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President Trump Ban Travel from Europe for 30 Days; From Busy Airports to Eerie Place; Italy's Lockdown Freezes Many Livelihoods; Weinstein's Verdict Cause Him a Chest Pain; Coronavirus Wants to Play with the Sports World; Vladimir Putin Could Extend Terms. Aired 3- 3:30a ET

Aired March 12, 2020 - 03:00   ET

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


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ROSEMARY CHURCH, CNN ANCHOR: Europeans are waking up to word they can't to travel to the U.S. for the next month because of the coronavirus.

And President Trump's announcement apparently caught leaders there by surprise. The National Basketball Association in North America is suspending its season after a player tested positive for the virus.

And after making a constitutional power play, Vladimir Putin could stay on as Russia's leader for many years to come.

Hello and welcome to our viewers joining us from all around the world. I'm Rosemary Church. And this is CNN Newsroom.

President Donald Trump is taking a bold new step to stop the spread of the novel coronavirus to the United States. On the same day the World Health Organization declared the outbreak a global pandemic, Mr. Trump announced new travel restrictions that caught many people including European officials by surprise.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: To keep new cases from entering our shores, we will be suspending all travel from Europe to the United States for the next 30 days. The new rules will go into effect Friday at midnight.

Anything coming from Europe to the United States is what we are discussing, these restrictions will also not apply to the United Kingdom. At the same time, we are monitoring the situation in China and in South Korea and as their situation improves, we will reevaluate the restrictions and warnings that are currently in place for a possible early opening.

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CHURCH: The pandemic has killed more than 4,000 people with a foothold in every continent except Antarctica. According to Johns Hopkins University, the number of global cases has now risen past 126,000.

Italy has the most cases in Europe, and the U.S. has more than 1,200 cases and at least 38 deaths.

Well, many -- many in Europe have been taken by surprise, of course, as they're waking up to this news that there is a travel ban.

I want to go to our Fred Pleitgen, he's in Germany there in Berlin. And Fred, let's talk about this, because we know of course, that Angela Merkel the chancellor had only just yesterday told people that there was a chance that 60 to 70 percent of the population would be infected by the coronavirus. Now there is news of this travel ban. Let's talk about the likely impact of that, and the reaction so far. I know it's early there.

FREDERIK PLEITGEN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes. Good morning, Rosemary, I think the impact could be quite big especially for a country like Germany. Of course, Germany is one elite exporting nations in the world. And one of the main exporting sectors that its had, and generally, economic relations that its hard has been that transatlantic economic relationship.

Now one of the things that President Trump said, Rosemary, in his speech there from the Oval Office is he said that the movement of goods would not be impacted. That trade, as he put it, would not be impacted by all of this.

However, as far as German companies are concerned, and generally, European companies and also American companies that do lot of business with Europe, of course there's going to be some sort of impact. If you look alone at the giant German automakers which of course have a huge foothold in the United States, they send specialist back and forth across the Atlantic all the time.

If you look at the big airports, especially where you are down in the south of the U.S., Atlanta, Charlotte for, instance there are a lot of flights that usually come in from Germany, and a lot of specialist that go back and forth from there really on a very constant basis. That is something that is obviously going to become more difficult.

Now one of the things, Rosemary, that we've been talking about over the past couple of days, is that European companies, American companies and also the airlines, quite frankly, have already been adapting to a barely similar situation.

Of course, one of things that they have had is a steep decline in demand for flights. A steep decline in the demand for transatlantic travel. Lufthansa has already canceled, they just announced yesterday, 23,000 flights. A lot of those are inter- European flights but of course the transatlantic routes are also very much affected as well.

As a lot of companies are saying look, they are going to cut down on nonessential travel. And of course, the European travel, the transatlantic travel, that's one of those, nevertheless with those big economic relationships, it's going to have a big impact on people from Europe who want to travel to the United States, but of course on businesses as well, Rosemary.

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CHURCH: All right. Speaking there with our Fred Pleitgen joining us live from Berlin. Many thanks.

I want to go to Melissa Bell now. She joins us live from a very quiet airport in Rome. Of course, this is amid a total lock down across the country, Melissa, how are people coping? And what's being said there about this travel ban? Of course, people are not able to move around, so I guess for them, it's a bit of a moot point, isn't it?

MELISSA BELL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, except that what's been happening here at Rome airport since that lockdown was announced by the Italian prime minister on Monday, as you said, Rosemary, things have been very quiet. So, many airlines had cancelled all their flights in and out of Italy already. And you had to show special permission.

So, if you want to get on one of the few fights leaving here today you have to explain why you're leaving and why it's necessary as do people who are coming in. What's likely to change as a result of what happened overnight, and I think we're only going to start to see though over the course of the day because people are just waking up here in Europe. Is that any American that is now in Italy or in a permanent resident that is allowed to get back will be screaming to get back to the United States before that deadline of midnight on Friday.

I think the other point to be made from Italy this morning, is that so many people have been saying over the course of the last few days this is the sort of guinea pig for the world of how a western liberal democracy can best with the coronavirus outbreak. What are the best measures to bring it under control?

Italy was the first European country to stop all flights from and to China. So, it was the first to impose those very strict travel bans to try and cope with the virus. Look what happened here. It was nonetheless, it is, the center of the European outbreak with a number of cases again arising overnight -- yesterday, sorry, by more than 2,000.

So even as it remains a center for the outbreak all of those lessons that are being learned about how best to deal with the coronavirus outbreak now break in, what steps are not terribly useful I think will be in the minds of many as they look at what Donald Trump has just announced.

CHURCH: Absolutely. Our Melissa Bell bringing us that live report from Rome's airport. Many thanks to you. And now we go to Nic Robertson, he joins us live from London. And that of course is where the British have been spared from the impact of this travel ban. But it has exposed a glaring loophole, hasn't it, Nic? What's being said about that? NIC ROBERTSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMATIC EDITOR: Well, I think

it's a little early to get reaction here in London. Official reaction, clearly the fact that all of this sort of Schengen countries where you have freedom of travel in Europe that there are no effective borders, if you will. It's something that President Trump has recognized here.

But when you take a view of this from a medical standpoint, Britain really is on a very similar track with the coronavirus compared to France and Germany. The government here clearly hopes the situation won't get as bad as it is in Italy at the moment.

But the indicators are all there that this is a trajectory that the United Kingdom is on, so from a medical point of view, President Trump's decision doesn't -- doesn't entirely make sense. And obviously for people that would wish to travel to the United States from elsewhere in Europe, they are still able to travel from places in Europe to the U.K.

Clearly, there would be questions asked on arrival at the United States about where they have travel to, which countries they've been before being in the United Kingdom. But it does leave what appears to be a loophole open.

We have seen this for President Trump where he makes quite speedy, sweeping announcements that, and we've seen it in this case where some of his officials have to come along and tidy up some of the details.

And then beyond that, the sort of implementation that clearly has ragged edges. And that also, over a period of days, will very likely get tied it up. But at the moment from a medical standpoint, there are countries within that Schengen zone of Europe that President Trump has said cannot travel to United States as of midnight Friday that actually have a lower infection rate, and a lower incident recorded so far of the coronavirus then the United Kingdom.

So, at a medical level, I think this will leave people possibly scratching their heads.

CHURCH: Yes. I was going to say exactly the same thing because that is exactly the case. It doesn't make sense. Our international diplomatic editor Nic Robertson joining us there live from London. Many thanks.

Well, many passengers at airports in the United States were taken off guard by President Trump's announcement, unsure if they would be able to travel, or whether they will get their money back from their tickets.

One airline worker out of New York's JFK airport tried to calm the crowds and answer as many questions as he could.

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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's not going to happen tonight, that means common sense. That's all I can do. You know what I mean? I think this is going to probably come out with a commercial policy like most international airlines, at some point the next 24 hours.

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The only thing that we really can do here for you is that, if you really don't want to go, listen, we are not going to make you go. But if the leader of the free world is telling you that, you know, your travel is being directed, I would think that we have the money back.

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CHURCH: Well, U.S. stock futures have been falling since President Trump's address. Markets in Asia are also off sharply.

Let's turn to journalist Kaori Enjoji, she joins us live from Tokyo. So, Kaori, talk to us about the response to this address by U.S. President Donald Trump and how it's impacting numbers there.

KAORI ENJOJI, JOURNALIST: Well, Rosemary, as he was speaking, the equity markets in Tokyo and the rest of Asia started to U-turn and nosedive. And we are seeing that play out in the Dow futures as well which is now down very sharply by more than 1,000 points.

And you are seeing the disappointment across the board in Asian capital markets because I think investors were hoping that they would get some kind of broader measure announcement from the U.S. government.

And then also, there was this confusion about the travel restriction. He said people and then there was -- and then he had to clarify later on after the announcement that the goods will be exempt from the restrictions.

And I think all of that combined, to push market sharply lower. Tokyo is down 856 points by the close. This is the lowest level in two years, at 18,559 is the closing figure. You had Australia dropping the most since the 2008 financial crisis. You have other markets like India falling into bear market territory.

So, this is really a cascade of negative news throughout the Asian- Pacific region. I think what's happening right now is that investors are starting to focus on the central banks and their respective regions.

I think they are disappointed that the governments haven't been able to come up with some kind of comprehensive response, and that it has been piecemeal, so I think they are trying to focus on the next thing which would be possibly from the central banks.

The ECB is meeting, the Fed that later on this month, the Bank of Japan as well, but I think investors are nervous because many of the central bankers don't have a whole lot of ammunition with interest rates already at close to zero. Rosemary?

CHURCH: Yes, it is a real worry for everybody. Kaori Enjoji bringing us that live report from Tokyo. Many thanks. We'll take a short break here. Still to come, life in Italy slows to a

crawl. A look at the tighter restrictions being put in place as Italy sees its biggest jump in the coronavirus outbreak.

And from no more crowds to possibly know more games. The NBA suspends the season over virus fears. We're back with that in just a moment.

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[03:14:58]

CHURCH: Well, as the coronavirus outbreak escalates the Italian government is intensifying this nationwide lockdown. Its ordered all restaurants, bars, and shops to close, only grocery stores and pharmacies will remain open.

The Italian prime minister announced that and the move comes as Italy reports more than 12,000 confirmed cases.

For more, CNN's Delia Gallagher joins me now from Rome. And Delia, this is ever more distressing for Italians because at the same time the death toll is soaring. How are people coping right now?

DELIA GALLAGHER, CNN VATICAN CORRESPONDENT: Well, look, Rosemary, Italians are waking up once again to even more restrictions. This time the prime minister announcing late last night that bars and restaurants are closed. And if you know Italy you know that it is a morning ritual that they meet in their local coffee bars. This is going to be a big change for them.

We are standing in front of one of the more popular coffee bars and restaurants in Rome's Prati neighborhood, and we've been watching this restaurant for the last few days because we saw that when restaurants were allowed to stay open until 6 o'clock, it encourages people to come out.

So, the prime minister is saying last night, that that is now going to stop in order to help people stay at home. The prime minister also -- the government also announcing that they are allocating 25 billion euros to this crisis. They are looking at a plan to help suspend tax payments for some citizens as well as mortgages.

Now, of course, also this applies to the Vatican. Pope Francis is live streaming his events because Saint Peter's Square is closed. Nobody allowed in there. The Vatican museums are closed. We are told, however, that St. Peter's Basilica remains open for people who want to go in and pray.

A lot of Italians doing some praying at this time, Rosemary, as you can imagine. Big jump in numbers. Yesterday with some 2,000 new cases and a lot of pressure on the Italian health system which is a primary concern aside from the concerns for the economic repercussions of all of these closures. Rosemary?

CHURCH: All right, many thanks to our Delia Gallagher bringing us the latest situation there from Rome. Well, pro basketball is on hold in the United States. The NBA has

suspended their regular season games following a player testing positive for the virus. The result came back just before the Utah Jazz and Oklahoma City Thunder were about to play Wednesday night.

And CNN's sports Carolyn Manno joins me now from New York. Good to see you again, Carolyn. So, you know, we talked last hour about how historic this decision was. It just hasn't happened before. What's been -- I mean, what's been the ramifications of this decision? Talk to us about that.

CAROLYN MANNO, CNN SPORTS CORRESPONDENT: Yes, the ramifications are really just beginning, Rosemary. We started to see things escalate right after the Warriors decided earlier today that their game was going to be played without spectators.

And then from that point forward, all other leaks here domestically in the United States started to think about that decision, mull over their decisions and say, hey, what are we going to do about this as well?

And then the big names came out in the afternoon that the NCAA tournament March madness, which is a very lucrative sporting opportunity here in the United States said, hey, you know what, we're not going to have spectators. And (Inaudible) either cut to tonight and the NBA now saying we are suspended indefinitely without games at all.

So, it started earlier this afternoon and it just kind of continued to roll down the hill and gain speed, if you will. It's been a difficult season for the NBA just focusing on them for a minute. They've had all kinds of things to deal with and LeBron James is the voice of the players. He offered his thoughts on social media not long ago.

He essentially said, man, 2020 has been really tough for the league. He said, you know, we are canceling sporting events, we are canceling schools, office, work, et cetera. What we really need to do is cancel this year because it's been so rough. That alluding to some of the issues that they've had with China. Also, the passing of Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna.

A lot of things hitting the league now and now this suspension of play, which nobody really knows what's going to happen from here, Rosemary. They don't know if the season is going to pick back up, when the season is going to pick back up. The playoffs are slated to begin in the middle of April. The NBA finals are set for June.

So, it's a very uncertain time right now in the NBA and you would think that these are the major leagues, the NHL, for example, which has connections to the NBA. Their commissioner Gary Bettman used to work very closely with the NBA. He was their general counsel, he was their senior vice president.

So when you have a major league here in the United States that says you know what, we can't have fans or players in these indoor spaces, it's only a matter of time before other major leagues who share those spaces are going to be forced to make that decision as well for the betterment and the health of the community, but also for the players at stake.

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And also having a player in the NBA who has been diagnosed it seems with this virus it's going to have a ripple effect that we are going to continue to see for quite some time, perhaps even into the summer, Rosemary.

CHURCH: Yes. We are all in an uncharted territory. It is just extraordinary times so early in this new year. Carolyn Manno, many thanks to you for bringing us that live report. I appreciate it.

And we'll take a short break here. Still to come, Russia may be on the verge of effectively making Vladimir Putin president for life. How lawmakers are getting around the country's term limits. We are live in Moscow. That's next.

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CHURCH: Welcome back everyone. A proposed change to the Russian Constitution could have a dramatic but not entirely unexpected effect on the country's leadership. It could allow President Vladimir Putin to lead the country for another 16 years.

The change in presidential term limits still needs approval from regional legislatures but that is widely expected to happen.

Well, CNN's senior international correspondent Matthew Chance joins us now live from Moscow with more on this. And Matthew, it appears to be a fait accompli, doesn't it? Is there really anything critics can do about this?

MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Not really, no. You're right, it does have to jump through a few more legal hurdles including approval by local councils. But it also has to go to a public vote across the country, which has been scheduled for April the 22nd. That's when the sort of people's mandate, if you like, would be issued on this.

You know, Vladimir Putin is very popular across the country at the very least, people don't see any alternative to his ongoing power. And he has been in power here, remember, for 20 years. And so, at this point it does look like a sort of foregone conclusion that Vladimir Putin will have the possibility of standing for two more presidential terms.

He will be coming to the end of his 2nd in a series of presidential terms in 2024. Constitutionally, he was not meant to be able to stand for another presidential term. But this legislation, which has now been passed in both houses of the Russian parliament, essentially resets to zero his number of presidential terms. It means he can have another two, another 12 years, it would take his ability potentially to stay in office up to 2036. He's already 67 years old, Vladimir Putin is. He'd be 83 if he were

able to fulfill those two presidential terms. And so, you know, Russia is looking forward to more of the same in many ways, more many years ahead of Vladimir Putin in charge.

Now understandably, critics have been condemning this latest constitutional move. One of them Alexei Navalny who is a very prominent Kremlin critic in this country is saying that Vladimir Putin wants to be president for life.

Opposition figures have announced protests that they are scheduling for later this week in Moscow and elsewhere. But it doesn't look at this stage like there is anything that is going to be able to derail this drive to enable Vladimir Putin to stay in office essentially as long as he wants to.

CHURCH: Incredible. All right, our senior international correspondent Matthew Chance bringing us the latest on that from Moscow. I appreciate it.

Well, disgraced movie mogul Harvey Weinstein was taken to a New York hospital just hours after he was sentenced to 23 years in prison.

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The 67-year-old convicted sex offender was transferred there after experiencing chest pains at Rikers Island jail. It kept off an eventful day for Weinstein as our Jean Casarez reports.

JEAN CASAREZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Judge James Burke issued a sentence of 23 years in prison for Harvey Weinstein. Criminal sexual act in the first degree. The maximum was 25 years. The judge issued a 20-year sentence and rape in the third degree, the maximum is four years. The judge issued a sentence of three years.

In the front row on the prosecution side were all six female accusers that had testified against Weinstein during the trial. At this moment they were overcome with emotion, there was crying. Actress Annabella Sciorra actually hugged Gloria Allred.

Harvey Weinstein had a blank stare when that sentence came down. But moments before that he had spoken to the court with probably the most emotional thing we have ever heard him say.

He told the judge, I really feel remorse, I feel it deeply in my heart. I will spend my time caring and really trying to be a better person. The prosecution had asked for the maximum term of imprisonment, saying that Harvey Weinstein was drunk on power because of the immense success that he had gotten in the Hollywood community.

The defense had argued for five years in prison, saying with his age and his health and no criminal convictions and the charity work he had done, five years was appropriate. After the sentencing, they said that the sentence imposed was wrong, it was unfair. Harvey Weinstein will have to register as a criminal sex offender.

Jean Casarez, CNN, New York.

CHURCH: And thanks so much for joining us. I'm Rosemary Church. Up next, my Freedom Fay from the CNN Freedom Project. But first, I'll be back with a check of the headlines. You are watching CNN.

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CHURCH: Hello, everyone. I'm Rosemary Church, and this is CNN News Now.

Donald Trump is restricting travel from Europe to the United States for the next month to stop the spread of the novel coronavirus. Americans will be allowed to return from Europe if they pass health screenings. The new restrictions won't apply to travel from the United Kingdom.

The president's remarks sent Dow futures tumbling after closing in a bear market on Wednesday. Wall Street right now is on track for another sell-off when U.S. markets open for trading in about six hours.

The pro basketball season in North America has been suspended after a player tested positive for the novel coronavirus. The Utah Jazz player was not present at the game and is now under medical care. Many other pro sports organizations have suspended or re-scheduled events during the outbreak.

The disgraced movie mogul, Harvey Weinstein has been taken to a New York hospital for chest pains just hours after he was sentenced to 23 years in prison on sexual assault charges. Prosecutors have already started the extradition process to try Weinstein in Los Angeles for other sexual offenses.

And that's your CNN News Now. My Freedom Day is up next.

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