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Connect the World
Trump Insists He's Right As More Americans Get Sick; Peru's Body Collectors; UAE's Mission To Mars. Aired 10:00-11a ET
Aired July 20, 2020 - 10:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[10:00:31]
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: America as a whole is not doing well. People are lapsing in their caution.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: By the end of the week the U.S. could hit the sobering milestone of four million cases.
BECKY ANDERSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL ANCHOR: Tonight I'm right, everyone else is wrong.
That's Donald Trump's message as millions of Americans get sick. Plus.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is the new normal, if you can afford it, the high speed burial. Only three family members can attend.
ANDERSON: We meet the body collectors of Peru as the virus rampages through South America with more cruelty than ever.
And, from the UAE to Mars, the Emirates joins an elite club of interplanetary explorers. We're live in the Dubai command center. For an
update on the successful launch of the probe.
Just for that probe, before this country hand this region into a future that may be radically different from the past. I'm Becky Anderson. Hello
and welcome to CONNECT THE WORLD from here in the UAE. CNNs Middle Eastern broadcasting hub more on the Arab world's first mission to deep space in a
moment. First, though the story that is dominating life on more than 14 million people have now been affected by the novel coronavirus.
600,000 people worldwide have died since the global pandemic began. Well now one of the U.K.'s oldest peer reviewed journals says an early COVID-19
vaccine from Oxford is both safe and effective. Anna Stewart is in Oxford where this vaccine is being developed for what will be ending an incredible
moment in time. Anna, what's the latest there?
ANNA STEWART, CNN REPORTER: So we've just had the results from this vaccine. It's been developed by the University of Oxford in partnership
with AstraZeneca. And this is the interim results for phase one and phase two, they've combined those phases to try and speed up the process. It's
not the first vaccine to reach this stage. In fact, there are over 140 candidate vaccines being developed all around the world.
But what is so crucial and interesting about this particular one is that it's publishing this data. And it's already in phase three of human trials.
It's one of only three candidate vaccines that have reached that stage around the world. So if successful through all of the trials, of which it's
got some far some way to go. This could be one of the first vaccines that you could actually see being made and distributed around the world.
Now, the findings from the results and we had a subset of 1077 adults for this, so it's a one of the largest groups for phase one trial because it
combined with phase two, and they've showed that it induces a strong antibody and T cell immune response, and all of its candidates, all of its
testers. And if you gave a second dose which did a much smaller set of people, that immune response was stronger, it still doesn't know what sort
of level of immune response is required to neutralize the virus.
There were some side effects with this vaccine, that isn't -- that as not uncommon, isn't it? We've seen actually with all of the candidate vaccines
I have already reached phase one and have published their results, no adverse side effects. That's what was really critical here in this sort of
stage. Phase three is underway. This is on mass. This is 10,000 people in the U.K. in South Africa and Brazil.
And what is critical there is to look at all the different demographics of people, older people, younger people, and of course, in real terms on a
test tube, does it prevents you from getting COVID-19. Becky?
ANDERSON: This, as you rightly pointed out, one of a number of vaccines under development as we speak. The big question is when, when does the
world get a vaccine? That's the question our viewers will be asking me as they listen to us today. Is it any clearer at this point?
STEWART: Well, this is the good news about this particular vaccine, as we know from speaking to the CEO of AstraZeneca. This is one that could be
available as soon as September. They are already gearing up manufacturing for this vaccine, in the hope that it passes through all of these phases
and gets regulatory approval.
[10:05:09]
STEWART: It says it could make hundreds of millions of doses by the end of this year, and two doses by the end of next. Now, AstraZeneca has been
working very hard to create partnerships and supply chains and territories around the world to ensure as many people can get it as soon as possible if
it meets all of these sort of jumps, all of these hurdles and meets approval. It has agreements here in the U.K., in the U.S., also across
Europe, in India.
It's got a big agreement in India. And with Gavi and CEPI, which helped deliver and distributes vaccines to developing nations. So there's a big
plan in place and it would be -- if this -- if this vaccine really worked, it would be incredible as this is one that you could see as soon as
September. Becky?
ANDERSON: Anna Stewart on the story for you. Breaking news here on CNN. Thank you, Anna. Well, this hour, states across America are obliterated
their own records for the number of Coronavirus cases. That is a fact. All the while, president -- the U.S. president is busy manufacturing his own
reality where everything is fine. And you'll be right. And that's after spending the weekend on the golf course. So he is a reality check for you.
He's wrong. And his lack of leadership is only making things worse. This is the picture of America First this hour. That's the U.S. in green and
leading the world by roughly 60,000 deaths. That margin alone exceeds all but one country's total death toll. Cases around the U.S. are soaring past
what we were supposed to see as the very peaks in April, but far from it. There were 61,000 new cases reported Sunday. So these numbers seem unlikely
to peak in July either.
That is the macro view for you. Let me get you some more specific examples. States like Nevada are sharply on the rise. So what's a president do? Well,
Mr. Trump's main complaint is that there is an unfounded allegation that the state is preventing him from holding a rally in southern states like
Louisiana and Florida, particularly vital to the President's reelection bid stand among the hardest hit in the nation.
But Mr. Trump seems committed to taking a strategy of denial and delusion up a notch.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: It will right, eventually, you know, I said it's going to disappear. I'll say it again, but it's going
disappear and I'll be right. I don't think so. Right. I don't think so. You know, I just want to describe because I've
been right, probably more than anybody else.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Well, he has not been subtle in prioritizing politics over public health given the opportunity to defend one of his top experts, the
President instead, again, didn't do that.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: One of your closest aides, one of your right hand men, Daniel Scavino put out this. Have you seen this?
(CROSSTALK)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Dr. Fauci, it shows him as a leaker and an alarmist.
TRUMP: Well, I don't know --
(CROSSTALK)
TRUMP: it's a little bit of enormous. That's OK.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Well, Mr. Trump's errors on health are quickly transforming America's political landscape in a nutshell. It's costing him big time as
cases saw his numbers sync the newest polls from ABC in the Washington Post, shown 15 points behind his rival now Joe Biden a big gap for sure.
Well, you might think that would give someone pause for thought to ask, am I really doing the right thing here to evaluate their errors and fix them?
But to Mr. Trump, he seems to think himself infallible. And so without introspection, he looked to let everyone know that he is the smartest guy
in the room, in every room. Have a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Incidentally, I took the test too, when I heard that you passed it.
TRUMP: Yes. How did you do it?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, it's not the hardest task.
TRUMP: No. But the last --
(CROSSTALK)
TRUMP: No, no. You see, that's all misrepresentation.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, that's what it was on the west.
TRUMP: It's all misrepresenting. Because, yes, the first few questions are easy but I bet you've couldn't even answer the last five questions. I'll
bet you couldn't, they get very hard the last five questions.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, one of them was cut back from 100 by seven.
TRUMP: And let me tell you, you couldn't answer, you couldn't answer many of the questions.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: A few states are as important to Trump's reelection chances as Florida. But as the president watches on the new epicenter of the American
outbreak is getting worse, not better. Let's start this part of the show with Dianne Gallagher who has more.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DIANNE GALLAGHER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: In the heart of Miami beaches, nightlife district and 8:00 p.m. curfew. And fines starting at $50.00 when
people fail to wear a mask. All efforts to help slow the spread of the coronavirus here and keep the residents out of hospitals. At least 49
facilities across the state have no ICU beds available.
[10:10:07]
MAYOR FRANCIS SUAREZ (R) MIAMI, FLORIDA: The biggest factor is that since we got out of the stay at home order in April, we've seen just an
incredible growth in terms of the virus. You know, people have essentially behaved as if the virus didn't exist.
GALLAGHER: For the fourth time this month Florida reporting over 12,000 new cases in one day.
DR. CELINE GOUNDER, CNN MEDICAL ANALYST: We had many states, Florida included that lifted restrictions too early, that allowed people to go
without masks. Still don't mandate mask and many of these states. And that have allowed businesses to reopen in a way that's frankly really
irresponsible when you have widespread community transmission.
GALLAGHER: Meantime, in Washington, President Trump says it should be up to governors to decide, pushing back against the suggestions nationally
mandate facial coverings despite the CDC and most health experts making it clear. Americans should wear them to prevent transmission of the virus.
TRUMP: Oh, I want people to have a certain freedom. And I don't believe in that. No. And I don't agree with the statement that if everybody wear a
mask, everything disappears.
GALLAGHER: And according to Trump, the days of the coronavirus will eventually be over.
TRUMP: I'll be right eventually. I will be right. Actually, you know, I said, it's going to disappear. I'll say it again. It's going to disappear.
And I'll be right.
GALLAGHER: But there's no sign of the virus disappearing anytime soon. Instead, the average number of new weekly cases is rising in at least 31
states.
GOV. JARED POLIS (D-CO): We need to do better than we're doing because cases are going up. That's clear. America as a whole is not doing well.
People are lapsing in their caution, right? They're lapsing in their need to engage in social distancing.
GALLAGHER: Arizona passing a grim milestone, with its highest number of deaths and a single day since the start of the pandemic. California
announcing over 9300 new infections Sunday, Los Angeles County accounted for more than 2800 of those, most of them people under the age of 41. The
mayor of Los Angeles says the city could soon be under another state home order.
ERIC GARCETTI, LOS ANGELES MAYOR: I think we're on the brink of that. It's not just what's open and closed. It's also about what we do individually.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: Dan Gallagher is in Atlanta in Georgia. It's going to disappear. And I'm going to be right. Eventually the U.S. president says, Dan, how
does that help the situation on the ground today in a state like Georgia?
GALLAGHER: It doesn't, Becky. Look, Georgia set a record for new cases on Saturday. 4688 new COVID-19 infections on Saturday alone in one state in
the United States. And there were several other states that set records on Saturday and Sunday as well. Things are continuing to get worse and it's
talking about the fact that it will eventually die out. Sounds very similar to some of the phrasing that we heard from the President back in early
spring where he said that it would be gone by April.
Obviously, we know that's not the case. And things just continue to get worse here. We are looking at new infection records, new death records and
hospitalization records in states all across the country, as things continue to get worse. And the piecemeal approach that so many of these
different states have had to go at it because there's not a national togetherness on this. There is not this this national policy for what to
do.
The President has said he wants to leave it up to the governors and look, there's a feeling for many that it's to avoid any sort of responsibility
here. And he's essentially said he doesn't take responsibility for what is happening here in the United States right now. As this country sees its
infection rates spike it away that nobody else is at this point. And so, look, the President also went on to repeat that because of more testing is
why we're seeing these increased numbers, which is just blatantly false.
It's not true. Obviously, if you test more, it doesn't create more infections. It simply tells you where the infections are. And that's what
we're hearing from the President of the United States. And so you have governors who are trying to combat that you have local officials like here
in Atlanta, the mayor of Atlanta trying to combat that misinformation that's coming from the top, so it doesn't help.
ANDERSON: Dan Gallagher is in Georgia for you. Thank you. Well, the United States leads the world in coronavirus. Its president's attention is focused
elsewhere unidentified troops. Snatching people off the street. May sound like something from one of the world's dictatorships, right? But it is
happening in Portland, in Oregon.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Protest is outside of courthouse in the city were dispersed for tear gases unrest there has escalated for weeks. Now local police deny
engaging with the protesters and a police union building was set on fire this weekend. Militarized units now patrolling the streets. Hauling
protesters away in unmarked vans. Who are these troops? At least some agents belong to the Department of Homeland Security.
Oregon's attorney general has filed suit and the mayor is demanding answers.
MAYOR TED WHEELER, POLAND OREGON: The tactics that the Trump administration are using on the streets of Portland are abhorrent. People are being
literally scooped off the street into unmarked vans, rental cars apparently. They are being denied probable cause and they're denied due
process. They don't even know who's pulling them into the vans. The people aren't identifying themselves. And as far as I can see, this is completely
unconstitutional.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Well, this part, President Donald Trump tweeted that he's just trying to help not hurt Portland. CNN Correspondent Josh Campbell has been
covering the process for weeks. He joins us now from Portland. And Josh, the President seems fixated on these clashes, but not on the outbreaks.
What does that tell the people that you are speaking to on the ground?
JOSH CAMPBELL, CNN SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Becky. You know, it is that focus on the Federal resources in this city that is infuriating a lot of
these protesters here. We're hearing from them, there's been, you know, night after night, a protest well over 50 days. It started after the death
of George Floyd, a black man who was killed in Minneapolis and obviously spring widespread condemnation about the police use of force.
Now since that took place, President Trump actually ordered an infusion of Federal officers here into the City of Portland, in his words, to try to
quell some of the violence that has only inflame the situation even more, fueling that outrage night after night. We see these protests. Now I can
tell you that, you know, this right where we are is the epicenter of this Federal building.
And the -- last night we saw what we've seen a pattern where protesters will come, most of them peaceful. There is a subset that turn into rioters.
And we see this writing, you can see around me. This is a fence actually, that was erected outside this building. It's now left in pieces. These
rioters tore this down, a very violent confrontation here between the police officers and these protesters.
Again, graffiti around just, you know, a lot of defacing of this Federal property. To your point. This is what President Trump has centered on,
calling this widespread lawlessness in this city. To be fair, this is relegated to one city block area that we've seen here outside the Federal
budget. But that is something he continues to focus on, even as protesters say they want these Federal resources out.
It's also important to note, Becky, that the protesters are not alone in calling for this Federal cavalry to depart. Their city officials who are
saying the exact same thing. And in fact, the mayor of Portland spoke this weekend with our colleague Jake Tapper. Take a listen to what he said.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
WHEELER: The President has a complete misunderstanding of cause and effect. What's happening here is we have dozens if not hundreds, of Federal troops
descending upon our city. And what they're doing is they are sharply escalating the situation, their presence here is actually leading to more
violence and more vandalism, and it's not helping the situation at all. They're not wanted here. We haven't asked them here. In fact, we want them
to leave.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CAMPBELL: Now this showdown between the Feds and local officials continue, even -- it continues even as we hear that lawmakers in Washington, D.C. are
now also calling for an investment negation into Federal actions. Again, just a very tense situation here in Portland, Becky, with no real sight.
ANDERSON: And just very briefly, is it -- is it clear which agency these troops are from? And if not, how troubling is that?
CAMPBELL: Yes. Well, there's an amalgamation here of different Federal officers that have come in, the U.S. border patrol, agencies under the
Department of Homeland Security as well as the United States Marshal Service. It's an alphabet soup of different agencies that have come
together under this Federal authority. And the question is, and, you know, as you mentioned at the beginning, that there are some protesters here who
look at their actions and say, this is exactly what you might see in a third world dictatorship.
In fact, there was one viral video on social media that showed two of these heavily armed agents and tactical uniforms walking up and grabbing a
protester, arresting him, taking him away to an unmarked vehicle and then driving away. And in fact, the bystanders around we're asking, who are you?
What agency are you with? Those agents said nothing. And hours and hours went by we requested to find information from the government about who
those agents worked for.
[10:20:07]
CAMPBELL: We didn't hear anything until they finally came out and said that yes, these were border patrol officers that were kind of brought to this
area to try to help protect this Federal property. But it's those types of actions that really again, fueling these protesters. These calls for
authoritarianism. The Feds say they're for protecting Federal property. But again, you know, protesters obviously outraged.
It's also worth pointing out that officials here are now calling on independent investigations. There are lawmakers who are saying that these
watchdog agencies that oversee these officers need to launch investigations into their actions. It again, just the fuel continues into these
protesters, their anger, and we expect that we'll continue to see these protests tonight and well into the future.
ANDERSON: Josh is on the ground for you. Thank you. As we've been seeing Mr. Trump's approval ratings dropping significantly over what is this
response to the pandemic. In a Fox News interview on Sunday, he was asked if he would accept the results if he were to lose the presidential election
come November. Have a listen to his response.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Are you a good loser?
TRUMP: I'm not a good loser. I don't like to lose. I don't lose too often. I don't like to lose.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Are you gracious?
TRUMP: You don't know until you see, it depends. I think Malin voting is going to rig the election. I really do.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Are you suggesting that you might not accept the results of the election?
TRUMP: I have to say.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Can you give a direct answer, you will accept the election?
TRUMP: I have to see. Look, you -- have to see. No. I'm not going to just say yes, I'm not going to say no and I didn't last time either.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Dangerous and exhausting job amidst a pandemic.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And here is where you end up. If you cannot afford a burial site, in a cardboard box at the crematorium, where the smoke of
death never stops.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: In Latin America, one country relies on a migrant workforce to lay to rest a growing number of coronavirus victims.
Plus, Brazil's most famous COVID patient gets out and about, his supporters show up in droves. And ground control to mission Hope. We take you live in
the Emirates Mars mission control room on a monumental day for space exploration.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: The World Health Organization says a record number of new coronavirus cases were reported globally on Sunday. Latin America is one of
the largest contributors to those numbers right now as infections there skyrocket and the hardest hit nation in the region remains by far Brazil.
Well, new COVID-19 cases soared there again Sunday. President Jair Bolsonaro continues to face criticism for not taking the pandemic
seriously.
[10:25:05]
ANDERSON: But his supporters still turning out to rally around him to CNN Shasta Darlington reports from Sao Paulo for you.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SHASTA DARLINGTON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Brazil reported more than 20,000 new cases of COVID-19 on Sunday, bringing the country's total number of
infections nearly 2.1 million.
The death toll neared 80,000 as the virus migrates to the south and less populated interior, regions that initially were spared.
Also, on Sunday, Brazilian president, Jair Bolsonaro, greeted a crowd of supporters while he strolled around the grounds of the presidential
residence. Bolsonaro tested positive for the coronavirus earlier this month and has been in semi-isolation ever since.
On Sunday, he repeatedly lowered his mask and at one point supporters tossed him a yellow Brazilian soccer jersey.
Bolsonaro also raised what appeared to be a small box of medicine. Now on the same day that he confirmed he had tested positive for the coronavirus,
he also announced he was taking the controversial malaria drug, hydroxychloroquine. And he says he believes it has helped him.
Shasta Darlington. CNN, Sao Paulo.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: Well, off to Brazil, Peru's outbreak of COVID-19 is the second worst in Latin America and the Caribbean in spite of a strict lockdown
imposed in March. The number of cases is over 350,000 was the death toll mounts. Peru's president is ousted more than half of his cabinet including
the country's health minister. Well, the pandemic is also crushed Peru's mining based economy.
And as the fatalities rise Peru turning to Venezuelan migrants for the dangerous job of collecting victims' bodies. Guillermo Galdos has their
story from Lima.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
GUILLERMO GALDOS, JOURNALIST: When Luis Jose left his native Venezuela to find work in Peru, he hoped to wait tables or maybe mix cocktails for
tourists.
And for a while he did. But as the pandemic hit, Peru imposed a lockdown, and he lost his job.
Now Luis Jose collects the bodies of COVID victims for the local government and takes them to be cremated. He makes $500 a month.
Luis Jose and his compatriot Nestor pick up over 20 bodies a day.
GALDOS: Few jobs carry the level of risks these men face every day.
There's little time for solace at Lima's El Angel Cemetery these days. This is the new normal, if you can afford it. The high-speed burial.
Only three family members can attend, and it lasts just 10 minutes. Others can only pay their respects virtually.
Another family consumed by grief in a country on its knees. And here is where you end up if you cannot afford a burial site. In a cardboard box at
the crematorium, where the smoke of death never stops.
Most of the workers here are also from Venezuela. Orlando is one of them. He works 12 hours a day, 7 days a week to support his four children back
home.
Orlando is in charge (INAUDIBLE) he never imagined he would see so much death.
By nightfall, Luis Jose and his team have already collected 15 bodies from Lima's most affected neighborhoods.
But the day is far from over. Raul Alivares was 63, and COVID killed him in three days. The family called an ambulance to take him to a hospital, but
it never arrived. So they simply had to watch him die.
[10:30:03]
GALDOS: At 11:00 p.m., the men get a final call from the Villa Maria del Triunfo hospital. They have to collect 13 more bodies, because the fridges
here are full.
While they wait for the paperwork, they grab their first bite to eat in hours.
Despite his challenges, Jose Luis has taken something positive from this experience.
These men left the country in search of a better life. They still hope to find it.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: We will be back with much more after this quick break.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: This is CONNECT THE WORLD. I'm Becky Anderson from our Middle East broadcasting hub here in Abu Dhabi. While there is promising news on
the global race for a vaccine early results from a trial at Oxford University suggested treatment is both safe and effective. All the
participants in the trial who got the vaccine saw an antibody and T cell response to the drug.
Now this vaccine is being developed by Oxford and AstraZeneca. And there's a reason we also hopeful for a vaccine as the virus rampages freely in many
parts of the world. In the U.S., hospital capacities are dwindling due to COVID-19 and major cities warnings they may shut down again. Mostly it is
at the state level here in the U.S. are determined to keep their economies open, but they are starting to realize that masks are needed in order to do
that.
On Saturday, California started requiring face coverings and indoor public spaces. And you see police issuing a citation here. But the Mayor of the
City of Los Angeles tells CNN, he is on the brink of another shutdown.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GARCETTI: I think we're on the brink of that. But as I've told people over the last week, the discipline I think a lot of people don't understand
mayor's often have no control over what opens up and doesn't, that's either at a state or county level. And I do agree that those things happen too
quickly.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: OK. Well, it's the man of the City of Los Angeles in California. We need a much needed dose of hope, don't we for both here in the Middle
East and around the world. Well, here it is.
[10:35:12]
ANDERSON: That is the sound of history. The sound of Hope itself with the UAE's mission to Mars. Even though it's made of metal and silicon the probe
was impacted by COVID too as the crisis got a lot worse back in April. Teams rush to get that spacecraft in place. The probe made its trip to
Japan to the launch site. That itself took days, several months earlier than originally planned. Special flights and visas had to be arranged for
the engineers.
They also had to allow enough time of course, to quarantine before Hope's arrival from the Emirates. But that's all done and dusted now with the Hope
probe well on its way and this isn't just the journey of a probe. It's the journey of a nation and in many ways, the journey of this region.
All the theatrics of a space launch box with an entirely new twist. That was the first ever countdown for a rocket launch in Arabic. As the Arab
world's first ever mission to another planet, rockets towards the heavens. This is the UAE's mission to Mars, aptly named Hope for reasons economic
and scientific
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): As people do not notice there and we do not know the impossible and that is why we chose the name. The Hope
Probe.
ANDERSON: Its trip there. We'll see it roam through the solar system alone for seven months, flying itself into orbit around the Red Planet by early
next year. A long trip for a craft hurtling at an astronomical pace of some 121,000 kilometers per hour. Fast enough to get from London to New York in
two minutes flat. Once it arrives, it'll start soaking up data about the Martian atmosphere. That could help us make changes at home on Earth.
SARAH AL-AMIRI, DEPUTY PROJECT MANAGER, EMIRATES MARS MISSION: What this program allowed us to do is to develop a very complex system that needs to
be robust, work semi autonomously and be able to collect scientific data that is viable for the long-term understanding of our planet.
ANDERSON: But while the launch took place from a tiny island just off mainland Japan, its real story is a journey from the Emirates to Mars. And
it's not only a story of pure hope, but one of ambition. The UAE is trying to start a new era in space exploration, transform its economy. And so its
fate. It needs to move on from its economic dependence on pumping oil out of the ground, especially as COVID-19 calls the slump in prices.
OMRAN SHARAF, PROJECT MANAGER, EMIRATES MARS MISSION: Reaching Mars is not the main goal here, it's to meet for a much bigger goal. It's about the
future of our economy, about creating the post oil economy, a creative, innovative and a competitive economy.
ANDERSON: Every single one of the engineers and scientists who built the probe are Emirati. And so the price tag which is science minister said was
200 million was never really an issue.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): So somebody asked me how much will this project cost? And I replied, this is an investment, it is not a cost.
ANDERSON: It is then both the probe itself and the country sending it towards the heavens. A step into the unknown. But the Hope is the Mars
probe will prove to be a giant leap in the right direction.
Well, ground control in Dubai has received its first signals from the Hope Probe. The Emirates Mars mission control room is where it is all happening
this hour and that is where we are connecting you to Omron Sheriff who you just saw in my report. The report that we just filed earlier. He is the
project manager of the Emirates Mars mission. The launch sir was in the middle of the night, UAE time. How are you and the team feeling? Have you
had any sleep?
SHARAF: During that much asleep, so it was around 2:00 a.m. Dubai time.
ANDERSON: Yes. It's a hugely ambitious mission for a country that only marks its 50th anniversary next year. There is an immense feeling of pride
here in the UAE. Oman explain why Mars and why now?
[10:40:12]
SHARAF: So why Mars is basically the government wanted to put a big goal, an ambitious goal in front of its youth, they monitor youth, and also to
send a message, as you mentioned earlier to the Arab youth to inspire them to go into Sciences and Technology. So there are objectives behind the
mission that are linked to the UAE and they're also the scientific objectives. So scientifically, if you look at it, the reason why humanity
is exploring Mars is because scientists believe that the planet might have been a certain point similar to Earth and (INAUDIBLE) feature.
However, it reached the point in which he started losing his feature. And one big part of the thesis behind it is actually the loss of its
atmosphere. So better understanding what happened on Mars could help us better understand the changes that could happen and are happening on our
planet.
ANDERSON: It's a busy month for Mars, the UAE competing with the U.S. and China, both of which are launching similar missions this summer. Both have
massive resources, it has to be said. How are you hoping that your mission will stand out? And what will success look like to you? What would
constitute a major breakthrough discovery, sir?
SHARAF: So the amorous mentioned before that the space program is more of a mean and a tool for a much bigger goal. So going to Mars is just -- it's
not the main objective here. It's about stimulating different sectors and using this mission as a catalyst for a disruptive change in the academic
sector and economic sector, industrial sectors. So basically, the government wanted to expedite the change in the -- in the sectors.
Wanted to create the R&D culture amongst the youth and have them go to stem. So that's what it looked into Mars. So when it comes to comparing to
what maybe other nations do is -- which usually just focus on sciences. For us. It's about science, but also it's about other objectives. (INAUDIBLE)
ANDERSON: Yes. And that's fascinating. We spoke, Omran, to some of the youngsters here. Some of the really little guys and girls who are so
inspired. Just have a listen to what some of them told us.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (INAUDIBLE) vision is wild.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Because this country has achieved many firsts, despite its young age, we as youth constantly have sources of inspiration and the
confidence to do anything.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Yes. And we've got more of that in the hour to come. The UAE, Omran has set an ambitious target of creating a colony on Mars by 2117. Is
that realistic and how would that be beneficial?
SHARAF: So when it comes to Mars 2117 actually, the reason why the government announced it is that because of the Mars mission, we had
students switching majors going to sciences, we had universities starting new programs, scientific programs that they didn't have before. So the
question that we always got from them was that what comes after them as Mars mission? So it was basically a commitment from the government -- from
the government, to the amount of youth and to everyone is that we are guaranteeing you jobs in this sector in this area for the next hundred
years.
This is not just one side of it. The other side of this is that basically, the UAE wanted to address its national challenges when it comes to water
resources, when it comes to food resources, when it comes to alternative energy which we believe is critical for our future for the sustainable
development of the UAE. So it wanted to do that through this mission. So it's not about really building a colony on Mars.
It's about helping putting the first human on Mars one day, but it's also about having the capacity and capability to address these challenges so
that if one nation in the future decides to send someone to Mars that we as the UAE were able to contribute by bringing these technologies, this kind
of knowledge to these countries. On top of that also, to use these technologies to address our national challenges.
If it works in Mars, it should work on Earth. Mars is very harsh environment. Going from Earth to Mars is also very difficult. So by
developing this technology, you could really use it on -- in the UAE and regions that have harsh environments.
ANDERSON: Omran, this is fascinating stuff. We wish you the absolute best. We'll check in with you as you begin to receive information and data from
that probe for the time being. We will let you go and get some sleep. These guys I know I've been talking to them for years now. They have been working
so hard on this day, absolutely deserve the applause and also some time off. Omran, thank you.
The UAE launched on a pretty auspicious day because exactly 41 years ago on July the 20th this was happening.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
[10:45:03]
NEIL ARMSTRONG, ASTRONAUT: It's one small step for man. One giant leap for mankind.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Well, that was way back in 1969. And now the UAE making its own giant leap. Good luck, Hope. We will be, as I say, checking in with you.
Well, up next. Just when India looked like it had a grip on the COVID crisis, it all started to go wrong. We asked one of the country's top
public health officials what happened and whether things could actually be a lot worse than official figures suggest. That is after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: Optimistic start in controlling COVID-19 back in March. India is now confirming a record new number of infections. For a second straight day
the country surpassed 40,000 daily cases Monday, the first time ever topped that number. And that comes just days after the country became the third to
report at least one million infections overall. So why has the pandemic done such a number on India after it began with such a strong record on
containing the disease?
I want to bring in K. Sridhar Reddy who runs India's Public Health Foundation. And sir, what exactly has gone wrong?
K. SRIDHAR REDDY, PRESIDENT, PUBLIC HEALTH FOUNDATION: Well, basically, in the initial status of the lockdown, there was strict compliance with social
distancing, which is personal and first because of the lockdown. As the lockdown started relaxing then we found that that people started gathering
in larger numbers and not necessarily following some of the public health precautions that were needed.
And that give the wider community access. Spreads move around particularly in the larger cities. And therefore, we found the cases peaking in much
larger numbers. Now that is being addressed in the cities, but some of the smaller cities are now beginning to get affected. And therefore, in the
later stages of the lockdown, as well as particularly after the lockdown, just relax. You'll see many more people getting exposed to the virus.
ANDERSON: Now, sir, yes, India has reached this milestone with -- as I understand it, half the number of deaths compared to those recorded for
example, in the U.S. and Brazil, as I understand it. Why do you believe a comparatively lower -- hang on, sir, a comparatively lower death rate and
is it your suspicion that the official numbers could actually be very much underreported at this stage?
[10:50:07]
REDDY: Well, even in terms of absolute numbers that's where you're talking about the death rate. But if you look at the deaths, a million adjusting
for India's population, at the moment, it is about 21 million which is less than most countries in Europe and the United States. So seeing the death
rates will be lower. They just mean most likely fund accounting, but even assuming that they'll be hundred percent and accounting, both of us,
particularly about hospital debts, can still keep a million which is much lower than what we've seen in Europe and the United States. But definitely
the deaths are lower (INAUDIBLE)
ANDERSON: So, let me just ask you this, sir, because I'm knocking up against a break here. And I just want to get this last question. So very
briefly, how would you rate the effectiveness of the lockdown in India and what do you propose to do next to ensure that those in the more rural areas
for example get the help they need and now?
REDDY: Well, in the initial stages of the lockdown the first two stages it was quite effective. Subsequently, in the latest two stages with multiple
relaxations, I think there were slippages and when the lockdown ended, we have certainly seen no matter spreading much more. But two-thirds of India
is rural, where the mobility is much less and the opportunity for the virus is very, very low.
So we need now to protect the rural areas from getting the virus from the urban areas, even as we're trying to put down outbreaks in urban areas. So
it's a twin challenge now that we need to face but the younger age group in India, as well as the rural population of India, which is two-thirds of
India, give us a better protection against a high death rate.
ANDERSON: That is -- the certainly the suggestion at present, although we'll wait for more research, sir, to ensure that that proves to be the
case. Sir, thank you. I got to move on. I got to get you viewers up to speed on some of the other stories that are on our radar. Thank you, sir.
Right now from here in the Middle East and Saudi King Salman is in hospital undergoing tests for gallbladder inflammation. That is according to the
nation's official press agency, which says the 84-year-old ruler went to the hospital in Riyadh on Monday. So far no other information about his
health has been released.
Well, Kuwait says its 91-year-old rule is recovering from a successful surgery over the weekend. Sabah al-Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah was admitted to
the hospital Saturday for medical checks. The country's Crown Prince has temporarily taken over some of his brother's duties.
And Lebanese Prime Minister Hassan Diab says he is not quitting his job. He told the state news agency over the weekend that it would be hard to find
an alternative if he resigned. Mr. Diab has been under fire over efforts to contain Lebanon's economic meltdown.
All supporters of the Black Lives Matter movement will tell you that every new day is a challenge to hold people accountable in order for real change
to take place. Well, in the world of sport, arguably no one has been a better example than a Formula One start Lewis Hamilton who calls it like he
sees it. Details on that, up next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[10:55:10]
ANDERSON: Formula One star Lewis Hamilton has been very outspoken in support of the Black Lives Matter movement and he has called out some of
his peers over the last few weeks. We're joined by World Sports Don Riddell. Don, Hamilton again on Sunday voicing displeasure other drivers.
What's he said?
DON RIDDELL, CNN WORLD SPORT CORRESPONDENT: Yes, thanks, Becky. You know, whatever happens in Formula One this year is going to be historic. The
coronavirus has dramatically shortened the season. On the track, it could also be the year that Hamilton ties Michael Schumacher for seven world
titles. He's leading the pack after three races. He's also leading by example, speaking out again after the Hungarian Grand Prix and criticizing
his fellow drivers for not taking the issue of racism seriously enough.
Before the race on Sunday, Hamilton took a knee but many other drivers arrived late to the demonstration which has been staged ahead of each of
these races so far this year. Afterwards, he told the media "There is definitely not enough support for it." It's like it has gone off the
agenda. It's lacking leadership. From a driver's point of view many seem to be of the opinion. They've done it once and then are going to do it again.
On a social media post, Hamilton said the lack of unity in F1 was embarrassing, but this fight certainly hasn't distracted him from being a
racer. On Sunday, he dominated the Grand Prix from pole position, opening up a huge lead within the first three laps and from there, you simply can
turn to victory, he's taking the lead and the driver standings for the first time this season.
Every year since 1956. The Ballon d'Or award has been given to the best football player in the world, but not in 2020. The coveted prize has also
fallen victim to COVID-19. The prestigious award is chosen by journalists and it has been given to the Best Male player for the last 64 years. In
2018 female players were also included. The global pandemic has wrought have gone the football season.
All the major European leagues were suspended for months and some actually never returned. The European Football Championship and Copper America
tournaments were also postponed until 2021. The Football season in England is finally reaching a conclusion the Premier League will be completed next
weekend. And finally is now set for the F.A. Cup competition. It's going to be Chelsea against Arsenal for the trophy.
Chelsea advanced on Sunday with a three-one win against Manchester United. A win that was notable for two goalkeeping blunders by United's goalie
David de Gea. The first allowed Olivier Giroux there to score right at the end of the first half. de Gea hare then fumbled a shot from Mason mount
right at the start of the second half. Midway through the second period, Chelsea made sure of the victory with a goal that was credited as an own
goal to United's defender Harry Maguire.
United scored a late penalty, but it was no more than a consolation. It means Becky that the F.A. Cup Final is now set to London teams playing at
Wembley on August 1st. Back to you.
ANDERSON: Yes. Playing to an empty stadium. It is a hard, isn't it? But it's there -- I mean, it's the right thing to do. When you're listening as
a viewer certainly on the telly, you get this kind of ambient sound which is -- which is wonderful. I was watching that game you've got to say, I
mean, those were -- those were proper blunders from the keeper but shame, anyway.
RIDDELL: Yes.
ANDERSON: Up next. Why -- thanks (INAUDIBLE) why are some people attacking bus driver? Simply because they are wearing masks. We're going to take you
inside America's response to the pandemic. That is just ahead.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
END
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