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Trump Claims Debate Win, Aides Privately Disagree; Biden: Trump's Conduct Was "National Embarrassment"; Trump Attempts Cleanup After Refusing To Condemn White Supremacists During First Debate With Biden; Trump Claims He Doesn't Know Who Proud Boys Are; Debate Commission Pledges Format Changes; Biden, Harris Dodge Questions About Supreme Court. Aired 2-3a ET
Aired October 01, 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]
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ROBYN CURNOW, CNN ANCHOR: Donald Trump and white supremacists after this week's debate, some Republicans are urging him to denounce the hate groups. And COVID and colleges, cases amongst students are rising, but there are lessons to be learnt from schools reopening. And airline layoffs, tens of thousands of workers could lose their jobs in just a matter of hours.
Hello and welcome to CNN Newsroom, I'm Robyn Curnow.
(MUSIC)
ANNOUNCER: Live from CNN center, this is CNN Newsroom, with Robyn Curnow.
CURNOW: Thanks for joining me this hour, wherever you are in the world. Donald Trump is certainly trying to put the best possible spin on his first debate with Joe Biden. He told supporters in Minnesota he was the clear winner, but even his own campaign advisors are worried about his performance and his refusal to condemn white supremacist groups.
Democrat Joe Biden called the president's conduct a national embarrassment. He hit Mr. Trump hard on his lackluster coronavirus response and the resulting economic fallout.
Well, this isn't the first time the president has found himself in hot water over nationalists and supremacist groups, as Jim Acosta now reports. Jim?
JIM ACOSTA, CHIEF WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT, CNN: After turning the first debate of the 2020 campaign into a dumpster fire, President Trump is trying to put out the flames.
President is insisting he's now familiar with the right-wing group, the Proud Boys, the same organization he declined to criticize when he refused to condemn white supremacy at the debate. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: I don't know who the Proud Boys are. They have to stand down and let law enforcement do their work.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
The president gave the group a pass in a moment that even had fellow Republicans cringing.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: You want to call them - what do you want to call them? Give me a name, give me a name. Go ahead.
CHRIS WALLACE, FOX NEWS ANCHOR & DEBATE MODERATOR: White supremacists and right-wing--
BIDEN: White supremacists.
TRUMP: Who would you like me to condemn?
BIDEN: Proud Boys.
WALLACE: White supremacists and right-wing militia.
TRUMP: Proud Boys, stand back and stand by. But I'll tell you what, I'll tell you what, somebody's got to do something about Antifa and the Left, because this is not a right-wing problem.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: How do you like the Proud Boys now?
(CROWD CHEERING)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ACOSTA: Members of the Proud Boys, a violent group embracing racist views, celebrated Mr. Trump's comments, posting images on social media stating they are standing by. GOP Senators quickly called on Mr. Trump to clarify his remarks.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. TIM SCOTT (R-SC): I think he misspoke, in response to Chris Wallace's comment. He was asking Chris what he wanted to say. I think he misspoke; I think he should correct it. If he doesn't correct it, I guess he didn't misspeak.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Senator, should the president have condemned white supremacists last night at the debate?
SEN. MITT ROMNEY (R-UT): Of course, of course.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ACOSTA: President's decision to clean up his comments came after White House officials maintained Mr. Trump's response was perfectly fine.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SANDRA SMITH, FOX NEWS HOST: Because they are celebrating it, the group.
ALYSSA FARAH, WHITE HOUSE COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR: I don't think that there's anything to clarify.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ACOSTA: Still, one Trump campaign advisor was outraged, telling CNN, "F*** the Proud Boys, there I said it, not that hard."
President is also claiming he's always denounced white supremacy, despite his history of equivocating over neo-Nazi violence in Charlottesville.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: I've always denounced any form, any form, any form of any of that.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ACOSTA: Democrat Joe Biden's message on the subject was more succinct.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOE BIDEN (D) PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE: My message to the Proud Boys and every other white supremacists group is, cease and desist.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ACOSTA: As for the rest of the debate, there were so many interruptions, mainly from Mr. Trump.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BIDEN: Question is - the question is--
TRUMP: You want to put a lot of new Supreme Court Justices, radical left.
BIDEN: Will you shut up, man?
TRUMP: Listen, who is on your list, Joe? Who's on your list?
WALLACE: Gentlemen, I think we've ended this--
BIDEN: This is so un-presidential. TRUMP: He's going to pack the court.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ACOSTA: The presidential debate commission released a statement saying additional structure should be added to the format of the remaining debates to ensure a more orderly discussion of the issues.
One member of the president's debate team said Mr. Trump probably went too far.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CHRIS CHRISTIE, FORMER NEW JERSEY GOVERNOR: And yes, I think on the Trump side, it was too hot. With all that heat, as you said before, you lose the light. That potentially can be fixed maybe, maybe not.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ACOSTA: The president also played fast and loose with the facts, claiming he has paid millions of dollars in taxes after The New York Times obtained his tax returns and found that's not the case.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: Millions of dollars.
WALLACE: You paid millions of dollars in--
TRUMP: Millions of dollars, yes.
WALLACE: So not--
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ACOSTA: Team Biden is dodging the question of whether he would the pack the Supreme Court. Republicans are successful in seating their nominee, Amy Coney Barrett.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. KAMALA HARRIS (D-CA) VICE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: The Republican leader of the Senate, together with Donald Trump, are in the spirit of hypocrisy trying to push through a nominee, while the American people are voting.
And so, Joe has been really clear - let's focus on what's happening right now, deal with later, later.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ACOSTA: At this rally in Minnesota, the president falsely alleged that Joe Biden would flood the state with refugees. That is one night after the president failed to condemn white supremacy at the presidential debate. It's a different night for the president, but the same playbook. Jim Acosta, CNN, Duluth, Minnesota.
[02:05:00]
CURNOW: Thanks, Jim, for that. So, Joe Biden is hoping to convince voters he can do a better job handling the U.S. economy than Donald Trump. Biden spent Wednesday riding the rails, as you can see here, with campaign stops in the battleground states of Ohio and Pennsylvania, which Mr. Trump won four years ago.
Now, the former vice president spoke about the changes he wants to see, so the next two presidential debates will be less chaotic.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BIDEN: I just hope there's a way in which the debate commission can control the ability of us to answer the question without interruptions. I'm not going to speculate on what happens in the second or third debate. My hope is that they are able to literally say the question gets asked to Trump, he has the microphone, he has two minutes to answer the question. No one else has a microphone.
ARLETTE SAENZ, CNN POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT: What do you have to say to those undecided persuadable voters who were watching last night and were just completely turned off by politics?
BIDEN: I can understand it. It was - I kind of thought at one point, maybe I shouldn't say this, but the president of the United States conducting himself the way he did I think was just a national embarrassment.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CURNOW: And then, later on the day - in that day, the Commission on Presidential Debates responded actually it's planning format changes to add structure, ensure a more orderly discussion. Details will be announced shortly, we understand.
Michael Genovese is the President of the Global Policy Institute at Loyola Marymount University and is live this hour in Los Angeles. Good to see you, sir.
So, we are a day into this, and I want to look forward and perhaps not back at this debate, because it certainly was what we know now as a dumpster fire of a debate. But, why was this one different? Was it just because of the interruptions? And who can - does it matter who wins and loses out of something like this?
MICHAEL GENOVESE, PRESIDENT OF GLOBAL POLICY INSTITUTE, LOYOLA MARYMOUNT UNIVERSITY: Well, historically, it has not mattered very much. Debates have not been that consequential. The only way they have mattered is not for who wins, but for who loses. And so, a lot of prep time goes into being sure not to lose.
Donald Trump lost last night and he lost big time. His tidiane (ph) crassness was in full display. I mean it was absolutely cringe-worthy. He was rude, he was crass, did himself no favors.
CURNOW: But how did Joe Biden fare? And I know you say, if you're going to talk winners and losers, perhaps Biden came out better, but still as he was asked that question just a moment ago, many voters seemed to have been turned off by the whole spectacle, and that can't have done well for either side?
GENOVESE: Well, I think Joe Biden was if anything underwhelming. However, being underwhelming in that situation where the president was just so loud - the childish temper tantrum of a four-year-old, Biden by contrast looked like the grown-up.
So, I don't think he helped himself in terms of his debate points that he may have achieved, but he certainly helped himself in contrast simply by being the adult in the room to the childish Donald Trump.
CURNOW: I find it amazing obviously. I've almost reported every day for the last four years on this Trump Presidency, and I find it amazing that there are still some undecided voters out there. But there are. Who do you think would have been swayed?
I'm just fascinated by who perhaps would have been moved. We know that Trump's advisors told him he was hemorrhaging support from women and that he had to reclaim that vote. Where do you think women, in particular suburban women, white women, who saw him get into office, how do you think they took that?
GENOVESE: Well, there's a huge gender gap. There was about a 12 percent gender gap - 12-point gender gap in 2016. It's about 20 percent now. And so, Donald Trump went into that knowing, because his team told him over and over again you've got to reclaim some of the women votes, especially suburban women.
But he came off so rude. He was kind of like the abusive bully of a husband that you have that you end up divorcing after a couple of years. I can't imagine him winning very many women and I can't imagine very many women now being really on the fence.
Most people I think have decided already who they are going to vote for, very few undecideds left.
CURNOW: And then Jim Acosta laid it out, but this bizarre refusal to denounce white supremacist groups, again not a surprise as president has said that sort of thing before, how does that play for voters again?
GENOVESE: Well, it's shocking that the president could have done such a thing because it was teed up for him.
[02:10:00]
He has I'm sure had his advisors go over time and again what you're supposed to say. He either refused to do it or simply can't do it.
So therefore, given all of his examples, and I'm not saying Donald Trump is a racist, what I will say is that he says and does racist things. He has hurt himself dramatically. He didn't have the minority vote to begin with, but a lot of well-meaning voters who are not minorities are going to look at that and say, I just can't abide by that.
CURNOW: Michael Genovese, good to speak to you, live there in Los Angeles. Thanks so much. It's certainly going to be a fascinating next five weeks or so.
GENOVESE: Thank you, Robyn.
CURNOW: So, there was also strong reaction to the debate from leaders around the world, from shock to dismay, to even some questioning the state of American democracy.
Here is Nic Robertson with more on all of that. Nic?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
WALLACE: The answer to the question is no.
TRUMP: --and he threatened Ukraine--
WALLACE: Sir.
TRUMP: --with a billion dollars--
BIDEN: That is absolutely not true.
WALLACE: Stop. (CROSSTALK)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
NIC ROBERTSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMATIC EDITOR: Europeans woke yesterday to what Americans already knew.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JAKE TAPPER, CNN ANCHOR: It was the worst debate I have ever seen. In fact, it wasn't even a debate.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROBERTSON: This German official calling it bad entertainment. And with an eye to upcoming German elections declared, we don't want this kind of bad tone here.
A leading member of Germany's parliament tweeted his concerns. Those vying for the U.S. Presidency don't manage to discuss the country's problems in a factual way.
In France, TV commentators described the exchanges as particularly violent, where no one was the winner.
Ill-mannered, bad-tempered, a brawl, a spectacle was how British journalists interpreted the hour and a half no-break debate. Unlike the French, they said Biden came out ahead. No one I've talked to here in the U.K. was particularly surprised at the tone of the debate. Most people say this is what they expected from President Trump. And Biden, while being a two-term VP, is still a relative unknown here. People have given him some respect, however, for the fact he didn't rise to too much of Trump's bait.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BIDEN: And the first thing I will do, I will rejoin the Paris Accord.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROBERTSON: Where Biden soothed international concerns, Trump amplified fears, appearing to prep right-wing thugs, the Proud Boys, for a confrontation.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: Proud Boys, stand back and stand by.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROBERTSON: Even Putin's spokesmen feigned concern over a new trend in political culture in the U.S. But after this comment, added the Kremlin wouldn't be commenting on the elections.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: It's China's fault. It should have never happened. They stopped it from going in, but it was China's fault.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROBERTSON: China, on the other hand, did comment forcefully.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
WANG WEIBIN, CHINA'S FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESMAN (Interpreted): We resolutely oppose U.S. personnel dragging China into this election. Facts have proven that the U.S. accusations against China have no basis and are untenable.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROBERTSON: Iran's President also bashing Trump, saying, our enemies have been unsuccessful in the past three years. God willing, they will be in these final moments.
But, on the issue of greatest import to America's allies, upholding America as a beacon of democracy--
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: But if I see tens of thousands of ballots being manipulated, I can't go along with that.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROBERTSON: Trump signaled he doused the light in favor of darkness, preferred by America's enemies.
Nic Robertson, CNN, London.
CURNOW: The next debate will be between Democratic Vice Presidential nominee Senator Kamala Harris and Vice President Mike Pence.
CNN's special coverage begins at 7 p.m. on Wednesday on the East Coast, on the U.S. East Coast, that is. That's midnight Thursday in London, 3 a.m. in Abu Dhabi, and 7 a.m. for all of you folks there in Hong Kong.
And another story we're following this hour, Donald Trump's former 2020 campaign manager has stepped down from his senior advisor role. Brad Parscale was detained by police and hospitalized Monday after allegedly making suicidal threats.
He was demoted from campaign manager earlier this year after extremely low turnout at the president's rally in Oklahoma.
And a short time ago, we learned Russian opposition leader, Alexei Navalny, blames President Vladimir Putin for his poisoning - Russian President there, Vladimir Putin. In his first interview since he became ill, Navalny told German magazine Der Spiegel he has no other theory than that Mr. Putin was behind it.
He described not feeling pain after his poisoning with a nerve agent. But he knew, he said, he was dying. He promised to remain fearless.
[02:15:00]
Der Spiegel reported Navalny seemed energetic but not yet in full command of his motor skills. Stay with us as we continue to follow this developing story.
And a major biotech company deals a blow to the U.S. President Donald Trump why its COVID vaccine will take much longer to approve than he would like. Plus big troubles for the U.S. airline industry; it could be facing the single-worst day of job losses in its history.
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CURNOW: Welcome back. I'm Robyn Curnow. One of the coronavirus vaccines in large and last-stage clinical trials won't be ready in time for the U.S. President to gain political points. He has promised a vaccine before November 3, which of course is the election.
But, biotech company Moderna says its candidate won't be ready for the general public until March or April at the very earliest. Moderna's CEO says emergency use isn't even an option until late-November. The vaccine maker says it needs more data before it can file for that authorization.
Meanwhile, European leaders are begging people to obey the rules to prevent further COVID spread. The Germany Chancellor stated, life as we know it will return, but now we have to be reasonable. Angela Merkel is warning of a drastic spike in cases this winter and she says, on a personal note, spontaneous encounters are what she misses most during the pandemic.
Madrid, where infections are soaring, is heading for a new kind of lockdown. People there are required to stay at home except to go to work or to school. Many businesses must now operate at half capacity, gatherings we know are limited to six people and the capital city's borders are closed for non-essential visits.
And then in the U.K., a slew of new restrictions isn't stopping a quickly spreading second wave there. Now, the Prime Minister is threatening to take a much more severe action.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
BORIS JOHNSON, PRIME MINISTER OF THE UNITED KINGDOM: We want to keep the economy moving, we want to keep young people - pupils in education, but the only way we can do that is if we all follow the guidance and depress the virus, get the virus down by following that guidance, and keep things moving as much as we possibly can. And I have to be clear, that if the evidence requires it, we will not hesitate to take further measures that would I'm afraid be more costly than the ones we put into effect now.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CURNOW: And starting today, South Africa is reopening some of its borders to tourists from low-risk countries as long as they've passed a recent COVID test. But leisure travelers from COVID hotspots like the U.S. are still not allowed. Only Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban are accepting international flights.
And then India is issuing new guidelines to ease restrictions on movie theaters and to allow gradual reopening of schools. And a huge new study there offers more insight on to the spread of COVID-19 in two states in India.
[02:20:00]
Researchers looked at 85,000 cases and nearly 600,000 of their contacts. Few studies have done contact tracing on that scale and it found children of all ages can contract the virus and spread it, and a small number of people are responsible for spreading a vast majority of cases.
And death of a college student in the Northeastern U.S. is a warning to otherwise healthy young people to take COVID seriously. This 19- year-old, Chad Dorrill, was diagnosed with the virus earlier on this month. He lived off-campus and was taking all of his classes online. He self-quarantined and was cleared by his doc to return to school. But he developed more serious complications. His family took him to the hospital where he sadly died.
And then another university in the U.S. has already cancelled spring break for next year, even though it is still months away. Georgia Tech which is just down the road from us here at CNN said they are trying to minimize the health risks to the community that come from travel related transmission.
A surge in COVID cases among college-age people in the U.S. happened just as the schools were reopening. Now, in Time Magazine, two doctors say colleges and universities can do a better job of preventing the spread of the virus. One of its authors, Doctor and Professor of Global Health and Public Policy at Duke University, Gavin Yamey, joins me now to discuss it. Hi, Gavin.
DR. GAVIN YAMEY, PROFESSOR OF GLOBAL HEALTH AND PUBLIC POLICY, DUKE UNIVERSITY: Hi, Robyn.
CURNOW: Hi, what is the most important lesson that colleges and universities can learn from what happened when they reopened?
YAMEY: Well, I think firstly, it is a high-risk endeavor. If you are going to reopen in the midst of the worst pandemic in a hundred years, it is a high-risk endeavor and you need to put precautions in place. If you are in an area that has a lot of viral transmission, it's just very difficult for you to reopen without outbreaks. I think that's a really important lesson.
If you've driven down community transmission rates, then your chances of avoiding an outbreak are up higher. And nevertheless, there is a whole series of measures that you still need to put into place. For example, quarantining students on arrival for a couple of weeks, testing them when they arrive, regular testing throughout the semester - two or three times a week is what research suggests you need to be able to avoid outbreaks.
And perhaps one of the most important lessons and so many of these outbreaks have happened from parties and socializing, don't blame students, don't name and shame them, but find alternative, safer ways for them to get together.
CURNOW: Important points. Also in that article, you write that colleges and universities need to prepare for at least another pandemic school year. So, do you think we'll be in the same situation one year from now even if there is a vaccine?
YAMEY: I think we need to prepare for that potential outcome. It is possible that a vaccine is approved this year, but actually delivering it and making sure that it is widespread, that is something that is going to take probably a year, perhaps even more. And that's why I and my colleague, Nahid Bhadelia at Boston University, in our piece in Time Magazine said, Prepare for at least another year of university or college.
The investments that are needed to make sure outbreaks don't happen next semester and perhaps the semester after that, we know what they are now. So many universities here in the United States, they reopened without putting protections in place. They weren't testing students for example. That's unforgivable. We now know that, if you are not doing entry testing and then very, very frequent surveillance testing, it is almost impossible to avoid outbreaks. And we've seen that in the U.K., outbreaks in Scotland and England. This was entirely preventable and the steps that were needed were simply not taken.
CURNOW: So hopefully, some lessons learned. So it is not just about the broader college intake but also sports teams dealing with COVID- 19. So, we know that the University of Notre Dame announced this week that I think it was 18 football players had the virus and I think it came from a pre-game meal, and that it now has potentially spread across the college. I mean, is playing football or any sport now a good idea when it comes to colleges and universities?
YAMEY: My own personal view is that college and university sports right now are very risky. We have seen so many outbreaks and so many infections and I just want to explode a myth that we often hear. These young people, COVID-19 infections in the young don't matter, that's simply not true.
We have terrifying rate of complications, of long-term symptoms, heart problems like myocarditis. And research suggests that about 10 percent of people infected at any age can go on and develop these long-term symptoms.
[02:25:00]
So, we shouldn't just accept infections in young, healthy athletes. We shouldn't accept infections on campus. Not only are they potentially harmful to students themselves, but these infections are then infecting others, older, vulnerable adults, particularly the maintenance and service staff on campuses.
In the States, over 40 percent of porters, catering workers, bus drivers are people of color, and they are at higher risk of death from COVID-19. So, we really need to do everything possible to avert, to avoid campus infections even in young, healthy students.
CURNOW: OK, doctor, thank you very much for joining us. It is a fascinating article. Hopefully all of your talking points are perhaps at least discussed, if not implemented. Appreciate it.
Now, a technical glitch has forced Tokyo Stock Exchange to hold trading for the day. We are now learning the reason why; that's why we are going to Selina Wang who joins me now from Hong Kong. Selina, hi, great to see you. What's happened here?
SELINA WANG, INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT, CNN: Hey, Robyn. We've just moments ago gotten conformation from the Taiwan Stock Exchange that this technical glitch and the reason why they are halting trading for the entire day is because of a hardware issue. There was a hardware failure and when they tried to change the failed hardware to a backup, problems occurred.
So, the Exchange said that they are trying to fix this problem and hopefully get trading back up and running tomorrow. Now, this is certainly a sigh of relief for investors that this could just last for today. But still, this marks the worst outage that the Tokyo Stock Exchange has ever had.
Previously outages have only lasted part of the day; the last major one being in 2005, that's when trading was halting for four and a half hours. And actually, at that time, the President of the Exchange at that time was actually resigning because of that issue. So, quite a serious problem here.
Now, it also comes on a day that's a pretty big headache for investors since it is on a day when most other Asian markets are closed for the national holiday. You have Hong Kong, Taiwan, South Korea, they are all closed. And the Mainland China market is also closed for multiple days. If this were to drag on for multiple days, it could have significant cost to investors.
The fact that it is only potentially going to be shut down for one day means that, especially for these long-term investors, it shouldn't be too much of an issue.
CURNOW: Great stuff. We'll keep an eye on that. Selina Wang, appreciate it, there in Hong Kong.
So, time has run out for tens of thousands of U.S. airline employees, ahead why airline executives say they are being forced to furlough workers. And China's tourism industry is getting a much-needed boost, thanks to the country's Golden Week holiday. But, could it jeopardize China's COVID recovery; that's next here.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[02:30:00]
CURNOW: Welcome back to CNN. I'm ROBYN CURNOW live from our World News Headquarters here in Atlanta, Georgia.
So the coronavirus is taking a toll on the travel industry. We all know that but it's getting worse. Tens of thousands of US airline employees will be furloughed in the coming hours. But in some parts of the world, tourism may actually now be getting a boost.
Well, CNN has reporters across the globe. David Culver joins us from Beijing, Eleni Giokos is in Johannesburg. But we begin with John Defterios in Abu Dhabi.
John, hi. Great to see you. Airlines about to layoff a lot and, I mean a lot of workers. Lives are going to change in the next few hours.
JOHN DEFTERIOS, CNN EMERGING MARKETS EDITOR: Yes, it certainly can here, Robyn. 50,000 jobs are at stake in this round of furloughs, not counting those who took early retirement or the layoffs here. And this is a package that's related to the stimulus plan on Capitol Hill, which has been debated, Robyn, for three months. Kick back and forth between the US House Democrats, the Senate Republicans and the White House. But if you think about it, the airline bailout is $25 billion for six months of a much wider $1.5 to $2.2 trillion. It's nothing, but they're not getting the clarity they're looking for. Here's the CEO of American Airlines saying he'll reverse the decision on furloughs if they get a decision.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DOUG PARKER, CEO, AMERICAN AIRLINES: The last thing we want to do is furlough employees. That's why we've been fighting so hard to come to an agreement. So at any rate, it hard for me to tell you until we hear, until we know where they are, but certainly if there is a, you know, a clear and concrete path that says, you know, we're not quite done yet, but we will be done soon.
Of course, if it's, you know, we just -- we need, you know, much more time to work and unclear as to whether that'll be -- whether we can get something done or not. That's going to be much worse.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
DEFTERIOS: Pretty pathetic after 90 days of discussions on Capitol Hill during an election year, Robyn, 32,000 jobs at American Airlines and United alone, but the carriers are suggesting this would be the last bailout. They could fly on their own, if you will, if this deal comes through. And you start to stabilize in the first half of 2021.
CURNOW: OK. And also, I mean, we focus on the airline sector itself, but there really is a wider impact, isn't there, when you talk about this drop in business and holiday travel?
DEFTERIOS: Yes. I've seen studies, Robyn, suggesting that one out of 10 jobs in the world related to tourism, whether it's business, tourism, leisure tourism, and there's a Air Transport Action Group out of Geneva suggesting that 46 million jobs are at stake, 10% of those directly related to airlines, aerospace companies and airports. But 26 million related to business and leisure travel overall.
We're looking at potentially a drop due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Robyn, of $1.8 trillion of GDP, right? So it's pretty radical. And it's related to all governments worldwide, suggesting what can you do for the sector, so does not impact some of the emerging markets. By the way, as you know, Robyn, from South Africa, 10% of GDP is the norm in some of these developing countries that depend on tourism.
CURNOW: Yes. And we're going to talk to Eleni in just a moment about that, a lot of implications for South Africa as well. Great to see you, John Defterios, there live in Abu Dhabi. We'll check in with you again.
But I do want to turn now to David Culver in Beijing, where domestic tourism is picking up. Hi, David, good to see you. It's been a while.
DAVID CULVER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It has been a while, Robyn. Good to see you as well. It's interesting because this is a taste of life, as it was. We're starting to see millions of people now traveling for what's a holiday travel week that's over the next seven plus days. And as they're coming together, of course, it gets a bit uneasy for some given that this is how the virus could likely spread.
However, China has been touting, as we've been reporting, certainly from the central government, that they have this under control. They've only been reporting each day, single digit number of cases to upwards of 20 or so. But this could be the first real test for containment here.
[02:35:04]
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CULVER: The start of China's Golden Week holiday celebrating the country's founding, leading to crowds like this, travelers wearing masks but standing shoulder to shoulder at the train station. This marks the first major travel holiday in China since the coronavirus outbreak began more than eight months ago, which makes this the first major test of COVID-19 containment here.
Going back roughly to April, we've seen significant easing of restrictions across China. Sure, there have been cluster outbreaks, including one here in Beijing back in June, but many here are more worried about the spread in other parts of the world. And so, most Mainland Chinese travelers are staying within China's borders for their holiday, feeling a bit more protected perhaps, but it makes for a crowded bubble.
From October 1st through the 8th, China Tourism Academy estimates there will be some 550 million domestic trips taken. That is nearly 70% of the trips taken at the same time last year. Hotel bookings, however, are up 50% from 2019. And so two is same city in short distance travel, think staycation.
Recent college graduate, Stephy Lu, who normally prefers to go abroad. But this year, she's among the millions planning a trip to another part of China.
STEPHY LU, SHANGHAI RESIDENT (through translation): My main concern is the type of transportation. I want to make sure to stay in a familiar environment which is safer so as to make sure there's not too many unfamiliar people mix together.
CULVER: The last significant travel holiday here was the Chinese New Year, and while Beijing's Tourism Bureau canceled all large scale celebrations for the holiday. We were at the Beijing Train Station as people crowded in to head to their hometowns, very few wearing masks. Immediate worries, so it seemed.
Three days later, Wuhan, the original epicenter of the pandemic, went on lockdown, and the streets of major cities like Shanghai went bare for weeks. This was the iconic bund in February. But gradually, social life resumed in April, more people venturing out.
And just last weekend, the nighttime crowd packed in, most ditching the face masks. Major indoor events like this Beijing Auto Show, also attracting crowds assigned that many who for weeks were shuttered in their homes now feel increasingly comfortable that the virus will stay contained.
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CULVER: And it's not restriction free travel for all, Robyn. What we have seen in major cities like Shanghai, certain policies put in place particularly for students who want to travel out of Shanghai. They would then have to return and do two weeks quarantine inside their home. So for that reason, a lot of folks are not traveling with their families.
But overall the focus is going to be not on this week, but on the days and weeks that follow to see if there's a surge in cases and if there are going to be more cluster outbreaks and in turn more lockdowns, Robyn.
CURNOW: And what are people telling you? I mean, is there a sense of relief? Because obviously China, you know, the first wave of this or is there a real sense of nervousness about going out?
CULVER: I think it's twofold on that. And the indicator, obviously, through the numbers is that people are willing to travel. However, as we've been speaking to folks, they're hesitant about the certain places they go to some like to have these staycation. So as we see numbers of hotel bookings, for example, going up, that's not necessarily people going to other cities. It's even just going into their own city and finding a nice hotel to enjoy it there.
But there is an uneasiness as well that this is not totally over that there could be a resurgence. So people don't breathe totally comfortable, that things are all taken care of and that life is just as it was.
CURNOW: OK. David Culver, great stuff there live in Beijing. So I'm going to head over now to Johannesburg and Eleni Giokos is standing by, where South Africa is hoping to jumpstart it tourism industry. Well, at least a start. Eleni, what can you tell us?
ELENI GIOKOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, exactly. I mean, this is the first time we've seen a resumption of international flights since the lockdown came into effect. And that was in late March. So there were a complete ban on international flights, apart from repatriation, Robyn. So if you wanted to come to South Africa, if you lived somewhere else, you would have to be on a repatriation flight.
Now, there are 57 countries that on high risk category. And that basically means that if you're in the UK, or you're in the US, or any country in Europe, you would only be able to travel into South Africa if you are coming for business or if you're a diplomat and, again, for repatriation. All the other countries, most African countries, the likes of China and even the UAE, you'll be able to travel for both business and leisure.
And john mentioned it earlier, the tourism sector is absolutely vital to this economy. It accounts for around 10% of GDP. And in fact, the biggest spenders, which is the UK and the US, and most European countries aren't able to come now that we're getting into the tourism season. Around 400,000 tourists came in 2019 from the US alone, around 10 million visitors last year alone. These numbers, of course, have come to a screeching halt.
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Airline carriers as well, coming under significant pressure. South African Airways, which is the national carrier, was already in big trouble pre-COVID-19. It was hoping that it would see a recovery in 2020. And, of course now, those plans are not able to come to fruition. Other carriers in South Africa have also applied for business rescue.
Then you're seeing the hospitality industry, Robyn, also taking a massive knock. I mean the hoteliers, many of them have shutdown. Bed and breakfast have also come under pressure. And you've got to think about the value chains. And the question now is, will they be pent up demand for people to want to come to South Africa and, of course, get on a plane and travel across the continent.
CURNOW: OK. Thanks for that update there, Eleni, and those pictures made me homesick just looking at them. Hopefully, I can get one of those things one day soon. OK, thanks so much.
So another tough break for the US cruise ship industry which has lost billions of dollars due to the pandemic. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is extending a no sail order for cruise ships through the end of October. It impacts ships that carry at least 250 passengers and waters with US jurisdiction.
The CDC says recent outbreaks outside the US on these ships shows continued spread of the virus and threat to the US. We're also learning the CDC director failed to convince the White House to extend the no sail order into next year a move that could be devastating to the cruise ship industry.
Well, I'm Robyn Curnow. I will be back with more CNN at the top of the hour but I'm going to hand you over to World Sport for the next 15 minutes. See you on the other side.
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PATRICK SNELL, CNN SPORTS ANCHOR: Hi there, thanks for joining us. Welcome to CNN World Sports. Today, this year's NBA Finals are up and running during a basketball season like no other. In fact, a year like no other sport.
First, reeling from the tragic death of LA Lakers legend Kobe Bryant, 2020 is also seeing the ongoing global pandemic, as well as some of the biggest athletes on the planet using their platforms to speak out against racial injustice. Inside the Orlando bubble, we go first up and ahead of the US presidential elections that clear message from superstars like the Lakers LeBron James.
We would have virtually all the players actually kneeling during the national anthem ahead of this Game 1. This in support of the Black Lives Matter Movement.
Now, you can see that powerful images there. Lakers' opponents in this one, the Miami Heat, as well, all these players united to the common cause. And the Heat, in fact, making a fast start in this Game 1, opening up a 13 point advantage in the first quarter of play. But it was never going to be enough with the Lakers in this kind of mood.
They hit back very strongly, indeed, to win this finals opener, the Lakers star duo of LeBron, who was playing at his 10th NBA Finals, by the way, and Anthony Davis as well combining for 59 points on this night. 116 points to 98, victory in favor of the LA Lakers, a very dominant performance. An emphatic win for them setting up nicely for Friday's Game 2.
Well, we're delighted to welcome NBA Hall of Famer and someone who played for both the Lakers and the Heat. Gary Payton also knows just what it takes to be an NBA champion, having triumph with Miami in 2006.
Gary, thanks so much for your time. I mentioned, it's been a season like no other. These finals taking place in front of no fans join this pandemic. As a former player, what was your take on it all?
GARY PAYTON, BASKETBALL HALL OF FAMER: Well, you know, I really thought that Miami came out strong, came out playing very aggressive. And then all of a sudden, the size took over for the Los Angeles Lakers. Matter of fact, all the team, all the bench players and the other players except the two stars, AD and LeBron, started hitting jump shots. At one point, they had made 11 three pointers in the first half. And that was too much to overcome.
And then all of a sudden, Butler gets hurt, Dragic gets hurt, Bam gets hurt. And this team is really thin, and they can't play like that against a bigger team. And they couldn't get a rebound. So that was the downfall for Miami.
SNELL: I want to ask you that, you mentioned the Lakers there, and I said it was a convincing win in Game 1. How big a statement do you feel it was from them?
PAYTON: Well, you know, I think as a bigger statement that they are saying, that they're going to be here, and they're trying to win a championship. But we have to understand this is only one game. I don't know how that the Miami Heat is going to react. But right now, the Lakers are very dominant.
They're dominating in every aspect of the game right now. And Miami has to go back and say, hey, can we get our players healthy? Are you going to come back and fight strong? And are we going to make shots? Herro and Robinson didn't make any shots. They weren't - they were not involved. You know, they had a big comeback from Nunn. And that's what they need.
And I think, let's see what they can do to basically come back and say, this is only one game. We went Game 2. We're all tied up again. SNELL: Yes. You make a point on that because Miami lost Game 1 in the 2006 Finals. You've touched upon it, but I want you to take us inside the minds of those players, Gary. Just spell it out for us, why should Miami players not be losing heart right now?
PAYTON: The reason they shouldn't be losing heart is just because, they are going to getting beat four times. When I was with the Miami Heat in 2006, we're down to Dallas 2-0. We came back home and won three in a row and didn't want one on a thing.
This is a different story, though, because you're in a bubble. You're only on one court, and it's no home court advantage. So they have to understand, just go out there and play hard, and anything can happen. Don't quit.
If the Miami Heat started making shots and play defense, and start doing different things which I think Erik Spoelstra (inaudible) into it and film and say what do we have to do different and what are we going to play these Lakers.
And I think that they're going to have to get rebounds and they're going to have to make shots and be more aggressive. And I think there's no panic right now. Now, if it gets down 2-0, 3-0, then you got to panic.
SNELL: I thought to ask you about LeBron James and the impact he has both as a player and off the court as well, when it comes to social injustice. How impactful is he? Do you feel?
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PAYTON: Well, I think he's very impactful. King James is King James. I mean, he's doing it on the basketball floor. Everybody's seeing 35- year-old guy, how is he still playing like that. He takes care of his body and he takes things seriously.
And then, he's being the superstar in a sport that he should be. He should stand up for what he think is right. And if you had that much power, as a superstar, as he does, he will make people listen. And people do listen to him and buy his gear, buy his stuff and follow Him. And when you have that much power, you have to try to make a change if you care about what's going on in this world.
SNELL: Gary Payton, we certainly do. Thank you so much for your insights there. They are greatly appreciated. Thank you so much.
PAYTON: Thank you, guys. Thank you for having me.
SNELL: Thank you so much, all right. Well, at the French Open in Paris, the second round match that had it all on Wednesday, alleged obscenities, a wheelchair, and even under arm serving will break an extraordinary day down for you. That's next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK) SNELL: Welcome back to CNN World Sport. We're going to head to the football pitches of Europe now, where it's the same old story as far as German giants Bayern Munich are concerned more silverware for them. On a highly significant night too, in other ways, Bibiana Steinhaus, the groundbreaking and first ever female to referee in the Bundesliga having announced she'd retire after the German Super Cup between Bayern and Borussia Dortmund.
The match itself seeing Thomas Lemar putting the Bayerns ahead, 2-0 at that point. But Dortmund would hit back. It's the young Norwegian player, Erling Haaland for two-all. At this point, we had a game on, I'll tell you. It was one in the end by an extraordinary goal (inaudible) by Joshua Kimmich, who saw that money. Just connect with the boys as he lies thrown on the ground after his first step was saved.
Bayern, doing what Bayern do. European Champions travel winners, the UEFA Super Cup, but now the German Super Cup as well. Congrats to them.
I want to get to England now where Liverpool Arsenal today, in the fourth round of the League Cup. Wednesday night, seeing wins for Everton, the holder is Man City and United barrel through now to the quarters. The Red Devil sing of Brighton for the second time in four days in the Seagulls' own backyard too, although this outcome was a lot more comfortable for them.
Saturday in the Premier League stunning strike from Paul Pogba, an eye catching Cameo appearance from him. His free kick does get a little deflection but it's superbly struck. It ends right up in the back of the net. 3-0 United, the final score.
Now, it's Thursday, Day 5, at the French Open in Paris. Well, we now know there'll be no record equaling 24th Grand Slam title for American tennis great Serena Williams. Wednesday, Williams who recently turned 39 announcing her withdrawal from Roland Garros, shortly before she was due to face the Bulgarian player. The unseeded Tsvetana Pironkova in the second round of the third and final slam of 2020, Serena who needs one more major to tie Margaret Court's all time record, citing an Achilles tendon injury. But don't have a question or appetite to rebound strongly from this latest setback.
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SERENA WILLIAMS, TENNIS PLAYER: I love playing tennis, obviously. I love it competing, and I love being out here. It's my job. It's been my job. And I'm pretty good at it still, so until I feel that I'm not good at it then I'll be
I love competing and I love being out here. It's my job. It's been my job and I'm pretty good at it still so until I feel that I'm not good at it then I'll be like, OK. And I'm so close to some things and just feel like I'm almost there. So I think that's what keeps me going.
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SNELL: An event for Wednesday in the French capital, seeing a surprise loss for American Teen Coco Golf and US Open finalist Victoria Azarenka of Belarus also made an earlier than anticipated exit. Azarenka who took Naomi Osaka to three sets in that flushing meadow final earlier, last month, it was in fact, falling to 161st rank.
Anna Karolina Schmiedlova of Slovakia in straight sets, incredible stuff from Schmiedlova who beat Venus Williams in round one. Azarenka was huge favorite to advance especially when you consider her opponent had arrived in Paris on a 13 match losing streak in Grand Slam main drawers dating back over five years. Azarenka looks very, very disappointed there, as she might. All right.
Meantime, much fall out to tell you about from Wednesday's volatile clash between the number five seed from the Netherlands' Kiki Bertens and Italy's Sara Errani. Bertens winning a grueling three sets up. But not before struggling with cramps in that final set, and having saved a match point. She would then eventually sink to the clay in sheer relief after seeding victory in just over three hours.
Now, Bertens, look at this, in tears afterwards clearly in pain as when having to leave the court in a wheelchair. You can see the emotion there. There was no racquet top between the pair at the end, and no sympathy it seems forthcoming from Errani either. That a listen.
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SARA ERRANI, 2012 FRENCH OPEN RUNNER UP: She played an amazing match but I don't like the situation one hour like she's injury, and she run like never. So I don't like that. I mean, she go out of the court on a chair, and now she's in the locker perfect and the restaurant. So I don't like these things. I'm sorry.
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SNELL: Well, Errani, even having to serve underarm due to issues with her regular serve, the 2012 Roland Garros finalist also like to denying she aimed an obscenity at her opponent. After her pod, Bertens adamant she was indeed cramping in those closing stages and needed 45 minutes of intense massage afterwards to recover.
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KIKI BERTENS, NUMBER 5 SEED: For me, she can say whatever she feels like but, yes, well, then maybe I should take some more acting classes or should have proceeded career in that. I'm not sure what she's thinking. But no, I didn't feel really, really good on court to be honest.
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SNELL: Thanks so much for joining us this Thursday. Stay with CNN, thanks for watching. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)
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