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Connect the World

New Outrage from West over Violent Crackdown; Iran Restricts Internet, Blocks some Social Media Platforms; Survey: U.S. CEOs are Preparing for a Recession; Russian Troops Lament Lack of Supplies, Manpower, Training; Report: Europe could Face Natural Gas Shortage in Winter; Country Music Legend Loretta Lynn Died at 90. Aired 11a-12p ET

Aired October 04, 2022 - 11:00   ET

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

[11:00:00]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ANNOUNCER: Live from CNN, Abu Dhabi. This is "Connect the World" with Becky Anderson.

BECKY ANDERSON, CNN HOST, CONNECT THE WORLD: Hello and welcome back to the show as more Iranians take to the streets the West sending a message to

Tehran over violent crackdowns on women's rights protesters.

The European Union set to meet right now to discuss Iran where activists say dozens of protesters have been killed. The U.S. President says he is

gravely concerned about reported repression he warns Iran faces further costs. Iran responding calling that hypocrisy to accuse U.S. of fueling the

protests.

Canada sanctioning 34 more people and entities that it says carries out "Gross human rights violations" and it's barring more people from entering

the country Foreign Minister accusing the regime of a blatant disregard for human life.

And the UK summoned the top Iranian diplomat there. Well, despite the risks today we are seeing more students marching many of them young girls as

young as junior high school age. This video comes from the pro-reform activist outlet IranWire. It is difficult to get information from the

ground and video from the ground. But let's get you to CNN's Jomana Karadsheh who is in Istanbul and the point here is that these are images of

youngsters school kids now making their voices heard, which is unprecedented how significant development is this?

JOMANA KARADSHEH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Look Becky, I mean, it does feel like if you look at the history of Iran, especially over the past two decades,

it feels like it has been one long cycle of none and of never ending protests.

And what has made this protest movement very different is the youth, these, this young generation of Iranians who are continuing to take to the streets

who are saying enough, two years of repression who are out on the streets demanding rights and freedoms they have never known.

And despite the government's crackdown, they are really defined continuing to take to the streets and what has been remarkable, as you mentioned

there, right. We've seen over the weekend, more and more university students staging protests on campuses and out on the streets in different

cities across the country.

And what we've seen right now in the past couple of days, you're seeing more and more video emerge of these young school girls. Just stunning

images of girls removing their headscarves waving their headscarves in the air, chanting the slogans now familiar to everyone from these protests of

Death to the Dictator and women life of freedom.

And you know, even in Tehran today, we've seen what can only be described as these spontaneous outbursts of defiance where you see these groups of

young girls walking in the streets in small groups, and they start removing their headscarves waving them in the air and chanting in the middle of the

streets.

It's really quite remarkable what we are seeing right now, Becky, and despite the government crackdown, they don't seem to be going away. This is

a generation that says they are determined that they are going to continue until they get those changes and the freedoms they have never known. You've

seen the women at the forefront of the protests. Now you're seeing the younger girls doing it. Clearly that barrier of fear in Iran has been

broken.

ANDERSON: Jomana Karadsheh on the story and you've been covering this since these protests began. These most recent protests began more than two weeks

ago now. Jomana thank you! And while the age of these demonstrators is new as Jomana points out, this is not the first time that students have been

front and center in Iran.

In 1999 of students in Teheran demonstrated against a crackdown on press freedom, and software approved reform newspaper was shut down at least one

person was killed on the first day of protests. Amnesty International says four protesters were sentenced to death.

10 years later, millions of Iranians demonstrated over alleged election fraud. After Conservative President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad won a second term

their cause became known as the Green Movement. Amnesty International says at least 106 protesters were killed them.

And now demonstrations triggered by the death of Mahsa Amini have taken well seen people take to the streets in more than 45 cities. The death toll

so far at 52 according to Amnesty could be much higher as I mentioned, Canada among those now calling out Tehran.

My next guest says it's not going far enough, though. Maryam Shafipour a Former Political Prisoner in Iran now based in Canada tweets the Canadian

government sanctions the Major General of the IRGC but not the whole entity.

[11:05:00]

ANDERSON: Is this a joke? Well, Maryam joins us from Toronto. And you have experience --thank you for joining us with the Iranian government. Clearly,

you do not believe the response by the international community has been enough explain.

MARYAM SHAFIPOUR, HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDER: Hi, Becky. Thanks for having me. Yes, you're right. It's not enough. You know Canada sanctions, the Major

General IRGC, but not the whole entity. It's kind of weird. I have a clear question about why.

Because, you know, if the Major General is criminals, so they should declare the whole entity as a terrorist. I afraid that the only reason I

came to my mind, it's that we already have the top officials of IRGC here in Canada as a citizen or on the status of just permitted resident if

Canadians enlist IRGC as a terrorist should definitely they should, and persecute them in Canada. So they just refuse to enlist IRGC as a terrorist

entity.

ANDERSON: I want to talk about why it is that we have seen a relatively muted response, certainly from Western nations to date? Before we do that,

I do want to get your story because it's important here. You were expelled from your University back in 2010, as I understand it, for engaging in

political activities, including blogging, reporting for local newspapers, and your involvement in student movements.

I want to get your response to the images that we have seen not just from sort of mature students, as it were, but by high school age, young women,

that that are coming into us now from the streets of Tehran. What risks do students on the ground face now?

SHAFIPOUR: Yes, you know its kinds of natural flow of life, they want to ride bicycle, choose their clothes, they right - they want to have the

right just life as you know, they live as a normal people have a normal life. They're so brave.

And I want to mention that they are the children to leave the neuron in the heart of Middle East, under the suppression of the regime, and, you know,

the religious dictatorship for more than 40 years, and it's amazing.

You know, this young generation are totally different from us, just those little boys, not only acknowledge women's rights, but fight for them even

die for them. They are more you know, they are braver. They are more brave adults.

And also they you know, this protest - I fairly can call it Feminist Revolution. You know, it's totally different from what we experienced in

past because every, now people from every layer of society, join these protests, and they have no demands, but just overthrown this - regime.

ANDERSON: You're explaining how things played out back when you were a student activist in 2009, and how that compares to what we're watching now?

What was your experience in Evin Prison? And as you watch these scenes play out on social media and on your television screen? How are you feeling?

SHAFIPOUR: You know, I passed 67 days in solitary confinement and I was so sick. I felt that I was you know, I could not get out of that cell. And the

only thing that saved my life, it's, you know, international pressure on their - on government.

And also this attention this pressure from, you know, the world watching us watching what the regime is doing, saved many lives these days. Again, we

had some protests in 2019, the regime massacre one 1500 people on the streets only within three days.

[11:10:00]

SHAFIPOUR: But these days, they don't dare even just to do same. They kill people but not as much as they did in, you know, in the lack of words

attention in 2019.

ANDERSON: Right. The Supreme Leader blames the U.S. and Israel for fermenting these protests. He doesn't provide evidence, but what do you

make of that argument?

SHAFIPOUR: About the Supreme Leader?

ANDERSON: Mm.

SHAFIPOUR: You know nobody cares about him these days. Yes. You know, there are more division and more on agreement between top officials, especially

about the replacement of him as an heir. And yes, this, this is the only rule he has these days in Iran.

And yes, you know, the young generation people in schools, universities, they don't care about what's going on, what's their decision, they want to

have normal life.

ANDERSON: In an effort, some argue, to keep the diplomatic route to a nuclear deal open. Western nations, when we talked about this, at the

beginning have been somewhat slow. Some argue to respond to this crackdown, we are beginning to see responses.

And as we speak, the European Union considers what they do next. To your mind, what should happen next?

SHAFIPOUR: At first, I should mention that there are some rumors about some kinds are behind negotiation, behind the scenes negotiation directly

between Iran and U.S. This, this is very disappointing. I guess, especially these days when there is only a breath for regime being overthrown that

would be not acceptable from the Democrats.

If this happens, we as Iranian people, we won't forgive Democrats in U.S. I think, you know tanks to sanctions, just Iranian regime, they don't have

money to hire mercenaries, you know, from neighbor countries, they cannot suppress people as before.

And it's very good news because we finally can overthrow this crop regime and bring more peace, stop terrorism stop massive immigration to Europe. I

guess this is more beneficial for European governments or U.S. governments.

ANDERSON: Maryam Shafipour's thoughts, your analysis and insight important as we continue to monitor and report on this story. Thank you. The Iranian

government is also cracking down against the protests online, restricting the internet and blocking some social media platforms.

Activists say blackouts are meant to keep protesters from organizing and they want Big Tech to do more. CNN's Katie Polglase explains.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KATIE POLGLASE, CNN REPORTER (voice over): As protesters took to the streets of Iran following the death of Mahsa Amini, video clips of this

uprising began to flood the internet, making sure the world saw and heard the desire for change. But then it went dark.

ALP TOKER, DIRECTOR, NETBLOCKS: Starting with Instagram then WhatsApp, then LinkedIn.

POLGLASE (voice over): Netblocks is one of the global leaders on internet monitoring. They quickly observed alarming activity in Iran.

TOKER: What's been astounding is the variety of internet restrictions and disruptions that have been put in place.

POLGLASE (voice over): Users inside Iran confirmed the shutdown sending CNN screenshots of the sites they couldn't access. The Iranian government has a

long history of restricting the intimate.

Protests in 2019 prompted the most severe shutdown to date, and attempt to hide from the world a violent crackdown on dissent. The Iranian people have

become experts at finding workarounds, a young tech savvy population; vast numbers of them use VPNs Virtual Private Networks.

Now even this may be difficult. This teenager told us via text from inside Iran, that the government is disabling VPNs one by one. However, the

obstacles Iranians face have come not just from their own government, but also from the international community.

For the last decade, U.S. sanctions led many major tech companies to withdraw from Iran completely. Mahsa Alimardani is an Internet Researcher

focusing on freedom of expression online in Iran.

[11:15:00]

MAHSA ALIMARDANI, SENIOR INTERNET RESEARCHER, ARTICLE 19: There's a massive, you know, population of Iranian technologists Iranian developers

who rely on certain services, like Google Cloud Platform or Google App Engine. And so this has been basically blocked from the U.S. side because

of sanctions, and this has had a detrimental impact.

POLGLASE (voice over): Activists say that removing alternatives for Iranian users has actually bolstered the Iranian government's efforts to set up a

national internet.

ALIMARDANI: Infrastructure stays local; the data stays local, the ability for the authorities to censor and control what's going on in the internet

remain centralized into their hands.

POLGLASE (voice over): Following the latest protests, the U.S. Treasury finally announced updates to their sanctions, in order to encourage tech

companies to operate in Iran.

ALIMARDANI: It's been almost 10 years that Iranians have had to wait for this update in the license. And while better late than ever, it has been a

belated action by the U.S. government. And so there has been a lot of harm done in the interim.

POLGLASE (voice over): The onus is now on tech companies to act. Many large tech firms, including Google and Meta have said they plan to open up new

services to Iran after the U.S. announcement. But activists say they're doing a fraction of what's possible.

RASHIDI: The Iran is kind of isolated, so we need to break that isolation. So we need to see more help coming from other Big Tech companies like

Google.

ALIMARDANI: The crucial services really have not been worked on yet. So there's a lot to be desired.

POLGLASE (voice over): Google told CNN ongoing legal or technical barriers may block the provision of certain services, but we are exploring whether

additional products might be made available. Meanwhile, those inside Iran remained frustrated at the inaction. This young Iranian told CNN tech

companies were restricting them and not the government. Katie Polglase, CNN, London.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ANDERSON: Well, CNN has contacted both the U.S. and the Iranian governments for comment; we have yet to receive a response. So Iran is fighting back

against the protests on the streets and on the web. There's a lot more on these internet restrictions on our website, along with the latest news and

images out of Iran as we get them just use your CNN app or CNN digital sights.

Well outrage over North Korea's latest weapons test how the world is responding after Kim Jong-Un's regime fired a missile right over Japan. And

more Ukrainian flags are being raised in regions that Russia is claiming as its own, a live report from the heart of Ukraine is coming up later.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ANDERSON: Japan's Prime minute says his country will respond as soon as possible and with utmost vigilance. And that's a quote after North Korea

sent a ballistic missile over Japan for the first time in five years.

[11:20:00]

ANDERSON: Fumio Kishida also saying he would speak later today with the U.S. President, President Biden about the incident. Now that launch early

on Tuesday, triggered what was a rare alert in Japan. You can hear it here that urged people to take shelter.

Tokyo, Seoul and Washington all condemning Pyongyang for the launch, it could signal a major escalation of the regime's recent weapons test that is

a concern. More now from CNN's Will Ripley following the story from Taiwan. It does seem like North Korea has taken its recent weapons tests to the

next level. Question is why now, and what happens next?

WILL RIPLEY, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, North Korea is clearly at this stage, perfecting weapons that they have tested previously,

it's believed that this launch was the croissant 12, which we have seen in the air before.

But we've never seen this missile travel so far. You're talking more than 4000 kilometers. Basically, what North Korea has done, Becky, is they have

demonstrated a striking range that would easily include the crucial U.S. territory of Guam.

And so remember, when North Korea five years ago, threatened Guam, now they've actually demonstrated that they have a missile that could not only

hit Guam, but you can go 700 miles further.

So that certainly has to be troubling for the United States, as well as of course, Japan and South Korea, who have all strongly condemned this launch?

Where does he go from here? That is really in Kim Jong-Un's hands.

But from what we can observe on satellites, there's a lot of activity at their nuclear test site, it's been believed for months now that they could

conduct a nuclear test really, at any moment. There are concerns that North Korea could launch some of these missiles from submarines.

And remember, this is now the 23rd missile testing event of the year, five of them just within the last 10 days. It's really it's a dizzying pace and

unprecedented pace. And a lot of these short range missiles Becky are the kind that can theoretically change direction that they describe it as an

irregular trajectory when they're looking at it on the radar.

These are the kinds of short range missiles that could hold nuclear warheads, similar to the tactical nuclear weapons that are being talked

about so much right now.

You know, in Ukraine, the potential threat to Ukraine, North Korea, using actually very similar technology to Russia, or at least the former Soviet

Union, also developing similar potential tactical nuclear weapons.

So it's certainly not a development that anybody wanted to see. But it's not unexpected, given that North Korea has been kind of ramping leading up

to this ever since diplomacy broke down with the former U.S. President Donald Trump you know, back in 2018, early 2018.

ANDERSON: Yes, story that you are covering, of course, day on day in, day out. Thank you. Let's get you up to speed folks on some of the other

stories that are on our radar right now.

And as victim's families mourn the dead, Indonesia's police force says it is still trying to find out why officers fired tear gas into a crowd at a

football match. At least 131 people were killed and more than 300 were injured in the resulting crush as fans fled to an exit gate.

Fans had stormed the field after the home team lost to a better rival. Well at least 15 people have been killed and 20 injured during a prison right in

Ecuador. This is the latest incident what has been deadly jail violence in that country, authorities blaming gangs fighting for control over territory

and drug trafficking routes as the cause.

A former Lebanese ambassador has been holding a peaceful sitting at his bank today near Beirut demanding his own money. George - wife tells CNN

that the bank refused to give him the amount he withdraws each month.

For other banks were stormed by Lebanese depositors on Tuesday. Well, major CEOs in the USA they are feeling less confident that Federal Reserve can

achieve a so called soft landing and avoid tipping the U.S. economy into recession.

A new survey shows a staggering 91 percent of business leaders of large companies are predicting a recession in the next 12 months. Many say they

are in better shape now though to deal with any downturn than they were during the financial crisis in 2008.

I want to bring in CNN's Marc Stewart live from New York; it's good to have you. It does appear that major CEOs are spooked. Perhaps that's not

surprising. What is interesting is that we have seen quite a bounce on the U.S. markets today. So I'm just wondering whether these rate rises are now

priced in, whether there's more confidence that the Fed may deactivate as it were.

[11:25:00]

ANDERSON: Slow this down at some point in the near future, as opposed to continuing to raise rates. What's the story here? What's your sense of what

we are seeing?

MARC STEWART, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Becky, I think based off of the conversations I've had with one, a portfolio manager, and then two, just

looking at some of the research from the banking front, from Deutsche Bank, in particular, there is a feeling that perhaps some of the data is going to

signal, perhaps some encouragement.

And what the data I'm talking about is some of the manufacturing data that we saw here in the U.S, the growth, there was no growth actually, there was

a decline in some of the manufacturing data. And it wasn't as anticipated; it was a little bit worse than thought.

So perhaps, that will send a message a signal to the Federal Reserve, not to raise interest rates as much as they have been so far. But these

interest rate hikes are very much a global concern. We've seen it in markets across Europe.

And it makes the cost of doing business a lot more expensive. But for the moment, based off of the data that has been seen here in the United States,

at least, there is perhaps some hope that maybe the Federal Reserve won't be as aggressive as it has in the past.

ANDERSON: Yes and a UN agency just yesterday releasing a report warning that the Fed and Western central banks are pushing the global economy into

recession.

This was the United Nations Conference on Trade Development, particularly concerned about the impact on developing markets. At this point, I guess

the sort of counter argument here was what choice did the central banks have in the short term?

And, you know, as you rightly point out, is the data now suggesting that they don't need to be as aggressive going forward, correct?

STEWART: Correct. In the United States, at least it takes anywhere from about six to 12 months to see the impact of interest rate hikes. So we're

kind of in that window, if you will. But if you have discussions with economists, and you look at what we are facing right now, interest rate

hikes are the true and tried way to fight against it. Yes, it is painful, it hurts individuals, and it also hurts businesses, but the track record is

proven. So I think that is a legitimate point. There may not have been any other choice. But to do this, there are only so many tools in the box.

ANDERSON: Tough times for central bankers who would want to be one at present. Marc, it is a pleasure to have you on. Welcome to CNN, looking

forward to doing business with you going forward.

STEWART: Thank you, Becky.

ANDERSON: Still to come as Ukraine, as Ukraine makes gains on the battlefield. Russia's parliament is moving forward on annexing four

Ukrainian regions, the latest developments are ahead. And Elon Musk sparks yet another Twitter storm but not for the reason you might think, why

Ukrainian officials are angry at the tech billionaire that is ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[11:30:00]

ANDERSON: Ukraine says it won't negotiate with Russia. That is the word from President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who has signed a decree formally ruling

out negotiations with his Russian counterpart. Now that decree is a response to Moscow's attempt to annex four Ukrainian regions.

Russia's - House of Parliament unanimously approved that annexation today despite the fact that it violates international law. Once surprisingly, the

Kremlin says President Putin is poised to sign the annexation measures.

Meanwhile, a key Putin ally is calling on the Kremlin to make use of low yield nuclear weapons. We spoke to a former Russian diplomat about this.

Boris Bondarev says Putin will not resort to nuclear weapons unless he is cornered. Have a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BORIS BONDAREV, FORMER RUSSIAN DIPLOMAT: I believe that he may try to do so if he feels that he's fully cornered, and he has no way out. And I think if

Ukraine is to continue the victorious march towards new temporarily occupied lands, then I think Mr. Putin will feel this very soon.

And but for now, I don't think that the likelihood of his using nuclear weapons for today is quite high. I don't think it is, it is high, but it

may be higher later. At this point his position in Russia is weaker than it was before and he gets more and more weaker every day.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: A former Russian diplomat too packed in his job in May in defiance over Russia's or Putin's decision to invade Ukraine. Well, Russia

says more than 200,000 people have joined the armed forces as part of its partial mobilization.

The defense minister says there'll be trained at special facilities. But as my colleague Melissa Bell now reports, many of the new conscripts say

they're being sent to the frontlines without training and without equipment.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MELISSA BELL, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Russian President Vladimir Putin's military once feared, now mocked. No laughing the officer says to

her recruits, asked her wives, girlfriends, mothers for period pads and tampons. Do you know what tampons are for?

You stick it in a bullet wound she says it swells and closes the wound. Bring your own sleeping bag too, the men are told. On television the

hundreds of thousands being mobilized by President Putin are well equipped.

In reality, their videos on social media tell a different tale. We were officially told that there would be no training before being sent to the

combat zone, this recruit says, we had no shooting no tactical training, no theoretical training nothing.

Another officer addresses his recruits. If you have hernias, plates in your head, I was told you're fit for mobilization he says, so stop saying you

can't.

I live on pills. So if I go, you'll be doing your tasks like everyone else. CNN cannot independently verify these widely circulated videos. Even the

Deputy Prime Minister of the Donetsk People's Republic annexed Friday by Russia couldn't help but be honest as the city of Lyman fell to Ukrainian

forces.

The situation on the Lyman front is bad. Let's speak frankly, he tells the Russian propagandist. Everything is the same as everywhere else. Namely,

there are not enough people.

The sorry state has tainted the hallowed halls of Russian state television, where careful skepticism about Putin's war is increasingly tolerated. This

time it's the Head of the state owned RT network. If I had to gather train loads of body armor socks and the rest for those already on the front line

she asks have these 300,000 been supplied with all that they need?

[11:35:00]

BELL (voice over): These recruits in the central city of Perm clearly haven't. Their lament being dropped by the side of the road late at night,

saying they'll have to build a fire to stay warm. The impact is plain to see.

Ukraine recaptured more territory in the past month than Russia had gained in the past five. Ukrainian intelligence well aware of the propaganda value

regularly puts out intercepted calls between Russian soldiers and family back home.

There should be helicopters, planes; the woman says there's nothing, nothing, nothing, says the soldier. What kind of army is this? She replies,

just a TV show. Putin's army once feared, now in disarray. Melissa Bell CNN.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ANDERSON: Well as Russia's invasion of Ukraine drags on, the CEO of Tesla is weighing in with his own ideas about how to end the conflict and

sparking what is a backlash and that is an understatement in the process.

In a twitter poll, Elon Musk put forward a number of suggestions including redoing elections in Ukrainian territories annexed by Russia, and making

Crimea formally part of Russia.

The post has caused a storm online with the majority of respondents voting no to Musk's proposals, and Ukrainian officials aren't happy either. CNN's

Clare Sebastian is following this story for us from London.

And what's ironic here is that at the beginning of this war, Musk was actually quite a hero in Ukraine. And he was talking about SpaceX, ensuring

that his Starlink satellites were in the air to ensure that internet and, you know, technology can continue in Ukraine, not so popular today. A lot

of backlash in Ukraine to this, just explain exactly what we're seeing here.

CLARE SEBASTIAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Becky, I think it's clear that he's pretty much undone that goodwill that he earned himself at the

beginning of this conflict. The suggestions that he made very clearly crossing red lines for Ukraine suggesting that they should accept

unsolicited referenda on the status of their sovereign territory, even if they are observed by the United Nations.

The pirating of a core Kremlin line that giving of Crimea to Ukraine in 1954, by Nikita Khrushchev was a mistake. This you hear in a lot of Putin

speeches, so that is very concerning to Ukraine.

And the reaction, as you say, has been pretty swift and pretty furious. President Zelenskyy himself tweeting out a sort of parody of Musk's poll

his own poll saying which Elon Musk do you like more one who supports Ukraine, or one who supports Russia that one has got a lot of votes, almost

as many as Musk's poll.

Ukraine's Ambassador to Germany, perhaps the most furious of them all tweeting out some pretty choice words that we've had to blur out there. He

called it and hit my very diplomatic reply to you.

And perhaps Becky in Russia itself should be the most instructive tweet to Elon Musk came from the deputy head of Russia Security Council, the former

President Dmitry Medvedev, who said kudos to Elon Musk, suggesting at the end of that tweet.

His next tweet will run like Ukraine is an artificial state aligning Musk with that with one of the perhaps most sinister elements of Russia's sort

of pretext behind this war, which is that it doesn't think that Ukraine should exist as a sovereign state.

Now far from backing away from this Musk has doubled down on these points of view in various responses to the backlash against his tweets. But I

think perhaps the most instructive the thing that can be learned from this is that Ukrainian response really underscores what we saw with President

Zelenskyy signing that decree today. They are not willing to negotiate on anything that involves relinquishing any of their territory, Becky.

ANDERSON: Amazing. Thank you. Close persons in the house for you, just ahead growing concern about gas supplies in Europe this winter. I want to

look at energy security, with an executive from Energy Intelligence that is coming up.

And why some major CEOs aren't buying the idea that the U.S. economy could have a soft landing, we'll connect you to all of that coming up here on

"Connect the World".

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[11:40:00]

ANDERSON: The International Energy Agency says Europe may be in for a rough winter. That's because the energy crunch caused by Russia's war in Ukraine

could mean a natural gas shortage on the continent.

It's no surprise the agency is urging EU nations to adopt gas saving measures. And there's a similar message coming from the UK's energy

regulator. Ofgem, as it's known, says that Britain is facing what it calls a significant risk of gas shortages this winter.

While the energy intelligence forum is underway in London couldn't be better time discussing global energy security. And that is where we find

Executive Editor for Operations Noah Brenner, who is joining us live.

I do just want to do a deep dive on this and just crunch some numbers; because I think a lot of people will say that the IEA is quite frankly,

behind the curve on this one. I mean, we already knew.

And it was quite clear that energy that Europe faces an energy crunch. The question is, how bad are things going to be? So let's just have a look at

the sort of supply and demand sort of equation here. What's the reduction in gas supplied from Russia this year at this point? Is it clear?

NOAH BRENNER, EXECUTIVE EDITOR FOR OPERATIONS, ENERGY INTELLIGENCE: Well, I mean, what we've seen is Russia, toggling gas up and down the gas supplies.

I mean, we do know that say supplies through the Nord Stream pipeline have been cut off, this was a major artery into Germany.

I mean, what that's really left right now is supplies through Ukraine and supplies through the south - stream. And so you know, while Europe in

particular therapy has cut its dependence on Russian gas, it doesn't mean that that they still don't need every molecule that they can get as they

strive to build both storage, but also to, you know, to keep gas flowing through the winter. I mean, storage alone is not sufficient to get the

continent through.

ANDERSON: Where are the shortfalls going to be made up? Who has gas that can get to Europe for this winter crunch?

BRENNER: Well, where we've seen additional gas supplies come from have been Norway, which is gas that is shipped by pipeline, and we've seen -

everything in its power to try to ramp up those supplies.

For instance, Norwegian fields used to inject natural gas to produce additional oil, they altered those injections in order to send that gas

through pipelines to Europe. So we have seen additional supplies there.

Now we've seen additional promises and pledges from places like Azerbaijan from places in North Africa, say Algeria. You know, we still need to see

that additional supply actually come through, see those promises turned into two molecules.

And then it's really the global LNG market. And that's being essentially driven by high prices in Europe. And so this is one of the difficulties is

that Europe needs this additional gas.

But you know, the main way to draw that gas into the European market is to pay a very, very high price for it. And we've seen the knock on effect both

in gas prices but also in power prices.

[11:45:00]

ANDERSON: Yes. And it's the reason why you'll see Olaf Schultz, for example, in this region here in the UAE recently, while why you see deals

being struck, or certainly potential deals being struck with the likes of Qatar exert to as well.

Look, there is an argument that suggests that this is all working out quite well, for the Norwegians and for example, the U.S. in the long term. What

do you make of that?

BRENNER: Sure, I mean, it's no secret that U.S. and particularly the U.S. LNG industry is well placed to backfill some of these Russian supplies. And

strategically, you know, the U.S. is more than happy to, to step into that.

We have seen additional developments move ahead in the U.S., particularly along the U.S. Gulf Coast, also in Mexico, where U.S. gas is feeding into

those export facilities. And so certainly from a strategic standpoint, yes, I mean, this, this has not been, it hasn't hurt the prospects of the U.S.

LNG industry, to the way that this has worked out.

ANDERSON: Just, you know, for our viewers who aren't as imbued in the machinations of this oil and gas industry, as you are. And it's great to

have you on because you are an expert, what kind of infrastructure is needed to be able to fill this supply? And realistically, just how quickly

could that come online?

BRENNER: Well, so I mean, what's really interesting, for us, as you know, a company that looks at these, these trends in LNG markets and development

is, in some ways how quickly Europe has moved.

We've seen Germany bring on, you know, move ahead with these floating storage and degasification units, and to approve those very, very quickly.

So in some ways, and some parts of Europe have been able to, to build the receiving infrastructure, quite rapidly, much more so than we would have

seen in the past.

I would say, though, you know, that receiving infrastructure also has to be matched with pipelines that can move the gas to where it needs to be moved

to, whether that's within Germany, or in other places in the European continent.

But more importantly, we need to see the production infrastructure being built globally. So in the U.S., in places like Africa, you know, really

across the world, you need to see the wells drilled, you need to turn the liquefaction plants that turn this gas into liquid form, you need to see

those built in and those take a much longer time.

And so that's where, you know, when you oftentimes will see oh, well, this, you know, this developments moving ahead, this developments moving ahead,

even places like Qatar that have planned massive expansions, that gas isn't coming on this winter, necessarily. That gas, you know, it's if you're

looking further out, it's maybe 2024, in some cases 2026.

ANDERSON: Yes.

BRENNER: And so--

ANDERSON: And in the energy diversification argument--

BRENNER: Is impossible.

ANDERSON: Yes. And the energy diversification argument, of course, LNG is seen as a sort of bridging fuel. But I mean, you're talking about

infrastructure, that actually, you know, if you are looking to a diversified world of energy going forward, this isn't popular stuff,

talking about the building of infrastructure of this.

Very quickly Nord Stream pipeline, the Swedish coast guard says one leak on Nord Stream 2 is actually growing in size. What do we know about what's

going on?

BRENNER: Sure, I mean, the situation with the Nord Stream pipeline is obviously very fluid. I know that there are, you know, as you pointed out

these investigations ongoing.

I mean, this is, I will say one of the hot topics among the people that we speak with is the extent of that damage, and how quickly it could be fixed.

We know that if it were to, you know, if we were to try to fix that pipeline, if the companies that owned it, were trying to fix that pipeline,

which is Gazprom majority owned.

That can be complicated by sanctions, simply because many of the same sanctions that are put in place on Russia's industry around technology and

technology transfer and working with them could slow that development.

And so, you know, very fluid situation, and really unclear as to exactly what kind of that end might be. So I guess, I would have to say, you know,

we really are watching that as closely as your viewers are.

ANDERSON: Yes, absolutely. And what happened is also a question which is unanswered at this point. Thank you, sir. Well, U.S. lawmakers slamming

Saudi Arabia over rumors that the kingdom and its allies will slash oil production.

California Democrat Ro Khanna, accuses Saudi led OPEC Plus Alliance, which of course includes Russia of fleecing Americans and destabilizing the

economy, he says calling Saudi Arabia a "Third rate power".

[11:50:00]

ANDERSON: He also says production cuts would boost Russia and Vladimir Putin. That oil cartel reportedly considering cutting its output by a

million barrels a day to boost sagging prices and that will be the largest reduction since 2020.

A decision could come Wednesday when OPEC plus leaders meet in person for the first time since the pandemic in Vienna. And do stay up to date with

everything you need to know about that meeting with CNN's Middle East newsletter on why after a year of tight markets.

One analyst says the alliance will not hesitate to cut production amid a deteriorating economic outlook, more on that conversation on our digital

platforms. While you're watching "Connect the World" live from Abu Dhabi, still ahead from the humblest of beginnings to unimaginable fame and

fortune. The country music world mourning a legend tonight, we look back on the life of Loretta Lynn.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ANDERSON: Well, this just into CNN. Country music star Loretta Lynn has died at the age of 90. She made her name singing of her pride in rural

America and I heard down-home vocals made her a queen of the - genre for seven decades. Stephanie Elam looks back at the life of a country music

legend.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

STEPHANIE ELAM, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Loretta Lynn's Rags to Riches story is well known, a coal miner's daughter who became the queen of

country music. She was the second of Clara Melvin Webb's eight children born in butcher hollow part of the Appalachia Hill Country in Kentucky.

Her life during the Great Depression didn't offer many advantages. She grew up without electricity, indoor plumbing, and only completed the eighth

grade. As a young teen she married Oliver "Doolittle" Lynn, whom she called by the nickname Doo or Doolittle. He was 21.

A decade later, Loretta Lynn was a mother of four playing guitar and writing songs at home. With her husband's encouragement, she entered a

talent competition and was spotted by a record producer.

Her first song "Honky Tonk Girl" was a minor hit and the Lynn family moved to Nashville. Her marriage had its share of troubles, many of which spilled

over into her songs.

Lynn said her husband had problems with alcohol and her long absences on the road. They went on to have a total of six kids but family life was not

always harmonious touring took a toll on her health.

She battled chronic illnesses and exhaustion. Her bestselling autobiography chronicled her hardships, heartaches, and rise to stardom. Sissy Spacek,

won an Oscar playing her on the screen.

In 2004, Lynn would make a huge comeback recording the highly acclaimed album, "Van Lear Rose" produced by Jack White. She would be nominated for

five Grammys for the album, winning two including best country album. Lynn brought a strong female point of view to country music and was seen as a

homespun advocate for ordinary women.

[11:55:00]

ELAM (voice over): Her career spanned half a century, generating dozens of number one songs. From humble beginnings to country music royalty, Lynn

never dreamed of being such a success.

LORETTA LYNN, SINGER: I don't think you can dream for success because I think it's more or less you have to work for it.

ELAM (voice over): Her hard work paid off with a lifetime of awards, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2013. And as for inspiring

future performers, she said they needed to be one of three things.

LYNN: Very difficult approach, and that just be different because I started writing my own songs and didn't really realize that the things that I was

writing about, nobody want to talk about them. It was just doing them, you know.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ANDERSON: That's it from us. I'm Becky Anderson. "One World" with Lynda Kinkade today is up next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[12:00:00]

END