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World Leaders Discuss Safety at Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Plant; Doing the Dangerous Work of Cleaning Mines from Ukraine; Pakistan's Former President Imran Khan Accused of Threatening Police and Judge; Odinga Challenges Vote Results in Supreme Court; Gary Busey Faces Four Charges in Sex Offense Case; Finnish Prime Minister Dance Video Continues to Cause a Stir. Aired 4:30-5a ET

Aired August 22, 2022 - 04:30   ET

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

[04:30:00]

MAX FOSTER, CNN ANCHOR: Ahead, CNN joins one of the teams working to clear landmines and other dangerous explosives that now litter the Ukrainian landscape.

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FOSTER: Welcome back to CNN NEWSROOM. I'm Max Foster If you're just joining us let me bring you up-to-date with our top stories this hour.

Indiana's Governor Eric Holcomb is in Taiwan meeting with officials in what is being called an economic development trip. The trip comes amid increased U.S./China tensions.

Russia has opened a murder investigation into the death of Darya Dugina, daughter of the ally known as the architect of the war in Ukraine. Dugina was killed by a car bomb near Moscow on Saturday.

The leaders of Britain, France, Germany and the U.S. are once again calling for an end to the fighting around Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant. In a phone call on Sunday, they also urged a visit by the U.N.'s nuclear watchdog as soon as possible. The area around the plant has been the site of repeated shelling in recent weeks raising fears of a nuclear disaster. CNN Senior International correspondent David McKenzie joins us now live from Kyiv -- David.

DAVID MCKENZIE, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, that's right, there has been some movement on the frontlines, Max, but very little. The Ukrainians admitting that in the south in Kherson relatively close to that nuclear power plant that the Russians were able to make some ground.

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But overall, our analysis shows that over the last several months, the fierce fighting and relentless shelling hasn't seen dramatic changes of the frontlines in the northeast and east and even in the south.

And after these battles die down, even here around Kyiv and towards the Belarusian border, there are still significant dangers that face Ukrainian civilians especially children. We went with a team trying to make these areas safe.

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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That's where the vast majority of the contamination is done.

MCKENZIE (voice-over): For each devastating strike, there's a deadly chain reaction.

JOHN "MONTY" MONTGOMERY, FSD TEAM LEADER: An eight ton bomb struck this building, any ammunition which didn't detonate on that initial blast has been kicked -- it's been thrown from here, and it can travel up to several hundred meters.

MCKENZIE (voice-over): Ammunition like this live round can kill civilians, often children, long after the fights has stopped.

MONTGOMERY: So, you see before this carnage that has been left by the ammunition trucks which appear that is grave detonating.

MCKENZIE(voice-over): In March Ukrainian forces struck this farm warehouse housing tons of Russian shells and rockets.

MONTGOMERY: I can only imagine the fireball in this zone that was produced when it happened.

MCKENZIE (voice-over): For this explosive ordinance disposal team in Chernihiv --

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We don't go in aggressive. Obviously, there's a threat out there.

MCKENZIE (voice-over): The threat is very real.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We will come to you with the search straightforward. If I say stop at any time do stop immediately.

Advance.

MCKENZIE: We have to be all the way back here for our own safety. It shows how dangerous this work is and it's painstaking.

This small area has taken several days and you are not even finished.

MONTGOMERY: No, we've merely scratched the surface.

MCKENZIE: And you've got an entire country potentially.

MONTGOMERY: Yes.

MCKENZIE: How do you possibly do that job?

MONTGOMERY: If me doing this job and being here in Ukraine removing one item, however small, however large it's, saves one life, then for me personally, that's a goal that have reached.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: OK, stop!

MCKENZIE: In this spot a suspected shell --

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Everyone come back.

MCKENZIE (voice-over): The team leader John Albridge must go to alone. Using only his fingertips. John works very, very carefully. These shells are designed to destroy defensive positions. If armed even the slightest nudge could set it off.

MCKENZIE: What is it like when you there scrabbling though what may and what exactly what you will find?

JOHN ALDRIDGE, FSD LEADER: You know, it's an interesting one. I think it's something that you get used to after time, but there's still an element of, you know, sort of adrenalin kicking in a little bit, Yes, and a few beads of sweat.

MCKENZIE (voice-over): This shell can be moved safely. Soon they'll have Ukrainian team leaders clearing their own land.

This will be an enormous task, says Natalia, since all this must be done carefully. You just can't rush this job.

Even if this war stopped today, it could take years for her country to be safe.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

MCKENZIE (on camera): Just how long this danger can last, Max, that team in that area has even been finding munitions and grenades since way back in World War II. But even if there is some kind of settlement in the months ahead, it will take a lot of money, a lot of very careful work to keep people safe. And of course, the fighting still rages on -- Max.

FOSTER: David in Kyiv, thank you very much indeed.

Now just ahead, Pakistan's former Prime Minister is being investigated under an anti-terrorism law. We'll have a live report from Islamabad for you.

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FOSTER: Pakistan's former Prime Minister Imran Khan is being investigated under an anti-terrorism law. Police say documents seen by CNN accuse him of threatening to, quote, take action against Islamabad's head of police and a female judge. Sophia Saifi joins us now from Islamabad with more on this story. And this is all linked to a recent speech that he gave -- Sophia.

SOPHIA SAIFI, CNN PRODUCER: Yes, Max, he gave the speech on Saturday night. It was a spontaneous rally that Imran Khan had called in support of his former chief of staff, his aide, Shahbaz Gill, who he was currently under police custody on charges of sedition and Khan has claimed that he is being tortured while in police custody. We've obviously not been able to confirm that ourselves, but that's an accusation that Khan has been made.

He has been -- you know, there was a provincial -- there was a local bi-election in the city of Karachi last night which Khan's party won by a huge margin. He does have a lot of political clout. Now these are charges that were filed against him last night. He saw a lot of supporters trying to come out in support of him in the suburbs of Islamabad where Imran Khan lives outside his residence. We also saw a lot of supporters come out in the city of Karachi which is the most populous city of the country.

Khan's party, his lawyers have filed a pre-arrest bail to Islamabad high court, which means that while this is in the court, it will be the court's onus whether he can be arrested or not. It has become a matter of the courts. It has become a legal matter.

There is of course a series of rallies that Khan had announced across the country to protest against censorship within the country. There were accusations by Khan and by independent watchdogs as well, that YouTube was blocked when Khan was making his live speech. It was not broadcast on any of the local TV channels on Pakistan that's been banned by Pakistan's electronic media authority.

Khan has come out and said that he is going to continue with these hugely popular protests across the country. There are local elections expected to be held on Sunday in the city of Karachi for local body elections where Khan's party is campaigning. So, he's hugely popular in Pakistan. There is a brewing continuous political crisis in the country and we'll have to wait to see how this continues to play out here in Islamabad -- Max.

FOSTER: Tensions very high. Sophia, thank you for joining us from Islamabad.

Now emergency crews in Somalia are sifting through the rubble of what was once an upscale hotel. They're searching for any remaining explosives after security forces ended a 30 year -- 30 hour rather, standoff with al-Shabaab militants on Sunday.

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At least 21 people were killed and more than 100 injured in a Hyatt hotel attack. The siege was the biggest since Somalia's new president was elected earlier this year.

Kenya's former Prime Minister is following through on his promise to challenge the presidential election results in court. Let's bring in Larry Madowo for more on this from Nairobi. Not a huge shock, but what's it actually mean to the election result -- Larry?

LARRY MADOWO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It means that William Ruto cannot be designated as the next president of the country. He will not be sworn in until this election petition is heard and determined. Under Kenyan law, the Supreme Court now has 14 days to hear the case and make a determination on it.

The options available to the seven judges of the Kenyan Supreme Court is either declare that the election was invalid and order a fresh election -- which is what both sides hope for. But there is a possibility though there is legal debate about this whether they can still ahead go and say that we don't trust the tally of the results that declared William Ruto as the president. Therefore, we are going to determine that Raila Odinga was in fact the president of the country and then order Kenya's Electoral Commission to give him the certificate and declare him the president. Or a third one, there's a possibility also that the seven judges of the Supreme Court in Kenya could ask that the votes be tallied one more time.

Because the big disagreement here about the Kenyan presidential election results is whether the votes did tally and end up with the deputy president William Ruto winning. Raila Odinga has said that now is null and void he thinks that the electoral commission violated the Constitution, violated the law declaring the William Ruto the president and he's accusing the chair of the electoral commission of going beyond his mandate by doing so. So, now he has to convince the judges of the Supreme Court that he's got a solid case. It's going to be a very high bar to clear. To claim that whatever monkey business they are claiming went to the level that it invalidates the entire election.

However, the president here in 2017, Raila Odinga also did go to the Supreme Court and challenge the outcome of the election and won. The Supreme Court declared a new election, but Raila Odinga boycotted that fresh election. He is hoping that he's lucky again this time. This will be his fifth time running for the president of Kenya, third time contesting the election -- Max.

FOSTER: OK, never a quiet moment in politics there. Larry Madowo, thank you very much indeed for joining us from Nairobi.

Still ahead, actor Gary Busey is facing criminal charges over his alleged behavior at a convention. We'll have the latest on that investigation.

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FOSTER: We're learning more about the circumstances that led to criminal charges being filed against actor Gary Busey. The 78-year-old is accused of sex offenses for his alleged behavior at a convention in New Jersey earlier this month. CNN's Jean Casarez has the details.

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JEAN CASAREZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: We are learning from the Cherry Hill, New Jersey Police Department that it was last weekend August 12, 13 and 14, it was the annual Monster Mania Convention in New Jersey and this happens every year. This year one of their celebrity guests was Gary Busey. And so, the police department tells us that during the course of that weekend, they were called to the Double Tree hotel because of a, quote, report of a sex offense. Now that's all we know at that point.

But this last week we believe there was an investigation because last Friday, which would have been August 19, criminal charges were filed against Gary Busey and this is by the police department. Let's show everybody what those criminal charges are, two counts of criminal sexual contact, fourth degree. One count of criminal attempt, criminal sexual contact fourth degree, and one count of harassment disorderly person's offense.

We also know at this point there is an attorney that is representing the convention, they have been -- they tell us -- assisting with the investigation. They also go on to say, quote, immediately upon receiving a complaint from the attendee, the celebrity guest was removed from the convention and instructed not to return.

Now we have reached out to Gary Busey's representatives, they have not returned any communication to us. But we do know that he has not been processed according to the police department. There is not a mug shot, but there is a criminal complaint.

Jean Casarez, CNN, New York.

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FOSTER: Now the leaked footage of the Finnish Prime Minister dancing with friends continues to cause a stir. Sanna Marin is pushing back against criticisms sparked by the video showing her at a party. She says it was meant to be private and she's disappointed that it was shared. Critics say her behavior was inappropriate for a world leader but she's getting some support as well.

Let's get details now from CNN's Melissa Bell whose been monitoring it from Paris. I guess the impression, Melissa, that there is a bit of a generational divide here. It's all the young people that think the video is great.

MELISSA BELL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I think you're quite right, Max, there is definitely a generational divide here. It was in the first few days when these video was made public as you say much to the regret of the Finnish Prime Minister that the controversy seemed to play against her. We were looking at opposition politicians calling for her to do that drug test -- which she has now done. We await the results. She claims she's never had drugs in her life. Opposition politicians and other commentators saying it was wildly inappropriate and she was entirely discredited.

In fact, what's happened since, is that you've seen an awful lot of support come out for her and specifically, women in Denmark and Finland particularly but all over Europe further afield. Posting videos of themselves dancing saying, you know, I am a doctor, I'm a professor, I'm a lawyer and this is me being ridiculous and dancing and I've leaked it myself and there is nothing to see here, move on. With the #SolidaritywithSanna. Because you're quite right, Max, there is a generational divide. But

is also a question I think for women about the standards to which they are held once they're in office. Now there have been other examples of politicians being caught in these kinds of situations. You can remember of course Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez -- this comes to mind -- shortly after she was elected to Congress.

[04:55:00]

A video was widely circulated of her dancing at Boston University, far from playing against her, she was able to turn it against her detractors and in fact, it did her no harm at all. Posting a video of herself afterwards dancing in Congress itself. And I think that Sanna Marin is adopting a very similar attitude. Saying, doing the drugs test, regretting that she had to do the drugs test. But also saying look, I hope that people will understand that I'm doing the normal things that a 36-year-old will do and take me as I am. And so far, that seems to be working -- Max.

FOSTER: It's a fascinating debate and it's amazing how she is handling it as well. Melissa Bell thank you very much for joining us from Paris.

Now in some parts of the world, drought conditions are having an unexpected effect revealing hidden treasures and pieces of history. In Spain dozens of upright stones arranged in circles are now visible for only the fourth time since their discovery. It's unknown who built the site known as Spanish Stonehenge. But experts believe it may be a mass tomb.

In eastern Serbia, more than 20 warships are being exposed. Along the Danube experts say their ships were scuttled by Nazi forces during World War II and still contain ammunition and explosives. And in southwestern China, a small island containing three Buddha statues is now visible above the water, statues are thought to be at least 600 years old can you believe.

And before we go, we have to congratulate 8-year-old Emmitt Bailey of Wisconsin. Bailey and his amazing head of hair have been crowned the winner of this year's Kids USA Mullet Championships. Mullet culture is alive and well in America's dairy land with winner of the teen division also hailing from Wisconsin. Bailey won $2,500 in prize money, which he says he wants to use to go on a go-kart. And the business in front party in back competition was for a good cause as well. Entry fees will reportedly be donated to the Michigan Wig Foundation for kids.

Thanks for joining me here on CNN NEWSROOM. I'm Max Foster in London. "EARLY START" with Christine Romans and Omar Jimenez is next.

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