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China Casts Itself as new Global Leader A Xi Hosts Summit; U.S. to Refuse Most Visas for Palestinian Passport Holders; Pritzker: No One in Washington has Reached Out to me; Xi, Putin & Modi Cement Closer Ties Amid Friction with U.S.; Man Rescues Child Walking on Monorail track at Hersheypark. Aired 9-10a ET

Aired September 01, 2025 - 09:00   ET

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

[09:00:00]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ELENI GIOKOS, CNN HOST, CONNECT THE WORLD: China's Xi Jinping hosts world leaders for a major summit, and President Trump is not invited. So, what is

on the agenda? It is 09:00 a.m. in Washington. It is 05:00 p.m. here in Abu Dhabi. I'm Eleni Giokos. This is "Connect the World".

Aso coming up this hour, hundreds are dead and even more are injured after an earthquake rocks Afghanistan's eastern region. A U.S. judge blocks the

Trump Administration from deporting unaccompanied Guatemalan miners. And the White House plans a major immigration enforcement operation in Chicago,

we have a live report.

And right now, rescuers are scrambling to reach victims after a powerful earthquake hit Afghanistan, killing more than 800 people. The Afghan

Interior Ministry says the 6.0 magnitude quake hit the country's mountainous eastern region late Sunday near the Pakistan border.

Rescue workers have been deployed to the hardest hit areas, but their progress has been reportedly hampered by landslides and destroyed roads.

CNN's Nic Robertson is following the story for us. Nic, thanks so much for being on the story, and we're seeing some of the images of the rescue

efforts.

And clearly what is very mountainous and dangerous terrain. Give us a sense of the rescue efforts.

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMATIC EDITOR: Yeah, and the situation is compounded by a number of things. The quake struck overnight, so most

people were in their homes. These homes in the rural areas there oftentimes made of rock, mud, timber. When we're talking about timber here.

We're not talking about planks of wood. We're talking about literally, trees. Often just the boughs of trees are holding up roofs. So, they're not

stable structures, and with people being inside those homes when the quake hit, the casualty toll has been high, over 800 now, according government

officials, killed and about 2000 injured.

The hardest hit area provinces, Kunar Province, Nangarhar also touched, Nuristan also touched there in the east, very close to the border with

Pakistan, but the medical facilities available there are quite limited. Jalalabad is a sort of nearest major city, about 30 miles from the

epicenter of the quaker sat about again, about equidistant, also another significant town that has a hospital.

But the hospitals there are short of resources because the economy is hurting. International aid organizations have cut budgets and funding for

that sort of thing in Afghanistan. So, the work is made much harder by the time that it struck by the resources available. You see some helicopters

there, and that, again, is because the roads there are often dirt roads.

They've been hit by landslides, as you say, from the earthquake, but also the general environment has been weakened because of heavy rains and

flooding over recent weeks as well. One aid agency has said that the entire villages have been destroyed. One resident speaking on camera, said 95

percent of his village had been damaged and was appealing for anyone and everyone to help them.

So, it really is a case of a desperate situation, people needing additional support and help, and very likely, the death toll would be expected to

climb in a situation like this.

GIOKOS: Yeah. All right, Nic, thanks so much for bringing us the latest on the story. And of course, we're staying on top of this and bring you any

developments as they happen. Nic Robertson for us in London. In Northern China, Xi Jinping is playing host for a second day to his most influential

friends in the region.

A Chinese leader using a summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization to shore up relationships with key allies, including the Indian Prime Minister

and Russian President, while promoting his vision for a more inclusive alternative to a U.S. led world order.

Vladimir Putin built on that idea today, calling current global security models outdated. He spent nearly an hour speaking with Prime Minister

Narendra Modi in the Russian presidential limousine. The two discussed ways their countries can cooperate in what Mr. Modi called difficult time.

CNN's Marc Stewart joins me now from Beijing. Marc, and of course, this meeting was a way for Xi Jinping to win over his friends and possibly the

world. And you know this idea of an alternative world order, of course, pushed forward by China, isn't new. But how far is he getting, sort of to

bring together the Global South?

[09:05:00]

MARC STEWART, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Right, Eleni, this was a chance for Xi Jinping really to emphasize some of his previous talking points and move

them forward, a really stressing China as strong, stable, but also predictable, really taking issue about these western led alliances such as

NATO and the dominance of America almost.

Really emphasizing that China is going to be this leader of a new world order, as you rightly alluded to, at a time when we see President Trump

really pushing this America First agenda in foreign policy. It's interesting that there were a lot of punches made toward the United States,

but they weren't necessarily explicit.

But if we look at some of the phrases that we heard from the Chinese Leader, phrases like cold war mentality and bullying. It's very clear who

those were focusing on. These are some of the common phrases that Beijing often uses when it's taking issue with Washington. Let's take a quick

listen to some of Xi Jinping remarks.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

XI JINPING, CHINESE LEADER: We should advocate for an equal and orderly multipolar world and a universally beneficial and inclusive economic

globalization and make the global governance system more just and equitable.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

STEWART: Let's talk about the optics of all of this, because at one point we saw Xi Jinping, Vladimir Putin and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi

altogether, in a very friendly, very off the cuff exchange. This is a chance once again for China to emphasize its strong bond with Russia.

Again, we've had this description of a no limits friendship between Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin, but also to emphasize its burdening

relationship with India. This is the first time that Narendra Modi has been to India in seven years -- from India has been here in China in seven years

at a time when all of these nations are dealing with very fractured and stressful relationships with the United States, in particular the handling

of Ukraine and Russian oil purchases.

So, there is that image to take away. Eleni, this certainly was a political gathering, but there's also a big economic component to it. In fact, Xi

Jinping pledged more than a billion dollars today to a banking consortium all connected to the SCO. So, power plays Eleni, on so many different

fronts.

GIOKOS: All right, Marc Stewart for us, thank you for that update. Well, the world's leading Genocide Scholars Association say Israel is committing

a genocide in Gaza. The group passed the resolution on Sunday, joining a chorus of countries, experts and rights groups who say Israel's actions

meet the United Nations definition of genocide.

Israel's leaders have denied prior allegations of genocide. More than 63,000 people have been killed in Gaza. And famine is now gripping parts of

the Enclave due to a partial Israeli blockade. Meantime, a new aid flotilla attempted to set off from Barcelona on Sunday, in what organizers say will

be the largest attempt yet to break the siege.

CNN's Jeremy Diamond joins us now live from Jerusalem. Jeremy, I want to start off with this flotilla, which we're seeing right now on screen. Could

you -- All right, actually, I want to talk about what we're hearing about this new allegation of genocide, and I think this is absolutely vital that

we've been hearing that chorus from various organizations saying that Israel is committing genocide. What have you heard?

JEREMY DIAMOND, CNN JERUSALEM CORRESPONDENT: Yeah, well, if not a consensus, then certainly a growing chorus of voices across the spectrum

who are saying that what Israel is carrying out in Gaza is not simply a war, but is also a genocide. This is now coming from the leading

association representing genocide scholars around the world, with more than 600 members from multiple countries around the world.

And what they have determined in this latest statement is that Israel's actions in Gaza have now, in their view, met the legal definition of

genocide as enshrined in the United Nations Convention for the Protection and Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide.

They also say that Israel's actions in Gaza constitute war crimes and crimes against humanity. And they are calling on Israel to cease all

actions that meet these definitions of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity. Of course, before this association of genocide scholars,

we had heard individually from a number of genocide scholars, including one Israeli scholar of genocide who wrote a very poignant and impactful op-ed

in the "New York Times".

[09:10:00]

Just a couple of months ago, we've also seen two Israeli leading human rights organizations say that they now believe that a genocide is indeed

being carried out in the Gaza Strip. Now the Israeli government, for its part, adamantly rejects any notion that it is carrying out a genocide in

Gaza, insisting that all of its actions in Gaza are consistent with its military campaign against the militant group Hamas in response for its

attack on Israel on October 7th.

We do know, of course, that 63,000 plus people have now been killed in Gaza, a majority of whom are women and children, according to the

Palestinian Ministry of Health there. And as we are seeing this latest declaration assessment from this group of scholars of genocide in Gaza, we

are watching the next phases of this war in the Gaza Strip, as Israel is intensifying its attacks on Gaza City ahead of a planned full-scale

invasion of that city.

Those attacks indeed intensifying both bombardments from the air as well as artillery strikes that have killed 135 people at least since just this past

Friday. And once again, among the dead and the injured, we are seeing scenes of children, as we do all too often in the past.

What we are also seeing, Eleni, are scenes of thousands of people beginning to flee Gaza City. It still represents just a small fraction of that city's

population, of nearly 1 million people, but it is a harbinger of what is likely to come as thousands begin to flee now, nearly 1 million people are

now at risk of forced displacement, according to the United Nations.

And all of this, of course, expected to worsen the humanitarian situation in Gaza, as Israel has now ended the aid drops over Gaza City, as well as

those 10 hours per day tactical pauses that were allowing for humanitarian aid to begin to flow into that city, Eleni.

GIOKOS: All right. Jeremy Diamond, thank you so much for that update. Well, the Trump Administration is crafting a sweeping post war redevelopment plan

for Gaza. This is, according to "The Washington Post", the goal is to turn Gaza into a trusteeship administered by the United States for at least 10

years, while it's transformed into what's described as a gleaming tourism resort and high-tech manufacturing and technology hub.

A 38-page prospectus viewed by the post, calls for the relocation of Gaza's entire population, of more than 2 million people. Palestinians, who depart

voluntarily would receive a $5,000 cash payment and subsidies to cover four years of rent elsewhere and one year of food. Now, those who stay would be

sent to restricted, secured zones inside the enclave.

The U.S. State Department has instructed its overseas diplomats to refuse visas for most Palestinian Authority passport holders. Now that's according

to a cable seen by CNN. The policy is one of a slew of actions taken by the Trump Administration to block Palestinians from entering the United States,

and could impact Palestinian representation at the United Nations General Assembly later this month.

CNN's State Department Reporter Jennifer Hansler joins us now. Jennifer, what are the details have you learned about these news restrictions?

JENNIFER HANSLER, CNN STATE DEPARTMENT REPORTER: Well, Eleni, these are really sweeping restrictions that are laid out in this cable from August

18. This applies, to quote, all otherwise eligible Palestinian Authority passport holders who are seeking non-immigrant visas, so that could be a

population in the West Bank, in Gaza, even abroad, who holds a Palestinian Authority passport.

And the non-immigrant visa category is really large. This includes student visas, academic visas, people coming on business tourist visas, people

seeking medical attention. Now this is, of course, among a number of actions we've seen from the Trump Administration that is blocking

Palestinians from coming to the United States.

On August 16, the State Department announced on X that they were suspending, quote, all visitor visas for individuals from Gaza pending some

sort of security review of how those visas were issued and the organizations that helped bring Palestinians here to the U.S., mostly for

medical treatment, I should add.

And then on Friday, they announced that they were denying and revoking visas for officials from the Palestinian Authority as well as the Palestine

Liberation Organization, ahead of the U.N. General Assembly, just in a few weeks in New York. A State Department official confirms that this does

apply to Palestinian Authority, President Mahmoud Abbas, who may have been traveling to the U.S., as is customary for that annual gathering, that

summit of world leaders.

[09:15:00]

And of course, Eleni, we should look at the broader context here, which is that a number of countries, including France, the United Kingdom, Australia

and Canada are preparing to recognize a Palestinian state at the U.N. General Assembly, and these actions are then going to shrink the number of

Palestinian officials who are going to be present there for that recognition.

Now the State Department said, quote, every visa decision is a national security decision, and the State Department is vetting and adjudicating

visa decisions for PA passport holders accordingly. Now we should note that it is unclear if this new policy to block these non-immigrant visas is

permanent. However, that cable said that it was effective immediately, Eleni.

GIOKOS: All right, Jennifer Hansler, thank you. Ahead on "Connect the World", the U.S. government's plan to deport Guatemalan miners has been

blocked by a federal judge. What's next ahead? Plus.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BRANDON JOHNSON, MAYOR OF CHICAGO: We do not want to see tanks in our streets.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

GIOKOS: The Mayor of Chicago and the city bracing for a sweeping I.C.E. operation that's both unwelcome and imminent. We'll go live to Chicago,

next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

GIOKOS: A federal judge has temporarily blocked the U.S. government from deporting unaccompanied Guatemalan minors. Urgent concerns were raised by

attorneys and advocacy groups. The 10 named children were described as being terrified and confused of being taken from shelters in the middle of

the night.

According to the criteria for deportation, these children do not have appearance in the U.S. and are deemed not at risk of trafficking if they

return to Guatemala. Attorneys representing some of the children have identified risks of returning. Priscilla Alvarez has been following the

latest developments from Washington for us.

Priscilla, now this block lasts around 14 days. Do we know what the next steps will be after this block ends?

PRISCILLA ALVAREZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, first and foremost, the Justice Department did confirm in court filings that they have returned 74 children

back into U.S. government custody. Those children had been placed on planes for repatriation to Guatemala before the federal judge ordered the block of

their removals.

Now, over the course of the next few days, there will continue to be proceedings in this case as to what the next steps will be. But what we

know so far about the way this unfolded was that late Saturday into the early mornings of -- into the early morning hours of Sunday.

Legal service providers, those who represent these children, were notified that kids were going to be repatriated to Guatemala. Meanwhile, the

shelters where these kids are residing were told to prepare them for discharge within a matter of hours, collecting their personal belongings

and medications they have, as well as preparing snacks for them.

Now, I spoke to an immigration attorney who represents multiple Guatemalan children in U.S. government custody.

[09:20:00]

And she described these children as being terrified as they were woken up in the middle of the night to be sent back to Guatemala. Here's what she

told me. She said, quote, the reaction when you explain what's happening is disbelief. They're very scared. They all say they're afraid to return to

Guatemala for different reasons.

They were literally taken out of their beds in the middle of the night on a holiday weekend. Now the children we're talking about here are children who

arrive to the U.S. southern border alone, without a parent or legal guardian, and they are often trying to reunite with U.S. based family

members.

As they go through proceedings where an immigration judge will determine if they have protections in the United States. And in this case, the

administration was working with the Guatemalan government to send those kids back to Guatemala, and it's, unclear what immigration process they

were using to do that.

It's unprecedented what the administration was attempting here. It's something that the federal judge had questions about and ultimately blocked

the removal of these children for now. Now the administration is already pushing back, with White House Senior Official Stephen Miller saying the

following quote, the Biden judge is effectively kidnapping these migrant children and refusing to let them return home to their parents in their

home country.

Now it's worth mentioning here that there are children in government custody who want to be returned to Guatemala. But even so, there's a

process that they undergo before an immigration judge, excuse me, as they try to determine whether that is the best option for them.

In other cases, children are fleeing conditions back at home. One of the children mentioned in the lawsuit is 10 years old. She said her mother is

deceased and she was fleeing abuse and neglect of family members in Guatemala. So, you can see how this can get quite complicated quite

quickly.

Now, over the course of the next few days, again, there will be proceedings in this case to determine the next steps, but for now, the children who

were on airplanes on a tarmac yesterday are back in the custody of the U.S. government.

GIOKOS: Yeah. I mean, as you state, it's a case-by-case basis, and you gave this example of a 10-year-old girl that was fleeing violence by family

members there. You know, I want to talk about the risks that the children face if they return to Guatemala, and what processes should be followed to

try and see if they firstly want to return and if they have someone to return to?

ALVAREZ: So, to the latter part of your question, the way that this often works when a child in U.S. government custody wants to return to their home

country is that they express that desire and then they go before an immigration judge. That immigration judge will ask them a series of

questions to make sure that they understand the decision that they're making, because we're talking about children from 0 to 17.

I have covered this a long time, and sometimes you might have a 4-year-old say they want to go home, but it's trying to unpack that and understand

what exactly they are trying to convey. And so, there is a process that exists, but attorneys I've spoken with say that that process was flouted.

So, it's very hard to tell how many children actually want to go back, and how many children are still trying to remain here. Of those who are trying

to remain here, attorneys tell me that their clients are fleeing specific abuses, neglect or other conditions back at home, where it would be in

their interest to remain in the United States and be reunited with family that is here while they seek protections.

So that is why this caused so much alarm so quickly. And it's worth noting as well that it happened in a really short amount of time. Attorneys were

being told late Saturday that their clients were going to be put on planes in the very early morning hours of Sunday. So even the way in which this

unfolded is part of the concern here that attorneys are expressing.

GIOKOS: Yeah, absolutely. Priscilla Alvarez, thank you so much. Well, I want to get you up to speed now on some other stories that are on our radar

right now. Houthi rebels in Yemen's capital stormed United Nations buildings and detained several staffers. One day after Israel said it

killed the Prime Minister of the rebel-controlled government, other Houthi officials also were killed in the Israeli strike.

It is unclear if the raids were related to Israeli attacks in Yemen. There are reports of new protests in Indonesia today after a weekend of deadly

violence. The protests started a week ago over what critics call excessive pay and housing allowances for parliament members.

As a concession, Indonesia's President announced cuts in lawmakers benefits. He also ordered a police and military crackdown on rioters and

looters. North Korean media reports Leader Kim Jong Un was seen inspecting a new missile production line just days ahead of his visit to Beijing for a

massive military parade.

Kim will join two dozen foreign leaders Wednesday, including Russian President Vladimir Putin, at the closely watched events hosted by Chinese

Leader Xi Jinping. The Governor of the U.S. State of Illinois has said that he has not heard from the White House, even as the City of Chicago prepares

for a possible deployment of National Guard troops this week, in a major immigration crackdown.

[09:25:00]

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GOV. JB PRITZKER (D-IL): No one in the administration, the president or anybody under him, has called anyone in my administration or and me have

not called the City of Chicago or anyone else. So, it's clear that, in secret, they're planning this. Well, it's an invasion.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

GIOKOS: Well, sources tell CNN, potentially thousands of soldiers, hundreds of I.C.E. agents and armored vehicles may be there by Friday for what the

Trump Administration calls a crime crackdown, despite crime stats telling a different story. Joining us now from Chicago, is our Law Enforcement

Correspondent, Whitney Wild. Whitney, what actions are being taken right now by leaders in Illinois?

WHITNEY WILD, CNN LAW ENFORCEMENT CORRESPONDENT: Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson has signed executive orders that are aimed at directing city

officials on what to do if and when this enforcement action actually comes to pass. So, these executive orders direct the Chicago Police Department to

not engage at all with federal law enforcement on any of these actions.

It directs city offices to look into any legal and legislative remedies they can to try to stop the National Guard and stop this I.C.E. action from

coming to Chicago. And then finally, it urges federal officials to not wear a mask as they carry out these enforcement actions, to wear body cameras as

that happens, and then finally, demands that the Trump Administration just abandon this effort altogether.

The latter two items on that executive order have a pretty important keyword, which is, should, so unlikely that any of that is going to happen,

because what leaders here openly admit is that there are a lot of restraints on what they can actually demand the federal government do here.

So, these executive orders are aimed at controlling what they can control, which is the city official's reaction to this immigration and customs

enforcement action. Further Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul has made very clear he plans to fight this in court if and when it happens.

Asked if there was anything he can do preemptively, you know, he said he doesn't rule it out, but the reality is, until an action is taken, there's

nothing they can tie a lawsuit to. But they are, you know, waiting with prepared, you know, waiting with the expectation and the preparation that

they are going to file a lawsuit the moment they feel like they have enough standing, to do so, Eleni.

GIOKOS: All right, Whitney Wild, thank you so much. We're keeping an eye on the summit in China with a look at how nations are banding together to keep

their economy strong against America First policies. We'll bring you an update on that story right after this. Stay with CNN.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[09:30:00]

GIOKOS: Welcome back. I'm Eleni Giokos in Abu Dhabi, and you're watching "Connect the World". These are your headlines this hour. A powerful

earthquake hit Afghanistan, killing more than 800 people and injuring more than 2000 late Sunday. The Afghan Interior Ministry says the 6.0 magnitude

quake hit the country's mountainous eastern region, a difficult place for rescue and recovery operations.

A new aid flotilla that set sail for Gaza Sunday has now had turnaround due to bad weather. Organizers say they will resume the mission soon. It's said

to be the largest attempt yet to break the Israeli blockade of the enclave. The convoy is expected to be 70 ships strong by the time it reached the

enclave.

Activist Greta Thunberg is among the activists taking part in the attempt. An estimated 1000 Labor Day protests are expected to take place in over 900

cities in the United States today. Their slogan is workers over billionaires. They come at a time the Trump White House is being accused of

eroding workers' rights, public services and social justice.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is highlighting his country's close relationship with Russia during a regional summit in China. India says

sideline talks with Russian President Putin included Ukraine with Mr. Modi expressing support for recent initiatives to address the conflict.

Economic Cooperation was also high on the agenda at the summit at a time of global upheaval from Donald Trump's America First policies. Joining me now

to discuss is Cornelia Meyer, Chairman and Chief Economist of LBV Asset Management. Cornelia, great to have you with us.

Look when we talk about economic cooperation by China, India, Russia, and frankly, the global south or BRICS nations as a whole, this is a

conversation that's been happening for quite some time. Why does it hit differently now, given that the United States. I guess, has been

ostracizing a lot of its allies with the threat of tariffs.

CORNELIA MEYER, CHAIRMAN AND CHIEF ECONOMIST OF LBV ASSET MANAGEMENT: Look, it started to happen. Thank you for having me. It started to happen 2001

when China started -- then Shanghai Cooperation Organization was initially six countries, and that was when the U.S. was at its total height of power.

That was after the Soviet Union had collapsed, and before we had the 911 attacks.

And ever since then, more and more countries joined, or four more countries joined, but they're more observers, and there has just been more of a

bonding together amongst the global south, because it's not always that easy focus for the countries of the global south to work with the global

north, because the normative demands that the global north poses.

And of -- especially now not being as reliable as they have been, and the more sanctions you have, the more you scold nations, the more you drive

them into the arms of China and the SCO.

GIOKOS: Yeah. I mean, there's a lot happening. And I guess everyone sort of dissecting the relationship, particularly with the likes of Russia. Donald

Trump is threatening 50 percent tariffs on India to punish it for buying Russian oil. India, of course, believes it's been treated unfairly and it's

unfairly targeted. Give me a sense of what you think is ultimately happening here.

MEYER: Well, India does feel, and I think rightfully thinks it's unfairly targeted. India imported 2 percent of its crude imports in 2022 before the

war broke out from Russia. Now it's 38 percent. Why did they do that? They stay within the bounds of what's allowed, in terms of what they pay for

Indian Oil, because, you know, we had this band of money that you can pay.

But if they were today, you can't -- refineries can't just switch their refineries from one supplier to the other suppliers to do with crude

quality and so on. B, that would have huge, huge inflationary impacts on the country. And let's not forget, India is a country that's still growing

with a huge population, now the largest population in the world. So, there's that much that India is willing to do because its economy is

important to us.

GIOKOS: Yeah, I want to talk about this multipolar world that's clearly emerging. And again, it's not only because of America First policies, but

it's been simmering for quite some time, and one of the big issues has always been the reliance on the U.S. dollar as a reserve currency.

[09:35:00]

And emerging markets, by the way, have been talking about using their own currencies to settle payments for quite some time, as well. Do you think

the America First policy is catalyzing this conversation of creating a multi polar world, which has been playing out for quite some time, frankly,

behind the scenes?

MEYER: Well, I think it is helping that certainly along the way, when we come to replacing the dollar. That's not that easy, because the dollar is

at this point still, we never know what's happening in the U.S. Still the only truly free currency that you can freely move. But the more you have

sanctions, and the more the U.S. uses the dollar to impose its sanctions, the more people will find ways around it.

And if I look at how oil is paid, a lot of oil to China is now from the Gulf, is now paid in one and even not to China is paid in other currencies.

So, the more the dollar is instrumentalized as an instrument of power and not just as an instrument of payment, the more it's undermining its own

status.

GIOKOS: Yeah. So, Cornelia, let me ask you this, because I think this is quite important. You know, China controls so much of the processing of a

lot of the resources that we consume globally, a lot of the emerging markets in the global south hold the keys to resources and raw materials.

Who's going to win this? And I guess President Trump is watching very closely at what's being said.

MEYER: Yeah, President Trump is watching very closely, and this is precisely why China is in a stronger position when negotiating its trade

deal with the U.S. as India just exports. Mind you, some of the exports, like medicine and services, which the U.S. needs, are exempt from the

tariffs.

But never mind. But if you look at it for China's is the processing. And you're right, it's the processing. It's not just having U.S. It's the

processing. A lot of, let's say the lithium is mined somewhere in the Western Balkans shipped to China and then processed there.

Then we find there, as long as this stronghold on the processing, or the refining, of certain minerals exists in China. As long as that, China has a

strong negotiating position towards whoever.

GIOKOS: Yeah, really important here. Just very quickly, Cornelia, in terms of how the world is watching on and saying, OK, who are we going to pledge

loyalty to in this multi polar world? Who do you think is going to come out stronger? The -- China.

MEYER: Well, I think nations will have to do, what nations have to do. But I would just look at demographics.

GIOKOS: Yeah.

MEYER: By 2050, we have 2 billion people more on this world, and they will be in Africa. They will be in Southern Asia at this point. If I look at the

membership of the SCO or the people who were there, not just the membership, it's more than half of the world's population.

If I look at the membership alone, the if I've added last night, all the GDPs, it's together about the strongest as the U.S. So, the dynamics, the

population dynamics, the dynamics will, over time, not today, not tomorrow, but over the next 20 years, work for the global south.

GIOKOS: All right. Cornelia Meyer, great to have you with us. Thank you so much.

MEYER: Thank you --

GIOKOS: A plane carrying the EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen was targeted by GPS jamming while trying to land in Bulgaria. A

spokesperson has said it's believed the interference was carried out by Russia.

The plane landed safely after the pilots used get this paper maps. Von der Leyen is currently on a tour of EU countries that border Russia to show

strength and unity between the nations. Following the plane incidents, she said, Europe needs to keep up the sense of urgency.

And ahead on "Connect the World", a double dose of good news for Liverpool on and off the pitch. We'll tell you right after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[09:40:00]

GIOKOS: A startling sight at a Pennsylvania amusement park had guests rushing into action. If you look closely, you can see a child in this video

walking high up on a monorail track at Hershey Park on Saturday. Shocking the crowd that was gathered there, clearly as you can see below.

A bystander climbed onto the roof of a concession stand then on to the tracks to rescue the child. He passed the child to another man who safely

returned the boy to his family. The rescuer later credited his dad in states for kicking in. Look at that. Wow. All right, it's one thing to beat

a rival in front of your fans.

It's another to do it in style. Liverpool fans won't soon be forgetting an amazing free kick that won them Sunday's contest against Arsenal in the

English Premier League. It's early in the season, but this result could prove decisive in the title race come this spring. For more we're joined by

"World Sport" Coy Wire. And Coy, what a finish a free kick. Look what happens.

COY WIRE, CNN SPORTS ANCHOR AND CORRESPONDENT: -- Oh, phenomenal free kick. Good to see you, Eleni. It was Liverpool's Dominik Szoboszlai pulling off

this incredible shot, incredible, masterful goal. He had the goalie all stretched out like pantyhose on hippos never stood a chance.

And not only did it get him the win, it was an incredible 24 hours for Liverpool. They also learned they were going to get their main attacking

target Isak to come over on a transfer, and we'll have all the details of that, lots and lots of money, Eleni.

GIOKOS: Yeah.

WIRE: Maybe we should pick up footy on the side so we can earn some big bucks, like these guys. You got a good show coming for you.

GIOKOS: I think it's a great idea. You know, you and I, we always discussing the hints we should be on the sidelines. We need to make good on

them. Happy Labor Day, by the way. And I love how creative you get. And when you describe, you know -- sports --

WIRE: I try to have fun. It doesn't feel like labor even on Labor Day, right?

GIOKOS: Yeah, all right. We'll see after the break, Coy. And I'll be back at the top of the hour. Stick on CNN.

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