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Japan Reports Sharp Increase in COVID-19 Cases; Iran Holds Funeral for Assassinated Nuclear Scientist; Saudi Women's Rights Defender Sent to Terrorism Court; At Least 110 People Killed in Attack on Nigerian Villagers; Cuba Wants U.S. to Rejoin Fight on Drug Trafficking; Record-Setting Month on Wall Street Coming to a Close. Aired 4:30-5a ET

Aired November 30, 2020 - 04:30   ET

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

[04:30:00]

ROSEMARY CHURCH, CNN ANCHOR: Welcome back, everyone.

Well, South Australia is set to open its border with the neighboring state of Victoria in the coming hours. Victoria has now gone 30 days with no new coronavirus cases and reopened its border with New South Wales last week. South Australia's Premier says the easing of restrictions is a huge relief for many people. His state will no longer require travelers from Victoria to self-isolate for 14 days upon arrival.

Meantime, Japan is reporting a sharp increase of new coronavirus cases. The health ministry recorded more than 2,000 on Sunday. A day earlier, Japan reported more than 2,600 new cases. That's its highest single day increase since the pandemic began.

And CNN's Paula Hancocks joins us now from South Korea with more on the spike in Japan. Good to see you, Paula. So what is behind this spike and cases in Japan, and how is the government responding to this?

PAULA HANCOCKS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Rosemary, there's a number of factors behind this, and it's not just Japan, it's a similar situation in the likes of South Korea, Hong Kong, places that really did deal with the pandemic fairly well in the early months and recently.

So with Japan itself, now these numbers are rising significantly. Officials are concerned they have said at this point that in certain cities they want certain restaurants, they want karaoke venues, things like that, to close early. They're trying to shut some of these cities down a little earlier. So there are less people out and about, and they can try and curtail these numbers which are rising.

Now they've also said they have a record number of patients with severe symptoms in intensive care at this point. A record number as in it hasn't been this high since the pandemic began, so that's certainly, a concern for them. There are a number of factors, though, the fact that it is winter. That much of the northern hemisphere is seeing these numbers rise as more people are heading indoors. It's a similar situation here in South Korea. They have lifted, sorry,

they have raised the social distancing rules to try and cut back on the number of cases. We had over 500 for three consecutive days just recently here in South Korea. Not very high when you compare it to other countries around the world, but it is high for South Korea.

And a similar situation in Hong Kong. They had 115 new cases on Sunday, and that's the highest for a few months in the territory. And they've actually decided now that they're going to shut schools, at least in person from Wednesday onward. So through December 2nd, there will just be online schooling until after the Christmas holiday, so after the end of December. Again, trying to curtail the increase that we're seeing in certain parts of Asia -- Rosemary.

CHURCH: It's a delicate operation, working on how to respond to this in different parts of the world, of course. Paula Hancocks, bringing us the latest there, appreciate it.

Well, funeral services have been held for a chief Iranian nuclear scientist killed in a brazen assassination. Mohsen Fakhrizadeh was killed just outside of Tehran on Friday. Some of the official Iranian media say he was shot be a remote controlled machine gun.

For more on this, let's turn to CNN Fred Pleitgen from Berlin. And Fred has reported recently from Iran in recent years. So, Fred, what more are you learning about the actual assassination, and of course, the big questions, how and when Iran might respond to this assassination?

FREDERIK PLEITGEN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes, and certainly how Iran will respond to this is quite a big debate actually inside the country and certainly inside the political and the military circles of the country as well. On the one hand, you have the Iranian hard liners, first and foremost sort of in the orbit, Rosemary, of Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who are saying there needs to be a swift and a strong response by Iran.

Of course, one of the things that we've been hearing from Iranian officials like for instance the foreign minister Javad Zarif over the past couple of days, is they say that there was an involvement by Israel in all of this. Of course they always believe in cahoots with the United States, and that they are essentially behind all of this.

And so, some in the hard line circles are saying, look, there needs to be a swift response. Otherwise Iran could see more similar assassinations or other sort of attacks on its infrastructure and also possibly on its military installations as well.

Now there are those moderates around the President Hassan Rouhani who are saying Iran, look, Iran really needs to be careful about what it's going to do next. One of the things that the Iranians believe and have actually always believed, is they believe that in such things time is on their side. They are in this region. They are obviously going to stay in that region, and they're in no rush.

[04:35:00] Right now they believe that for instance Israel and the United States are trying to rush and trying to bait them into some sort of response in the final days of the Trump administration.

So there are some, especially among the moderates who are saying, you need to think about this, we need to take this slow, and needs see what happens next. Of course one of the things that many in Iran believe, certainly the moderate circles, they think things are going to get more positive for them, or easier for them, with an incoming Biden administration.

Of course, one of the things that Joe Biden has talked about is possibly the U.S. becoming part of the nuclear agreement again that the Trump administration pulled out of. So certainly, a very important time right now in that region, and the Iranians, you can tell, very much aware of the fact that the way they respond to this could very much play a large role in shaping things in the not too distant future -- Rosemary.

CHURCH: Yes, a lot to consider before they take the next step. Fred Pleitgen joining us there. Many thanks.

Well, European human rights ambassadors say they are deeply concerned about a group of female activists detained in Saudi Arabia, and they are calling on the kingdom to release them. One of the women who has already spent more than two years in jail is now going to be tried by a terrorism court. Her apparent crime, demanding the right to drive. Nic Robertson has the story.

(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMATIC EDITOR (voice-over): Saudi Arabia's most well-known female prisoner, Loujain al-Hathloul, has gone from jailed rights activists to alleged national security threat. Her sister is horrified. She alleges Loujain has been tortured in prison.

LINA HATHLOUL, LOUJAIN'S SISTER: My parents said that she was very weak, that her body was shaking, and that her voice, as well. But even with that, she was still very focused, and they wanted to meet her whole defense, her and other activists from being electrocuted. Once reported, logged, beaten, deprived of sleep, first fed.

ROBERTSON: Saudi authorities have repeatedly denied allegations of torture and sexual abuse in their jails.

Hathloul campaigned for women to drive. Then just weeks before Saudi's de facto ruler, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman known as MBS, gave the go ahead for the long-awaited reform, she was arrested. Human rights groups called on world leaders to use last week's virtual G20 summit in Riyadh to pressure MBS to allow her release.

Instead, days after the event wrapped, Hathloul appeared before a judge, only to learn her case was being referred to a notorious terror court. ADEL AL-JUBEIR, SAUDI MINISTER OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS: I believe the charges have to do with receiving money from hostile governments in order to pass it on to dissidents and hostile groups to Saudi Arabia.

ROBERTSON: So far, the Saudi government hasn't published its evidence. And Saudi courts, where evidence would be presented, are notoriously difficult to access. International pressure for Hathloul's release is not working. Unclear if president-elect Joe Biden, who was promised to take a tough line on Saudi, can make a difference.

AL-JUBEIR: We're not subject to pressure. These individuals where arrested under our laws and our courts have jurisdiction and they decide. We don't allow people to put pressure on us in order to do things that are against our interest.

ROBERTSON: It is unclear, too, when Hathloul's next court appearance will be, although the venue is set Saudi Arabia Specialized Criminal Court, which according to human rights group, Amnesty International, is intrinsically unfair.

Nic Robertson, CNN, London.

(END VIDEO TAPE)

CHURCH: More than 100 people are dead after a gruesome attack on Nigerian villagers, just ahead, as the victims are laid to rest, we will find out which terror group is suspected in this attack.

[04:40:00]

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CHURCH: We are tracking news of a horrific attack in northeastern Nigeria, and a warning some of what you're about to see is disturbing. A U.N. official says at least 110 civilians were killed on Saturday when a farming community was attacked near Borno state. Funerals for many of the victims were held on Sunday. Boko Haram militants are suspected in this attack and authorities are searching for dozens of people still missing.

For more, let's bring in CNN senior international correspondent Arwa Damon, she joins us live from Istanbul. So, Arwa, the details so disturbing. What more are you learning about this brutal attack.

ARWA DAMON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: They really are, Rosemary, and it underscores just how vulnerable these communities are at this stage. According to an eyewitness, the attackers arrived on motorcycles, some people were killed on the spot. Others were taken away and beheaded and dozens more remain missing.

Now these are very vulnerable communities, economically vulnerable, but also security wise vulnerable because despite the fact that the Nigerian government has been at war with Boko Haram and other offshoot terrorist organizations for years now, they have yet to really be able to bring the security situation under control. Especially when it comes to communities that live outside of the major cities.

The Nigerian government had change its strategy to a certain degree, trying to build these super camps where they consolidated their military fire power, but what that did was leave these types of farming communities, such as the ones that were subjected to this absolutely chilling attack, extraordinary vulnerable. And so, they are forced to rely mostly on these vigilante groups that have arisen, but the groups don't have the military experience or weapons needed to take on an entity such as Boko Haram. Which is right now the main suspect as being behind these attacks.

And so what these farming and other remote communities end up doing, Rosemary, to try to protect themselves is they cut deals with Boko Haram. They agreed to provide them food and other provisions that they may be needing in return for not being subjected to this kind of violence. It seems at this stage, at least, as if it was one of these deals gone sour.

[04:45:00]

But this really is a moment of reckoning for the Nigerian government when it comes to security in this part of the country. But also broadly speaking, now it has to deal with discontent on a lot of levels, not just in Borno province when it comes to the population there, but also in other areas like Bajaj where there has been ongoing unrest and protests against the government and other parts as well.

CHURCH: It is a horrifying story. Arwa Damon staying on top of those details. Many thanks for keeping us updated.

Well, Cuba wants help fighting a surge in drug trafficking and hopes the new Biden administration will mean an increase in cooperation. That story after this break.

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CHURCH: Welcome back, everyone. Well, Cuba hopes a new Biden administration means a new chance at working with the United States. Officials in Cuba say they are seeing a surge in drug smugglers headed to the U.S. after Obama era agreements were thrown out. CNN's Patrick Oppmann has this exclusive report.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

[04:50:00]

PATRICK OPPMANN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Trespassing into Cuban waters, these drug smugglers attempt to outrun a Cuban government patrol boat. After the Cuban crew threatens to open fire, the smugglers throw their contraband into the ocean.

Just in October, Cuban border guard officials say they confiscated enough drugs to fill two whole trucks. Smugglers trying to sneak boatloads of marijuana and cocaine passed Cuban patrols and into the United States have become an increasingly common occurrence over the past year. Cuban border guard officers tell us.

In this last period, there has been an increase, he tells me. We have detected 40 vessels that were suspicious or smuggling drugs. As well as the drugs that have been recovered.

Under close guard by Special Forces troops, Cuban officials unseal the secure facility, where they have stored the seized drugs. Nearly 3 tons worth, they tell us.

(on camera): We're going to walk in right now, and you see from floor to ceiling bags and bags of marijuana that's been captured. Either taken off boats that were coming through Cuban waters, drug smuggling runs, or found. Smugglers would ditch the drugs in the ocean, or found later and then turned in.

And what I can tell you is that the smell of the drugs in this room is completely overwhelming. It's just overpowering.

(voice over): Much, if not all of the drugs, Cuban officials say they recovered were headed to the United States, 90 miles off Cuban shores.

YURI GALA LOPEZ, CUBAN FOREIGN MINISTRY: The capable forces that we have in the law enforcement community is not only a guarantee for the national security of Cuba but is also beneficial for the national security of the United States.

OPPMANN: While the U.S. criticizes Cuba on human rights and lack of multi-party elections, the State Department acknowledged in their 2020 report, narcotics that Cuba is not a major consumer/producer or transit point of illicit drugs.

This Cuban government video obtained by CNN shows U.S. Coast Guard officials turning over drugs to the Cuban border patrol that they recovered at sea to help with the prosecution of the smuggles who were arrested by the Cubans.

But after the Trump administration rolls back improve relations with Havana, Cuban officials say, regular meetings with U.S. law enforcement agency where cancel. The Trump administration did not respond to our request for comment.

Despite this policy, she tells me, Cuba is willing to combat international drug trafficking. We have stopped tons of drugs from reaching the U.S.

To make their point, Cuban officials give us rare access to film as they load the drugs, then transport them under heavy guard. To haul them by crane to this industrial furnace where packet by packet they are incinerated.

Smoke signals the Cuban government is sending to the Biden administration that they are they are seeking a new U.S./Cuban relationship.

Patrick Oppmann, CNN, Santiago, Cuba. (END VIDEOTAPE)

CHURCH: November is coming to a close with record numbers for Wall Street. The results are a stark contrast of what President Donald Trump predicted before the election.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: This election is a choice between a Biden depression or a Trump super boom. The stock market will boom if I'm elected.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We're not going to have time to talk about it.

If he's elected, the stock market will crash.

TRUMP: Your stocks, your 401(k)s and pensions will be demolished. You'll go into a depression, the likes of which you haven't seen since 1929. That's what's going to happen.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHURCH: Well, so far, the markets have responded positively to a Joe Biden presidency, and we will be waiting to see how investors react later today when Biden formally names key members of his economic team.

CNN's John Defterios joins me now to talk more about this. Good to see you, John. So Donald Trump got it wrong when he predicted markets would tank if Joe Biden won. The exact opposite has happened. How might markets respond once Biden formally announces his economic team a few hours from now.

JOHN DEFTERIOS, CNN BUSINESS EMERGING MARKETS EDITOR: I think that's actually built into the price surge we have seen in November already, Rosemary. But it's good to get the official stamp of approval by Joe Biden publicly.

Donald Trump tried to scare U.S. investors with the threat on their retirement plans, but the choices made by Joe Biden so far have been extremely well received, particularly this with Biden picking U.S. treasury secretary nominee Janet Yellen who was at the Federal Reserve.

[04:55:00]

There's a kind of widely held view that she can work well with Jay Powell, who is the current chairman. She was after all the chairman before this in and had experience in the White House at the same time.

But we have some selling pressures here in the U.S. futures, not too surprisingly because of the pace of the run up we have seen during this month. But at the same time, I think business community and international investment community feels comfortable with the fact that we have had a judiciary system stand up to Donald Trump and resist this temptation, talking of voter fraud and also the business community in the U.S. from Wall Street to Silicon Valley, also saying we need to protect the electoral system.

And this was a vote of confidence, and why if we look at the global numbers it's not just the U.S. rallying, 11 percent on the month. The MSCI global index up 13 percent and look at the European markets playing catch up with the activity across the Atlantic even though they're faced with a second wave. We see China's factory data going up. They have vaccine in distribution.

And we have to keep an eye on the unemployment numbers on Friday. They should inch down the unemployment rate to 6.8 percent, but we still, Rosemary, despite all this enthusiasm on Wall Street, 13 million Americans asking for benefits because they don't have a job. And this will be the real challenge for Janet Yellen to avoid the second dip of a threat of a recession here in 2021 before we get the pervasive vaccine distribution in the United States.

CHURCH: Yes, very important point. Wall Street is doing well. Main street is not. We'll have to see what is done --

DEFTERIOS: Not yet.

CHURCH: -- for those people really suffering. John Defterios, bringing us that. Many thanks.

And thank you for your company. I'm Rosemary Church. "EARLY START" is up next. You're watching CNN. Have yourselves a great day.

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