need fuel, we need the war to end. I'm in Washington right now talking to the administration as well as

Republicans and Democrats about the needs and what we are facing, the humanitarian crisis. Why fuel is important. Most importantly, let's find a

path to peace.

ANDERSON: Well, in just the last few minutes, the U.S. special envoy to Yemen saying they have presented a crease fire plan to the Houthis but,

quote, it appears the Houthis are prioritizing a military campaign to take Marib which is an oil rich and very strategic city, over suspending the war

and moving relief to the Yemeni people. That is from the U.S. special envoy to Yemen in the last couple of minutes.

I just want to get your response to that, David?

BEASLEY: Well, I don't think there is any doubt. I've been talking to the administration here in Washington. They want a cease fire. I relayed that

message clearly to the Houthis leadership in the last couple of days. Let's find a ceasefire that will find a path forward for peace.

In the meantime, if we have a cease-fire, then we can avert famine and diminish the toll the way we know how to do best, because literally, we've

got 16 million people in jeopardy in crisis emergency mode. 5 million are knocking on the door of famine. If we don't have fuel for the commercial

side, a number of people are going to increase and the number of children are going to continue to die.

ANDERSON: David Beasley, if we never had to talk about Yemen again because there was a solution to this crisis and the people of Yemen and let's hopes

this a Yemeni solution for the Yemeni people and the people of Yemen were allowed to live their lives and have a future, that it wouldn't be too

soon.

So, I'm going to be optimistic about this, at this point, and hope that you and I never have to speak about this. I fear that will not be the case. If

that's so, you and I will continue to talk. We will continue to report on this story and we will continue to provide some momentum as we can for a

solution to what is, as you describe, hell on Earth.

David, thank you.

(CROSSTALK)

ANDERSON: In the time that we have -- yeah, David, I know.

In the time we've been covering Yemen on this show, now 18 minutes past the hour, we started at the top of the hour, 15 children in Yemen will have

starved to death. What more is there to say?

Okay. There's more to come on the show, but, you know, let's take a break at this point.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[10:21:44]

ANDERSON: All right. I want to get you back to Nigeria now where more parents will be in torment and the country's kidnapping crisis. A forestry

college in northwestern Kaduna state is the very latest target of gunman. It is not known how many students were grabbed at gun point after an

assault overnight.

What we do know is that this is the fourth time students have been abducted since December. Nigeria is reeling.

Well, civil activist Shehu Sani is a former senator of Mando, the town where the latest mass kidnapping happened. He's critical of the Nigerian

government's handling of the crisis, writing on Twitter, quote: When they said the Jangebe kidnappings would be the last, it's clear that they really

underestimated the enormity and gravity of the problem. Kidnapping is now a thriving lucrative business and students are now their stocks and goldmine.

Well, it couldn't be clearer than that.

Shehu Sani joins me now from Kaduna.

And before we talk about why these kidnappings keep happening, is there anything further you can provide for us on the detail of this latest

assault on these children?

SHEHU SANI, FORMER KADUNA SENATOR: Thank you very much for having me.

While all that has been made public was that gunmen attacked the federal forestry school and abducted a number of students, there was claims in the

last few minutes that some of the abducted students were rescued but also an admission that a number of the students are still in the hands of these

bandits and kidnappers.

So, as far as we know, the students are still in captivity and efforts will be made to get them out, released, as soon as possible because this has

become a pattern --

ANDERSON: Do we know how many students?

SANI: For now, the estimations have still been from 180 to 200 to 250. It is difficult to know how many students were actually abducted until a head

count is actually made by the school authorities and official statement is made public. For now, it is still a guesstimate of how many of them were

kidnapped.

ANDERSON: Apologies because I interrupted you as you were talking about what needs to happen next at this point. I mean, what is going on?

SANI: Well, in the last few years, kidnapping has become the strategy and the business of bandits and terrorist groups in northern part of Nigeria.

In the northeast, the Boko Haram, the Alsar (ph) Islam and also the Islam (ph), have been adopting the strategy of abducting students.

[11:25:04]

By doing that, they bring attention of the government and world to themselves and then extort money.

In the northwest part of Nigeria, bandits have adopted the same strategy. They have discovered that is only by storming schools and abducting

students that they will be able to get the maximum money or whatever they will extort from the government.

The government is always more serious when schools are been attacked and students are kidnapped than other section of society, and that is why the

pattern of kidnapped students in schools have become the norm from Chibouk to Dabshe (ph), to Dangara (ph) to Kadara (ph), Jangebe, and now

(INAUDIBLE) in northwestern part of Nigeria.

Kidnapping has become a huge business. It is very difficult for these bandits to stop kidnapping for the fact that this is the only way they have

discovered it is a gold mine and also (INAUDIBLE) for them.

ANDERSON: So your suggestion is that the government is paying ransoms. I mean, this isn't stopping because this is a lucrative business, you are

suggesting that the government is paying these bandits to get these kids back, correct?

SANI: Well, if you study the history of kidnapping in northern part of Nigeria, the reasons for kidnap have basically been to extort money as

ransom. In some cases, the Islamists, the extremists in the northeastern part of Nigeria have other reasons for kidnapping. That is when they

kidnap, they indoctrinate their victims, they recruit them and then they use them in their own battles.

But for the bandits, it is purely acts of criminality and extortion. And the government has been paying ransom. But they will not publicly admit it

in that sense that by not admitting it, it means that they are trying to discourage other guns and other criminal elements from going forward to

kidnap more people. But it is a fact known by everyone that ransom have been paid by the government and also individuals who have their loved ones

been kidnapped.

ANDERSON: Very briefly, you helped mediate during the Chibouk kidnappings. What has changed from then and now if anything at all has changed?

SANI: When the girls were kidnapped in Chibouk, it was easier to negotiate at that time because the terror group were not as strongly as affiliated

with the international terror organizations as they are now. Negotiation for the release of kidnapped victims is easier with the bandits than the

terror group because the bandits are focused on getting ransom and releasing their victims. But for the terrorists, money may not be the

easier way to get the victims out of their captivity.

So, it is difficult now to negotiation with the terrorists because of their needs and what is happening between themselves. But so far, successes have

been achieved in different fronts in the northwest. That is rescue and kidnap victims by paying ransom. But that is not helping matters because

when you pay ransom, you to (INAUDIBLE) to that group to kidnap and also, you give them resources to buy arms and to continue to perpetrate their

acts of criminality.

And I think it is a catch-22 situation. If you don't pay ransom, they kill your victims. If you pay, they kidnap more. So, the state need to act to

bring an end to this criminality, this banditry and terror.

ANDERSON: And this is a vicious, vicious circle with kids, of course, at its heart.

Sir, thank you very much indeed for joining us.

We will be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[10:32:01]

ANDERSON: You've heard this warning before, Brazilian officials saying their health care system is bursting at the seams for the COVID 19 and is

on the brink of collapse. Well, Sao Paulo's governor says it is no longer on the brink, it is collapsing. And his state at least will be shutting

down a long list of spots people gather, starting Monday.

Brazil's health minister says Sao Paulo has got it all wrong. The health system is not -- or has not collapse nor will it collapse.

And President Jair Bolsonaro is predicting chaos if governors keep imposing new restrictions.

CNN's Matt Rivers is right there in Sao Paulo where the restrictions will be enforced days from now.

An awful lot of politics going on here in what is such a nonpolitical situation or should be. You are on the ground. Tell us what you are hearing

and seeing.

MATT RIVERS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: You know, Becky, the last time we did a live shot from you in Brazil, we were in this Amazonian city of Manaus.

That was just six weeks ago. It was hard to believe it was that recent.

At that time, second wave of COVID decimating that city, thanks to a variant, thanks to gatherings. It was brutal. What happened in Manaus is

now happening across the entire country. In recent days, we have seen huge numbers of new cases, huge number of new deaths.

Just this week alone, two daily records were set of coronavirus related deaths recorded in a single day, nearly 2,300 reported on Wednesday alone.

And when you look across the country, you are looking at ICU occupancy rates like in the hospital behind me that are just staggering. In 23 of 26

states in Brazil plus its federal district, ICU occupancy rates are at 80 percent or higher. That shows things are not going to get a lot better.

They're going to probably going to get worse before they get better.

I want to show you a graph, Becky, that can show you the United States versus Brazil seven-day moving average of newly confirmed deaths. The U.S.

has the most coronavirus deaths in the world, followed by Brazil. Look at that trend line, the United States going down and Brazil going in the wrong

direction.

And I think it's fair to say, most experts would agree, that number in Brazil will likely rise over the next few days because of those occupancy

rates I just told you about.

ANDERSON: And the government of Jair Bolsonaro says he doesn't want to see restrictions. He says restrictions cause chaos, governors and mayors across

the country, not least in the city where you are and the state where you are just disagree.

And in the city of Rio de Janeiro, they have halted their vaccination campaign due to a lack of vaccines.

Look, is there any sense when Brazil is going to get out of this? I mean, firstly, will they receive more doses at this point?

RIVERS: I mean, you would have expected a country like Brazil which has a long history of vaccinating its people successfully against myriad of

diseases.

[10:35:06]

It would have been much further along in its vaccination program than it is so far. Only 11 million or so doses have been applied across the country.

Only roughly 2.7 million people have been fully vaccinated. That's about 1 percent of the population here. It is a disaster, the vaccination program

in this country.

This month, the government is saying there will be about 26 million, 27 million doses that are expected to arrive in Brazil this month. It might

sound okay, but compare that to what they said last month when they first announced their roll out program, Becky, they were expecting 46 million to

arrive this month. That number nearly halved in the latest estimates.

ANDERSON: Matt on the ground in Sao Paulo, Matt, thank you.

Well, vaccines matter big time. The U.K. has become an example of how massive their impact can be. Many British seniors are now able to visit in

person with their loved ones for the first time in a year. Some can again experience the little joys they haven't experienced for many months.

Here is Phil Black.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

PHIL BLACK, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): From its earliest days, the pandemic has stood like a barricade blocking David

Alexander's sense of duty and love for his wife.

DAVID ALEXANDER: Hello, my darling.

BLACK: Until this moment.

ALEXANDER: Hello. Do you know who I am?

SHEILA: (INAUDIBLE).

ALEXANDER: I'm David.

SHEILA: (INAUDIBLE).

ALEXANDER: Do you know David? Your husband.

SHEILA: No.

ALEXANDER: Oh, it's a long time since I've seen you.

BLACK: Sheila has dementia, she rarely speaks. So David can't know with this reunion needs to her or what she thought and felt through the long

stretches where he wasn't allowed to visit.

They've shared their lives for more than 55 years but this is only the second time they've sat together during the pandemic.

It's almost five months since Sheila last heard David's voice.

ALEXANDER: I've got you a few little flowers out of the garden.

BLACK: Or felt his touch.

ALEXANDER: Even with gloves on it's better than what they arranged before. You've got to be thankful for what you've got. You all right, love?

BLACK: Emotional reunions, poignant and joyful.

SARA: Hello there.

BLACK: Taking place in nursing and care homes across England. Because, as vaccines roll out, residents are now allowed one designated visitor.

RENEE DOLAN, GRANDMOTHER: Lovely seeing you, darling.

SARA: Yes. And you.

BLACK: For Renee Dolan, it's her granddaughter, Sara.

DONAN: It's so nice seeing you. It's a long time.

SARA: I know. I know, but listen. Listen. I'm going to come back next as well.

BLACK: After so many months apart, the need for physical contact and comfort is overwhelming. But there are still rules. No hugging or kissing,

they can only hold hands.

In this moment, that limited gesture is loaded with feeling.

DONAN: (Inaudible) daughter means everything to me. Everything, yes. I'm going to cry a little bit. I don't want to do that.

SARA: Oh, it's all right. It's OK. Don't worry.

DONAN: I've got one.

SARA: You've got one. All right.

ANDREA (ph): Hello, how are you?

HOWARD CHAPMAN, FATHER: (INAUDIBLE).

BLACK: Howard Chapman and his daughter, Andrea, say in normal times they don't usually hold hands. But these aren't normal times.

CHAPMAN: But to have somebody in like this.

ANDREA: Yes.

CHAPMAN: My lovely daughter. What's your name?

ANDREA: Yes. Which one are you?

BLACK: In the Manor Hall nursing home --

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Are we excited to go out today, George?

BLACK: -- there's a buzz of anticipation. Some of the residents are leaving the grounds for the first time since last summer.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Oh, you're quick on your feet this morning.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Always am.

BLACK: It's only a small excursion, a drive through the nearby countryside followed by tea in a park near a local beach.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And now we can explore that beach today, can't we?

BLACK: It's more freedom than George Baulch thought possible.

How are you doing today?

GEORGE BAULCH, RESIDENT OF CARE HOME: Very well. We've been locked up for weeks and weeks and weeks. Never thought this was going to happen again for

us.

To come here, you realize how big England is. You've almost forgot how big this place is, really. Isn't it?

BLACK: Many of England's elderly were lost to the pandemic and so many more have been forced to endure heartbreaking confinement.

[10:40:01]

Their restored freedoms are modest but they allow the possibility of hope. For more time with loved ones.

DOLAN: Love you.

SARA: Love you.

DOLAN: All right.

SARA: See you next week.

DOLAN: Yes. All right, darling. Take care.

BLACK: And more walks by the beach.

Phil Black, CNN, Southern England.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ANDERSON: Welcome back. You're watching CONNECT THE WORLD. I'm Becky Anderson for you.

Golf's players championship is under way. It teed off Thursday and some of the players may still be thinking about this nightmare 17th hole, the

infamous island green taking a lot of victims, as it always does.

"World Sport's" Patrick Snell is with me.

You just have to look at that hole to get the yips, don't you?

PATRICK SNELL, WORLD SPORT: Yes, Becky, perfectly put as always. I was just saying that hole fills me with absolute terror, absolute dread when

you see some of the mishaps there, the balls going into the water.

You and I played some great courses over the year. No question about that. But there's one hole that really, even the best players to the test.

And also in "World Sport" in just a few moments, we're going to be highlighting a day that Rory McIlroy I think would rather forget, what he

did on hole number 18 that doesn't even bear thinking about. It is a challenging test of golf out there, I'll tell you. (INAUDIBLE) on social

media, that's a fascinating watch, Becky.

ANDERSON: Oh, what a tease you are. That up after this short break. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(WORLD SPORT)

[11:00:00]

END