Return to Transcripts main page
Connect the World
Nurses in England Call for more COVID Restrictions; Omicron Fueling Surge in Child Hospitalizations; Prince Andrew's Civil Case Hearing Underway; Five Nuclear Powers Make Group Pledge to Avoid War; As Many As 100,000 Russian Troops Amassed at Border; Bumper Start to Year for U.S. Stock Markets. Aired 11a-12p ET
Aired January 04, 2022 - 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: A very warm welcome back to the second hour of the show. As we enter year three of the Coronavirus
pandemic. We are all learning how to live with COVID-19. The latest global surge in cases of course fueled by the Omicron variant certainly impacting
daily life and forcing governments to take some very difficult decisions as they try to balance protection of staff and essential services while trying
to keep the wheels turning for all of us.
Well, in Europe, schools set to reopen in Spain and in the Netherlands, which is at present under a strict COVID lockdown. Returning to school, a
big concern in the United States as pediatric COVID-19 hospitalizations there surge to pandemic highs more than 500 new admissions each day last
week.
And back in Europe, the French Parliament resumes debate today on a controversial vaccine past law after opposition parties joined forces to
suspend debate on Monday night. I want to start in France Our Cyril Vanier connecting to us tonight from Paris. What is going on - what's the
argument, the debate at present?
CYRIL VANIER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, I think first of all, Becky, we have to remind our viewers that right now in France, we are less than four
months away from a presidential election. So anything that happens in Parliament at this stage or even anything that is done by government is
highly political.
The government has decided to pursue its strategy of a vaccine pass. So it first introduced a health pass not quite the same thing last summer, and
that was hugely successful in terms of getting people vaccinated.
The idea of the health pass is that you can only access certain areas of public life if you've been vaccinated, or until now, if you can provide a
negative COVID test, which meant that some unvaccinated people could still go to say, restaurants, bars concerts, if they did a COVID test for that
particular occasion.
The government now wants to squeeze the unvaccinated in this country and exclude them from those areas of public life by turning the health pass
into a vaccine pass meaning you will have to show proof of vaccination. If you're unvaccinated a negative COVID test will not get you into a
restaurant or those other venues.
And opposition parties have well been opposed to this. They feel that it's - too much of a curtailment of people's individual freedoms. And therefore
they pause debate of this bill in parliament yesterday. Now they're still at this stage quite a strong chance I would assess that this bill passes
and passes into law.
But the government's schedule government wanted this to be law by mid- January is being railroaded Becky.
ANDERSON: Fascinating. Thank you for that. That's the story in France as we speak. In England nurses calling for more restrictions as hospitals face
unprecedented work absences due to COVID. Look, this isn't just happening in England it is happening in many parts of the country and around the
world.
The number of NHS staff though, absences has spiked since the Christmas holiday. Earlier the Royal College of Nursing wrote a letter to the UK
Health Secretary questioning the more relaxed measures in England compared to Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
My next guest is Dr. Chaand Nagpaul Chair of the Council of the British Medical Association. He tweeted about the alarming trend that English
hospitals are seeing. He says and I quote here COVID related staff absence nearly doubled in the past two weeks the elephant in the room when watching
the data in inverted commas.
Dr. Chaand Nagpaul joins us live via Skype from London, just how much of the current strain on hospitals is due to unvaccinated cases of COVID-19? I
want to start with the actual patients as it were, and then move into this idea that so many essential workers are actually out at present. And that
of course, is having a big impact as well, isn't it?
DR. CHAAND NAGPAUL, CHAIR, COUNCIL OF THE BRITISH MEDICAL ASSOCIATION: Yes, I mean, there's no doubt that being fully vaccinated. I want to clarify
when we use the term fully vaccinated, I'm referring to having had the booster and we know that two vaccinations the first two doses don't confer
enough protection.
So if for those that are not vaccinated or have not had the booster, there's a far higher numbers who are being admitted to hospital in some
cases, up to 80 percent of those admitted are people who have not had their full vaccination program including the booster so it of course, does make a
difference.
But in spite of whatever we can do to vaccinate the population, there is of course the other issue while at staff absence which is impacting on patient
service significantly.
[11:05:00]
DR. NAGPAUL: Now the government has been always quoting issues around hospitalization and what we're saying is that they also need to factor in
whether the staff is available, or whether they're actually isolating, making it difficult for patients to receive treatments.
The other thing I should also add is that there are about 11 million patients. And I suspect this is in the UK and I suspect as similar to other
nations who are not yet eligible for their booster. So these are people who may not be vaccinated or may have only had one vaccine or the second
vaccine just very recently. So you've got to still have public health measures to protect them as well.
ANDERSON: Are you in favor of reducing the self-isolation period to five days in line with the U.S. to ease the pressure that you are describing
faced by staff shortages?
DR. NAGPAUL: I think the important thing is that whatever the duration is, it needs to be safe, and must, in fact, protect patients and other
colleagues if people return to work, because it will be counter-productive if healthcare workers were to infect each other, or the peak patients
they're treating.
Now in the UK, the isolation period has reduced from 10 days to 7 days on proof of a negative lateral flow test, on days six and seven. Now that
there is a difference in the timing of when you start which day you start from, whether it's symptoms, or the test between the UK and the U.S.
So that's why the UK Government still believes that in the UK, seven days is the right duration. It's to do with when you count day one, which is
different from the U.S. to the UK.
ANDERSON: You will be aware that earlier, the Royal College of Nursing wrote a letter to the UK Health Secretary questioning the more relaxed
measures in England, compared to those in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
The government's current position is that there is and I quote here, nothing in the data to merit further restrictions in England, then current
measures are sufficient, I have to ask you, do you agree?
DR. NAGPAUL: I don't agree not because it's an issue of opinion. I don't agree because the facts show that the data is - the data shows sorry, that
that hospital admissions have nearly doubled in the last 10 days, the numbers of patients who are in hospital is more than 14,000 compared to you
know, two or three weeks ago, we had half that number, and it's rising week on week.
And remember the other difference now, compared to perhaps earlier on in the pandemic is we have accumulated in the UK, a massive backlog of care of
about 6 million patients who are waiting for operations 300,000 - 312,000 of whom have been waiting more than 12 months.
So remember, you know, we're trying - we have a health service that is meant to not just treat COVID patients, but huge numbers of other patients
who also may have life threatening diseases, who may also be suffering with, say, a painful hips that need replacing, and so forth.
So you know - we there is definitely pressure on the system that is escalating. The other reason why you need to bring down infection rates in
the community. And why you need to have measures to bring down that infection rate is that, you know, in addition to the hospitalization of
patients, the higher the rates of infection in the community, the more healthcare staff will also be infected, and we'll be off work.
So you know, there's no point just looking at hospitalization in isolation, because the staffs themselves are getting infected with rocketing levels of
Omicron.
ANDERSON: Now, how are staffs that are in work, coping at this point?
DR. NAGPAUL: You know, it's really hard on staff, you know, we've had now 22 months of the pandemic, staff in our health service have been working
flat out during that period. They haven't been at home during lockdown, they've been going into work, they've been giving their all they've gone
beyond the call of duty they've covered for their absence for their colleagues have been absent.
At the moment one of the greatest pressures is that when you have a hospital unit, or in my case, a general practice, whereas in some cases, 50
percent of staff, your colleagues are off work. In other cases, you know, between 10 and 25 percent is quite common.
When you've got that level of shortage you're adding additional strain on overworked and exhausted healthcare colleagues, and they're actually then
also suffering that strain. We're seeing now increasing burnout, and doctors and nurses and others saying they really can't put up with this
pressure for much longer. So it is definitely having a consequential effect.
[11:10:00]
ANDERSON: We are being told and frankly many will agree that we need to learn to live with COVID. What does that mean to you? And what are your
concerns going forward? I mean, again, you know, experts suggesting that this peak may be relatively quick, certainly quicker than then with other
variants that we may just need to get through this period when many people get infected over the holiday period and New Year period. What does it mean
to you, when we hear the term we need to learn to live with COVID-19?
DR. NAGPAUL: I mean, look, after nearly two years, I can quite understand and sympathize with arguments that we can't carry out - carry on
indefinitely, in a situation where society is paralyzed. But I do think that we need to do things in a measured and progressive manner.
We're in a much stronger position today than we were this time last year, we have vaccinations, the vaccination program has made a significant
difference in terms of the severity of illness, and those that are and mortality and admissions.
And we've got new treatments that are now available antiviral treatments. But at the same time, I don't think we can just be - and say, we've got to
learn to live with a virus because ultimately, in the UK, what we have at the moment is a health service that is unable to meet the needs of its
population.
We have a health service where hospitals are now on critical alert, meaning they can't even they don't have the capacity to treat patients for
emergency services, and patients are having to go to other hospitals, we have a situation where our ambulance response times are not meeting their
life, targets for life threatening illnesses.
We have queues outside hospital for patients to be admitted. And we have patients waiting on corridors because there aren't the beds to admit them.
Now, you can't just brush that aside and say that we got to learn to live with that.
We must learn to live with a health service that cannot look after its population at times of need. So whichever way you look at it, living with
the virus must mean bringing down the levels of infection we currently have. And at the same time, making sure we vaccinate the population, not
just in any way nation, but globally.
This is a global issue. And the reason why we suddenly and why we can variants is because we've got parts of the world where very small numbers
of people who've been vaccinated. So we've got to take a collective approach this year.
ANDERSON: And if you're a regular viewer of this show, Doctor, you will know that the vaccine inequality issue is something that we talk about
regularly on this show, and you are absolutely right. Everybody needs to get the opportunity to be vaccinated in parts of the world where
vaccinations have been successful, where the - where the programs have been successful.
And England, as you point out has been one of those. And the question now arises, of course, is can we expect to vaccinate people every six months?
And that is a - that is now a big concern? Isn't it? What's your sense?
DR. NAGPAUL: I think that this is too early to say. I think we'll have to see how things progress. And we need to also see whether there are going to
be new variants. There's also the possibility of vaccines that can be tailored specifically for variants.
So I think it's just too early to say. Our immediate priority at the moment must be to both in nations like the UK and the U.S. to bring down infection
rates and that so we need a vaccine plus strategy. You can't just rely on vaccinations at the moment.
But the second thing, as your program has highlighted there it is that we've got to get vaccine equity. And I've written to the Prime Minister in
the UK, and I hope they know that this effort is being sort of taken in all nations, because there are surpluses of vaccines.
There is actually the ability with a determined effort for nations across the globe, to ensure equitable distribution, not to stockpile and to enable
all of the - all of the world to become vaccinated in 2022. Because when you we've just seen that Delta, and now with Omicron, that, in fact, you
know, the pandemic will never end until it ends everywhere. So I think we need to do all of those things at the moment.
ANDERSON: With that, we're going to leave it there. We thank you very much indeed, for joining us. Well, as we mentioned earlier, children are
becoming infected with COVID at an alarming rate certainly in the United States.
In France, though 98 percent of children aged 5 to 11, for example, are unvaccinated and the virus is spreading rapidly amongst that group. In
England government data shows that COVID infections are highest amongst children six and younger as well as young adults. It's believed that one
out of every 20 schoolchildren in England currently has COVID.
[11:15:00]
ANDERSON: Well, in the United States there are now a record number of kids being hospitalized with COVID across the country? The nation's largest
pediatric hospital, Texas Children's Hospital says it has seen a full-fold increase in child hospitalization in the past two weeks my colleague Miguel
Marquez there to learn more.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MIGUEL MARQUEZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Four month old Grayson Perry his tiny belly rapidly is expanding and contracting, one of many
children here with COVID-19 struggling to breathe.
MARQUEZ (on camera): Are you afraid they're going to have to incubate him?
GAYVIELLE GOFF, MOTHER OF COVID-19 PATIENT: Yes, a little bit. It's just really scary. So I just hope that you know, he's able to get better go.
MARQUEZ (voice over): Gayvielle Goff, mom to three thinks her youngest picked up the virus at a Christmas family gathering, her only job now
keeping her son in good spirits.
GOFF: I do talk to him and like a little baby voice I think to him, I can't sing but he likes it.
MARQUEZ (voice over): One of nearly 70 children now hospitalized at Texas Children's a new record high for the nation's largest pediatric hospital.
In just the last two weeks, hospitalizations here have increased more than four-fold most unvaccinated or not eligible for vaccines from toddlers to
teens.
AMY WOODRUFF, MOTHER OF COVID-19 PATIENT: Our COVID journey began to see don't even know - or mashed potatoes. We began November 29. Me and my
daughter both tested positive for COVID.
MARQUEZ (voice over): Amy Woodruf daughter Halie her 17th birthday, the day we visited has been incubated in an induced coma for nearly a month. She
also gave birth nearly three weeks ago. She knows none of it.
WOODRUFF: She had a C section in Amarillo on December 9th to a beautiful little baby girl three pounds six ounces.
MARQUEZ (on camera): That she has not seen yet.
WOODRUFF: She has not seen and she was COVID negative praise Jesus.
MARQUEZ (voice over): From Pampa, Texas Halie was moved to Amarillo then Houston for advanced care, still unaware her three week old daughter-- is
900 miles away in an Amarillo newborn intensive care unit.
MARQUEZ (on camera): What will you tell her when you can speak to her?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I don't even think about it. That's my little girl mean away from our little girl. My heart bleeds for her.
MARQUEZ (voice over): The Omicron variant now ripping through the Lone Star State Texas Children's preparing for even more sick kids as COVID 19 cases
skyrocket.
MARQUEZ (on camera): What is your sense for what the next few weeks are going to hold?
NICOLE LEATHERS, NURSE MANAGER, PEDIATRIC ICU, TEXAS CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL: You know I think the bar for resilience just keeps moving. You think that I
don't know how we could do this again and then we keep doing it again.
MARQUEZ (voice over): As Texas Children's readies for a fourth Coronavirus wave, already its ER is seeing a spike in kids suffering mild symptoms,
their parents seeking testing bogging down triage for the seriously ill.
DR. BRENT KAZINY, MEDICAL DIRECTOR, EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT, TEXAS CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL: We're seeing a lot of patients present with mild respiratory
symptoms, cough congestion fever, known COVID exposures, et cetera that are really I think a lot of them are really seeking testing.
MARQUEZ (voice over): Like previous waves, the sickest kids, those needing hospitalization are having tough time breathing.
DR. MELANIE KITAGAWA, MEDICAL DIRECTOR, TRANSITIONAL ICU, TEXAS CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL: So they're getting a lot of respiratory symptoms as we've been
expecting, Pneumonias needing respiratory support to help them breathe better.
MARQUEZ (voice over): Viral spread expected to intensify in the week's ahead and even if the Omicron variant isn't as severe.
DR. JIM VERSALOVIC, PATHOLOGIST-IN-CHIEF, TEXAS CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL: The problem is that with so many children and adults infected, even if the
percent hospitalization rate is lower, we're still - we could see more children hospitalized over a very short period of time. So that certainly
puts a strain on our healthcare resources.
MARQUEZ (voice over): Miguel Marquez, CNN, Houston, Texas.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: Well, as we look to understand just how Omicron affects kids say pediatrician answers your questions on Pfizer COVID-19 booster shots for
those aged 12 to 15. And I hope this is useful it is@cnn.com.
With one month to go until the Beijing Winter Olympics, China has launched a pre-game version of its closed loop management system as its known. The
bubble like environment is meant to protect athletes, officials, journalists and workers from COVID-19.
Now once inside Olympic zones, they'll undergo daily COVID tests and won't be able to access the outside world during their stay for the actual event.
This is China's second time hosting the Olympics.
But the country is his relations with the world are in a very different place than when Beijing hosted the games more than a decade ago from a
global pandemic to ICM relations with the West. David Culver takes a look at some of the changes.
[11:20:00]
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DAVID CULVER, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Mentioned Beijing Olympics and for many this mesmerizing production that was 2008 still comes to mind,
a celebration as China's stepped onto the global stage seemingly embraced by the rest of the world. Photos show a very different U.S. China
relationship.
Then US President George W. Bush, in the stands sitting shoulder to shoulder with Chinese officials passionately cheering on Team USA and
grinning as he shook hands with a smiling Xi Jinping. Then China's Vice President.
BOB COSTAS, AMERICAN SPORTS BROADCASTER: And in 2008, President Bush was there.
CULVER (voice over): As Veterans sports broadcaster Bob Costas reminds us in 2008, China's human rights record had already come into question,
particularly its treatment of Tibetans. But still there were hopes that the Olympic gathering might help it change course.
COSTAS: Now here is China hosting an Olympics again, what a decade and a half--
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You were questioned, nothing has changed.
COSTAS: After the last one and well, one of the big questions now that you can evade is what is it with the IOC and their affinity for authoritarian
nations.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Beijing.
CULVER (voice over): Some critics say the International Olympic Committee is turning a blind eye to grave offenses by allowing the 2022 winter games
to go ahead. The IOC says it recognizes and upholds human rights, and "the IOC must remain neutral on all global political issues".
But widespread criticism of the Chinese government, especially over alleged human rights abuses of the - in the far western Xinjiang region, have led
the Biden Administration to announce a diplomatic boycott of the games. Still letting Team USA competes, but don't expect any photos like these.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The Biden Administration will not send any diplomatic or official representation.
CULVER (voice over): No one would care whether these people come or not, and it has no impact whatsoever on the Olympics. Under an increasingly
powerful and undisputed ruler, Xi Jinping, China is on a different path from what the West had hoped, from a trade war to threats of an actual war
in the South China Sea. Pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong were quickly squashed.
Taiwan a self-governing democracy now faces mounting pressure to come under Beijing's control, and many countries still questioning the origins of
COVID-19. Along with China's initial mishandling and alleged cover ups of the outbreak, we recently went to Beijing Olympic village from 2008.
CULVER (on camera): Guess we can't go through, blocked off.
CULVER (voice over): Many of the structures repurposed for the 2022 Winter Games, the joyful cheers now feeling like a distant memory.
CULVER (on camera): Leading up to the 2008 Olympics, China was opening up. Now we're literally seeing it closed up. This is a pedestrian pathway that
supposed to take you up to where you see the torch in several of the competition venues.
And yes, sure, because of COVID you can't go there, that also it's symbolic of the geopolitics that have China shutting off to the rest of the world.
CULVER (voice over): A nation is stronger and prouder than ever before hosting its second Olympic Games. The warm camaraderie of 2008 long past
frosty relations as an increasingly skeptical global audience watches on from afar. David Culver, CNN, Shanghai.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: Just ahead by Prince Andrews's lawyers urging a U.S. judge to throw out a sex abuse civil case against the royal. Our need to foreign
ministers plan to discuss and what is an extraordinary virtual meeting later this week.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[11:25:00]
ANDERSON: We are watching for any developments from a court showdown in New York. That is where a federal judge is hearing arguments via video link on
whether to drop a civil claim of sexual assault against Prince Andrew. Now, he consistently denies any wrongdoing.
His lawyers say a settlement agreement between his accuser Virginia Giuffre and sex offender Jeffrey Epstein shields the prince from Giuffre's civil
lawsuit. The hearing comes a day after that settlement was made public. CNN's Royal Correspondent Max Foster standing by for us in England.
He joins us live from Hampshire. So what do we know about the unsealed documents and what are the expectations with regard what this judge may do
on this civil case, Max at this point?
MAX FOSTER, CNN ROYAL CORRESPONDENT: --was literally just finished the hearing and the judge said he will expect to offer his ruling very soon.
But he wasn't specific about the details.
What much of the hearing was about was, you know, centered on this 2009 agreement which is between Giuffre and Epstein and where she basically
agrees not to pursue or to sue or to sue people connected to Epstein who could potentially be seen as defendants.
Now various arguments going on, her team arguing that this agreement refers to a separate case it doesn't apply to this New York case, number one. Also
the judge pursuing this interesting line, which was that this was a secret agreement between Giuffre and Epstein.
It was only unsealed this week. And because of that, only Epstein and Giuffre knew about it when it was written and in recent years as well. And
the year subsequently, therefore, only they could action this agreement.
So either Giuffre or Epstein can action, this agreement, Prince Andrew can't action this agreement that was seemed to be the way he was going on
this one. And then it was whether or not Prince Andrew could be seen as a third party to this agreement. So lots of arguments about that as well.
The judge needs to take all of that away, consider it, consider whether or not this agreement applies to this case. If it doesn't, then the case
continues. If it does, then potentially the case could be thrown out by the judge, which is obviously what Prince Andrew is pursuing right now.
ANDERSON: If he allows his civil case to continue, and when can we expect that, that case to begin?
FOSTER: Apologies, Becky. I'm losing you.
ANDERSON: I think I've lost him. All right, Max. Thank you. I think I've lost him. But you got the drift. And the gist of what Max was saying there.
We await a decision from the judge. You are watching "Connect the World".
Still ahead tonight, NATO foreign ministers are set to meet virtually this week, just days ahead of U.S. Russia talks Ukraine, front and center on the
agenda. And I'm going to talk to Ukrainian investigative journalists next about the Russian troop build-up along the border and the prospects for an
invasion.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[11:30:00]
ANDERSON: We may not agree on much, but in this case, it is good news for all of us here on Earth, the United States, Russia, China, the United
Kingdom, and France has made a group pledge to avoid nuclear war.
The powers issuing a joint statement saying in part a nuclear war cannot be won and must never are fold. This comes as the U.S. and Russia prepare for
talks in Geneva next week. And before those discussions take place, NATO foreign ministers will gather virtually on Friday.
One hot topic of course being Russia's Military buildup on Ukraine's border, U.S. President Joe Biden is promising to act decisively if Russia
further that's what he says further invades Ukraine. Well, CNN's Nic Robertson is standing by in Moscow along with Natasha Bertrand in
Washington.
Thank you both. Nic, let's start with you. Russia is believed to have the world's biggest stockpile of nuclear warheads. And yet the Russian FM
spokeswoman said the five nation's statement was initiated by Moscow. Just to clear up where you see that string at present and what's the strategy
here?
NIC ROBERTSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMATIC EDITOR: Well, I think it certainly by announcing this continued commitment to the nuclear Non
Proliferation Treaty, despite the fact that Russia has about an estimated more than 6200 nuclear warheads, the United States with an estimated five
and a half 1000, maybe a few more, China at about 350.
And China believed to be developing sites for potentially another sort of 1000 nuclear warheads to be based on Chinese soil. You know, there's an
atmosphere at the moment because of the deteriorating relations over time between the United States and Russia that a number of arms control
agreements have fallen by the wayside.
The Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty, its start to is sort of faltering and was given an extra breath of life last year for talks to continue. But the
intermediate range nuclear forces, weapon systems, the INF weapons control treaty fell by the wayside in 2019.
United States and Russia, they're failing to agree to trust and extend the Open Skies a treaty between the United States and Russia to allow their spy
aircraft over fly without previous advanced warning that's fallen by the wayside.
So this reaffirmation of the NPT Nuclear Non Proliferation Treaty and the concepts behind it, that nuclear weapons cannot be a first strike that
ultimately only potentially a defensive deterrent, is draws attention to where the world is, in terms of actually agreeing between nations that
have, you know, more grit between them than they did in the past United States and Russia, United States and China.
I think, yes, that's the best way to put it, that that is in that atmosphere, that these big international relations between the big powers
in the world are perhaps not as good as they could be. And this perhaps recommits to, you know, to a policy that's a smart policy. But it really
highlights the deficiencies at the moment in the arms control.
[11:35:00]
ANDERSON: Natasha, let's speak specifically to this meeting between the U.S. and Russia next weekend ahead of that. A meeting of foreign ministers
we saw yesterday Anthony Blinken speaking with his counterparts from what's known as the Bucharest Nine bloc of countries. What's going on so far as
Washington is concerned at present, and what's the strategy here?
NATASHA BERTRAND, CNN WHITE HOUSE REPORTER: Intensive diplomacy ahead of these talks with U.S. allies that is the strategy right now. Basically,
everyone is trying to get on the same page at the moment about what the West and what the U.S. and its allies are willing to put on the table when
they sit down with the Russians next week to discuss a potential pulling back of those Russian forces from the Ukrainian border.
Now, there is yet to be a consensus among the U.S. and its allies about what exactly the measures that they would impose if Russia were to actually
invade Ukraine. Of course, hundreds of thousands of troops built up there on the border ready to attack really at any moment.
But the U.S. is confident that they can get everyone on the same page so that they can respond cohesively and coherently if and when they need to.
So this week, a lot of discussions going on both internally at the White House, about what those sanctions might look like about what the military
planning would look like, if Russia did move to invade, where would NATO forces be moved.
When would that happen, and would they be troop's moves from different parts of Europe to the eastern flank to deter Russia or would new forces be
moved there? All of these things are in play.
And of course, dealing with the Russian demands, right? The Russians put out a list of demands that they want to see about their own security. They
say with regard to NATO's expansion with regard to Ukraine, potentially becoming a member of NATO, they don't want any of that to happen.
And the U.S. has said that many of those demands are non-starters. So the discussions that are taking place this week with Antony Blinken, the
Secretary of State and with allies on that Eastern Flank of NATO, they are trying to figure out well, what is the U.S. willing to put on the table
here in order to avert a war?
What is completely out of the question, and how can they strike this delicate balance so that Russia is not coming away from the talks, feeling
like he got nothing that it wanted, and therefore has a pretext for war?
ANDERSON: These are interesting times, aren't they? At the heart of Moscow's moves at present, Nic, is Russia's security NATO expansion, they
say is a threat they say.
And when Moscow talks about security, one expert I was reading today says we must understand Russian domination and impunity, because that is what
this is about. As U.S. influence wanes around the world, how is Moscow exploiting that briefly? How is all of this being framed inside Russia,
Nic?
ROBERTSON: Yes, there are no short answers to these questions, Becky, but let me try. You know, Russia looks back at the sort of end of the Cold War
and what NATO did in the 30 years following that, and none of it has made them happy. It's an eastward expansion.
NATO right now, having sort of gone through what it went through in Afghanistan with the hasty drawdown United States the narrative at NATO
headquarters, from the Secretary General and from the U.S. was we went in together, we'll come out together, we'll discuss and talk our next moves
through together.
Well, here we are at a crisis point, again, for NATO in this confrontation with Russia, a diplomatic confrontation at the moment with Russia. And the
United States narrative again is don't worry NATO, we're going to keep you up to speed.
We'll work together with you. We'll talk to you and that's what we're seeing happening. You know, Blinken talking to the Bucharest Nine just
yesterday, and all the other conversations he and President Biden of - NATO has been to make sure that reassurance is there.
But what Russia sees and reads like so many other countries around the world, is that President Biden is faltering on his foreign policy, the
drawdown in Afghanistan was calamitous. His failed to keep a key ally France in good standing over the nuclear submarine deal with Australia. His
adversaries like Russia see him beset by domestic problems where he can't even line up his own party on important issues for the Democrats.
And never mind the challenges he faces from the Republicans and the uncertainty that another Republican president may come along. And this is a
moment where countries like Russia and Russia is not alone in this.
See a moment of weakness in the United States global standing and a weakness in its effectiveness and ability to operate. And let's not forget
a new chancellor in Germany, France going through elections. An electorate in Europe that is unhappy about rising energy prices and that also is
something that Russia looks at in this big context here, Becky.
[11:40:00]
ANDERSON: To both of you, thank you very much indeed. My next guest says, "People in Ukraine understand that Russia can start a big war every moment
because we've been in war with Russia for the last seven years".
Anna Babinets is the Editor in Chief and Co-Founder of the Independent Investigative Journalism Agency, Slidstvo.info, excuses me. She's also the
winner of the International Women's Media fund's 2019. Courage in journalism award, we thank you for joining us. As a Ukrainian and a
journalist, how would you describe the situation and the atmosphere at the border with Russia right now?
ANNA BABINETS, UKRAINE EDITOR, OCCRP: Hello, thank you for inviting to talk. So I can say against that in Ukraine, people understand that Russia
can start be - every moment because we have been in the world is Russia for last seven more than seven years.
So I can say that people are very optimistic or pessimistic or panic everywhere? No, because we know that we have this problematic neighbor for
all years. So we speak about that with friends. When we celebrating New Year, we still speak what we will do if the war will starting. I can say is
that something bigger going on borders, but we follow the situation we see.
And of course, I should say that many people in Ukraine journalist activist politicians, we, of course, expect so many things from West government,
because we understand that our role and our activities, not enough for doing - with Russia.
So we expect at least very important for us to have to have like I don't know, the least of sanction against Russia in case, in case Russia will
start a war because maybe it will have - wait, it will have -
ANDERSON: And that's certainly a threat from the U.S. and the Joe Biden Administration. But as we've just been discussing this hour, if this is a
moment when Moscow sees a weakness in U.S. leadership and some weakness, perhaps in European leadership, as well, does that worry you?
I mean, how like you say there could be a war at any moment. But how likely is it do you think that that is what Moscow is planning?
BABINETS: You know, we in Ukraine before New Year, we had in some network that it's special day, when was when the Russia can start? It's like 24
December, it was the day people talked about that, then what next day, like New Year night or something, but we can't predict Russia.
We can't understand how Putin thinks. So we expect this everyday every moment. So I don't know Israel's negotiations --maybe it helps. But like
more steps, which will show that West can do more active steps it will be I think, much better, like Military have or list of sanctions or something
exact.
ANDERSON: Well, I mean, one has to ask what it will take to stop Russia from advancing after all, clearly, sanctions don't seem to faze President
Putin. How are people preparing you say since December the 24th it's - you know, there is a sense that anything could happen anytime soon.
You know, how do people feel in Ukraine about what is going on around them, as it were, and to a certain extent out of your own hands?
BABINETS: Of course, not we can say that we are happy to set but we are ready when it happens seven and a half years ago, we were shocked. But now
I can say that variety of people, variety of people talks about what should we have in backpacks like emergency backpacks with us?
What should we in our system for in our agency we were talking where we will work in case in what city where we will work in case if something will
happen. So I think that people just think about plans for next day, so what they will do if something will start. If mobile if cellular phones will not
work, what we will do.
[11:45:00]
BABINETS: So we talked about that we try to think when, what exactly we as journalists can do, for in case there was a war, big war will start. So we
talk about that every day, we try to plan something in situation which, where we can say that everyone, everything depends on us. Nothing depends
on us, in this case when we have this neighbor.
ANDERSON: It's good to have you on, and we continue to watch what is going on the diplomatic front, and we wish you the very best. Thank you. Well,
just ahead, how you go from being dubbed the next Steve Jobs, they're having a rap sheet for felonies long, that story is coming up.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: Well, she was once a darling of Silicon Valley attracting investments from some of the world's biggest business moguls. Elizabeth
Holmes founded tech startup per company thoroughness when she was just 19 years old, she dazzled the world with claims she could revolutionize blood
testing.
Well now she may face decades in prison after being found guilty on charges of defrauding investors. CNN's Jean Casarez has been following every twist
and turn of this trial. She joins us now from New York.
And there will be people Jean who are unfamiliar with this story and I perhaps wonder, you know, why should we care is about this, so just explain
if you will.
JEAN CASAREZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: You know, it's fascinating, and I was one of those people when it first came about that she'd been charged. I wasn't
aware of what Thera knows her company was but she was a young entrepreneur.
She developed a blood testing machine that she touted to investors and patients and doctors all around the world saying that with a couple of
drops of blood, we can diagnose hundreds of conditions.
Well, through this - through this testimony, the reality was that her testing machine could only "diagnose" and it was wrong much of the time,
about 12 different conditions. And she fielded out to third party vendors, other blood machines to analyze other conditions.
But there were some patients that were part of this trial. And actually they were not guiltier on those. And that involved aids antibodies
diagnosed in the system wrong no aids antibodies, PSA, which is a man antigen found in a female, wrong. But remember Elizabeth Holmes spoke to
the Investors.
[11:50:00]
CASAREZ: And that's what she was found guilty on of fraud, spoke to the Investors of what she was doing that how this was legendary how this was
going to change the world. And the jury deliberated a long time.
But here's what's very interesting. The notable people of our country, the United States and around the world that were Investors and on her board,
former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, he was a believer and he told his own state attorney that he had to invest in it.
And one of the accounts involved Henry Kissinger is a state attorney who invested almost $6,000 - $6 million and she was found guilty on that
account. The DeVos family former Secretary of Education DeVos, her family, they are billionaires; they invested $98.9 million they lost it all.
And that was a guilty against Elizabeth Holmes. And the Conspiracy charge of fraud against investor she was found guilty of which is an agreement to
fraudulently engage with others and plan and scheme.
And so this person that was believed by very notable people in this country, including former Secretary of State George Shultz, former
Secretary of Defense, James Mattis, they were on the board they were Investors they were all duped. She is now a convicted federal felon.
ANDERSON: Remarkable stuff. - was involved as well. And as far as investing is concerned, remarkable. Thank you. Coming up the DOW and S&P hit record
highs is the market open today. U.S. stocks on a bit of a tear so far in 2022, not all is rosy as inflation heats up across the world. We'll take a
look at what's going on for you, coming up.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: Well, two the world's biggest companies are enjoying a bump a week on the stock market. Apple became the first to hit $3 trillion in
market value while shares in Tesla rose 13 percent on Monday after the electric car company posted record sales.
This is the state of play as far as the DOW Jones index is concerned. These are record highs and this momentum also heating up the real economy
inflation is rearing its ugly head, the U.S. prices rose in November at their fastest pace in 39 years.
This isn't just hitting U.S. consumers hard it is a global concern. In December the Bank of England raised interest rates to combat rising prices.
Brazil central bankers signal it will continue to do the same despite already hiking rates at the beginning of last year.
Turkey's inflation soared of 36 percent in December that is a 19 year highs collapsing currency there raising the cost of imports. CNN's Matt Egan has
been following closely the challenges facing the global economy in 2022. He joins us now from New York.
I mean, if you looked at the DOW Jones index today, you think well you know everything in the house of investor is rosy, things seem to be OK. But
there are some certainly some tail headwinds out there on there.
[11:55:00]
MATT EGAN, CNN REPORTER: That's right, Becky. I think that the biggest positive here is that the economy continues to heal. And that's a really
big deal. The big question mark is what happens next on the COVID front.
But the big headwind, really is the fact that this easy money from central banks is going away. And that's because central banks are deciding to fight
inflation for good reason.
Now, you mentioned the Bank of England last month becoming the first major developed country central bank to actually raise interest rates. The
Federal Reserve is ending its bond buying stimulus program, probably in the next few months, and they're penciling in three interest rate hikes.
That is a big deal, because all of this using money from central banks is one of the reasons why markets performed so well recently. The S&P 500 up
by 28 percent last year, one of the biggest gains in the past several decades.
And the question is, you know, can central banks pull off this pivot from providing enormous amounts of emergency aid to actually removing that aid
and starting to tap the brakes in the economy? Can they do that without upsetting financial markets? And we don't know yet. But Becky, clearly,
that's a big risk out there.
ANDERSON: Yes, and clearly, central banks also have to worry about whether these economies might just take a jarring from any sort of COVID slowdown
that we might get. I do just have to ask you, I mean, these Apple, this Apple story is quite some that you got about 25 seconds, just tell us how
that company really has become as big as it is.
EGAN: I mean, it really is incredible. And it's about the success of their smartphones, the iPhone 13, their services, everything from Apple TV plus
iCloud to Apple Music, but what's amazing here is how fast they've done this.
$3 trillion first time ever, it was just on August 2018 that they hit the $1 trillion threshold; they passed 2 trillion in August of 2020. Now
they're at 3 trillion. It means that they're bigger than all these different companies combined.
Wal-Mart, Disney, Netflix, Nike, Exxon, Comcast, Morgan Stanley, Goldman Sachs, Boeing, McDonald's, IBM, Coke, Ford, and CNN owner, AT&T, Becky,
Apple is bigger than all of those companies combined.
ANDERSON: That is remarkable. Thank you, sir. And thank you for watching. "One World" with Zain Asher is up next from the team working with me here
in the UAE and around the world. It is a very good evening.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
END
