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Israeli Police Clash with Palestinians at Jerusalem Mosque; Indians Abroad Helping Dalit Population; Nepal Sees 1,200 Percent Increase in COVID-19; England's Green List of Travel Destinations; Chinese Rocket Expected to Fall Back to Earth. Aired 3-3:30a ET

Aired May 08, 2021 - 03:00   ET

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

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MICHAEL HOLMES, CNN ANCHOR (voice-over): Hello, welcome to our viewers joining us from all around the, world I'm Michael Holmes, appreciate your company.

Coming up on CNN NEWSROOM, violence erupts at a Muslim holy site in Jerusalem. We get a live update on clashes between Israeli police and Palestinian worshippers.

And, as India's coronavirus crisis rages on, my guest is helping their patients over the phone from Boston.

Also, a 22-ton uncontrolled Chinese rocket expected to crash into Earth as soon as today. Where it is projected to land, we have more on that.

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HOLMES: We begin with those clashes at the Al-Aqsa mosque, the worst unrest Jerusalem has seen in years.

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HOLMES (voice-over): Police in riot gear, firing stun grenades and rubber coated bullets, leaving more than 200 Palestinians injured. Police say the Palestinians were throwing rocks and other objects and at least 6 of their officers were injured. The violence coming amid weeks of rising anger in the city.

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HOLMES: Let's bring in CNN's Hadas Gold, live from Jerusalem.

Islam is, as you know, at the core of the broader conflict and it seems to be exploding now with what we saw at the mosque, also possible victims of evictions of Palestinians in the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood.

Where is this headed?

It seems a very serious inflection point.

HADAS GOLD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It is a serious inflection point. Very tense right now, a lot of some of the most dramatic moments, scenes of highest level of tensions Jerusalem has seen in many years. At the Al- Aqsa compound, also known as the Temple Mount, is where a lot of the action is taking place.

According the Palestinian Red Crescent over 200 people were injured, as police clashed with Palestinians, following the conclusion of the evening prayers. Some were taken to Palestinian hospitals for treatment and police say that 17 of their officers were injured.

We see some dramatic footage of police using stun grenades, some even landing inside the mosque, which is the building with the black covering just behind me. The police say they moved in after, they say, people threw rocks and other objects at them.

The imam even called for calm from the people there. Some Palestinians say the clashes began after worshippers, in large numbers, were prevented from entering the mosque. They attempted to move away police barricades.

But, Michael, this evening didn't happen in a vacuum. Tensions have been boiling in Jerusalem for several weeks now. Two weeks ago, we had clashes outside of the Damascus gate, entrance to the Old City, where police were preventing Palestinians from congregating in a plaza, a popular thing to do during Ramadan.

There have been one-off incidents of violence between Palestinians and Israelis, going both ways. There was a march by hundreds of Jewish extremists, who, at one, point were chanting, "Death to Arabs.

And then, of course, what's happening in the neighborhood that you mentioned, the possible eviction of Palestinian families going on there, Michael, this is nowhere near over, because, over the next few days, we may be reaching a higher inflection point. Tonight is a holy night for Islam's Ramadan, it's coming to an end.

And on Monday, it is what's known as Jerusalem Day, the day that Israel marks when they took control of the Western Wall.

Monday, we may also see a ruling from the supreme court here on those possible evictions. They have also seen some clashes in that neighborhood.

A lot of other countries and international organizations are expressing concern over what is happening. The State Department said, there is no excuse for violence, but such bloodshed is especially disturbing now, coming as it does on the last days of Ramadan.

The State Department, calling on Israelis and Palestinian officials to act decisively, to de-escalate tensions and to bring a halt to the violence.

The Israeli foreign ministry, for their part, saying that the Palestinian Authority and Palestinian terror groups, are presenting a real estate dispute between private parties as a national secause (ph) in order to incite violence in Jerusalem.

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GOLD: I think we should be paying attention to where this could possibly go, how the police here will potentially handle what happens on Monday, on Jerusalem Day, and, of course, what will happen with this Supreme Court decisions in Sheikh Jarrah.

HOLMES: All ingredients for a powder keg situation. Hadas Gold in Jerusalem, appreciate it, thank you.

For the 3rd day in a row, India's health ministry reporting more than 400,000 COVID cases, 1.2 million people infected since Wednesday, it's an unprecedented rate of infection, for the first time, India tallying more than 4,000 deaths in 24 hours.

Red areas of the map, showing the vastness of the human calamity that is going on. On the western coast, the tiny state of Goa reporting more than half of those tested for the virus are coming out positive.

Funeral pyres along the Ganges River, burning nonstop and even as the second wave exacts a heavy toll, the nation bracing for what many predict will become a 3rd wave of sickness and death. CNN's Paula Hancocks, tracking the developments, live from Seoul for us.

Paula, that positivity rate for the state of Goa is staggering.

PAULA HANCOCKS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's right, Michael, and that's the positivity rate that they can prove at this point. Officials say, bear in mind, that is only the people who have come forward to be tested. So the actual rate could, in fact, be higher.

One in every 2 people that was tested in that state tested positive. At this point, officials say they are seriously considering a lockdown but haven't brought one in yet. Something that we are seeing, in a number of other states, across India, they say, they are building more facilities, more ICUs, more COVID infrastructure and have asked interns in medical college to come and help them in the field.

So they are taking some of the strain off the medical staff that are completely overwhelmed and overworked at this point. So the issue with Goa is that it's a travel destination, not just for people overseas but for people within India as well.

We did hear from the Goa health minister that since the Diwali festival, then, many people had come to the state and, like other states, had eased the restrictions since the beginning of the year. And they simply didn't react quickly enough.

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VISHWAJIT RANE, GOA STATE MINISTER FOR PUBLIC HEALTH: Without any restrictions in December, it has led to this situation in the state of Goa. The positivity rate of around 51 percent and above is the highest in the country as we speak. This has to be brought under control, the mortality has to be brought under control. (END VIDEO CLIP)

HANCOCKS: What we are seeing in the rest of the country is that the numbers are still climbing. They haven't plateaued at this point and it's getting worse. But the death rate, hitting over 4,000 people in just 24 hours for the first time since the pandemic began. It's still heading in the wrong direction.

And UNICEF on Friday, said on average, there are more than 4 new cases every second and two deaths a minute over the previous 24 hours. That puts into perspective some horrifying figures there.

And Delhi's chief minister says Delhi needs more vaccinations, that this is one of the key ways that they can bring the latest outbreak to a halt, needing about 30 million doses and, if they have that, they would be able to complete vaccinations.

But they say, at this point, they have 4 million doses and are calling on the Indian government to release more doses for them.

HOLMES: Paula Hancocks, there in Seoul, appreciate the update. Thanks so much.

Now as COVID crushes the health care system in Delhi and beyond, Indians living outside of the country are doing what they can to help ease the strain. The United Nations estimating there is at almost 17 million people of Indian descent living abroad.

Those who need aid the most is India's Dalit population. The name means "oppressed" or "broken," literally. They are the lowest of the low in India's caste system and number more than 166 million.

Dolly Arjun is a physician's assistant, joining me from Boston via Skype. A few years ago, she founded a telehealth program to provide free health care to members of India's indigenous tribes and to Dalits, the caste.

First off, tell me why you started that service.

DOLLY ARJUN, PHYSICIAN'S ASSISTANT-CERTIFIED: It wasn't an very intentional process. I'm from the community. I was there in rural India 10 years ago.

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ARJUN: And because there is no access for medical care for folks in rural settings, there is no hospital, in any rural area, that's number one.

Number two, it's expensive for folks to get care there. So when I was there, I would see them in person, and then when I'd come back to the U.S., they would keep in touch with me about what's going, send me reports.

So it evolved organically. We know folks there on the ground, lab techs, nurses, so there was a community that formed. So we've been doing this for the past 5 years and it has become bigger now and much busier.

HOLMES: It is a wonderful service, it's a shame that it has to exist but it is great that it does.

As we said, it's for indigenous tribes but also, for the Dalits, the caste. Briefly give us a sense of how Dalits fit into the Indian society or, in some case, do not and how they are covered or not by health care.

ARJUN: Sure. The one thing that connects all South Asians around the world is the caste system. It's a graded hierarchy and Dalit people fall at the bottom of that pole, outside of what is considered a human being.

So basically, those people are formerly referred to as the untouchables, partly because we are considered spiritually polluting, subhuman. The untouchable caste comes underneath those who are considered slaves in the caste system. So Dalits and the indigenous tribes are among the most economically exploited populations in India.

HOLMES: It's just hard to hear those descriptions. It really is. You're running this; how many calls do you get a day?

How many people are being helped by the service?

ARJUN: In the past 2 weeks, I would say we have between 15 to 30 phone calls per day.

HOLMES: Wow, that is a lot of people getting help.

I'm curious, how frustrating is it being here and knowing what's happening, the tragedy that's unfolding?

ARJUN: It's very frustrating. Body's here, mind and heart over there. And it's also coming on the heels of the pandemic work we've been doing here for the past year. So it is very frustrating and exhausting and the government response or lack therefore of, is quite frustrating as well.

HOLMES: What are you able to help?

Someone calls, you get a video call going.

What do you help them with?

ARJUN: Many of our people have seen a medical provider but are being misguided in their care. For example, the state government is recommending that people start two antibiotics, regardless of whether they are mild or moderate cases of COVID-19, which, of course, is a viral infection.

So antibiotics won't help. Folks are asking for oxygen, for referrals to hospitals and to doctors, for food, medication and money for all of that.

HOLMES: That's amazing. In the bigger picture, do you believe, as many do, that there is one health care system for the well-off and another for the poor?

That resources just aren't fairly distributed?

ARJUN: Sure. The resources aren't distributed and there's a lot of bias among health care providers, who tend to be more from the oppressor caste communities. Many don't even have experience with our communities.

So there is a huge gap, both in terms of knowledge, both in terms of resources. And in terms of the U.N. report, it was shown that rural Dalit women live on average life expectancy 14.5 years less than a rural upper caste woman.

HOLMES: You're doing this on top of your day job in Massachusetts. You spent one year working with COVID patients during the day. This must be exhausting.

ARJUN: Yes, it's very exhausting. Even today, my day started at 6 and most of the day we've seen patients; 15 to 30 patients a full panel in the U.S., so that's in addition to the work we're doing here.

HOLMES: Quickly, you are Dalit, right?

ARJUN: Yes.

HOLMES: How is it for you to be doing this for your people?

ARJUN: Well, I guess what I want to include here is it follows in the footsteps of B. R. Ambedkar, who wrote, "Annihilation of Caste." It doesn't feel like I'm doing some kind of service, it just feels like what I need to do in life.

And, it's very hard, because it's been hard to recruit providers. We really need medical providers to help with our efforts and it's hard to get them on board with us.

HOLMES: You are doing amazing work, both in your day job and helping people in India. So thank you so much for what you're doing and speaking with us.

ARJUN: Thank you so much for your time, I appreciate it.

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HOLMES: Extraordinary woman.

And as the crisis continues, there are many ways you can help people in India cope with this COVID outbreak.

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HOLMES: Go to cnn.com/impact to find out how.

Now neighboring Nepal setting another record for daily COVID infections on Friday, reporting more than 9,100 in just 24 hours. To put that into context, they were getting over 100 cases a day just last month.

Nepal, one of the world's poorest nations. It has a fragile health system and fewer doctors per capita than neighboring India. As case numbers escalate, Nepal has tightened its borders, imposing lockdowns in the worst hit regions, including the capital of Kathmandu.

The Nepali prime minister is asking the international community for assistance. Last hour, I spoke with the prime minister and I talked about the measures being taken to control the outbreak and get help to the sick.

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K.P. SHARMA OLI, NEPALI PRIME MINISTER: We are taking serious measures and it is going to the ICU and with other issues with ambulances overseeing. It is a situation where we need to keep tracking the cases.

We are using our strength and we are launching different programs to allow the people Iowa and to trust them to come back with pandemic relief. Firstly, it's for the people and to protect people from being transmitters.

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HOLMES: That was the Nepali prime minister, speaking with me, earlier, from the capital of Kathmandu.

Now England giving travelers the green light to jet off for a summer holiday abroad, as long as they're traveling to a country on the nation's green list. We'll be speaking with Cyril Vanier about that list when we come back.

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HOLMES: Welcome back.

After months of tight travel restrictions in England, there is some good news for holidaymakers wanting to go abroad. Travelers can now visit 12 green list countries starting May 17th without having to quarantine upon return.

Portugal, Australia, Israel some that made the list but others are placed on red or amber lists and will require tougher restrictions. CNN's Cyril Vanier, joining me, live from London.

Tell us more about this green list. No doubt, a relief to Britons.

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HOLMES: But it's not a huge list. Some favorite destinations are not on it. CYRIL VANIER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I think it's fair to say. It's a relief because holidays have been banned, actually outlawed in this country. You weren't allowed to go to the airport and go on holiday. So, yes, there is relief.

But only for 12 countries, the countries on the green list. That list, of course, established according to health criteria such as the vaccination rate, prevalence of the virus in the country and variants of concern.

That list, 12 countries. Israel, Portugal, sunny destinations; Iceland, Gibraltar, Australia, New Zealand, OK and then Falkland Islands, Faroe Islands, St. Georgia, Sandwich islands, St. Helena, nothing against those countries but not necessarily where most English travelers wanted to go this summer.

Those are the only countries they can go to without having to quarantine on return, a big deal because that quarantine is strict. I've been to France and come back and I've had to stay in this house for 10 days. I was visited by police twice and had to do a total of 4 PCR tests, which you have to pay for and they become expensive.

So the quarantine is a real hindrance to traveling, however, it is possible as the vaccination rates go up in Europe and if COVID-19 numbers go down, this list will be reevaluated and it's possible perhaps we will get more popular tourist destinations as the summer goes on.

HOLMES: Don't want to go off to the Sandwich Islands?

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VANIER: Nothing against the Sandwich islands.

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VANIER: Iceland is a beautiful destination --

HOLMES: Absolutely --

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VANIER: -- but just, you know, not necessarily most people's --

HOLMES: Yes, it's not Greece or the usually sort of suspects.

Cyril, great to see you, my friend. Great explainer there. Appreciate it.

Now it is a tight race in Scotland; we're waiting on final results of parliamentary elections there. Many people even a half world away are playing some close attention to see if Nicola Sturgeon's party wins.

That is because the Scottish National Party is pushing for a second independence referendum. The decisive victory could force a standoff with prime minister Boris Johnson. His permission is needed to hold that referendum and if Scotland voted to end its 300 year old union with England, it would bring added political and economic uncertainty, as we've seen with Brexit.

Now if you're looking at the sky this weekend, it's probably not a bird or a plane. It sure as heck isn't Superman. It's probably 2,200 tons of space junk. No one is sure where it will land. The possible locations coming up.

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HOLMES: All eyes on the sky this weekend. That's when officials believe part of an uncontrolled Chinese rocket will crash into Earth. The rocket, seen in this photograph, taken through a powerful telescope as it is heading towards us. The U.S. military telling CNN they are projecting it to fall in Turkmenistan.

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HOLMES: But they say it cannot be pinpointed, of course, until within hours of reentry, because it is uncontrolled. The Chinese rocket is roughly the size of a 10-story building, weighs about 22 tons and could come down Saturday. Chinese officials, downplaying the risk of damage or injury.

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HOLMES: I'm Michael Holmes, thanks for spending part of your day with me. Kim Brunhuber will be here at the top of the hour.