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Ethiopia on High Alert; ISIS-K Killed 20 in Latest Kabul Bombing; China Making Nuclear Weapons Faster; U.S. Now Ready to Vaccinate Children; Thai Med Company Delivered Used Gloves; Twenty Nations To Stop Financing Fossil Fuels Abroad; Push To Phase Out Coal Power Gains Momentum At COP26; Drought Hits Parana River Basin, Threatens Commerce And Affecting Large Portions Of Mexico; Fashion's Sustainability Problem; Attorney For "Rust" Armorer Suggests Sabotage On Set; CNN Projections, New Jersey Gov. Murphy Wins Re-election; Activists Face Threats, Harassment By Cuban Government. Aired 3-4a ET
Aired November 04, 2021 - 03:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[03:00:00]
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
Rosemary CHURCH, CNN ANCHOR (on camera): Hello, and welcome to our viewers joining us from all around the world. I'm Rosemary Church.
Just ahead on CNN Newsroom, Ethiopia's capital is under threat. Rebel fighters are inching closer while the U.N. is condemning possible war crimes.
China is rapidly expanding its nuclear arsenal. The Pentagon warning that Beijing could have 1,000 warheads by the end of the decade.
Plus, hospitals and morgues are running out of room in parts of Europe as coronavirus cases rise for the fifth consecutive week.
UNKNOWN: Live from CNN center, this is CNN Newsroom with Rosemary Church.
ROSEMARY: Good to have you with us.
There are growing concerns Ethiopia is becoming more volatile by the hour as the government's conflict with Tigrayan forces is nearing an all-out war one year after the fighting began.
A diplomatic source tells CNN a combined rebel forces is on the outskirts of the Ethiopian capital. And they have the firepower to be inside Addis Ababa within hours if they choose. Vigils were held Wednesday to mark the somber one-year anniversary, the same day the U.N. revealed a joint investigation that found possible war crimes committed by all parties in this conflict.
And CNN's David McKenzie is following the story from Johannesburg. He joins us now live this hour. Good to see you, David.
So, what more are you learning about these rebel forces apparently on the outskirts of the Ethiopian capital?
DAVID MCKENZIE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, the outskirts -- the outskirts can be a relative term. I think we need to be careful here because there is a communications blackout in large parts of Ethiopia. As well as an unwillingness at times to share information with the press or let the press in.
What we do know is that significantly the TDF, the military wing of the TPLF from Tigray certainly has approached the capital or closer to the capital, something that surprised many diplomats and government members in recent days. Showing that they aren't happy to just defend their far north province, but are looking to unseat President Abiy Ahmed from power.
On his part, Abiy is digging in, he has for months now said that he will not stand down to the TPLF which he calls terrorists. Here is his fiery statement on the anniversary of the beginning of this conflict.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ABIY AHMED, ETHIOPIAN PRIME MINISTER (through translator): This pit, which is dug very deep, will be where the enemy will be buried. Not where Ethiopia disintegrates. We will bury this enemy with our blood and bones and with the glory of Ethiopia high up again.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MCKENZIE: Now, Abiy's government through the Ethiopian cabinet has called a state of emergency that gives them broad power, Rosemary, to arrest anyone they fear is going against the government. It also allows a more sweeping security apparatus to work in the country.
Similar rhetoric was used in a Facebook post by the prime minister, that was interestingly taken down by the social media company because they say it potentially incited violence. It speaks to the unease in the capital in Addis. The seat of the African union home to really many diplomats and humanitarian agencies.
In recent hours, the State Department have authorized, not emergency personnel of the U.S. embassy to leave the country through commercial means. And those who want to stay, to stockpile goods, because they fear there might be a shortage of goods if there is a siege on the capital.
I don't think where they're quite yet, this is still very much up in the air. But the fact that the rebel groups have joined, speaks to a political crisis for Abiy if not a military one.
ROSEMARY: All right. Many thanks to our David McKenzie joining us live. I appreciate it.
David Shinn is the former U.S. Ambassador to Ethiopia. He is now a professor at George Washington University. He joins me now from Washington. Thank you so much for being with us.
DAVID SHINN, ADJUNCT PROFESSOR OF INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS, GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY: Hello.
ROSEMARY: So, one year since the start of the conflict in Ethiopia's Tigray region, rebel fighters are now moving closer to the capital Addis Ababa. And in response, Ethiopia's prime minister is calling on his soldiers and civilians to defend the city with their blood. Where do you see all this going?
[03:05:09]
SHINN: I don't see anything good coming out of this situation at the moment. Both sides seem to be committed to a military ending to the conflict. And I think that is just not going to be really possible. Even if one side or the other were to take control of Addis Ababa there will be continuing conflict involving different ethnic groups in Ethiopia. So, it will not be over.
So, it's a very bad scenario at the moment. There doesn't seem to be any willingness to compromise by any of the conflicting parties.
ROSEMARY: And as this plays out, the United Nations released a report documenting the atrocities on all sides during this year-long conflict. And the U.N. human rights chief is warning that the situation is rapidly deteriorating. So what does the international community need to be doing right now before this destabilizes that whole region?
SHINN: I think more pressure has to be brought to bear on all of the conflicting parties. The government of Ethiopia, the Tigray People's Liberation Front, now the Oromo Liberation Army which has joined up with the TPLF in opposing the government in an effort to try and encourage them to sit down and discuss this conflict rather than continue fighting about it.
ROSEMARY: And for the benefit of those viewers who, perhaps don't know the background of all of this, how did it start? And, what's the Ethiopian government's motivation and end game and that of the Tigrayan rebel fighters?
SHINN: Just to give you the short history, taking it back to 2018 when there was a change of government in Ethiopia. That ended, basically, a Tigrayan centric government that had been the most important component of government dating back to 1991. And that left a fair amount of resentment.
The Tigrayan are only 6 percent of the population and everyone knew that they had a disproportionate amount of power. The Tigrayan saw the handwriting on the wall, and essentially started returning to their homeland in Tigray region from the capital and other parts of the country.
They set up elections in Tigray region contrary to the wishes of the central government, which said they wanted to postpone all national elections. Tigray went ahead anyway. The elections were easily won by the TPLF. You then had a situation, I think where the TPLF thought the government was going to send troops into Tigray region, and we don't know whether that's the case or not. And as a result, that a preventive attack on the northern military
headquarters in Mek'ele, the capital of Tigray region. And that basically started the war with the government forces.
ROSEMARY: And ambassador, the U.S. embassy and of course other nations represented they are advising their citizens in the Ethiopia to get out. What's your biggest fear right now as you watch this all play out?
SHINN: Well, basically chaos. I lived in Ethiopia for three years and I don't know how you end up evacuating such a large international community. I'm not even 100 percent certain that that is the best approach to going forward. We don't know, of course, what the TPLF and the Oromo Liberation Army have in mind should they reach Addis Ababa and try to take the town.
And even that is in question, in my view. But I think that maybe it's a bit premature for a massive pulled out from Addis Ababa.
ROSEMARY: Former U.S. Ambassador to Ethiopia, David Shinn, many thanks for joining us.
SHINN: Thank you.
ROSEMARY: An investigation into that U.S. drone strike that killed 10 civilians in Kabul has found execution errors were made but says there were no violation of law. Seven children were among those killed in the August strike.
The review found there was evidence children were at the site two minutes before the missile was launched. But the strike cell was not aware of that at the time.
The deadly strike has only added to concerns over how the U.S. handled its chaotic exit from Afghanistan.
ISIS-K is claiming responsibility for a deadly attack on Afghanistan's largest military hospital. At least 20 people were killed and 30 wounded in the attack in Kabul Tuesday.
[03:10:03]
The Islamic state's news agency said the attack involved firefighters including one who detonated an explosive belt at the hospital's gate. ISIS-K fighters stormed the building and opened fire on Taliban members.
The U.S. military warns that China's nuclear capability has advanced faster than expected, and the country could have 1,000 warheads by 2030. That's five times what it has now and much higher than the Pentagon had projected a year ago.
The annual report also notes, with alarm that China is rapidly modernizing every aspect of its military with an eye on dominating the Indo-Pacific region by mid-century.
CNN's Oren Liebermann has the details.
OREN LIEBERMANN, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: In the latest China military power report from the Pentagon the Defense Department focused partially on the rapid modernization of China's nuclear force, saying they have a nascent nuclear triad similar to the United States nuclear triad of air launched, sub launched and ground launched ballistic missiles.
The estimate from last year that they could roughly double their force or stockpile of 200 nukes within 10 years, well, that's old news now. Now, the Pentagon says they could have 1,000 nuclear warheads by 2030, and that comes from the speed with which they are modernizing and building out their nuclear stockpile and their nuclear options.
But that's just a part of what's concerning here in the short time. In the bigger picture over the long term the China military power reports says that by 2049 so before the midpoint of the century China aims to supplant U.S. global influence and replace U.S. partnerships and alliances in the region with its own partnerships and alliances in the region.
How disturbing is that. Well, joint chiefs chairman General Mark Milley said it best at the Aspen security summit on Wednesday.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MARK MILLEY, CHAIRMAN, U.S. JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF: We're witnessing, in my view, we're witnessing one of the largest shifts in global geostrategic power that the world is witnessing. It only happens once in a while.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LIEBERMANN (on camera): One of the interims laid out in the China military power report is 2027 where China looks to build a system of system within its military and modernize or at least advance modernization dramatically over what it is now.
The China military power report the Defense Department says a lot of that is aimed towards Taiwan and options that would give China when it comes to Taiwan. That would include blockading the islands, perhaps an amphibious assault on Taiwan itself or on some of the outlying islands.
All of this modernization is also meant to build deterrence and essentially act as a warning sign against foreign intervention or any moves by Taiwan towards independence. A lot of that pointed straight at the U.S.
Oren Liebermann, CNN, in the Pentagon.
ROSEMARY: Iran has released footage of last month's allege confrontation between Revolutionary Guard and the U.S. Navy in the Gulf of Oman. The video shows what appeared to be two American warships next to a large tanker and smaller Iranian military vessels. Iran claims it stopped those U.S. ships from seizing Iranian crude oil onboard the tanker.
But Pentagon spokesman John Kirby says those allegations are absolutely false. And it was Iran that illegally seized a merchant vessel in the Gulf of Oman.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOHN KIRBY, PENTAGON SPOKESMAN: We monitor a lot of activity in that part of the world. It's not about waiting. We are reacting to false claims that the Iranians made today. So, if you're asking me why I'm talking about this today, because you are asking me about it today. Because the Iranians lied about it today.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROSEMARY (on camera): Kirby added, the U.S. was merely monitoring the situation and at no time did U.S. forces attempt to engage.
And still to come, Europe is experiencing a disturbing surge in COVID- related cases and deaths. What a German official is calling this new wave of the pandemic, that's next.
Plus, an arrest after a CNN investigation exposed a scam selling counterfeit and used medical gloves. The details next.
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ROSEMARY (on camera): Police in western Australia say the man suspected of kidnapping 4-year-old Cleo Smith had to be hospitalized after harming himself while in custody. His injuries are not considered life-threatening. The 36-year-old is expected to be charged in the coming hours. Police won't say what charges he will face but they believe he acted spontaneously and alone.
Cleo Smith was rescued from a locked house Wednesday morning not far from her own home nearly three weeks after vanishing from her family's campsite. She was seen just a short time ago smiling and holding a pink balloon while in her mother's arms, exactly where she should be.
Well, Europe is seeing an uptick in COVID cases even though much of the world is trending down. The World Health Organization says the region is reporting a 6 percent increase in new weekly infections compared to last week. And in Romania one person is dying every five minutes as the health care system reaches breaking point. The country has the second lowest vaccination rate in the European Union.
Well, the U.S. has crossed a tragic milestone but there is hope in the battle against COVID-19, more than 750,000 Americans have now died from COVID, that's a according to Johns Hopkins University. And that's more COVID-related deaths than any other nation in the world.
But many Americans are hoping the decision to approve the vaccine for children ages 5 to 11 will help cut the number of deaths in cases. Children across the U.S. are now getting their first Pfizer shot and the American president touted the development.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOE BIDEN, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: For parents all over this country, this is a day of relief and celebration after almost 18 months of anxious worry in every time children or your child had a sniffle or started to cough, well you can now protect them from this horrible virus because that we'd always worry that was just coming along. Twenty-eight million more young Americans are now eligible for the protection of a vaccine.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROSEMARY (on camera): And joining me now is Dr. Scott Miscovich, the president of Premiere Medical Group Hawaii, and he's also a national consultant on the U.S. for the COVID-19 testing. Thank you, doctor, for all that you do.
SCOTT MISCOVICH, U.S. NATIONAL CONSULTANT FOR COVID-19 TESTING: Thank you for having me.
ROSEMARY: So just hours after the CDC gave the go ahead to vaccinate all kids 5-11, parents were making appointments and kids were getting their shots. But still many other parents in the U.S. are saying they won't vaccinate their children, they are afraid basically. So, what is your advice to them?
MISCOVICH: Yes. I mean, I'm seeing the data and I'm seeing the studies, and I think I mentioned on one of my other appearances, I have teams all over the country they are giving vaccines and vaccinated the children, the answer is please, get your children vaccinated. It's safe. The side effect profile is low. And there are so many benefits to the country.
I mean, as we are listening to what's going on across the world, and we look at the United States, and the president lauded this new development. There are so many more things that we need to do, but this is the step, this is where we protect the children who then the adults spread it to the grandparents over the holiday.
[03:19:57]
So, the data is very clear, the child's vaccine is safe, it's one third of the dose, and it's going to be readily available across the country.
ROSEMARY: And while you are speaking, we are looking at these images of these brave kids stepping up getting their shots, and of course the more of these parents who have been reluctant see these images the more likely they will do the same. That's certainly the hope.
So, let's talk now about the crisis unfolding in Europe where a surge in new COVID cases and deaths is now moving from the east to the west, driven mostly by people refusing to get vaccinated for whatever reason despite having easy access to shots. Now we have the same problem here in the United States, and you and I have discussed this many times. How do you convince these people to get vaccinated because it's -- there are lots of different reasons for why they are not doing it.
MISCOVICH: Yes. I mean you can really look at it as an east and west. And in the eastern bloc, when you look at the studies that have been done it's distrust of government. It's paranoia and distrust of government, not believing that it's safe, or not believing the vaccine they're getting is safe. That's a big, big step to overcome. But it has to be done one vaccine at a time and with large public events.
And then you go to the west, and as we're seeing like in the Netherlands even though they have 84 percent of their adult population vaccinated they're having surges. But why is it crossing over to areas that are wealthy enough and do have reasonable vaccine rates? Well, it's because they're not listening and following mitigation measures.
So, the Netherlands has just instituted -- just talking getting masks in public places. The world needs to understand we need to do that now. We can't wait until you have a surge, wait till death starts to happen and your hospitals get overrun before you put these things into play. We need to do it now. They need to do it now.
The United States has to be looking at what is going on and preparing for the winter and the holidays. Because as we've seen last year, the same thing will happen to us unless we do the same.
ROSEMARY: Do people have to be reminded of polio and smallpox, chicken pox, measles, mumps so that they understand why this needs to happen? Is there enough for communication with people to explain how dire the situation is if people don't get vaccinated?
MISCOVICH: Our memories are so short, you know, our -- the children, the gen Xers you named the generations, they don't -- they're not trained in this process. And think about what we're doing now with the Delta variant is just as infectious as measles and more infectious than smallpox 8 to 12 times, 8 to 12 people will get it from one individual. It is so much more contagious.
And we're watching the effects. You can also look at studies that show that more people that get it increased the death rate. We have to stop it at its source. And the vaccine is the source and it's working, it's stopping deaths wherever it's being used effectively.
There is, you know, there is not much more we can say and boosters have to be also used right away because we're seeing the waning immunity.
ROSEMARY: Dr. Scott Miscovich, we appreciate you. Many thanks.
MISCOVICH: No problem. Thanks for having me.
ROSEMARY: Well, the days of a zero COVID policy are quickly drawing to a close in the Asia-Pacific region, but not in China. The lone holdout still hoping to completely stop the spread of the coronavirus. But is that strategy working?
CNN's Kristie Lu stout takes a look.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KRISTIE LU STOUT, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): California dreaming in China. China's social media influencers pose at a Costco in Shanghai to pretend they're in Los Angeles. A vivid remember of how long China has been sealed off from the rest of the world.
For nearly two years, most people in China have been unable to travel abroad due to harsh and lengthy quarantines upon return, as well as limited flights and some delays in visa processing. The country is sticking to a zero COVID strategy, determined to eliminate the virus within its borders despite fully vaccinating more than 75 percent of the population.
LU STOUT (on camera): Hong Kong, with its closely tied to China is also in a sort of coronavirus purgatory. With many of its residents especially ex pats waiting for the city to reopen just as the rest of the region is opening up.
On Monday, South Korea took its first step to what they're calling a no return to normal life despite reporting thousands of new cases every week, it's easing restrictions like lifting curfews and allowing some social gatherings.
In Tokyo, curfews were lifted for bars and restaurants at the end of October despite hundreds of new cases reported across Japan each day.
[03:24:58]
Thailand, on Monday started to welcome fully vaccinated travelers from low risk countries without quarantine. Also, on Monday, Sydney and Melbourne relaxed its border controls for citizens and permanent residents who are fully vaccinated.
Fiji plans to reopen to fully vaccinated tourists on December 1st. Indonesia's resort island of Bali has reopened for some international arrivals, while New Zealand has abandoned its COVID-19 elimination strategy.
And Singapore has also embraced living with the virus. The regions shift away from zero COVID follows generally high vaccination rates. Despite a slow vaccine rollout, countries including Australia, Japan, South Korea, and Singapore, are now among the most vaccinated in the world per capita.
China, the country where the virus was first detected is the only country in the region still chasing zero COVID. And it doesn't appear restriction will ease anytime soon as the Beijing Olympic Games edge closer. And President Xi Jinping pursued an unprecedented third term in power.
YANZHONG HUANG, SENIOR FELLOW FOR GLOBAL HEALTH, COUNCIL ON FOREIGN RELATIONS: To ensure a smooth transition of the leadership then that policy might be sustained through late next year.
LU STOUT: With most overseas travel no longer viable, Chinese officials have promoted domestic tourism instead, but with the highly infectious Delta variant, that too is risky. A single confirmed case recently sent Shanghai Disneyland into temporary lockdown. And yet, many Chinese netizens praise the government and Disney for what they see as an effective response.
One writes, although a pity, this is Shanghai speed with timely detection and control. In zero COVID China, Disneyland can go into snap lockdown and influencers pretend they're in L.A.
Kristie Lu Stout, CNN, Hong Kong.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROSEMARY (on camera): Since the start of the pandemic there have been reports of people trying to unfairly profit off the high demand for key medical supplies. Now the suspect of the heart of a CNN investigation into fake and used medical gloves is under arrest. The investigation found that millions of these substandard gloves were being sold to distributors in the U.S.
CNN's Scott McLean has more on the alleged scam and the arrest.
SCOTT MCLEAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: This CEO of the Thai medical glove company Skymed was arrested in Thailand on Wednesday. Kampee Kampeerayannon is facing several fraud related charges. Thai police say that the Skymed web site is a facade meant to attract foreign buyers. One of them was an American company called Rock Fintek which paid Skymed more than $6 million for hundreds of thousands of boxes of medical gloves but never received any.
Other U.S. customers told CNN that the Skymed gloves they receive were substandard or even secondhand. Thai police also say that in June a Rock Fintek representative even went to the address where Skymed said their gloves were made, but found no factory there.
Now we interviewed Kampee last week prior to his arrest and he gave inconsistent and contradictory explanations as to where its gloves were produced. Eventually conceding that it has no Thai factory but instead sources its gloves abroad.
He also claimed that Skymed was the victim of unauthorized counterfeiting by its former distributor, Paddy the Room which CNN found exported tens of millions of gloves to the U.S., many of them substandard or even soiled and clearly secondhand.
Police say Kampee denies all of the charges against him. CNN is attempting to reach out to him through his lawyer.
Scott McLean, CNN, London.
ROSEMARY: Phasing out fossil fuels comes into sharper focus in Glasgow. How the COP26 summit is charting a path to cleaner energy.
Plus, how Latin America's drought crisis is threatening the environment and so many basic necessities for people living there.
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[03:30:00]
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ROSEMARY CHURCH, CNN ANCHOR (on camera): Major new pledges are coming out of the COP26 Climate Summit. In the coming hours the U.K. is expected to announce that at least 20 countries have agreed to end financing for all fossil fuel projects abroad. This, as hundreds of banks and finance firms across dozens of countries commit to the goal of reaching net zero emissions.
Our Bill Weir, has our report.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BILL WEIR, CNN'S CHIEF CLIMATE CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Of the four main themes laid out by COP26 host, Boris Johnson, coal, cars, cash, and trees, probably is going to be cash that provides the biggest challenge. Because unlike any other thing, money represents human wants and needs, and systems, and they are entrenched in so many ways, so many factors in the economy.
The U.K. tried to set the tone this morning by announcing a landmark pledge from 450 different corporations, insurance companies, pensions, to go green essentially by 2o23. They have $130 trillion under management, but like most things in finance there's a lot of fine print. Only about a third of that money will actually go into green projects, and ultimately the goal is to reach net zero.
And Greta Thunberg, the youth activist really put a fine point on what that meant this week when she went viral for leading a profane chant, she tweeted today, "I am pleased to announce that I have decided to go net zero on swear words, for every profanity I promise to say something nice."
That head of U.K. Greenpeace responded by saying, "Or you can offset it by paying someone else to say something nice in a few years."
Also on the financial conversation is the promise to start giving developing nations $100 billion a year from richer nations to help them adapt, and mitigate. But again the fine print shows that this promise was first made in 2009, and payments were supposed to start in 2020. That did not happen. But now they say the check is in the mail for 2023.
Again, it really complicated (inaudible) of financial ideas, how best to spend the money, how best to monitor it, how best to protect against graft and corruption, and waste, what about loss and damages. Could that end up being a major lever in the future here as well?
But the developing countries here are making the fine point that if these bills are not paid now, they will be much bigger in the future. If you look at the climate caused famine happening in Madagascar right now, a million people starving, children are eating insects to survive.
If and when that happens in other parts of the world were migrants can move across borders, the bill will come do in a much more dramatic way, they say.
Bill Weir, CNN, Glasgow.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
CHURCH: Facing out coal power is one of the top goals of the COP26 Summit, and that effort is gaining momentum. With more countries pledging to end its use. Among the latest Ukraine, Europe's third largest coal consumer. And CNN's Phil Black joins us now from Edinburg, Scotland, with more on this. Good to see you Phil, so what is the latest on this from COP26?
PHIL BLACK, CNN CORRESPONDENT (on camera): Rosemary, the British hosted of this conference who came to show today that they are making real progress, convincing countries to give up burning coal for energy. In their words they think that the statements they will be making today mark a momentous turning point.
[03:35:04]
They say a coalition of 190 countries and organizations have agreed to phasing out coal, they have agreed to end investing in new coal projects, and have agreed to some loose deadlines, ending coal power in the 2030 so major economies to 2040 for everyone else. We will get more details on this today but there are already some pretty obvious emissions to this.
This will not include the biggest users of coal like China, and the United States. And we are only talking about coal, it's the dirtiest fossil fuel, but not the only one. So in terms of the long-term success of any transitions, it's about what these countries do next, if they just turn from coal sector natural gas, it's that lower carbon, but it's not zero carbon.
But the point of this message today is to show the direction of the path, the momentum, the end goal if you'd like is that coal energy will end one day. It is just a question of when.
Giving up coal is really hard, they are our economic and social costs particularly for countries that have major dependencies on this as a source of energy. And even for countries that are rich and ambitions, they can be very, very challenging as we saw when we visited Austria recently, take a look.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BLACK (voice over): Two power stations, near the Austrian City of Graz. The one on the left is retired, a silent monument to a recent time when the country burned coal for some of its electricity. The neighboring shiny new gas fuel facility now does the work. The upgrade is significant, Austria is one of only three countries in Europe to shut down all coal fired plants. Replacing coal with natural gas isn't carbon free, but it is a step in the right direction.
CHRISTOF KURZMANN-FREIDL, OPERATIONS MANAGER, MELLACH POWER PLANT: The footprint of this power plant is much lower than this footprint.
BLACK: About 60 percent lower. But gas can only be an interim move if Austria is to achieve its green power ambitions. Christof Kurzmann- Friedl manages this site.
Austria wants to be 100 percent renewable by 2030, does this mean this will close down by 2030?
KURZMANN-FREIDL: I'm not sure.
BLACK: Austria embraced a big renewal energy source decades before the first warnings about climate change. Most of its electricity comes from hydro power.
MICHAEL STRUGL, CEO VERBUND: We also have to build new capacity in solar power and wind power as well.
BLACK: Michael Strugl, the CEO of Austria's largest energy company says even with a big head start from hydro, getting to 100 percent renewables in under decade, won't be easy.
STRUGL: It is ambitious for sure.
BLACK: And you don't necessarily have all the answers yet?
STRUGL: Yes.
BLACK: But it is important to try.
STRUGL: We do not have all the answers. We have to do research, we have to put strong efforts on innovation as well.
BLACK: Much of the research, innovation, and hope in Austria is focused on green hydrogen. The basic idea is on a windy or sunny days, you used excess electricity to make hydrogen gas, which can be stored or transported. Then, when it is cloudy, or the turbines aren't spinning, you turn the hydrogen back in to electricity using a clean chemical reaction.
UNKNOWN: We have many, many questions to solve.
BLACK: Markus Sartory is a project leader at Hydrogen Center Austria.
MARKUS SARTORY, PROJECT LEADER, HYDROGEN CENTER AUSTRIA: Of course it is a very complex system but we have the possibility to incorporate the renewables and to build up a new sustainable green energy systems. And this is -- this can be done with actual technologies, but it will cost us.
BLACK: At the power station in Graz, hydrogen potentials is being tested with a pilot project. The possibilities are vast so are the challenges.
It's a potential game-changer do you think?
UNKNOWN: I do think, yes.
BLACK: And crucially there is still so much work that needs to be done?
UNKNOWN: Yes, you're right.
BLACK: Because it's just too expensive right now?
UNKNOWN: It's too expensive, but we have to do the first steps. This is one of the first steps.
BLACK: Austria's coal habit was pretty modest compared to some other European countries. Poland, for example still mines and burn it for around 80 percent of its electricity. And yet, even with Austria's strong starting position, early commitment, and willingness to innovate, the ultimate success of its low carbon transition is still uncertain.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BLACK (on camera): Rosemary, Rosemary, these new commitments on coal to be announced today will add to the guided sense of optimism that is surrounding this conference at the moment. Together with a number of other announcement that have been -- that have come in these opening days, they add up to a sense of momentum and direction.
[03:40:07]
They do not add up to achieving the ultimate goal of restricting global average temperature increase to 1.5 degrees by the end of the century, but the hope is as I say, they set the path, the momentum, they show that a lot of work is still to be done.
But climate analyst that I've spoken to in recent days say that what it does show is that the path is now irreversible. That the world is on its way to a low carbon future. What's crucial now is the speed and the timing. That is what needs to be ramp up, Rosemary.
CHURCH: Great report there. Phil Black, joining us live from Edinburg, many thanks. Well, now to South America where the Parana River has reached its
lowest levels in decades due to a severe drought. The crisis is disrupting energy production and commerce. And environmentalist say, climate change is contributing to the problems.
CNN's Rafael Romo has our report.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
RAFAEL ROMO, CNN SENIOR LATIN AMERICAN AFFAIRS EDITOR (voice over): Winding through three different countries the Parana is the second longest river in South America after the Amazon. It flows for nearly 4,900 kilometers, 3,000 miles through Brazil, Paraguay and Argentina.
The Parana not only provides water for all three countries, it is a crucial waterway for Paraguay's commerce according to the country's director of the River and Ocean Navigators Association. But since April that commerce has been dead in the water due to the rivers low levels.
The impact of the Paraguayan foreign trade is very important, Munoz says, because 96 percent of this commerce is done through the waterways. The problems caused by the low water levels go beyond commerce, the Parana feet two crucial hydroelectric plants, Itaipu, which provides power to both Paraguay and Brazil, and (inaudible) which is shared with Argentina.
Lucas Tamoro (ph), a chief engineer at (Inaudible) says during the Southern hemisphere's past winter, the Parana had its lowest water levels in more than 50 years which meant at 25 percent decrease in the power plants ability to produce energy.
UNKNOWN: It is a very serious problem.
ROMO: Maria Jose Villanueva, a leader for World Wildlife Fund Mexico, an environmental organization says, drought conditions are affecting a wide (inaudible) of Latin America. And explain serious problems like increasing wildfires in Brazil's Amazon.
MARIA JOSE VILLANUEVA, LEADER, WORLD WILDLIFE FUND MEXICO: It is something that we are seeing exacerbated along the region, in Mexico, to Argentina, the lack of rainfall that is caused by climate change. But it's also exacerbated by the different drivers like, land use degradation, deforestation, and overexploitation of aquifers.
ROMO: Are there any other explanations different from climate change?
JOSE VILLANUEVA: What have happened all across the human and nature of the earth's history? However the climate change is exacerbating the periods of lack of rainfall.
ROMO: Last year, NASA published a map of severe drought conditions in South America showing parch land in dark red. Earlier this month, local media reported that unusually (inaudible) sandstorms have left at least six people dead in Brazil, a situation caused in part by severe drought conditions grappling the country southeast. And back in May, a surreal scene develop in Northwestern Mexico, for
the first time in more than three decades, residents in a town in Sinaloa State were able to visit the tombs of loved ones in the cemetery that had been underwater after a dam was built there in 1987.
The country was going through one of its worst droughts in recent memory. In April, Mexico's water authority reported that 75 percent of its territory was experiencing moderate to exceptional drought conditions.
A report by the Washington based American Society and Council of the Americas published over the summer, stated that abnormally dry conditions in Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, and Paraguay threatened water reserves and economic recovery, a situation that may not reverse itself, experts say, unless factors like deforestation, illegal mining, and over exploitation of natural water resources are halted.
Rafael Romo, CNN, Mexico City.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
CHURCH: And when it comes to the planet, few industries are more harmful than the fashion industry, the sector uses enormous quantities of fuel and water. And every second, truck falls of textiles are dumped into landfills or burned. CNN spoke to British designer, Stella McCartney on the sidelines of the COP26 Summit about how she is pushing for more regulation in her industry. She says more emphasis must be placed on increasing green initiatives, as well as animal and human rights.
[03:45:11]
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
STELLA MCCARTNEY, BRITISH FASHION DESIGNER: I am basically asking everyone at COP26 to sign a petition that I brought to the attention of trying to use this platform for a positive change and it is really to ask people to reduce their use of leather and fur in the fashion industry.
And yes, I mean, for me the absolute biggest, biggest thing is not being talked about is the hundreds and hundreds of millions of animals that are being killed every year, and the deforestation that is attached to that. The grain is in efficiently being used and fed to animals, the water, the energy, for me that's the biggest issue.
The fashion industry is the most unfashionable, it's the most in danger of becoming irrelevant if we do not stand up to the fact that we are basically killing the earth through fashion. We need policy change, we need to have incentives in our industry, we need to inform people.
You know, it is critical, and that is why I'm here. I am basically using my privilege as a platform to bring to people's attention what is really going on here. And this, you know, this installation is really showcasing facts, like hard-hitting facts. And then people can make conscious decisions on how they consume.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CHURCH: McCartney says her designer label strives to embed cruelty- free, and ethical practices into the brand.
Still to come, new allegations of deliberate sabotage on the "Rust" film set where crew member was fatally shot.
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CHURCH: So, let's bring you up to date now on two high profile elections in the United States. CNN is projecting that Democrat, Phil Murphy, has won reelection as New Jersey's Governor. Democrats were shocked to the race turned into a nail-biter, because Murphy had been expected to win easily. But what has been even more troubling for Democrats, is losing the Virginia Governor's Race to Republican Glenn Youngkin.
The Democratic challenger Terry McAuliffe had been the state's Governor until 2018, and Democrats fear the loss could be a preview of next year's midterm elections.
Well, new details in the fatal shooting on the set of the Alec Baldwin's film "Rust," A lawyer for the woman who managed weapons on the set is now raising the possibility the gun Baldwin fired had been sabotaged with a live bullet.
CNN's Nick Watt has our report.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
NICK WATT, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice over): The armorer on the set of "Rust" is in the spotlight, her lawyer now claims this could has been sabotaged.
JASON BOWLES, ATTORNEY FOR HANNAH GUTIERREZ REED: There was a box of dummy rounds, and the box is labeled dummy, she loaded rounds from that box into the handgun.
WATT: But of course we now know the round was live, fired by Alec Baldwin, killing cinematographer Halyna Hutchins.
[03:50:05]
BOWLES: We are assuming somebody put the live around in that box. I believe that somebody who would do that would want to sabotage the set, want to prove a point, want to say that they are disgruntled, they are unhappy.
WATT: No comment on that theory from the sheriff's office. Meantime, a crew member who resigned the day before Hutchins died, is talking.
LANE LUPER, FIRST CAMERA ASSITANT, RUST: I think with "Rust," it was a perfect storm of, you know, the armorer, the assistant director, the culture that was on set, the rushing. WATT: When he quit, Lane Luper sent an email to producers, during the
filming of gunfights on this job things are often played very fast and loose, he wrote. So far, there have been two accidental weapons discharges.
Luper also lambasted lacks COVID restrictions, and the lack of nearby hotel accommodation for crew.
LUPER: And specifically gun safety, a lack of rehearsals, a lack of, you know, preparing the crew for what we were doing that day.
WATT: Mr. Luper's allegations around the budget and safety are patently false, say "Rust" producers. It is truly awful to see some using this tragedy for personal gain.
Baldwin, producer and star says he cannot comment on the investigation, but shared what looked like comments from the films costume designer with the instruction read this, it reads in part, "the story being spun of us being overworked and surrounded by unsafe chaotic conditions is B.S."
We were unable to reach that costume designer for comment, but we have also read another resignation email from another crew member who says, I also feel anxious onset. He added that the assistant director, quote, rushes so quickly that props hasn't even had a chance to bring in earplugs, and he rolls, and the actors fire anyway.
This is in the, he said she said stage of the investigation in public. Anyway we are waiting for the FBI analysis, and for the incident report from the local sheriff which might shed a little bit more light.
Nick Watt, CNN, Los Angeles.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
CHURCH: And we will be right back.
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CHURCH: A group of activists in Cuba say the government is openly harassing them for planning peaceful protest across the nation later this month. It comes after historic demonstrations over the summer rattled the country, and led to a major crackdown on dissent.
CNN's Patrick Oppmann has more.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
PATRICK OPPMANN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): In the aftermath of widespread unprecedented protests in Cuba in July, the Cuban government arrested hundreds of people and carried out mass trials. Afterwards, government officials claimed the Cuban people have a legal right to protest peacefully, even though demonstrations here are quickly (inaudible) up by police. Some activists sent an opening, Cubans have spent too much time in
silence he says, it is time to open our mouths with liberty, and say what we think. Yunior Garcia Aguilera is as an award winning playwright and actor who has put on shows approved by the Cuban government.
[03:55:00]
But Garcia Aguilera says he is increasingly being treated as an enemy of the state, after he took part in this protest outside Cuban State TV in Havana in July and was arrested. He says he still doesn't know if he will face charges.
A groupie help forum called Archipelago, announced peaceful protest across Cuba in November. Cuban officials have threaten the playwright and other organizers with prosecution, alleging they work for Cuba's cold war nemesis, the United States. Something Archipelago organizers have denied to CNN.
Its promoters, the political projections, and ties with subversive organizations or agencies financed by the U.S. government, he says. Have you opened intention of changing the political system in our country? Garcia Aguilera says he has increasingly being harassed by the Cuban government ahead of the unauthorized protests.
After apparently tapping his phones, Cuban officials aired a call of Garcia Aguilar's on TV, they say show, he has been in touch with Cuban exiles abroad. Garcia Aguilera alleges that although he is under constant police surveillance, someone placed these dead birds on his doorstep apparently as a warning.
Cuban officials have not responded to his allegations of harassment. Even his group's name is apparently forbidden. After activists told me about it, I thought I would -- he would have tried of attempting to text from one phone to another. The name of the group in Spanish, Archipelago, and the date of the protest and the text simply don't arrive.
Apparently Cuba's state telecom provider is blocking all information about (inaudible) protests as it often do with the words in terms that are considered to be too politically sensitive.
The Cuban government announced the island will now carry out large- scale military exercises on the same date Archipelago had planned a protest for. Protest organizers say that by putting armed government supporters into the streets, the state is trying to scare demonstrators (inaudible) home.
Garcia Aguilera says his demonstration will now take place five days earlier, but he says, he may be arrested and face a lengthy prison sentence before he ever has a chance to publicly demand change.
Patrick Oppmann, CNN, Havana.
(END VIDEOTAPE) CHURCH: And thank you everyone for your company, I'm Rosemary Church,
have yourselves a wonderful day. "CNN Newsroom" continues with Isa Soares.
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