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Early Start with Rahel Solomon
China Prepares For Military Parade After Security Summit; At Least 1,100 Killed As Powerful Quake Hits Afghanistan; Officials: Israel Weighs Annexation Of Parts Of West Bank; Russia Denies Targeting Plane Carrying E.U. Leader; Tesla Diner Becomes Hub For Elon Musk Fans. Aired 5-5:30a ET
Aired September 02, 2025 - 05:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[05:00:23]
BRIAN ABEL, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning, and welcome to our viewers joining us from the United States and all around the world. Thank you so much for being with us.
I'm Brian Abel. Rahel Solomon is off. It's Tuesday, September 2nd, 5:00 a.m. here in Washington, D.C.
And straight ahead for you on EARLY START.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PETER NAVARRO, COUNSELOR TO THE U.S. PRESIDENT: It was a shame to see Modi getting in bed with the two biggest authoritarian dictators in the world, in Putin and Xi Jinping. That doesn't make any sense.
IVAN WATSON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: India has other powerful friends if it can no longer count on U.S. support.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Our Spanish speaking staff feels targeted, and they're fearful.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm afraid of speaking my language. Now, sticking to English.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hopefully, Bill can make this like a real football school.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's history making in that it's sold out the whole season. You know, there's the Belichick effect.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Going on the field, hitting those sprints, hitting the pads. Boom power in. Swim over swim move. Yeah, I think these guys are ready.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ABEL: I love that energy to start our day.
Chinese leader Xi Jinping has just unveiled his country's diplomatic vision for the world during a major security summit, framing China as a stable superpower and counterforce to the West. Now, Beijing is preparing to put on a massive show of military strength. On Wednesday, it will host a parade marking the end of World War II, following Japan's formal surrender.
China says it will show the country's latest weaponry and military advancements, and it will feature some high-profile guests, including this one here. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, who has just arrived in the Chinese capital with his famous train.
Russian President Vladimir Putin is also set to attend. Earlier, he met with Chinas leader in a formal bilateral meeting where he praised the country's friendship.
Meanwhile, the Trump administration says India's recent show of unity with Russia and China at the Tianjin Summit is, quote, troublesome. Right now, India is facing major trade pressure from the U.S. for buying and selling Russian oil. Over the weekend, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi shared photos of himself embracing Russia's president, and he also joined a sideline meeting with Xi Jinping, who told Modi that it is the right choice for their nations to be friends, not rivals.
Peter Navarro, a White House senior counselor for trade, isn't happy about india's growing partnerships.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
NAVARRO: It's time for Modi to step up. I have great respect for Modi. I love the Indian people. It's -- it was a shame to see Modi getting in bed as the leader of the biggest democracy in the world, with the two biggest authoritarian dictators in the world in Putin and Xi Jinping. That doesn't make any sense.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ABEL: To help us make sense of it all is CNN's Marc Stewart joining me now.
And, Marc, India, obviously a point of interest. But that Russia/China relationship is taking center stage where you are in Beijing.
MARC STEWART, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Brian. Great to see you.
Yes. Let's talk about this. China, Russia relationship. Because as we've talked about in the past, Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin share what's often described as this no limits friendship, and yet again today, that kinship between these two world leaders was very strong.
We saw Xi Jinping, host Putin here in Beijing at the iconic Hall of the People. Just how strong is this friendship? China still has yet to condemn Russia for its invasion of Ukraine. China is still buying Russian oil. In fact, it's largest customer.
And just today, Russia's energy company or state-owned energy company announced the construction of a new gas pipeline that certainly could help to benefit China very strong, almost affectionate words from Vladimir Putin today during his meeting with Xi Jinping.
Let's listen to some of his remarks.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
VLADIMIR PUTIN, RUSSIAN PRESIDENT: I thank you for the warm welcome extended to our entire delegation. Our close communication reflects the strategic nature of Russia/China relations which are at an unprecedentedly high level.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
STEWART: We will see these two world leaders together very soon, beginning tomorrow morning is when China will host a massive military parade here in Beijing, in the city of around 21 million people.
[05:05:05]
Already, the preparations are very visible, as someone who lives here in Beijing, security already very tight, there's going to be a lot of restrictions. Not only will Putin be there, but well see other world leaders, including Kim Jong Un, of course, the leader of North Korea, to see these three men standing together along with other leaders, is certainly going to send a message to the world, Brian, that China is indeed a very formidable force.
ABEL: Yeah, that will be quite the image, Marc. You did mention and highlight there, President Putin meeting with Xi Jinping. Do we know if Putin will also have a sideline meeting with Kim Jong Un as well?
STEWART: Certainly possible. In fact, the kremlin had said that something that's going to be considered. So, we're awaiting to see if that indeed happens.
But, you know, the symbolism of all of this is going to be the big story line. We are going to have Kim Jong Un there with two nuclear nations, China and Russia. And then the ambitions, of course, of North Korea to have nuclear capabilities.
So, the optics are just going to be overwhelming from all of this. We know that a meeting with Xi Jinping and Kim Jong Un certainly likely, as you mentioned, he traveled a very far distance in this train. So that's likely. It will be interesting to see if he meets with other leaders, including Putin. Still waiting to see if that will happen, Brian.
ABEL: We will see. All right. Marc Stewart, for us in Beijing, Marc, thank you.
We turn now to a landslide that's killed at least a thousand people in western Sudan. Days of heavy rain caused this disaster, which destroyed a village in a remote mountain region on Sunday. According to the Sudan liberation movement army, only one person survived. The group is asking the United Nations and international aid agencies to help them recover remains. The victims sought shelter in the area from the raging war between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces in North Darfur State.
And in Afghanistan, the Taliban is asking for international help as rescuers are desperately trying to reach survivors after a powerful earthquake struck Sunday. At least 1,100 people were killed and more than 3,000 injured in the 6.0 magnitude quake centered near Jalalabad. Military helicopters flew missions throughout the day to evacuate injured victims. Entire towns and villages have been decimated in the remote mountainous region near the Pakistan border.
The advocacy, policy and communications director for world vision Afghanistan spoke with CNN about efforts to coordinate aid for victims of the earthquake.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MARK CALDER, WORLD VISION AFGHANISTAN: Afghanistan is already one of the world's worst humanitarian crises, 3.5 million children in Afghanistan live with acute malnutrition. Roughly half of the population, nearly 23 million, are in need of humanitarian assistance already. And so, communities such as this are really not well prepared for sustaining shocks as severe as this.
That said, there's an awful lot that can be achieved if resources are available. We have Afghan NGO partners in the area just now. They have incredible knowledge of the realities on the ground. They used to dealing with the challenges in remote parts of eastern northeastern Afghanistan, and they're able to get, you know, some of the bigger organizations aren't able to directly. So, there is potential. There is potential to deal with the short-term crisis and the longer-term effects.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ABEL: And for more information about how you can help Afghanistan earthquake victims, go to CNN.com/impact.
A new school year starts in Ukraine. We'll see a surprising solution for keeping students safe in wartime.
Plus, workers over billionaires. Protesters packing the streets of cities across the U.S. to speak out against the Trump administration and big money influence over politics.
And speaking of billionaires, we'll have to wait until Wednesday now to find out if we have a new one. No winner again in the Powerball jackpot.
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[05:13:53]
ABEL: Israel is now considering the possible annexation of parts of the West Bank. Three Israeli officials tell CNN that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held an initial discussion on the idea last week, but the security cabinet has not discussed the matter in detail, and no decision has been made. It's just one of the steps Israel is weighing in retaliation for the
anticipated recognition of a Palestinian state by a growing list of countries at this month's U.N. General Assembly.
The latest to join that list is Belgium, which also plans to impose new targeted sanctions against Israel.
Meanwhile, the world's leading association of genocide scholars says Israels policies and actions in Gaza have met the legal definition of genocide. That announcement, coming in a resolution passed by the group. They also say Israels actions constitute war crimes and crimes against humanity, as defined in international humanitarian law.
CNN's Paula Hancocks is following these developments for us live from Abu Dhabi.
And, Paula, what can you tell us about the impacts of this threshold being met?
[05:15:03]
PAULA HANCOCKS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Brian, what we've heard from this -- this leading association is that they have said that Israel has committed atrocities that meet the definition of genocide in all five counts. There are five considerations to be able to come to this terminology. And the association says that meeting any of those five definitions would constitute genocide.
Now, they have passed a resolution, as you say, on Sunday, calling on Israel to, quote, immediately cease all acts that constitute genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity against Palestinians in Gaza, including deliberate attacks against and killing of civilians, including children.
Now, this resolution, as I say, coming on Sunday, we have spoken to one of the executive board members of the association, and she said that there is an understanding that civilian casualties do happen in conflicts and in war. But when it comes to genocide, the specifications are very exact. Let's listen to what she said.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
EMILY SAMPLE, EXECUTIVE BOARD MEMBER, INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF GENOCIDE SCHOLARS: The real difference is when understanding a genocide is the intent behind the extermination of a group. And as such, and that is what many of our scholars are speaking up against, is that there is this well beyond the threshold of what would be committed under war or under committed -- under self-defense.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HANCOCKS: Now, Israel has rejected this resolution, making comments from the foreign ministry on Monday, calling it a, quote, embarrassment to the legal profession and to any academic standard. Now they've criticized the association, saying that their assessments are entirely based on Hamas's campaign of lies, also pointing out that it is, as far as they're concerned, Hamas that carried out an attempted genocide against the Jewish people.
Now, it's not the first time that we have heard this accusation of genocide against Israel for its actions in Gaza. Just in July, there were two Israeli NGOs that said they believed that that genocide was happening. There's also South Africa taking Israel to the international court of justice. A couple of years ago, alleging that they were committing genocide as well -- Brian.
ABEL: All right. Paula Hancocks for us in Abu Dhabi -- Paula, thank you.
The U.S. treasury secretary says the Trump administration could decide to impose further sanctions on Russia if it does not end the war in Ukraine. This comes weeks after the U.S. president hosted Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska. Since those talks, though, Russia has continued to launch deadly airstrikes on Ukrainian cities and has shown no sign of wanting peace. The White House and Donald Trump himself have sent mixed messages about what, if anything, the U.S. will do to pressure Putin.
But Treasury Secretary Scott Bessett now says they will be examining options very closely this week.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SCOTT BESSENT, TREASURY SECRETARY: He has, in a despicable, despicable manner, increased the bombing campaign. So, I think with President Trump, all options are on the table.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ABEL: Children in the eastern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv have started back to school, but there's an obvious difference. This academic year, their classrooms are underground. The new facilities were built to shield students from Russian attacks as air raid sirens sound. Teachers and children, they now gather in classrooms equipped with modern supplies and safety systems. Three floors below ground.
The chance for in-person learning is a welcomed one. Kharkiv has built seven underground schools and six metro stations also house underground classrooms.
Russia is denying it had anything to do with the targeting of a plane carrying the European Commission president. Ursula Von Der Leyen, was on board when officials say someone or something tried to jam the plane's navigation signal as it landed in Bulgaria. The plane did land safely. The commission suspects Russia is behind the incident, but the Kremlin says that's incorrect.
CNN's Melissa Bell has more.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MELISSA BELL, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: A plane carrying the top E.U. leader targeted by GPS jamming. Ursula von der Leyen, the European Commission president, was on a whistle-stop tour of Eastern Europe and trying to land in southern Bulgaria when the plane systems went down with the pilots having to land the aircraft using paper maps. That's according to a source close to this incident.
What we've learned from the European Commission is that they heard from Bulgarian authorities very quickly after the incident and then announced it to the public on Monday that the Bulgarian authorities believe that it was Moscow behind these attempts.
[05:20:09]
This, of course, in the wake of many years of hybrid warfare being waged on European ground, often in the shape of these sorts of incidents of GPS jamming.
Ursula von der Leyen landed safely in southern Bulgaria but spoke immediately having knowledge of what had just gone on, but before the rest of the world found out of the fact that there was an important need to remember the urgency of continuing to deal with Russian aggression and continuing to support Ukraine.
That's what her tour had been about trying to shore up support for Ukraine even as ceasefire talks appear to falter.
Melissa Bell, CNN, Paris.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ABEL: Still ahead, grab some dinner, catch a movie and supercharge your car all in one place? We'll take you inside Tesla's new futuristic diner.
Plus, the Bill Belichick era begins in Chapel Hill. But here. Why the hoodie couldn't live up to the hype in his college coaching debut.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[05:25:36]
ABEL: The Powerball jackpot keeps growing. No big winner after Monday's drawing, so now that prize is up to $1.3 billion for Wednesday's drawing, with an estimated cash payout of 589 million bucks before taxes. Wow.
A newly opened Tesla diner in West Hollywood is becoming a major hub for fans of Tesla CEO Elon Musk. And as you'd expect, the place has a bit of a futuristic feel as CNN's Hadas Gold shows us.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
HADAS GOLD, CNN MEDIA CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): In the middle of West Hollywood, futuristic structure dominates this corner of Santa Monica Boulevard. The brand new Tesla Diner serves the classics. But it's also charging station, drive-in movie and merch shop.
So the Tesla Diner here in Los Angeles has become really a hub, not just for Tesla fans, but also for supporters of Elon Musk himself. It's become a center point where people have meetups. People bring all their Teslas and their Cybertrucks and do these sort of joint light shows. And it's really become a place for them to meet, to hang out with one another and show their support for Elon Musk, whose image has gone through a lot over the last few months.
Here, Musk's stint as White House adviser, his fallout with the president, and Tesla's falling sales are all background noise. The diner is a shrine to all things Tesla and Musk. From Cybertruck food boxes to the Optimus robot.
So up on the roof of Tesla Diner, you've got a great view of these huge screens that show movies and shows and clips. And if you're sitting in your Tesla, you actually can connect directly to the audio.
Now, normally, there's supposed to be an Optimus robot who stands here and serves people popcorn. But staff tell me that he's been out of service for a couple of weeks.
Jacob Towe, a high end lighting designer.
JACOB TOWE, TESLA OWNER: I'm Jacob.
GOLD: Says he owns multiple Tesla, Starlink and Tesla solar and power all systems. A big supporter of Elon Musk's universe.
TOWE: It's pretty rare to have someone come along and kind of innovate, regardless of naysayers or even having enough supporters.
GOLD: How do you feel about his foray into politics? The third party he's planning?
TOWE: I mean, his whole life has been set up like how many -- how many choices can I take on a hard path and pursue it? It's almost like at this point I feel like he's actively finding difficult paths to do to outdo himself on difficult paths, which is pretty impressive.
GOLD: Do you worry that his recent disagreements with President Trump might hurt his businesses, might hurt his ability to innovate in the future?
TOWE: Those two guys are the two alphas, you know. You put two alphas in a room, they're always going to disagree with each other at some point. Two of them have very thick skin. So I have no doubt in my mind that either of them can heal their relationship very quickly.
GOLD: Other fans at the diner, though, want Musk to drop the politics for good.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He's doing a great job overall, but I think Tesla needs him at the moment.
GOLD: Not everyone in the neighborhood is pleased with the diner. Some neighbors have complained about their views being blocked and the noise.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Thank you, Elon Musk, for all that you're doing. GOLD: Musk enthusiasts, meanwhile, recently sending him a video of support even as his favorability ratings have tanked.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Thank you for being Elon Musk.
GOLD: Hadas Gold, CNN, Los Angeles.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ABEL: Demonstrators across the U.S. speak out for workers' rights and against what they see as a billionaire takeover in government. We'll have the details ahead.
Plus, some U.S. schools are going the extra mile to protect children who could be targeted by ICE agents. More on the new policies they are putting in place after the break.
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