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Japan Bans Incoming Foreigners; Health Experts Salutes South Africa's Prompt Action; Israel First to Close Its Borders; New Variant Send Fears to the Market. Aired 3-4a ET

Aired November 29, 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 here in the United States and all around the world. You are watching CNN Newsroom. And I'm Rosemary Church.

Just ahead, Omicron is spreading but there is still much we don't know about this new COVID variant. And many health experts saying it's too soon to hit the panic button. But investors did panic on Friday's Omicron news. We are watching the global markets to see how they are reacting today, with the European markets opening now.

Plus, growing tensions between China and Taiwan as Beijing sends more than two dozen war planes into Taiwan's air defense zone.

UNKNOWN: Live from CNN center, this is CNN Newsroom with Rosemary Church.

CHURCH: Thanks for joining us.

Well, the World Health Organization is taking stock of the COVID-19 Omicron variant and says the overall risk is very high. This as the world races to understand and contain the new form of COVID-19.

U.S. President Joe Biden is set to speak later today on what the U.S. knows about the Omicron variant. The remarks will come as U.S. travel restrictions take effect on South Africa where the variant was first detected. And several neighboring countries.

Medical experts say if Omicron isn't already in the U.S., it probably will be soon. Australia and Canada reported their first known cases on Sunday. And there are a number of infections in Europe. G7 health minister will meet in the coming hours on Omicron after this warning from the European Commission president.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

URSULA VON DER LEYEN, PRESIDENT, EUROPEAN COMMISSION: We are now in a race against time. Why that? Because we know not about this variant but it is a variant of concern. And the scientists and manufacturers need two to three weeks to have a full picture about the quality of the mutations of this Omicron variant. (END VIDEO CLIP)

CHURCH (on camera): And CNN is covering the story from all angles around the world. Larry Madowo is in Paris. Hadas Gold is in Jerusalem, and we have Will Ripley in Hong Kong. Good to see you all.

Japan is preparing to take drastic measures to curb the spread of the Omicron variant. In the past few hours, officials announced plans to temporarily closed Japan's borders to all foreign visitors starting Tuesday.

So, for more I want to bring in CNN's Will Ripley, joining us live from Hong Kong. Will, why did Japan decide to ban all foreign visitors for now, what is the reasoning behind that decision?

WILL RIPLEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, when you think about the Japanese prime minister's perspective, he is getting a lot of pressure from the Japanese public to keep Omicron out of the country. They still remember the widespread outbreak of the Delta variant that was happening at the same time as the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.

I was there covering the Olympics. I was inside the Olympic bubble and there was a lot of fear in Japan that foreigners would bring the variant and the virus in. As it turned out inside the bubble case numbers were low. It was outside the bubble and the general population that the virus was spreading very quickly.

And so, there some might call -- there is calling an element of xenophobia here, there is an element of politics here with this fear amongst many in the Japanese public that this danger is going to come from the outside, when in fact, the real way to control this is to test more people and to make sure that you identify the variant which in many countries may already be present and they just haven't just identified it yet. Rosemary?

CHURCH: And Will, what's the situation there in Hong Kong right now given the Omicron variant has been detected there and how much concern is there of any possible impact on the upcoming Beijing winter Olympics?

RIPLEY: Well, the good news here from the Hong Kong International Airport is that the two cases that were identified last week in my quarantine hotel, two floors down from me are the only two cases of Omicron that Hong Kong has confirmed so far.

Now there's obviously a limited number of flights that are coming in but every passenger is tested for COVID at the airport and then tested repeatedly while they're in quarantine. I've already been tested for COVID three times and I haven't even been in quarantine for a week yet. I'll have more COVID tests in the coming days and even after I get out of my quarantine hotel.

But Hong Kong is tightening those restrictions even further. Nonresidents, if they have traveled to eight South African countries over the last 21 days, they are banned from entering if that's in their travel history. [03:05:03]

If they are Hong Kong residents, if they hold a Hong Kong resident's card, they can come in but they are going to have to go through even more strict quarantine protocols than the ones that I'm experiencing right now. They have to go directly from the airport to a government quarantine facility where every single day for seven days they will be tested for COVID. Then they can move in to a compulsory quarantine hotel to finish another 14 days of isolation at their own expense.

CHURCH: All right. Will Ripley joining us live from Hong Kong, many thanks for that. And Japan isn't the only country taking extreme measures in response to Omicron fears. Israel was the first country to close its borders to all foreigners in an attempt to contain the new variant.

CNN's Hadas Gold joins us now from Jerusalem. Good to see you, Hadas. So why did Israel decide to ban all foreign travelers? What is the scientific basis for that decision?

HADAS GOLD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, from what we've heard from health experts the clip you just played was that, they need two to three weeks to really understand this new variant and how it works and how it's affecting the vaccines. And so, essentially, the Israeli authority is saying they're not going to take any chances. They are closing the borders to foreign nationals for two weeks.

Keep in mind it was just on November 1st that after so many months, after more than a year and a half Israel finally opened its borders to vaccinated tourists. Now they shut themselves down again, and there are putting even heavier restrictions on Israelis who are returning.

Israeli who are returning to the country no matter where they're coming from whether they're vaccinated or unvaccinated will have to enter quarantine and take multiple PCR tests before they can be released. The length of quarantine is dependent on whether they are vaccinated or unvaccinated.

And Israelis who are returning from what are considered red countries which is essentially most of the countries in Africa aside from the northern countries will be sent directly to quarantine hotels for at least a period of time until they get a negative test and then they can quarantine at home.

In addition, anybody who has a suspected or confirmed case of Omicron right now, there are two people with confirmed cases of Omicron in Israel, they are going to have their locations tracked via cell phone by the Israeli security services.

But aside from those very heavy restrictions on the border, life in Israel essentially continuing on as normal. There are no more restrictions on gatherings. And this is coming, this is very important for the people in Israel because the Hanukkah celebration started last night.

And also, in exactly two weeks the Miss Universe pageant is supposed to take place in the southern city of Eilat, and so far, authorities and organizers say that that competition is expected to go on as planned. Rosemary?

CHURCH: All right. Hadas Gold bringing us the very latest from Jerusalem, many thanks for that.

Well, the U.K. is already confirming at least three cases of Omicron. Over the weekend, Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced a series of targeted measures to combat the variant.

CNN's Larry Madowo is live in Paris for more on those measures and how the rest of Europe is responding to this latest threat. So, Larry, let's start with the U.K. What more are you learning?

LARRY MADOWO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: So, the U.K. will now require anybody who is coming into the country to isolate until they have a negative PCR test at the end of the second day after arrival. These are some of the extra measures that the Boris Johnson administration now putting into effect to make sure that this is not spreading into the wider community, so once again, masks will become mandatory in public places.

This is something that -- there are some people who are oppose to not just in the U.K. but around the world. But it speaks to the attitude across Europe of trying to make sure that the Omicron variant does not really make its way into the wider population. Because as the World Health Organization is warning, the risk of potential surges is quite high even though they are still learning a lot more about what could -- what this could potentially mean.

That's why authorities here across Europe are forcing people into quarantine especially those who have flown into the country from Southern Africa. We saw in the Netherlands, for instance, a couple that tried to flee from quarantine and tried to get back on a plane were detained and taken back into quarantine after 13 of the 60 positive cases from a flight from South Africa ended up being of the Omicron variant.

Here in France the health ministry is saying that there are eight possible cases, but it's only a matter of time until some of those end up being of the Omicron variant. And one of the guidelines of the European Union that has given to the entire block is for boosters to be given out to people who are already double vaccinated.

And we just saw this morning the French president, Emmanuel Macron taking their own booster shots to try to encourage people that this is one of the tools in the arsenal to protect ourselves against this new variant that the world is trying to learn a lot more from and trying to speak to scientists in South Africa and in Botswana who first isolated and identified this variant.

[03:09:52]

So, across the region a huge state of alert and the controversial decision to ban flights from Southern Africa, to force people into quarantines, and to try and limit. It's what the European Union, Rosemary, called an emergency brake as they try to learn about this variant and how to control it.

CHURCH: And of course, we have witnessed some anti-vax sentiment across parts of the European continent. Is there a sense that this new variant has maybe woken some people up and they realize they do need to get out and get their shots? Or has it done the reverse?

MADOWO: It's too early to tell. The anti-vax sentiment has been strong in parts of Europe. And it's only been a few days since this new regulation, this new variant was discovered and there's been very quick action by governments across the region to lock down at least in terms of international travelers that's coming in.

However, one of the major decisions is to try and encourage vaccinations. That's what the European Union is doing, that's why many health authorities and specific countries are saying please go and get vaccinated. Please go and make sure you're double vaccinated, please get your booster shots.

And for people who are already uncertain about getting vaccinated they see these as extra signs of government overreach into their private lives. So, it might still be possible that you could see more protests for people who say, you know what, we want to make those decisions, we don't want the government determining for us what to do in those aspects.

CHURCH: All right. Larry Madowo joining us live from Paris, many thanks for bringing us up to date on the situation there. I appreciate it.

Well, even as countries around the world shut their doors to South Africa and its neighbors. Many medical experts say the scientists there deserve more credit. Not only did they detect the new variant swiftly but they were also quick to inform the global community about the potential threat. Here is how one expert put it.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CELINE GOUNDER, INFECTIOUS DISEASES SPECIALIST: South Africa has some of the best virologist in the world. They have cut their teeth on the HIV pandemic, have been honing their skills in this field for decades. And so, the fact that they detected this so quickly and inform the rest of the world so promptly is really a testament to that science.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHURCH (on camera): And experts say it's also unclear whether the travel bans will actually make a difference. And yet, many countries are moving forward with them anyway. Now it's prompting backlash from South Africa's president.

And for more on this we want to turn to CNN's Eleni Giokos who joins us live from Johannesburg. Good to see you, Eleni.

So, what audit South Africa's president say about this and what is the likely impact of these new travel bans on the region? ELENI GIOKOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Look, I'm going to talk to you about

my personal experience. I am stuck in South Africa right now, I cannot get a flight out to my new home in Dubai. It has been absolute pandemonium since the announcement of the identification of Omicron. And that is because the U.K. was very swift to put South Africa on the red list.

After they did that, we saw so many other countries jumping on board doing the same. Many say this was an aggressive kneejerk reaction to the identification of Omicron. And as we heard from those experts it's because of South Africa's excellent genomic sequencing and abilities due to HIV AIDS experience that we were able to identify here in South Africa.

That being said, the Omicron variant has been identified in many other countries since the announcement on Thursday. So, the fear here is already that Omicron has already spread. We don't know what the origins of Omicron are right now. But President Cyril Ramaphosa says that the bans are discriminatory and unjustified. I want you to take a listen to what he said.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CYRIL RAMAPHOSA, PRESIDENT OF SOUTH AFRICA: We are deeply disappointed by the decision of several countries to prohibit travel from a number of Southern African countries including our own following the identification of the Omicron variant.

This is a clear and completely unjustified departure from the commitment that many of these countries made in the meeting of the G20 countries in Rome last month.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

GIOKOS (on camera): So, promises broken at the -- from what we saw from the G20 to try and help African economies recover. And of course, another big blow is the fact that there's been vaccine inequity and that of course means that you can see more variants emerging because of the hoarding of vaccines.

But right now, South African scientists are trying to figure out whether it's more transmissible, whether it's more dangerous, and whether vaccines work against this new variant that is so vastly different from Delta and Beta.

CHURCH: Yes. We have so much to learn on this. Eleni Giokos joining us live from Johannesburg, many thanks as always.

Well, the Dow Jones saw its worst day in more than a year last week over Omicron fears. So, can it recover from the new COVID variant? We will look at global markets coming up.

[03:15:01]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK) CHURCH: New COVID variants call for new COVID vaccines of course.

Even though there is not much data yet on the Omicron variant. Scientists at Moderna are confident they can develop a specific vaccine for it within a few months. But Moderna's chief medical officer warns they cannot rush the science.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PAUL BURTON, CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER, MODERNA: Our platform we can move very fast, we think within weeks to maybe two to three months we will be able to have an Omicron specific vaccine booster available for testing and then for administration. So, you know, this is going to go at the fastest possible speed. But we do have to do careful science now. We don't want to misstep.

The academic community around the world needs to generate data. but we can all be absolutely certain on if we are going to have to pivot now and make some changes.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

[03:20:00]

CHURCH (on camera): And one doctor treating cases of the Omicron variant in South Africa says the symptoms have been mild in the patients she has treated. But until more data is available, it is simply too early to tell what the variant is capable of. Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ANGELIQUE COETZEE, CHAIR, SOUTH AFRICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION: So, so far, we've only seen breakthrough infections. Not severe infections. Again, that might change. We're not saying that the virus is not going to give you severe infections, but the whole hype out there doesn't make any sense, medical sense at the stage.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHURCH (on camera): So, let's look at these numbers. Global markets looking to recover this week after being rattled by news of the Omicron variant. Markets in Asia and Australia began trading down today, but things are looking up for U.S. futures after Friday logged the worst day on the Dow in more than a year. And European markets are now opening higher as well.

So, for the latest on the market, CNN's Anna Stewart joins us live from London. Good to see you, Anna.

ANNA STEWART, CNN REPORTER: Good morning, Rosemary. Certainly, it doesn't look like that broad sell-off we saw Friday is continuing in today. Asian markets as you say were low, but looking at Europe's open it's stronger today.

FTSE 100, DAX, Paris' CAC 40 all up by about 1 percent although that is not reversing the big losses we saw on Friday. They were down between three and a half and even up to 5 percent there.

Similar story when we look at U.S. features. Wall Street of course due to open in a few hours' time. Again, not reversing those losses. Now on Friday given it was the day after Thanksgiving a lot of people were away on holiday so volumes were actually quite low. So that may have exacerbated some of the missed we saw there.

I want to show you the oil markets as well. Brent crude, WTI, all trading slightly higher today, up 4 around 4, 5 percent, I believe still, yes, there were go 5.2 percent for WTI. Again, not reversing double digit losses that we saw on Friday. And this is what I think we can expect to see this coming week. Volatility.

I think we are going to see investors still worried, still waiting to see when we get more information about this variant. And what it means for the global economy. Does it mean more travel restrictions? We're already seen quite a few announced over the weekend. Does it mean potentially wider, sort of lockdowns and restrictions across the world.

Until investors know that, I think we're going to see a risk off approach which some buying in the dips which I think is probably what we're seeing today at least in terms of the equity markets. Rosemary?

CHURCH: And we've of course, we've seen this reaction before, haven't we? It's very cyclical. So, what are pharma companies saying about the variant and how they intend to respond to it and how much hope might that give the markets that many need to panic about this?

STEWART: Yes. Well, pharma companies are certainly some of the ones that were higher on Friday. And that's because they were very quick to announce they are looking into the variant. They will be deciding whether or not it's likely that this variant could evade current vaccines and whether or not a booster is needed.

And as you heard there from the chief officer of Moderna earlier in the show, and also as we've heard some of the comments from BioNTech and Pfizer, if needed, if a new booster is needed to try to tackle the specific variant. It could be made relatively quickly given this platform mRNA is relatively easy to change it.

So, we could see a new booster if needed sometime in the beginning of next year. Rosemary?

CHURCH: All very encouraging. Anna Stewart joining us live from London, many thanks.

Well, U.S. President Joe Biden spent the holiday weekend reacting to the Omicron variant. What advisers are telling the president as he prepares to update the nation on the fight against the pandemic.

We're back in just a moment.

[03:25:00]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK) CHURCH (on camera): Welcome back, everyone.

The U.S. ban on travelers from South Africa and nearby countries is now in effect. As the world races to contain the Omicron variant of COVID 19. The U.S. hasn't reported any cases of the variant yet, but top disease expert Anthony Fauci says it is possible the variant is already here.

On Monday, the president is expected to provide an update about the new variant and the U.S. response.

CNN's Joe Johns has more.

JOE JOHNS, CNN SENIOR WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT: A White House status report on the Omicron variant telling us a lot that we don't know. The president issuing a statement after flying back from Nantucket for his Thanksgiving vacation.

Now here at the White House, speaking with among others, Dr. Anthony Fauci the statement from the White House giving a great deal of attribution to the president's medical advisor. It says in part, "Dr. Fauci inform the president that while it will take approximately two more weeks to have definitive information on the transmissibility, severity and other characteristics of the variant he continues to believe that existing vaccines are likely to provide a degree of protection against severe cases of COVID."

Doctor Fauci also reiterated that boosters for fully vaccinated individuals provide the strongest available protection from COVID. The president is expected to give an update on the situation on Monday. Also on Monday, travel restrictions to several Southern African nations including South Africa and Botswana will go into effect.

Joe Johns, CNN, the White House.

CHURCH: Joining me now is CNN senior political analyst Ron Brownstein. Always great to have you with us.

RON BROWNSTEIN, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL ANALYST: Hi, Rosemary.

CHURCH: So, just as President Biden was starting to see some progress in efforts to fight this pandemic another variant appears, this time the Omicron, he is putting travel restrictions in place Monday and will talk to the American people about that. But how big a setback could this proved to be for him do you think?

BROWNSTEIN: Well, it's too early to tell. I mean, obviously any further downturns in our effort to contain the virus will have a direct impact on his standing with the public. I mean, clearly, I think the biggest single factor in his slipping approval rating was the rise of the Delta variant.

The kind of interruption of the sense that his presidency, and the implicit promise of his presidency was that life was going to return to normal. It hasn't. Any further disruptions I think obviously would be threatening to him but we just don't know yet how big -- how big a rock in the road this is going to be.

CHURCH: Yes. So many questions still on this of course. And despite President Biden's efforts to get the economy working again and to get more people vaccinated, the American people don't appear to understand what he has actually achieved so far, if approval ratings are anything to go by.

[03:29:59]

So how much is that a failing on the part of White House messaging and how much is it about politics working against him here?

[03:30:00]

RON BROWNSTEIN, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL ANALYST: Well, I think several things. I think the biggest factor of all is reality. That Americans thought we were kind of a glide path to return to normalcy that was tremendously disrupted by the rise of the Delta variant.

And secondarily, the inflation is just a daily force and factor in people's lives that is very hard to message around. Now there are a lot of positives in the economy that are developing in terms of job growth and GDP growth and stock market returns that are basically being eclipsed by the continuing struggles of COVID and the inflation.

I think the hope in the White House is that if both of those dynamics will work themselves out sometime in 2022 that these underlying conditions will kind of come to the floor and you could see Biden recovering pretty substantially. Maybe not in time for 2022.

But we have seen this movie before, Rosemary. We had Reagan, Clinton, and Obama all came into office with the economy in turmoil, it didn't turn around fast enough to save their party in their first midterm election but in the second half of their term as the economy ascended, so did day and they all won reelection pretty comfortable.

CHURCH: So, if all of that happens what does that mean do you think then for 2024?

BROWNSTEIN: Right. Well, look, I mean, I say, you know, the history is that there is no clear relationship between what happens in the midterm and what happens in the reelection. I mean, we have had some cases where big losses for the president's party in the midterm have foreshadowed a win by the other side in the next election.

That's what happened between 2006 and 2008, between 1958 and 1960. But just as often a big midterm win has not pre-figured a loss in the subsequent presidential election, you know, it is very hard for a president to turn and convert legislative success in year one into political success in year two. Almost always the president's party loses seats in that first midterm election.

CHURCH: Yes.

BROWNSTEIN: But often the economy kind of works itself out through his presidency and some of the programs that they are able to pass in that year one, and certainly Biden has a lot of, you know, options on that table right now, are felt by more people by the time of the reelection.

So, it's very premature to draw any conclusions from what happens in '22 which right now looks very difficult for Democrats to what may happen in 2024.

CHURCH: And Ron, the Trump era remain in Mexico policy is expected to be back in operation soon after a federal judge ordered the Biden administration to restart it undoing a key immigration promise, of course. So, how will that likely play for the president, do you think?

BROWNSTEIN: Well, look, I mean, right now he is facing very low ratings on his handling of the border. And you know, there is kind of action reaction cycle to the way the American public response. I mean, when Trump was imposing his hardline policies when he was in office there was a big backlash against that.

Biden has tried to unwind many of those policies and polls suggest there is a backlash against that. I have been writing about immigration since the early 1990s, writing about polls about immigration since the early 1990s.

And the two North Stars I have felt have guided all the way through is that Americans are pragmatic. They do not believe it is plausible or realistic to deport the 11 million or so undocumented individuals who are here and, in the U.S., And they favor some kind of policy that will allow them to say.

On the other hand, Americans believe in the rule of law and they want the border to be orderly and under control. And that balance is very hard for presidents at either party to strike. Trump went too far in one direction. Biden maybe going too far in the other.

So, in a way, this court ruling might be seen as a little bit of a blessing in disguise and that it is forcing him to take some of the harder line measures that he would take, enormous heat if he did of his own volition from within his own party.

CHURCH: Interesting. Ron Brownstein, thank you so much for joining us was always.

BROWNSTEIN: Thanks, Rosemary.

CHURCH: For years, Portugal was the exception in Europe when it came to far-right politics. But a growing populist movement is on the verge of becoming one of the country's largest political forces.

The Chega Party has been accused of Xenophobia and racism for its stance on immigration and minorities. But many in Portugal aren't buying into a drain the swamp rhetoric. And the group's leader tells our Isa Soares he sees some similarities between himself and Donald Trump.

[03:34:56]

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ISA SOARES, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): It's olive picking season in a (Inaudible), Portugal. An arduous job that in a town facing an exodus of young people weighs heavily on the locals.

UNKNOWN (onscreen text): This is how the poor get by.

SOARES: I met 73-year-old farmer Jose Costa Agulha who today has 296 kilos of olives to process.

JOSE COSTA AGULHA, FARMER (through translator): If people have work and a quiet life, it's what people want here and everywhere. They want work and enough money.

SOARES: This is a land ripe for political picking. And Portugal's rising populist party Chega whose name literally means enough is blocking away at their worries and anxieties. Despite this, Agulha tells meet the party leader, Andre Ventura, won't get his vote in the upcoming snap election in January.

AGULHA (through translator): Chega is an individual who says whatever comes to his mind. He opens his mouth and says whatever and people still haven't realized the danger behind it.

SOARES: While he turns his back on Portugal's largest far-right party since the end of the dictatorship in the local cafe in town --

MARIO CARRASCO, FARMER (onscreen text): So many people living off the state not wanting to do anything.

SOARES: Mario Carrasco tell he and his entire family often cheer for Chega. They've had enough of people receiving benefits.

CARRASCO (onscreen text): To keep winning, the other parties to these people, here is some money, here is some money. They support the corruption

SOARES: Down the road, Jose Francisco Agostinho, a baker for 25 years, he says he hasn't made up his mind on whether he'll vote for the party.

JOSE FRANCISCO AGOSTINHO, UNDECIDED VOTER (onscreen text): Chega has been strong here, they could change things a bit.

SOARES: The economy struggling with very few jobs in this largely agricultural area. Agostinho says that the community is taking advantage of the system.

GOSTINHO (onscreen text): There's more of them than there are of us. Then, they do whatever they want. They want to be in charge and that can't be.

SOARES: While he and others believe the Chega Party can improve their party of life many in Portugal are fearful about the growing support for a party they see as Xenophobic for its stance on immigration and the Roma community. Maria, a local Roma tells me they have been exploited for votes by

Ventura.

MARIA CARDAS, ROMA, RESIDENT OF POVOA DE SAO MIGUEL (onscreen text):

He's very mean against the Roma, there's a lot of racism and he speaks very badly against us.

SOARES: A Roma mother who does not want to appear on camera goes further.

UNKNOWN (onscreen text): We want to work, we want to work, but who gives work to a Roma?

SOARES: Away from the dusty and sleepy (Inaudible) these concerns are being echoed. Some silently in various corners of Portugal. All the way to Lisbon.

The Chega Party is expected to shake up the political landscape of parliament here behind me. Potentially acting as king makers in the upcoming election.

Ventura tells me the party is here to stay. I pressed him about the accusations of racism.

SOADES: So, you don't consider it racist?

ANDRE VENTURA, PRESIDENT, CHEGA PARTY (onscreen text): I don't consider myself racist for wanting to solve a problem with a community which is in this pattern and we have to fix this issue.

SOARES: Ventura's language during our interview is moderate. More conciliatory. But his policies aren't. So, I asked him whether he compares himself with other populist leaders around the world.

VENTURA (onscreen text): I am close, relatively, and we've had contacts with Bolsonaro in Brazil. But I don't feel close in terms of style or of substance. I don't feel close to Donald Trump's style but in terms of substance, some policies, in some ideas, we agree with them.

SOARES: Whether some in Portugal like it or not Chega's is joining a new normal across Europe. One of declining traditional party's complex coalitions and extremes.

Isa Soares, CNN, Lisbon, Portugal.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHURCH: In just a few hours, talks are set to resume on Iran's nuclear program. The demands of Tehran's new negotiating team. That's ahead.

And days after U.S. lawmakers meet with government officials in Taiwan, China forces Taiwan's air force to scramble. We'll have the details in a live report. Stay with us. [03:40:00]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

CHURCH (on camera): In just a few hours from now the U.S. and its allies will resume talks on Iran's nuclear program. This comes after a nearly six-month break in discussions and the election of a new president in Iran. Expectations are low. And if diplomacy fails the U.S. says it's prepared to use other options.

Nic Robertson has our report.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMATIC EDITOR (voice over): Iran's uranium enrichment a possible path to making a nuclear bomb is way beyond internationally agreed levels.

ANTONY BLINKEN, U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE: Iran has been using this time to advance its nuclear program.

ROBERTSON: Talks to head this off in late June with the election of a new hardline president in Iran. But will finally restart Monday. The outcome is uncertain, the stakes is high, the U.S. insisting that Iran must move forward.

UNKNOWN: This window of opportunity will not be open forever.

ROBERTSON: The 2015 Iran nuclear deal called it the JCPOA, Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action was a signature achievement of the Obama/Biden leadership.

BARACK OBAMA, FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: Cut off every pathway that Iran could take to develop a nuclear weapon.

ROBERTSON: Years of fraught negotiations cut Iran's pathway to a bomb by limiting uranium enrichment and committing them to international inspections. It wasn't perfect but U.N. monitors confirmed it worked. Until 2018 when President Trump pulled the U.S. out of the JCPOA.

DONALD TRUMP, FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: We will be instituting the highest level of economic sanction.

ROBERTSON: Iran's response? Up its uranium enrichment stymies some inspections. Tensions rose. The U.S. killed Iran's top general. Tehran strikes back at U.S. forces in Iraq. Iran's top nuclear scientist mysteriously shot dead. Tehran blames Israel confirmed by the U.S.

JOE BIDEN, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: Diplomacy is the best way to prevent Iran from gaining a nuclear weapon.

ROBERTSON: Since getting into office Biden has been trying to get back into the agreement and limit Iran's missile program. Iran has been playing hardball. Six rounds of negotiations stalling even as they ramp up enrichment. ALI BAGHERI KANI, IRANIAN DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER (through

translator): The main issue in upcoming negotiations is actually removing all the illegal sanctions against Iran.

[03:45:01]

ROBERTSON: And since the last round of talks an added uncertainty. Iran has a new U.S. skeptic government with new negotiators.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROBERTSON (on camera): The recent G20 summit in Rome, President Biden met with European partners to firm up a plan if the talks stall again. And for sure Iran will exploit any differences. The clock is ticking, and so far, Iran's calculation appears to be the talks or lack of them are going in their favor.

Nic Robertson, CNN, London.

CHURCH: The president of Ukraine says a group of Russians and Ukrainians is planning to launch a coup against him in the coming days. Volodymyr Zelensky says he has audio of plotters discussing the plan. And that one of Ukraine's richest men is behind the move with the support of Moscow.

The Kremlin denies having any part in the alleged plot, but the claim comes as tensions between Kiev and Moscow are reaching a fever pitch. With concerns growing that Russia may be planning a full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

It's a situation military experts say must be taken seriously.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ALEXANDER VINDMAN, FORMER DIRECTOR, EUROPEAN AFFAIRS FOR THE UNITED STATES NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL: You could have a very significant military escalation. A significant land grab on one end of the spectrum. And that's not -- that should not be discounted.

On the other side of the spectrum you have this major demonstration that gets the U.S. to say well, you know what, we don't need this other headache in Ukraine, we could back off, we have a focus on China.

This is the opportunity to step back from Ukraine. But that's appeasement, that's not the way the situation gets resolve. The way the situation gets resolve is changing the Russian calculus from military hostilities in Ukraine.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHURCH (on camera): Taiwan is accusing China of conducting so-called gray zone warfare. Beijing sent 27 warplanes into Taiwan's air defense identification zone on Sunday including 18 fighter jets, five nuclear capable H-6 bombers and a Y-20 20 aerial refueling aircraft. CNN's Kristie Lu Stout is in Hong Kong. She's been following this. So,

Kristie, what is the latest on this incident and of course the threat that it may pose to the region.

KRISTIE LU STOUT, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, the latest on the incident as we heard from Taiwan's defense minister about a couple of hours ago, he said that Taiwan is capable of responding to China when these air incursions takes place. Look, on Sunday Taiwan said that it had to scramble its jets yet again to warn away China's air force.

The incident again took place on Sunday according to Taiwan's defense ministry. Some 27 Chinese military aircraft entered Taiwan's air defense zone. This is not the territorial airspace of Taiwan. This is a broader area that Taiwan also patrols and monitors.

And just as this was happening Chinese President Xi Jinping was meeting with top military brass in Beijing. Look, since October national day holiday in China. China has been ratcheting up these very muscular displays of military might around Taiwan including these air incursions.

In October, Taiwan says about 150 Chinese military aircraft entered Taiwan's air defense zone. And on Sunday, 27 including five H-6 nuclear capable bombers and this new aircraft that made its debut according to China's state-run Global Times media. This air refueling tank called the Y-20.

Now we are still waiting for Chinese official comment on this incident. In the past China would say that it carries out such exercises in order to protect its sovereignty. But Chinese state-run media have been reporting on the meeting that took place on Sunday between the Chinese president and top military generals in China including quoting the Chinese president with Xinhua (Ph).

Let's bring up the statement. Quoting Chinese President Xi Jinping is saying this. "It is necessary to make great efforts to strengthen scientific and technological literacy and improve the actual ability to win modern wars."

It goes on to say and again, he made these quotes, these statements just as air incursion was taking place on Sunday. "It is necessary to strengthen practical experience and encourage guide officers and soldiers to experience wind and rain, see the world, strengthen their muscles and bones and develop their talents in fiery military practice." Unquote.

A very strong message, Rosemary, that accompanied that strong display of Chinese military might. Back to you.

CHURCH: All right. Kristie Lu Stout, many thanks for that. I appreciate it.

Well, one week later, Waukesha, Wisconsin full silence to honor the victims of the devastating attack during a Christmas parade. We'll have the details.

[03:50:00]

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CHURCH (on camera): In the coming hours the sex trafficking trial of Jeffrey Epstein's longtime companion will begin. Prosecutors allege Ghislaine Maxwell created a network of underage victims for Epstein to sexually exploit. Opening statements are expected to begin after a jury is sworn in. Maxwell faces up to 70 years in prison if convicted of all six charges. She denies any wrongdoing.

Another high-profile trial starting later today with the jury selection. American actor Jussie Smollett is charged with making false reports to Chicago police in 2019 when he claimed he was the victim of a hate crime. The former empire actor has pleaded not guilty to all charges and has repeatedly denied allegations. He faces up to three years in prison if convicted.

Well, it's been one week since a Christmas parade in Waukesha, Wisconsin became the scene of a deadly crime. An SUV tore through the celebration killing six people and injuring dozens more. Many of them children.

CNN's Natasha Chen has more on those still in hospital.

[03:54:55]

NATASHA CHEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: The city of Waukesha held a moment of silence Sunday afternoon at 4.39 p.m. Central Time to mark the moment one week ago when an SUV crashed into the crowded Christmas parade. Six people died and more than 60 others were injured.

People also lit blue lights at that time to remember the victims and show support for the families with injured loved ones. Children's Wisconsin Hospital says as of Sunday evening they have seven remaining patients. Three of whom are in serious condition.

One of their patients is Jessalyn Torres, 11 years old who is on a ventilator with a broken pelvis, fractured skull, and lacerations to her lungs. That's according to her mother whose been posting heartbreaking updates on social media saying that her daughter had the vehicle's grill marks on her chest and was flown about 20 to 30 feet.

Wisconsin's Senators Democrat Tammy Baldwin and Republican Ron Johnson issued a rare joint statement Saturday saying outside individuals or groups may attempt to exploit the tragedy for their own political purposes. They didn't provide more details about why they made the statement other than to say they have, quote, "full confidence in the local officials, and that they should be afforded the respect and support they deserve to undertake their responsibilities without outside interference."

Police said suspect Darrell E. Brooks was involved in domestic disturbance earlier on the day of the parade and left the scene just before driving his SUV through the crowd. Brooks was a registered sex offender in Nevada and had an active arrest warrant in that state. He was released on bond earlier this month after allegedly running

over a woman who said she is the mother of his child. He has been charged with five counts of intentional first-degree homicide with a possible additional charge to be added for the sixth victim. A judge set his bail at $5 million, saying he believes Brooks is a flight risk. Back to you.

CHURCH: And thanks for that report. Well, thank you for your company. I'm Rosemary Church. Have yourselves a wonderful day. CNN Newsroom continues next with Isa Soares.

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