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Baldwin Calls Fatal Incident "One In A Trillion" Event; G20 Shows Unanimous Support For 15 Percent Global Tax; Biden Faces Big Test On World Stage; U.K. Prime Minister Says Success Of COP26 Is "Touch And Go"; NYPD Experiencing Excessive Sickouts; Eastern Europe Struggles With COVID-19 Surge; Fuel Shortages Put Haitian Patients' Lives at Risk; Dazzling Auroras Brighten Night Skies. Aired 3-4a ET

Aired October 31, 2021 - 03:00   ET

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

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KIM BRUNHUBER, CNN ANCHOR AND CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Alec Baldwin breaks his silence, talking to paparazzi about the on-set shooting that killed a cinematographer. Hear what he had to say.

And we'll take you live to Rome for the start of the final day of the G20 summit. We'll have a look at some of the big issues world leaders are tackling.

Plus as one conference begins, another ends. World leaders moving on to Scotland with the goal, nothing short of saving our planet. We're live in Edinburgh.

Welcome. I'm Kim Brunhuber. This is CNN NEWSROOM.

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UNIDENTIFIED MALE (voice-over): Live from CNN Center, this is CNN NEWSROOM with Kim Brunhuber.

BRUNHUBER: A 1 in a trillion event. That's what Alec Baldwin calls the fatal shooting incident on the set of his latest film. The actor made his first on-camera comments since the prop gun he discharged killed the movie's cinematographer, 42-year-old Halyna Hutchins.

Baldwin remembered her as his friend on a tight-knit crew. He and his family were in Vermont when the paparazzi tracked them down. A visibly upset Baldwin took their questions and called for new safety measures on film sets.

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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Would you ever work on another film set that involves firearms of that nature?

ALEC BALDWIN, ACTOR: I couldn't answer that question. I really have no sense of it at all. I do know that an ongoing effort to limit the use of firearms on film sets is something I'm extremely interested in -- but remember something I think is important. That is how many bullets have been fired in films and TV shows in the last 75 years?

This is America. How many bullets have gone off in movies?

Firearms on film sets. It's something I'm extremely interested in.

(CROSSTALK)

BALDWIN: But remember something that I think is important. That is how many dope bullets have been fired in films and TV shows in the last 75 years?

This is America. How many bullets have gone off in movies and on TV shows for last 75 years.

(INAUDIBLE) -- so what has to happen now is we have to realize that when it does go wrong and it's this horrible catastrophic thing, some new measures have to take place. Rubber guns. Plastic guns. No live -- no real (INAUDIBLE) that's not for me to decide. It's urgent. It's urgent that you understand. I'm not an expert in this field.

So whatever other people decide is the best way to go in terms of protecting people's safety on film sets. I'm all in favor of I. I will walk with them in any way that I can.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BRUNHUBER: Natasha Chen has more on what Baldwin had to say.

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NATASHA CHEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: On Saturday, in Vermont, Alec Baldwin and his family were apparently being followed by cameras. Baldwin got out of his car to talk to paparazzi, answering their questions; being careful though, not to answer anything about the ongoing investigation.

He did say, however, that he was friends with Halyna Hopkins, the director of photography, who was killed by the shot he fired. He also said he has been in touch with her husband, who is in overwhelming grief.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: She was my friend. The day I arrived in Santa Fe to start shooting, I took her to dinner, with Joel, the director. There are incidental accidents on film sets from time to time. But nothing like this. This is a one in a trillion tragedy.

It's a one in a trillion death and so he is in shock. He has a 9-year- old son. And we are in constant contact with him because we are very worried about his family and his kid.

We are, you know, in constant contact with him because we're very worried about his family and his kid.

And as I said, we're eagerly awaiting for the sheriff's department to tell us what their investigation has yielded.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHEN: Baldwin said it's unlikely that filming would continue for the movie "Rust," in which he is not only an actor but also a producer. He said he would be supportive in the future of new measures to make film sets safer, for example, using plastic guns or prohibiting live ammunition altogether.

In the meantime, the armorer, Hannah Gutierrez Reed, released a statement on Friday through her attorneys, saying she has no idea how a live round got onto the set and that safety is her top priority.

The sheriff here in Santa Fe, New Mexico, said he would like to do follow-up interviews with both her and the assistant director to clarify some issues -- back to you.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BRUNHUBER: We're hearing more from the gun supervisor on the film. Attorneys for Hannah Gutierrez Reed released this statement.

Quote, "Safety is Hannah's number one priority on set. Ultimately this set would never have been compromised if live ammo were not introduced. Hannah has no idea where the live rounds came from.

"Hannah was hired on two positions on this film, which made it extremely difficult to focus on her job as an armorer. She fought for training days to maintain weapons and proper time to prepare for gunfire but ultimately was overruled by production and her department."

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BRUNHUBER: Meanwhile, police in New Mexico have more questions for the film's armorer. The Santa Fe County sheriff wants to know more about the rounds discovered and the set's safety measures. CNN's senior legal analyst, Elie Honig, says Gutierrez Reed could potentially face charges.

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ELIE HONIG, CNN LEGAL ANALYST: So that is a really important statement by the armorer through her attorneys. I'm not sure it actually helps the armorer, Ms. Gutierrez, because it leads to the next question.

OK, if you have no idea how a live round got into that gun, did you or did you not inspect that gun before it made its way on to set?

If she did not inspect that gun, I think there's an argument right there you have negligence, maybe criminal negligence.

You're an armorer.

What's your number one job? Inspect the guns. If she did inspect the gun then she must have missed that live round, which again could lead to negligence either in the civil sense if she gets sued or potentially at the higher level of the criminal negligence standard.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BRUNHUBER: Honig said he doesn't think Baldwin will face charges. When asked if he'd seen anything that could change that, here's what he said.

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HONIG: No, I haven't. I think as an actor, if an AD, an assistant director, hands you a gun and said it's a cold gun, everything that I've gathered from researching this and seeing our coverage is that the actor doesn't have any obligation to then inspect the gun for himself.

In fact, it would probably be dangerous to do that. So I don't think Alec Baldwin has potential criminal liability here. I do think he, the production company, many others will quite likely be sued civilly for money damages, however.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BRUNHUBER: The second and final day of the G20 summit in Rome begins in just a few hours. When it ends later today, the leaders of the world's wealthiest nations hope to present their consensus on addressing climate change, vaccine inequality and much more.

With shipping ports everywhere experiencing serious logjams, U.S. President Joe Biden will lead today's session on how to free up those vital supply lines. CNN's Ben Wedeman is live in Rome.

What have been the highlights for you in terms of what has been accomplished so far?

BEN WEDEMAN, CNN SR. INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Certainly the single most important thing that has been accomplished, Kim, is this agreement by the G20 leaders to impose a 15 percent global corporate tax.

Now this is something that actually has been agreed to before. This is basically formalizing this agreement here in Rome.

And of course, then it's going to be, how is it going to be implemented?

There will be technical talks and, of course, that's going to involve people like lawyers, accountants, bureaucrats and politicians. So what comes out of that sausage factory is really anybody's guess. That's really the most significant single thing that has been agreed upon.

Regarding climate change, there are still profound disagreements between the various countries on when they will reduce their greenhouse emissions. China and India are somewhat resistant, given their dependence on coal, as opposed to the U.S. and European countries, who say they want to reduce greenhouse emissions as quickly as possible.

BRUNHUBER: You spent time among the protesters, who took to the streets in Rome.

What were they saying?

WEDEMAN: They're very skeptical about the ability of these leaders to actually translate nice words into concrete action.

There is a feeling that, at the end of the day, the politicians are really the -- are, really, they've been manipulated by the larger corporate and economic interests in the G20 countries and, therefore, they really are not able to implement what they are promising.

I really did sense, certainly among the young protesters yesterday, that there's a feeling that these leaders really just cannot deliver on their promises and there's a lot of hot air coming out of this summit.

But in terms of practical, palpable actions that will reduce pollution, that will combat climate change, are probably not going to come as quickly as they would like to see them -- Kim. BRUNHUBER: All right, Ben Wedeman in Rome, thanks so much.

I want to bring in CNN's Kevin Liptak, who's covering this and joins us as well from Rome.

Kevin, one of President Biden's priorities, that global minimum tax that Ben was talking about, got leaders to agree to that plan.

So how important is that in terms of his domestic agenda?

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KEVIN LIPTAK, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, it is important, particularly because a number of the other tax provisions that the president has wanted to see passed, he hasn't been able to secure.

So things like raising the corporate tax rate in the United States; that hasn't been able to garner enough support, even among Democrats. So this idea of putting a minimum tax on corporations essentially forms some of the biggest revenue-raisers for the president's sweeping social agenda that he's still trying to get passed through Congress.

Now this deal had been years in the making. It was one of the president's chief priorities coming into this summit. His Treasury Secretary, Janet Yellen, has made this one of her top agenda items since entering office back in January.

And really, this is probably the most concrete takeaway from this entire summit. It's the most secure win that the president will have here in Rome. When he gets back to the United States, he faces a much tougher slog, with Democrats trying to pass that domestic agenda. The bill is expected to be revised and perhaps even reintroduced

today. Democrats say that they want to vote for it, perhaps even on Tuesday.

BRUNHUBER: All right, we'll be watching for that.

In the meantime, for Biden, what will he be focused on today?

What will you be watching for?

LIPTAK: There's three big things on the president's agenda today. One is the special session that he wants to focus on, the supply chain issues. He wants to identify some of where these clogs in the supply chain are originating, speak with countries and sort of specify individually where they can help on this.

The president also plans to meet with Turkish President Erdogan. The U.S. says he wants to warn Erdogan to stop taking what they call precipitous actions. Of course, Erdogan has bought this Russian air defense system. That has caused a lot of tension between the U.S. and Turkey.

Then the president also has a press conference tonight, where all of these questions could arise, including on the domestic agenda. The president hasn't addressed that since he arrived here in Europe last week.

BRUNHUBER: All right, we'll be following all that with our coverage throughout the day. Kevin Liptak, thanks so much.

Still to come here on CNN, Joe Biden's big moment on the world stage. We'll look at whether allies are confident America is back after the go-it-alone approach of the Trump years.

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BRUNHUBER: President Biden had hoped to arrive in Europe with a solid legislative achievement at home to boost his credentials among allies. That didn't happen. And Biden arrived at the G20 empty-handed.

Still, the president carried on with his priorities at the summit, trying to smooth over the diplomatic rift with France over a canceled submarine contract, reassuring nervous allies after the chaotic fall of Afghanistan and discussing the future of the Iran nuclear deal with Britain, Germany and France.

Joining me now from Los Angeles is CNN European affairs commentator, Dominic Thomas.

Thanks so much for joining us. So the Biden administration at the G20 announced it rolled back some of the Trump-era tariffs on European steel and aluminum. Biden's trying to get the momentum back for the Iran nuclear deal, among other things.

Is it going some way to convincing international partners yet again that America is back, as he proclaimed a couple of months ago?

DOMINIC THOMAS, CNN EUROPEAN AFFAIRS COMMENTATOR: That's the big question. There's evidence that it's moving in that direction. And so much of these big events -- the G7s, the G20s -- are about optics. I think we've moved way beyond the sort of, America is back, can America be trusted?

I think Biden is a well-known entity on the international stage.

And I think the attention has moved now toward the question of reliability and toward the question of whether or not President Biden can actually deliver on these commitments.

I think to that extent, sort of the travel abroad is not separated from the domestic agenda. You can clearly see it playing out here, sort of the legacy of the Trump era, in which the uncertainty and the unpredictability, especially around the commitment of the multilateral relationship, to NATO, to the E.U., with Brexit not helping in that equation, is on the agenda here.

I think there was one very telling sort of moment at the events yesterday, which is that Chancellor Merkel, who, after 16 years at the helm in Germany, traveled to the G20 with her minister of finance, Olaf Scholz, who, of course, is from another political party, who's been in coalition with her and is the most likely candidate to take over.

Whereas, across the Atlantic, in the United States, former president Trump did not invite President Biden to the White House when he was elected and has basically not acknowledged the legitimacy of his election.

And I think what's interesting here, it's a sort of study in contrasts, is that Chancellor Merkel is underscoring, with the presence of Scholz, the sort of the continuity that can be expected from such a valuable partner as Germany.

And to that extent, President Biden's trip to the G20 is kind of an uphill struggle to sort of prove that continuity and that reliability of the United States at this important juncture.

BRUNHUBER: Yes, let's spell it out, then, in terms of that reliability.

Is that the sense, the ticking clock here for European leaders in terms of getting something done with this Biden administration?

They must be aware of the president's falling poll numbers, the midterms coming up, the possibility of Democrats losing control of Congress; maybe in a few years, a Republican administration. THOMAS: That is what is, I think, rattling some of these relationships

and so on. So we see Biden on the one hand on a sort of diplomatic offensive, restoring that relationship with France.

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THOMAS: Talking about sort of the clumsiness of the ways in which this defense deal, submarine deal with Australia, and so on, ended up putting the French on the outside.

Announcing this relationship with the European Union and the reduction of tariffs on steel and aluminum and so on. So that's sort of the personal aspect of that diplomacy.

But I think that the sort of commitment to resuscitating the Iran deal, to having discussions about global issues, like vaccination campaigns and so on, show the Americans front and center and eager to underscore the crucial importance of multilateralism and how an entity like the G20 can address those particular issues.

So I see that diplomatic offensive working out well. Whether or not it can actually translate into concrete measures are the big question of the day, as you underscore, because of the problems that President Biden is facing essentially at home by disruptive opposition; in many ways, a kind of lack of cohesion, even within the Democratic Party.

BRUNHUBER: In terms of concrete measures, one of the key issues for Americans, they'll be watching for, the G20 will be the attempts to help alleviate the supply chain issues that have been causing shortages, high prices in the U.S., so on. That will be a focus at the G20 today.

How big of a headache has that been for Europe?

And how do you think that concretely they can address this, then?

THOMAS: Concretely or not, I really am not sure where they go to that. The fact that they are addressing these issues, I think, highlights a couple of things.

First of all, the crucial importance of domestic policies: we're not talking about the sort of the America first, nationalist kind of agenda of president Trump but we are talking about the very real ways in which that question plus the question of the global minimum tax and the various ways in which not just businesses but multinational enterprises and organizations are operating around the world, are presenting a common set of challenges and a common set of problems.

And we see the G20 coming together here in an attempt to try and address all of these kinds of issues that have knock-on effects, on employment in their various domestic markets, on global trade and so on.

And all of this in the aftermath of a global pandemic that has created real-life problems in so many areas of the world. And so to that extent, the G20 attempting to work in concert to solve a range of global problems is really what they are all about here.

Now the fact that not all global partners are there and present is an issue. And we see this as they head into these all-important talks tomorrow -- or rather today -- in Europe, about climate and about the environment.

BRUNHUBER: So you touched on this theme in both your answers just now. But I'm curious to sort of explore a bit more with the minute or so we have left.

Sort of looking big picture, this G20 is being billed as a test for the functioning of the multilateral order. That's how it's being sort of framed, especially in the context of rising nationalism in many countries.

Is that overstating it?

Is it really a key test here?

THOMAS: I think every time they meet, we talk about there being a key test. There are always global problems, global issues, questioning about the extent to which this organization represents areas of the world that have some of the most serious economic, health and cultural problems.

And so there's a perception that it is a group of elite leaders that are essentially determining policy that impacts the rest of the world. That's always been there and always been part of the agenda.

I think there are unique factors here. The fact that Biden arrives here in this post-Trump era, that proved extraordinarily disruptive to all of these large international meetings, I think the fact that they're meeting in person again for the first time since the global pandemic is important.

But I also think that the question of climate and, in many ways, the ways in which that relates to the global vaccination campaign and so on, so forth, the way in which COVID has revealed inequalities and inequities around the world, is an absolutely crucial moment.

I think that many of these leaders recognize the moral responsibility, one could say, of addressing these global issues. I think to that extent, it has relevance. This is an important meeting.

BRUNHUBER: Appreciate your analysis, Dominic Thomas, thanks so much.

Still ahead, an urgent call for action as world leaders prepare for COP26 climate talks in Glasgow. Live from Scotland after the break.

Plus some firefighters in New York are resisting the city's mandate to get a COVID-19 vaccine. We'll hear what the fire commissioner is saying about this next.

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BRUNHUBER: Stay with us. (MUSIC PLAYING)

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BRUNHUBER: It was supposed to be a turning point for the planet. But as the COP26 climate summit prepares to get underway in Glasgow, some world leaders are casting doubt on just how much can be accomplished. Here's U.K. prime minister Boris Johnson on Saturday.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BORIS JOHNSON, U.K. PRIME MINISTER: Chance of stopping climate change, next week. What we could conceivably do, if everybody gets their act together, what we could do is get an agreement that means that COP26 in Glasgow is a way station that allows us to end climate change and allows us to keep alive that --

(CROSSTALK)

JOHNSON: -- dream of restricting the growth to 1.5 degrees.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BRUNHUBER: For more, let's bring in Phil Black in Edinburgh, Scotland.

Boris Johnson is warning the cost of failure in Glasgow would be huge. But as we heard, he doesn't sound very optimistic that anything big will get done here.

Is it a case of managing expectations?

PHIL BLACK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Indeed, and also reminding people what's at stake, I think. When he was describing what is at stake, he talked about civilization as we know it actually moving backwards in the years ahead, because of competition over resources, food, mass migration, likening it to the fall of the Roman Empire.

It was historical flourish. But it is designed to remind people just why world leaders are coming to Glasgow in the coming days. But he made the key point there -- and this is where managing expectation is key -- they're not going to fix it, fix climate change, in the next two weeks.

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BLACK: But there is even doubt they will make any significant meaningful progress, too. So what he will be hoping is to try and create some sense of momentum so that some sort of breakthrough, some sort of progress, can be made that doesn't solve all the problems but does at least keep alive the hopes of delivering the stated goals of the Paris agreement.

Paris, you'll remember, in 2015, was when world leaders came together and said, we're going to do all we can to limit global average temperature increase between 1.5 and 2 degrees Celsius, closer to 1.5 because that's what you have to do to avoid the worst impacts of climate change.

This meeting is when countries are supposed to deliver the detail on just how they're going to do that. The detail that has been delivered so far is insufficient. It is not compliant with that goal of achieving 1.5 degrees.

So they will be pushing for concrete measures; not just more commitments, not just vague promises but some credible sense of how this really can be achieved. And crucially, they'll be looking for details on the sort of progress that can be made this decade.

Because the science says that, unless countries cut emissions deeply throughout this decade, by 2030, the chances of achieving the necessary carbon neutrality by around the middle of the century, that simply isn't possible.

So there is so much at stake here. And they will be looking just to try and achieve some sense of meaningful progress in the coming days.

BRUNHUBER: Yes, so much at stake and we'll be following that event throughout the week. Phil Black, thanks so much. Appreciate it.

Trillions of gallons of water are wasted every year due to leaky pipes. It's a problem that makes climate change worse. Actor Matt Damon and his charity, water.org, are working to reverse that. He and his colleagues sat down with CNN's Julia Chatterley. Here's part of their discussion.

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MATT DAMON, ACTOR AND ACTIVIST: Eight trillion gallons of water a year, are lost because of leaky pipes or through infrastructure. Think about the cost, the carbon cost of delivering that water, right?

Getting it, treating it, moving it and then suddenly, you just lose it. That's an absolute waste.

JULIA CHATTERLEY, CNN ANCHOR: Give me that stat, again.

DAMON: Eight trillion gallons of water.

(CROSSTALK)

CHATTERLEY: Eight trillion --

DAMON: Right. So you could solve the problem --

CHATTERLEY: You could solve the problem --

DAMON: -- twice over. Yes, it would -- just with shoring that up, which is a big thing to do. But you need to be thinking that way, in terms of attacking this problem.

CHATTERLEY: I don't hear this being discussed enough. GARY WHITE, CEO AND COFOUNDER, WATER.ORG: That's why we want to bring

it to the fore when we are in Glasgow, because that 8 trillion represents 25 percent of all the water that is sourced and treated.

So it is one thing to have a carbon footprint when you derive some economic value out of it. You know, you drive to work, in your car, you make money and you provide for your family.

But when you have a carbon footprint that completely has no economic value, that leaks out, unaccounted for, that is kind of some of the low-hanging fruit I think that we can be looking at and boost that infrastructure investment from 2 percent infrastructure up higher. Because this has been overlooked for decades, if not centuries.

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BRUNHUBER: You will want to catch the full interview, Monday, on "FIRST MOVE WITH JULIA CHATTERLEY." That's 1:00 pm in London, 9:00 pm Hong Kong time.

And a programming note, we will have extensive coverage of the COP26 climate change conference in Glasgow from November 1st to the 12th. Tune into CNN each day for that and for all the latest climate news and COP26 news. Head to cnn.com/climate.

In a matter of days, young children in the U.S. could be getting a COVID shot. A CDC panel meets Tuesday to decide whether to recommend Pfizer's vaccine for emergency use in children between the ages of 5 and 11.

The FDA gave its authorization on Friday. The CDC director must still sign off on it. But even after rigorous testing, some parents say they're concerned about the vaccine: 76 percent think not enough is known about the long-term effects; 71 percent are worried about side effects; 66 percent are worried about future fertility problems.

To be clear, fertility concerns have been repeatedly debunked. Here's what Dr. Anthony Fauci says about the science.

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DR. ANTHONY FAUCI, WHITE HOUSE CHIEF COVID-19 MEDICAL ADVISER: I do feel it's important to vaccinate children. No doubt from a statistical standpoint, when children get infected, it's very much more likely that they would not have a severe outcome compared to an elderly person like myself or someone who has an underlying condition.

But that doesn't mean that the kids are exempt from some serious illness because all you need to do is go to the pediatric hospitals around the country and you see particularly with the Delta variant, which has a much greater chance of transmitting, that more kids are getting infected.

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[03:35:00] BRUNHUBER: Many employees at New York City's Fire Department are calling in sick. This comes after Friday's deadline, mandating that most city workers provide proof they've received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine or be placed on unpaid leave. CNN's Polo Sandoval reports.

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POLO SANDOVAL, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: New York City's Fire Department said it was prepared to overcome any potential staffing issues that they may experience after that vaccine mandate took effect on Friday evening.

And authorities saying that they are now implementing some of those protocols to make sure that no calls go unanswered.

It was on Saturday that the head of the New York Fire Department actually released a statement, reporting what was described as excessive sick leave that's being taken by multiple firefighters.

Commissioner Daniel Nigro writing, "The excessive sick leave by a group of our firefighters, because of their anger at a vaccine mandate for all city employees, is unacceptable, contrary to their oaths to serve and may endanger the lives of New Yorkers."

The commissioner went on to write, "Despite these actions by some, the department will continue to respond to all calls for help that come our way."

The commissioner saying those calls do continue to go answered; however, they have had to take some of their fire companies out of service. Those are not to be confused with entire firehouses around the city, which we are told have not been shut down. Those fire operations there have not been affected.

But they're certainly having to reshuffle some of their resources to make sure that New Yorkers do have the help that they need.

In terms of some of the latest numbers, vaccination numbers for some of New York City's first responders, you can see them for yourself. There is a slight increase that authorities have reported since that mandate took effect on Friday.

Authorities certainly hopeful that those numbers will continue to rise, since some of those employees who show up to work on Monday without proof of at least one shot face possibly being sent home on unpaid leave -- Polo Sandoval, CNN, New York.

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BRUNHUBER: Beginning in November, Cuba will open up to those who've had the COVID shot. Now the Cuban public health ministry says starting November 7th, fully vaccinated travelers will not have to quarantine upon entering the country.

They will also drop PCR testing requirements beginning November 15th. But all travelers aged 12 and over will still need to present proof of vaccination.

And Spain says it plans to donate millions of vaccine doses in the coming months. Spanish prime minister Pedro Sanchez tweeted on Saturday, that his country will have donated some 50 million doses by next March. This comes amid a rise in COVID cases and deaths across Europe.

Now much of Eastern Europe is paying a high price over vaccine hesitancy. While there is not a shortage of shots in some Eastern European countries, there is reluctance to get one. And that reluctance has been widespread.

There have been few mitigation measures, so now surging COVID cases are overwhelming the region.

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PAULA NEWTON, CNN ANCHOR AND CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): An ambulance arrives at a Moscow hospital. Essential workers are still allowed on the job in Russia but much of the rest of the workforce, right across the country, is in lockdown, until at least November 7th.

It's part of a government plan to try and cut down on the number of new COVID-19 cases that are overwhelming hospitals and logging record high daily death tolls.

Shops are closed except for pharmacies and supermarkets. Restaurants in Moscow are open only for delivery or take out but it's not a stay- at-home order. The city's streets are still busy.

Some people are leaving town to take advantage of time off. One resident says she thinks the new measures are not tough enough to make a difference and old measures are not always being followed.

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NATALIA STEPANENKO, MOSCOW RESIDENT (through translator): The restrictions certainly make sense. But they don't work properly because there are still so many people. There are lots of people in the public transport and the metro. They don't wear masks. And it's an issue.

NEWTON (voice-over): That issue, of not following coronavirus guidelines, is one that is also derailing health plans in many Eastern European countries.

In Ukraine, where COVID-19 deaths are also skyrocketing, police are cracking down on a booming black market of fake COVID-19 vaccine and test documents. Authorities recently released videos of raids of suspected criminal activity, including one in a doctor's office.

Ukraine's deputy interior minister says the country is, quote, "close to drowning" in forged certificates.

The cards are in high demand, especially since the country added new measures for travel. Proof of vaccination or a negative test is required to board planes, trains and long distance buses. But only 16.5 percent of the population is fully vaccinated.

Latvia is also undergoing a surge of infections. One hospital official says, in some places, they don't have enough medical staff to treat the rising number of COVID-19 patients.

[03:40:00]

NEWTON (voice-over): And in hardhit Romania, hospital morgues are filling up as well. One medical examiner says all the victims here are unvaccinated and, in some cases, entire families have been killed by the virus.

He says vaccine reluctance and public attitudes have to change in order to stop spreading infections and lower the rising body counts, inundating the region.

CLAUDIU IONITA, AUTOPSIST (through translator): The vaccine does not mean that you can have a coffee with your friends or go to a concert, stuff that we used to do before. The vaccine means that you will not end up here. This is the most important message.

NEWTON (voice-over): Paula Newton, CNN.

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BRUNHUBER: Coming up on CNN NEWSROOM, the growing crisis in Haiti. Hospitals are running out of critically needed fuel, putting patients' lives at risk.

And later in the program, the Northern Lights are putting on a big show this weekend. We'll go to the CNN Weather Center to get details.

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BRUNHUBER: Nationwide protests in Sudan against the military takeover grew to their largest yet Saturday.

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BRUNHUBER (voice-over): Hundreds of thousands of people demonstrated across the country, with banners and chanting anti coup slogans. This was the scene in the capital, Khartoum.

Protesters want the military to restore civilian leadership and stop interfering with the government. They are also calling for Sudan's top general to resign. A civilian doctors' group says at least 13 people have been killed and 140 injured since the military takeover Sunday.

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BRUNHUBER: Hospitals in Haiti are on the verge of collapse. Fuel is scarce as gangs block access to fuel terminals as they demand the resignation of the country's prime minister. And the risk of kidnapping is causing a shortage of medical staff. But it's not just the hospitals feeling the pain. CNN's Matt Rivers reports from Port- au-Prince.

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MATT RIVERS, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Spot protests across Port-au-Prince, burning tires below sending Black smoke into the sky. The country is in crisis once again, in part fueled by a lack of fuel.

A crushing shortage of gasoline has crippled the capital city. Here, taxi drivers are protesting, arguing with police outside of a gas station with no gas.

"We don't have a government," this man says. "If we don't demand change, who will."

Tires set on fire and debris thrown into the street are desperate attempts to cause enough chaos that the governor tries to fix the problem. But it won't be easy. Not only is the government so broke it often can't buy enough fuel but when some arrives, it can't get delivered.

The vast majority of fuel is imported at these two locations but gangs in Port-au-Prince are so powerful they have near complete control over this crucial stretch of highway, which means they control the flow of fuel into the capital.

A gas retailer, identity hidden due to security concerns, told us what happens if you try and drive a tanker truck in to pick up fuel.

RIVERS (on camera): So I might get kidnapped.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.

RIVERS: I might get shot.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes. If you don't stop.

RIVERS: I might get killed.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.

RIVERS: Or at the very least, I'm going to have to pay an exorbitant bribe to get past.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, of course.

RIVERS (voice-over): Haiti's government and law enforcement are either unwilling or unable to secure a flow of fuel from the ports.

RIVERS (on camera): But not having enough fuel doesn't just mean you can't use your motorbike. Consider this: here in Port-au-Prince, the electricity grid is not reliable.

So let's say you own a small store and you sell cold drinks. In order to keep that refrigerator running, you need to use a generator. And of the fuel going into that generator is way more expensive than it was before, that means you need to charge your customers more for those cold drinks.

Not having enough fuel makes all kinds of things more expensive and that's brutal in a country already dealing with so much poverty.

Because you don't have gasoline, do you think that that is risking the lives of some of your patients, because they can't get the treatment that they need?

KEDNER PIERRE, COUNTY DIRECTOR, INNOVATING HEALTH INTERNATIONAL: Yes. Of course. Of course. This is a problem for us.

RIVERS (voice-over): Kedner Pierre runs Haiti's largest cancer treatment center at Innovating Health International. He showed us this x-ray machine, like other equipment here, sitting idle, because there's not enough gas to run the facility's generator full-time.

In another darkened room nearby, we use our phone's flashlight to see a bank of refrigerators, with medicine for chemotherapy, all turned off.

RIVERS (on camera): So you put ice in there to keep this cold, because you can't -- You don't have enough gas --

PIERRE: No. I don't have enough gas.

RIVERS: -- to run a generator to keep these refrigerators on.

RIVERS (voice-over): This clinic is still treating patients, something that is barely happening inside the empty hallways of Hospital de la Paix. Normally packed with patients, just a few are inside now. Most days, only a handful of doctors make it to work, either because there's no gas or because they fear being kidnapped by gangs.

Ketia Asteil's (ph) son almost died during an asthma attack overnight. She says, "The doctor was using his flashlight on his phone to put my son on oxygen, because there is no electricity. It's so bad, I almost lost him."

RIVERS (on camera): Normally, all of those cribs would be filled with sick kids but the hospital is turning away nearly every single patient that comes here, because right now, there's simply not enough doctors, nurses or electricity to take care of them. That means that one of Haiti's largest hospitals is essentially not functioning.

RIVERS (voice-over): "The doctors are trying," she says, "but they cannot do anything. They have no help. Only God can help at this point." Perhaps God and gasoline -- Matt Rivers, CNN, Port-au-Prince, Haiti.

(END VIDEOTAPE) BRUNHUBER: Polls are open for just a few more hours in Japan's first national election in two years. The ruling coalition led by the prime minister's Liberal Democratic Party is widely expected to keep its majority.

Japanese celebrities are throwing their star power behind the call to vote in a now-viral YouTube video released earlier this month titled "The Voice Project." The video's a rare chance at seeing celebrities there speak out about politics. The video has more than 600,000 views so far.

Coming up on CNN NEWSROOM, the Atlanta Braves are just one win away from a World Series championship. We'll have highlights of their thrilling game for victory next. Stay with us.

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[03:50:00]

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BRUNHUBER: The skies in parts of the world are being brightened by a dazzling light show this weekend. The Northern Lights are being seen across parts of Europe and North America, including U.S. states as far south as Illinois and Oregon.

One viewer tweeted, "You won't believe the scene here. Unreal."

Have a look at this. This might fire you up. NASA released video of the exact moments a large flare exploded on the sun. It ejected charged particles, which collided with gases in the Earth's atmosphere, creating those spectacular curtains of colored lights.

(WEATHER REPORT)

[03:55:00]

BRUNHUBER: The Atlanta Braves are just one win away from their first World Series championship since 1995.

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BRUNHUBER: That wraps this hour of CNN NEWSROOM. I'm Kim Brunhuber. I'll be back in a moment with more news. Please do stick with us.