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Investigators: Eight Killed in Russian University Shooting; Pro-Putin United Russia Party Leads in Parliamentary Vote; Biden to Address Gathering of World Leaders on Tuesday; Bolsonaro Says He Won't Get Vaccine Before U.N. Speech; Paris Angry Over Loss of $65 Billion Diesel Sub Deal with Canberra; Senior U.S. and UK Lawmakers Discuss Homegrown Terrorism; Windy Conditions Prompt Red Flag Warnings in Northern California. Aired 4:30-5a ET

Aired September 20, 2021 - 04:30   ET

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

[04:30:00]

ANNOUNCER: This is CNN breaking news.

ROSEMARY CHURCH, CNN ANCHOR: Updating you now on a story we are following out of Russia. Investigators say at least eight people have been killed in a shooting at a state university in the city of Perm. It's not clear how many people were wounded. Investigators say the shooter was wounded by police before being arrested. He is described as a male student. It's not immediately clear if he is enrolled in that university. Perm is located more than 700 miles or about 1,100 kilometers east of Moscow. We'll continue to watch that story.

Well, millions of Russians voted in Parliamentary elections this weekend, and the pro-Putin United Russia Party looks set to hold on to its majority. With 85 percent of ballots reportedly in, United Russia is ahead with nearly half the vote. Russians voted for three days to select members of the state duma along with regional and municipal leaders. So, let's bring in senior international correspondent Matthew Chance. He joins us live from Moscow. Good to see you, Matthew. So, what more are you learning about the possible outcome of this election and of course, how it was run?

MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, I mean the outcome of the election was pretty much preordained in the sense that the authorities went to great lengths to make sure that the ruling party, United Russian Party which is kind of backed by Vladimir Putin -- although he's not a member of it -- would come out with a majority, and possibly a two thirds majority is they have before. Which would mean that any of their policies cannot be vetoed.

Basically, the election was run over three days. It's given -- you know, there's been widespread calls of abuses and violations, ballot box stuffing, people being forced to vote. But more importantly I think, opposition figures, problem opposition figures in this country, most notably those connected with Alexey Navalny, one of the Kremlin's most vociferous critics, were essentially barred from standing in these elections. Whether they were barred under legal reasons or were put in jail. They been forced into exile. Other leading opposition figures also have been forced off the ballot or otherwise undermined. Meaning that, you know, the people of Russia, the millions of people

that went out to vote over the course of the past three days had very little real choice when it came to, you know, kind of unseating the ruling clique. That's been a sort of move in the opinion polls or in the votes in terms of in favor of the Communist Party. There have been some encouragement given by groups like Alexey Navalny to vote for the Communists as they pose -- because they are kind of our something of an alternative, I suppose to the ruling Russian United Party. And their share of the vote has gone up about 10 percent to about 20 percent. But it still doesn't pose a real threat to the power of the United Russian Party, which is very loyal indeed to Vladimir Putin.

CHURCH: All right, Matthew Chance, many thanks for bringing us up to date on that situation. Thank you, John. Appreciate it.

Well, U.S. President Joe Biden on Tuesday will deliver his first speech to the United Nations General Assembly since taking office. It is a critical moment for Mr. Biden to articulate his foreign-policy vision.

[04:35:00]

A senior official says he will discuss the pandemic and argue for more aggressive measures to contain the spread of COVID-19. But before he speaks Brazil's President is expected to open the assembly. And that's causing concern because he refuses to be vaccinated against the coronavirus. CNN's Rafael Romo has our report.

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RAFAEL ROMO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: He once said that coronavirus was a "pequena chimenea," a little flu. Last September he suggested that a coronavirus vaccine can turn people into an alligator or a bearded woman. And now Brazilian president, Jair Bolsonaro, a controversial right wing former military officer, is attending the U.N. General Assembly even though he hasn't been vaccinated and rules require it.

During an interview that was broadcast online last week. Bolsonaro dismissed vaccines. Why would I get vaccinated, he asked? Adding that in his case his antibody levels are so high he doesn't need any vaccine.

Let's remember that the president tested positive for COVID-19 in July 2020. In a statement released last week New York Mayor Bill de Blasio thanked the Assembly President Abdulla Shahid for requiring proof of vaccination to enter the U.N. General Assembly hall. But in an interview with Reuters the same day U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres said it's a rule that he cannot enforce.

ANTONIO GUTERRES, UNITED NATIONS SECRETARY GENERAL: Of course, we as secretariats cannot tell a head of state if he's not vaccinated that he cannot enter the United Nations. Bolsonaro was immediately targeted by the opposition after declaring he's not getting vaccinated before going to New York. Erika Kokay, a Congresswoman from the leftist Workers Party, blasted the president on Twitter. New York demands proof of vaccination from the U.N. Assembly, she wrote, and can you imagine which political leader did not get vaccinated and will bring more international shame to the people of his country.

With more than 21 million cases Brazil ranks third in the world for the largest number of confirmed COVID-19 infections. More than 590,000 people have died of the disease there since the beginning of the pandemic.

Rafael Romo, CNN, Atlanta.

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CHURCH: Damage control will be on the agenda when President Biden speaks with French President Emmanuel Macron this week. Both sides say they are seeking a way forward after that security deal between the U.S., the U.K. and Australia, sparked a diplomatic crisis. French Ambassador insists they were not informed though both Washington and Canada says they were.

The deal helps Australia obtain nuclear powered submarines. But France lost the multibillion-dollar contract for conventional subs. Paris has recalled its ambassadors to both the U.S. and Australia.

So, let's go live now to Paris. And our senior International correspondent Jim Bittermann. Good to see you, Jim. So, it is of course inevitable that this meeting between Biden and Macron will be very awkward, but what could the U.S. offer France to make this right?

JIM BITTERMANN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, that's a good question, Rosemary. I think one of the things is that this is not just about soothing ruffled feathers. It's not just about the money. But in fact, it's that $65 billion contract is not to be sneezed at.

But nonetheless, it's not just about those things. It's more for the French, I think, based on the fact that they are being excluded from this Western Pacific Security Pact that the U.K., U.S. and Australia have been created. They feel like they're not being valued as real security partner. And they also have a lot of interest in the Western Pacific. The French colonies here, New Caledonia, they've got 7,000 troops that are based out there. They just took part back in May in a collective military exercise with the U.S. and Japan. The show of force against the Chinese aggression.

Anyway, they feel they should be part of the action and they're being excluded. So, that is probably one thing. If they could be somehow brought back into this would definitely improve things. But we'll see what happens here. I mean, you know, the British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on his way to the U.N. General Assembly said to reporters our love for France is ineradicable. But it's more than just be soothing the ruffled feathers. There's a lot at stake here -- Rosemary.

CHURCH: All right, we'll continue to follow this. Jim Bittermann joining us live from Paris, many thanks. And coming up here on CNN NEWSROOM, an exclusive interview with the U.S. Speaker of the House and the British Speaker of the House of Commons. What they say is now the greatest threat to democracy.

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CHURCH: A meeting of top G7 lawmakers has wrapped up in the U.K. The Speakers conference largely focused on home grown terrorism after the January 6th U.S. Capitol attack. U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and British House of Commons Speaker Lindsay Hoyle spoke about the threat with our Bianca Nobilo in this CNN exclusive.

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REP. NANCY PELOSI (D-CA) U.S. SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE: The goal of terrorists is not only to tear down a building, a system, it's to instill fear into others. We have a responsibility to protect and defend. Safety, security is the basis for every other good thing that flows from a democracy. So, when freedom of expression turns into violence or an attempt to undermine the Constitution, the Congress or our democracy, then we have to have a lively debate about that to seek the truth as to how this manifestation on January 6th and one taking place right now today in Washington, D.C., how this came about. The underlying causes of it, whether it's white supremacy, anti-Semitism, Islamophobia, anti-LBGTQ, antiwomen, whatever that motivation happens to be for them.

LINDSAY HOYLE, BRITISH HOUSE OF COMMONS SPEAKER: t's about homegrown terrorism. And that's what we face. It's about people who live here and then suddenly change and don't want the values that we've shared and given to them. And it is a worry for us all, it is the lone wolf who may be sat in a bedroom reading, whether it's extreme right wing or terrorism, whatever it is, it's not the international terrorist that's the worry for us. It is the homegrown terrorist with extreme views, who just wants to do harm, who wants to stop this functioning.

And of course, with social media. We saw the whipping up of a mob that took Capitol Hill, via social media.

[04:45:00]

That is why social media is very important, but it's very dangerous. And it's the dangers that that carries. And of course, we have the extreme right wingers such as National Action that was banned in the United Kingdom, who the far right who got links to America, and the fact that they were happy to behead an MP on the streets of the constituency. Again, it didn't happen, but it could happen. So, it's extremism that we've got to fight.

First of all, with all due respect, I don't think one person or party is a junior one in the relationship. This is about cooperation, collaboration, not anybody doing anybody a favor. It's about our common interests in democracy, security, climate crisis, COVID, whatever the challenge is and the overarching values that we share. The U.S. considers that special relationship just that, very special. And if you need to know more about it, you can just ask all the countries who ask how come we don't have the same relationship that you have with the U.K.? Because it's special.

BIANCA NOBILO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Now, when we think about the special relationship often in the United Kingdom as the junior partner in that relationship. We can be more emotional about it, and perhaps overstate its importance. Some analysts say that the U.S. views it in more transactional terms. What are both of your views on the special relationship?

PELOSI: First of all, with all due respect, generally accepted that any one person, party is a junior one in the relationship. This is about cooperation, collaboration, not anybody doing anybody a favor. It's about our common interest in democracy and security, climate crisis COVID, whatever the challenge is, and the overarching values that we share. The U.S. considers that special relationship indeed, just that very special.

And if you need to know more about it, you can just ask all the countries who ask how come we don't have the same relationship that you have with the U.K., because it's special.

HOYLE: And the fact that we're here together today just shows how special that relationship is. As we say, this isn't the end of our special relationship. This special relationship just grows from here today.

NOBILO: And you're both speakers. But your roles are very different. And, Mr. Speaker, you're an impartial speaker. And we discussed the other day that in some instances, you might lack power as a result of that. Madam Speaker, you are a political speaker. And as a result, that that's potentially divisive. Do you think from learning from each other that either of your roles could do with a rebalancing?

PELOSI: I have no interest in rebalancing the role of the Speaker of the House, I knew they would want to rebalance it once a woman became Speaker of the House. Let's diminish the power of this Speaker. No, we're not going there. But I do have responsibility to the Speaker of the House, to try and strive for as much bipartisanship as possible.

HOYLE: Nobody forced me to put my name to Speaker. So, I accepted the rules of the House. I accepted that to become impartial. It's, you know, my politics with her, my politics are known. And of course, I now sit independently within that chair, to ensure that the House is running the way that we've always known it to be run.

Now of the House wish to change the way that we do business in the House. And they want me to come political. Of course, I would rise to that challenge. But in fairness, I follow in the footsteps as the 158th speaker, showing my impartiality, ensuring that debate continues, and making sure the House functions.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CHURCH: Bianca Nobilo speaking exclusively with U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and British House Of Commons Speaker Lindsay Hoyle.

And still to come here on CNN, wildfires are raging across 12 states right now affecting millions of people. We will get the latest on the situation in California where an evacuation warning has been issued.

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CHURCH: Incredible images here showing plumes of smoke and streams of lava spewing from a volcano in La Palma, one of Spain's Canary Islands. The island was on alert for a possible eruption after earthquakes were felt over the weekend. Thousands living nearby were reportedly forced to evacuate. So far, no reports of injuries.

Well, parts of Northern California are under a red flag warning, meaning conditions are favorable for the spread of wildfires. The warning affects about 6 million people and includes the Dixie Fire which has already burned nearly a million acres. Some residents near Kings Canyon National Park have been warned they might have to evacuate.

So, let's bring in meteorologist Gene Norman. Gene, what all are you seeing in the forecast for that region?

GENE NORMAN, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Well, Rosemary, it doesn't look good especially with the areas that have been asked to evacuate because there are two fires near the Sequoia National Park and the other location that had the potential to continue to spread and that's why fire officials are watching them very, very carefully. You see the containment rates for both of them are very, very low.

And one of the things that is very concerning is we don't want anything to happen to those giant sequoia trees. Of course, they're nearly as tall as the statue of liberty. In this picture taken last Friday, to indicate fire officials trying to wrap the bases from foil to keep them from burning potentially. Of course, the forest is home to over 2,000 trees and while over the years they have developed some resistance to extreme conditions, they're probably no match for the high intensity fires that we're seeing due to climate change. And of course, in 2020 the Castle Fire killed several hundred trees.

Now the red flag warning is mainly in effect for Northern California where fires could easily start and spread because of the dry conditions and because of the wind. This isn't necessarily because of high heat that we've been seeing throughout most of this fire season. The Dixie Fire and Caldor Fire containment level is getting better. But these winds certainly won't help the situation.

And why is it so windy? We had a cold front move through over the weekend and that allow high pressure to build in. Off shore flow is keeping those winds high and that's the reason for the potential risk for fire danger. The level is 2 out of 3. A critical level indicated by the red shading. So, Rosemary, we'll be watching this very, very carefully. But it's a dangerous situation. The worst of the winds will arrive later today. [04:55:00]

CHURCH: And we appreciate you watching all of that and bringing it to us. Thank you so much. Gene Norman with the latest.

All the glitz and glamor of television's biggest night was back on display at Sunday's Primetime Emmy Awards. After last year's virtual ceremony stars of the small screen were back on the red carpet to the delight of fans and photographers. One of the night's biggest winners was the Netflix series "The Crown" bringing home awards for best actor and actress in a drama series. Best supporting actor and actress in a drama series as well as best drama. And entertainer RuPaul made Emmy history by becoming the most awarded person of color in the shows history. And RuPaul had an encouraging message for all the young people watching at home.

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RUPAUL, ENTERTAINER: And for you kids out there watching, you have a tribe that is waiting for you. We are waiting for you, baby. Come on to mama Ru.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

RuPaul's Drag Race won for best reality competition program, bringing RuPaul's total number of Emmys to 11.

And thank you so much for your company. I'm Rosemary Church. Be sure to connect with me on Twitter @rosemaryCNN. "EARLY START" is up next.

But we leave you with an ariel view of an art installation in Washington DC. You're looking at more than 660,000 white flags at the base of the Washington Monument. Each one represents someone in this country who died of COVID. That is one in every 500 people in the United States. You're watching CNN.

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