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World Leaders Gathering in Glasgow for COP26 Meetings; Washington Post Investigation Details January 6 Warning Signs; American Chief Executive of Barclays Quits After Investigation into Links to Jeffrey Epstein; International Borders Reopen in Parts of Australia Today; Shanghai Disneyland Temporarily Closed Amid Covid Probe. Aired 4:30-5a ET

Aired November 01, 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]

ISA SOARES, CNN ANCHOR: Welcome to CNN NEWSROOM, I'm Isa Soares. If you're just joining us, let me bring you up to date with top stories this hour.

More than 100 world leaders are huddled in Glasgow Scotland for the COP26 summit where the presidents of China and Russia won't be among them. You're looking at live images there. And at the G20 summit in Rome, it was their foreign ministers were in attendance. The U.S. president expressed his disappointment that neither countries showed up with climate pledges. Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOE BIDEN, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: With regard to the disappointment, the disappointment relates to the fact that Russia and including not only Russia, but China, basically didn't show up in terms of any commitments to deal with climate change. And there's a reason why people should be disappointed in that. I found it disappointing myself.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SOARES: Well, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said his country has set its own target for carbon neutrality.

Saying quote, we would like to go by empty ambitions and empty promises so we have announced we will do this, we will reach carbon neutrality by no later than 2060. This is are calculated commitment and we are sticking to it.

That was a statement. We'll stay on top of what else comes out of the summit in relation to climate.

A newly released investigation by the "Washington Post" reveals some chilling details and missed warning signs of violence by Trump supporters before the January 6th insurrection. And here's just one part. Look at this.

One of the most striking flares came when a tipster called the FBI on the afternoon of December 20. Trump supporters were discussing online how to sneak guns into Washington, to overrun police in arrest members of Congress in January. The tipster offer specifics. Those planning violence believe they had orders from the president, used code word such as "pickaxe" to describe guns and posted the times and locations of for spots across the country for caravans to meet the day before the joint session. On one side, a poster specifically mentioned Senator Mitt Romney as a target.

According to "The Post," tips about extremist groups came pouring into security agencies during the weeks ahead of the insurrection. But the FBI regarded many statements to be protected First Amendment speech. Now the "Washington Post" investigation found some Pentagon leaders feared Trump would misuse the National Guard to stay in power. And in official who warned Washington area hospitals stock up on blood and prepare for quote, a mass casualty event. The paper also describes then President Trump as a quote, driving force in the weeks before the riot, inciting supporters and key federal agencies tasked with protecting the Capitol. Now the report dives into what happened as the insurrection unfolded. Investigative report Aaron Davis spoke to CNN about that part of the investigation.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

AARON DAVIS, INVESTIGATIVE REPORTER, THE WASHINGTON POST: We've kind of took a little bit different turn on the story where we look more at the 187 minutes in between when the Capitol was breached and when Trump said anything to call off the supporters of his that were raiding the capitol. And so many things happened in those couple hours. People died. People had heart attacks.

You know, there was obviously the Ashli Babbitt shooting. There was just numerous tragedies in the course of those hours when he was doing nothing.

With everything that we've looked at, you have to question why this crowd was allowed to get that close to the Capitol that day. We were able to these document I think in greater detail than has been done before. But there were warning signs of this violence dating back not just hours or days, but weeks in advance.

The FBI had in their possession tips they came from informants, from social media companies, from former national security officials, from researchers, that all pointed to a violent situation on January 6th. One particular striking one was December 20 they received a warning that Trump supporters wanted to not only overthrow the DC police but to arrest members of Congress, take them and put them on trial publicly for not bowing to President Trump's belief that he won the election. And so,

[04:35:00]

Then fast-forward to the actual day on January 6th. There were signs of violence in the hours leading up to the breach as well. There were numerous firearms taken off members of the crowd after they left the ellipse where President Trump was speaking. And they even surrounded at one point in time park police officers around the Washington monument and started beating on the doors there. There were violent signs all the way down the mall as this crowd moved, and yet they basically were allowed to walk straight into the Capitol.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SOARES: Well, that was Aaron Davis from the "Washington Post" speaking to our Jim Acosta.

Now all eyes on the U.S. Supreme Court, in the coming hour, justices will hear argues and two challenges to the nation's most restricted abortion law. The law took effect in September after the Supreme Court and the federal courts failed to intervene. And the law bans abortions as soon as a fetal heartbeat can be detected. That's usually around six weeks. That's before many women even know they're pregnant. It also makes no exceptions for rape or incest.

Well perhaps most significantly the law will not be enforced by the state, instead it allows private visitors to sue abortion providers for alleged violations. Experts say the law, that makes the law trickier really to challenge in the courts.

Now, we have some news just coming into CNN, the CEO of banking giant Barclay him s is stepping down. It comes amid an investigation into his role as a private banker to disgraced financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Anna Stewart joins us now on the phone with more. And Anna, what more do you know about the reason why is stepping down and that connection that he may have had with Epstein here?

ANNA STEWART, CNN REPORTER (via phone): Good morning, Isa. So, on Friday evening, Barclays Bank was made aware essentially of the preliminary conclusion from the SBA and the PRA -- these are the British financial regulators -- on their investigation which we were aware of. And it centers on how Mr. Staley, the CEO Barclays, have characterized his relationship with Epstein through the bank and how the bank then disclosed it to these regulators.

Was it properly -- was it fully disclosed? Now, we don't have the findings. We don't have the preliminary conclusions. But what we know from today's information from the bank, is that it was Mr. Staley's intention to contest the conclusions, and the bank has decided that he will be stepping down.

And they have added here a comment saying the investigation makes no findings that he saw or was aware of any of the alleged crimes, which was essential questions underpinning about his support from Mr. Staley, following the arrest of Mr. Epstein in 2019. And it is worth pointing out that this relationship of course pre-dates Mr. Staley's time at Barclays. This was when he was the head of the J.P. Morgan's private bank.

Last year, in February, Barclays made us all aware that he was under investigation or this relationship and how he characterized it was under investigation. Ad they said they were satisfied that Mr. Staley had volunteered to give them all the information they needed. That he had been transparent and they recommended him for re-election at the AGM. Now that that time, in February 2020 last year, Mr. Staley was asked

about his relationship with Mr. Epstein, and I can give you what he said then. He said obviously I thought I knew him well and I didn't. And for sure with hindsight what we all know now, I deeply regret having any relationship with Jeffrey Epstein. This was a professional relationship when he was at J.P. Morgan.

This isn't the first time though I would say that Mr. Staley has had a run in with regulators in the U.K. Back in 2018 the SBA fined him $870,000 for trying to identify a whistleblower -- in which he apologized. Though it is another run in with the regulators here, but yesterday this is sending shock waves through markets this morning.

SOARES: Indeed, if you're just joining us, I'm going to bring you up to date of the news just in. The American chief executive of Barclays, Jes Staley, as you heard Anna say, stepping down, with immediate effects. Following the conclusion of an investigation by British regulators here in the U.K. into his relationship with the disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein. This coming from the bank in the early hours. Thanks, Anna, for that. We'll keep you updated on this story throughout the day.

Still ahead right here on the show, closed until further notice. What forced park officials to shutter one of China's most popular entertainment attractions. We'll bring you the latest next.

[04:40:00]

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SOARES: Now, after 18 months of closed border, international travel has returned to parts of Australia. And with it, emotional reunions like these, a few hours ago, at Sidney's airport. Thousands of Australians living abroad have been unable to return home due to the country's tough pandemic restrictions. For now, the states of Victoria and New South Wales have lifted quarantine rules for fully vaccinated travelers. Thanks to vaccinations. Let's bring in CNN's Angus Watson live for us As Sidney International Airport. And Angus, we have seen tears and cheers at the airport where you are. It's been a long wait for so many, right?

ANGUS WATSON, CNN PRODUCER: It has been a real celebration, this morning, Isa, of the end of fortress Australia, as it came to be known, the strict border policy that Australia put in place back in March of 2020 to try to ride out the COVID pandemic. To try to seal itself out from the rest of the world telling its own citizens, residents and their families that they can't come home in unkept number. They've to quarantine for 14 days on arrival in state-managed isolation, when they do.

So that outpouring of emotion that you saw here today at the airport really the first chance that people are getting to meet one another as Sidney and Melbourne opened up for the first time in the pandemic to international visitors.

Now, it's not open for all, this is just for Australian residents and their families able to come into the country. Again, some 40,000 such people, Australians trapped around the world, as the pandemic has raged on now finally being able to return home, as that bottleneck caused by the limit on the number of Australians that were allowed to come into the country is suddenly released.

And you say, they have been able to do that because of the soaring vaccination rate here in Sidney and in Melbourne, aiming for over 90 percent of the adult population fully vaccinated. But it's also there are still restrictions here domestically. There's a real divide between the states that have COVID-19 in the community like New South Wales and Victoria and the states that don't, like Queensland and Western Australia, still trying to practice COVID zero. They're cut off from one another. So, we have this strange situation in which someone can fly in from Los Angeles to Sidney as people did today but can't travel to Queensland or Western Australia -- Isa.

SOARES: Angus Watson for us in Sidney. Thank you very much, Angus. Good to see you.

[04:45:00]

Now Thailand's now welcoming fully vaccinated tourists from dozens of countries with no risk for the coronavirus and they won't be required to quarantine. Bangkok have welcomed the first visitors with the rest of the country to follow. This should give much needed boost of course to Thailand's vital tourism industry which has taken a massive hit during the pandemic.

Well, pandemic restrictions are relaxing in South Korea, as so-called living with COVID measures begins to go in effect. Curfews are lifted for businesses on Monday except for dance clubs and karaoke bars. And private gatherings of up to ten people are allowed in greater Seoul regardless of vaccination status. The government plans to continue to easing rules in phases with an evaluation really at periods in between.

And coming up, right here on CNN NEWSROOM, American Airlines canceled more than a thousand flights over the weekend, stranding passengers, the response from the airline is next.

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SOARES: Now, as many other Asian countries begin reopening -- we told you that in the last few minutes -- China is taking the opposite approach and is doubling down on zero COVID strategy.

[04:50:00]

The latest example came on Sunday, Shanghai Disneyland announced it will close by the next few days after it reported that someone with a confirmed case of COVID-19 visited the park. Video shows medical workers and police officers inside Disneyland on Sunday night. And officials say guests were required to take a COVID test before they left.

CNN Steven Jiang is following the story and joins me now live from Beijing. And Steven, I mean globally many countries have looked for ways to live with the virus, China's got of course a strict zero tolerance policy on COVID. How effective has this been?

STEVEN JIANG, CNN, BEIJING BUREAU CHIEF: Well, Isa, it depends who you ask. State media and government officials are already spinning this latest Disney episode of the vivid example of the efficiency and the effectiveness of their COVID policy and using those now viral images as you mentioned a large group of medical workers in hazmat suits descending on the park as thousands were celebrating Halloween. And quickly getting the visitors and staff inside the park tested against this backdrop of spectacular Disney fireworks.

But you know, according to the latest figures, they have now tested 34,000 people, all of the results came back negative, but all of those people, along with thousands more, who visited the park, during last week, are now required to self-isolate and go to more rounds of testing. And all of this of course not surprising, with the re- emergence of new local cases. We've seen officials across the country adopt some very harsh measures some of which we had previously only seen during the peak of the pandemic last year. Including locking down entire cities of millions of residents, and also stopping high speed trains midway through their journeys with only close contacts of confirmed cases were found to be on board.

And given how this country runs, its top-down power structure, and the leadership's political priorities, we're going to see more of this in the coming weeks and months as we countdown to the Olympics and major leadership meeting here in Beijing in just a week -- Isa.

SOARES: Yes, and I know you will keep us posted on that. Steven Jiang for us in Beijing. Thanks very much, Steven.

Now, it has been a rough weekend for travelers flying American Airlines as they cancel more than 800 flights on Sunday. The problems have been cascading since Friday when nearly 350 flights were canceled and it just kept getting worse. American has now canceled more than 1,500 flights over the three-day weekend. Really a perfect storm of bad weather and staffing shortages are to blame.

And the company says most passengers were being rebooked on flights the same day but customers still showed their frustrations. American airlines released a statement saying -- I'm going to read out to you.

To make sure we are taking care of our customers and providing scheduling certainty for our crews, we have adjusted operation for the last few days this month by proactively canceling some flights. We are taking this measure to minimize any inconvenience as much as possible.

Now, Halloween is over. And that means colder weather is on the way for much of the U.S. Let's go to meteorologist Pedram Javaheri for the forecast. Good morning, Pedram.

PEDRAM JAVAHERI, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Good morning, Isa. November 1st upon us here and we will begin to feel like it across a large area of the United States. For now, generally quiet conditions. We do have some snow showers across some of the colder spots back into the planes and into areas of the intermountain west.

But speaking of colder temperatures, how about this, 27 to 31 degrees to start off the morning for a couple of million people across parts of the Midwest. As some freeze warnings are in place. And then shift a little farther back toward the West and wintry weather to be had, about three to five inches in store for North Platte back towards Cheyenne, Wyoming, some snow showers in place. But again, kind of the start of things here as we transition into the colder months. And this disturbance is going to be greeted with some colder air eventually. So, winter weather expands a little farther towards the East over the next several days. And you'll kind of begin to see this take shape.

Even some wet weather across northern Texas, stretching down into Houston and of course, areas around where the World Series will be resuming there, on Tuesday. It could see some wet weather in and around the area.

But work your way back to the west, also seeing some showers, pushing in with the next incoming system. The temperatures into the upper 30s into the Northern Plains, 39 in Minot, Seattle, 53. Los Angeles at 67. Enjoy the 60s and 70s across parts of the southern United States, because the coldest air of the season is going to be upon us here over the next few days. And especially toward the latter half of the week. Look at the temperatures. Little Rock in the 60s, dropping down into the 40s. And in New Orleans, from the middle 70s, down to the middle 60s and Atlanta, climbs up to 70 degrees, and then notice what happens. Nose dives back down to the lower 50s, even the 30s into the overnight hours. Again, the coolest air in months about to be moving in across a large area of the Eastern U.S. -- isa.

Thanks very much, Pedram. Get your coats.

Now baseball's World Series heading for game six. The Houston Astros battled from behind in game five to beat the Atlanta Braves 9-5 on Sunday night.

[04:55:00]

Now the Braves got off to a grand start, thanks to this grand slam by Adam Duvall in the first inning. Sending the 40-plus thousand home fans into a wild frenzy. The Astros fought back to tie the game until Brave's superstar Freddie Freeman hit this mammoth homerun in the third inning to give Atlanta a one-run lead. Then the Astros came roaring back against thanks to this hit by Marlin Gonzalez to give Houston the lead for good in this one. The Braves still hold a 3-2 series lead. They will now return to Houston for game six tonight. And both teams say they are confident. We will keep on top of that.

The North American box office is gearing up for a stellar fourth quarter. And that's after an extremely strong October. It's been the highest grossing month so far this year and it's expected to rake in more than $600 million. That's due to the debut of highly-anticipated films like, "Dune," as well as "Venom: Let There Be Carnage," and "Halloween Kills." But the year's biggest blockbusters could be just around the corner. And finally, the publisher of the Oxford English Dictionary has

declared "vax" to be 2021's word of the year. The term emerged in 1990 with a version of the much older word "vaccine." But last September "Vax" appeared 72 times as often as it did in September the year before. Oxford language tracks the use of billions of words and selects one annually to reflect the mood of the times. Last year, it was lockdown, I believe.

I want to pause to take really a measure of the global toll on COVID- 19. Moments ago -- as you've seen there -- Johns Hopkins University recorded a 5 millionth death somewhere in the world blame down the disease. Five million deaths in less than two years since the World Health Organization officially declared it a pandemic.

And that does it for me, I'm Isa Soares. "EARLY START" with Christine Romans and Laura Jarrett is up next. They'll have much more of course on the COP26 climate summit. I shall see you tomorrow. Have a wonderful day. Bye-bye.

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