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China Still Reliant on Coal Despite Green Energy Pledges; Colder Temperatures Set in Across Parts of U.S.; Republican Glenn Youngkin Wins Virginia Governor's Race; Minneapolis Voters Reject Policing Overhaul; U.N. Ethiopia Probe: All Sides Committed Abused in Tigray; Atlanta Braves Win First World Series Title Since 1995. Aired 4:30-5a ET

Aired November 03, 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]

DAVID CULVER, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Nation a massive economic boom, built mostly on fossil fuels. CULVER: China is still heavily reliant on coal. In fact, coal provides more than 60 percent of this country's power.

CULVER (voice over): In 2019, we traveled to one of China's coal hubs Inner Mongolia, coal mining, still very active, and we found the continued construction of new coal power plants. More recently, though, attempts to rein in emissions here sparked a power crisis.

Chinese social media chronicling outages across the mainland, people trapped in elevators, traffic lights going dark, panic spread as the winter cold moved in.

LI SHUO, SENIOR POLICY ADVISOR, GREENPEACE: And power crisis is a reflection of things getting deeper and rail, right we are -- we're really trying to rearrange certain parts of our economy and our power system.

CULVER (voice over): But that is all changing fast more than a decade ago, green energy solutions on a major scale were relatively new. Today, China is the world's largest investor, manufacturer and employer of wind and solar power. China even promoting its green solutions as it hosts the upcoming Winter Games. Pledging this to be the first Olympics with competition venues fueled 100 percent by green energy.

SHUO: The Chinese manufacturers are getting very competitive. The key question is for the U.S. to really carefully think about where he can play, you know, a leading role in the supply chain of renewable energy.

CULVER (voice over): The new technologies motivating nations to get creative in securing sources of energy, a power struggle on multiple fronts, China and the U.S. competing to battle climate change might ultimately benefit the rest of the world. But at this point, it's out of necessity.

David Culver, CNN, Shanghai.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ISA SOARES, CNN ANCHOR: Now, millions of Americans will see the first freezing temperatures of the season as winter weather makes its way throughout parts of the United States. Meteorologist Pedram Javaheri has the day's forecast. Good morning to you, Pedram.

PEDRAM JAVAHERI, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Good morning, Isa. Here's what's going on across the U.S. We've got some big changes in store. Temps running 10 to 15 degrees below average across the Eastern third of the U.S. and potentially the coldest air of the season moving in here over the next couple of days. And we're talking the coldest in some seven months for a lot of people across this region.

In fact, a thousand mile stretch of land from parts of Arkansas all the way through Connecticut where temperatures get as cold of the upper 20s across this region. Frost advisories, freeze warnings, even some snow showers to be had especially in the favorable areas across the northern areas of the Great Lakes, up of Michigan. Some regions could see as much as three inches of snowfall. Which is certainly not a blockbuster event, but it is one of the first ones of the season for a lot of these areas.

And again, that colder air really locks up across the Eastern and Northeastern U.S. by the time we get to, say, Friday and Saturday.

But how about this. Temperatures in Atlanta going from 60 degrees down to 52. That would be the coldest there in Atlanta since the first of April, seven months. In Memphis, should be into the upper 60s -- only a 49-degree afternoon. You'll notice the warning trend does return here towards the latter portion of the forecast period.

Now there are rain showers to be had in parts of Texas. Dallas seeing its coolest air at a 50 degree or so afternoon today. Which will be the coolest since February for parts of Dallas. And a remarkable run here of how much warmth has been in place. But again, the seasons are gradually changing across this region. And the Western U.S. also watching this for some showers to push in over the next 24 or so hours.

Hi temperatures, Seattle upper 50s, Louisville around 52 degrees, and even down in Houston, temperatures still in the 70s, but you'll notice that divide, about 20 degrees cooler across Dallas metroplex -- Isa.

SOARES: Thank you very much, Pedram.

Now, still ahead right here on the show, we'll have much more, of course, on the results from election night in America. Including a stinging defeat for Democrats in Virginia. And the race in New Jersey that's way closer than most expected.

Plus, the future of policing was on the ballot in Minneapolis. Why the push for reform failed to win over voters and where the movement goes from there.

[04:35:00]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GLENN YOUNKIN, VIRGINIA GOVERNOR ELECT: Together, together we will change the trajectory of this commonwealth. And friends, we are going to start that transformation on day one.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SOARES: Welcome to CNN NEWSROOM. I'm Isa Soares. And that was Virginia's newly elected governor Glenn Youngkin doing something no Republican has done, in fact, in Virginia since 2009. And that's simply win a statewide office. He squeezed past former Democratic Governor Terry McAuliffe -- as you can see there -- netting just over 50 percent of the vote.

Joe Biden won Virginia by double digits in last year's presidential race -- if you remember. But is currently low approval rating may have hurt McAuliffe. We heard from a political expert on the show this morning. Earlier political analyst Larry Sabato weighed in on what Youngkin did right. Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

LARRY SABATO, DIRECTOR, CENTER FOR POLITICS, UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA: His method was quite simple. Hold Trump at arm's length. Never get photographed with him. Say enough good things to get by, and have intermediaries keep Trump happy. And that's what went on. Trump endorsed Youngkin seven or eight times during the campaign. Even on election eve, which I'm sure that the Republican leadership would have preferred not to happen. But it did. It didn't appear to hurt Youngkin too much, and that is a model for other Republicans in 2022. How to get by and get along with Trump without embracing him.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SOARES: Our thanks to Larry Sabato there.

Well meanwhile, the governor's race in New Jersey is quite a nail- biter with about 84 percent of votes counted. Republican Jack Ciattarelli leads incumbent Phil Murphy by less than a 100 votes, as you can see. Murphy's campaign insists the race will go their way, as votes are still coming in from left leaning suburbs. Of course, we'll stay on top of those numbers.

[04:40:00]

Well, and Minnesota CNN projects that Minneapolis voters have rejected a push to overhaul policing in the city. The movement took off after the murder of course of George Floyd but failed to gain traction with voters on Tuesday. CNN's Omar Jimenez reports.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) OMAR JIMENEZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: In the first electoral test since the murder of George Floyd here in Minneapolis, voters rejected replacing the police department with a wider encompassing public safety department.

Now, to be clear, this was never going to get rid of police officers with a single vote, but one thing I heard consistently from those who plan to vote no in the days leading up to election die, was that they didn't believe the ballot language was specific enough and what this public safety department would become and what it would do.

Now, supporters of voting yes to this ballot language said, well, this is going to help incorporate mental health support, things like violence prevention services, just to incorporate them into the public safety mix, which would, in turn, help reform policing efforts. Well, in the end that ballot language failed. And one thing I heard from both sides of the argument is that there is agreement in that whatever was happening now needed to be improved.

So, the pressure goes back to the mayor who has oversight over the police department. The mayor and the police department itself to reform themselves, or to reform the police department as many in the community, again on both sides, have agreed needed to be done.

Now, all of these voting efforts came within heavy voter enthusiasm, even in the days leading up to election day. Early voting, when you look at just early voting, we saw more of that than we've seen in the past 45 years at the municipal level here in Minneapolis. And of course, what that led to in this case was this ballot language failing. So, the police department stands as it is for now, but it likely won't be the last attempt by people here to reform it.

Omar Jimenez, CNN, Minneapolis.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SOARES: Now, still to come, an investigation by the United Nations in Ethiopia. Human Rights Commission has found all parties in the Tigray conflict have committed violations. We have the latest, of course, on the crisis facing the country. That is next.

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[04:45:00]

SOARES: Let me bring you up to speed on Tuesday's governor's races in Virginia as well as New Jersey. In Virginia -- take a look at this -- Republican Glenn Youngkin has narrowly defeated former Democratic Governor Terry McAuliffe. President Joe Biden campaigned hard for McAuliffe making this really a bitter defeat for Democrats.

And in New Jersey, the race is simply too close to call. Republican Jack Ciattarelli leads incumbent Democrat Phil Murphy by a super, super slim margin. We'll stay on top of those numbers for you. Now, the United Nations is condemning the atrocities uncovered in a

joint investigation into the conflict in Ethiopia's northern Tigray region. The report which in fact came out in the last 45 minutes. Found all parties in the Tigray conflict have committed violations of international human rights. This comes as Ethiopia launches another air strike on the war-torn Tigray region.

CNN's Larry Madowo joins me now live from Nairobi. And good morning to you, Larry. I was listening to Michelle Baxley of the U.N. who's been speaking in the last 10 minutes or so and she said -- I'm going to read it out.

What she said: There are reasonable grounds, she says, to believe that all parties to the conflict in Tigray have to varying degrees committed violations of international human rights, humanitarian and refugee law, some of which may amount to war crimes against humanity.

What she kept on repeating, Larry, were calls for accountability here.

LARRY MADOWO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's correct, Isa. She says the parties to this conflict need to end, hostilities need to allow humanitarian access and there needs to be an investigation. Because their report, this U.N. Human Rights Office in the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission report covers from the third of November when the conflict began until June 28th when Ethiopia declared unilateral cease-fire.

And they're saying if you look through the findings, it's a long list of things that CNN has been reporting on extensively. Detentions, sexual violence, and killings that bear the hallmarks of genocide. These are just some of the issues from the report. Attacks against civilians, and indiscriminate attacks, unlawful or actual judicial killings and executions, torture, wide spread arbitrary detentions, pillage, looting and destruction, forceable displacement of civilians.

Now you understand, Isa, why this conflict has already killed thousands of people and now it spilled over into neighboring regions of Amhara and Afar and the real concerns that the Tigray fighters might be advancing into the capital Addis Ababa. That is why yesterday the Tigrayan government declared a state of emergency nationwide. This is how it explains why it had to do so.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEDION TIMOTHEWOS, ETHIOPIAN ATTORNEY GENERAL: The country is now faced with a national threat which challenges it's severity. The council of ministers found it necessary to declare a state of emergency to deal with the current security situation in the country.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MADOWO: So, while there's concern that this conflict is expanding instead of coming to a close, the Ethiopian government has now started air-strikes for the third straight week. We just saw this update from the government saying the Ethiopian Air Force targeted Adi Bukray, that's a military center, for what they call the terrorist group TPLF located near Adi Hageray. And they claimed large numbers of illegally recruited personnel were taking military trainings in the center for, again, the terrorist group which is how the Ethiopian government refers to the TPLF.

As Jeffrey Feltman added this morning who says despite the state of emergency, people's are going back to their lives as normal. People are going to school. But make no mistake, the state of emergency will allow for detentions, the media, the civil society might be curtailed. It's a very significant development -- Isa.

SOARES: Larry Madowo, do keep us posted on all the developments there. Thanks very much, Larry.

And we'll have much more ahead right here on CNN.

[04:50:00]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

SOARES: Welcome back, everyone. Let me update you with the results of election night in America and a very strong showing by Republicans in two key governor's race. In Virginia, have a look. Republican Glenn Youngkin has defeated the state's former Democratic Governor Terry McAuliffe there. It is a state, of course, Joe Biden won in double digits in last year's presidential election.

And in New Jersey, it is a razor thin margin right now between Democratic incumbent Phil Murphy and Republican challenger Jack Ciattarelli. With 84 percent of the vote counted, they are virtually tied with just a few dozen votes separating them.

Now, a 4-year-old girl who went missing in western Australia has been found alive. More than two weeks after she disappeared from her family's camp site. Now here's a look at the moments after police found Cleo Smith early Wednesday morning. She is now back with her family. Police say a 36-year-old man with no connection to the family is now in custody over the girl's disappearance. A clue led them to the home not far from Smiths, about 50 kilometers from the camp site. They say the house was locked. They broke down the door and found the girl inside.

Want to take you to Texas where the Atlanta Braves have been crowned World Series champions. They beat the Houston Astros on Tuesday to win the series. CNN's Andy Scholes was there.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ANDY SCHOLES, CNN SPORTS ANCHOR: First time since 1995, the Atlanta Braves popping the champagne bottle, celebrating World Series title after completing one of the greatest runs in baseball history. The braves did not have a winning record till August 6. They lost their best player Ronald Acuna, Jr. to injury in July. But they never gave up. They traded for four outfielders. And those outfielders coming through big time in this postseason.

[04:55:00] And Jorge Soler, he was one of them. He was the first ever to lead off a World Series with a home run. And he hit a huge three-run home run in the third inning of game six. It actually left Minute Maid Park. Just an incredible, incredible home run. Dansby Swanson chipping in with a two-run home run as well in the 5th. And starter Max Fried just fantastic, throwing six shutout innings. Just a dominant performance from the Braves as they win 7-0 to take the series in six. And Jorge Soler named the World Series MVP.

JORGE SOLER, ATLANTA BRAVES RIGHT FIELDER, WORLD SERIES MVP: I can't wait to get back to Atlanta. Shoot, even the fans here, I mean I felt like we were at home a hot second. They've been through, you know, the tough times and they stuck beside us. Like I said, I can't wait to get home to Atlanta.

FREDDIE FREEMAN, ATLANTA BRAVES FIRST BASEMAN: This team went through everything possible. We hit every pothole, every bump you can possibly it on the road and we overcame every single one of them. What this team did since the deadline, we are the best team in baseball. And we played like it in the postseason and that's why we're here.

SCHOLES: How does it feel knowing what Atlanta sports has been over the years to bring this World Series home?

BRIAN SNITKER, ATLANTA BRAVES MANAGER: Now, this is awesome. Like I say -- and I'm told Braves country is real. It is a real thing Braves country. You see now all the people that are here, that traveled here to watch the guys, watch us and they come every night. They helped these guys with the emotion, the energy, and it's just so -- I'm just so happy for the city of Atlanta.

SCHOLES: This win big for the braves, but also big for Atlanta sports fans after years of misery, watching the Falcons blow a 28-3 lead to the Patriots in the Super Bowl. They finally have another championship, and it was one no one saw coming.

In Houston, Andy Scholes, CNN.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SOARES: And my Atlanta producer is cheering quietly in my ear. So well done to the Braves.

That's it from me. Thanks very much for joining us. I'm Isa Soares. Our election coverage continues on "NEW DAY" and John Berman and Brianna Keilar.

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