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President Trump Believes the Virus Will Just Disappear; No Age Exemption for China's New Security Law; President Putin Assured to Have Extend His Power; Source, Trump Often Didn't Read Russia Material; Official Say, Afghan Contractor Handed Out Russian Cash To Kill Americans; China Rejects U.K.'s Criticism Of New Law; Coronavirus Pandemic; U.S. Jobs Report For June Due In A Few Hours; 1.4 Million New Claims Expected In U.S. Jobless Report; Palestinians Rally Against West Bank Annexation; Mexico Reopening As Death Toll Climbs; Brazil Surpasses 60,000 Coronavirus Deaths; Gerri Schappals, 102 Year-Old Survivor, I Always Feel Lucky; CNN Business, Tesla Is Now Worth More Than Toyota, Disney, And Coca-Cola; Formula One, Lewis Hamilton's Legacy On And Off The Race Track. Aired 3-4a ET
Aired July 02, 2020 - 03:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[03:00:00]
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ROSEMARY CHURCH, CNN ANCHOR: Hello, and welcome to our viewers joining us from all around the world. I'm Rosemary Church. And this is CNN Newsroom.
Just ahead. After President Trump claims the coronavirus will quote, "just disappear," the United States saw its highest single day of cases, more than 50,000.
Plus, as protest and arrest gain momentum in Hong Kong over China's national security law, CNN speaks exclusively with the only person from Hong Kong working with Beijing to draft it.
And we bring you the remarkable story of 102-year-old survivor who battled against two pandemics 100 years apart.
Good to have you with us.
Well, more than 50,000 Americans were diagnosed with COVID-19 on Wednesday. The highest one-day total by far. The World Health Organization says the virus is spreading so rapidly that 60 percent of the total cases across the globe were diagnosed just in the past month.
U.S. health experts fear the upcoming July 4th holiday will make it worse. Arizona, California, Texas, Tennessee and North Carolina all reported a surge of new cases in the last 24 hours. Nearly two dozen states have been forced to pause or rollback reopening plans.
But there is no sense of a crisis at the Trump White House. The president says he still thinks the virus will sort of just disappear. His words. So far, the president still plans to attend a holiday event on Friday at Mount Rushmore in South Dakota. And social distancing will not be required there.
We have more now from CNN's Jeremy Diamond.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: I think we're going to be very good with the coronavirus. I think that at some point, that's going to sort of, just disappear, I hope.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
JEREMY DIAMOND, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Tonight, President Trump is betting on wishful thinking to stop the alarming surge of coronavirus across the country.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You still believe so disappearing --
(CROSSTALK)
TRUMP: I do. I do. Yes, sure at some point.
KAYLEIGH MCENANY, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: The president is confident that it will disappear. He's confident that he has put together a revolutionary first-class team that is going to breakthrough bureaucracy and get us a vaccine.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
DIAMOND: With coronavirus cases trending upward in 37 states, and his own public health experts calling for swift action, Trump who once called himself a wartime president in the face of a pandemic, now appears to be taking a backseat.
He hasn't appeared at a briefing alongside health experts in weeks. And he undermined CDC guidelines by rallying thousands of people at an indoor arena last month. But today --
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: I'm all for masks.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
DIAMOND: The president who has found himself increasingly isolated over the issue of wearing masks, now saying this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You would wear one?
TRUMP: I would. I would. I have. I mean, people have seen me wearing one. If I'm in a group of people where we are not, you know, 10 feet away -- but usually I'm not in that position and everyone is tested. I'm actually I had a mask. I just don't like the way I look. OK. I looked like the lone ranger.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
DIAMOND: But the president is still resisting calls for a national mandate.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: Well, I don't know if you need mandatory. Because you have many places in the country. People feel good about it -- they should do.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
DIAMOND: trump's comments coming after a slew of Republicans have stepped up their calls for Americans to wear masks. While also resisting instituting a requirement.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GOV. BRIAN KEMP (R-GA): We shouldn't have to require or mandate for people to wear a mask. It's the right thing to do. I trust people that they're going to do that if we asked them.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
DIAMOND: Vice President Mike Pence also stepping up his calls for mask wearing if local officials agree.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MICHAEL PENCE, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: We believe that Americans should wear masks whenever state and local authorities indicate that it's appropriate.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
DIAMOND: The president's campaign, meanwhile, finding a fall guy for the presidents Tulsa campaign rally, resigning its chief operating officer to a new role after Trump privately fumed not about the lack of health precautions, but because the arena wasn't packed to the brim.
[03:04:54]
And then, there is the culture wars. Trump, keeping up his defense of monuments to the confederacy and threatening to veto a military funding bill because it would strike the names of confederate generals from military bases.
He is also attacking New York's mayor for plans to paint black lives matter in front of Trump tower on Fifth Avenue, calling the slogan a symbol of hate and suggesting police officers should block the painting. The White House press secretary claiming Trump was referring to the
organization, accusing it of being hateful toward police.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MCENANY: All black lives do matters. He agrees with that sentiment. But what he doesn't agree with is an organization that chants pigs in a blanket, fry them like bacon about our police officers.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
DIAMOND: Amid mounting evidence that Russia tried to pay Taliban fighters to kill U.S. troops, the president is stepping up his attacks on those reports, discrediting the intelligence as just another hoax, even as his administration prefers to brief the congressional gang of eight on the issue tomorrow.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: This didn't rise to the occasion, and from what I hear, and I hear it pretty good. The intelligence people didn't even -- many of them didn't believe it happened at all. I think it's a hoax. I think it's a hoax by the newspapers and the Democrats.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
DIAMOND: Privately, sources are telling me and my colleagues that the president really doesn't want to focus on this pandemic. He's much more interested in focusing on this economic reopening.
Nonetheless, a senior administration official tells me that next week, we are going to see the president focus more on this pandemic with a couple of events where the president is going to be highlighting what this administration is doing, including advancements on therapeutic and some of the requests that they have fulfilled from governors across the country.
Of course, that though, is a question of whether the president is going to follow the playbook that his aides are laying out, and that certainly is never a guarantee.
Jeremy Diamond, CNN, the White House.
CHURCH: So, let's bring in Dr. Kent Sepkowitz, a professor of medicine and infectious diseases at Weill Cornell Medical College. Thank you so much for joining us.
KENT SEPKOWITZ, CNN MEDICAL ANALYST: Glad to be here, Rosemary.
CHURCH: So, the U.S. death toll is now above 128,000. Cases are surging in 37 states, 22 of those states have paused or rolled back reopening. And most of California is now shut down again. Why are we seeing this sudden surge in cases and what drastic measures need to be taken right now to stop the surge? SEPKOWITZ: Well, we are seeing the surge because we didn't pay
attention to the rules of the shutdown the first time through. People got itching. They felt like it was party time again. And they had been in indoors for too long. It's very hard to maintain the package of social distancing sheltering at home. It's a very boring slog, but it works. Masks works. Washing your hands work.
The whole package is monotonous. And people got tired of it. And once it was like (Inaudible) is out and people were jumping for joy and that was the mistake. There was never a thought that we could go from total lockdown, total quarantine to hey, hey, everybody back in the pool, you know. But everybody heard it that way and so resumed improvident behavior.
CHURCH: Right. And of course, in the midst of this health crisis that we confront, President Trump appears to be changing his opinion on face coverings now saying, masks are good, but he won't mandate them. And he hasn't told his supporters to wear them. If he did that, and also took the lead and actually wore a mask himself in public, could that be enough to stop this alarming surge in cases?
SEPKOWITZ: It would be a factor that would have some effect. I think that getting people to stay home, getting people to not go to bars and drink. Getting people to stay away from each other, and in the social sense. Those are much harder.
But, I think, for him to take this seriously, for him to take a human behavior seriously, and containing oneself seriously, that would be big. And if he would wear a mask all the time, non-sarcastically or derisively, I think it would matter. I don't think he will in a zillion years, but I would love to be (Inaudible).
CHURCH: And President Trump also said Wednesday that the coronavirus will sort of just disappear. His words exactly. What medical advice would you give him on that statement?
SEPKOWITZ: You know, wake up, dude. There is -- there is no indication, scientifically, or what we've seen, or just, you know, ask your grandma if it's going to just magically disappear.
[03:10:00]
There is no one thinks that other than the president. I don't know that he truly thinks it. It's just magical thinking. He thought those pills of malaria, pills who were going to make it go away. It's not. Except that there is a real crisis on his hands that requires decision-making. He is just refusing to go there.
CHURCH: And doctor, a new study is now suggesting that COVID-19 deaths could actually be about 28 percent higher. How likely is it that we have underestimated the death toll in the U.S.?
SEPKOWITZ: Surely, we have. People die without diagnosis. People don't get their tests. People die suddenly in their homes, et cetera. This public health has known about that phenomenon the undercounted all the time to every disease. Influenza, et cetera. They have ways to estimate a more accurate number, but inevitably at
the end of the season, a flu or whatever were counted, the true number, which is the incremental number of deaths above the base line that is seen every year more of us is the same for a month -- that it's adjusted and attributed back to the epidemic disease.
So, this is old -- this is an old non-politically charged statistical adjustment that has been made for decades. And yet, 20, 25 percent undercount -- that feels about right for other diseases. Not a --
(CROSSTALK)
CHURCH: Dr. Sepkowitz, thank you so much for talking with us. We appreciate it.
SEPKOWITZ: Thank you very much.
CHURCH: On the streets of Hong Kong, protests and hundreds of arrests as China sweeping national security law is now enforced. Clashes between police and protesters come after the passing of that law which broadens Beijing's powers to investigate and punish dissenters. Supporters say it will bring back stability but critics say it has stripped Hong Kong of its autonomy and freedoms.
And around the world, the law is drawing criticism and grave concern.
So, let's head straight to Hong Kong and our Will Ripley who spoke to Hong Kong sole representative on the laws drafting committee. So, Will, what did that representative tell you?
WILL RIPLEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: This is a really important perspective, Rosemary, because out of 170 members of the National People's Congress standing committee, he was the only Hong Kong representative in the room when they voted to unanimously approve it. And he was representing essentially the seven million people who are living here, including the protesters who are out on the streets.
A small number, mind you, compared to last year when the crowds numbered in the tens or even hundreds of thousands. This year, much smaller numbers, but still, hundreds of arrests. And I asked him if Hong Kong is being turned into a police state as a result of this law.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
TAM YIU-CHUNG, STANDING COMMITTEE MEMBER, NATIONAL PEOPLE'S CONGRESS (through translator): It might be because some people intentionally challenge the law, also, it might be because they did not understand the content of the law.
RIPLEY: How is a 15-year-old girl in possession of a Hong Kong independence banner or anyone for that matter, a threat to the national security of China, simply for possessing such a banner?
YIU-CHUNG (through translator): We feel very sad that some youths and teenagers have violated the law. We really don't want to see such cases, but unfortunately, in the last year, many teenagers and youth violated the law.
RIPLEY: But this law is quite vague in terms of the definition of these crimes, and again we can look at the first round of arrests. These are people who are in possession of signs and banners. Those kinds of things would be allowed in the U.S. under freedom of speech.
YIU-CHUNG (through translator): Actually, the police would not make charges for just based on a single speech. It must be based on many other factors, such as the displayed banners or specific speeches made. These are only primary evidence, and police will need to continue to investigate for evidence to assess if there might be certain organizations any planning, or any other actions.
RIPLEY: But somebody transiting through Hong Kong at the international airport can theoretically be arrested under this law?
YIU-CHUNG (through translator): I cannot foresee that such a situation may arise, rather, we can see a case where a Chinese national was detained when they transmitted through Canada. Right now, I cannot see that in Hong Kong unless someone intentionally violates the law.
RIPLEY: Hong Kong lawmakers have been told that this law is not retroactive. Does that mean that whatever people posted before July 1st 2020 would not be used as evidence against them?
YIU-CHUNG (through translator): There is no retrospective period stipulated in the law. I just want to say, after the law comes into effect, if you continue to violate it, of course you will be prosecuted, but all the actions that you previously did might also be used as evidence.
[03:15:06]
RIPLEY: I would like you to respond to this quote from the U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. Beijing's paranoia and fear of its own people's aspirations have led it to eviscerate the very foundation of the territory success, turning one country to systems into one country, one system.
YIU-CHUNG (through translator): If China really wants to impose one country, one system, it doesn't have to do so much work. The reason why we have a law to protect national safety now is because we want to continue one country, two systems. If the safety of one country is under threat, without one country, how can there can be two systems?
(END VIDEOTAPE)
RIPLEY: I asked him about whether he thinks this law in and of itself is going to just erase the anger that a lot of Hong Kong young people in particular feel and the mistrust that they feel towards not only their own government here in Hong Kong, but also the government in mainland China and he acknowledged that there is a real failure on the part of what he says is the education system to teach young people, in his words, properly about the system in mainland China. So, I asked, if this law would then extend into the classroom if, for
example, a college professor were to teach something, that was deemed to be in violation of this law, if they could face charges? If this could actually change the way that young people in Hong Kong are educated, and he didn't really give a clear answer on that.
So, this is only early days, Rosemary. We're going to have to watch very closely to see just how far they go to enforce this, but clearly, whatever people posted on their social media before this law took effect, if they are arrested, moving forward, those past actions could certainly be used against them as prosecutors work to build any case.
CHURCH: Yes. And we will certainly be watching very closely. Will Ripley, joining us from Hong Kong. Many thanks.
And let's stay in Hong Kong for my next guest. Maria Tam, deputy director of the basic law committee joins me now. Thank you so much for being with us.
MARIA TAM, DEPUTY DIRECTOR, BASIC LAW COMMITTEE: Rosemary, thank you for asking.
CHURCH: Now, you were one of only a few Hong Kong residents to be in Beijing when the sweeping security law was passed. So, you saw the draft of this law, and you knew exactly what it entailed and what it would mean for your fellow citizens. Do you worry at all for the welfare of the hundreds of people now being arrested just for protesting against this law, including a 15-year-old girl? Does that concern you at all?
TAM: Rosemary, I'm bred and born in Hong Kong. I'm 74 years old, and I gave up my U.K. citizenship just before reunification so that I can stay in Hong Kong. Well, I cannot imagine anybody saying that I don't care about Hong Kong.
But let me first tell you what my job is. In the Basic Law Committee, we would advise whether an international law enacted in Beijing could be implemented in Hong Kong. The first thing I have to decide is whether it infringes upon a high degree of autonomy.
As you know, whether it is a unitary state or a federal state, enacting such law is a metaphor the central government and the national legislature. So, the law must be enacted in Beijing by the National People's Congress. This is universal --
(CROSSTALK)
CHURCH: So, does it encroach --
TAM: Secondly --
CHURCH: So, does it encroach -- excuse me.
TAM: Secondly --
CHURCH: Excuse me, madam. TAM: -- it is --
CHURCH: Does it encroach on people's freedoms?
TAM: It is never part --
CHURCH: Excuse me. Does it encroach on people's freedoms?
TAM: It does not encroach on people's freedoms.
CHURCH: So why -- so why are hundreds of people being arrested?
(CROSSTALK)
TAM: And I tell you why. Because the law in itself -- because the law in itself says very clearly, if you look at article four and five, it says that the United Nations convention on human and political rights will be retained even as it was even before the colonial days and all this will be as a matter of fact judged by common law system, and as you know the common law system you have to have a proportional test for --
(CROSSTALK)
CHURCH: Maria Tam, sorry, -- if I could -- sorry -- we are -- we are just running out of time, and I do want to ask you this. Did you make any recommendations to the draft of that law when you were in Beijing? And were any of those recommendations accepted?
TAM: That is a matter between me and the drafting committee.
(CROSSTALK)
CHURCH: All right. So --
TAM: Your question is --
CHURCH: All right.
TAM: -- that when you have a 15-years old --
(CROSSTALK)
CHURCH: So, you're not willing to share that with us.
TAM: -- protesting in the streets. No, it's very, very simple to tell you that the, Rosemary --
(CROSSTALK)
CHURCH: A 15-year-old holding a banner, is that -- should she be -- should she be arrested and sent to prison for that?
[03:19:58]
Should a 15-year-old be arrested and sent to prison for holding a banner in the streets of Hong Kong? Just a yes or no answer.
TAM: You repeated your question. Your repeated your question five times. And I can hear it very clearly.
(CROSSTALK)
CHURCH: Well, what is your answer, madam?
TAM: My answer is that ever since last June, there were 8,000 people being arrested of which 40 percent under the age of 18, the offenders of recruiting new members, boy soldiers, in classrooms, the youngest one --
(CROSSTALK)
CHURCH: So, it is OK to arrest a 15- year-old?
TAM: -- is the age of 11.
CHURCH: Madam, just answer the question, please.
TAM: So, it is important to --
(CROSSTALK)
CHURCH: Is it OK to arrest --
TAM: Can I answer -- can I answer the question?
CHURCH: -- a 15 -- you haven't answered it yet. You are referring to the past. I'm asking you this direct question.
(CROSSTALK)
TAM: I'm answering it now.
CHURCH: Should a 15-year-old be arrested on the street --
TAM: if you stop -- if you stop repeating --
CHURCH: -- for protesting and sent to prison? Just a yes or no.
TAM: That is a very, very unfair question.
CHURCH: It's an easy -- it's an easy question and an easy answer.
(CROSSTALK)
TAM: Should an 11-years-old, 15 years old be enticed -- be enticed -- be enticed by offenders to go out in the streets, and wave flags for independence? Should they be harmed while in their school? They should be studying. They should be learning how to equip themselves to face the challenges in one's life. They are being enticed and organize to go out in the street and become criminals. We are not going to punish them --
(CROSSTALK)
CHURCH: So, it's -- it's being a criminal is it to hold up a banner?
TAM: -- severely or ever. But be arrested --
(CROSSTALK)
CHURCH: Is it criminal to hold up a banner? You are not answering the question, madam. So, let's just move on, because I did, as we mentioned, you are the deputy director of the Basic Law Committee, and that basic law serves as the de facto Constitution of Hong Kong.
The one country, two systems principle was enshrined in that basic law document, but now the new security law has brought that principle to an end. Now, it is one country, one system. So, how do you reconcile that given the new law destroys the freedom and autonomy that Hong Kong has enjoyed since the handover from Britain in 1997? It was supposed to go until 2047. So, could you answer that question, please?
TAM: My answer to the question -- my answer to that question is that you are telling a lot of untrue things. As far as the basic law is concerned, I've already told you that in this national security law, it is already written there that whatever protection we have under the basic law article 39, we will still be in this law.
Arresting somebody in the street, who happened to be age 15, is something we have to do to stop the riot, and violence at that time, whether she is going to be charged or she would be given just a probation, or she would not even be charged, or she can tell us who is telling her to go in the streets and do all this unlawful things, she may even help us. We don't know what will happen to her, but she would be met with justice.
(CROSSTALK)
CHURCH: Protesting is something, writing is another.
TAM: Because that is Hong Kong.
CHURCH: And the 15-year-old was not rioting.
TAM: You may wish to know -- you may wish to know --
(CROSSTALK)
CHURCH: Maria Tam, thank you so much for joining us. We appreciate it.
TAM: -- that Hong Kong (Inaudible) number two --
CHURCH: Thank you for joining us. We do appreciate it.
And still ahead here on CNN Newsroom, will we be talking about President Putin in 2036? Early plebiscite results suggest he could be running Russia for the foreseeable future, and maybe a lot longer than that. We'll have that and more when we return. [03:25:00]
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
CHURCH: Russian President Vladimir Putin could hang on to power for another 16 years. Early results from Russia Central Elections Commission show more than three quarters of voters have approved constitutional changes. They could allow Mr. Putin to seek two more six-year terms as president.
His critics are slamming the vote. One of them calling it a huge lie. Independent organizations say the numbers aren't accurate, and vote monitoring groups say there wasn't adequate regulation.
Well CNN's Matthew Chance is following the story from London. He joins me now live. Good to see you, Matthew. So, what role might U.S. President Donald Trump play in the outcome of this vote for President Putin?
MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, perhaps a small one, although Vladimir Putin remains popular in Russia for a whole host of reasons. But the fact that he has, you know, a relationship with Donald Trump in the way that he does have has perhaps created a sense, which is very popular in some quarters, that Vladimir Putin has a free hand on the international stage, and that could've helped him secure the votes that he needed.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CHANCE: With Putin tightening his grip on the Kremlin, he could point to the U.S. president as one reason for his enduring upheaval.
"I would elect him for another 10 years," says Antonina (Ph) who is voting for constitutional changes that could keep Putin in power until 2023.
When Trump won in 2016, they celebrated in Russia. Finally, the U.S. leader critical of NATO in the E.U., where they believed saw the world their way. Putin's way.
Still, a few expected him to back the Russian president over his own intelligence agencies on allegations of U.S. election meddling, even Putin looked uncomfortable with the 2018 Helsinki summit, intervening to insist President Trump had disagreed with them on something.
VLADIMIR PUTIN, RUSSIAN PRESIDENT (through translator): President Trump's stance on Crimea is well known, and he sticks to it. We have a different point of view.
CHANCE: But apparent bows to Kremlin interest didn't end. In 2019, President Trump announced a sudden pull out of U.S. forces from Syria, abandoning Kurdish allies, allowing Russian forces to take over deserted U.S. bases, filling the vacuum and a long-standing Kremlin goal.
U.S. officials later clarified some forces would stay to secure the oil. But in other conflicts like Ukraine, Trump also played well to the Russian audience. Threats to suspend vital military aid, fueled bitter impeachment hearings in Washington, it was music to the Kremlin's ears as their forces-backed rebels in the countries.
Now, as Russians looks set to endorse Putin for potentially another 16 years, Trump's apparent soft spot for the Kremlin's strongman amid allegations of Russian bounties to kill U.S. troops is being tested again.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
CHANCE: All right. Well, opposition groups as you mentioned are rejecting the outcome of this vote as fabricated. One election monitoring group and independent one in Russia saying that a one-sided state media campaign ahead of the vote will have secured the results.
Russian election officials though saying there were no violations that could have altered the outcome. Rosemary?
CHURCH: Right. Matthew Chance, many thanks to you joining us live from London.
Well, we are now learning new details about the Russian bounties report. Sources telling CNN that Donald Trump's resistance to warnings about Russia resulted in his national security team briefing him less often on Russia-related threats in their verbal presentations.
That as the president keeps on insisting, he hasn't briefed. He wasn't briefed on intelligence that Russia had allegedly placed bounties on American troops in Afghanistan. But CNN reported earlier this week that the White House was provided with intelligence in early 2019. But Mr. Trump says the report is a hoax, a line the vice president has stuck to as well.
[03:30:00]
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MIKE PENCE, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I was never brief about that matter and I'm not going to discuss classified materials.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CHURCH: The U.S. Secretary of State offered a more general answer.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MIKE POMPEO, SECRETARY OF STATE: When the threat is sufficiently serious, the scale of threat is of such importance that there is an action that I think the president needs to be aware of and the information that I've seen sufficiently credible, then we make sure that the president is aware of that.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CHURCH: And we are now learning new details about the alleged operation. The New York Times reports an Afghan drug smuggler was a key middleman between the Russian spy agency, that's the GRU, and Taliban militants.
And you are watching CNN Newsroom. Just ahead, an Israeli plan to annex part of the West Bank appears to be on hold at least for now. We will have details live from Jerusalem.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
CHURCH: Welcome back to CNN Newsroom. I'm Rosemary Church. China is firing back at Britain's Prime Minister after Boris Johnson criticize the new National Security Law imposed on Hong Kong. Johnson said Wednesday the law threatens Hong Kong's autonomy and civil freedoms, and he offered eligible Hong Kong residents a path to British citizenship. But China's ambassador to the U.K. says the U.K. has no jurisdiction over Hong Kong's affairs.
International diplomatic editor Nic Robertson is in London for us. He joins us now live. Good to see, Nic. So, what's the U.K.'s likely next move on this?
NIC ROBERTSON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, we've also heard from the foreign secretary saying that in Britain's opinion, that this new national security law in Hong Kong breaks a joint declaration between China and the U.K. that was written up in 1984. Of course, the handover came in 1997 but it was essentially one country two systems to remain in place for 50 years.
So, the U.K. is taking a very clear line on this. They are offering now the 350,000 holders of British national overseas passports. The opportunity not as the passports previously entitled them to, which was to come to the U.K. visa free for six months, but to come to the U.K. to live here and work for five years. To apply after that for settled status. And within 12 months of that to be able to apply for a full citizenship in the U.K.
So, the British governments offering a part of that in Hong Kong up to 350,000 people to come and work in the U.K., and ultimately get full British citizenship.
[03:35:09]
But it is hard to see where it goes from here. Diplomatic dressing down is one thing. An offer of ultimate right of citizenship to Hong Kong residents is also another. But how does Britain move this forward? It's very clear from what we've heard from China's ambassador to London is that, you know, this is what he described as gross interference in internal affairs. It's unwelcome that Britain has no sovereignty, no jurisdictions, and no right of supervision over Hong Kong.
So, these are very clearly lines being drawn between the two countries. And it's hard to see where Britain does go from here. It wants the opportunity of trade with China. It wants that a lot because it's pulling out of the European Union, Brexit, of course. And then it looks towards China to improve you know, to help improve and stand up the British economy.
So, at the moment, it is one former senior -- former senior British politician put it this morning, Michael Heseltine, it was one of the politicians who actually negotiated that 1984 joint declaration, he said we have to accept that China is a rising superpower. Essentially, we can't stop China. That was his view on it. It's not clear how the current Prime Minister will try and take things forward.
CHURCH: All right. Many thanks to our Nic Robertson joining us live from London. I appreciate it.
Well, the U.S. could see another record month of job growth as the economy attempts to recover from the pandemic. Jobs and unemployment numbers for June will be published in the coming hours. Experts predict the U.S. added 3 million jobs, but warn the crisis is far from over, and unemployment remains at historically high levels.
The U.S. Labor Department expects more than 1 million Americans claimed unemployment benefits in the last week of June alone. CNN's John Defterios joins me now, live from Abu Dhabi. Good to see you, John. So, the pandemic is far from over, clearly.
JOHN DEFTERIOS, CNN EMERGING MARKETS EDITOR: Thanks for having me.
CHURCH: So, how much comfort should we take from these increased number of U.S. jobs?
DEFTERIOS: Well, it could be a two month comfort window, a very brief one, Rosemary, because we saw the big job numbers in May with the expectation is another record for June of three million. We just don't know how long it will last. So, let's take, officially, a look at the expectations here of three million bringing the unemployment rate down to 12.3 percent.
That is historically high, and I think we have to put into context where do we come from as 3.5 percent back in February, and something that Donald Trump was taking a lot of credit for, then the pandemic struck. This is a huge challenge. And the other thing we have to remember here is what happens with the new cases and how it filters into the economy? We had a spike up to 50,000 that was a record, 2.68 million overall.
This will hit hiring in the second half. I would not expect a V-shape recovery in the jobs market, and even Jerome Powell, the head of Federal Reserve board, we talked about this earlier in the week, said the minorities are getting hit the hardest. Black Americans and Latinos who work in the service sector because the safety net just doesn't really exist in the United States outside the pandemic and the payments we see right now they get higher and hired really quickly, and they are taking it on the chin, and the numbers as you are suggesting are still historically high.
CHURCH: Yes. That is critical. Of course we also have weekly jobless claims coming out in a few hours. Talk to us about that.
DEFTERIOS: You know, we are very interested in this because it's the latest snapshot on the economy, and the trend line has been down. You know, Rosemary, we picked at 6.9 million in April, and it's been a staircase lower, but 1.5 again historically we see movements of 200,000 to 300,000 a week.
The other thing that we should point out here is the collective total. So, 1.4 is the expectation this week, collected total of better than 47 million. That means better than one out of four Americans in the workforce have filed for claims here. So, very likely will get above 50 million, and again, Congress is working on a package here that's likely to come forward in July.
We have one in the House, and one being formed in the Senate. They have to give a lot more focus on just low interest rate that helps Wall Street and really focus on Main Street as we see the pandemic coming back into the floor, and undermining the recovery we've seen so far.
CHURCH: Those unemployment numbers are just a horrifying. John Defterios bringing us that live report from Abu Dhabi. Many thanks.
Well, Israel's plan to annex parts of the West Bank may be on pause for the moment, but that didn't stop thousands of people from protesting Wednesday in Gaza. Many waved Palestinian flags and signs condemning the U.S. president.
[03:40:08]
Donald Trump's administrations has been working with the Israeli government on the annexation plan. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu calls it extending Israeli sovereignty to Jewish settlements and the Jordan valley. Palestinians want the West Bank to be a central part of a future state. My colleague Paula Newton spoke earlier with Palestinian political analyst Diana Buttu.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DIANA BUTTU PALESTINIAN POLITICAL ANALYST: The world can and should be doing more. And I don't think that it's just around the issue of annexation. You know, Paula, we have got 600,000 Israeli settlers in the West Bank, making about 25 percent of the population. That's apartheid. So, this is where it's incumbent upon every person in the world and every country around the world to start condemning and putting into place sanctions against Israel to just ignore it is just simply to say to the Palestinians that their lives are meaningless, and that Israel can continue to be above and that Palestinian s are going to be beneath the law.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CHURCH: And CNN's Oren Liebermann joins us now live from Jerusalem. Oren, what is the latest on this?
OREN LIEBERMANN, CNN CORESPONDENT: Rosemary, July 1st came and went fairly quietly from the perspective of Israeli politics, and of course, from the perspective of annexation of parts of the West Bank. July 1st was always an artificial date. It was a date set forward in the coalition agreement between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud Party and his coalition partner, Defense Minister Benny Gantz.
But it was a day that Netanyahu himself hike up, saying this is the day the process of annexation of applying sovereignty would begin in parts of the West Bank, for example, the Jordan Valley in the Jewish settlements. It simply didn't happen. And all we saw Netanyahu say about it was in a statement later in the day, the foreign ministry where he said he's in contact with the U.S. administration with members of the peace team and those discussions will continue.
There have been some hints in recent days and weeks that truly nothing would happen on July 1st. For example, some of those closest to Netanyahu in the Likud said it was a process that would take time, and that there are difficult discussions here from a strategic perspective, from a diplomatic perspective that have to happen.
In terms of the international community, we have seen them ramp up their pressure against Israeli annexation. For example, U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson just published an op-ed in Hebrew, one of the largest papers here saying he is pro-Israel, an absolutely against annexation. We have seen similar article not only from the E.U. minister of foreign affairs.
But also for example from the United Arab Emirates, ambassador to Washington considered a very powerful player in Washington writing an article in that same Israeli newspaper, speaking out against annexation, saying Israel has the choice between annex in parts of the West Bank and between normalizing relations with some of the Arabs states.
So, we are seeing that increase in pressure as well as some countries for example, Belgium, threatening punitive measures, perhaps even sanctions or recognition of the Palestinian state, if Israel moves forward. But as you pointed out, Rosemary, right now, it's a big question as to what Israel will do, and when Israel will do it. That, as coronavirus remains not only the biggest story here, but also the biggest concern on just about everyone's mind.
CHURCH: Indeed. Oren Liebermann, bringing us the very latest from Jerusalem. Many thanks.
And you are watching CNN Newsroom. Coming up, Mexico moves up the list among the world's highest coronavirus death tolls. Nevertheless, the country is pushing forward with its reopening plans. Will have that in just a moment.
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[03:45:00]
CHURCH: Coronavirus cases and deaths are still rising in countries across Latin America. Among the biggest hotspots, Columbia which exceeded 100,000 cases on Wednesday. Brazil, which has more than 1.4 million infections and a death toll over 60,000. And Mexico which now has the sixth highest death toll in the world. But despite the growing risks, some countries are sticking with their plans to reopen. CNN's Matt Rivers has more now from Mexico City. (BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MATT RIVERS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, two new milestones for the countries in Latin America that have reported the most deaths as a result of this outbreak so far. Let's start in Brazil, where cases continue to rise and at an alarming rate. It was Wednesday that health officials there reported more than 1,000 newly confirmed deaths as a result of this virus. That means the overall death toll in Brazil is now more than 60,000 for the first time.
Meanwhile, yet another governor in Brazil has contracted this virus. That means that eight of the 27 governors throughout Brazil have now contracted this coronavirus. Meanwhile, here in Mexico, more specifically here in Mexico City, we watched on Wednesday a certain businesses like restaurants, like hotels, were allowed to reopen with limited capacity for the first time in months.
Other businesses throughout this week, places like hair salons, and markets here in Mexico City, will also be allowed to reopen in the coming days. This as Mexico reported nearly 750 additional deaths on Wednesday evening. That pushes the overall death toll here to more than 28,500 for the first time and that means that Mexico's death toll is now higher than Spain. Matt Rivers, CNN, Mexico City.
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CHURCH: But amid all the tragedy, the coronavirus is bringing, there are uplifting stories as well, including one from New Hampshire where a 102 year old woman surely can be called a survivor. She beat the 1918 influenza, she beat cancer, and now she's also beaten the coronavirus. As she tells our Gary Tuchman, she's always feeling lucky.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
GARY TUCHMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: We headed to New Hampshire to meet this remarkable woman who just recovered from the coronavirus.
Do you feel lucky today?
GERRI SCHAPPALS, 102 YEAR-OLD SURVIVOR: I always feel lucky. I never had any real problems in my life. Everything just seemed to fall into place.
TUCHMAN: An incredible attitude, considering all that has happened in the life of 102 year old, Gerri Schappals.
Julia Schappals is her daughter. When her mother was a baby, a little over 101 years ago --
JULIA SCHAPPALS, DAUGHTER OF GERRI SCHAPPALS: She had this, what we called the Spanish flu which was a huge pandemic during the First World War.
TUCHMAN: That's, right Gerry Schappals' family said she survived the influenza pandemic in the early 20th century. And the coronavirus in the early 21st century. Back in 1918, little Gerri and her mother were both seriously ill.
J. SCHAPPALS: And the doctor told her father, they are both going to die, prepare yourself. But that's my medical opinion.
TUCHMAN: But daughter and mother survived. Gerri went to college, got a bachelors and masters. Became a teacher and got married right after World War II. Her husband died almost four decades ago, but they had two children, and there are now three grandchildren, and six great grandchildren. After Gerri retired, she had breast cancer and colon cancer, and she beat both.
Can I call you Gerri?
G. SCHAPPALS: Delighted.
TUCHMAN: It's delightful to meet you.
G. SCHAPPALS: Thank you.
TUCHMAN: How are you feeling?
G. SCHAPPALS: Wonderful.
TUCHMAN: You're an amazing woman.
G. SCHAPPALS: Why?
TUCHMAN: I'm going to tell you why. You are modest, but you had coronavirus, and 101 years ago, you had Spanish flu. And you survived it twice. You are an amazing woman.
G. SCHAPPALS: I am.
TUCHMAN: Gerri as a resident of the senior living community in Nashua for seven years now. On this day, her daughter came to pay a visit. Social distancing and masks still required.
J. SCHAPPALS: So, how are you doing?
G. SCHAPPALS: You have to keep the mask on.
J. SCHAPPALS: Yes, we have to keep the mask on.
[03:50:00]
Do you recognize the top?
You should, I stole it from you. Don't think of getting it back.
(LAUGHTER)
TUCHMAN: The employees of her senior community were upset and saddened when Gerri tested positive for the coronavirus, but when they told her the diagnosis --
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: She had an incredible attitude. And she, you know, took every day and said, I guess I'm sick. They told me I am sick, but I'm not sick.
TUCHMAN: But like the Spanish flu, and the two bouts of cancer, 102 year old Gerri Schappals managed to fend off the coronavirus as well.
Thank you for letting us meet you. Thank you.
G. SCHAPPALS: My pleasure.
TUCHMAN: Gary Tuchman, CNN, Nashua, New Hampshire.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
CHURCH: She's a super hero. Formula one is back on track, and as usual, most eyes will be on Lewis Hamilton. But it is what he's been doing off the track during the past few months. It has little to do with racing, and a lot to do with social issues. That story coming up.
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CHURCH: So, Tesla is officially replacing Toyota as the most valuable car company on earth. In fact, it's even worth more than Disney and Coca-Cola. There are now only 19 companies in the S&P 500 worth more than the electric car company, cofounded by Elon Musk. Tesla shares hit a new record high on Wednesday at about $1,120 a share. And that means Tesla's market cap is nearly $210 billion.
More like, pretty much like everything else, Formula One came grinding to a halt because of the coronavirus pandemic, but its back. The first race taking place in Austria this weekend. Defending world champion Lewis Hamilton is still a driver to beat. But lately, he's also at the forefront of social issues. CNN's Amanda Davies explains.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: In the past years, I've had racist names been called to me. The first time it happened, I felt really upset. I told my mom and dad, and I felt like I needed to get revenge them.
LEWIS HAMILTON, FORMULA ONE DRIVER: I grew up in a sport that has really given my life meaning. But I've actually grown up in a sport that has very little to no diversity, and I think that's an issue that we continually facing.
AMANDA DAVIES, CNN WORLD SPORTS: Since his earliest days in motorsport, Lewis Hamilton's fight has been much greater than just his battles on the track. In recent weeks, his voice has been stronger than ever, calling for change in and beyond motorsport through a string of powerful social media posts.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You see this as a white male dominated world, it has been since the sport started in 1950s. It's probably the most exclusive sport in many ways. Hamilton wants to push forward change, so it's not like that for the years to come.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You don't want me in your sport, then beat me. DAVIES: Hamilton is the first and only black driver to compete in
Formula One in the sports 70 year history. But it could have been different. American Willy T. Ribbs was the first black driver to test an F-one car, back in 1985. For him the journey ended their, but in Hamilton, he sees a true pioneer.
[03:55:18]
WILLY T. RIBBS, FRIST BLACK DRIVER TO TEST IN FORMULA ONE: He is the leader. He is the bandleader. Lewis Hamilton and he's not afraid. He hasn't broken any laws, he hasn't done anything. He hasn't embers the sport. He broadened the sport. Worldwide. To people of color. He has the right, to take a position and take a stand for humanity. That's what he's doing.
DAVIES: And it's not just words, Lewis has set up the Hamilton commission a new research partnership aimed at making motorsport more diverse and multicultural. And Formula One itself has announced the We Race As One campaign, to tackle the issues of diversity and inclusion both on and off the track. So that could prove a landmark here for both the sport and Lewis as he starts the new season, looking to claim that record equaling seventh world championship title that would take him level with Michael Schumacher.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You can feel with everything off the track, but when he gets in the car, he's the animal, he is the razor, he's the speedy driver that he's been since he started McLaren in 2007. And for Hamilton to potentially equal Michael (inaudible) -- it was a feat that no one thought anyone would get near to.
RIBBS: Camera wise, Lewis is the greatest in the world. He's on another planet. And we'll be known as the greatest all-time in the end.
DAVIES: He's a driver who's been setting new standards on the track throughout his career, but perhaps in 2020, his impact will be felt much further on-field than ever. Amanda Davies, CNN, London.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
CHURCH: Well done, and thank you so much for watching CNN Newsroom. I'm Rosemary Church. Be sure to connect with me on Twitter at Rosemary CNN and I'll be back with another hour of CNN Newsroom in just a moment.
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