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Second Trump Impeachment Trial Begins; New Variants of Coronavirus May Challenge Vaccines; An African Conservationist Protects Grey Crowned Cranes
Aired February 09, 2021 - 04:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CARL AZUZ, CNN 10 ANCHOR: It`s time for your daily, down the middle explanation of world news.
This is CNN 10 and I`m Carl Azuz. Thank you for watching.
In the United States Senate, an impeachment trial is set to begin Tuesday for former U.S. President Donald Trump. Last month, the House of
Representatives voted to charge President Trump with incitement of insurrection. His accusers say his statements at a large rally on January 6
inspired some of the people there to later riot at the U.S. Capitol Building.
His supporters say the former president only called for a peaceful protest. It`s now up to the Senate to decide whether to find the former leader
guilty or not guilty. The chamber`s 100 senators will serve as jurors for the trial. The constitution requires a vote of two-thirds or 67 senators to
convict the president. Otherwise, the leader will be found not guilty. There are currently 50 Democrats and 50 Republican serving in the Senate,
and political analysts say it is very unlikely that two-thirds of them will vote to convict the Republican former president.
There`s also a debate going on about whether it`s constitutional to hold an impeachment trial for someone who`s no longer in office. Former President
Trump`s supporters called the trial political theater by Democrats since he`s now out of office and a private citizen. But some legal experts say
the House impeached him while he was still president and that the Senate has the power to prevent someone from running for office again as well as
removing someone from power. So, all eyes will be on the Senate in the days ahead.
At this point, experts think this trial will be wrapped up within three weeks.
New variants or strains of COVID-19 are appearing around the world, as it mutates like other viruses do and one big question being asked is, will
existing vaccines protect people against the new versions of coronavirus?
The short answer is, scientists don`t know yet. One of these new COVID strains was first seen in South Africa and several drugmakers say early
tests indicate their vaccines aren`t (ph) as effective against the South African strain as they are against the dominant strain spreading in the
U.S.
Two companies, Moderna and Pfizer say they may develop booster shots if their existing vaccines don`t work against new coronavirus strains.
America has seen a decrease in recent COVID-19 infections. On Sunday, just over 88,000 new positive tests were reported in the country and it was the
first day this year that fewer than 100,000 were reported.
But a medical expert told CNN that the U.S. could be in the eye of the hurricane -- meaning a decrease in cases that`s only temporary because of
the new disease variants that are spreading.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DAVID MCKENZIE, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: I`m David McKenzie in Blantyre, Malawi.
Scientists now say that the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine has only minimal effect in preventing mild and moderate versions of COVID-19. The South
African government is pausing the rollout of its vaccine. And here in Malawi, they have no vaccines to speak of at all, and the health system is
buckling under pressure.
We were in the COVID-19 wards where only a few doctors are not sick to help patients get over this brutal second wave.
SALMA ABDELAZIZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I`m Salma Abdelaziz in London where future plans are being drawn to deal with future variants.
The U.K. vaccine minister says an annual booster immunization shot could be used to deal with future variations of coronavirus. This comes as news,
studies from Oxford University and AstraZeneca show very limited efficacy when it comes to a variant of COVID-19 that`s prevalent in South Africa.
Scientists at Oxford University behind this vaccine say they plan to have a new form of it that can deal with that South African variant by the fall.
ANGUS WATSON, CNN NEWSDESK PRODUCER: I`m Angus Watson in Melvin, where the Australian Open began with 30,000 tickets on sale on Monday. But stars like
Naomi Osaka and Serena Williams played to smaller crowds that expected, with masks optional in the stands.
Organizers have been working frantically to try to convince the public that it`s safe for the tournament to go ahead. They want 400,000 people to
attend the two-week event with social distancing guidelines firmly in check.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
AZUZ (voice-over): Ten-second trivia:
Which of these African nations is located on the eastern short of Lake Kivu?
Rwanda, Kenya, Tanzania, or Zimbabwe?
The nation of Rwanda, one of Africa`s most densely populated country borders Lake Kivu.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
AZUZ: There`s a bird species native to the region that likes to dance. The grey crowned cranes dance its feet to startle insects from the ground which
the bird then eats. But according to the Denver Zoo, the animals also bust out in flash mob style dancing just because they like it. That`s only part
of their appeal for a Rwandan conservationist who wants to keep the animals alive.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
REPORTER: This is not your typical love story. But in the lush grasses of this Rwandan nature reserve, romance is in the air.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Finding a patina is a process like fumes have soot. They will date, dance for each other and if they like each other, they will
stay together for sometime for life.
REPORTER: Grey crowned cranes are an endangered species, facing threats from an illegal pet trade and the destruction of their wetland habitat for
agriculture.
To help protect these birds, in 2014, the Rwandan government set up an amnesty program for pet cranes, kept in captivity with the help of this
man, Olivier Nsengimana.
OLIVIER NSENGIMANA, FOUNDER, THE RWANDAN WILDLIFE CONSERVATION ASSOCIATION: We`ve lost about 80,000 of the population and that we need 2,000
(INAUDIBLE) the population to be around 300 in the wild. I told them I said someone has got to do something about it.
A quick listen to the breathing and --
REPORTER: Trained as a vet, Nsengimana is the founder of the Rwandan wildlife conservation association.
NSENGIMANA: Hello, buddy.
Looks like he will have a little injury on the toe nail.
REPORTER: His organization has rescued over 200 cranes from captivity and more are breed in their facilities, like this juvenile.
NSENGIMANA: These are flight feathers. They are really in good shape.
REPORTER: But many kept as pets have had their wings broken to prevent their escape, and are unable to survive in the wild, finding sanctuary at
the organization`s nature reserve at Umusambi Village.
NSENGIMANA: Cranes in Rwanda, they are seen as a symbol of wealth and longevity. So, what we`ve done is really to educate people and tell them,
hey, absolutely still love them but have them in their natural environment. But if we keep taking them, our kids or grandkids might not be able to see
them.
REPORTER: Nsengimana remembers his own childhood in a rural village was filled with cranes.
NSENGIMANA: We didn`t have TV. We didn`t have like toys. So, everywhere we went, we would have see like animals, and one of the biggest was a crane.
We really took time to watch them, wanting to fly like them.
Growing as a young boy, I had that love for nature.
REPORTER: A love he has shared through his work with schools and local community groups since 2014.
Educating and inspiring others to protect their environment, he wants Rwandans to feel like the country`s wildlife belongs to them.
NSENGIMANA: We come from these communities and we have that kind of power to really connect with them and recreate that kind of love and ownership
and a pride that people have in the animals.
REPORTER: That love has taken flight.
Nsengimana says there are now 800 cranes estimated to be in the wild in Rwanda.
Putting the country`s most romantic bird on the path to recovery.
NSENGIMANA: This is a really huge effective story that we share with all Rwandans that if we work together, if we can bring everyone on front (ph),
we can achieve the unachievable.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
AZUZ: If you`re not getting our nightly email, you`re not getting a preview of what`s on each day`s show. I might sound like a salesman, but
everything is quick and all you have to do to get our newsletter is click "sign up for daily emails" near the bottom of our home page, CNN10.com.
(MUSIC)
AZUZ: When it comes to rollercoasters, if there`s such a thing as too fast, if you said no, then you may want to start planning a trip to Six
Flag Qiddiya. It`s set to open near Saudi Arabia`s capital in 2023 and it will feature this, a thrill ride called Falcons Flight that`s set to break
world rollercoaster records for height, length and speed.
How high? Five hundred twenty-feet. How long? Two and a half miles. How fast? One hundred fifty-five miles per hour.
Buckle up, y`all. Because it`s on track to feel off the track, swinging, first drop pants into a flying, freefalling frenzy that`s sure to throw
them for a loop out and back and elevated airtime dive that gives a lift and test nerve of steel as it barrels on like a runaway train.
Today`s shout-out goes out to Harrison High School. Let`s go Hoyas! It`s great to see y`all in Kennesaw, Georgia.
For a chance to get your school mentioned on CNN 10, please subscribe and leave a comment at YouTube.com/CNN10.
I`m Carl Azuz.
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