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U.S. Sets New Daily Case Record of over 195,000; Trump Transition Turmoil Impacts Pandemic Response; Biden Meets with Top Democratic Lawmakers; Trump Tries to Maintain Leverage with Republicans; Ugandan Musician Turned Politician Bobi Wine out of Jail; U.N. Plans for 200,000 More Refugees in Sudan; How COVID-19 is Shaping a Generation of Young Workers; Saudis Can't Showcase Reforms during Virtual G20. Aired 2-2:45a ET

Aired November 21, 2020 - 02:00   ET

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

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ROBYN CURNOW, CNN ANCHOR (voice-over): Coronavirus cases and deaths, reaching new highs in the U.S. as a new vaccine could be available before the end of the year.

Meanwhile, President-Elect Joe Biden, moving forward, despite Donald Trump's refusal to face reality.

Then, also, in Uganda, deadly clashes between police and activists as the country enters election season.

Welcome to CNN. I am Robyn Curnow.

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UNIDENTIFIED MALE (voice-over): Live from CNN Center, this is CNN NEWSROOM with Robyn Curnow.

CURNOW: A mixture of hope and grim figures, for the country worst hit by the coronavirus pandemic. The U.S. is one step closer to giving the green light to a vaccine.

But in the meantime, hospitalizations and infections are soaring to new highs. It's reporting more than 195,000 cases on Friday. That number, a new record. That is according to Johns Hopkins University.

At the same time, more people than ever are in hospital in the U.S. from the virus, as you can see from this graph. The COVID Tracking Project put that figure at more than 82,000.

Meanwhile, two more people close to the president, Donald Trump, including his eldest son, have been infected. A personal spokesman says that Donald Trump Jr. is quarantining after testing positive earlier in the week.

Meanwhile, Rudy Giuliani's son, also diagnosed with the virus. Andrew Giuliani works as a special assistant to the president. Then, on the vaccine front, the first application for an emergency use

authorization is in as Alexandra Field now reports.

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ALEXANDRA FIELD, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Another major step toward a COVID vaccine, Pfizer and BioNTech applied today to the FDA for emergency use authorization of their vaccine, which they say is 95 percent effective.

That means the first doses of the vaccine may now be as close as three weeks away. And some of the most high-risk Americans like healthcare workers could receive both doses of vaccine by early January.

JUDITH PERSICHILLI, COMMISSIONER, NEW JERSEY DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH: We're seeing a lot of enthusiasm about the vaccine particularly amongst healthcare individuals like nurses and physicians.

FIELD (voice-over): The CDC will meet Monday to prioritize how vaccines are distributed as the virus is spreading its fastest, yet new cases are up 25 percent nationwide in a week from already record highs. More than 187,000 new cases reported on Thursday alone.

DR. PAUL OFFIT, DIRECTOR, VACCINE EDUCATION CENTER, CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL OF PHILADELPHIA: The country is on fire with this virus and now we're heading into Thanksgiving and Christmas when, you know, multi-generational families get together. It's just a recipe for disaster.

FIELD (voice-over): Death toll projections are moving higher. The influential Institute for Health Metrics and evaluation, raising its estimate to 471,000 deaths by March 1st. That's assuming 40 states reimpose social distancing mandates, the number goes to 658,000 assuming they don't.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We like our freedom. And we're not going to listen to somebody tell us we can't go see Grandma or we can't go see our brother or we can't go see our family or friends.

FIELD (voice-over): Some sheriff's departments in California say they won't enforce a 10:00 p.m. curfew set to go into effect on Saturday, following a 55 percent increase in cases in a week.

In New York, one of the early epicenters of the crisis, the looming question, how soon could there be new limits for restaurants, bars, gyms and other businesses?

New York City public schools shut down earlier this week.

One of the biggest epicenters of the crisis today, the Midwest. In North Dakota, cases have tripled since White House Taskforce member Dr. Deborah Birx visited past month.

DR. DEBORAH BIRX, WHITE HOUSE CORONAVIRUS TASK FORCE COORDINATOR: When I'm out and seeing them without masks indoors, it really worries me. I mean, I'm worried for their health. FIELD (voice-over): Dr. Anthony Fauci, worried for families all over the country, is warning again the cases are likely to explode after Thanksgiving.

DR. ANTHONY FAUCI, DIRECTOR, NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ALLERGY & INFECTIOUS DISEASES: You take a look at your family and you say, do I have a person there who's an elderly person, a person with an underlying medical condition that might put them at an increased risk of a severe outcome if they get infected.

FIELD (voice-over): The CDC now officially recommends that Thanksgiving celebrations are limited to members of your own household.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's a very difficult decision to make to not travel, but you can't hear from all of these health care workers and not think, you know, I really have no business doing that or, you know, making it worse for anyone.

FIELD: As for the timeline on that vaccine, the FDA could give its authorization by December 10th.

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FIELD: Distribution would start almost immediately after that. But before the vaccine can end up in anyone's arm, the CDC would still have to sign off.

What is key to know here, though, is that, after those first doses are received by some of the most vulnerable among us, it still takes a full 28 days between that first dose and the time that you achieve protection from that vaccine -- in New York, Alexandra Field, CNN.

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CURNOW: Joining me now, Dr. Jorge Rodriguez, internal medicine and viral specialist.

Good to see you, Doctor.

How excited are you at the promise of these massive vaccine rollouts in the coming months?

DR. JORGE RODRIGUEZ, INTERNAL MEDICINE AND VIRAL SPECIALIST: It is very exciting. I think it is the first time, in almost a year, we are seeing some hopefulness. Some light at the end of the tunnel, that's not a train and it's actually something that might be worthwhile.

Pfizer did apply today for emergency access in the United States and they still have to actually look at the data, make sure that it's safe and we know that it's effective from what we've heard.

And then the rollout will, hopefully, begin at the end of December. But there is a difference between a vaccine and vaccination. In order for a vaccine to work, we have to vaccinate people. That's going to be, I think, the next big hurdle, getting enough people in the country to get vaccinated to make a difference.

CURNOW: You talk about a light at the end of the tunnel and, certainly, it's great to have that. But the numbers are mind-boggling on many levels and there's concern about Thanksgiving Week, which we've started and then Christmas.

What concerns you about the coming weeks before there is a vaccine or vaccination rollout?

RODRIGUEZ: What concerns me the most are the numbers and the fact that people seem to be so nonchalant. Some of them and cavalier, about what is going on. From the information today, we passed 201,000 new infections in the United States and close to 2,000 deaths.

We are behind the curve. These 2,000, unfortunately, their illness and their deaths are going to show up in two weeks. In the meantime, we have Thanksgiving. So that is what scares me the most, the fact that it would be such an easy, not solution but an easy tempering effect to put on a mask.

For one year, skip having such large family gatherings so that, next year, we can all have a great Thanksgiving. That is what worries me the most, the fact that people are so nonchalant and just not paying attention to what really is going on.

CURNOW: In many ways, what we are feeling right now is also the backlash from Halloween parties, which is playing out in the last few weeks as well. Certainly, very real concern there.

Let's talk about Donald Trump Jr., he has COVID-19.

What does that tell you?

RODRIGUEZ: It tells me that Donald Trump Jr. is not using proper precautions and is hanging around people who also aren't. We know the White House is a Petri dish of COVID activity. Even Dr. Anthony Fauci doesn't want to go there. The incidence of it occurring is so high.

Is it surprising?

No.

Is it a shame?

Yes, of course, it is. But out of the people that were at the postelection party in the White House, the 250 people, an astronomical number have gotten affected by this superspreader event. So the virus doesn't care if you're the son of the president. Anyone can catch it if they do not take the proper precautions.

CURNOW: With that in mind, with the transition process between the Biden administration and the Trump administration, the lack of information is dangerous.

How much do you think the delay in the transition compromises American lives and that key rollout?

RODRIGUEZ: It's hard to know. But it is obviously going to have a negative effect. I am hoping that the Biden administration is, somehow, going to do an end run around the obstacles they're facing and getting information from other people in the administration or that this will come to an end in a couple of weeks.

But we are at war with an invisible invader. And if we don't know the plan so we can either alter it or keep it, this may be causing tens of thousands of lives before it is all said and done. And it is criminal. That's the only word I can think of, this is criminal.

CURNOW: Dr. Rodriguez, always good to speak to, you thank you so much.

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RODRIGUEZ: Thank you.

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CURNOW: To Europe now and countries that were hit full force by the second coronavirus wave are now managing to avoid the worst-case scenario so far. France was one of them, the French health agency said the peak of infections is now likely past, now that new cases and hospitalizations, have slowed.

But Italy is still reporting a troubling number of COVID-19 deaths. It registered its highest number since April this week, just shy of 700 on Friday.

Meanwhile, officials now working on how they will distribute a vaccine if one is approved soon. The Spanish prime minister says, quote, "a very substantial part" of his country could be vaccinated throughout the first half of next year.

Meanwhile, Scotland is banning nonessential travel to England, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. This comes as the number of COVID cases appear to level off in England.

Anna Stewart joining me now from London and with more there.

Hi, Anna, what can you tell us?

ANNA STEWART, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Morning, Robyn, the case numbers do appear to be leveling off in the U.K. But we were told to treat that with caution. We need several days of the data in that direction before we draw a conclusion.

Meantime, stricter measures for much of Scotland, 2.3 million people facing restrictions, quite similar to England, under lockdown until December 2nd. You mentioned the travel ban. And it is possibly the restriction that has the most attention.

This is the first time it has ever been illegal to travel between Scotland and the rest of the U.K. There is a fine for people who break it. 60 pounds, a little over $80. I think it's getting some interest, because of the flaws in terms of

how you would enforce this. There is no real border or infrastructure between England and Scotland. Anyone who has had the great joy of driving between the two will know that.

Also, the list of exemptions for this travel ban are exhaustive. Let me tell you some of them.

If you travel from Scotland to England, you can do so if you wanted to feed an animal, donate blood, take a driving test as well as education and, perhaps, expected health reasons.

In the meantime, the health minister in the U.K., Matt Hancock, made a press conference. Like many other European nations, he was talking about how they will roll out a vaccine, if and when, one is ready. They are ready from the beginning of December and they are setting up vaccination centers right across the country -- Robyn.

CURNOW: OK, thanks for the update, Anna Stewart in London.

You are watching CNN. President Trump continues to deny reality while President-Elect Biden moves forward. We will have the latest on the White House.

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CURNOW: Welcome back, I'm Robyn Curnow.

U.S. President-elect Joe Biden is moving forward with plans to take office in January, despite Donald Trump's continuing refusal to recognize the election results.

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CURNOW: Biden and Vice President-Elect Kamala Harris meeting with top Democratic lawmakers on Friday. He also announced a number of new staff appointments. More Republicans are breaking ranks, to push the Trump administration to move forward with the transition. But Mr. Trump is still falsely claiming that he won. Kaitlan Collins has more from the White House.

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KAITLAN COLLINS, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): President Trump is ramping up his unparalleled efforts to overturn the U.S. election and wrongly claiming he won during a rare appearance in front of cameras today.

TRUMP: Big pharma ran millions of dollars of negative advertisements against me during the campaign -- which I won, by the way. But we'll find that out. Almost 74 million votes. COLLINS (voice-over): The president appeared in the Briefing Room but took no questions for the 17th day in a row, after taking the brazen step of summoning Michigan's Republican state legislators to the White House.

KAYLEIGH MCENANY, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: So he will be meeting later on. This is not an advocacy meeting. There will be no one from the campaign there. He routinely meets with lawmakers from all across the country.

COLLINS (voice-over): What the press secretary described as a routine meeting did not appear on the president's official schedule and comes only days before the state is set to formally certify Joe Biden as the winner.

Kayleigh McEnany claimed no one from the campaign would be present hours after Rudy Giuliani said he was planning on being there.

RUDY GIULIANI, ATTORNEY FOR PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP: I will be there just to answer any questions they have, because I know -- I probably know the case better than anybody else.

COLLINS (voice-over): CNN has learned Giuliani's plans have changed and he won't attend the meeting but only because he was in contact with his son, who tested positive for coronavirus.

Officials say the president is also discussing inviting Republican legislators from other states like Pennsylvania in what could be an unprecedented effort to get legislators to override the will of voters.

Trump and his allies are now resorting to the last-ditch effort after losing or withdrawing more than 2 dozen lawsuits since Election Day. As Georgia secretary of state announced they were making Biden's win in the state official today, he dealt another blow to Trump and his team.

BRAD RAFFENSPERGER (R), GEORGIA SECRETARY OF STATE: I live by the

motto that numbers don't lie. As secretary of state, I believe that the numbers that we have presented today are correct.

COLLINS (voice-over): Most in the administration are still refusing to recognize reality publicly.

PETER NAVARRO, DIRECTOR, WHITE HOUSE OFFICE OF TRADE AND MANUFACTURING POLICY: I don't accept the premise. I believe President Trump will have a second term.

COLLINS (voice-over): Many in the GOP have humored the president's efforts to undermine democracy and refuse to acknowledge Joe Biden's win.

But, today, outgoing Senator Lamar Alexander became the most senior Republican to call on Trump to let the transition go forward, quote, "so that both sides are ready on day one." COLLINS: And those Michigan state lawmakers were at the White House for about an hour. But shortly after they left their meeting with President Trump, they issued a statement, saying they had seen no evidence that would change what they believe the outcome of the election should be.

They said, in part, that they have not yet been made aware of any information that would change the outcome. They say they are going to continue to follow the normal process of Michigan's electors, basically saying they will not follow through on what you heard some of the president's attorneys, like Sidney Powell, say they hope they would do, which is to have electors that would pick Donald Trump over Joe Biden, even though, of course, Joe Biden won the state Michigan by 150,000 votes, at least -- Kaitlan Collins, CNN, the White House.

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CURNOW: Joining me now is Michael Moran, an lecturer on political risk at the Josef Korbel School of International Affairs at the University of Denver.

Michael, great to have you on the show. Thank you so much for joining me this hour. So the chances of Mr. Trump overturning the election results are becoming increasingly slim.

What does he do next?

MICHAEL MORAN, JOSEF KORBEL SCHOOL OF INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS, UNIVERSITY OF DENVER: I think his game, right now, is to keep his base engaged. They would like to see him go down fighting. I don't think, for the last week, he has had a real sense that he could overcome the election. I think the idea now is to make the United States ungovernable without his say-so.

When I say that, I think it's mostly about his leverage with the Republican Party. As you can see, Republicans are quite afraid to say that this election is over. And that is, in part, because they fear a primary challenge from someone who Mr. Trump backs.

He has his own legal problems, of course, that he will have to contend with, once the election officially called. But he wants to maintain the ability to block things in the Senate and to be a player, maybe in 2024. So that's the tactic right, now I think.

CURNOW: Or, even potentially, just kingmaker from Mar-a-lago for the next few years.

Before we even get there, as he stonewalls in this transition process.

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CURNOW: Actively stoking up divisions and many supporters believing the conspiracies coming out of the White House, there is a sense that this election will never be over. How dangerous is that?

MORAN: It is terrible. It comes at a terrible time, both domestically for the United States and internationally.

Domestically, it is the third stage rocket, maybe the fourth stage rocket, of cynicism and distrust of government, in the United States, which now runs on both sides, from Left to Right, either extreme as deep misgivings about the central government, the state government, any structures of the country.

That really is a damaging thing. And Donald Trump stokes that, exploits it. It's his bread and butter. Internationally, it is a gift to those who are either peer competitors or rivals in the world, who are downright ugly tyrannical regimes.

He has been a ground to tyrannical regimes with the possible exception of the Iranians. He has been, essentially, a gift to the Chinese. All they need to do -- the Iraq War was the start of all of this. The United States have been shooting themselves in the foot since 2003.

One time after another, the Iraq War then the global financial crisis, which was an American root.

Now this, the idea that there is a model competition in the world for liberal democracy versus a state-controlled, centrally commanded economic system. It is a joke for many countries that are in the developing world right now.

Why would they want an election like the one we just had in the United States?

CURNOW: Many experts say, especially as the president lights fires on his way out, then Mr. Biden will have to put out.

With that in mind, you speak about China, perhaps, using this as an opportunity, where else do you see the next six more weeks until January the 20th?

Is there being real concern about how this administration leaves the world as they close the door behind them?

MORAN: There's always the dark scenarios. If the North Koreans were to do something crazy, this is the moment. The Russians in Belarus, for instance, I honestly do not think those are likely scenarios.

However, the degree to which the United States has lost influence around the margins, the role the U.S. has played since World War II, really, is to balance the status quo situations, with various regions around the world, Southeast Asia, Latin America.

The United States has been a balancing, often, in consistent one and over zealously intervening in these places. But its presence in these regions has, generally speaking, brought stability and dissuaded crazy moves by ambitious dictators. So that is a possibility, in places like Ethiopia and Eritrea right

now or in Syria or Yemen, in countless places, Myanmar, where governments have wondered whether what they can get away with. And now, there is complete dysfunction in Washington. This is the moment, if you are that dictator, to take advantage of it.

CURNOW: Michael Moran, thank you so much for joining, us great to get your expertise, thank you.

MORAN: Thank you.

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CURNOW: You are watching CNN. Coming up, deadly clashes in the run-up to Uganda's presidential election. A pop star turned politician at the center of the unrest. We will get a live report, just ahead.

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CURNOW: Welcome back, I am Robyn Curnow.

A popular musician who is running for president in Uganda has been released from jail, Bobi Wine, arrested on Wednesday, after allegedly breaking COVID rules at rallies, sparking deadly crashes between protesters and police. Joining me now, David McKenzie from Johannesburg, with more.

What can you tell us, David, good to see you.

DAVID MCKENZIE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Robyn, good to speak to you.

Bobi Wine was released on bail and that was after several days held in detention, in the eastern part of Uganda. His arrest on these allegations by the government prosecutors, that he broke COVID-19 regulations, really sparked these riots and protests and heavy-handed actions by the police and the military on the streets of Kampala and other cities and towns around Uganda.

Bobi Wine, the opposition candidate, is deeply popular, as you, know, across Uganda. He is probably the most serious contender against the president who has been in power for the past 30 years.

I spoke to his lawyer soon after he was given bail, they said they will respect the COVID regulations, but they say it is not a level playing field. He said that the president's campaign has had large marches throughout Uganda, no police action against them.

One prominent human rights lawyer said, there is no way that the incumbent will allow for fair campaigning. While much of the world is distracted by the U.S. elections, this is crucially important in Africa, coming up in January.

CURNOW: Certainly is. Museveni has been in power for decades now and, certainly, this is a theme and a pattern that has echoed across the east Africa. This is why Bobi Wine has so much support from the young people, looking for change, in the face of autocratic old men.

MCKEE: Certainly. Museveni was elected; he is president. But the fear is among many observers, this will not be a free and fair election, despite the government's assurances. Bobi Wine is a symbol, really, of a young, up and coming politician, who has faced detention before.

He said he was tortured in 2018 and he was arrested earlier this month. Their campaign and his supporters say this is just a systemic action by the government, to try and intimidate both him and his supporters ahead of the election.

It is a broader issue. Bobi Wine is in his mid-30s. The president is in his mid-70s. The average age in Uganda is under 16 years old. There is a large youth population, not just in East Africa and large parts of the continent, with, in many cases, aging, sometimes, autocratic leaders.

So, people watch these upcoming elections quite closely. They believe the fact there has been violence quite early on in this campaign, in November, does not bode well for what could happen in the coming months.

CURNOW: Keeping an eye on all of that, David McKenzie, live in Johannesburg, thank you.

The United Nations is calling for an immediate cease-fire in Ethiopia, as violence their forces thousands from their home every day. Authorities in the Amhara region say rebels from the neighboring Tigray region fired rockets into their capital on Friday.

That comes after airstrikes on the capital that left several people injured the day before. The conflict puts Ethiopian federal forces against the regional government of Tigray. Since fighting began at the start of November, scores of people have been killed. Tens of thousands have fled, many of them, to Sudan.

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UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): We have water, but we need food and clothes. We brought nothing with us, leaving all our belongings at home. We also need a hospital, as many of us are sick. Some expectant mothers are in desperate need of help.

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CURNOW: The U.N. expects up to 200,000 more people will flee over the next six months. Sudan is already hosting 1 million refugees from neighboring states.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) ABDULLAH FADIL, UNICEF: Sudan already facing dramatic economic crisis and political challenges. This could actually unravel, not only Ethiopia but also Sudan.

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CURNOW: The conflict began after leaders in Tigray defied the prime minister and elected a regional administration. A humanitarian source says, since then, there have been frequent bombings in the area.

Still to come on CNN, generation COVID. The virus is taking their jobs, cutting their salaries and reducing their working hours. the challenges young workers could face in the years ahead. That's next.

Also, the world's top economic powers attending but this weekend's G20 summit will be different from the ones past. We'll go live to Saudi Arabia. That is next.

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CURNOW: Welcome back to CNN. I am Robyn Curnow, here in Atlanta.

I want to take you back to our top story. Coronavirus is spreading at record-shattering rates in the United States. Almost 200,000 new infections reported on Friday alone. That is another all-time high.

Many more Americans than ever before being treated for COVID. The COVID Tracking Project says, right now, more than 82,000 people are in the hospital nationwide.

While these numbers are just staggering, there are positive signs on the vaccine. Pfizer and BioNTech both applied to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for emergency use authorization for their vaccine candidate. Final analysis from phase 3 trials shows their drug is 95 percent effective.

Meanwhile, Brazil, reporting the most COVID cases after the U.S., and India, has now passed the 6 million mark. On Friday alone, Brazilian health officials confirmed almost 39,000 new infections. Last week, president Jair Bolsonaro dismissed the situation by saying we will all die one day.

Mexico, now confirming more than 100,000 deaths there because of coronavirus. After months of cases remaining fairly steady, October, in some regions, turned into a nightmare. Johns Hopkins University, ranking the country fourth in COVID deaths worldwide with only the U.S., India and Brazil reporting more fatalities.

The impact of the coronavirus goes far beyond health. Less than a year ago, Millennials and Generation Z had a world of opportunities, job opportunities in particular ahead of them. But the virus brought it all to a screeching halt, as you all know. As journalist Simon Cullen now reports, the virus is now defining their generation.

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SIMON CULLEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): At the start of the year, Ben Olatunbosun's future was looking up. He just finished an IT course and was interviewing for several jobs. But then the pandemic struck.

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BEN OLATUNBOSUN, JOB SEEKER: All the employers that I had lined up, they all had to kind of cancel their employment processes because of COVID. So that kind of left me back to square one.

I am still searching for jobs. I'm open to job opportunities, whether that's apprenticeships or unpaid work just to gain experience.

CULLEN (voice-over): It's a story young people are experiencing one way or another around the world.

In Greece, 30-year-old Nicholas Keliakopoulos (ph) is working in a supermarket, even though he is trained as a teacher.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Unfortunately, due to COVID-19, many schools have to lock down and as a consequence, no teaching staff were created from the national lists of secondary education leaving many people unemployed.

CULLEN (voice-over): According to Australia's independent economic agency, the Productivity Commission, the pandemic means young people are more likely to struggle to find work, be forced to take lower wages or accept fewer hours or work in jobs they are overqualified for.

CATHERINE DE FONTENAY, AUSTRALIAN PRODUCTIVITY COMMISSION: It means less savings. That means worse jobs, more chance of unemployment for quite a long time.

CULLEN (voice-over): The effects of which are likely to linger long after the pandemic.

CULLEN: Economists warn many young people have depleted their savings and some are being forced to rely on the support of their parents.

But the generational divide goes much deeper. As governments around the world spend trillions of dollars to stem the economic fallout, it's younger workers who are likely to be disproportionately lumped with the bill for years to come.

DE FONTENAY: If you are a young person right now, you'd be feeling pretty bitter because you will be looking at a very tough job market as you're looking for work. And likely you'll be looking at higher taxes over your lifetime to pay for the government policy during this COVID era. CULLEN (voice-over): For those starting out in the job market, it can be an overwhelming prospect. Ben Olatunbosun says there's a lot of anxiety and fear among people his age, about what the future holds but he is trying to remain hopeful.

OLATUNBOSUN: I would say that it has been tough for me but it's just something that I know that I just have to kind of cope with and get through because I know that there is a light at the end of this dark tunnel.

CULLEN (voice-over): Regardless of when that light appears, this is a generation that will feel the economic consequences for years to come -- Simon Cullen, CNN, London.

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CURNOW: Thank you for that, Simon.

So U.S. president Donald Trump's efforts at overturning the election results are not making any headway. Officials in Wisconsin rejected his campaign's effort to get tens of thousands of absentee ballots thrown out. A partial recount is underway there in two heavily Democratic counties.

The state of Georgia also dealt the Trump campaign a blow on Friday. The governor signed paperwork officially granting the state's electoral votes to Joe Biden.

A senior Trump official is saying that Trump will participate in a virtual G20 summit this weekend. It is likely to be his last global event as president. Nic Robertson joining me from Saudi Arabia.

Hi, Nic, good to see you. There is Saudi, this will be a virtual event.

What will it be like?

What will be achieved?

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMATIC EDITOR: It is going to be different and you won't have any leaders here. What they do have to achieve is, perhaps, the most immediate task that G20 leaders ever needed to achieve.

G20 came into existence right after the 2008 economic crash. The real concern right now is not just grappling with the COVID pandemic but the economic fallout. That will be big on the agenda.

Big for Saudi, they're getting to host it. One of the main national papers here, "Inspiration to the World on Saudi Time."

The Saudis, to a degree, missing out on the opportunity to showcase their country to the world. But really, this is a big deal for them.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) ROBERTSON (voice-over): Riyadh's electronic billboards are lit up. Saudi Arabia is hosting the G20, the world's leading economic power summit, a much anticipated big deal for King Salman and his son, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, better known as MBS.

The catch is because of COVID-19, world leaders won't be coming in this summit. It will be different. They will be virtual. It means there will be no important bilats and pull-asides and for the Saudis it means they won't get to showcase the reforms they've been making.

Since MBS got power, religious police got sidelined, music concerts became legal. Women got more freedom, including the right to drive.

HAYA SHAATH, MDLBEAST: We had stage one, stage two and my favorite stage is Saudi Beast.

ROBERTSON (voice-over): For many women, including concert organizer Haya Shaath, it's been liberating.

SHAATH: Unimaginable but here we are.

ROBERTSON: And do you think it's here to stay?

SHAATH: Absolutely.

ROBERTSON: Can you put this kind of thing back in the box for people?

SHAATH: I don't think so. I don't think so.

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SHAATH: There is an energetic shift in people and people's behavior.

ROBERTSON (voice-over): But MBS could use the makeover. His plans to reform the country got tarnished by the killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi two years ago.

President Trump boasted he kept MBS out of trouble over Khashoggi.

Today, MBS's critics want the G20 to hold Saudi to account over other alleged human rights violations, like the detention of female activists, including Loujain al-Hathloul. Amnesty International saying G20 leaders should use the summit as an opportunity to stand up for the brave activists, whose genuine commitment to women's empowerment has cost them their freedom.

ADEL AL JUBEIR, SAUDI MINISTER OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS: The idea that she was and her friends were detained because of advocating driving is preposterous. The charges have to do with receiving money from hostile governments in order to pass it on to dissidents and hostile groups in Saudi Arabia.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Saudi Arabia is also rooting women's empowerment at the core of vision 2030.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You are managing director -- ROBERTSON (voice-over): Even so, the summit itself has women's issues a central theme, discussed, according to organizers, in dozens of sessions involving tens of thousands of people in 109 countries. The headline issues, though, will be combating COVID-19, debt relief for poor nations to handle its impact.

DR. TAWFIQ AL-RABIAH, SAUDI MINISTER OF HEALTH: The whole system of the world is as strong as the weakest system, so supporting the health systems in all countries is very crucial.

ROBERTSON: On this, the G20, may find Trump tough to convince. It's his last scheduled major international event of his current presidency and he has vetoed summit communiques in the past. His track record on COVID-19 at home is not good. Unclear if he'll play spoiler or showman for his Saudi friends.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ROBERTSON: So we know President Trump will speak. We have no idea, of course, what he will say, it will be eagerly anticipated. Remember some G20 leaders have already phoned up and called President-Elect Joe Biden to congratulate him, something President Trump, himself, has not done.

Boris Johnson, the British prime minister, has talked about the importance of climate change, has praised the Saudi kingdom for their green energy projects. But clearly, the big topic will be COVID-19. Of course, everyone is waiting to see what President Trump actually has to say -- Robyn.

CURNOW: Thanks, Nic Robertson.

More news after the break in about 15 minutes time, I'll be back. I'm Robyn Curnow. You're watching CNN.