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At Least 5 Dead in Philippines Due to Typhoon Noru; Pound Falls to Record Low of $1.035 Against Dollar; Truss Defends Controversial Tax Cuts as Pound Plummets; Anti-Government Protests Continue in Iran Despite Crackdown; State Funeral for Former Japanese Prime Minister Abe Set for Tuesday. Aired 4:30-5a ET

Aired September 26, 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]

CHRISTINA MACFARLANE, CNN ANCHOR: Hi there. Welcome back to CNN NEWSROOM, I'm Christina Macfarlane. If you're just joining us, let me bring you up to date with our top stories this hour.

An independent monitoring group says more than 2,300 people have been detained since last Wednesday as the government tries to shut down opposition to country's military mobilization and the war in Ukraine. This as protests continue in Russians flee their country to avoid the draft.

And Florida is currently under a state of emergency as tropical storm Ian gains momentum in the Caribbean. State officials are warning residents to be prepared for the worst. The storm is expected to turn into a major hurricane by Tuesday.

Well, the Philippines Red Cross says at least five rescue workers have reportedly died after typhoon Noru slammed the country. Homes have been destroyed by catastrophic flood waters and heavy winds since the storm made landfall on Sunday. Thousands of families are being housed in evacuation centers and now the storm is reportedly moving towards Vietnam.

CNN meteorologist Pedram Javaheri rejoins me now from Atlanta. And Pedram, those images of the flood waters are just staggering. Do we know if this storm is going to continue that kind of pace?

PEDRAM JAVAHERI, CNN METEOROLOGIST: It is and it possibly will strengthen again here before it makes another landfall, Christina. And, you know, and looks like places such as Danang, Vietnam could be at the crosshairs of this storm system. But just going back to that image, seeing those videos we just saw moments ago, you know, some of the biggest dangers are what's hidden beneath the waters. You know, water born illness is certainly an issue but also you have animals and dangerous animals within those water, whether it be snakes or other animals which really makes that sort of a situation so dangerous.

But notice what's happening here when it comes to this particular typhoon, super Typhoon Noru, it rapidly intensified in the span of 12 hours just before it made landfall. So essentially created the worst case scenario for our friends across the Philippines and some of the images just speak to how severe of a story it was with landfall on Sunday afternoon with wind speeds of 240 kilometers per hour being a super typhoon equivalent to category 4 hurricane.

Rainfall amounts 250 millimeters or about 10 inches that were observed across this region. So, the question is, what is left of this storm system as he reemerges over the South China Sea? Well, back to a Category 1 equivalent now with 150 kilometer per hour winds. But as it sits there over an area conducive for further development, we expect the system to strengthen up to 195, maybe 200 plus kilometers per hour. So once again, pushing up close to that category 3 hurricane equivalent of a storm system, a major hurricane equivalent. So, another very large system on approach here.

And notice it's on a beeline, very little deviation between the guidance and the forecast. Danang certainly looks to be one of the areas to watch carefully. Population in the city there over 1 million people. The storm forecast arrives some time Wednesday afternoon. And look at the forecast wind gusts, not you often do you see a major city with the bull's-eye directed on them with this particular model bringing Danang wind gusts upwards of 166 kilometers per hour, that's incredible storm for an area that has 1 million people living in it. So, certainly, a story worth following as well.

MACFARLANE: Yes, really quite frightening. Pedram, so much hurricane activity to keep across. Appreciate it. Thank you.

To the U.S. economy now with a full slate of reports set to be released this week. New numbers on the building and sale of new homes come out on Tuesday. On Thursday we'll get a look at how the U.S. economy performed in the second quarter of the year and Friday possible changes in consumer spending trends will be released.

Finances are very much at the forefront of everyone's mind right now. A new CBS/YouGov poll shows 57 percent of likely U.S. voters feel their financial wellbeing is at stake with the upcoming midterm elections. And we're also waiting to see how the Dow comes in the coming hours after a disastrous end to trading on Friday, closing nearly 500 points down. The levels on Friday were the Dow's worst since November of 2020 stoked by investor worries of inflation and corrective action by the Fed to control it.

Meanwhile, here in the U.K., the pound keeps losing ground against the U.S. dollar, falling to a record low of just more than $1.03. You can see right now it's come off that low slightly there, but there are still fears that sterling could slide to parity with the dollar in the coming months. Well, CNN's Clare Sebastian joining me here now in London. And Clare, this comes following mini budget announcement from U.K. chancellor on Friday, who has promise yet more tax cuts to come. So, are we going to see the pound slide further here or will the Bank of England have to intervene?

CLARE SEBASTIAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, I mean I think the course of the pound now depends to some degree on what policymakers, albeit fiscal or monetary do next.

[04:35:00]

The chancellor doubled down on this interview on Sunday saying to the BBC that more tax cuts were to come. He wants to keep putting money in people's pockets. So, it doesn't look like we're going to see a reversal from the fiscal policymakers. So, there is some speculation around what the Bank of England could do, could they step in with an emergency rate hike? Would they turn to sort of a communications strategy and could perhaps the Governor Andrew Bailey give a speech and try to calm the markets, saying that he's aware of what's going on. But sterling, of course the weakness of the pound, even though it has stabilized quite a bit this morning after hitting a record low, it adds to inflation. Inflation already hovering around just under 10 percent in the U.K. The pound if it's that weak makes imports more expensive, things like oil and gas trading in dollars. So, there you have sort of a perfect storm in that the U.K. which is already facing a very uncertain economic outlook.

MACFARLANE: Yes, a very uncomfortable time for the new government, of course, as well. Clare, thanks very much.

Well, as I mentioned, Liz Truss is defending a controversial new tax cut aimed at saving the economy. CNN's Jake Tapper sat down with the new Prime Minister to discuss its effect. Here is part of their exclusive conversation.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JAKE TAPPER, CNN CHIEF WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT: Your government just unveiled the new tax proposal this week that would reverse plans to raise the corporate tax rate. You've also proposed lifting the cap on bonuses for bank executives.

In the U.S., President Biden is taking a very different approach, and obviously, he has a different view on economic measures such as the one you're proposing.

He tweeted this week, quote, I am sick and tired of trickle-down economics. It has never worked. We're building an economy from the bottom up and middle out.

And, so, President Biden is, in essence, saying that he thinks your approach doesn't work. The opposition in Parliament says you're recklessly running up the deficit and turning your back on the so- called compassionate conservatism.

LIZ TRUSS, BRITISH PRIME MINISTER: I don't -- I don't really accept the premise of -- premise of the question at all. The U.K. has one of the lowest levels of debt in the G7, but we have one of the highest levels of taxes. Currently, we have a 70-year high in our tax rates. And what I'm determined to do as prime minister and what the chancellor is determined to do is make sure we are incentivizing businesses to invest, and we're also helping ordinary people with their taxes.

And that's why I don't feel it's right to have higher national insurance and higher corporation tax, because that will make it harder for us to attract the investment we need in the U.K. It will be harder to generate those new jobs.

And I want the U.S. economy to be successful as well. I want the European economy to be successful as well. I want free -- freedom- loving democracies to succeed.

And one of things that we're doing here in the U.K. is moving forward on our infrastructure programs, road-building, broadband, mobile telephones. And I know that is what the administration in the U.S. is doing as well. But, of course, we all need to decide what the tax rates are in our own country.

But my view is, we absolutely need to be incentivizing growth at what is a very, very difficult time for the global economy. And we've also put in place a package of measures to support consumers with energy prices to make sure that nobody is having to pay more than 2,500 pounds on their bills, which is very important as well.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

MACFARLANE: Well, the U.K. isn't the only country where people are worried about energy security. Hundreds of Germans protested on Sunday, calling for the activation of the halted Nord Stream 2 pipeline. That project that would have supplied Russian oil to Germany. The war in Ukraine has caused energy prices in Europe to rise. And much of the continent is trying to declare its energy independence from Russia, including Germany. Meanwhile, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has signed a deal with the UAE for the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company to supply liquefied natural gas to Germany.

And in Iran Sunday, pro-government demonstrators took to the streets to show their support for the regime. That story and more coming up after this short break.

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MACFARLANE: Some news just coming into CNN. Russia's state news agency TASS is reporting an attacker has opened fire at a school in the city of Izhevsk about 140 miles southwest of Perm. It adds that authorities are trying to capture the suspect. We have not yet received reports of casualties. We'll of course bring you any updates as soon as they become available.

Anti-government protests continued in Iran Sunday despite a security crackdown arrests and internet disruptions. What started as demonstrations over the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini in the custody of Iran's morality police, now includes protests against the regime itself. But Sunday also saw pro-government demonstrations in some Iranian cities. CNN's Jomana Karadsheh has more.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JOMANA KARADSHEH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It appeared on Sunday like the Iranian government was still mobilizes the masses. Crowds of its supporters taking to the streets of the capital Tehran and other cities in these pro-government rallies. Crowds estimated in the hundreds of thousands, according to state media. They were out to show unity and outrage against what they describe as these acts of sabotage by those they refer to as the rioters.

In reference, of course, to the protesters dismissing what the world has been seeing going on in Iran as the work of a handful of mercenaries serving foreign enemies they say, forcefully removing the head scarves of women on the streets.

Of course, the world has seen those remarkable images. The video of those acts of defiance by women in Iran in recent days removing their head scarves, the head scarves they've been forced to wear for decades, burning them, cutting their hair in public. We have seen these young generation of Iranians rising up on the streets demanding freedoms and rights that they have never had.

But it appears that the government is continuing to dismiss what is going on as a foreign conspiracy to destabilize the Islamic Republic. We have heard President Ebrahim Raisi on Saturday saying that they must be dealt with decisively.

Statements, indications from the army and the Revolutionary Guard Corp that they are ready to intervene in the crackdown also and to try to crush these protests.

[04:45:00]

It's very difficult for us to assess what is really going on, on the ground in Iran, what the casualty toll is of this ongoing crackdown. But according to estimates from various groups, including human rights organizations and state media, they say that dozens have so far lost their lives in the country. Amnesty International saying that authorities have opened fire, live rounds deliberately and directly at protesters.

State media, also the government saying that a number of the security apparatus have also been killed in recent days. And according to state media, more than 1,000 people have been detained so far. It is very difficult for us to know what is going on, on the ground in Iran, in realtime, because the government is continuing to restrict the internet and to block social media platforms.

So, it's very hard to assess how big, how widespread the protests still are, but on Sunday, despite the restrictions on the internet, we began to see video emerge of protesters back out on the streets with night fall, more defiant protesters back out in the capital Tehran and other cities chanting the now familiar slogans, death to the dictator and we are all together, we must not be afraid.

Jomana Karadsheh, CNN, Istanbul.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

MACFARLANE: Now Japan is preparing to say its final farewell to assassinated former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe with a state funeral set for Tuesday. U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris arrived in Tokyo a short time ago. She'll attend the ceremony along with other dignitaries from around the world.

Abe was the country's longest serving Prime Minister. He died after being shot at a campaign speech in July. But some in Japan don't believe he should get a state funeral.

Our CNN Blake Essig is joining us from Tokyo for more on this. And Blake, I understand some 50 former and current world leaders expected to attend this state funeral. But it appears though, still quite strong feeling in the country about Abe's party links to the Unification Church. Is that why we're seeing such staunch opposition to this?

BLAKE ESSIG, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, you know, Christina, that's one of several reasons why there are so many people that stand in opposition to this upcoming state funeral. The reality here is that in life and now in death Shinzo Abe has been and will continue to be a polarizing figure. So, when it comes to the idea of a government- funded state funeral that will cost taxpayers at least 1.6 billion yen or about 12 million U.S. dollars to honor the diplomatic legacy of Japan's longest serving Prime Minister really shouldn't cause a surprise that this is a very much divided nation.

In fact, tomorrow's state funeral for Abe has sparked controversy ever since current Prime Minister Fumio Kishida announced the decision just a few days after Abe was shot and killed while delivering a campaign speech back in July. Kishida said that he made the decision to host the event to honor Abe's diplomatic legacy after messages of condolence came pouring in around the world.

Ever since protests have been held on a regular basis with the opposition seeming to gain more support by the day, even after Prime Minister Kishida defended his decision to lawmakers. According to the latest Japan poll from Yomiuri Shimbun, 56 percent of the public here now stand in opposition.

The main reasons behind the growing opposition involve deep divisions about his leadership, that it's a poor use of taxpayer funds and the fact that the decision was made without consulting Japan's Parliament. And while a smaller majority of the public now stand in opposition of tomorrow's state funeral, there is still a large portion of the public who do think it's appropriate. Supporters in support point to how he raised Japan's global profile. How Abe implemented a new peace and security law along with his vision for a free and open Indo Pacific. And then there was also Abe-nomics which some believe helped reinvigorate Japan's economy. But whether people here support it or not, Christina, a state funeral for the former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will be held tomorrow.

MACFARLANE: All right, Blake Essig from Tokyo. Blake, appreciate it. Thank you.

Well, an update now on a developing story we're following out of Russia. We told you a moment ago that the state news agency TASS is reporting an attacker opened fire at a school in the city of Izhevsk about 140 miles southwest of Perm. The head of the region says children are among those shot. But did not provide specific numbers on how many were wounded or killed. He did say that a security guard was killed and the attacker shot himself. We'll bring you updates as soon as they become available.

We'll be right back.

[04:50:00]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

MACFARLANE: Welcome back. Now it sounds like a plot for a Hollywood movie. NASA is going to try to redirect an asteroid. It's preparing to carry out its first planetary defense test or DART. The goal is to try to knock an asteroid from its current path. There's no danger from the asteroid, but the mission is a test run if there's an issue down the road. You can watch a live broadcast of the mission on NASA's website from 6:00 p.m. Eastern time today and NASA will also hold a post- mission briefing.

Now, are you ready for some football? The NFL kicked off week 3 of the season on Sunday. Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts threw for 340 yards and three seconds for the touchdown and a win over the Washington Commanders. Philadelphia defense sacked their former quarterback Carson Wentz nine times. Wentz hit 25 for 43 passes for 211 yards and fumbled the ball twice. The Eagles remain undefeated and move into first place in the NFC East.

And in South Florida the Miami Dolphins ended a seven game losing streak against the Buffalo Bills winning 21-19. Miami wide receiver Jaylen Waddle led the team with four catches for 102 yards.

[04:55:00]

Running back Chase Edmonds rushed for two touchdowns. Bills' quarterback Josh Allen completed 42 out of 63 passes for 400 yards including two touchdowns.

And in Tampa, all eyes on the two of the NFL's greatest quarterbacks as the Green Bay Packers defeated the Buccaneers 14-12. Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers completed 27 of 35 passes for 255 yards. Two touchdowns and an interception in what might have been his last game against Tom Brady. Brady leading his team in a thrilling 89-yard touchdown drive during the final three minutes. And the Buccaneers failed to complete the two-point conversion that would have sent the game into overtime.

Now the performer at the 2023 Super Bowl halftime show will be --

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

RIHANNA, POP SINGER: we found love in a hopeless place, we fell in love in a hopeless place, we fell in love in a hopeless place ...

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MACFARLANE: The one and only pop singer Rihanna was chosen by the National Football League to perform at its biggest game of the season. She made her own announcement in a tweet showing her hand holding a football. Rihanna declined to offer to perform at the Super Bowl back in 2019 as a sign of solidarity with former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick. Super Bowl LVII will be played in Glendale, Arizona on February 12th.

But it's still baseball season. And President Biden will host special guests later today at the White House -- the Atlanta Braves. The 2021 World Series champions will meet with the president to celebrate and be recognized for the team's achievement. Braves manager Brian Snitker told the Atlanta media he thinks the experience will be something he'll remember for the rest of his life.

All right, that does it for this edition of CNN NEWSROOM. I'm Christina Macfarlane in London. Do stay tuned for "EARLY START" up next with Christine Romans.

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