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COVID-19 Death Toll in the U.S. Passes 200K; British Prime Minister under Fire; Trump Blames China for COVID-19; Supreme Court Showdown; President Donald Trump Attack China For Environmental Pollution; President Donald Trump: China Must Held Accountable For Pandemic; "World's Biggest" Icebreaker Enters Service; Manchester United Top Luton Town 3-0; UAE Investor Eyes Controversial Israeli Club. Aired 2-3a ET
Aired September 23, 2020 - 02:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[02:00:00]
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ROBYN CURNOW, CNN ANCHOR (voice-over): Hi, welcome to CNN, I'm Robyn Curnow.
Just ahead on CNN, leadership in the time of coronavirus. We will look at how Donald Trump and Boris Johnson are handling the pandemic. And how their governments are responding.
Also, a new report points to the Russian leadership in trying to interfere with the upcoming U.S. election.
Plus, from civil rights to health care, how another conservative judge in the U.S. Supreme Court could affect how Americans live.
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UNIDENTIFIED MALE (voice-over): Live from CNN Center, this is CNN NEWSROOM with Robyn Curnow.
CURNOW: At least 200,000 people have now died from COVID-19 in the U.S., a staggering toll, but one that President Trump is seemingly downplaying.
On Tuesday, he continued to defend his response to the outbreak, saying the death count could have been much worse and he continued his divine tug (ph) at another packed rally, where there was little social distancing and hardly any masks.
Mr. Trump told the crowd that China is to blame for the virus.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: To fight the China virus. It's the China virus. Not the coronavirus. Corona sounds like a place in Italy, a beautiful place. It's corona. No, it's the China virus. They don't want to say it. To fight the China virus, we launched the largest national mobilization since World War II.
We did an A+ job, except we did a D job in terms of public relations, explaining it. We were too busy doing it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CURNOW: For context, the U.S. death toll remains the highest in the world, about 67 times bigger than the total from the 9/11 attacks. And according to a scientific model, the number could almost double by January 1st. CNN's Erica Hill has more on the troubling trends and the dire warnings from health officials.
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ERICA HILL, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Twenty thousand small flags dotting the National Mall to memorialize 200,000 lives lost.
DR. ANTHONY FAUCI, NIAID DIRECTOR: The idea of 200,000 deaths is really very sobering and, in some respects, stunning.
HILL: Stunning because it didn't have to happen.
ANDY SLAVITT, FORMER ACTING ADMINISTRATOR, CENTERS FOR MEDICARE AND MEDICAID SERVICES: It feels like a day for some humility.
HILL: Two hundred thousand lives, that's more than the entire population of Little Rock, Arkansas, gone, families forever changed.
SHERYL PABATAO, DAUGHTER OF CORONAVIRUS VICTIMS: It's beyond hurt. It's beyond pain.
HILL: And yet 24 states now reporting an increase in new cases over the past seven days.
But look at the same map this time last week, just nine states on the rise, then.
FAUCI: If we don't get that baseline down sharply to a very low level, when you have a lot of cases floating around, it's much more difficult to contain that than if you have a relatively low number.
HILL: Troubling trends in Wisconsin, which has seen a steady, sharp rise in new cases over the past month, steep climbs in North Dakota too.
The president sticking to his narrative.
TRUMP: We're rounding the turn. And it's happening. It's happening.
In some states, thousands of people, nobody young, below the age of 18, like nobody.
SLAVITT: Unfortunately, when the president makes comments like that and minimizes the virus and tells people that, unless you're old, you're not going to get it, that encourages more spread. It encourages more reckless behavior.
HILL: The University of Colorado at Boulder moving classes online for at least two weeks in an effort to slow the spread.
Texas announcing more than 4,500 positive cases at its public schools, just over half of those in students.
There are positive signs. In California, which struggled over the summer, now has a positivity rate near 3 percent. But cold weather and flu season loom.
FAUCI: We have got to be in this together. We got to start acting now to do the things that we've all been saying.
HILL (voice-over): As the president continues to push for a vaccine --
TRUMP: We are developing a vaccine in record time.
HILL (voice-over): -- approval before the election now looking less likely. The FDA is poised to set tough new standards for emergency use authorization of a coronavirus vaccine, according to "The Washington Post," part of an effort to renew confidence in the agency.
[02:05:00]
HILL: And to increase public trust in a vaccine.
DR. JAY VARKEY, EMORY UNIVERSITY: I think mentally, the sooner the general public realizes that this is likely to push well into 2021 and that introduction of this vaccine is only the beginning of the end game to this pandemic, I think the better.
HILL: As for when a vaccine may be available, the head of the world's largest vaccine manufacturer telling CNN it will likely be 2024 before 90 percent of the world is vaccinated -- in New York, I'm Erica Hill, CNN.
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CURNOW: In a bleak address to the nation, Britain's prime minister has appealed for national unity as the country faces six months of tough new restrictions to try to contain a second wave of the virus.
On Tuesday, the U.K. reported almost 5,000 new cases, its biggest daily spike since early May. To try to reverse the trend, all pubs, restaurants and bars in England must close by 10 pm starting Thursday and will only offer table service. Retail employees will be required to wear face masks.
Weddings are limited to now more than 15 people and office workers are being asked once again to work from home. There will be tough penalties for those who violate these new guidelines and the prime minister warns, if needed, the army will be deployed to support police to enforce these rules.
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BORIS JOHNSON, U.K. PRIME MINISTER: I'm deeply, spiritually reluctant to make any of these impositions or infringe anyone's freedom. But unless we take action, the risk is that we will have to go for tougher measures later, when the deaths have already mounted and we have a huge caseload of infection, such as we had in the spring.
Never in our history has our collective destiny and our collective health depended so completely on our individual behavior. If we follow these simple rules together, we will get through this winter together.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CURNOW: So 2020 has not been a great year for the British prime minister. As Nic Robertson now reports, it's not just because of his response to the pandemic.
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NIC ROBERTSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMATIC EDITOR (voice-over): One damning headline after another. Lampooned mercilessly, British prime minister Boris Johnson is having a torrid year. Last December a massive election victory at hand.
JOHNSON: I'm humbled that you have put your trust in me.
ROBERTSON: It all seemed so different, but now trust in his leadership has withered. Matthew Parris, a former conservative MP and newspaper columnist saw it coming.
MATTHEW PARRIS, FORMER CONSERVATIVE MP: He has no record in government, he has no record as a party spokesman. He did very little as London mayor. In a sense, the fall is not his. The fall is in our own imaginations.
ROBERTSON: Johnson styles himself on Winston Churchill whose wisdom and rhetoric carried the country through World War II, but in the nation's biggest challenge since Johnson stumbled, his upbeat charisma insufficient to combat COVID-19.
JOHNSON: I shook hands with everybody, you'll be pleased to know --
ROBERTSON: He seemed slow to grasp COVID-19's speed and scale; infections and deaths were rocketing. The worst in Europe.
JOHNSON: I've taken a test that has come out positive.
ROBERTSON: Johnson himself, a casualty, admitted to the hospital.
JOHNSON: The NHS has saved my life, no question.
ROBERTSON: As he recovered and the first wave subsided --
JOHNSON: I want people to go back to work.
ROBERTSON (voice-over): His return to work message ridiculed as confusing.
MATT LUCAS, COMEDIAN: We are saying don't go to work, go to work. Don't take public transport into work. Go to work. Don't go to work.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And he has often sounded upbeat, done a great deal in his after dinner speech kind of way to encourage as it's all going to be great by Christmas and then falling down and constant over promising.
ROBERTSON: A litany of failures from a late lockdown to shortages of PPE, care home deaths, shortages of tests, a bungled return to school, an exam great fiasco. His chief advisor busting lockdown regulations and keeping his job.
JOHNSON: We are now seeing a second wave coming in.
ROBERTSON: Cases doubling every week. Some of the same problems as before reemerging.
The government promised a world class test and trace system that's been falling short. I'll just try to book a test. Some people have been sent hundreds of miles to get this -- there is a problem.
This is one of the reasons why people have been losing confidence in Johnson and his ministers.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Please don't break international law.
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ROBERTSON (voice-over): Johnson's credibility is sinking further, when his minister announced Johnson would break his Brexit deal with the E.U. drawing rebuke from his own party.
THERESA MAY, FORMER BRITISH PRIME MINISTER The government is acting recklessly and irresponsibly. I cannot support this bill.
ROBERTSON: Even his predecessor, Theresa May turning against him.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: A straight answer to a straight question please, Prime Minister.
ROBERTSON: And a new leader of the opposition, much tougher than the last adding to Johnson's woes.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We will publish a draft bill, setting out the proposed terms and timing of an independent referendum.
ROBERTSON: And worse, Scotland's handling of COVID-19 perceived better than his. The 300-year union, an inviolate totem of U.K. leadership under real threat.
If 2020 has a silver lining for Johnson, perhaps this, a new wife to be, number 3 and a new baby. Oh and surviving COVID to see it all play out -- Nic Robertson, CNN, London.
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CURNOW: Thanks, Nic, for that.
John Rentoul is a chief political commentator at "The Independent" and a visiting professor at Kings College London. He joins me now via Skype.
Hi, good to see you.
JOHN RENTOUL, "THE INDEPENDENT": Good morning.
CURNOW: Good morning, good evening, where I am, but I think have to --
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CURNOW: -- where you are in the world. I suppose it's 5 o'clock somewhere as well.
I really do want to talk about Boris Johnson in that piece. He seems to have had quite a year.
This address where he is essentially canceling Christmas six months in advance, just about, but at the same time appealing for unity, how do you think it worked?
RENTOUL: It was a very somber address.
CURNOW: It was.
RENTOUL: I think it will work, because I think public opinion in the U.K. is very scared of the virus still. And it's very supportive of further restrictive measures.
In fact, I think there is a sense that people feel the prime minister hasn't gone far enough. But I believe they are recognizing that he is balancing the need to control infections with the need to keep the economy afloat. And they recognize that's a very tricky balancing act.
CURNOW: It certainly is. I want to play some sound from one of the leaders of the British retail industry when it comes to pubs and to beer. This is what he had to say about these latest comments from the prime minister. Take a listen.
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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Ninety percent of pubs are now open again and less than half of those are breaking even currently. So the restrictions announced today, particularly the removal, will be a devastating blow to many of them. We wouldn't be surprised to see 25 percent fewer pubs at this time next year, the way things are going.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CURNOW: I know this is not just about losing out on a few warm ales and a packet of chips. But at the same, time is there a risk that the prime minister doesn't make anybody happy?
He doesn't go far enough with tamping down at the same time this is not enough to keep many businesses afloat?
RENTOUL: Well, that's the nature of the job in politics. You never satisfy everyone. What's interesting is where he is positioned, there is an element in his own party, libertarians, who think this is all a huge overreaction and he's taking away people's agent liberties.
But that's a small minority of public opinion. Most people in this country, if they think he hasn't got it right, they think he hasn't gone far enough. I mean, these are rather tame measures. He's just saying pubs and restaurants have to close at 10 pm, table service only and that's about it.
He is encouraging people to work from home rather than to go to the office. But that's a shift of emphasis and most people will make up their own minds on that. So the most impactful thing about an announcement yesterday was the prediction that it may well last six months.
And I think that brought up a lot of people short because I think the prime minister had previously indicated that the hope to get back to normal -- or some kind of normal -- by Christmas but that's clearly off.
CURNOW: In the speech, Johnson effectively blamed Britons for not obeying the rules.
Was this about deflection?
Was this about not taking responsibility?
When you talk about people in Britain being behind him with, this is there not a sense that the government has made a series of mistakes and there needs to be some responsibility there?
RENTOUL: Yes, public opinion is a remarkable thing in this country because although people don't like politicians and they think the government hasn't handled it very well, they're prepared to give Boris Johnson a remarkable degree of benefit of the doubt.
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RENTOUL: There was an instant poll carried out yesterday, which asked people who they would blame most if there were a second wave in this country and most people said they would blame the public rather than the government. And obviously, they don't blame themselves. They blame other people.
CURNOW: They blame their neighbors.
RENTOUL: Hell is other people in the U.K. and we don't like each other.
(LAUGHTER) CURNOW: Twitching curtains and all. Thank you very much, John Rentoul, lovely to see you and good to have your analysis.
Ahead, new intelligence suggests that Russia may be trying to mess with the U.S. election once again, with direction coming straight from the Kremlin and Vladimir Putin.
Also, the U.S. president has not revealed his Supreme Court pick but he is telling us when he will and a favorite is emerging.
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CURNOW: Russia may once again be trying to meddle in the U.S. presidential election. The target this time appears to be Democratic nominee, Joe Biden.
"The Washington Post" says it obtained this assessment from the CIA.
"We assess that president Vladimir Putin and the senior most Russian officials are aware of and probably directing Russia's influence operations aimed at denigrating the former U.S. vice president, supporting the U.S. president and fueling public discord ahead of the U.S. election in November."
"The Washington Post" columnist Josh Rogin spoke to CNN about the intelligence and its strong link to President Trump's personal lawyer.
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JOSH ROGIN, CNN POLITICAL ANALYST: The assessment does not name Rudy Giuliani but refers to a prominent person close to the Trump campaign that was employed by this Russian influence operations scheme, which involves Ukrainian pro-Russian lawmaker Andrii Derkach, who is a buddy of Giuliani's. They do YouTube videos all the time.
The assessment, again, highly classified on the CIA Worldwide Intelligence Review site, dated August 31st, said that Derkach is also spreading disinformation through U.S. lawmakers, U.S. lobbyists, U.S. media organizations.
And again, while it doesn't name those, it is pretty obvious and clear who they were referring to, because Rudy and Derkach have been doing a lot of this stuff in public. The assessment concluded that Vladimir Putin and his top officials are definitely aware and probably directing it.
And that's the key bit here. It ties the top level of the Kremlin, not definitively but probably, to the president's lawyer and a pro-Russian Ukrainian lawmaker, who is attacking our democracy.
(END VIDEO CLIP) CURNOW: So Republicans are pushing hard to fast-track the next Supreme Court nominee and President Trump says he will reveal his choice this weekend.
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CURNOW: As Kaitlan Collins reports, a clear front-runner is already emerging.
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KAITLAN COLLINS, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): President Trump says he'll announce his pick to replace Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg in four days.
TRUMP: I would say I am very close to making a decision in my own mind and I'm going to reveal it on Saturday.
COLLINS (voice-over): As Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell is locking down support on Capitol Hill, President Trump is narrowing down his list and met with top candidate, Amy Coney Barrett, for several hours Monday. Barrett is a favorite of religious conservatives, who has already faced contentious exchanges with Democrats in the past.
SEN. DIANNE FEINSTEIN (D-CA): The dogma lives loudly within you.
COLLINS (voice-over): The White House is also in the process of scheduling a meeting with Barbara Lagoa in her hometown of Miami, one seen as a possible front-runner who appears to have faded from Trump's favor. Sources cautioned that could change.
TRUMP: She is terrific and you have Judge Larson, who is very talented also.
COLLINS (voice-over): Trump is narrowing down his list as Republicans are falling in line. Utah senator Mitt Romney now says he supports moving forward on a Supreme Court pick, all but assuring Trump will have the votes.
SEN. MITT ROMNEY (R-UT): At this stage, it's appropriate to look at the Constitution and look at the precedent which has existed since the beginning of our country.
COLLINS (voice-over): There were questions about whether Romney would break with his party, given he voted to remove Trump from office during impeachment. But today, he sided with Republican leaders.
ROMNEY: My liberal friends have over many decades gotten very used to the idea of having a liberal court. And that's not written in the stars.
COLLINS (voice-over): Romney dashing the hopes of liberal lawmakers who were anticipating he could stand in the way of a vote by Election Day. Senate Judiciary Chairman Lindsey Graham says his committee will hold three days of hearings, which could come as many lawmakers, including Graham, are campaigning.
If the president's nominee does get confirmed, one of the first cases to come before the court in November is the fate of the Affordable Care Act which impacts at least 20 million Americans.
The Trump administration still hasn't unveiled a replacement plan, despite Trump promising one for years.
KAYLEIGH MCENANY, TRUMP CAMPAIGN SPOKESPERSON: It certainly does exist. The president in the next week or so will be laying out his vision for health care.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
CURNOW: Kaitlan Collins there.
So Harry Litman is a former U.S. attorney joining us now from San Diego in California.
Hi. So you heard Kaitlan there laying out the basics. And I just want to get your sense. Democrats are framing this nomination as the undoing of rights and protections Americans have gotten used to and gained over the past few years.
Do you agree with?
That and how easy would it be to dismantle decades of social and health and women's rights?
HARRY LITMAN, FORMER DEPUTY ASSISTANT ATTORNEY GENERAL: Well, it's not very difficult for five members of the Supreme Court to just say, for example, Roe versus Wade is overruled if it's presented. So it's very possible to in very quick order take a wrecking ball to a lot of jurisprudence.
That happens quite rarely but it so happens that the people who are now going to be 5 or 6 members of the Supreme Court have expressed their interests for many years in doing just that.
There are many precedents that stick in their craw that they would like to undo and take care of. And they are, as you, know considered quite to the right of the American people overall. So it is a distinct concern. It really is.
CURNOW: You mentioned Roe versus Wade, which is, of course, about a woman's right to choose. Can it just be struck off and deemed illegal?
Or is this more about narrow legal decisions that chip away at access on various levels?
RENTOUL: Right, no, that's what's already happening, chipping away, et cetera. Some of the chips are pretty big chips.
But in fact, Roe versus Wade, and the case that presents it -- and there are many that do -- could tumble in the stroke of a pen. It really could. That doesn't mean abortion would be illegal throughout the country. It
would then be up to the state. Some states would make it illegal. Others, presumably, would not.
But the constitutional right, the protection that women have grown up knowing would be there, would be gone in an instant.
CURNOW: What else would take scrutiny, then, if this becomes a court that decides to really come down on ideological lines, gun rights, climate change, LGBTQ rights, where do you think there would be precedents and priority?
LITMAN: All of the above. Cases come to them.
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LITMAN: But for instance, there is one now coming in December on so called ObamaCare. It presents the constitutionality of ObamaCare. Americans are for, it but there has been a small cadre of conservative Republican judges who think it's -- who don't like it. That could be a dead letter by the end of 6 months from now. It would appear as I read the jurisprudence of Judge Barrett, who I think is most likely to be selected, that gun rights, immigration, a lot to do with religion could change overnight.
And there is a general broader point. It's been very rare that a court has been this monolithic for -- so there is really no challenge to go either way. This makes them -- and it's happened on both sides, it happened for the liberals in the '60s.
But it just means they can sort of do what they want, not really having to answer the arguments of their colleagues. They just count 5 or even 6 every time and it's just a proclamation of the Supreme Court that something is unconstitutional, that is the end of the matter. That's really all there is to be said.
CURNOW: What you were talking about here is not just a rebalancing of law and reshaping jurisprudence but also a significant cultural change in society.
You also mentioned health care; another immediate implication could be the very presidency itself.
How much of an impact do you think this court would then have on whether deciding Biden or Trump takes office?
LITMAN: Oh, well, now that's kind of an ultimate nightmare scenario. It's not clear that they will try to push the nominee through before the election. They will name the nominee on Saturday but might wait.
But you are right, if they push that person through and then we have a Bush v. Gore scenario, you have the grotesque possibility of a majority installed by the president, elevating him to the presidency in controversial circumstances.
That would be, among other things, a body blow to the court and its institutional credibility for years and years to come. But this would be a matter of raw power. And if it actually comes to the election itself, that would be a nightmare.
CURNOW: Harry Litman, thank you very much for joining us and giving your perspective.
Coming up on CNN, at the U.N. General Assembly, President Trump points a finger at China for the pandemic, among other things. More on what he said on how China responded.
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ROBYN CURNOW, CNN HOST, CNN WORLD NEWS: You're watching CNN. I'm Robyn Curnow; live from the CNN World News Center here in Atlanta. So the pandemic is a major theme of the United Nations General Assembly. In a speech, Trump blamed China for the spread of the virus. His Chinese counterpart called for a global counterpart to develop the vaccine. Here is Richard Roth.
RICHARD ROTH, CNN SENIOR U.N. CORRESPONDENT: In this unprecedented virtual United Nations high-level General Assembly, presidents and prime ministers will told to keep their remarks to under 15 minutes. President Donald Trump did not have that problem, with one of the shorter speeches at 7 minutes. But, he wasted no time in digging into China.
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DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: We must hold accountable the nation which unleashed this played on to the world, China. In the earliest days of the virus, China lockdown travel domestically, while allowing flights to leave China, and infect the world. China condemned my travel ban on their country even as they canceled domestic flights and locked citizens in their homes.
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ROTH: China's Ambassador used this opportunity to introduce his president to return fire on President Trump.
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ZHANG JUN, CHINESE AMBASSADOR TO THE UNITED NATIONS: China rejects the baseless accusations against China.
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ROTH: The COVID virus was not the only reason President Trump attacked China.
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TRUMP: The United Nations must hold China accountable for their actions. In addition, every year, China dumps millions and millions of tons of plastic and trash into the oceans. Over fishes other countries waters, destroys vast swaths of coral reefs, and emits more toxic mercury into the atmosphere than any country, anywhere in the world.
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ROTH: The Chinese President made some promises regarding fighting climate change in his own country.
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XI JINPING, CHINESE PRESIDENT: We aim to have co2 omissions - before 2030, and achieve carbon neutrality before 2016.
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ROTH: The Chinese President said his nation does not want a hot or cold war with anyone, and warned of a clash of civilizations to come, saying that the world should cooperate, at least against the COVID-19 virus.
Russia's President, Putin, in a rare appearance at the U.N. said his country is ready to share what it develops with the vaccine attempts. The United States is waging a strong campaign to re-impose international sanctions on Iran. The Iranian President, Rouhani had this response to the United Nations.
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HASSAN ROUHANI, IRANIAN PRESIDNT: We are not a bargaining chip in U.S. elections and domestic policy. Any U.S. administration after the upcoming elections will have no choice but to surrender to the resilience of the Iranian nation.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROTH: And finally, this promise for next year from the U.S. President.
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TRUMP: I am supremely confident that next year, when we gather in person, we will be in the midst of one of the greatest years in our history and frankly, hopefully, in the history of the world.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROTH: Despite the appeals of the UN Secretary General, the speeches reveal that there are still huge divisions among the major powers, on the 75th Anniversary of the United Nations. Richard Roth, CNN, United Nations.
CURNOW: Thanks Richard for that. Let's go to Steven Jiang in Beijing for more on all of this, as Richard laid out there. Steven, good to see you, the strains between the U.S. and China, very much on show?
STEVEN JIANG, CNN SENIOR PRODUCER: That is right, Robyn. But the fact that Donald Trump delivered his speech on the day when the U.S. death toll surpassed 200,000 really made it easy for Chinese officials and state media here to make their rebuttals, with the Chinese Ambassador to the UN.
Basically, calling Mr. Trump a liar, saying a lied repeated 1000 times is still a lie when it comes to U.S. accusations against China's COVID response. He actually said if anybody should be held accountable, it should be the U.S. government for causing so many people to die, with their "Irresponsible behaviors", Robyn?
CURNOW: And, let's focus more through the details and the specifics of these speeches. They were both very interesting. I spent many years covering the UN, and the fact that these were broadcast, certainly changes the dynamic. But in many ways, you still have got a little bit of that political theater that we are used to in real life.
JIANG: That is right. What really stood out on Tuesday of course is the contrast between the two speeches delivered by Mr. Trump, and the Chinese Leader, Xi Jinping. Now Mr. Xi was definitely trying to take the high road. He did not mention the U.S. government nor Mr. Trump by name, even though Mr. Trump mentioned China almost one dozen times.
[02:35:00]
JIANG: Mr. Xi struck a more positive, familiar tone, you know mentioning a lot of the - often mention themes that the UN global cooperation multilateral approach and he reiterated Beijing's commitment to the UN, and also pledging another $100 million donations for two different causes.
So, he definitely was trying to project this image that China was the responsible adult in the room, it responsible role power. So seeing a lot of things that the audience there wanted to hear but the problem are, he had said many of the same things in the past. Not all of them have translated to policies of reality.
He talked about China not seeking hegemony or extension. But then, you look at what is happening in the South China Sea? He talked about China not wanting a cold or hot war. You look at what they are admittedly doing across the Taiwan Street?
One of the highlights that Richard Roth saying was, his pledge that China would become carbon neutral in 2060 then, experts are saying China is expanding its use of coal. So, at the end of it, Robyn, to borrow a favorite phrase of the Chinese government, let's not only listen to what they say, but also watch what they do. Robyn?
CURNOW: Yes, that is certainly a good one. They also win-win a lot, so I'm not sure how that comes down, in terms of looking at the speeches because that's both each country, takes what they want from it. Steven Jiang, always good to speak to you, live there in Beijing. Thank you so much.
So, a rescue effort is underway to save hundreds of pilot whales in one of the world's largest mass whale standings. Yep, it is 2020, they are scattered along to sand bars in a strip of beach in the Southern State of Tasmania. Now dozens have already died. Biologists do not know how it happened? But one expert involves says it's possible the animals swam into help a distressed member of the pot. It is very distressing images here. Weather conditions we know have kept the whales cool and wet, at least.
Rescues though will take days to complete, and we certainly understand that many more whales could die. So, CNN continues in just a moment, stay with us.
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CURNOW: In Egypt, while much of Alexandra's famous past no longer physically remains, visitors can still get a taste of the history through its cuisine. So here is a look at the seafood in Alexandria in our "Feast on Egypt" series.
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UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Alexandria is Egypt's 2nd City, but around 100 BC it boasted the largest population on earth. For centuries, visitors from India to England have left their mark on Alexandria's diverse culinary cuisine.
LAILA HASSABALLA, CO-FOUNDER, BELLIES EN-ROUTE: When people travel, the food travels with them. This is why there are so many influences here. Not just from the Mediterranean countries, but also from East Asia.
[02:40:00]
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: From upscale dishes to quick plates, Alexandria offers visitors endless options. But for a truly authentic taste of the city, look no further than fish. That is what Laila Hassaballa and Mia Nezar two foodie from Cairo came to find.
MIA NEZAR, CO-FOUNDER, BELLIES EN-ROUTE: I think I would make a great pirate.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: In 2016, the pair started running food tours in Cairo, which became so successful, that they are branching out here. Alexandra's culinary highlight will be essential to their latest lineup.
HASSABALLA: Sea food in Alexandra is very diverse because obviously you have got the main source of the seafood, right? And having the seafood meal here is kind of an event. It is not just a regular meal you would have on a daily basis.
NEZAR: I can't describe it. I just hope that people can see it on my face.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Because it is the cities star attraction, finding the perfect restaurant is paramount for Laila and Mia's new food tour and no where better reflects the city's love affair with seafood, then Balbaa. HASSABALLA: We just got here at Balbaa one of the most famous seafood places in Alexandria. Yes, everybody knows it. Yes, everybody drives all the way from all over Egypt to come here. Today, we are going to have some fantastic seafood and we are very, very excited.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: As like most Mediterranean cities, clam, shrimp and squid are staples here. Diners will also see perilous in dishes like - a fish stew, similar to those found everywhere from Spain to Greece. But Singari is an Egyptian specialty.
NEZAR: Singari is basically a method of cooking.
HASSABALLA: You butter fry it, but you also stuff it with vegetables. You actually open it up from its back, rather than its stomach. So that is really what makes it distinct to the Egyptian way of cooking.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: But the most important part of eating seafood is not what it's ordered, but with who because the secrets of the cities culinary scene, is its people and perhaps the most authentic Alexandra an experience of all, gathering together over a good seafood platter?
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CURNOW: Russia's Arctic icebreaking fleet is getting a powerful new addition. This is the nuclear powered Arctic, currently on its way from Saint Petersburg to the Port of Murmansk. The vessel's owners say it's the largest and most powerful icebreaker in the world.
So Arctic will work along the Northern Sea route, which runs from the Northern Coast of Eastern Russia through to the Bearing Straight. Arctic was named after a Soviet Era Icebreaker, which in 1977 became the first surface ship to reach the North Pole. Thanks for watching CNN. I'm Robyn Curnow.
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[02:45:00]
PATRICK SNELL, CNN WORLD SPORT: Hi there, welcome to "CNN World Sport". This Wednesday, we start right here in the U.S. where NBA superstar LeBron James and his L.A. Lakers, they know they have a fight on their hands now, in the playoffs, taking place in the Orlando bubble in front of no fans.
And maybe they should not be too surprised though given who their opponents are, the Lakers going into this game 3 of the Western Conference Finals. In this one I guess the Nuggets, with a 2-0 advantage. Not anymore though, Serbian star Denver, Nikola Yokich saying to that Nuggets by 13 at that point LeBron now not taking it lying down, as he seeks a 4th NBA crown.
And first with the Lakers, but with just under a minute to play, Nugget's Star Jamal Murray with a clutch 3 pointer Denver, the comeback kings, the first team in league history remember to come back from consecutive 3-1 series deficits to advance. They are at it again. The Lakers still lead the series, but only 2-1 now fascinating stuff, really exciting.
All right, now, this coming Friday was supposed to be the start of Golf's Rider Cup, the global pandemic meant it was postponed until next September. On Tuesday though, in the U.S. State of Missouri, came a running cup of sorts that the new Tiger Woods designed of course. This named in tribute to the late American golf great Payne Stewart.
In the Tiger and Justin Thomas to the USA beating American - European duo, Justin Grows and Roy McCullough, on a day but also featured plenty of joviality along the way. Take a listen.
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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh, wow.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You hate to see that!
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I could use right now.
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SNELL: And, with that match level, at 2 a piece, it all got very exciting. It came to a nearest of pin contest to settle it. Thomas in the end doing just that, to win a thriller for America, and for pure nostalgia look at that legends of the sports, the great - and Gary Player along with Erin Stewart, the son of the Late Payne Stewart, all joining in at the last. Team USA getting the win on a very special day, in Missouri.
Let's get to England now; these are exciting times to be a fan of Tottenham, with superstar signings everywhere you look these days. It seems, at the North London Club. Not only that Spurs welcome back their star forward Gareth Bale but Tottenham's Women's team have signed one of the biggest stars in the global game, the American player Alex Morgan.
Well, Bale returns after spending 70 years at Real Madrid, where he won the Champion League 4 times, and two La Liga crowns as well. He set to link up with a Hurricane in South Korean star, Son Heung-min potentially an outstanding attacking force there. The Welshmen is currently recovering from a knee injury though, but he cannot wait to get going, as soon as he can.
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GARETH BALE, PLAYER FOR TOTTENHAM FROM 2007-2023: Thanks, it's nice to be back, yes such a special club to me. It is where I made my name, what an amazing club, amazing fans. Yes, just incredible to be back and hopefully, now I can get some match fitness and get underway and really help the team. Hopefully, win trophies.
I always thought, when I did leave that one day I would love to come back and the opportunity now has arisen, and I feel like it is a good faith, a good time for me. I'm hungry, I'm motivated I wanted to do well for the team; I can't wait to get started.
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SNELL: Alex Morgan is going to be bringing some serious star power to Tottenham as well. She has won world cup twice, she's also an Olympic Champion. She says that while the London Club has always been a club on her radar, the move came about quickly, just days before the transfer window closed. She arrives in the UK on a 12 month loan deal from Orlando.
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ALEX MORGAN, TWO TIME WORLD CUP WINNER: I'm really happy. I mean, it's pretty awesome to meet the girls already and be in with the team, just to be a part of this organization is pretty incredible. The rich history and the fact that the women's team has continued to improve year after year I am really happy to take this next step of my career.
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SNELL: Well, Spurs men's team were supposed to be in a league cup action against Tuesday Leyton Orient, but the match was called off just 2 hours before kickoff due to the reported Coronavirus outbreak in the fourth day club squad. This after Spurs has actually even paid for the testing to take place.
Meantime, Manchester United traveling to second tier Luton Town they - had the bright young talent of Dean Henderson in goal to thank. Look at that outstanding save on his debut, with his team only 1-0 up at the. Late goals for Marcus Rashford and then another youngster for United, Mason Greenwood putting this game to bed a trademark finishes really from both players. United win it 3-0 in the end.
Now, we already know top rank Ashleigh Barty won't be at the French Open. Now though, we're going to bring you news of another grand slam winner, who is also decided to follow suit.
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[02:50:00]
SNELL: Welcome back to 2019 U.S. Open Tennis Champion, Bianca and rescue has revealed she won't be at the 3rd and final grand slam event of the year. The French Open which starts in Paris on Sunday, the 20- year-old Canadian who's recovering from a knee industry, taking to Twitter to say that she wants to use the time "To focus on my game so I can come back stronger and better than ever".
Here in the United States, two more NFL teams have been fined due to the head coach is not wearing face coverings during a game. A league source telling CNN, the Saints and Raiders have been hit to the tune of $250,000 each. The two coaches in question, each getting fines of 100,000 on Monday, three other NFL teams were also find. All of those fines combined by the way, totaling more than $1 million.
Right, when Moshe Hogeg bought the football club Beitar Jerusalem, he pledged to what result a lawsuits to cleanse the club's image and eradicate the anti-Arab sentiment among some of this fan base. Now though, he is seeking Emirate investment in the club, following the normalization agreement between Israel and the UAE.
He is traveling to Dubai within the next few weeks, to try and woo potential investors. Here is CNN's Oren Liebermann.
OREN LIEBERMANN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Moshe Hogeg owner of Beitar Jerusalem, thank you for sitting down with us. Generally, when Beitar Jerusalem is in the international headlines, it is for all of the wrong reasons. A loyal but extremist group of fans who until recently, we're proud of the fact that Beitar had never had an Arab player and yet, here you are considering bringing in that investor from the United Arab Emirates, why?
MOSHE HOGEG, OWNER, BEITAR JERUSALEM F.C.: Why not?
LIEBERMANN: Where did the idea come from? How long this has been in the works?
HOGEG: I think about a week ago, may be a bit more I got a phone call from a big investment firm in Israel, from the owner. He told me listen, we need to meet urgently. I said, OK. We met the day after, he told me listen, there is a client from Abu Dhabi, they are interested in buying Beitar Jerusalem.
I told them listen, Jerusalem is the holy land, it is the capital. It is the holiest place in the world, not only for Jewish but also Muslims and Christians. And, we read about the club fighting racism, and we want to be part of that. So, this is why they approached me.
So, we had a few phone calls through Zoom, and soon I think after the holy days, I'm going to find out. Let's hope that we can do something. When we brought Ali Muhammad to Beitar, we brought a very good player. He cost a lot of money. He is a very, very good player. And his name is Ali Mohammed and that was some actually small part of our fan base.
LIEBERMANN: He is Christian, but has a Muslim name?
HOGEG: Yes, his mother is Christian. His father is Muslim, he has a Muslim name. It does not matter anything, he has a Muslim name, and that was a challenge for a few percentage of our fan base.
LIEBERMANN: The presiding ceremony officially between Israel, the UAE and Bahrain. What was going through tour mind as that was happening? Were you even watching?
HOGEG: Yes, I was watching. I was excited.
[02:55:00]
HOGEG: I was very emotional about this. I think that when you lay infrastructure, it takes time but in the end you enjoy the food but football is the people. And when you have a partnership between the nations, between a Jewish guy from Israel named Moshe and an Arab guy, from the United Emirates, named I do not know what.
We are cheering for the same team and we are building this community. We are giving good, we are putting in money, all we want is to see people having fun.
LIEBERMANN: From the perspective of football, not politics, not diplomacy, what could this bring to Beitar?
HOGEG: You know I am a dreamer. If this will happen, I won't bring a partner, just to say we have a partner from the Emirates. If I bring a partner, it would be a significant one, one that shares the same ideology, but also has the financial ability to take this club to a different level.
The dream of course is to win the championship, and playing in the Champions League. This would be the dream to have, to have a dominant team from the Middle East that is competing in the best, number one European stage.
LIEBERMANN: A new era for the region, and perhaps a new era for Beitar Jerusalem. Moshe Hogeg, thank you for your time.
HOIGEG: Thank you.
SNELL: And we will of course keep you updated on any key developments from that story. Well, thank you so much for watching us today. Do join us for later, Wednesday Edition of CNN World Sport with myself, and with Don Riddell coming your way, later. Stay with CNN, bye for now.
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