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Farmers Stage Mass Protest On India's Republic Day; U.S. To Use Strategic Patience With China; Russia's Political Turmoil; Putin Forced To Deny Navalny's Anti-corruption Report; Italian Prime Minister Conte To Resign; Judge Approves $17 Million Settlement For Movie Mogul's Victims; Brazil's Amazonas State Goes Into Lockdown As Cases Surge; New Zealand To Approve Vaccine; Wuhan, China After One Year On; Presidential Pooches, The Dogs Are Back In The White House; Articles of Impeachment Now in the Senate; Law Firms Distancing from Donald Trump; President Biden Raising the Bar on Vaccine Distribution; People Frustrated and Tired of Lockdowns; Slow Distribution Affects Vaccination Targets; Death Toll in U.S. Remain High. Aired 3-4a ET

Aired January 26, 2021 - 03:00   ET

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

[03:00:00]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ROSEMARY CHURCH, CNN ANCHOR (on camera): Hello and welcome to our viewers joining us from all around the world. You are watching CNN Newsroom. And I'm Rosemary Church.

Just ahead, U.S. lawmakers deliver on article of impeachment down the same hallway that was under siege less than three weeks ago. President Joe Biden is weighing in the trial for his predecessor.

Another night of protest rocks the Netherlands as frustration grows over the coronavirus curfew.

And Vladimir Putin gives a rare rebuttal of his top critic as Russians protest in support of Alexei Navalny.

Good to have you with us.

Well, House prosecutors are promising a powerful case against Donald Trump as they gear up for unprecedented second impeachment trial of the former president. Members of the House marched across the capitol delivering their article of impeachment to the Senate. The House has charged Trump with incitement of insurrection. And now in less than two weeks arguments in the trial will begin.

Now this follows the attacks on the capitol of course when a mob forced Congress to halt its counting of the electoral votes certifying President Joe Biden's victory. That attack left five people dead including a capitol police officer.

House Democrat Jamie Raskin laid out the case against the former president.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. JAMIE RASKIN (D-MD): Donald John Trump engaged in high crimes and Trump's conduct on misdemeanors by inciting violence against the government of the United States. President Trump's conduct on January 6, 2021 followed his prior efforts to subvert and obstruct the certification of the result of the 2020 presidential election.

Donald Jon Trump does warrants impeachment and trial, removal from office and disqualification to hold and enjoy any office, honor, trust, or profit under the United States.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHURCH (on camera): CNN's Ryan Nobles has more on the time line of the trial and how Trump is preparing for it.

RYAN NOBLES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: The clock is now ticking on former President Donald Trump as the Senate now has the articles of impeachment and are preparing for a trial. We're entering a phase now of preparation. The former president getting about two weeks to get his legal affairs in order. On Tuesday, the senators that will serve his jurors will be sworn in, as well as the presiding judge will take his place overseeing this trial.

This all pushing towards a February 9th, that's the day that the trial will begin in earnest, and we're not 100 percent sure how the trial will take place, whether or not witnesses, for instance, will be called.

Both Republicans and Democrats have said that they are open to that idea. There's even the possibility that the senators themselves maybe called as witnesses because they were part of the capitol insurrection which is of course at the heart of this impeachment trial.

Meanwhile, the former president attempting to put together a legal team. He did hire Butch Bowers who is an attorney from South Carolina. Bowers is trying to hire another lawyer from South Carolina but they're having a hard time getting together a big team.

Our Jeff Zeleny reporting that in some respects these law firms don't want to be associated with the impeachment trial and in other areas they just worry that President Trump may not pay. So that's where the president finds himself right now.

Meanwhile, his close ally here on Capitol Hill, Senator Lindsey Graham said that he spoke to President Trump over the weekend and the president echoed what many Americans are feeling about the situation, that he would just like to see this impeachment trial behind him.

Ryan Nobles, CNN, on Capitol Hill.

CHURCH (on camera): And one of the Democrats leading the charge against Donald Trump in the Senate trial says the House has a strong case to convict the former president. Congressman David Cicilline says it's a constitutional duty to hold Trump accountable for inciting violence against the government. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. DAVID CICILLINE (D-RI): We will present overwhelming evidence that the president, former President of the United States incited a violent attack on the capitol, a bloody attack that involve efforts to hang the vice president, murder the Speaker of the House, hunt down members of Congress, but most importantly, to stop the sacred ritual of the meeting of the Electoral College which represents the peaceful transfer of power from one president to the next.

And the President of the United States incited that violence in an effort to stop that from happening so that he can remain in office.

[03:05:04]

It would be a very dangerous precedent to depart from 200 years of history because you don't want to invite a president or a former -- or a federal official to just wait to the near end of their term and commit the most serious misconduct the attack on our democracy and figure they can avoid responsibility because it's near the end of their term. The president is responsible from the first day in office to the last day in office for their conduct.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHURCH (on camera): Joining me now is CNN legal analyst Elie Honig. He is a former federal and state prosecutor. Great to have you with us.

ELIE HONIG, CNN LEGAL ANALYST: Thanks, Rosemary.

CHURCH: So, the article of impeachment against Donald Trump for his role in inciting insurrection on January 6 has been delivered to the Senate. But it's looking unlikely at this juncture at least that the required 17 Republican senators will vote with the Democrats to convict Trump. They argue it's unconstitutional to try a former president. What do you say to that legal argument? And how should House managers present their case?

HONIG: So first of all, I disagree with this idea it's unconstitutional to try a former president. First of all, we've done it before. Not with the president but in 1876, we had a secretary of war who resigned then was impeached later the same day. And then months later was tried.

So, I know it was a long time ago. But the legal principle on the precedent I think still applies. Also, if you look at the Constitution itself it gives us this remedy not only of removing an officer from his office but also disqualifying that person from any future federal office. And that is there for a reason.

Because those last couple of days and weeks of the presidency when it's too late to hold an impeachment trial as a practical matter that cannot be a free-for-all utterly without consequence.

CHURCH: And a final decision has not yet been made on whether witnesses will be called. But it has to be noted that most of the lawmakers that will be present are witnesses themselves --

HONIG: Yes.

CHURCH: -- as well as the jury. What additional witnesses could or should they bring if that does happen?

HONIG: Yes, it's a great question. It's a really bizarre situation. I mean, as a prosecutor if you ever had anyone who had anything to do with the case as a potential juror they would be out. You can't be a juror and a witness. But of course, this is not a strictly legal trial process.

If I was prosecuting this case or presenting this case on behalf of the House impeachment managers, I would keep a clean and concise. They need to get this thing in quickly. Look, last year's impeachment took 21 days. I think if they spend any more than a week, maybe a week and a half max then they are going to lose their attention. They're going to lose the focus.

You raise a good question. Who would the witnesses we need to be? The main witness here is Donald Trump. Play the clips of him exhorting the crowd. Show his tweets. Put them on the big screen where he says things like will be wild. Show his tweets after the fact.

Remember, on the day of the attack on January 6, a couple hours after the attack was over, he tweeted positively. He said remember this day. He called them great patriots. Keep your case nice and clean and concise, you have to keep the attention of not just the Senate but the American public.

CHURCH: And let's face it. Democrats are really doing this because they want to prevent Trump from ever holding federal office again. So, if 17 Republican senators refuse to convict him as seems to be the case, how do Democrats achieve that goal of blocking Trump's run for president in the future?

HONIG: Well, I think there's two goals here. I think the big picture goal is to set a marker, set a precedent for history. That whatever the outcome, I think Democrats have been saying, we can't let this stand, we can't do nothing about this.

Now as a practical matter when it comes to removal, if they do not get the 67 votes needed to convict there are a couple very long shot possibilities. One is some people believe that the Senate can still vote to disqualify if they get 50 senators, even if there's not a conviction, I don't buy that. I don't think that's the way our system works. You have to have a conviction before you have punishment.

And we've had various officials who've been acquainted in impeachment trials and nobody ever tried to vote to disqualify them. There's also this issue of the 14th amendment which says very broadly that anyone who commits insurrection or sedition cannot hold office.

The problem with the 14th amendment is that it doesn't give us any process. It doesn't tell us how we get to that end point. So, I think even in the unlikely event that Democrats try to go that route, I don't think it survives legally.

CHURCH: OK. And Elie, just finally, what do the new revelations about efforts to tamper with the election results in Georgia shows about the way Trump used and dealt with the Department of Justice? And how might that play into the impeachment trial or any potential criminal liability?

HONIG: So those new revelations tell us something that we already knew but they reinforced that Donald Trump has always viewed the Justice Department as his own personal, you know, team of attorneys which is absolutely not what DOJ is. They don't have the president. They don't serve the presidency.

[03:09:57]

I think those new revelations absolutely could play into the impeachment trial. If you look at the articles of impeachment, yes, they focus primarily on January 6th, but they also specifically say this was the end result of a long process of attempting to steal and overturn the election.

And so, I think the managers who drafted the article did a good job of allowing themselves to paint the entire picture for the American public when they present this case in a couple weeks.

CHURCH: Elie Honig, great to get your legal analysis. I appreciate it.

HONIG: Thanks, Rosemary.

CHURCH (on camera): Well, U.S. President Joe Biden tell CNN Donald Trump's impeachment trial has to happen. And it would be, in his words, "a worse effect if it didn't happen."

The upcoming trial looms over Mr. Biden as he tries to strike a balance between supporting the trial and pushing a message of unity. Now this all comes as he looks to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic head-on and works to raise the bar on vaccinations.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOE BIDEN, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: I think with the grace of God and the goodwill of neighbor and the quick not rising us, the old saying goes, I think we may be able to get that to 150,000 -- or 1.5 million a day rather than one million a day. But we have to meet that goal of a million a day.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHURCH (on camera): And on Monday, Mr. Biden reinstated COVID-19 travel restrictions for non-U.S. citizens who've been in Brazil, Ireland and the U.K. and much of Europe. And extended restrictions to travelers who have recently been to South Africa. He also reversed a Trump era ban on most transgender Americans serving in the military.

Well, countries across Europe are reacting as new variance of the coronavirus push case numbers higher. In the Netherlands, anti- lockdown protests are raging for a third day. Police have deployed tear gas and water cannon to control rioting in several cities.

In Britain, Prime Minister Boris Johnson says putting people into hotels to quarantine after arriving in the country is, quote, "definitely being looked at." It comes as the death toll there inches towards 100,000.

And in Madrid, authorities have brought forward a curfew to try and cope with rising cases in Spain. Nearly 200,000 new coronavirus infections have been registered in the last week.

So, let's bring you the latest now. And Salma Abdelaziz is in London, and Cyril Vanier joins us from Paris. Good to see you about. So, Salma, let's start with you. What is the latest on the lockdown effort? And of course, the prime minister now considering tougher border controls.

SALMA ABDELAZIZ, CNN PRODUCER: Well, Rosemary, there are positive signs. And I think that's why hopes started to rise this week across England that there might be some restrictions lifted. But the health secretary of course shooting that down yesterday and said it's simply too early. Yes, we are starting to see a decrease in case numbers.

But you still have more people on ventilators, in hospital right now. More patients in the hospital with coronavirus right now than you did at the first wave of this pandemic.

Quite simply, Rosemary, we're not there yet. And the health secretary did lay out how they're going to begin to assess whether or not this lockdown will be lifted, and how it will be lifted. It will be down gradually, first of all.

And the government has to look at a few key indicators. The first of those is the death rate, the death toll has been extremely high. Record breaking death tolls in recent days. The hospitalization rate. The health care system here is still absolutely overwhelmed. It stretched to the limit. Doctors and nurses facing really a tsunami of coronavirus patients and continue to do so because of this new variant.

They're also concerned about other variants. Not just the variant here in U.K. but those around the world. That's why the prime minister is looking at hotel quarantines for key countries where they can try to keep that variant out. And the others of course the country's vaccination program.

That's really what they're pinning their hopes on. That's really the only weapon in the arsenal against this U.K. variant which has spread so rapidly through this population and really brought the health care system to the edge.

So, the health secretary's message last night was, listen, you have to be patient. You have to wait. We are still a long way from lifting these restrictions. It's too early to tell. We have to ease the pressure on our healthcare system, on our doctors and nurses before life even begins to resume normal. Rosemary?

CHURCH: Yes, those vaccinations, the hope we all have. Thanks for that, Salma. And Cyril, let's go to you now. And various European countries struggling with their own efforts to contain this virus. What's the latest across the continent?

CYRIL VANIER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, absolutely, Rosemary, a lot of countries are looking at a worst-case scenario right now. And you know, they are hoping that what happened in the U.K. doesn't happen to them. With European countries monitoring very closely the rise of this new COVID variant originally identified in the U.K.

Here in France that now accounts for up to 9 percent of positive COVID tests in some parts of the country. In Spain it's 5 percent. This is up from these countries, the very same countries declaring they only had one or two cases within their borders just three or four weeks ago.

[03:15:07]

So, it shows you how rapidly that variant can spread within the community. So, in Spain, they have taken new measures with the curfew for restaurants now have to close at 9 p.m. And there's a 10 p.m. curfew in the Madrid region. That started yesterday.

In the Netherlands, there is a lockdown, a 9 p.m. curfew that started over the weekend with violent protests against it. We saw the protests on Sunday devolve into violence with over 250 people arrested. And now we're up to the third night -- consecutive night of violent riots. Right? With police saying that youths have been getting together in several cities across the country including Rotterdam, throwing stones, setting off fireworks, looting stores.

Witnesses showing you, Rosemary, that on the one hand you have fears of the new COVID variant spreading across these countries, on the other hand, you have countries taking measures to try and keep it down. And you also have to factor in this variable that sometimes populations just won't accept these measures. Rosemary?

CHURCH (on camera): People are getting very frustrated and impatient with all of it. Salma Abdelaziz in London, Cyril Vanier joining us live from Paris. Many thanks to both of you. I appreciate it.

Well, despite being part of the world's biggest single market, E.U. countries have vaccinated only a tiny fraction of their populations against coronavirus compared with Israel, the U.S. and Britain. And patience among Europeans is wearing thin.

CNN's Nina dos Santos explains what's causing the holdup.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BORIS JOHNSON, BRITISH PRIME MINISTER: Are we trying to recite in perjury --

NINA DOS SANTOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Boris Johnson and Joe Biden rolling up their sleeves at vaccine programs vital to ending the pandemic. But across the E.U., the slow pace of inoculation is raising concerns.

MAYOR ARIEL WEIL, CENTRAL PARIS (through translator): It's the limited number of doses that don't allow us to go faster.

DOS SANTOS: So far, Israel has covered the largest proportion of its people at 44 cumulative doses per 100, followed by the UAE, and a newly Brexited Britain. By contrast, just 12 E.U. nations that vaccinated more than two people per 100.

MAYOR JEANNE BECART, GARCHES, FRANCE: (through translator): I'm a bit angry when I see the lack of preparation from the government. I remember our president saying we are at war, that we would do everything necessary whatever it cost.

DOS SANTOS: The E.U. has ordered almost 2.3 billion doses from six suppliers including France's Sanofi, but just two made by Pfizer and Moderna have been approved.

URSULA VON DER LEYEN, PRESIDENT, EUROPEAN COMMISSION: There will be no parallel negotiations, no parallel contracts, so the framework we are all working in is a framework of 27.

DOS SANTOS: And while the E.U. promised act in unison, powerful formations like Germany have struck their own deals with drug makers amid concerns of a supply exacerbated by a recent change in manufacturing at Pfizer.

DOS SANTOS (on camera): Part of the problem is supply but part is also distribution. What the E.U. did centralize its procurement of vaccine leveraging upon its sizeable negotiating power on price. it left out the rollout of those vaccination programs to individual members, and many of those countries were either unwilling or unable to put on the mass vaccination schemes you see here in London, run in many cases, with the army and the help of private pharmacies and supermarket chains.

DOS SANTOS (voice over): Each country can set its own rules on who gets their injections first, and when. And not all have the staff or logistical ability to get the vaccines to where they're needed.

In France, where coverage has been particularly low, national bureaucracy is a massive barrier says this man.

MAYOR NICOLAS MAYER-ROSSIGNOL, ROUEN, FRANCE: We just need more far more transparency and direct pragmatic cooperation between the member states, the national authority and the local authorities. We don't need additional extra layers of administration. That's not necessarily in that particular emergency situation.

DOS SANTOS: With new more virulent strains claiming more lives on the continent, this is the E.U.'s best shot at beating COVID-19. But to do that, 27 countries need to get it right.

Nina dos Santos, CNN, London. (END VIDEO CLIP)

CHURCH (on camera): Coronavirus variance have U.S. health officials concerned over vaccine efficacy. What the top U.S. infectious disease expert says we have to do to stay ahead of an evolving virus. Back with that in just a moment.

[03:20:00]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ANTHONY FAUCI, DIRECTOR, NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ALLERGY AND INFECTIOUS DISEASES: It has the capability of spreading more efficiently. Likely it might actually get more and more dominant. But we have to wait and see because we have a couple of situations. You know, we have a California mutant that was just recognized in California. That's different than the Brazil one that seems to be more efficient in spreading. You have to keep your eye on all of these things.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHURCH (on camera): Top infectious disease expert Dr. Anthony Fauci there on a COVID variant first spotted in Brazil now discovered in the U.S. State of Minnesota. Dr. Fauci says current vaccines still seem effective against the variants but caution they can evolve.

Over the past week, vaccinations have increase in the U.S. and the average number of new infections has been declining in nearly every state. But the death toll remains high. January is on track to be the deadliest month in U.S. yet.

CNN's Erica Hill has more now from New York.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ERICA HILL, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): The virus variant first discovered in the U.K. is not just more transmissible. Scientists now say it may also be more deadly.

FAUCI: They became convinced that it is in fact a bit more virulent, namely making it more difficult when you get to the point of serious disease, and even death. So, I believe their data.

HILL: As the variant spreads here in the U.S., the push is on to boost the pace of vaccinations. Moderna expects its vaccine will, to some degree, protect against the variant, there's just one problem.

ROCHELLE WALENSKY, U.S. CDC DIRECTOR: I can't tell you how much vaccine we have, and if I can't tell it to you then I can't tell it to the governors. And I can't tell to the state health officials.

HILL: That's the new CDC director, and that problem is forcing scheduled appointments to be put on hold.

UNKNOWN: New York City does not have enough doses.

HILL: Plants for mass vaccination sites, New York City field was supposed to open today, paused. The Biden administration, once again shifting its message.

BIDEN: I think we may be able to get that to 150,000 -- 1.5 million a day, rather than one million a day.

HILL: The week began with just over half of distributed doses in arms. Two thousand shots administered at this site Sunday in Seattle. Amazon helping out with logistics.

Average new cases down in nearly every state over the past week. Not a single red state on this now familiar map.

JONATHAN REINER, CNN MEDICAL ANALYST: There is now clear evidence that the peak has passed in the United States and cases are dropping rapidly.

HILL: COVID hospitalizations also declining. California lifting regional stay-at-home orders for 90 percent of the state as ICU availability increases. Massachusetts ending its curfew today, but not Ohio.

GOV. MIKE DEWINE (R-OH): Unfortunately, we've going to have to stay.

HILL: Deaths still far too high, nearing 420,000 including this Ohio couple, childhood sweethearts who died within minutes of one another holding hands.

UNKNOWN: They taught us all really what love is.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HILL (on camera): The city field behind me here the home of the New York Mets was slated to open on Monday as a mass vaccination site for New York City. Ultimately, we were told it would be able to process as many 7,000 doses shots in one day.

[03:25:08]

But all those plans are now on hold because there simply aren't available vaccine doses in New York City. The mayor says if they could get enough supply, he believes the city could administer half a million doses every week.

In New York, I'm Erica Hill, CNN.

CHURCH: So, let's talk now with CNN medical analyst and epidemiologist Dr. Larry Brilliant. Thank you, doctor for being with us.

LARRY BRILLIANT, CNN MEDICAL ANALSYT: Thank you, Rosemary. Nice to talk to you again.

CHURCH: And you, too. So, President Joe Biden has now raised his goal one million a day to 1.5 million COVID vaccine shots a day and predicts that everyone who wants a vaccine can get one by this spring. Does all this sound achievable to you considering concerns about vaccine supply right now?

BRILLIANT: Yes, it sounds achievable to me. He said everyone who wants one can get one. And you know, we have only about 50 percent of people who say they are eager to get the vaccine. Twenty-five percent who are uncertain and 25 percent who have said absolutely not. I hope that middle number will change dramatically.

And because they are using FEMA, and opening up as many as 100 mass vaccination centers, I believe it's a very reasonable goal.

CHURCH: That sounds promising. And of course, you mentioned FEMA. The Pentagon is now weighing options to deploy thousands of troops to help President Biden with vaccine deployment. How big a difference could this make? And how soon do they need to make this a reality?

BRILLIANT: It will make a huge difference. It's not uncommon in pandemics to have the troops come and lend a hand and vaccinate. We want fireman, and policeman, and everybody else who can come. And it's critical. Because we are in a bit of a foot race between how rapidly we can vaccinate people and these mutants, this variance that are occurring.

The faster we vaccinate more people the less likely it is that we will get more of these variants.

CHURCH: And I want to talk to you about that because hospitalizations and daily cases are falling right now. But what impact might those new variants have on that trajectory? And how careful do we all need to be at this time?

BRILLIANT: What we're seeing now in the dropping is the seasonality. As we leave the winter and head towards spring, the holiday pushes over, we are just getting a bit of that left in the death rate. But we have to double down on how careful we are on the things that we know that will stop variance or wild form of the virus.

We know what to do, a good mask or two masks. Socially distance, good hygiene. Do not go into indoor congregate places where you know you're going to be exposed more. Right now, it's just this moment. When we think vaccine is coming, we have some treatments, be double careful. This is the moment the next couple of months that we have to be extremely careful.

CHURCH: Yes, some very good advice there. And just finally, doctor, Moderna has revealed that its vaccine works on the various COVID variance. Would you expect the other vaccine options to do the same?

BRILLIANT: Well, I expect the mRNA vaccines to work the same. But when Moderna said that it works they also warned us that it might not work as well on some of the variants and to hedge their bet. Fortunately, they are even now beginning to put together another vaccination, a booster that would cover the mutants in case the vaccine that we have right now, the mRNA vaccines may not be as effective.

So, the beauty of the mRNA vaccine technology is that you can rapidly do that. Make a booster that covers some of the things you might have missed.

CHURCH: We are seeing a little bit more hope out there which is always good. Dr. Larry Brilliant, many thanks.

And we are following a developing story right here on CNN. These are images from just moments ago. Indian farmers staging a massive protest challenging what they say are unfair agriculture laws. And we will have a live report of what's going on in the ground on the other side of the break. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[03:30:00]

ROSEMARY CHURCH, CNN ANCHOR (on camera): We are tracking developments in India right now where hundreds of thousands of angry farmers have traveled to New Delhi on foot and on tractors. They are protesting new agriculture laws during one of India's biggest national holidays.

These images from just moments ago show some of the chaos on the ground. The mass demonstrations are part of an ongoing protest against three laws which farmers say benefit big agriculture business at their expense.

And CNN's Vedika Sud is in New Delhi. She brings us the latest now. Good to see you Vedika. So, as we mentioned, there were clashes earlier. What is happening at this mass protest right now?

VEDIKA SUD, CNN PRODUCER (on camera): Well, from what you can see, Rosemary, these are completely chaotic scenes on the roads of New Delhi. This is the Palace Center of India that we're talking about. Farmers who had a short peaceful protest into the National Capital Region are now seeing some of those farmers also turning violent.

Now we were anticipating about a few thousands of protesters. As of yesterday to be a part of this entire tractor rally, as it was initially called. But that's turned out to be a very, very small figure. Because what we are seeing on the roads of New Delhi are hundreds of thousands of protesters.

Now, the farmers like you rightly pointed out were thinking of rolling out their tractors into Delhi, the pollution, the upper limit rather was about 5,000 tractors. But of course again visuals are speaking for themselves. Thousands of tractors are already on the roads of Delhi. Now, this is more of a battleground that they are astounding too. The violent protests are taking place, you know, the batons are being thrown at these farmers. They are retaliating.

We've spoken with some of the farmer representatives. And they have admitted to the fact that, yes, there was some farmers who actually went into the police buses and they vandalized the area. There were attacks on the police bus and vice versa. But the question really is at this point, Rosemary, are all these

people that we are seeing on the roads of New Delhi in fact protesters. Are they the farmers themselves? Or are they some troublemakers who got into these entire protests and are trying to turn this protest violent?

Of course there is no control as of now from the police and they are outnumbered on the streets of Delhi as I speak with you. Because of hundreds of thousands of these protesters, farmers and perhaps some others of which we need to still verify through the police.

When CNN reached out to the Delhi police for comments on what's really happening on the roads of Delhi, they said they have no any comment as of now. They are only appealing for peace in of the areas.

And what is ironical is that today India celebrates and commemorates its second republic day. To about two hours ago we are seeing a grand parade in the heart of Delhi. And just five kilometers away from there are where this violent clashes are taking place. Forget even following the guidelines.

You know, due to the pandemic that were issued yesterday by the Delhi police. Forget the masks that they aren't wearing. This is extremely violent. The visuals that you are seeing, the standoff between the protesters and the Delhi police. Rosemary?

[03:35:06]

CHURCH (on camera): Yes, and of course, we will continue to follow this story very closely. Vedika Sud, bringing us the very latest. Many thanks to you.

Well, the Biden White House says the U.S. will approach China with strategic patience after the Chinese president called for increased global cooperation on Monday. The White House says Beijing has engaged in conduct that hurts American workers. And the U.S. needs to hold China accountable. Especially in the field of technology.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JEN PSAKI, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: China's been willing to do whatever it takes to gain a technological advantage, stealing intellectual property, engaging in industry on the espionage and forcing technology transfer. Our view, the president's view, is that we need to play a better defense. Which must include holding China accountable for its unfair and illegal practices.

And making sure that American technologies are not facilitating China's military buildup. So, he is firmly committed to making sure that Chinese companies cannot misappropriated and misuse American data. We need a comprehensive strategy.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHURCH (on camera): And CNN's Steven Jiang is following the story from Beijing. He joins us now live. Good to see you Steven. So, it looks like China's tech rivalry with the U.S. will continue under Joe Biden's leadership. And Beijing also faces renewed trade pressure. So, where is all of this going?

STEVEN JIANG, CNN PRODUCER (on camera): Well, Rosemary the Chinese government actually has just responded to the remarks from the White House displayed with the foreign ministry spokesman. Saying the Biden White House needs to learn its lessons from the mistakes made by the Trump administration. And also urging new U.S. government not to weaponizes or politicized the issue of science and technology. Instead -- he said, the U.S. should be working with the U.S. to ensure an open affair global environment for its quote.

Now these lines of arguments are not surprising. But if the Beijing leadership is expecting the Biden White House to abandon or reverse many of Mr. Trump's China's policies anytime soon, they may be in for disappointment. Because as much as the Biden team wants to have a clean start from the past four years, China maybe be the lone exception.

Remember Mr. Biden himself during the presidential campaign has said, there is a need to get tough on China. And now the sentiment is being echoed by his cabinet secretaries or nominees, Tony Blinken, he's nominee for Secretary of State, in the last week told Senators during his confirmation hearing that he actually agreed with Mr. Trump's tough on China principle.

What he did not agreed or rejected was Mr. Trump's approach. So, increasingly you see this consensus, or continuity being built, emerging in Washington about how to deal with an increasingly powerful and aggressive China. So, that is why a lot of analysts expect the Biden team to really implement -- continued to implementing Trump's China policies if not all of them.

At least some of them with more finesse, with more nuance. They're also expected to start rallying U.S. allies and partners around the world to form this united front against China. Not only on trade and technology issues but also on a whole range of issues, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and the South China Sea. Rosemary?

CHURCH (on camera): Alright. Steven Jiang joining us there. Many thanks to you.

Well, Russia's president is condemning large weekend protests held in support of Kremlin critic Alexey Navalny. Police detained nearly 4,000 people, and used force to break up rallies across the country Saturday. As protesters demanded Navalny be freed from jail.

The U.S. and the European Union are speaking out against Navalny's detention over alleged parole violations. But have yet to take any new action. President Vladimir Putin called the demonstrations illegal and counterproductive.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

VLADIMIR PUTIN, RUSSIAN PRESIDENT (through translator): All people have the right to express their point of view within the framework of the law. Everything that goes beyond the framework of the law is not only counterproductive but also dangerous. All these events about which I just spoke no one should use them trying to reach their ambitious goals and objectives. Especially in the field of politics. This is not how politics is done. At least not a responsible politics.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHURCH: Our Matthew Chance has our report.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice over): This is how Putin's Russia has suddenly changed. Across this vast country supporters of a jailed opposition leader have come out in their tens of thousands. Some clashing with police. Losing all fear. Even as protest organizers where quickly detained. There's no need to be afraid, they are scared of their own people, said this opposition campaigner, before she is pulled away.

[03:40:07]

Nationwide, riot police detained more than three and a half thousand others. And this is what has jolted so many Russians into action. Not just the horrific nerve agent poisoning of Alexey Navalny in Siberia last year. But also the arrest of the Kremlin critic, when recovered (inaudible) back to Moscow earlier this month. He flew back to Moscow earlier this month. The brave farewell to his wife at the airport, seems to have struck a chord.

As does his latest anti-corruption expose detailing an extravagant palace in southern Russia, alleged to have been built for Vladimir Putin forcing the Russian president to publicly deny its implication.

I haven't seen the whole film, Putin admitted to these University students but nothing avoided listed there is my property has ever belonged to me or my close relatives he said. Still more than 87 million people have now viewed the investigation online. A sign of how broad the appeal of Alexey Navalny and its anti-corruption campaigning has become.

And that is a terrifying challenge to the Kremlin. Now frantically casting these protests, as a western plot. A position activists say this protester drake to the U.S. flag was planted, to reinforce the idea of a conspiracy. Before they ejected him. Russian officials accuse the U.S. Embassy in Moscow had actively encouraging the protest by listing the locations nationwide the U.S. citizens to avoid.

MARIA ZAKHAROVA, RUSIIAN FOREIGN MINISTER SPOKESWOMAN: The even used such a term as March on the Kremlin before the protest started. So on Friday, was that an instruction, was that a motivation? Who knows?

CHANCE: Was it a warning, because the embassy put that statement out? To warn America of places not to go.

ZAKHAROVA: Absolutely not, no, no, no. Because those who organized that protest, never mentioned the March on Kremlin. CHANCE: It seems like a desperate attempt to distract from the very

real crisis now unfolding on Russia's streets.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CHURCH (on camera): Matthew Chance, with that report.

Well, Italy's Prime Minister will soon be handing in his resignation. Which essentially enough it's all an effort to keep his job. Giuseppe Conte is hoping the president will invite him to form a new government Tuesday with broader backing in parliament. Conte lost his Senate majority last week when a centrist party (inaudible) the coalition over concerns about coronavirus and the economic recession.

Well, new developments in a case involving disgrace movie mogul, Harvey Weinstein. We are learning victims of sexual harassment in assault at the hands of Weinstein will receive a settlement with more than $17 million. It's part of a liquidation plan of the Weinstein companies assets. Stemming from a bankruptcy filing in 2018. The plan contains nearly $10 million for the victim's legal costs and more than $8 million for a trust to settle claims unrelated to sexual misconduct. Weinstein was sentenced to 23 years in prison last year for criminal sexual acts and rape.

And just ahead, Brazil's hospitals are increasingly strained. As a second wave of the coronavirus grips the nation. We will have a look at how the government is responding to the worsening crisis.

Plus, we go inside the original epicenter of the COVID crisis. One year on, how Wuhan is going.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[03:45:00]

CHURCH (on camera): We are getting in new images of significant damage from a large and destructive tornado that touched down in the U.S. State of Alabama. The National Weather Service says this happened just north of Birmingham on Monday night. The intensity of the tornado has not been determined yet. But we will have more on the story as it develops.

Well, Brazil's Amazonas State is now in lockdown in an effort to fight a surging second wave of the coronavirus. Hospitals are running out of beds, and oxygen, medical staff working frantic 36 hours shifts. And people are dying at such a rapid pace, cemeteries are forced to stack the dead on top of each other.

CNN's Matt Rivers reports on Brazil's spiraling crisis.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MATT RIVERS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): We're here in Manaus, Brazil, a city abruptly of 2 million people in the middle of the Amazon rain forest. In a place for the health system has all but collapsed in the face of a second coronavirus wave currently hitting this city. Officials say that in recent days, in January, they have buried in this city five even six times the amount of people that they would normally expect in times outside of a pandemic. An increase that they are attributing to COVID-19.

As a result officials have put in place a seven-day lockdown that started on Monday. Which means scenes like the one behind me, the street normally would be very crowded and now it's obviously less so. And this comes at a particularly fraught time for the country overall. In recent days Brazil has seen some of the highest daily death counts from the coronavirus since this pandemic began. Matt Rivers, CNN, in Manaus, Brazil.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CHURCH (on camera): Well, New Zealand has been one of the world's success story in handling the coronavirus crisis. Now the government there says it may approve a vaccine next week. The Prime Minister says she wants to correct procedures in place before the doses arrive.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JACINDA ARDERN, PRIME MINISTER OF NEW ZEALAND: We still expect our regulatory approval process to be complete before vaccines are ready to be dispatched to New Zealand. This means we expect there won't be any holdup and will be able to take delivery of our first batch of vaccines as soon as Pfizer is able to send them. Our first focus will be vaccinating our border and manage isolation and quarantine workforce in their close contacts.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHURCH (on camera): This comes a day after New Zealand confirmed its first COVID case in months. A woman who returned in December and tested positive for the South Africans variation of the virus.

Well, it's now been more than a year since Wuhan China saw the first of many coronavirus lockdowns around the world. Since then nearly 100 million people have been infected with COVID-19. Our David Culver reports from the original epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DAVID CULVER, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): It is a city whose name evokes mystery, allegations of cover-up and agony. Wuhan, China. CNN returning to this, the original epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak. In January 23rd 2020, this metropolis of more than 11 million residents locked down. We left hours before beginning a two week quarantine in Beijing. For 76 days Wuhan remained sealed off and here we are again back one year later.

The Huanan seafood market. This at one point was believed to have been by Chinese authorities the ground zero of this outbreak. This time last year security had assured us away within minutes of recording. Now, January 2021? No security here. We've been walk around for several minutes. They don't seem to care. That was until we started looking inside. We noticed some people

working behind the gate. Suddenly a seemingly random passerby on a bike shouted at us. Saying don't be sneaky. He later identified himself vaguely as working for the government. He told us to walk around and try the entrance.

[03:50:14]

Can we go in?

We can go in?

He said apparently we can go win. So, we'll see if we can actually get inside the market. I'm going to ask this guy. Can you go in? You can't go inside? Tell me. We had a COVID test, negative. We can't? OK, no pictures. So, clearly a bit sensitive. Perhaps because for foreigners or because we're journalists.

The virus is origin has become highly politicized. U.S. officials accusing China of covering up and allowing the virus to spread. China defensive. Saying the Trump administration was deflecting blame for its own mishandling. A team from the WHO is now in Wuhan tasked with trying to find out the truth.

And yet geopolitics aside the human suffering, it is universal. Young men spoke with us knowing she could face pressures from officials but a mother who's lost her only daughter has no more to lose. When I sat down you thank me for getting the truth out. What is the truth as you know it?

The local officials did not tell us about the pandemic, she says. If measures were taken I would not have sent my child to the hospital which was the source of the infection. Last January Yang's 24-year-old daughter has been receiving treatment for cancer. She contracted COVID-19 and died in early February. When I speak about this some part of my heart still aches, she said.

Amidst the deep pain, we also encountered moments of hope in our return. On the eve of the lockdown last year we visited this fruit market. This woman selling sugarcane told me at the time she was terrified. She stayed fearing the financial burden. 12 months later we met again. At that time I was crying all the time, she told me. We were suffering and scared. Above her face mask the pain is still visible in her eyes. She says the people of Wuhan are resilient. (Inaudible) to heroes.

I'm so glad to see you in person. And to know that you made through the lockdown and you're healthy. The market mood? Remarkably different from last year. Business? Bustling. People much more at ease.

Would you say Wuhan is back open and on the path to recovery?

It's not just starting from now, he says. It started very early to be honest, in my opinion, Wuhan had already began to recover since mid- late March. Delivery driver Lau Chi has become well known on Chinese social media as a chronicled life during the lockdown. The then and now are striking. A city desolate amid the lockdown followed by a summer with a packed pool party images that shock socially distance world outside of China.

And a New Year celebration where Wuhan residents were shoulder to shoulder. Though with new closer outbreaks in the north of China many here in Wuhan, once again wearing face masks, cautious of the lingering unknowns and still surrounded by the haunting memories of a lockdown that kept millions of residents along with their grief sealed inside. For some only now, 12 months later it is just beginning to surface. David Culver, CNN, Wuhan.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CHURCH (on camera): You are watching CNN Newsroom. The Bidens have brought two new tenants to the White House. America's reaction to the first dogs when we return.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[03:55:00]

CHURCH (on camera): Well, the White House is looking for ways to speed up the release of a new 20-dollar bill featuring abolitionist Harriet Tubman. The change was first announced at the end of the Obama administration. And the new bill was expected to debut in 2020. But the Trump administration dodged questions about the change. The Biden White House says it's important for U.S. money to reflect its history and diversity. Tubman, a former slave, was revered for her work freeing fellow African Americans from slavery.

Well, under Donald Trump many thought the White House had gone to the dogs. Under Joe Biden, staffers are welcoming two new dogs and embracing the renewed energy from the first family. Here's Jeanne Moos.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JEANNE MOOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): First came the still photos entering the White House, Jill Biden on her knees petting her 12-year-old German shepherd. The younger one ramping in the lawn. The first lady tweeted, Champ and Major joined us in the White House. Complete with heart and paw emojis. Even Hillary Clinton chimed in. Dogs are back.

But it wasn't until a photo-op into the Oval Office was ending that we heard the proof. As members of the press were escorted out low and behold there they were under the watchful eyes of the groundskeeper who's tended White House plants and pets for almost half a century. News of their arrival was heralded with tweets like the beagle has landed.

Countless owners posted photos of their own pets welcoming champ and major. Any openings to be there in turn? And lobbying soft balls like Bull and Mazie want to know if the first dogs get to sleep on the furniture. Prepare for the dog ponds.

UNKNOWN: The first ever indoguration.

UNKNOWN: Happy indoguration?

MOOS: Yes, that's Josh Groban who helped raise money for shelter dogs by singing at the indoguration held on Zoom.

JOHN GROBAN, SINGER: I'm adopting a dog in the window.

MOOS: Major was profiled as a we pop at the Delaware Humane Association. Before the Bidens started showering him with affection, adopted from a shelter, now top dog at the White House. There were some curmudgeonly comments. We still don't have a $2,000 stimulus. Who cares about the dogs? Responded someone. I do, my wife does, our friends and neighbors care. It's a sign of a return to civility.

But some were impatiently tapping. Tapping out tweets saying that's great but where is the cat? We were promised a cat.

UNKNOWN: You know, I'd love to get a cat. I love having animals around the house.

MOOS: Around the White House.

GROBAN: One with the wagging tail.

MOOS: And tongue. Jeanne Moos, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CHURCH (on camera): And this is CNN Newsroom, thanks for joining, us I'm Rosemary Church, I'll be back with more news in just a moment. Do stay with us.

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