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Joe Biden Faces Voters At CNN Drive-In Town Hall; CNN Speaks To DNC Chair Tom Perez; New Restrictions In Areas Of England As Cases Spike; Israel Enters Second Lockdown As COVID-19 Cases Surge; CNN Speaks To Aboriginal Leader After Sacred Site Destroyed; Mariachi Musicians In Mexico Face Insecurity From COVID. Aired 11a-12p ET

Aired September 18, 2020 - 11:00   ET

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

[11:00:00]

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ANNOUNCER: Live from CNN Abu Dhabi, this is CONNECT THE WORLD with Becky Anderson.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BECKY ANDERSON, CNN ANCHOR: This hour 46 and counting. We are getting close to the most powerful country on earth deciding between two men with very

different visions for America.

It's been playing out as we all have been living with the novel Coronavirus for nine months at this point many predicted we'd be out of the woods. All

of this would be winding down, but the pandemic is nowhere near over. 30 million people around the world have now been infected. We are closing in

on 1 million lives lost from COVID-19 and it is only getting worse.

The number of cases now three times as many as we had just three months ago. You can see that clearly on this graph. In many of the world's most

populist countries, cases are rising faster than ever. And nowhere has been more badly hit in terms of cases and deaths than America.

Now this picture shows how differently the two top contenders in that upcoming Presidential Election view the crisis. Donald Trump held an indoor

rally Thursday night. He did not wear a mask and neither did many of his supporters. Mr. Trump also compared Coronavirus restrictions with being in

prison.

Former Vice President Joe Biden wore a mask at a town hall hosted by CNN. The event was a drive-in to ensure social distancing. Well, during that

town hall, Biden tried to draw a contrast between himself and the U.S. President, Donald Trump, on a whole range of issues. CNN's Arlette Saenz

tries pulls some of these threads together for us.

ARLETTE SAENZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Joe Biden took aim at President Trump's response to the Coronavirus in his first town hall since becoming the

Democratic Presidential Nominee.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOE BIDEN (D), PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE: The idea that you're going to not tell people what you've been told that this virus is incredibly contagious,

seven times more contagious than the flu. He knew it and did nothing. It's close to criminal.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SAENZ: Biden told voters why it's important to trust health experts on matters involving the pandemic, like vaccine development.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BIDEN: I don't trust the president on vaccines. I trust Dr. Fauci. If Fauci says a vaccine is safe, I take the vaccine. We should listen to the

scientists, not to the president.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SAENZ: The Former VP was asked about Attorney General Bill Barr's recent comments comparing Coronavirus stay-at-home orders to slavery. Biden put

the blame on Trump.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BIDEN: You lost your freedom because he didn't act. The freedom to go to that ball game, the freedom of your kid to go to school, the freedom to see

your mom or dad in the hospital, the freedom to just walk around your neighborhood because of failure to act. I never, ever, ever thought I would

see such a thoroughly, totally irresponsible administration.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SAENZ: As Biden answered questions from a social distance at the drive-in attempt, Trump held another campaign rally in Wisconsin without social

distancing and very few supporters wearing masks.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: By the way officially, this is called a protest, you know that. We no longer call them rallies. We

don't call them rallies anymore because you're not allowed to have a political rally for more than ten people. You're not allowed to go to

church, you're not allowed to meet, you're not allowed to talk to anybody. You have to stay in a prison.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SAENZ: While speaking on stage near his childhood hometown of Scranton, Pennsylvania, Biden looked to connect with working class voters, saying

there is a clear contrast between himself and Trump.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BIDEN: I really do view this campaign as a campaign between Scranton and Park Avenue.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SAENZ: The Democratic Nominee telling voters he wants to serve as a bridge to unite an extremely divided nation.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BIDEN: I'm running as a Democrat but I'm going to be everyone's president. I'm not only going to be a Democratic President. I'm going to be America's

president.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SAENZ: Biden also becoming emotional when speaking about his son Beau, slamming reports of Trump for calling service members losers, something the

president denies.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BIDEN: I don't want to get too per - my son died of cancer. He came home from Iraq, and I have to tell you, it really, really offended me when he

volunteered to go there for a year and he came home because of stage IV Glioblastoma, and the president refer to guys like my son, he won the

bronze star, the service medal, as losers, Talk about losers!

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: Arlette Saenz reporting there. Joining me now is the Chair of the Democratic National Committee, Tom Perez. It's good to have you, sir.

TOM PEREZ, CHAIRMAN, DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION: It's a pleasure.

ANDERSON: One massive issue in this campaign is how people can safely go to the polls in what is this pandemic, which is getting worse around the

world, not better, not the least in America. Do you worry about how COVID may impact turnout and voting patterns?

[11:05:00]

PEREZ: I think we're going to have record turnout here notwithstanding the challenges, because people are determined to take back our democracy. And

what we're doing is making sure that we give voters choice. People who want to vote in person, we're working our tails off to make sure that they can

vote in person and that the polling places are open.

Those who want to vote early in person, there are many states that have two, three weeks of early in-person voting that's very consistent with

social distancing, so that you can go on days where there aren't crowds. And then people who want to vote by mail, vote no excuse absentee, making

sure we have that option.

Having those options is what is key. Everyone must make a plan. When people make a plan that is how we win. We have one-stop shopping for voters.

Iwillvote.com gives voters everything they want to know. People understand that our Democracy as we know it is on the ballot.

And while this president is trying to make it harder for people to vote, people are resilient in this country, and I am confident we're going to

have record turnout and Joe Biden will prevail.

ANDERSON: Let's have our viewer's just listen to Joe Biden at last night's CNN town hall event. I just want to play this sound bite.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BIDEN: If the president had done his job, had done his job from the beginning, all the people would still be alive all the people. I'm not

making this up.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: Let's be quite clear here. Do you agree with that, no deaths in the United States if Donald Trump weren't president, or had acted

differently?

PEREZ: It didn't have to be this bad. That's what the vice president has said repeatedly. The original sin of this pandemic is the president

ignoring the repeated advice of experts, and he himself now, we know from the Bob Woodward book, he and himself deliberately downplayed the

Coronavirus.

Why? Because he wanted a trade deals with China back in February. He got one and it was a lousy one. We know that if you wear masks, you save lives.

And the point the vice president is making is it did not have to be this bad. We're now approaching 200,000 deaths.

We are 4 percent of the world's population, 25 percent of the world's Coronavirus cases, 20 percent of the world's deaths. It didn't have to be

this bad. This president has been chronically--

ANDERSON: Tom, I do have to just stop you for one point. I do want to just pick you on this though because this is all about integrity, honesty and

trustworthiness. Do you agree with Joe Biden when he says that there would be no deaths in America if its Donald Trump weren't president? I have got

to press on you this one.

PEREZ: Well, again Joe Biden has said repeatedly. You have one quote there you should see what he has said repeatedly. It didn't have to be this bad.

We know that. We have had so many unnecessary deaths as a result of this president's failure.

That is a fact. This president has put his head in the sand. When they had the Republican Convention, they talked about the Coronavirus in the past

tense as if it were over. They do these events where they're putting lives in harm's way.

The CDC Director this week, his own CDC Director, said if you wear a mask, that is as or more important, I think he said, than the vaccine in the

short run. And this president immediately admonishes him and says, no, he's not right.

This president has his head in the sand. He's politicizing the vaccine development, so we lose confidence. Joe Biden can fix this.

ANDERSON: Let's take a look at the vaccine issue here. I want to get through as many questions as possible because it's great to have you on.

This is Kamala Harris, the VP nominee on your ticket on vaccines. Have a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DANA BASH, CNN CHIEF POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT: Let's just say there is a vaccine that is approved and even distributed before the election. Would

you get it?

SEN. KAMALA HARRIS (D-CA), VICE PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE: Well, I think that's going to be an issue for all of us. I will say that I would not trust

Donald Trump, and it would have to be a credible source of information that talks about the efficacy and the reliability of whatever he's talking

about. I will not take his word for it.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: I understand what the VP was getting at there. This is about the speed and politicization of these vaccines.

[11:10:00]

ANDERSON: But Tom, new Pew research shows 49 percent of Americans probably or definitely wouldn't get a vaccine if it was available to them. This

argument going on publicly may be persuading people to decide not to get a vaccine going forward. How are you going to convince people otherwise,

especially if Mr. Trump wins, to take a vaccine?

PEREZ: Well, listen, Joe Biden is going to win, and Joe Biden is going to level with the American people. The challenge we have right now in the

polling that you just cited is that you have a president who has repeatedly lied about the Coronavirus.

And so he has no credibility. Crisis management, crisis communication is all about communicating clearly, communicating compassionately and

communicating truthfully. He has violated all of that. So now we don't have that confidence.

When you see the politicization of decision making within critical federal agencies like the FDA that further undermines public confidence that's why

we need a person at the helm like Joe Biden who is going to level with the American people, in the same way FDR leveled with the American people.

He won't lie to people. He will be honest. We can get past this. We all want a vaccine as soon as possible but it has to be safe. It has to be safe

as determined by scientists, not determined by a politician who wants to get re-elected.

ANDERSON: This week we saw the normalization deals between the UAE, Bahrain and Israel, and there may be more to come. The Trump Administration clearly

hopes that is the case before the election. And there is certainly bipartisan support for these deals.

Both sides of the aisle agree that this was a major step forward. Do you believe Mr. Trump deserves a Nobel Prize for that, and if not, why not? But

before you answer that question, let's just have a listen to this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TRUMP: Obama got it in his first couple of weeks and nobody knew why he got it, including him. Remember, he couldn't tell you why. I stopped a lot of

deaths and I did it easy. It wasn't hard for me. It's sort of a natural thing to do. But I got nominated twice for the Noble Peace Prize. That's a

big deal. I don't know.

(APPLAUSE)

TRUMP: I should have nominated seven times because we did a lot of other things.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: Yes or no and if no, why not?

PEREZ: I mean, without there it is fact that it's a laughable proposition. You probably saw the Pew research showing that the respect around the world

of the United States is at a historic or a near historic low. Our ability to succeed in the world is dependent on our ability to develop and maintain

and nurture relationships around the world with our allies.

This is a president who has, from time to time, threatened to withdraw from NATO. This is a president who, by his own admission to Bob Woodward, would

much rather spend time with strong men like Erdogan than democratically elected leaders.

We are all excited about what happened with the UAE? That's the product of work that's been done by Republican and Democratic administrations over the

course of the last 20 years, and we want to continue that work.

At the same time, peace in the Middle East has never been more elusive because this president lacks the credibility to bring together the

Palestinians and the Israelis, because he is not an honest broker. And so the notion - by the way, Nobel is spelled N-O-B-E-l they weren't even able

to spell that correctly. This is a president that is a divider chief, not a uniter in chief.

ANDERSON: You're making a very good point about the spelling of Nobel. Let me just press you on this point. So if you say this is not a president who

can bring the Israelis and the Palestinians together. What is Joe Biden going to do to effort that?

PEREZ: Joe Biden has the credibility with both sides. I was the Labor Secretary here in the United States. I helped settle a number of critical

strikes. Verizon was on strike, the West Coast ports were on strike, and the key to bringing people together is to have credibility on all sides, to

be a good listener, to be perceived as an honest broker.

[11:15:00]

PEREZ: Donald Trump is not perceived as an honest broker. He has been one- sided. He has not put - and as a result of his being one-sided, you can't - he has no credibility to bring both sides together. It's very clear what

has to happen.

ANDERSON: Let me press you on this, because you are talking to an anchor broadcasting from the Gulf here and the wider Middle East is a big viewing

public for us. Let's just press this point just for a moment.

You say as a result of the sort of work that you've done in the past and Joe Biden has done in the past with unions, et cetera, that you believe

this guy is an honest broker. I think to conflate the sort of work that's been done in the past with an intractable conflict, which has been going on

for so long, is a little bit awry.

So let me just press you on this point. Is this going to be a campaign promise on foreign policy that Joe Biden can get the Israelis and the

Palestinians back together, on the back of these normalization deals, it has to be said, and get them into a deal looking at a two-state solution in

the first administration from Joe Biden?

PEREZ: Joe Biden has met with more world leaders than any politician in the United States and perhaps, you know almost any leader around the world. He

has met with folks in the Middle East dating back to the 1970s. He knows the region like the back of his hand.

He knows what has to be done. We're not safer as a result of Donald Trump. In the Middle East, the withdrawal from the Iranian deal there has made us

less safe as a region. And so Joe Biden has the credibility to sit down with the Israelis, the Palestinians, other leaders to work together to find

common ground that has been all too elusive.

A two-state solution has to be negotiated between the parties, and the notion that Donald Trump can bring those parties together is fanciful

because he has so politicized the situation there. He just frankly lacks an understanding of basic tenants of how you bring people together?

ANDERSON: This is a fascinating conversation, because we are looking at that channel, CNN International, at where the kind of strategy will be for

a Biden Administration versus a Trump Administration for the Middle East going forward?

So this is fascinating to hear from you. Finally, sir, if Donald Trump is as bad as Joe Biden says he is sexist, racist, incompetent, why is Joe

Biden finding it so hard to claim a clear edge with less than 50 days to go?

PEREZ: Well, we have 46 days till the weekend. We take nothing for granted. I would rather be us than them, though. He has made tremendous progress,

Joe Biden, against an incumbent president. It's very hard to defeat an incumbent president, because they will use the trappings of incumbencies,

and this president misuses the trappings of incumbency to try to gain an edge.

But you know what, the American people, this election is about trust. Who can you trust to get us out of the multiple crises we find ourselves in?

Coronavirus, an economic collapse, a civil rights crisis, we have a climate crisis. We have a president who has failed on all four of those.

The voters in the United States are asking the question, who can we trust to bring us together? We're about to mark the third anniversary of the

hurricane in Puerto Rico, Hurricane Maria, that ravished - just absolutely destroyed the island, and the President of the United States did next to

nothing, other than throw paper towels.

He treated the Puerto Ricans as second class citizens. That was a precursor. His abject failure in Puerto Rico was a precursor to his failure

on Coronavirus, his failure to address all the critical issues that are confronting the American people.

That is how Joe Biden is going to win, because he has a vision to make sure we build back better and we unite our nation and restore our credibility

around the world that we can be safer as a world.

ANDERSON: With that, we're going to leave it there. I have to say we are, as you and I speak, looking at the latest poll out of Arizona, and it's got

to be said, and you are well aware of this, that this is not a clear cut race result at the moment. Joe Biden there, choice for president, Arizona

registered voters.

[11:20:00]

ANDERSON: Latest one that we have Tom, Joe Biden 48, Donald Trump 44. We're going to have to leave it there. We thank you very much indeed for joining

us.

PEREZ: Pleasure to be with you.

ANDERSON: Thank you, sir. Up next, is Europe losing control of the pandemic? Officials are urging people to change their behavior to avoid

devastating lockdowns. We'll also hear from the man watching over Europe from the World Health Organization about those lockdowns and other

challenges of what seems to be a very rocky road ahead?

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ANDERSON: Europe is facing a really tough time as new COVID-19 infections spike Spain in particular feeling plenty of pain. You can see it here in

yellow the highest cases since May when COVID was at its peak.

In the UK, the government says the Coronavirus hospital admissions are doubling every eight days with widespread local lockdowns announced for

England, and it goes on. I could take you through a list of countries across the European Continent who is really struggling at this point.

My next guest says this latest spike should serve as a wake-up call. Dr. Hans Kluge is the W.H.O's Regional Director for Europe. As we speak today

this hour, doctor, what are you most concerned about in Europe?

DR. HANS KLUGE, W.H.O. REGIONAL DIRECTOR, EUROPE: Right. We do see that half of the European member states have a doubling in the number of new

cases over the last two weeks. It's still a lot in younger age groups, so the situation is concerning, but they're also optimistic in the way that

today in September does not mean necessarily the same as yesterday in February.

ANDERSON: So what are you prescribing at this point? It does seem that we are seeing localized outbreaks occurring with greater frequency, kids

getting back into school, social gatherings, people being out.

Have we got to the point, sir, where you would be suggesting that localized lockdowns are now no longer the way forward and that we should be looking

at national lockdowns once again?

DR. KLUGE: Well, we're not there Becky. I think it's a legitimate question, but too early. We do see that massive national lockdowns have such a high

price to be paid and is really the last resort.

[11:25:00]

DR. KLUGE: Localized sector lockdowns are still before any national lockdowns should be implemented and we do know much more how to monitor, to

manage with people's behavior. So basically we have two things one, coherence in policies between the regions, and second to attack the fatigue

because in many countries people are getting tired from the restrictions.

ANDERSON: How do you rate the leadership that we have witnessed from these European countries in the UK over this past six months?

DR. KLUGE: What we have seen in the beginning when national lockdowns were implemented, that number of cases really went down. And then that we

learned a lot and for example, in July we didn't see the same tremendous increase, so it worked.

In fact, what we have seen, Becky is that when the response is immediate and drastic, it's effective. But the virus is merciless when there is

denial --.

ANDERSON: I understand what you're saying. When we look at that graph, those numbers went down as a result of countries completely locking down.

You say we have learned a lot - you're saying that the W.H.O. doesn't not suggest that countries go into general lockdowns again but with the winter

season, for example comes the flu season.

Speaking to CNN just a short time ago, your colleague, the W.H.O's Coronavirus technical lead, discussed just that. Have a listen to what she

had to say.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MARIA VAN KERKHOVE, W.H.O. COVID-19 TECHNICAL LEAD: As we hit the flu season, as we start to see other viruses circulating, respiratory viruses

circulating, it's very difficult to distinguish COVID from flu from other respiratory pathogens that are circulating. And if the beds are full with

COVID patients, it will be very challenging for the health care system to deal with other respiratory diseases.

The good news is that we have a flu vaccine so you really need to see flu vaccination uptick increased across the Northern Hemisphere next year,

especially this year so that because we have a tool against flu. We don't yet have that for COVID, but we have it for flu, and that will help.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: Right. I want to talk about the flu season just in a moment, but your colleague pointing out there that we are seeing a creep-up in the

number of patients in ICU departments using the kind of respiratory technology that we all know was in such short supply during the last peak.

I put it to you again. If not general lockdowns, is there a risk that this second wave is worse than the first? I realize there is an economic impact

to these lockdowns, but is there really a choice at this point?

DR. KLUGE: Becky, it's a very legitimate question--

ANDERSON: And with that answer, which I was looking forward to hearing because I think it's a really important one, he's back, I'm being told. Is

he back? Yes, Dr. Hans is back, very good, sir. Thank you. You said that this is a legitimate question. What is the answer?

DR. KLUGE: Yes. So the answer is vigilance, and we have to attack the fatigue in the people and have coherent policies and we have to monitor. I

mean, the hospital capacity, there is a pandemic stock reserve that people have learned how to behave?

So we need to be cautious but no panic yet and take it based on public health data and not on political decisions.

ANDERSON: I want to talk about vaccines. You clearly are going to tell our viewers that you would encourage people to take a flu vaccine this year,

and let's hope that the flu season isn't anything like as bad as it has been over the last couple years.

The EU today signed a contract to purchase 300 million doses of the potential COVID-19 vaccine being developed by Sanofi. Some vaccine makers

we know like BioNTech say that most people will need two doses per person, which effectively means when we do have a vaccine it really isn't going to

be easily accessible for everybody, correct?

DR. KLUGE: Well, that may well be possible, Becky, but first of all, we have to start with what we know works. The flu vaccine, but also a COVID

vaccine and then to tackle the hesitancy on vaccination, right because let's not forget that's a big issue.

And then what W.H.O. is doing is working on the allocation framework. 3 percent of the population is for health care workers, and another 10

percent for people above 65 years and another 7 percent is people who we so called other disease as co-morbidity so a matter of prioritization.

[11:30:00]

ANDERSON: That's fascinating. Well, look you and I will follow up again. I mean, sadly, one wishes that we had exhausted the appetite need for the

guys like you, doctor, from the W.H.O, but sadly it is ever more important that we have you on the show and that you explain exactly what is going on,

so we do very much appreciate your time. Thank you for joining us today.

KLUGE: My pleasure.

ANDERSON: Well, Israel enters its second Coronavirus lockdown right at the start of the Jewish New Year. Ahead a live report on the restrictions that

people in Israel are facing yet again.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ANDERSON: It is a headline that we bring you all too often. Coronavirus cases have hit another shocking milestone; more than 30 million people

worldwide are now being infected with the virus. What makes those numbers so much more dismal is that they are triple what they were just three

months ago, this as the global toll keeps barreling toward the one million mark.

One global hotspot in Europe we've been discussing there, after encouraging some of the region may be experiencing a second wave; cases have risen

sharply in recent weeks. And across the rest of the globe, just three countries account for more than half of all the world's cases, the U.S.,

India and Brazil.

Among the many countries where cases are surging is Israel. Right now about now, the sun is setting marking the start of the Jewish New Year, and this

year that means the start of a second national lockdown. It's the first country that we have seen do that.

You can see here why repeated daily highs in new cases in recent days more than 6,000 just on Wednesday. Israel's first lockdown started in late

March, when it ended in May, then on revenue cases on any given day was down to around 20.

Well, Oren Liebermann is in Jerusalem where as far as I can tell; it looks as if the sun has actually set or is certainly setting. Look, very briefly,

we know we've been discussing this second lockdown. This is very difficult for people. Will it be observed?

OREN LIEBERMANN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: For the most part, I would say yes, we'll certainly see, as we move through the lockdown over the course of the

next three weeks, but there is definitely much more frustration, much more anger and much more confusion over what this lockdown actually entails.

It's not quite as strict as the first lockdown we saw from late April to early May, but it is still quite strict.

[11:35:00]

LIEBERMANN: But there is a frustration in how it's communicated, how those specific restrictions limitations have been put out and the fact that

they've changed at the last second.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu even saying last night that it might have to be made even tighter if the numbers don't come down, and there have been

quite a few health experts who have already warned that it's not tight enough to bring these very high numbers that we're seeing down .

So there is very much a chance that people will simply ignore the restrictions, although right now looking behind me as it beyond a short

time ago, at least it looks like it's being listened to, but three weeks is a long time.

And if it drags out longer, if the numbers don't come down enough, and perhaps crucially if there's no clear goal in sight and no clear plan from

the government, and there really hasn't been from what we've seen over the past eight months or so, that could also lead to citizens here simply

willfully ignoring the restrictions and getting on with their lives.

ANDERSON: On the one hand you got a country and a leader seemingly looking as strong as ever, normalizing relations with two Arab states in one day.

Reality is the home things are really, really complicated.

Let's just talk for one moment about that normalization deal, because it's been such big news this week. The White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows

claims five more countries are now seriously considering striking normalization deals following the UAE and Bahrain, three of which are in

this region. What do we know?

LIEBERMANN: President Donald Trump even suggested it might be more than that and that seven to nine countries were looking to normalize relations

with Israel. Some of them are obvious, because Senior Advisor Jared Kushner visited there, as well as Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.

Oman is probably at the top of the list. Oman was heavy in its praise of the Israel-Bahrain agreement. After that would probably be something like

Sudan. We know that Pompeo was there and Kushner may be there as well recently, I have to look back at his itinerary other countries that the

U.S. is targeting, no doubt Morocco.

Saudi Arabia would be the big one, as the defector leader of the Sunni Gulf states that would be a major win although that's a bit hard to see right

now because I think they need to see some movement on the Israeli/Palestinian conflict.

And then perhaps there are other countries in Africa they would like to see move on this. And go from there, but it's clear what their agenda is, and

what they are trying to do. And in certain cases, they can incentivize this, right?

Morocco is looking for recognition of its sovereignty in occupied Western Sahara. Sudan was the one that was trying to after the U.S. state sponsor

of terror list. So in Trump's transactional view of the world, there are things he can offer these countries if they'll agree to normalize relations

with Israel.

It's certainly not out of the question that in the next few weeks, before November 3rd, before election date that we'll see another country, perhaps

Oman, hopping on board and normalizing relations with Israel.

ANDERSON: And if you see it through the prism of the Trump Administration and only through the prism of the Trump Administration, more countries on

board would be a huge assess success ahead of that election.

All right. Thank you, sir. Coming up an ancient cave with evidence of humans from 46,000 years ago and it looks like this now. We explain who did

it and why, up next?

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[11:40:00]

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: With its tuck ways waters, golden beaches, Almaza Bay is one of Egypt's top tourist destinations. But this summer this has been

an added attraction to - visitors to this northern coastal resource some of Egypt's most cutting edge contemporary art. It's the brainchild of Nadine

Abdel Ghaffar.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

NADINE ABDEL GHAFFAR, FOUNDER, ART D-EGYPTE: Merging contemporary eye and historical spaces or outdoor spaces and creating more public eye, so you

can experience a space, either the sea, a historical site, and at the same time get a bit of culture as well through the lens of contemporary art.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Ali Mostafa is one of them. The landscape of Almaza became the news for his peace integration bundles of eye and wise that

formed two pinnacles.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ALI MOSTAFA, EGYPTIAN CONTEMPERORY ARTIST: The weather, the sky and sea can recover the people. It is the same meaning in my sculpture, this is same

thing, recover you.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Along with six other local artists, Ali worked side by side with tourists to create this 10-foot sculpture.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GHAFFAR: The contemporary art scene in Egypt is very vibrant. That was quite interesting. And for the tourists as well to get to no contemporary

Egyptian artists as usually internationally people know our past, they don't know our present.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The seven sculptures now dot the boardwalk of the resort during admiring glances from even the youngest of visitors.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

HAMED SHAMMA, TOURIST: It's the first time I see these sculptures, it gives a contrast between his city and modernity.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Our D-Egypts now hopes this project will pave the way for many others, raising further the profile of Egyptian artists.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GHAFFAR: With all like this example is repeated in different resorts and places around Egypt.

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UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Contemporary art in a luxury resort, bringing a touch of modern Egyptian culture to the traditional beach holiday experience.

ANDERSON: What was once the site of two sacred indigenous caves filled with aboriginal artifacts dating back more than 40,000 years is - those caves

sat under million of dollars worth of iron ore in a country when mining is the cornerstone of the economy.

And that is why in May they were blown up with dynamite, a replaceable part of our collective history, and the history of all of humankind blown up to

help a company make more money. Let me explain further.

The blasts allowed Rio Tinto, one of the world's largest mining companies, to access nearly a $100 million worth of high-grade iron ore. But the

decision to knowingly blow up signs that are considered sacred has damaged the company's reputation.

In fact more than that, it is a reprehensible thing to do the CEO and two other senior executives have now stepped down. And the Australian

parliament is holding an inquiry part. My next guest, Head of the National Native Titled Council in Australia is not satisfied with that response.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JAMIE LOWE, CEO, NATIONAL NATIVE TITLE COUNCIL: We don't think it is enough; we are also calling for systemic and forensic review of their

systems, processors and - the aboriginal lead. I've been told a lot of mining companies have raised the time, everyone that I've talked to is non-

aboriginal and they're doing aboriginal business so as the aboriginal lab and you know when they changed.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: Jamie Lowe is joining us now from Melbourne, Australia. It's good to have you on the show. And we just heard you saying that the CEO of Rio

Tinto stepping down is just not good enough. Just explain in basic terms what else it is that you want to see happen?

LOWE: Well, this critical, we say, - within Australia, the laws within Australia allow from side to - to be blowing up at this stage. So we need

state reform, we also need national reform, and we need mining companies to value indigenous heritage in this country. That's as simple as it gets. And

the only way we can do that is aboriginal people will front and center in making decisions.

[11:45:00]

ANDERSON: I know there is a push for an Australian to become the next CEO of Rio Tinto. Do you think that will happen, and if so, who do you want to

see fill that spot?

LOWE: Well, I think it should. 75 percent of Rio Tinto's profits come out of Australia, most of those at the topper range in WA. We haven't got a

name yet, but we need to do a forensic investigation of getting the right person in the right job, so we can very well - indigenous heritage here in

Australia.

ANDERSON: One of Australians most prominent and respected aboriginal politicians, Ben Wire, spoke to ABC, to ABC Radio. And he said, and I quote

here, "I think the conversations I had with board members of Rio suggested to me that they never really understood until perhaps the last 48 hours the

level of discontent they had caused." From meeting with members of Rio Tinto, is that your sense and belief as well?

LOWE: Well, it's unfortunately wouldn't be the first time this type of behavior has happened. It's something that happened in Australia on a

regular basis. It's ancient culture, its ancient history and ancient sight to blowing up on a weekly if not daily basis here in Australia. So this is

the reason why we need - not get it, and not only do companies not get it, the government doesn't get it, either.

ANDERSON: Fascinating. Look, while I've got you, I do want to talk about the Coronavirus pandemic, because clearly it's blight on so many parts of

the world everywhere. In fact many aboriginal communities in remote areas of Australia, I know, are locked down.

They've been locked down certainly when the Coronavirus pandemic began. It is, in part, one of the reasons why states like Western Australia are not

opening their state borders to protect such communities, we're told.

Those in remote areas often have high rates of health issues due to access to health care and are, therefore, more vulnerable, of course, to the

virus. Are these communities getting enough support during this pandemic?

LOWE: Our communities never had enough support, so that's one thing. I am not only give enough support for the pandemic. Not only is it a health

issue, it's also a nutrition issue getting food and supplies out to these communities can sometimes present difficulties.

So, I think, the governments need to do more. But we have been doing well in protecting this community to devote the numbers of COVID in those

communities.

ANDERSON: All right. Well, it's good to have you on, and we look forward to speaking to you again as we continue to report on the sort of work that you

are doing impressing the Australian government for a change in the laws on the issues that we have been discussing at the top of this entry. Thank you

very much, indeed, for joining us.

LOWE: Yes.

ANDERSON: Up next. The rhythm of the pandemic's new normal, despite what you see here, COVID is silencing many of Mexico's traditional Mariachi

Bands. CNN talks to an artist about facing what is a very shaky future.

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[11:50:00]

ANDERSON: Well, this is the scene that you would expect to see at any Mexican independence day, one of the country's largest celebrations every

September 16th but not this year. We are of course seeing massive COVID case spikes in Latin America and the Caribbean.

The Pan-American Health Organization says that is because several places are going back to the rhythms of normal life too soon. More than 8 million

cases have been counted so far in the region, Brazil of course accounting for more than half of those. In some parts of Mexico, though, death rates

are rising and life is nowhere near normal, especially for vulnerable workers.

Matt Rivers is standing by for us in Mexico City. And for many, the music of the Mariachi, the very sound bed of the country, but clearly at times

like this, it is those who work in that business who suffer the most?

MATT RIVERS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes. I mean, it's hard to overstate the importance of down to the Mariachis to the social fabric here in Mexico

City. This is such a city with a vibrant sense of culture, and you can't walk out your door sometimes, certain times of year, without hearing that

noise.

But because these groups exist to play in social a function, that's just not something that's happening during the pandemic, and as we found out

when we spoke to one of these groups, Becky, it's had a major impact.

The Independence Day holiday is a big deal for Felipe Luna Sosa in Mariachi in Mexico City. Let's see what this day holds, he says, as he and the other

members of his group get dressed in his tiny apartment, their uniforms pressed firm.

They say, God willing we can do it, hoping for some divine intervention in the year that's been difficult, to say the least. In any other year, they

would walk out into a jam-packed Plaza Garibaldi, the unofficial home base for Mariachis and those who loved to hear them sing.

But this is 2020, and the plaza sits empty and lifeless, a grim metaphor. He says before it was birthday parties, - and now our work is primarily

funeral related. It's the saddest thing. But at least the funerals still pay something. The group lost 75 percent of their income during the

pandemic, their struggle so representative of the average worker in an economy where the GDP might fall double digits this year.

So many jobs here in Mexico are in what's called the informal economy, jobs that are not regulated by the state like some Mariachis, housecleaners and

food vendors. Millions of those people have lost their jobs during this pandemic, and with no employment safety net, these are tough times.

Filipe's brother Mario says we have to pay rent. Credit cards, electricity, water, our savings are basically gone. But these mariachis say they're

determined to make this work.

So on this day, they're playing in an apartment complex brought here by the local government to give people a way to hear this music without gathering

in large public groups. To these musicians, this is clearly more than a job.

They know that they can bring a unique joy to people because you can't miss it on their faces. He says, on an important day, we're just trying to bring

happiness to as many as we can include themselves. They're working a bit more, earning a bit more, things are slowly opening back up, and in Mexico

there really can't be a new normal without Mariachis.

And, Becky, what really struck me was this group of Mariachis really takes their job and their safety right now very seriously. But at the same time,

they know what role they play in cultural life here, and they really do feel a sense of obligation to make people happy and to do - play their part

in that sense. And so in that regard, this was a hopeful day that I spent with these guys.

ANDERSON: Yes.

RIVERS: It was really nice to see.

[11:55:00]

ANDERSON: And you know, let's face it, they've got to earn an honest buck as well. Matt, very briefly, just how concerned should people in DFA,

Mexico City and others be about the kind of sort of social gatherings that will be seen across this Independence Day and what that might mean for

COVID spread?

RIVERS: I mean, Becky, you saw what happened in the United States, for example. After Memorial Day, after July 4th, was there a slight uptick

after Labor Day and it would be the same kind of thing here. That's the fear we saw few days of celebrations earlier this week.

We didn't see a lot of big public gatherings outdoors, but what is happening behind closed doors. And we won't know the answer to that

obviously for another week or two, but that is certainly the concern. These holidays lead to a rise in infections and that's bad news in a country like

Mexico where this outbreak has really shown no substantive signs of dramatically slowing down.

ANDERSON: Sure. Matt is on the story for you. Thank you, sir. We have done what we said on the box and what we promised. We have whipped you around

your world London, Beijing, Johannesburg, Melbourne, Mexico City and more. But where there any more colorful than Mexico City, I'm not sure. And

that's why we leave you with the Mariachi. From us it is a very good night, stay well. Enjoy.

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END