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The Global Brief with Bianca Nobilo

Ukraine Troops Move Into Luhansk; OPEC Cuts Production; "Rust" To Resume. Aired 5-5:30p ET

Aired October 05, 2022 - 17:00   ET

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

[17:00:23]

CHRISTINA MACFARLANE, CNN HOST: Hello, and welcome. I'm Christina Macfarlane in London. This is THE GLOBAL BRIEF.

Ukraine's forces have advanced into Luhansk for the first time since Russia launched its war.

Then, OPEC will cut all oil production by 2 million barrels a day. What it means for global prices?

And "Rust" will resume production after Alec Baldwin reaches a settlement with the family of the cinematographer killed on set.

Ukraine is making significant gains in the east and the south, in territory that Russia claims to have officially annexed. On Wednesday, Ukrainian

groups crossed in Luhansk for the first time since the start of the war. And in Kherson, a Russia appointed official says his fighters are, quote,

regrouping after Ukrainian forces liberated several towns in the region.

Ukraine's president is praising his military's fast and powerful push towards the occupied city of Kherson.

Our Nick Paton Walsh is in Kryvyi Rih and has been following developments.

Nick, what if you've been seeing of those advances in the south and what it's been left in the wake of Russian retreat?

NICK PATON WALSH, CNN INTERNATIONAL SECURITY EDITOR: It is startlingly fast, Christina. We spent some time in April and May in the areas where we

saw a stalemate back then, areas now where Ukrainian forces are advancing at lightning speed. They're leaving significant numbers of Russians dead in

their wake, and we saw yesterday about a third of the area on the west bank of the Dnieper River seems to have fallen to them.

But today, Ukrainian officials added yet further settlements to that. And it suggests that the momentum is just building.

Here's what we saw today as we journeyed along the Dnipro River.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

WALSH (voice-over): We don't leave our own behind, a Russian war slogan you hear less these days, especially along the road south by the Dnieper

River where the Russians seem to be collapsing since the weekend on yet a third front.

The pace of Ukraine's advance, you can feel on the road here. And it's hour by hour that they move forward, these road lines with Russian bodies,

abandoned Russian positions. It's clear people left here in a hurry.

In just the last three days, they have swept along the west bank of the river through Russian positions. The shallow, shabby foxholes of an army

with almost nothing at hand. Even what little they had was abandoned, especially this tank, a model that first came into service 60 years ago

when Vladimir Putin was nine.

Here, the village of Mykolaevka (ph), right on the river, is getting cellphone service for first time in six months and aid. Shells slammed into

here 90 minutes ago from the Russians still across the water. It's the price of their freedom.

The Russians would check on us, she says, try to make us vote in the referendum. But we didn't. Still, we survived. We old people always have

food supplies.

Outside the village are more of the short-lived occupation, left in the tree line with a sleeping mat and shells.

In nearby Lyubimovka (ph), there was heavy fighting Saturday. And then Sunday, the Russians just vanished. Gratitude for aid and liberation going

spare to almost anyone.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (translated): I cry because two of mine are fighting too. I am crying as I am happy you are here.

WALSH: Smiles that it is over and shock at how fast.

It was very scary, we were afraid, she says. Hiding. They were bombing, robbing. We survived. They ran. The rain came. And they ran.

Signs all around of how their unwanted guests just did not know what to do when they got here. All have food or beds. They filled that gap with

cruelty.

Andrei had a generator and would charge locals' phones. So, the Russians decided he was Ukrainian informer and beat him.

They brought me from here and they put a hood on my head and taped it up, he says.

[17:05:04]

We walked a few steps up and down. They beat him so badly, his arms turned blue from defending his head, still there months later.

Stalemate had turned this huge expanse up for months. Now, it's broken, as has the fear of the Kremlin's army here, bereaved, abandoned, filthy and

vanishing down the road.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WALSH (on camera): Now, Vladimir Putin said today how pleased he was with the results of the sham referenda that Russia called over a week ago, now

part of their choreographed process to try to assimilate annex the areas of Ukraine -- proceedings in Moscow in their parallel reality, or parts of

Ukraine are now becoming Russian territory in their incorrect vision. He also promoted one of the more outspoken critics of what's been going wrong,

particularly in the east of the country, a Chechen leader, Ramzan Kadyrov, in charge of Russia's internal republics got a promotion in the military.

This is to try to keep him, you might think, out of harm's reach from the Kremlin.

But the bad news mounts day by day. I'm startled to see just how much territory, where we spent so long watching troops essentially and deadlock

for months, now marching forwards at an awfully fast rate. That's continuing to accelerate, it seems, with the -- what is essentially

Russia's endgame in the south here if it continues to lose territory at this pace? Christina?

MACFARLANE: Yeah. And, Nick, just to say, to steal the emotion there of the people you are speaking to is just a stark reminder of what Ukrainians

have been through living in this occupied territory. Thank you very much for your reporting, Nick.

Russia is threatening to ramp up its energy war with the Trump. The deputy prime minister said Russia will cut off supplies to any countries that

introduce an oil price cap. The G7 and European Union agreed on that plan, but the cap hasn't yet been set. OPEC and its allies, including Russia,

have announced a slash in oil production by 2 million barrels a day. That's the largest cut since the pandemic began.

And it comes despite the pleadings of the Biden administration. Markets rose on the news -- expectation an output could push the crisis higher. The

U.S. is not happy with OPEC's decision. President Biden called the move unnecessary. But the administration says they're doing what they can to

protect the consumers from oil prices.

Here's Secretary of State Anthony Blinken.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ANTONY BLINKEN, U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE: What we've been clear about is the need for energy supply to meet the man. That's what we've been working

on across the board. And we've done our part. The United States oil production is up by more than 500,000 barrels a day. And when it comes to

OPEC, we've made clear -- our views to OPEC members. We have a multiplicity of interests with regard to Saudi Arabia, and the president laid those out

during his trip.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MACFARLANE: So the big questions, why is OPEC doing this? And how will it impact prices?

Here's CNN's Anna Stewart with that.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ANNA STEWART, CNN REPORTER: It's actually about to millions of barrels a day. It's significant. It's about 2 percent of the global oil that's

consumed around the world. We're seeing price movement even before this meeting, actually, in anticipation of it. I was at the upper end of

expectations, and why it happened, well, it depends you ask.

If you ask OPEC plus, the big line today was to do with the global economy and the uncertainty, the thought of a looming recession that could dampen

oil demand, and that could drive down oil prices. That's not what OPEC member nations want to see.

There's also, though, of course, the political side of it. Russia is facing in December the G7 trying to impose a price cap on oil, so in some ways,

one would argue it could be resting control back in terms of the market.

This is a month or so before midterm elections. This is the worst time for President Biden, we wanted to see gasoline prices falling, and we might see

them dipping back into the strategic petroleum reserves as a result of this.

On Tuesday, reporters were told by the White House that this wasn't really going to happen. Really a shift in tone today. We were told they're

continuing to direct SVR releases as necessary.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

MACFARLANE: Anna Stewart there.

Now, security forces and Iran have arrested eight people. The death of a teenager who took part in the anti-government protests sweeping the

country. Family members say they found the girl's body in Tehran morgue after she went missing.

As CNN's Jomana Karadsheh reports, the young protester told a friend she was being followed by security agents in the days before her death.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JOMANA KARADSHEH, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): This is Nika Shahkarami, one of the thousands of young Iranians who took to the streets on September

20th. But Nika never made it back home.

[17:10:01]

She disappeared. Ten days later, her parents found her, a lifeless body at the morgue of a detention center in Tehran.

Nika's aunt spoke out in a BBC Persia interview.

NIKA'S AUNT (through translator): I was in contact with her until 7:00 p.m. on September 20th. Her friends said Nika put a story on Instagram to

show she had burned her head scarf, and she said to her friend she was running away because security agents were after her. That was the last

contact from her.

KARADSHEH: According to her aunt, Nika's phone was switched off and her social media accounts deactivated.

NIKA'S AUNT (through translator): At the morgue, they showed her body. The only allowed her mother and her brother to identify the face. They were not

allowed to unzip the cover to see the torso.

KARADSHEH: While the circumstances of her death remain unclear, human rights groups have documented the brutal force used against protesters.

Iranian security forces have dragged unveiled women by their hair, with some also reportedly sexually assaulted, according to Amnesty

International.

Iranian state media released this CCTV video that investigators say shows Nika going into a building, possibly falling from it later. They say

they've arrested eight workers who were there.

Authorities say there is no evidence the teenager was killed by police. Prosecutors say they've launched an investigation into her death.

That comes just weeks after Mahsa Amini collapsed and died in morality police custody.

Amini's family say doctors told them she had had trauma, and believe she was beaten to death. Police say the 22-year-old died of a heart attack.

They deny any wrongdoing. It's been nearly three weeks since that investigation was announced.

But Nika's funeral, this mourner cries, today is your birthday. Congratulations on your martyrdom.

Nika Shahkarami was buried on what would've been her 17th birthday.

Jomana Karadsheh, CNN, Istanbul.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

MACFARLANE: So, so sad.

Okay. Safe, at least, for now. British Prime Minister Liz Truss has faced her conservative party in what was billed by some as a make or break speech

for her fledgling premiership. It was a frosty reception after a rocky first month an office. Truss doubling down on her controversial economic

plans.

Our Bianca Nobilo is that the conservative conference and is joining us now.

Bianca, it seems to be a speech short of any further policy detail that could have reassured the markets, the public and her party. So, is the mood

there more, I don't know, united or divided after this?

BIANCA NOBILO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, she didn't do much to unite the party, even though as you say, she was signed shy on detail. Because these

speeches tend to be full of -- and platitudes so as not to isolate any particular wing of the party and bring the country together because let's

not forget, Liz Truss is a very new prime minister. She's also introducing herself and her political motivations to the country at large as well as

trying to establish herself within her own party.

What it did achieve was breathing space. The prime minister has had the rockiest of starts. And she's also now in such a precarious position,

because the Labour Party are soaring ahead in the polls. So, this speech today was a make or break moment.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

NOBILO (voice-over): The prime minister put on a brave face for her keynote conference speech. Her premiership under threat just one month in.

Party discipline in tatters.

LIZ TRUSS, BRITISH PRIME MINISTER: Whenever there is change, there is disruption. Not everyone will be in favor of change. But everyone will

benefit from the results: a growing economy and a better future.

NOBILO: Truss promised boldness, which so far has come at great cost. A radical economic agenda which included cutting taxes for high earners,

caused turmoil in the financial markets and sent Tory poll ratings plummeting, only to be scrapped and humiliating U-turn, which he briefly

addressed.

TRUSS: I get it, and I have listened.

NOBILO: Some of her lawmakers now question whether she does get it or has what it takes to lead a government. Truss stood by her libertarian economic

principles, but was shy on details.

TRUSS: I have three priorities for our economy -- growth, growth, and growth.

That is why I am determined to take a new approach to bring us out of this high tax, low growth cycle.

NOBILO: Be at times personal speech, cheered supporters.

References to enduring sexism and being underestimated in press, as did how she handled the unexpected.

Cheering as protesters were escorted out -- though even her supporters recognize that she is a prime minister on notice.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: If you're 36 months, at the moment, there is a lot of ifs and buts.

NOBILO: Truss has been deeply damaged by party conference, politically weakened. Her party divided. She's now at the mercy of her lawmakers,

having exchange power for time, hoping her party doesn't desert her.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

NOBILO: Make no mistake: this is a party in an answer central crisis, and also one that is trying to avoid a complete electoral collapse.

A couple of things are suppressing further rebellion from within the conservative party. One, being the fact that there was a general tone of

despondency from many quarters, and almost a feeling of haven't given up. Then, there is a factor of not wanting five different prime ministers in

six years, if they did try and oust Liz Truss. And also, there is the fact that the conservatives know they are so far behind in the polls that any

kind of chaos in parliament that could precipitate a general election would be one which may put all of their jobs at risk.

So those things are helping to buy Liz Truss sometime, to convince them that she does have what it takes to lead. So now her party will be a lot

more sensitive to any missteps that she makes. And that will start from tomorrow, when she travels to Prague to meet with the European political

committee, the inaugural meeting of European leaders.

Will there be a very keen eye on how to conducts herself and whether or not she demonstrates any flair or ability for championing Britain in

international affairs, Christina.

MACFARLANE: Yeah, you are right. Bianca, poll ratings are truly tired right now, so we will give a close eye to see how she rides out this storm.

Bianca, great to have you with us there, thanks very much.

All right. Up next, President Biden in Florida where people are rebuilding after Hurricane Ian carved a path of destruction.

Then, a tragic accident on set that led to a wrongful death lawsuit. Now that's been settled, we will tell you what is next for Alec Baldwin and the

film "Rust".

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[17:20:27]

MACFARLANE: U.S. President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden are in Florida. The president is surveying the damage from Hurricane Ian, and

meeting with officials and business owners. The storm hit the Fort Myers area last week as a category four hurricane. U.S. death toll now stands at

110. Officials don't know exactly how many people are missing. Hundreds of thousands of people in Florida are still without power.

Mr. Biden and Florida's Republican governor have an icy relationship, but their differences have been set aside for now.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOE BIDEN, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Today, we have one job and only one job, and that's to make sure that the people of Florida get everything

that they need to fully and thoroughly recover.

We are one of the few nations in the world that on the basis of a crisis that we face, we are the only nation that comes out of it better than we

went into it. That is what we are going to do this time around, come out of it better, because we're -- this is the United States of America. And I

emphasize united.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MACFARLANE: So we want to give you an idea of the destruction Biden surveyed today, and what residents of some Florida islands are facing,

CNN's Leyla Santiago is in Sanibel.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LEYLA SANTIAGO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: So this is West Gulf Drive, it's one of the main streets here on Sanibel Island. It's one of the parts that was the

worst-hit area. And you can tell, look behind me, this is now a street that is lined with debris. You can see straight into homes and see personal

belongings everywhere.

I mean, look over here. You also have part of a roof that is sitting on the side of the street.

But to make the point of exactly how powerful this storm was. Take a look at this home. Residents tell me that this was actually across the street.

Now you can see straight in what was once a family room, a kitchen no longer here, where the equipment and refrigerator now partially out the

door and not much left to be salvaged.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MACFARLANE: Well, let's take a look at the other stories making international impact today.

"Reuters" is reporting a devastating air strike that hit a school in Ethiopia's northern Tigray region on Tuesday. According to the report, more

than 50 people were killed. It comes as the African union works to facilitate peace talks between the government and Tigrayan fighters.

Ugandan officials say a fourth medical worker has died of Ebola. The 58 year old woman has battled the disease for more than two weeks. The WHO

says that 29 people have died from the virus since this latest outbreak started last month. There have been at least 63 confirmed or reported

cases.

And some news just coming into CNN, South Korea says that the North has fired an on identified ballistic missile into the waters of the east coast

of the Korean peninsula. It is the second launch in just a matter of days. It comes after North Korea fired a ballistic missile over Japan on Tuesday.

U.N. Security Council held an emergency meeting hours ago. U.S. representative alluded to China and Russia's support for North Korea and

condemned it.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LINDA THOMAS-GREENFIELD, U.S. AMBASSADOR TO THE UNITED NATIONS: As we all know, the DPRK has enjoyed blanket protection from two members of this

council. These two members have gone out of their way to justify the DPRK's repeated provocations, and block every attempt to update the sanctions

regime. In short, two permanent members of the Security Council have enabled Kim Jong-un.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MACFARLANE: So I want to go straight to our Selina Wang. He's joining us from Tokyo.

Selina, what more details do we know at the moment of, you know, where this missile landed and what the situation is?

SELINA WANG, CNN CORRESPONDENT: We are just getting information, according to the South Korean military, that on Thursday at least one unidentified

ballistic missile was fired into the waters off the east coast of the Korean peninsula on Thursday. We are still waiting for more details.

But this has been the concern since that missile was fired on Tuesday by North Korea, but it was just the start of more to come. That in response,

we are seeing this ramped up effort and a show of unity and coordinated show of force between the U.S. and South Korea. They have conducted two

joint exercises in less than 24 hours, including bombing and missile tests.

A clear message that is being set by the U.S. and its allies is they have the capability to strike back if necessary.

[17:25:01]

We also have heard from U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken. He said that if North Korea chooses to continue down this path, there will be more

condemnation, there will be more isolation, and a step up response.

Now, we did learn, actually, on Wednesday from the North Korean military that there was one missile that was launched that actually failed and

crashed shortly after. They are investigating the case. They say there are no casualties.

Now, on the diplomatic front, U.S. President Joe Biden also helped a phone call with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. Prime Minister Kishida

said that North Korea poses a great challenge to Japan, to the region, to the international community.

Of course, this has been a very frightening moment for the people here in Japan, because that missile North Korea launched on Tuesday, it flew over

Japan for the first time in five years. The people on the northern part of this country woke up on Tuesday morning to the sounds of sirens blaring, to

alerts from the government to take shelter.

But the big concern here, really, is that, like I said, there is more to come. China's communist party Congress is happening in mid October. North

Korea likely does not want to anger China. But they are waiting until after that event wraps up to conduct even more significant tests.

MACFARLANE: All right. Selina Wang there, live from Tokyo -- Selina, thank you for bringing us the latest.

Now, the family of the women who was killed on the rust movie set has now reached a settlement with actor Alec Baldwin. Its terms are undisclosed,

and follows the wrongful death suit of Halyna Hutchins' family, filed against those involved in the film. A year ago, in New Mexico, a prop gun

was discharged, killing Hutchins, the cinematographer of the film. "Rust" will now continue filming, and her husband, Matthew Hutchins, will be an

executive producer and receive a portion of the profits.

Okay, that will do it for this edition of THE GLOBAL BRIEF. Thank you so much for joining us. Do stay tuned.

"WORLD SPORT" is coming up next.

END