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Connect the World
Miami Has Become the New Wuhan; California Closes Bars, Most Churches, Gyms; Virus Devastates Indigenous Community in Rural Brazil; U.K. Bans Huawei from Its 5G Network; China Blasts U.S. as "Troublemaker" in South China Sea; Biden Makes Big Ad Buy in Texas; Tucker Carlson Addresses Writer's Racist Posts; Watford Star Describes Racist Abuse in Bulgaria. Aired 10-11a ET
Aired July 14, 2020 - 10:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Red is when everything shuts down again. Everything. To our strictest level. And so I do want to warn people that we're close to
that.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (voice-over): The Sunshine State announcing over 12,600 new cases Monday. The second highest daily total.
DR. ANTHONY FAUCI, NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ALLERGY AND INFECTIOUS DISEASES: We haven't begun to see the end of it yet.
BECKY ANDERSON, CNN HOST (voice-over): This hour, under pressure, dozens of hospitals in Florida have no intensive care beds.
Out in California, restaurants, bars, museums, movies, all ordered to close again as some parts of America shut down once more as the pandemic rages.
Then:
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FREDERIK PLEITGEN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It was one of the worst chemical accidents in the history of the Arctic. At
the end of May, a fuel tank near the city of Norilles burst, releasing over 20,000 tons of diesel into nearby rivers.
ANDERSON (voice-over): A Russian company pollutes the Arctic. Its punishment: next to nothing. We take you inside that story this hour.
And in three hours, the American government will try and put Ghislaine Maxwell, confidante for Jeffrey Epstein, behind bars. We are live in New
York.
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ANDERSON: This hour we hear from a doctor on the front lines of America's epicenter. We speak to the governor of Brazil's richest state, who calls
the president there a virus. And a WHO spokeswoman is joining me, too. That on a bevy of international news.
Let's get at it. I'm Becky Anderson. Welcome to our expanded edition of CONNECT THE WORLD from our Middle East programming hub here in Abu Dhabi.
We start in the United States and a very sobering assessment of the country's coronavirus epicenter, Florida. Four dozen hospitals in the state
have reached ICU capacity. That means they have no more intensive care beds in 48 hospitals.
And an infectious disease specialist at a Miami health care facility said we have seen this before in China. Listen.
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UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Miami's now the epicenter of the pandemic. But what we were seeing in Wuhan six months ago, five months ago, now we are there.
So we really need your help.
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ANDERSON: Well, she is comparing the current situation there to the world's first epicenter in Wuhan, of course, back in January.
And why is she pleading for help?
Well, health care workers at her hospital are getting sick themselves. Jackson Health reports 200 of the employees are out with COVID-19. Almost
900 are showing symptoms or faced exposure just in the past two weeks. Florida dispatched 100 temporary nurses to Jackson Health to help fill the
void.
On the other side of the United States, California's governor is rolling back the state's reopening plans as cases surge there. The governors of
California and Florida taking very different approaches to their state's growing case counts. Stephanie Elam has more.
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STEPHANIE ELAM, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): This morning, Los Angeles on high alert and on the verge of a complete shutdown.
MAYOR ERIC GARCETTI (D-CA), LOS ANGELES: We have never had as many people infected or infectious. We have never had as many recorded positive cases
each day. And we have never had as many people in the hospital.
ELAM (voice-over): Los Angeles County reported nearly 2,600 new coronavirus cases Monday, as California added more than 8,300 new
infections the same day. Governor Newsom taking action, closing indoor businesses like dine-in restaurants, bars, movie theaters, museums and zoos
statewide.
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GOV. GAVIN NEWSOM (D-CA): We were able to suppress the spread of this virus. We were able to knock down the growth of this in the beginning.
We're going to do that again.
ELAM (voice-over): In 30 of the hardest hit counties, venues like gyms, places of worship, indoor malls, barbershops and hair salons are no longer
open.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's most heart-wrenching because this is our livelihood and so many hairdressers, they live paycheck to paycheck.
ELAM (voice-over): For California's small business owners, closing again will be tough. But many like Tyler and Murray (ph), who owns a gym in
Burbank, say it's necessary to follow the rules.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We can adapt and improvise and come together and ultimately that's the only option that we all have.
ELAM (voice-over): Newsom's move after Los Angeles and San Diego school districts announced classes will be held online this fall.
Meantime, in Florida, schools are still scheduled to open next month with the Sunshine State announcing over 12,600 new cases Monday, its second
highest daily total. Governor Ron DeSantis says parents should decide whether their children go back to the classroom.
GOV. RON DESANTIS (R-FL): I'm not going to dictate how everything goes. A lot of the school districts around the state that are going to just go,
open up and that's going to be it because they haven't faced a similar epidemic that you have seen in places like Miami-Dade County.
ELAM (voice-over): In Texas, Houston's mayor proposing a two-week shutdown.
MAYOR SYLVESTER TURNER (D-TX), HOUSTON: I think it's important to reset. We have to slow down this virus. The only way we can reverse course is that
we have to separate and then we have to continue to put on our masks and engage in social distancing.
ELAM (voice-over): And with 37 states seeing new cases rise over the past week, some local leaders fear this is just the beginning of another
dangerous spike.
MAYOR KEISHA LANCE BOTTOMS (D-GA), ATLANTA: In Georgia, I hate to say it but it looks like we're going to be even worse than we were in the spring
if this transmission continues at this rate.
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ANDERSON: Well, Stephanie Elam joining me now from Los Angeles.
Newsom's leadership criticized by the editorial board at the "Bay Area Mercury News" just a couple of days ago, which said in part, California,
quote, "lacks clear direction" from the governor while Newsom implores us all to do our part, he has sent confusing and mixed messages about what
constitutes compliance.
That was three days ago and there have been complaints, a litany of complaints about his leadership since the sort of first month of this.
These -- the state leadership is in a really difficult position at this point, isn't it, in the U.S.?
ELAM: Completely, Becky because there isn't the leadership coming from the federal level and so that's part of the issue here.
Early on, California was the very first state to go into a stay at home order and at the time, people thought, you know, the governor was ahead of
the curve on actually flattening the curve here in the state.
But it was evident to many people that there was pressure to open the state back up and other states that did not shut down so soon, were opening up
far earlier. So there's some of that playing out in the state. And it does seem clear that the governor is aware of it.
Yesterday in his press conference he did say he's really clear on the mandate and that's when we saw that the rolling back would happen. He
hinted that there would be new guidance coming as far as those schools from kindergarten up through high school here and making sure that they're in
compliance with the best practices as far as the state government is concerned on making them safe.
But overall, when you look at this decision about masks and how it's being left to counties and different jurisdictions, I talked to an epidemiologist
from the University of California at San Francisco. And he's actually heading up the program that is getting all the contact tracers for the
state of California.
And he says it's very simple. He put it really plainly to me yesterday. He said, if you want to just see the economy go to hell, that's how he put it,
don't wear a mask or put on a mask and get back to work.
So more people wanting to see that mandate and these counties are so huge in some places like Los Angeles County, which is by far the epicenter of
the outbreak in California, that he is saying it might be better to look at things even regionally within the counties because some places may be doing
it OK while others are not -- Becky.
ANDERSON: Yes. Fascinating. What a mess. Steph, thank you.
Let's get you to Florida on the other side of the U.S. of course. And whereas we mentioned currently 48 hospitals are now completely out of ICU
beds, Rosa Flores is in Miami -- Rosa.
ROSA FLORES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Becky, the other thing we're learning this morning, too, is that there is a big issue lurking under the
radar that we're learning about now.
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FLORES: And that's the need for medical staff, medical professionals. We're learning from Jackson Health that 200 of their employees are out with
COVID-19. That means they're going to be out for 10-12 days. The positivity rate of the employees that they tested is 23 percent.
Now that is one of the reasons why we learned just yesterday that Florida governor Ron DeSantis will be deploying about 3,000 medical staff across
this state to fill those gaps. The understanding here, of course, is that this hospital would not be the only one that is dealing with that issue.
Look, the reality here in Miami-Dade County, this is the epicenter of the crisis in the state of Florida. Dr. Lilian Abba (ph) compared it to Wuhan,
China. The positivity rate reported by the County of Miami-Dade was 28 percent.
When it comes to the number of hospitalizations in the past 13 days of COVID-19 patients, that was up 68 percent. The use of ICU beds up 69
percent. When it comes to the use of ventilators, those are up 109 percent in the past 13 days. And, Becky, right now, in Miami-Dade County, there are
more than 200 people on ventilators -- Becky.
ANDERSON: That is remarkable. And Rosa, thank you.
I want to show you just how bad it's gotten in Miami-Dade County, Florida, in the past 13 days the number of COVID-19 patients in the hospital has
gone up 68 percent. The number of critical care beds has gone up by 69 percent and the use of ventilators is up 109 percent. Rosa filling you in
on the other extraordinary numbers that we are seeing out of Miami-Dade.
Joining me now is someone directly on the front lines in Miami, you see him here in his personal protective equipment. Dr. David De La Zerda (ph) is
the ICU medical director and pulmonologist at Jackson Memorial Miami's biggest hospital.
Sir, thank you for joining us. No doubt, you are incredibly busy. Just describe what you are dealing with, if you will.
DR. DAVID DE LA ZERDA (PH), JACKSON MEMORIAL MIAMI: Thank you for having me here. Yes, as you just pointed out we had to increase our admissions to
the ICU. In the last week, we are seeing three times more than we saw a few weeks ago.
So we still have beds in the ICU but we are filling up the beds pretty quickly. Though we are a big hospital as you pointed out, it's filling up
pretty quick.
ANDERSON: How long have you got before you're full?
DE LA ZERDA: You know, this is a big place so what we're doing now is we are changing some of the ICUs, because the surgery starts up here. So we
have more capability in the surgical ICU, so we have about 20 to 30 percent of our ICU beds available. But again, it's filling pretty quick.
ANDERSON: Can you believe where we are at at this point?
DE LA ZERDA: To be honest, no. I didn't expect this. The last wave, we all thought it was done and we were like done with the whole like crisis. And a
week later we started to see patients. And here we are right now. So, no, I didn't expect that.
ANDERSON: What happened, sir?
DE LA ZERDA: To be honest, I believe that the community just went crazy, in one word. I think one thing is when you reopen the economy, open the
restaurants and you start going out.
One thing, if you have a (INAUDIBLE) houses with (INAUDIBLE) if you have a hundred people going and beaches open, people eating in the beach
restaurant, the bars open, no mask, no social distancing.
So I think that was the problem. It was people who didn't do their job.
ANDERSON: You have said that your major concern is the change in patients, the severity of their cases. Can you explain?
DE LA ZERDA: You know, what we have seen lately is younger patients like in the last day. So when I say younger, I say between 25 to 55. So that's
one of the concerns. Next there's healthy people getting sick. So not like the usual older people with the medical history; so younger patients.
I mean sick patients because it's they need ICU requirements. They need more oxygen requirements, you have to move them around, so you need human
resources. We need much more (INAUDIBLE) than before because of their requirements.
ANDERSON: We sadly heard of at least one incident, one case, where a youngster was admitted; sadly, passed away of COVID. But before he did, he
said he went to a COVID party because he thought it was a hoax.
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ANDERSON: This virus was a hoax.
Does that resonate with the sort of thing that you are hearing?
DE LA ZERDA: Yes. Not only what I hear, what I'm seeing. When I leave the hospital after a busy day, I see really people going out in the streets.
And that's also what I see when I go home.
ANDERSON: Speaking to CNN, the Miami Beach mayor, Dan Gelber, urged people to stop politicizing the response to the pandemic. I'd just like you to
hear just a part of what was said.
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MAYOR DAN GELBER (D-FL), MIAMI BEACH: We've got to have a good contact tracing, we've got to exercise social distancing. And we've got to stop
politicizing this thing and make it as if it's about which party you belong to where who you support. It's about your health and the health of your
loved ones.
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ANDERSON: Doctor, the conversation surrounding masks is seemingly a merry go round as politics butts head against science. Surely the issue should
have been put to rest months ago.
But I'm going to ask you again -- should we be wearing masks, sir?
DE LA ZERDA: The answer is 100 percent yes and I agree with the mayor. Even if you don't believe in masks just for the sake of protecting the rest
of the people, you should be wearing masks. So the answer to your question is masks do work and we should not use politics in this.
ANDERSON: So why do you believe, finally, this is such a divisive topic?
DE LA ZERDA: I believe we are in a year of elections. So everybody wants (INAUDIBLE) I don't know the answer to your question, really. It should not
be like that. I believe people need to understand this is not against your freedom. I think people are worried that you're against their freedom.
This is just us protecting each of us. It's about us taking care of ourselves, our families, our community.
ANDERSON: You heard it there, from the head of the ICU department in what is an extremely busy hospital in Miami. Sir, we wish you the best. Do stay
safe and well yourself and I appreciate the work that you're doing. Thank you.
DE LA ZERDA: Thank you.
ANDERSON: Next hour, we'll be speaking with Margaret Harris, spokeswoman for the World Health Organization. I want to speak to her about her group's
shifting stance on whether or not we should be wearing masks and about the team that WHO sent into China.
Before that, another extremely important guest, not just because he runs Brazil's wealthiest state but because the governor of Sao Paulo has plenty
to tell us about the country's president as Brazil's COVID crisis surges.
And a major blow to Huawei. The U.K. makes a U-turn on the Chinese telecom's role in the country's 5G network. All that coming up.
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ANDERSON: Well, the COVID-19 nightmare is accelerating in Latin America and there's a new milestone for the region. And I'm afraid it's a bleak
one. It has now overtaken the U.S. and Canada in coronavirus deaths as of now. Latin America and the Caribbean have suffered almost 147,000 deaths
due to the pandemic.
Now CNN has analyzed the numbers from Johns Hopkins University. Brazil is the worst hit country in the region. It is trying to cope with more than
quarter of a million new cases in just the past week alone. Many infections are now being reported in rural towns where indigenous communities have
been quite frankly devastated.
This is all happening as the Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro continues to downplay the threat. Shasta Darlington is live for us in Sao Paulo.
Mr. Bolsonaro is himself fighting the disease and said he'll get tested again some time today. He says he, quote, "can't stand isolation" and wants
to get back to work. His behavior towards this public health crisis is described as ostrich-like, as "a little flu," nothing to worry about. And
says no need to wear a mask, despite getting the virus himself.
What will it take for him to accept the dangers posed by this virus?
SHASTA DARLINGTON, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: I think that's a great question and I think we can answer pretty clearly at this point that being
infected really hasn't changed his attitude.
When he announced last week that he had tested positive for COVID-19, he also announced he was taking hydroxychloroquine at the recommendation of
his medical team. In fact, it has been a source of conflict with his doctors here and health ministers.
But he posted a video of himself while he took his third dose of the drug. He also told our affiliate, CNN Brazil, that he isn't suffering from major
symptoms and, as you mentioned, can't stand the routine of staying at home and wants to get back to work, all of which suggests it will be business as
usual for him once he no longer has the active infection.
He has urged Brazilians to go back to work, insisting a kind of vertical isolation, isolating the elderly and those with risky conditions, would be
the ideal approach. Yet the numbers are continuing to rise in Brazil with more than 72,000 deaths. And another grim milestone on the horizon. It
looks like Brazil could reach a total of 2 million confirmed cases this week, Becky.
ANDERSON: Remarkable. Thank you, Shasta.
My next guest is now one of the biggest critics of the Brazil president. It's amazing when you have two viruses to combat -- the coronavirus and the
Bolsonaro virus.
That's the view of Joao Dona, he's the governor of Sao Paulo, Brazil's wealthiest state.
Wearing a mask, which your former ally, Mr. Bolsonaro, doesn't agree with. You clearly do.
Wearing a mask is important, sir, correct?
GOV. JOAO DONA, SAO PAULO, BRAZIL: Becky, it's a pleasure to be with you. We have to combat as you said two viruses, the coronavirus and Bolsonaro
virus importantly. The president of Brazil makes mistakes every time, every day.
He gives the wrong example to the people, going to the streets without the mask, asking people to consume chloroquine and it's hard to keep people
home when you have a president who turns our world weaker. It is very difficult.
ANDERSON: You called him a virus.
Just how dangerous is his leadership at this point, sir?
DONA: Well, when you have a leader with a bad example, this example is very difficult to the -- to the governors of Brazil. We are doing the right
thing, following the World Health Organization recommendations and Bolsonaro is doing the opposite. He's doing the opposite every day.
That's incredible. When you have a leader in the wrong way as the president of Brazil. Unfortunately, I would like to have a leader in a leadership
role.
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DONA: Doing the right thing and asking the right way to the people in Brazil. I learn to respect medicine and health. Faced with a pandemic, that
should determine the steps of the government officials. It's science, it's not politics, it's not the economy. It's not pressures. It's science. It's
medicine.
ANDERSON: Your decision to impose tough curfews was slammed by president Bolsonaro.
Did you get the support that you needed from the people of Sao Paulo?
DONA: Well, we are supporting these people, the poor people in Sao Paulo, giving food baskets to the people and supporting the people in their social
programs here in Sao Paulo.
We are concerning (sic) about this. And also we are opening -- we opened seven campaign hospitals and doubled the number of intensive care beds,
especially to the poor people in Sao Paulo.
ANDERSON: The numbers in Brazil and coming out of Brazil are awful.
Do you believe that the situation in your country is actually worse than these numbers suggest at this point?
DONA: Becky, I don't think so, especially in Sao Paulo. As you know, I'm the governor of Sao Paulo state. We at this moment are at a plateau. We --
it's stable in cases of infection, in Sao Paulo.
Three weeks in this plateau in the under control situation and I think Brazil is also at this moment very close to this -- the same situation as
Sao Paulo has at this moment. It is essential to maintain transparency with the death toll.
It is very important to keep the quarantine as we are doing here in Sao Paulo and the obligation to use masks and now also to have the social
distance -- the recommendation for social distance in the cities and also in the other areas in Brazil.
ANDERSON: You have said that you are confident that your city of Sao Paulo has -- and the state has reached a plateau. And you have also said that you
hope that reflects a kind of wider story in Brazil.
Just how concerned are you though, sir, you could be off here?
I mean, there are clear concerns that this is a trajectory that may keep going. The numbers may get higher.
DONA: Well, Becky, we created here in Sao Paulo a plan called Sao Paulo plan, which has the circumstances to ensure that we can gradually open up
trade and other sectors of the economy in Sao Paulo. But we also require going back if we have indications that can put people's lives at risk.
I have to tell you, step by step, concerning in order to make this flexibility easier, maintaining the quarantine, we have the support of the
health committee of the state of Sao Paulo and increase the intensive care beds. We also increased the testing.
Testing, testing, testing, a lot of tests and also decrease -- and also have to do what we are doing here with the quarantine, asking people to use
masks all the time when we are out of home and following the health organization recommendations here.
ANDERSON: With that we'll leave it there. We thank you very much indeed for joining us.
Our guest who was once an ally of the Brazilian president, Bolsonaro, now one of his biggest critics.
As world leaders get scrutinized for their response to the pandemic, they also have to reckon with another layer of the crisis. The United Nations
predicting more than 130 million people worldwide may go hungry this year due to the economic recession that's been triggered by COVID-19.
That figure is on top of the nearly 700 million people already facing food shortages. The U.N. says Africa is the hardest hit region with nearly a
fifth of the population is undernourished; 8.3 percent of Asia is struggling and more than 7 percent in Latin America and the Caribbean
facing hunger.
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ANDERSON: Well, the U.K. wades into tensions between the U.S. and China with the ban on one of China's largest technology companies. We're going to
break that down after this.
That is not all, unlawful and troublemakers: the U.S. and China swap taunts over the South China Sea. The latest reaction from each side is up
next.
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ANDERSON: Well, you're watching CONNECT THE WORLD. I'm Becky Anderson, from the Middle East broadcasting hub in Abu Dhabi.
Well, a surge of coronavirus cases across the United States forcing officials in at least three states to reimpose restrictions. Florida has
more infections than most countries in the world.
And Miami is the new epicenter, 48 hospitals across the state have reached their ICU capacity. That includes eight hospitals in Miami-Dade County,
which has seen an 68 percent increase in the number of COVID cases.
A massive setback in California, which is back under lockdown. Restaurants have to return to take-away only. Wineries, bars, zoos, movie theaters and
museums will all close their doors once again. Plus the two biggest school districts in the state have decided to start the new school year online
only.
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ANDERSON: Well, the U.S. may be struggling to fight off the virus but it's finding success in its campaign against Huawei. After imposing sanctions
against the Chinese telecom this year, the U.S. has been putting immense pressure on its allies to do the same.
Today Britain has said it will also ban the companies from the 5G network. That comes after mounting pressure from U.K. conservative lawmakers and the
Trump administration citing security concerns. Let's get to our business reporter, Hadas Gold, and our international diplomatic editor, Nic
Robertson.
Let me start with you, Hadas.
What's behind this decision today?
HADAS GOLD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, it is a stunning reversal from the first decision that was made in January to allow Huawei a limited role. And
it comes after intense pressure from the Trump administration, from members of Boris Johnson's own party and rising tensions with China over issues
like Hong Kong and the coronavirus. But the real trigger came in May when the U.S. Department of Commerce issued new sanctions against Huawei, which
then triggered a new security review here in the United Kingdom where they wanted to see how they would affect the Huawei stability in the new market.
And the decision came out today that they believe because of the U.S. sanctions, Huawei would not be a reliable enough partner in 5G. Now all of
the operators in the United Kingdom by January can no longer buy any equipment. And by 2027, any Huawei equipment needs to be completely
stripped out.
It's a huge win for the Trump administration that has been pushing this for some time. A huge loss for Huawei who has been in the United Kingdom for
more than 20 years. It's a loss for the consumers here, because this move will cause a delay to the 5G rollout in the United Kingdom by two to three
years.
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GOLD: And cost the United Kingdom an extra 2 billion pounds. Becky?
ANDERSON: Remarkable stuff.
Nic, there's a lot going on here. If the golden years of the U.K.-China relationship kicked off by the former British prime minister, David
Cameron, is hitting the buffers, then the looming clash between China and the U.S., looks nothing short of a new Cold War.
China blasted the U.S., calling it a troublemaker in the South China Sea. On Monday, Mike Pompeo said that the U.S. will not allow Beijing to treat
the South China Sea as its maritime empire and he formally rejected most of China's claims there.
Just talk about what's going on, if you will.
Are we looking at a looming cold war between the two superpowers at this point?
NIC ROBERTSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMATIC EDITOR: I think we're in it. I think Britain crossed the diplomatic watershed today with the decision.
No surprise to anyone that this was coming.
They found that review of the national security services here, of the United States sanctions on China, as an opportunity, perhaps some would
say, a face saving opportunity to review the whole Huawei 5G decision.
So it is not lost at all on the Chinese. And the Chinese response has been specifically to say that, regrettably the future with Britain has now
entered a political phase. It's very clear to China, they see this decision by the United Kingdom as a final step, if you will, along the path of being
either in the U.S. camp, in the China camp or between the two.
And that golden era you referred to, kicked off by David Cameron a decade ago, seems a long way in the rearview mirror now. We're at an opposite end
of that. We only have to go back to just a week or so ago, when the Chinese ambassador here essentially threatened the United Kingdom for the
statements being made by the former secretary and by the prime minister about the new national security law in Hong Kong.
He said there would be consequences, that Britain would have to bear the consequences. So I think the step taken by the U.K. today does put it on
one side of that cold war. And we're in it essentially. As you were saying, the military phase of it is ramping up in the South China Sea. Don't expect
conflict in the short term but it is.
ANDERSON: I saw a very interesting tweet -- I can't remember who it was by this morning -- but it struck me as worthy of discussion. It alluded to the
sort of -- you know, the old days of the nonaligned movement group of countries post-World War II that was sort of being reorganized as we moved
forward.
To those who are in the 5G Huawei camp and those who are not, those who embed this technology within their national infrastructure or those who
don't. You know, anybody who underestimates just how important this Huawei story is, just needs to think about that for a moment.
I mean, it is -- it sits right at the center and the heart of, as you rightly point out, who's in the U.S. camp or who is not at this point. It
really sort of flushes out where the sort of, you know, the world of new technology in cyber security is -- how important it is to all of us today.
ROBERTSON: It's a new architecture that's been grown, Becky. And people would argue there would have to be in rules and China has playing by the
own rules. It has been involved in intellectual property theft and espionage, to take advantage of the leaky data systems to pillage through
the raw data that sat on hard drives in some of the biggest defense manufacturers in the United States.
Those have been the allegations. So this, if you will, this sort of shutting the door to China's ability to do that by more nefarious and
harder-to-take means through newer technology is absolutely a step in that direction.
But as we talk about the technology of the future, I was just mentioning and you were as well, the South China Sea, where secretary of state Mike
Pompeo, who said that the United States won't bow down and let China take control or dominate, control and influence within the South China Sea.
China has pushed back and accused -- listen to this from the foreign minister spokesperson -- the United States as being the bad actor here.
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ZHAO LIJIAN, CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESPERSON (through translator): The U.S. has frequently sent large scale, advanced military vessels and
aircraft to the South China Sea for militarization and for bullying practices. The U.S. is indeed a troublemaker that undermines regional peace
and stability.
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ROBERTSON: So when you read these signals, when you the read signals of a new bipolar world, where you're in the China-Huawei 5G camp or in the
United States-United Kingdom-New Zealand camp, forging ahead with their own 5G networks, which are trailing in time and cost against China, that is the
new world order we are looking at.
But balance that against some of the bigger picture things where China is a worldwide net supplier of medical PPE equipment, which is so important at
this stage. They perhaps have some of the better or deeper or more ongoing longer analysis of the coronavirus, which is going to be vital to global
health.
So there are real points of leverage here. And the United States has been very divisive amongst its allies over the recent years. China will try to
play on the divisions in much the same way that Russia has been.
So absolutely we are at a moment of polarization but the key today, the key today is very clearly that Britain has staked the future on one side of
that. And that's the U.S. side. But don't forget the Democrats will be just as hardline, maybe in a different way, taking a different tactic with China
as Trump has been.
ANDERSON: Yes. And Britain revealing or beginning to reveal its post- Brexit unilateral foreign policy or, you know, positions. When I say unilateral, this is something that's cobbled together in favor of a
relationship with the United States.
But I think that there is also something in that, that we are beginning to reveal where Britain is at going forward. Nic, thank you.
Let's get you up to speed on the other stories that are on our radar. After two weeks after Beijing imposed that national security law in Hong Kong,
China says 600,000 people may have broken it.
Over the weekend, all of them voted in a primary election organized by the city's pro democracy opposition. China calls it illegal and Hong Kong
officials say they are investigating.
In France, the annual Bastille Day celebration paid tribute to health care workers. The event was scaled back due to the coronavirus pandemic. It
included the socially distanced troops. Fireworks will go on as planned later this evening but crowds will not be allowed to gather in the park to
watch.
Well, Trump family feud is about to heat up. So far, we have just heard excerpts of the tell-all book from Trump's niece. Soon, we will hear from
her. The details are just ahead.
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ANDERSON: Well, for decades in U.S. politics, Texas has been a reliably Republican state. But that may change in this year's election. As the
number of COVID-19 cases ticks up there, Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden is making his move. His campaign has debuted a new ad across the
state.
Now it doesn't mention president Donald Trump but it illustrates the stark contrast between the two leaders' approaches to this crisis. Have a look at
this.
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JOE BIDEN, FORMER U.S. VICE PRESIDENT AND PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I'm thinking of all of you today across Texas and though the rising case
numbers is causing fear and apprehension, people frightened, they're worried about their parents, grandparents, loved ones who are most at risk.
This virus is tough but Texas is tougher. It's up to all of us to do it. We have to step up and do the simple and the hard things to keep our families
and our neighbors safe. Wear a mask. Wash your hands. Stay home if you can and socially distance when you go out.
I want every single American to know, if you're sick, if you're struggling, if you're worried about how you're going to get through the day, I will not
abandon you. We're all in this together. We'll fight this together.
And together, we'll emerge from this stronger than we were before we began. I'm Joe Biden and I approve this message.
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ANDERSON: Well, it's not just the Democratic Party trying to take the American president down. So are some of his own family. Well, you heard we
right there, his niece and author, Mary Trump, will be on television a lot in the next few weeks. A judge has just lifted a restraining order so she
can now promote her tell-all book. He ruled it violated her freedom of speech not to be allowed to do so.
Until now, she has been prohibited from promoting the book, titled, "Too Much and Never Enough." Mary Trump's other uncle, Robert Trump, brought the
motion, saying it violated a confidentiality agreement. Our senior military reporter Oliver Darcy is joining us.
It was never going to be good news for Mr. Trump but how bad is it?
OLIVER DARCY, CNN BUSINESS SENIOR MEDIA CORRESPONDENT: Well, it's an unflattering portrait of Trump's upbringing and his rise to the presidency.
And Becky, this book has been number one on the Amazon best seller list for some time now.
And excerpts were -- came out last week after news outlets obtained passages and actual copies of the book.
But we haven't heard from Mary Trump on TV, in newspapers, being interviewed about it. That's because of this temporary restraining order
that was implemented against her by a judge.
That temporary restraining order is now lifted, which means she can speak out. She can do TV interviews promoting this book. And so a spokesperson
said we can expect to start seeing her on TV tomorrow.
She'll be on "Good Morning, America" first and then I'm sure she'll be doing a slew of interviews promoting this book on TV and around the world.
ANDERSON: Fascinating. She is not likely to get a seat on Tucker Carlson's show, one of Trump's biggest supporters and promoters. He has addressed
days of controversy over a former writer's racist posts. Let's have a listen to this.
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TUCKER CARLSON, FOX NEWS HOST: What Blake wrote anonymously was wrong, we don't endorse the words. They have no connection to the show. It is wrong
to attack people for qualities they cannot control. In this country, we judge people for what they do, not for how they were born.
But we should point out to the ghouls now beating their chests in triumph at the destruction of the young man that self-righteous also has its costs.
We are all human.
When we pretend we are holy, we are lying. When we pose as blameless in order to hurt other people, we are committing the gravest sin of all and
we'll be punished for it. There's no question.
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ANDERSON: That was sort of flagged as an apology. It didn't sound like one to me. I won't repeat what he said. But this was a senior writer for Tucker
Carlson. This is what he was referring to.
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ANDERSON: The sacking of a senior writer who had been found to have been posting racist comments for some time on a blog.
DARCY: This was his top writer and we discovered he was posting racist comments on this online forum and Carlson addressed this. As you noted
there was no actual apology and Carlson's statement was missing a couple of things.
For one he never described the posts as racist. That was not there. And he also said that there was no connection between what this writer was posting
online and his show. And that's misleading at best, Becky.
We know that -- we document in our story that there was some crossover between what this writer was posting on this forum and what did end up on
his show. Carlson has shared some more sentiments toward what this writer was posting online.
He said white supremacy is a hoax and immigrants make America dirtier. I think we have some audio we can play.
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CARLSON: This may be a lot of things this moment we're living through but it's definitely not about black lives and remember that when they come for
you and at this rate they will.
If you were to assemble a list, a hierarchy of concerns or problems that this country faces, where would white supremacy on the list?
Right up there with Russia. It's not a real problem in America. This is a hoax. Just like the Russia hoax. It's a conspiracy theory.
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DARCY: So you can see that Carlson, while he may not have been using the explicit language that this writer was online, he does share a lot of
sentiments that the writer expressed in general.
ANDERSON: And all of his piece is at cnn.com, always a pleasure, sir.
Well, the English Premier League star opens about the racist abuse that he received while playing in Eastern Europe. That is up next.
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ALLEN: Welcome back. A lot going on in the world of sports. So let's get to it.
Sheffield United manager Chris Walder has spoken out in support after his player was the subject of online racial abuse. It's a disgusting side of
the game and I have seen it happen for years, it must end. Full stop. Let's get more on this with CNN's "WORLD SPORT"s Patrick Snell.
PATRICK SNELL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's right, Becky, it has to stop. No question. Now yesterday we brought you part one of our interview with the
Wofford defender Christian Kabasele, who spoke about that exact topic, namely online racial abuse. In part two with Darren Lewis, he reflected on
his difficult time, playing in Bulgaria where he talked about the horrific abuse he suffered in the stadiums.
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DARREN LEWIS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It was worse when you are in Bulgaria, wasn't it?
CHRISTIAN KABASELE, WATFORD DEFENDER: Yes. And it was every 2 weeks when we were playing away, monkey chants and sometimes a banana. I remember,
especially in one situation, I was waiting for the bus to leave. So I was outside on the phone with my wife.
And one fan came up to me and said he had -- you are F and the N word. You are F and the N word. Just like that, just like that. Nothing happened
during the game but he came to me and said this and then he left with his friends.
So when you see this kind of thing, you understand the people there are really close and don't want to be open to somebody from another culture,
another country. Even for the Federation there, nothing changed.
LEWIS: Christian, educate me, why do players play football in countries where the racism is that stark?
KABASELE: To be honest, at that moment, I was young. I was 20 years old and I didn't realize that the problem was that big there. I just wanted to
play football and Bulgaria at the moment was the best place to play football. I didn't realize that there were that kind of racism in that
country.
Now you tell me that you can go there with this kind of country, I would probably say no because I don't want to do this again.
LEWIS: Lots of players go to countries where there is a big racism problem and no real will from the people who run the game in those countries to
deal with it.
Do you believe that black players are thinking more about or thinking twice about going to those countries?
KABASELE: I do. I think they have to because you know how the situation is and you will not get the same support as if you play in England or France
or I don't know where. Sometimes it's difficult as well because some players don't have many choices to play.
And sometimes that's the only place where you can play football. So to live your dreams sometimes you need to make a sacrifice. And when you accept to
go there, you need to be strong in your head and know in advance that you will probably be alone against everybody.
Because even my teammates or people said to me, this was nothing. So you are alone against everyone and you need to be strong in the head to not
give up.
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SNELL: Well, a spokesperson from his former club said that Bulgaria is a very tolerant nation and denied any of the incidents of abuse that Kabasele
spoke about took place. And the press officer said it's strange to read this because it's not true. We are a tolerant nation.
And CNN has been in contact with the Bulgarian Football Association for comment and we have not yet heard back.
Just the last few words from Christian, so concerning to hear, Becky. Next hour, by the way, we'll tell you about a war of words breaking out between
Pep Guardiola and other top Premier League managers, not to be missed.
ANDERSON: Looking forward to that. The racism story is an extremely important one. Patrick, thank you. You can rely on CNN to stay across that.
Up next, in a speech to the WHO, we'll get you up to speed on a massive disaster in the Arctic and speak to the only Emirati ever to go into space.
That's after this.
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