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China Casts Itself As New Global Leader As Xi Jinping Hosts Summit; Afghan Government Spokesperson: 800 Plus People Killed In Earthquake; International Association Of Genocide Scholars: Israel's Actions In Gaza Meet Legal Definition Of Genocide; U.S. To Refuse Most Visas For Palestinian Passport Holders; Unaccompanied Guatemalan Minors Deportation Blocked; Standoff Brewing Between Trump Administration And Illinois Leaders; Bulgarian Authorities Suspect Russian Interference. Aired 10-11a ET
Aired September 01, 2025 - 10:00:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[10:00:37]
ANNOUNCER: Live from CNN London, this is CONNECT THE WORLD.
ELENI GIOKOS, CNN ANCHOR: Welcome to the second hour of the show from our Middle East programming headquarters. I'm Eleni Giokos, live in Abu Dhabi,
where the time is just after 6:00 p.m. in the evening.
Hundreds of people have been killed and thousands injured after a 6.0 magnitude earthquake rocked Afghanistan's Eastern Region. We'll go live to
Kabul for the latest on the U.N. response.
Israel's actions in Gaza meet the legal definition of genocide, and that's according to the world's leading Genocide Scholars association, adding to a
chorus of Israeli and international human rights groups that say the same, Israel denies the charges.
And a flurry of diplomacy in Beijing as Chinese leaders Xi Jinping cast his country as a new leader of world governance and a stark contrast to Trump's
America first policies.
Security, trade and a campaign for global dominance are in focus in northern China today, as Xi Jinping hosts his biggest political event of
the year. More than 20 leaders from non-western countries are huddling to find ways to work together for the benefit of everyone involved. The
Chinese leader laying out a vision of a stronger, more inclusive world order led by Beijing.
Powerhouse members India and Russia are working on closer bilateral ties, as well as both face challenges from U.S. President Donald Trump.
CNN's Marc Stewart joins us now from Beijing for the latest. Marc, what exactly has Xi Jinping been saying at this conference today, and what
vision is he laying out?
MARC STEWART, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Eleni, one thing that is striking about all of this is the list of leaders that are here in China. We're
talking about leaders from Russia, from India, from Turkey, at a time when the United States, as you alluded to, is almost isolating itself with its
America first agenda.
But this is a chance for China to really paint itself as a strong, stable and predictable force, offering itself as this alternative to the west and
the traditional alliances like NATO.
If you look at some of the phrasing by Xi Jinping during this event, the punches against the United States weren't necessarily explicit, but it's
clear where the messaging was directed. We heard phrases like cold war mentality and bullying practices. These are common phrases that we hear
from Beijing when making reference to Washington.
Also in attendance, though leaders of many other smaller nations in this part of the world, often referred to as Eurasia, let's take a listen to
Chinese leader Xi Jinping.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
XI JINPING, CHINESE LEADER (through translator): We advocate for an equal and orderly, multi polar 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 some of the optics in all of this. At the end, we saw Xi Jinping as well as Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Vladimir
Putin all together, sharing some smiles, sharing some laughs.
A big point of this visit was to reinforce the strong relationship between China and Russia. We know Putin and Xi have this no limits friendship, as
it's described, but also we're seeing Narendra Modi when many of these nations, including China and India, are facing the potential of tariffs
because of the war in Ukraine. So, there's high on optics, high on symbolism coming from this conference.
Eleni, I should also point out, this is not just a political gathering. At the end, there were a few takeaways, including the fact that China pledged
around a billion dollars for a banking alliance, a way to show that this alliance, maybe not necessarily as prominent as NATO, is beginning to have
some strength.
GIOKOS: All right. Marc Stewart, thank you so much.
For more perspective on this, we're now joined by Yu Jie, she's a senior research fellow on China at the Chatham House think tank in London. Thank
you so much for joining us.
[10:05:06]
And it comes as Marc Stewart had just said, it's about optics, it's about the messaging. And I'm curious, I want -- I want to start off by the big
picture here, where China is clearly asserting itself at once. It's talking about sort of this new multi polar world where it's more equitable, where
the global south has a bigger voice. Are you buying into this vision?
And I also just want to make clear here, China has been talking about this for a very long time, whether it's through the BRICS alliance, whether it's
through what we're seeing right now.
YU JIE, SENIOR RESEARCH FELLOW ON CHINA, ASIA-PACIFIC PROGRAMME, CHATHAM HOUSE: Well, this is a very strong sense of symbolism, as your presenter
said earlier, but I think on the other hand, this also comes to the moment that where U.S. President Donald Trump decided to taking a more
isolationist approach on his foreign policy, and has China this actually providing China opportunity to reinterpret the world order and also try to
advance the world order according to their own preferences.
So, I think this SCO Summit coming to a perfect opportunity for Beijing to do so at its very moment.
GIOKOS: Yes, the global south has really been trying to rally together to look at its own interests, to ensure that the deals that they sign
specifically with the West are far more beneficial to the emerging market space.
And I wonder, with this messaging coming out of China right now, how attractive it is for the global south as a whole? Who do they really want
to align with?
JIE: Well, I mean, in a way, there's not any clear value alignment, like what we have seen like, for example, in the NATO and the G7. But I think --
I think instead, what we have in here is very much each country, including China, including Russia, including India, let in that sense of interest
based foreign policy.
So, it's much easier to take more transaction approach when there's a moment of interest and the two or three or many countries can join
together, but if it's a lack of interest, and I think we probably would see a different picture in here. So, that's one element.
Now, the second element. What I found quite interesting, is that Shanghai Cooperation Organization, it was initially designed as a security platform,
but then that transform itself into something including very strong economic element. That is to say, perhaps there's a vacuum there that
waiting to be filled, and hence China has decided to move forward.
GIOKOS: Yes, and it's interesting that China can fill that void that's clearly being created on a global scale.
You've also pointed out on the security front. And if you look at, you know, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Philippines, are very close aligned on
the security front with the United States and obviously not present there. Tell me about the security side of things and how important that element is
going to be with what Beijing is trying to achieve here.
JIE: Well, obviously, as we can see in the full members of the SCO, the mostly former Central Asia countries, and also China, Russia, Iran, and
many of those countries that China in the past had broader disputes then, I think, from for the moment when the organization was established more than
20 years ago, it was essentially about how to manage China's border with those Central Asian republics. So, that was the time as the background.
But I think the organization itself, and also the platform itself, has been really shifted into from that sense of hard security into something that
including all element of international security, so running from the anti- terrorism into something with digital governance at the same time. So that really the scope of this organization has been broadened.
And also, obviously, this has been taking the opportunity to allow the big leaders to have a bilateral meetings with each other, as what have they
seen was between Xi and Putin, between Xi and Modi, as of yesterday.
GIOKOS: Yes, and Xi and Modi, I mean, that was quite a feat for Modi and Xi to be there. I think it was his first visit in seven years.
So, what did you make -- I mean, optically, what do you think of the summit? And you've got that very long limo ride, you know, that meeting
with President Putin. You know, you're in the United States and the U.S. administration is watching all of this and watching these images, do you
think it's going to ruffle a lot of feathers in the United States and the Trump administration?
JIE: Well, it clearly has a ruffle of feathers among more traditional political establishments and also foreign policy community, suggesting that
many would consider India as being the counterbalance against China in the West.
However, I think for both China and India, they share many elements in common in their foreign policy, that is to say, to have that sense of
strategic autonomy and making the non-aligned movement in the past. So, that actually formulated the foundation of the bilateral relations between
China and India, not necessarily seeing this through the lenses any other countries.
[10:10:09]
So, I think both China and India has begun to improve its bilateral relations, really, later of last year. But what Trump has done in terms of
slapping punitive tariff towards India has really just accelerated process. But I do not consider something has been just because of Trump's
administration was actually something coming a much longer way than previously.
GIOKOS: All right, Yu Jie, thank you so much for joining us. Good to have you on the show today.
All right, moving on, and at least 800 people are dead and more than 2000 injured after a large earthquake rocked Afghanistan on Sunday, officials
fear the death toll could rise even higher.
Right now, rescuers are still trying to reach some of the victims in remote regions in the eastern parts of the country. Many victims are trapped
because of landslides and destroyed roads. Some of the injured have been flown to hospitals as aid agencies, including the United Nations rush to
help.
For more on this, I want to bring in Kate Carey, she is the deputy head of the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in
Afghanistan. Kate, great to have you with us. Thank you so much.
And we're seeing some of these images coming through of a staggering loss of life in just one day. We're getting this number of the injured. And I
guess the fear right now is how many people are trapped under rubble, and the efforts to try and rescue people. Give me a sense of what you're seeing
on the ground.
KATE CAREY, DEPUTY HEAD OF OFFICE, U.N. OFFICE FOR THE COORDINATION OF HUMANITARIAN AFFAIRS IN AFGHANISTAN: Yes, absolutely. And I think, you
know, our biggest fear right now is that this has been a thin edge of the wedge in terms of the numbers that will ultimately be affected. We've had
similar earthquakes in the past three years where we've had upwards of 2,500 people killed, 200 -- 200,000 people affected, 10sz of thousands of
homes destroyed and damaged.
So, I think that that's what we're anticipating right now. And of course, as you mentioned, rescuers and first responders still struggling to get to
the affected area, given the remoteness of the -- of the location and the mountainous terrain that we have to contend with to get there.
GIOKOS: Yes. I mean, as you say, very difficult terrain. It's a mountainous area. Logistics are hard because of the road infrastructure and so forth.
How you getting around these obstacles to try and assist people on the ground?
CAREY: Well, the primary priority, really just today, has been trying to mobilize air assets. The authorities already mounted an air operation
overnight to medevac those severely injured and those unfortunately killed to local hospitals.
But from the U.N.'s perspective, and of course, from NGO's perspectives, we also have been trying to do the same through here, through the United
Nations' humanitarian air service.
And we have been able to put on additional flights to the area. Now, the primary objective is also to try and recommission a helicopter that,
unfortunately, earlier this year, was decommissioned due to funding cuts.
So, this is really the priority right now. We do understand that there are some locations and some villages in a few of the most hard-hit districts
that are only accessible by foot, up to three hours. And of course, the priority is also to unblock impossible roads, and the authorities also in
that regard have been deploying heavy equipment and machinery to do that. So, that's the primary concern.
GIOKOS: Kate, yes, you mentioned funding cuts. How are USAID cuts impacting the reality on the ground and your rescue efforts?
CAREY: Well, I mean, I think -- I think we have to put the funding cuts in the broader perspective. Of course, we have experienced a significant
decline in humanitarian funding over the course of this year. Our humanitarian needs and response plan is currently 27 percent funded. I
think it's important to highlight that in the eastern region alone, more than 85 health facilities have been closed so far this year because of
funding cuts. Across the country, more than 400 health facilities.
And of course, you know, in an emergency response like an earthquake, it's emergency trauma care and medical care that is the sort of number one
priority, along with search and rescue in the first 24 to 48 hours.
So, the impact is significant. We do see a limited and critical supply of particular medical items in relation to, for example, very simple equipment
and support, like IV drip, sea line, gauze and bandages.
So, this is just, you know, the basics that you require for emergency trauma care, let alone more complex head injuries and maybe also, of
course, significant injuries to limbs and the like.
GIOKOS: Yes, it makes rescue efforts all that more difficult.
I want to also get an understanding of how this response is perhaps different under Taliban rule. How is it working with them? And are women
being rescued and treated and helped in equal numbers in hospitals, for example?
CAREY: Well, I mean, I think -- I think we have to also understand that natural disasters have been occurring in Afghanistan for the last, you
know, few centuries and beyond. We had three earthquakes in the last three years alone, as I mentioned.
[10:15:10]
So, this is something that happens on a recurring basis. Of course, you know our priority as humanitarian responders is to ensure that assistance
reaches all those in need, women, girls, men, boys, of course.
And I think it's important to note that, you know, women humanitarian responders are part of our assessment teams as well, and we're ensuring
that, you know, our frontline support and workers, you know, encompass women, and that's the critical priority, of course. Of course, it's a
complex operation, but it's not one that we haven't undertaken in previous years, also.
GIOKOS: In terms of what you require right now, what would you need? Are you requesting for more aid, for more assistance, and do you believe that
it's going to get to you quick enough? Because clearly, this is an urgent situation.
CAREY: Yes. I mean, of course, financial resources are absolutely critical to support the response. You know, our partners on the ground are able to
provide the supplies, should they have the sufficient funding made available to them, that's number one.
I think it's also important to note, of course, that the human resources that are also required, one of -- one of the areas, of course, has been hit
by the cuts to the humanitarian response have been also humanitarian personnel to teams, obviously, also on the ground are very stretched at the
moment.
So, we also need to bring in as many, much of that support as possibly can, both, you know, internally in the country to ensure that there's
appropriate deployment, but also international responders where they can provide that additional capacity is really needed right now.
GIOKOS: All right. Kate Carey, thank you so much for your insights today, and good luck with all your efforts on the ground.
Well, coming up, Israel faces new accusations, rather, of genocide as it expands its operations in Gaza City, and what the U.S. State Department is
ordering that could have a huge impact on Palestinians trying to enter the United States, even diplomats set to attend the U.N. General Assembly.
We'll bring you those stories right after the short break. Stick with CNN.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
GIOKOS: The world's leading Genocide Scholars association say Israel is committing a genocide in Gaza, the group passed a resolution on Sunday,
joining a chorus of countries experts and rights groups who say Israel's actions meet the United Nations definition of genocide. It comes as Israel
expands its operations in Gaza despite mounting international pressure.
We've got CNN Jeremy Diamond joining us from Jerusalem. Jeremy, I want you to walk us through this resolution, and give me a sense of Israel's
response to this.
JEREMY DIAMOND, CNN JERUSALEM CORRESPONDENT: Well, this is the leading association of Genocide Scholars. There are more than 600 members of this
group all around the world, and they have now concluded, based off of nearly two months -- two years of war in Gaza, that Israel is committing a
genocide there, according to the United Nations' Conventions for the Prevention and Punishment of Genocide, they have reached this conclusion
based off of an analysis of Israeli actions in Gaza, as well as the statements of Israeli leaders.
[10:20:24]
I want to read you a part of this statement from the IAGS. They say Israeli governmental leaders, war cabinet ministers and senior army officers have
made explicit Statements of intent to destroy, characterizing Palestinians in Gaza as a whole, as enemies and human animals, and stating that the
intention of infliction of maximal damage on Gaza, flattening Gaza and turning Gaza into hell.
Now, the Israeli government has once again repudiated any notion that it is carrying out a genocide in Gaza with the latest statement from the Israeli
Ministry of Foreign Affairs saying that this statement from this Association of Genocide Scholars is, "Disgraceful and an embarrassment to
the legal profession and to any academic standard."
The Foreign Ministry claiming that this report is based on, "Hamas's campaign of lies and the laundering of those lies by others." It is,
however, important to note that this Association of Genocide Scholars is not the first to reach this determination that a genocide is being carried
out in Gaza. We have heard from other prominent Genocide Scholars in the past, including one prominent Israeli scholar who wrote his conclusions in
a New York Times op-ed, as well as from two leading Israeli human rights organizations who in recent months reached that very same conclusion.
GIOKOS: Jeremy, I want to talk about what we're seeing in Gaza City, and you were telling us last hour that this is going to hamper humanitarian if
it's on the ground, a lot of people now looking to leave Gaza City. We're talking about a mass movement of people. Big displacement happening there.
DIAMOND: Yes, without a doubt, we are beginning to see some of the first waves of thousands of people who are fleeing Gaza City as Israel
intensifies its bombardment of that city.
In the last three days, we have seen 135 people who have been killed in Gaza City alone, and we are watching as some families, oftentimes those
with the means to leave, are beginning to flee the city, heading south or towards that Al Mawasi area on the coastline, the -- up to a million people
could ultimately be forced to flee the city, according to the United Nations.
But many of the people that we are hearing from in Gaza City are saying that they simply do not have the means to leave, or do not know where to
go. They have been trying to find, you know, plots of land where they can place tents south of Gaza City, but that area is already so incredibly
crowded as Gaza's population is being forced into a smaller and smaller area of the Gaza Strip.
Inside Gaza City, we also expect the humanitarian situation to worsen as Israel is now halting those air drops over Gaza City and also ending those
10 hour daily tactical pauses that have allowed more humanitarian aid trucks to be able to flow into that city.
And so, what we are watching here, as we are seeing these plumes of smoke rising over Gaza City, is not only the risk of increasing violence as
Israeli tanks and troops are set to charge into Gaza City, but also, of course, the humanitarian situation likely to worsen as well as a result,
Eleni.
GIOKOS: All right, Jeremy Diamond, thank you so much for that update.
Well, some 200 media outlets staged a large scale protest today, demanding Israel stop the killing of journalists in Gaza and lift reporting
restrictions on international media. Print newspapers are running blacked- out front pages. Broadcasters and radio stations are interrupting their programming, and online outlets are changing their home pages.
Demonstrations ramped up after the attack on Gaza hospital last week, which killed five journalists. The International Federation of Journalists, which
helped coordinate today's protest, says at least 210 journalists have been killed in Gaza since the war began.
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 that was 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.
CNN State Department reporter Jennifer Hansler joined me last hour with more details on how this will impact Palestinians trying to enter the U.S.
moving forward.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JENNIFER HANSLER, CNN STATE DEPARTMENT REPORTER: This applies to, "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.
[10:25:09]
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 16th, the State Department announced on X that they were suspending, "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.
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, "Every visa decision is a national security decision, and the State Department is vetting and adjudicating visa
decisions for P.A. 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.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
GIOKOS: And ahead on CONNECT THE WORLD, a Trump administration plan to deport Guatemalan minors has been blocked by a federal judge. What the U.S.
government could do next.
Plus:
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GOV. JB PRITZKER (D-IL): It's un-American, if you ask me, invading a city with troops.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GIOKOS: The governor of Illinois and the city of Chicago bracing for a looming federal immigration crackdown, that story is up next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
GIOKOS: Welcome back to CONNECT THE WORLD. Here are your headlines.
A powerful earthquake hit Afghanistan, killing more than 800 people and injuring more than 2,000 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.
[10:30:09]
Xi Jinping is taking aim at Western alliances as he hosts a two-day summit in northern China. Speaking to more than 20 regional allies, Mr. Xi painted
Beijing as a strong, stable choice to lead a new world order, as Donald Trump's America First policies create uncertainty.
A leading group of scholars say Israel is committing genocide in Gaza, the International Association of Genocide Scholars passed a resolution Sunday
that Israel's actions constitute the United Nations legal definition as the Israelis expand their campaign in Gaza City,
Israel's foreign minister has rejected the allegation.
U.S. government, deporting of unaccompanied Guatemalan minors temporarily blocked a federal judge, according to the criteria for deportation. These
children do not have a parent in the United States and are deemed not a risk of trafficking if they return to Guatemala. Attorneys representing
some of the children have identified risks of returning.
I spoke to CNN's Priscilla Alvarez last hour.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GIOKOS: Now, this block lasts around 14 days. Do we know what the next steps will be after this block ends?
PRISCILLA ALVAREZ, CNN WHITE HOUSE 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, 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 is what she told me. She said, "The reaction when you explain what's happening is disbelief. They are very scared. They all say they are 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 a White House senior official Stephen Miller, saying the following, "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 is 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 -- 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.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GIOKOS: A major standoff brewing between the Trump administration and Illinois leaders. Sources tell CNN, Homeland Security is planning an
immigration crackdown, sending thousands of National Guard troops, hundreds of ICE agents and armored vehicles into the city this week.
The state's governor and the city's mayor say they've had no contact with the federal government about their plans. The mayor has also said local
police will not collaborate with federal agents.
Joining us now from Washington is our senior White House reporter, Betsy Klein, to give us an update on this.
I mean, how is the city and Illinois -- how is Chicago and Illinois preparing for this immigration crackdown?
[10:35:02]
BETSY KLEIN, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE REPORTER AND WRITER: That's right. The Trump administration is planning the next phase of their immigration
crackdown, this time, targeting Chicago with what is expected to be a major enforcement operation getting underway in the coming days, according to
multiple sources familiar with the planning.
Now, there are preparations already underway to surge federal agents and send armored vehicles to the Windy City, with this operation expected to
kick off in full by September 5th. Of course, sources caution that this is subject to change. The details remain in flux.
But this is expected to be larger in scale than some of the immigration enforcement operations that we had seen in Chicago at the beginning of
President Trump's second term. It is, according to officials, expected to be modeled off of some of the immigration enforcement efforts that we saw
in Los Angeles earlier this summer.
And we are expected to see officials from Immigration and Customs Enforcement, ICE, as well as U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and other
agencies. But in a sign of how this is likely to mirror Los Angeles, there are preparations to have the national guard standing by to help in the
event that a peacekeeping presence is needed.
But I want you to listen to Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, as she laid out how this could come to other cities next.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KRISTI NOEM, UNITED STATES SECRETARY OF HOMELAND SECURITY: We've already had ongoing operations with ICE in Chicago and throughout Illinois and
other states, making sure that we're upholding our laws.
But we do intend to add more resources to those operations. I'd encourage every single big city, San Francisco, Boston, Chicago, whatever they are,
if they want to help make their cities safer more prosperous, allow people the opportunity to walk in freedom like the people of Washington, D.C. are
now, and enjoying going out to eat at night and not having to worry if they are going to be a victim of a carjacking or robbery. They should call us.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KLEIN: And as Chicago prepares for this operation to get under way, the city's mayor, Brandon Johnson signed an executive order over the weekend
that, in part, directs Chicago police not to collaborate with federal agents on immigration enforcement.
GIOKOS: All right, Betsy Klein, thank you so much.
I want to get you up to speed on some of 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 protest started a week ago over what critics call
excessive pay and housing allowance for parliament members. As the 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.
And coming up on CNN, Hollywood, gathered in Venice this weekend to premiere some highly anticipated films. More on the glitz as well as the
glamor of the Venice Film Festival right after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
[10:40:40]
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: In seeking life, I created death.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GIOKOS: That is the trailer for award-winning director Guillermo del Toro's new film, "Frankenstein".
It premiered at the Venice Film Festival this weekend and received a monster 15-minute standing ovation. Venice is filled with stars and glamor
this week at its annual celebration of some cinema and some are taking the opportunity, of course, to be playful like this.
George Clooney, borrowing a camera from a photographer to capture fellow "Jay Kelly" actor, Adam Sandler on the red carpet.
I want to go over to this year's festival, and I'm going to bring in Scott Roxborough. He is the European bureau chief for The Hollywood Reporter, and
he joins me now live from Venice.
You know, Scott, I was going to say customary that I need to ask you who or what you are wearing. Should I start with that? Isn't that -- Isn't it all
about the fashion as well as the movie?
SCOTT ROXBOROUGH, EUROPEAN BUREAU CHIEF, THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER: Yes. No, I --
GIOKOS: No?
ROXBOROUGH: Yes, I guess. I hope you're not asking that from me, because I'm not a fashion plate. I have to admit I'm the one talking to people on
the red carpet, very rarely on the red carpet myself, for good reason. So, I actually, know I think this is H&M. Maybe it's Walmart. I don't know. But
--
(CROSSTALK)
GIOKOS: I can -- Scott -- I can -- I can picture you in a dashing suit, Scott. So, don't lie to me. OK. So, let's talk about the atmosphere and the
highlights.
ROXBOROUGH: Yes, I mean, there is been just a huge number of them this year. I mean, Venice always is a lot of stars. This year, though, they have
really gone over the top. I think. I mean, you saw a couple there, Jacob Elordi in Frankenstein and Oscar Isaac, George Clooney and Jay Kelly.
We had two Venice newcomers this year with Julia Roberts. Those in the film called, "After the Hunt". And Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson today in his first
really dramatic role the film called The Smashing machine, where you know, the guy we know as an action star is playing sort of a sensitive, more
dramatic role, playing the real-life UFC fighter Mark Kerr. And I could go on and on. Emma Stone Idris Elba. We just had one incredible star after
another and it's not even over yet.
GIOKOS: All right. So, fitting for today's news, by the way, we also had Jude Law debut, his portrayal of Vladimir Putin, "The Wizard of the
Kremlin". And we see images from the film here. What do you -- what do hearing about that?
ROXBOROUGH: Yes, this is a really interesting film. It's based on a novel which imagines a sort of behind-the-scenes player in the Kremlin, who is
here, played by Paul Dano, who is sort of helping to manipulate Vladimir Putin or shape his agenda. And it really is a history of, well, the Soviet
-- late Soviet era, up to the present day, and how Vladimir Putin has amassed his power inside Russia.
Jude Law plays Putin kind of incredible. I mean, and he doesn't try to do the accent.
GIOKOS: Yes.
ROXBOROUGH: He speaks with his own voice, but his body movements, the way he sort of walks and presents himself as a -- as a man of undefinable
power, is quite incredible. And I think he'll be definitely in this sort of Oscar conversation going forward.
It really is a interesting, deep look at a man that most of us probably don't want to get too close to.
GIOKOS: OK. So, now, another filmmaking waves is the Korean film, "No Other Choice". And I remember watching the Parasites, and it was just it became
such a big hit, and was actually a really fantastic film. It also premiered at the Venice Film Festival.
Do you think that this film has the potential to sort of become, you know, one of those epic movies that we absolutely have to watch?
ROXBOROUGH: Yes, it's interesting, you say that because this, of course, a different Korean director. It's Park Chan-wook, who directed "No Other
Choice". But the themes are quite similar to "Parasite".
This is also a thriller, which is sort of a capitalism critique. It's a bit sillier than "Parasite." There's a lot of slapstick, a lot more humor in
this film, but I think it is exactly what you say. It is one of these films that is going to be in the conversation that people are going to want to
see and talk about, really around the world.
[10:45:02]
It's a story of a man who loses his job and then goes to very extreme conditions to try and eliminate the competition for a new position. A bit
violent for maybe some people, but as I say, quite a funny and quite pointed and piercing in terms of its critique of our modern-day situation.
GIOKOS: You know, there is always a little bit of politics that sprinkled into festivals like this. And, of course, we saw some pro-Palestinian
protests happening as well targeting Gal Gadot as well as Gerard Butler. Explain to us what happened, and sort of the reaction on the ground.
ROXBOROUGH: Yes, the talk around the situation in Gaza has been sort of in the backdrop here at the Venice Film Festival. And on the weekend, we saw
really mass protests, something I've never seen in many of the all the years coming here. Several thousand people marching in support of the
Palestinian people and against the war in Gaza.
As you mentioned, there were critique calling for boycotts of Gal Gadot and Gerard Butler, who are very sort of pro-Israeli supporters. Although, it's
an interesting call to ban them, because they weren't actually here. So, but -- the basically the protests, which were very peaceful, are trying to
get the Venice Film Festival to sort of take a straight political stance on the issue, which they have always avoided doing.
I'm not sure how much impact the protests had in terms of the festival.
(CROSSTALK)
GIOKOS: Yes.
ROXBOROUGH: But they definitely made an impact in the general sort of media coverage here. And I think their main goal was just to make the issue of
Gaza part of the discussion around this festival.
GIOKOS: All right. In the meantime, we are also waiting for the announcement of the film's awards. The main award being the golden line for
best film -- so, who do you think the best contenders are?
ROXBOROUGH: Yes. It's very difficult. We still have a couple of films to go. I would say probably the jury is either going to go political. And
then, there is a film that's coming up, which is about the Palestinian issue called, "The Voice of Hind Rajab," which I've heard very good things
about, that could be a major contender.
Of the films I've seen, I think probably the strongest film is the one we've mentioned, the Korean film. No other choice.
Park Chan-wook is an incredible director, and he's never quite won one of the top awards. So, I think it could be up to Venice this year to really
anoint him and maybe send him on the way, like with parasite to the Oscars.
GIOKOS: All right, Scott. Well, it was really good chatting to you. I hope you get that suit on and sneak away into the red carpet. Totally deserve
that being at the Venice Film Festival, it's something I guess you have to do.
And we expect to see some pictures. Yes, a tie or a bow tie. I could totally see you in a bow tie, Scott.
All right. Scott, great to have you with us. Thank you so much. You're watching CONNECT THE WORLD. There is more news ahead. Stay with CNN.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
GIOKOS: Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov, says Russian attacks on Ukraine will not stop until Kyiv shows real signs that it's ready for peace.
He also blamed Europe for getting in the way of U.S. efforts to end the war.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DMITRY PESKOV, PRESS SECRETARY, RUSSIA (through translator): The Europeans are hindering these efforts. The Europeans are putting spokes in the
wheels. The Europeans are in every way, condoning and probably encouraging the Kyiv regime to continue the absolutely absurd line of intransigence.
This is a big mistake. It will not do any good to the Kyiv regime.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
[10:50:05]
GIOKOS: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, says Vladimir Putin's trip to China is just a distraction as Russia ignores calls for a cease fire.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY, PRESIDENT OF UKRAINE (through translator): Now, during his visit to China, Putin will once again try to wriggle out of the
situation. That's his favorite sport. Everyone in the world has said that the fighting must be seized. Everyone insisted that the war must end. That
was everyone's position.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GIOKOS: Russia launched a large-scale drone attack on Ukraine's southern Odesa region early on Sunday. The strikes targeted critical energy
facilities, cutting power for more than 29,000 people. President Zelenskyy says authorities have arrested a suspect in the deadly shooting of a
prominent Ukrainian lawmaker.
Police say the alleged killer shot Andriy Parubiy several times in a carefully planned attack on Saturday. He died on the scene in the western
city of Lviv.
Mr. Zelenskyy, says the suspect has given an initial testimony and an investigation is underway.
Parubiy, previously served as chair of Ukraine's parliament and as Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council.
A plane carrying the E.U. 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 paper maps. Senior
international correspondent Melissa Bell has more on this from Paris.
So, Melissa, good to have you on. What more do we know about what happened here? I mean, pilots reverting and resorting to using paper maps. Just
shows the incredible jamming that occurred here, where the plane systems, essentially, the GPS systems went down,
MELISSA BELL, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Froze. That's right. We only found out about this today as a result of the commission speaking
out about it, Eleni, after getting word from Bulgarian authorities that this GPS jamming was they believe the work of Moscow.
But it happened, of course, on Sunday, this is part of Ursula von der Leyen, Europe's top leader, of course, the commission president's Whistle-
Stop Tour of Eastern Europe designed specifically to shore up support for Ukraine.
On this tour, as she landed in Southern Bulgaria this incident on what was a charter plane, the commissions also recognized that they don't know
whether she herself was specifically targeted or the plane in general. But certainly, very concerning, as you say, the pilots having to resort to
paper maps to land the plane safely.
It did land safely, and she was able to carry on with her work, but she pointed out on the tarmac there, after, of course, learning of this
incident, but before the rest of the world had learned of it, that there was an urgency that we needed to keep in mind about fighting Russia and
continuing to support Ukraine.
You can see those the images of her landing on Sunday on that airport tarmac in southern Bulgaria safely. But another example, as she said, of
the need to keep a very close eye on Russia and continue fighting.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ARIANNA PODESTA, DEPUTY CHIEF SPOKESPERSON, EUROPEAN COMMISSION: We are, of course, aware and used to somehow to the threats and intimidations that are
regular -- that are a regular component of Russia's hostile behavior. Of course, this will only reinforce even further our unshakable commitment to
ramp up defense capabilities and support for Ukraine.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BELL: So, you see the commission then speaking up about it. This is exactly what she was the point she was trying to make, and it couldn't have been
more eloquently than her plane being targeted as it was, Eleni.
GIOKOS: Yes. I mean, an incredible here, because it just sort of highlights the larger issue with hybrid warfare and the risks that we are seeing
playing out in Europe, and that's been going on for years now. But I guess highlighting how bad it could get.
BELL: That's right, and I think this is something that a lot about these last few months, last couple of years. In fact, it was NATO Secretary
General Mark Rutte, who spoke at the beginning of the year about the fact that Europe is not entirely at war, nor is it entirely at peace.
Bear in mind that many of these incidents go entirely unreported just because of their sheer numbers. So, countries like the Scandinavian
countries, the Baltic countries have long been trying to raise the alarm about the extent of this hybrid warfare that Moscow has been carrying out
on their soil.
So, there have been arson attacks, there has been the cutting of lines, infrastructure, cables under water, and of course, these jamming incidents,
there are many of them. It was a team in Poland and Germany, that pointed out, looked into a number of this European jamming incident -- GPS jamming
incidents from June 2024 for six months, concluded that it was Moscow behind them, and that there were a great deal of them going on all the
time.
So, there is a great deal of urgency about this issue. And I think for those countries who are most affected.
[10:55:01]
So, you are talking about NATO's eastern flank, the Baltic countries, the Scandinavian states. They have been very keen to try and point out that
what's happening in Ukraine doesn't stay to Ukraine. It is already filtering out way beyond the borders of Ukraine as this destabilization of
Europe efforts continue by Moscow.
And you've seen they take place in countries that are the strongest proponents of continued support to Ukraine.
So, perhaps no surprise then that Ursula von der Leyen plane was targeted even as she carried out this tour of the Eastern flank of NATO and of
Europe. Eleni.
GIOKOS: Melissa Bell, great to have you on. Thank you so much.
Well, world leaders Vladimir Putin and Narendra Modi shared a 45-minute car ride enroute to their bilateral meeting, on sidelines of the Shanghai
Corporation Organization Summit.
Diplomacy often takes place in unlikely places, and unfolding in the backseat of a luxury car. While this is far from the first time for the
Russian leader.
Buckle up, because we will revisit some of the most memorable car rides. Now, it was all last, last year, when North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and
Putin took turns driving each other in a Russian built limousine during Putin's first visit to North Korea in 24 years.
And just last week, in President Trump's infamous the beast, a Cadillac limousine, the president had a 10-minute one-on-one with Putin in Alaska.
But not all world leaders opt for the latest limousine. Now, in 2006, Putin took then-President George Bush -- take a look at this -- in an electric
car in Saint Petersburg.
Well, that's it for CONNECT THE WORLD. Stay with CNN. "ONE WORLD" is up next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
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