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North Korea Launches Ballistic Missile Over Japan; Putin Facing Increasing Pressure At Home; Ukraine Offers U.S. Target Oversight In Bid For New Rockets; Truss Govt. Promises New Plan After Tax Cut U- Turn; Bolsonaro & Lula To Face Off In Presidential Runoff Vote. Aired 1-2a ET
Aired October 04, 2022 - 01:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
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[01:00:30]
JOHN VAUSE, CNN ANCHOR: Hello again, wherever you are around the world, this is CNN Newsroom. And coming up, J-Alert. Tokyo (ph) issues evacuation notices in the north, train services are stopped as the North Korean ballistic missile travels over Japan. The first such test flight in five years.
Ukraine reality and Moscow's fiction, Putin announces the annexation of Ukrainian territory at the same time his troops are in fast retreat from that very same territory. And as Liz Truss toast after 10 days of economic turmoil, the U.K. Prime Minister scrapped plans for debt funded tax cuts for the rich for the damage of her credibility and the economy has already been done.
ANNOUNCER: Live from CNN Center, this is CNN Newsroom with John Vause.
VAUSE: For the first time in five years, North Korean ballistic missile has flown over Japan, not only a clear violation of U.N. sanctions, but what it seems as an attempt by Pyongyang to escalate tensions with Tokyo and Washington. South Korean officials say the ballistic missile was launched at 7:22 a.m., not far from North Korea's border with China flew at a distance of about 4,500 kilometers.
The missile flew over the northern Japanese island of Hokkaido, where residents were advised to take cover, train services were suspended for the missile crash into the Pacific Ocean. North Korea has conducted an unprecedented number of missile tests so far this year, including five tests in just the past week.
CNN's Blake Essig is standing by this hour for us in Tokyo. First so to Seoul, South Korea, CNN's Paula Hancocks. And Paula, firstly, this was what the longest range ballistic missile tests that the North Koreans have conducted in some time, if forever, and it comes out to the exercise of being held by the Japanese, the Americans and the South Koreans, which, you know, is usually a publication seen by Pyongyang.
PAULA HANCOCKS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, John, I mean, we have seen a flurry of these launches over the past 10 days. As you say, there's been five separate launches within that time, and it's during a time where U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris was here in South Korea, also in Japan. And when she went to the DMZ, the demilitarized zone, between North and South Korea, and was briefed on the situation of North Korea, that would have been seen, as you say, as a provocation in Pyongyang's eyes.
And, of course, the naval drills between the U.S., South Korea and Japan would also have not been welcomed by Pyongyang. We had the nuclear airport aircraft carrier, USS Ronald Reagan, in the region as well. So all of these elements put together, it is a package that North Korea does not appreciate. Each of those issues is something that it would quite often react to.
But what we've seen this Tuesday morning is a significant escalation in the kind of missile launch that North Korea is carrying out, the fact that it's believed to be an intermediate range ballistic missile, the fact that it flew over Hokkaido as well over Japan the first time in five years. And, of course, the fact that there was no warning from North Korea.
This is something that evidently and clearly could be a risk to flights in the area potentially to ships in the area. And that was picked up on by the White House as well in their statement condemning this launch, saying that it shows a blatant disregard for the U.N. Security Council resolutions and also the International Safety norms. This has been widely condemned by all sides by Japan, by South Korea, by the United States.
And another thing that's worth mentioning as well with North Korea this Tuesday morning is that the inter-Korean hotline that is between the South Koreans and the North Koreans was not answered this morning by North Korea. It's usually twice a day that that phone call is made. There's also a military hotline which was answered by North Korea just to make sure that there are no misunderstandings, miscalculations, that is the reason for these hotlines to be set up but that wasn't answered the inter-Korean hotline by North Korea Unification Ministry telling us that saying that they are looking into the issue.
It's just another example of North Korea not wanting to talk at this point, focusing very much on developing their capabilities when it comes to the missile launches. And certainly, it is raising concerns even higher here in Seoul.
[01:05:07]
And as you mentioned, John, the number of missile launches that we have seen this year has been unprecedented under Kim Jong-un, the North Korean. Leader 23 separate missile launches, ballistic and cruise missiles. And, of course, there is that concern as well that a nuclear test and underground nuclear test may be imminent.
We heard from the national intelligence agency here in Seoul telling lawmakers just recently that they believe there is a window where it's more likely that they could carry out this seventh underground test. October 17 to November 7 just after the Chinese party Congress so as not to anger Beijing, and just before the U.S. midterm elections. John?
VAUSE: Paula, thank you. Let's go to Blake now. And Blake, all things will threat to Japan posed by this missile. Why the need for a J- Alert?
BLAKE ESSIG, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, it's believed that this intermediate range ballistic missile traveled nearly 4,500 kilometers and went directly over Japan's northernmost island of Hokkaido before landing in the Pacific Ocean. That is significant. And as you mentioned, John, this is not the first time that North Korea has launched a ballistic missile that flew directly over Japan, but it absolutely marks a significant escalation in tensions as these recent tests seem designed to strike key targets in the region.
Leif-Eric Easley, an Associate Professor of International Studies at Ewha Womans University in Seoul says that for Tokyo, this is not only a matter of national security, but also the defense of international order. He says that the Kim regime might be trying to weaken the U.S. alliances in Asia, and that Pyongyang's recent aggression might cause people living in South Korea and Japan to question their cooperation with the United States.
And went on to say that this latest missile test is a direct challenge to the Biden, Kishida and Yoon governments to coordinate a response. Now, immediately following this morning's launch in a series of tweets, the Prime Minister's Office warn the public and urged people living in Hokkaido in the country's Northeastern prefecture of Aomori to evacuate inside a building and underground.
Short time later, during the press conference, Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida called North Korea's recent missile tests outrageous, while the country's Chief Cabinet Secretary also weighed in calling today's launch a threat to the public. And here's more of what they had to say.
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HIROKAZU MATSUNO, JAPANESE CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY (through translation): A ballistic missile launch that flew over our country is not only an issue for aircraft and vessels, it's a serious and problematic action that involves the safety of residents living in the area where the missile flew over. We have strongly protested against North Korea in the strongest terms.
FUMIO KISHIDA, JAPANESE PRIME MINISTER (through translation): This is an act of violence following recent repeated launches of ballistic missiles. We strongly condemn this.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ESSIG: Now as a result of this morning's launch, John, as you mentioned, the Japanese government issued a J-Alert, which is a regular only issued in times of national emergency like earthquakes, terrorist attacks in certain missile launches and this morning, that J-Alert warning was issued to areas believed to be at risk. Now despite the warnings, life here continued as normal across much of Japan with many people apparently ignoring the warning. Some wrote on social media that despite the air raid warnings and initial concern that if a missile was heading their way, nothing could be done. And John, this missile flew over Japan around 7:30 in the morning, local time. So most of the people just continued on their way to work and life went on as normal. John?
VAUSE: Blake, thank you. Yes, Blake Essig is there for us live in Tokyo. I appreciate that. Thank you also earlier, Paula Hancocks as well. Thanks to you both.
Just a few hours, Russia's upper house of parliament will convene and as expected to rubber stamp, Vladimir Putin's illegal annexation for Ukrainian regions. On Monday, the Lower House voted to approve the annexation of the Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions, despite being a violation of international law.
The process is moving forward even some territory claimed by Moscow is now back under Ukrainian control. Exact borders have not been determined. This all comes with Putin facing increasing pressure to claim some kind of victory in Ukraine. His propaganda campaign at home appears to be faltering, public criticism nearly unheard of in the early days of the war is now growing louder.
And we have more now from CNN's Matthew Chance.
MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: We're seeing the sort of upsurge in an extraordinary amount of criticism, which is really what you don't hear very much of in Russia traditionally when it comes to Vladimir Putin. But it -- and it's coming from a sort of very powerful sort of group of, you know, section of society. We're talking about people who blog about military, people who are very connected with his military circles, and with his power circles.
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They're coming out and saying, you know, look, this is not going well, you know, there should be, you know, a change made in the military command. And Ramzan Kadyrov, who's a figure who's very close to Vladimir Putin, who is the sort of President of the Republic of Chechen, in the south of the country is even said, look, you know, we should be looking at using tactical nuclear weapons to sort of turn the tide of the battle.
Inherently, that's -- well, explicitly that they're criticizing battlefield tactics and battlefield commanders. But indirectly, that's a criticism of Putin, particularly because he's the person who it's believed has been calling the shots when it comes through this military operation. And so, yes, he's facing an unprecedented amount of criticism from within.
And also people are voting with their feet. We're seeing, you know, these hundreds of thousands of people attempt to leave the country to avoid being called up and sent to the front line. So a very precarious situation for Vladimir Putin at home. VAUSE: Matthew Chance with that report, thank you.
Meantime, the U.S. is considering responses to possible Russian escalation in Ukraine, including fears that Moscow could use tactical nuclear weapons. Officials caution the U.S. has not detected any preparations for a Russian nuclear strike. But as Moscow's invasion falters and Putin publicly threatens to use nuclear weapons, U.S. is looking at contingency plans. He's more now from U.S. official John Kirby.
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JOHN KIRBY, U.S. NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL COMMS COORDINATOR: We have been taking this seriously as I said from the very beginning of this reinvasion back in February of this year. We, obviously, take that rhetoric seriously, it's irresponsible rhetoric coming from a modern nuclear power. So, of course, we have been thinking through how we can make sure we can preserve our national security interests and those of our allies in NATO.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
VAUSE: Russian losses continue on the battlefield. Ukrainian special operation troops posted this video showing an ambush of a Russian combat unit, destroying three tanks in Donetsk region just days ago. CNN cannot independently verify the authenticity of the video. But there are also videos showing the Ukrainian flag being raised as President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reports newly liberated settlements in a number of regions.
Following the liberation of Lyman, a senior U.S. military officials, these Russian forces push from that key city have now moved towards the town of Crimea and the east to hold the line. Meanwhile, Ukrainian forces are pushing towards the occupied city of Kherson and have captured one town on the western bank of the Dnipro River. They're also said to be advancing in the Luhansk region.
And Ukraine is looking to bolster recent gains on the battlefield with state-of-the-art rocket systems from the U.S. In an effort to sway Washington, Kyiv is now offering the Biden administration full visibility into that list of intended Russian targets. CNN's Alex Marquardt has our report now from Washington.
ALEX MARQUARDT, CNN SENIOR U.S. NATIONAL SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: Ukraine continues to push for bigger and more sophisticated weapons from the west and the United States in their fight against Russia. Now they are doing so by offering the U.S. a remarkable level of transparency, sharing the Russian targets that Ukraine intends to hit with the rockets that they're asking the U.S. for.
Now at the top of the Ukrainian wish list is a long-range U.S. missile system called ATACMS. So far, the U.S. has resisted giving Ukraine the ATACMS because the U.S. fears that the rockets could be fired into Russia and escalate the war. And Russia, for its part has said that this would cross a red line and make the U.S. a party to the conflict if those American rockets are giving -- given to Ukraine. ATACMS can fly around 200 miles or 300 kilometers. That's about four times the distance of the longest-range rocket that has been given to Ukraine by the U.S. so far. That rocket is fired from the HIMARS system that we have talked about so much for several months.
Ukraine says they need the longer range ATACMS now to reach Russian targets in Ukraine that they cannot currently strike in the eastern and southern parts of Ukraine, including Crimea targets like ammunitions, depots, air defenses, bases. And as one U.S. source told CNN, locations where Russia is launching Iranian drones from.
To try to comfort the U.S. and convince them to offer this long-range ATACM rockets, Ukraine is offering oversight of what they want to blow up. As one senior Ukrainian official put it to me, they have described to the U.S. exactly what specific targets Ukraine needs to hit on Ukrainian territory. That would essentially give the U.S. veto power over Ukraine's ability to target inside Russia with these rockets, which Ukraine argues they would not do that they could have done before now, and they have not with the U.S. HIMARS systems.
But that argument has failed to sway the U.S. so far. One U.S. official told me it is, quote, low reward and high risk. The Pentagon has not ruled this out but says for now, Ukraine has the rockets that it needs for the current fight against Russia.
Alex Marquardt, CNN, Washington.
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VAUSE: Five Ukrainian soldiers who defended the Azovstal steel plant in Mariupol during a weeks long siege and being reunited with their families in Turkey. Soldiers were presented gold sell orders out orders and what are the title of Hero of Ukraine. The ceremony took place during a meeting with a top 28 aide and the Ukrainian First Lady. The Ukrainian President was there by a video link.
Soldiers were released last month as part of a larger prisoner exchange with Russia.
Still ahead on CNN Newsroom, trouble for the Tories over Prime Minister Liz Truss' plan to fix the British economy. More on that in a minute. The violent crackdown in Iran intensifying. Security forces target college students. And we'll have reaction from Iran Supreme Leader and also U.S. in a moment.
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VAUSE: Welcome back. At best it could be said better late than never. After 10 days of economic turmoil, the new U.K. Prime Minister has scrapped her plans for a debt fund a tax cut for the wealthy. Now promising new details soon on another fiscal plan. This all came after an embarrassing episode of the conservative conference in Birmingham.
Since this plan was announced, it was said the pound plunging and could mean trouble for Truss and her exchequer (ph). They both been on the job for less than a month. More details now from CNN's Nina dos Santos reporting in from London.
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NINA DOS SANTOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (through translation): To some, they were the dynamic duo, bold enough to unleash the U.K. stymied potential. To others, a dangerous combination, risking it all to stave off a recession that may prove inevitable either way.
After crushing the currency by unveiling billions of tax cuts funded by billions more borrowing, Britain's new government made a sharp U- turn on Monday morning, abandoning its plan to abolish the highest rate of income tax of 45 percent.
KWASI KWARTENG, BRITISH CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER: I know the plan put forward only 10 days ago has caused a little turbulence. I get it. I get it. We are listening and have listened. And now I want to focus on delivering the major parts of our growth package.
DOS SANTOS (voice-over): In the days that followed the announcement of Britain's mini budget, pension funds have nearly collapsed and the Bank of England has had to shore up sovereign debt.
(on-camera): One of the reasons this budget was so badly received is that downing Street's newest occupants initially declines to have their figures scrutinized by the usual fiscal watchdog. The scans detail provided only sparked further outrage. And although the government has said that they'll provide more information before the end of November, many fear that with the economy on the brink, there's no time to spare.
(voice-over): And as members of their own Conservative Party gather for their annual conference, the pressure is mounting. One way they can balance the budget and reassure markets is by slashing spending, a risky move given an acute cost of living crisis.
PAUL JOHNSON, DIRECTOR, INSTITUTE FOR FISCAL STUDIES: Lots of people are saying that if you want to get to some sort of fiscally sustainable position, having had all these tax cuts you need to cut spending and that arithmetically is true. I find it quite hard to see where you get big spending cuts. Remember we've had a decade through which we've had really, really tight spending.
[01:20:05]
DOS SANTOS (voice-over): Other policies like reversing a moratorium on fracking have also stoked ire, as have reports in British media of a cozy relationship between the Chancellor and hedge funds that have made millions betting against the pound.
A survey by a survey shown last week gave the opposition Labor Party a 21-point lead should an election be called tomorrow, the widest that margin has been at in 12 years of Torie rule.
DAVID GAUKE, FORMER BRITISH CONSERVATIVE VP: I think Conservative MPs are in despair in truth. The Conservatives have generally won election victories on the basis that they are more competence on the economy, it's very hard to see how the Conservative Party can recover.
DOS SANTOS (voice-over): But it didn't have to be this way. Truss was picked by her party's members over former Chancellor Rishi Sunak who had advocated fiscal prudence, and warned that Sterling would suffer under her proposals. Now that it has, inflation is worse, rates are rising, and among Tories, times are suddenly tensive than they have been in decades.
Nina dos Santos, CNN, in London.
VAUSE: To Los Angeles and CNN European Affairs Commentator Dominic Thomas, good to see you.
DOMINIC THOMAS, CNN EUROPEAN AFFAIRS COMMENTATOR: Good to be here, John.
VAUSE: OK, so when the Chancellor of the Exchequer has a bit of a giggle, bit of a laugh, of the abject failure of a financial plan, which will make residential mortgages more expensive, increased the cost of government borrowing has shredded whatever credibility if any of the Prime Minister actually had, it kind of suggests he doesn't really get it, even though he says he does.
THOMAS: Yes, it was much more than an awkward moment, John. And I think that really what's so staggering about this process is just how misguided these policies were in the very first place. I mean, you have here a Conservative Party or essentially a Conservative Party current leadership, who's just his unyielding commitment to the free market, to deregulation, to cutting public spending. And what it's really revealing is just a sort of complete disconnect from the realities of the British people at this moment.
And I think that after years of dealing with the distraction of Brexit, when it's come now to deal with a crisis with a capital C, it's becoming increasingly evident that the current leadership now does not have the tools or the know how or the policies to be able to deal with the situation, John.
VAUSE: Lee Cain is a former Communications Director for Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who Truss succeeded. So in an opinion piece for Politico, he said it very bluntly, "For the UPM, I fear the damage to her reputation is already so severe, it is unlikely she will ever recover sufficiently to become an election winner for the Conservatives."
Not exactly a bold prediction right now, given the opinion polls have the Conservatives trailing labor by that 33 points as of last report. It's not so much a question of Liz Truss being toast. I guess is, will she be dumped as leader? Can they afford to do that? And is there somebody waiting in the wings to take his place?
THOMAS: So I think that all of those questions ultimately, no, John. I think that there was a general election tomorrow, it's fairly obvious that they would lose. And I think it's not just because of Liz Truss. Let's remember that this internal election took place within the Conservative Party, because Boris Johnson was ultimately ousted because of the way in which he was perpetually damaging the Conservative Party.
So they find themselves at a crossroads. And I think there would be very little tolerance at this moment, among in the markets, or in the general electorate for any kind of internal election. And so, the Conservative Party find itself at a crossroads, either stick with Liz Truss for the next couple of years, is use their majority to try and legislate and perhaps restore some of the sort of value of the Conservative Party as they head into a general election in 2020.
Or I think the most likely scenario is you're going to have MPs hearing from their constituents, Cabinet members finding themselves in positions that are no longer sustainable, and ultimately skipping ship, which means paradoxically, that the opposition is likely to end up winning a general election. And then of course, having to clear up the mess left behind by 12 years of Conservative Party leadership, John.
VAUSE: Yes. Here is Liz Truss on Sunday. She was talking about what she has learned from this entire experience.
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LIZ TRUSS, BRITISH PRIME MINISTER: I do want to say to people, I understand their worries about what has happened this week. And I do stand by the package we announced. And I stand by the fact that we announced it quickly because we had to act. I do except we should have laid the ground better there. I do accept that.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You accept you should have laid the found better?
TRUSS: I have learned from that. I have learned from that. And I will make sure that in future, we do a better job of laying the ground.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
VAUSE: The policy, this is so much laying the ground, whatever that actually means, but rather the sort of commitment of failed bumper sticker economic policies of Reagan and Thatcher trickle-down economics just doesn't work. It never has. It's been proven time and time and again.
THOMAS: Absolutely, John. And we heard Nina dos Santos talks about this in the lead up, Liz Truss campaigned and won on this particular fiscal agenda, this trifecta of making concessions to the wealthiest taxpayers, to the oil and gas industry and to the banks.
[01:25:14]
And her opponent, Rishi Sunak, the former Chancellor of the Exchequer was warning them about the potential risks of moving forward in this way. And you have all of the ingredients here to fuel inflation.
And I just think it further emphasizes the fact that after 12 years of Conservative Party leadership that they are living in a bubble here, completely disconnected with the realities of the U.K. population today, and ultimately not equipped to deal with this particular scenario. And I think it's going to be impossible for Liz Truss to restore trust in the British people moving forward, John.
VAUSE: Dominic, good to have you with us. We appreciate your insights.
THOMAS: Thank you.
VAUSE: Let's hoping for an end to Brazil's bruising and bitter presidential race. We'll have to wait at least a few more weeks. Neither the front runner has had enough support to cross the 50 percent threshold and win outright. So the incumbent President Bolsonaro, former President Luiz Lula are now heading to run off.
CNN's Isa Soares has details.
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ISA SOARES, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It was close but just not enough. Many had hoped for an outright win for Lula da Silva, but his supporters were still infused by a first place finish in the first round. The former president receives 48.43 percent of votes cast. He is now seen as the big favorite going into the runoff vote, and he believes he'll win.
LUIZ INACIO LULA DA SILVA, FORMER BRAZILIAN PRESIDENT (through translation): The Workers Party will win the elections in the second round. And we will win because Brazil needs us.
SOARES (voice-over): Mood at the opposing camp was more muted, but there was still cause for celebration. Heading into the vote, Jair Bolsonaro had criticized polls saying they had underestimated his support. With over 43 percent of the votes and finishing well above most predictions, the Brazilian President felt vindicated.
JAIR BOLSONARO, BRAZILIAN PRESIDENT (through translation): We overcame the pooling liar (ph). We now go into a second round where the odds are the same for both sides.
SOARES (voice-over): And there's little respite for either candidate, both now vying for that extra support that can get them over the finish line. For Bolsonaro, that means drawing on the support of an old ally.
DONALD TRUMP, FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: President Bolsonaro he's done a absolutely incredible job with your economy, with your country.
SOARES (voice-over): But the numbers tell a different story. Latin America's largest economy has struggled since a major recession in 2017. With poverty running rampant, especially in Brazil's poorest neighborhoods.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (through translation): Health is difficult. Security is very bad. Inflation is very high.
SOARES (voice-over): With Brazil having some of the world's highest COVID 19 cases and death toll, Bolsonaro was criticized for his handling of the pandemic and its economic fallout. It's here that Bolsonaro is fighting an uphill battle.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translation): We expect total change. The current government has been a total failure since the beginning.
SOARES (voice-over): But Lula's past convictions on corruption charges, accusations he has denied, which will later nulled could level the playing field.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translation): Brazil went through a time of very serious corruption and Jair Bolsonaro has not shown the corruption Lula has.
SOARES (voice-over): In what is Brazil's most polarizing and bitterly divisive presidential election in decades. the battle between these two populaces will finally come to an end on October 30. With pollsters struggling to predict an outcome, it's anyone's guess as to who will come out on top.
Isa Soares, CNN.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
VAUSE: When we come back, he speaks for the first time since widespread protests erupted across Iran. The Supreme Leader has spoken publicly. He blamed Israel and the United States.
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[01:31:46]
VAUSE: Welcome back everyone. I'm John Vause. You are watching CNN NEWSROOM.
Images from Iran appearing to show a room full of female students, chanting anti-government slogans. Their protest in the city of Shiraz is part of a nationwide movement triggered by the death of a young woman who was arrested by the morality police for allegedly not wearing her hijab correctly.
In the capital of Tehran, riot police still deployed Monday in Revolution Square after protests and a violent crackdown at a prominent university just a day earlier.
Meantime the Biden administration says it's alarmed and appalled by reports that government clamped (ph) down on student. One of the demonstrators spoke exclusively to CNN's Jomana Karadsheh.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JOMANA KARADSHEH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: A snapshot of a night of horror at one of Iran's most prestigious universities. Chaos, panic and fear as students, some of Iran's best and brightest ran through the Sharif University car park in Tehran chased by security forces on foot and on motorbikes.
Those who couldn't escape the violent crackdown, hooded and taken away. We don't know what happened after the shot was fired, bird shot and paintballs were used to crush the protests and to stop those who were trying to film.
As news spread crowds gathered outside chanting, "free the student", fears of a repeat of the bluntly 1999 crackdown on student protests. Students were attacked in their dormitories at Tehran University.
CNN tracked down one of those who rushed to save students trapped inside. For his safety, we are concealing his identity.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I saw this SOS call from the Sharif coming. And one of my friends called and he just told me that, please come save us. They are shooting at us.
I took one of my friends with me so he could help me a little bit, so we got on our bikes and we went there.
And we practically had to Captain America our way into the university because they had guns, they had paintball guns, they had batons. It was a war zone. And there was blood everywhere.
KARADSHEH: No one really knows how many were hurt, how many were dragged away. The little (ph) video and harrowing accounts still trickling out paint a picture of the ruthless force used after students refused to attend classes and some chanted insults against the Supreme Leader.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Random students were let out by the security forces of the university. They were then stopped. They told them that if you go near the (INAUDIBLE) station we will start shooting.
Go back into the university. One of the teachers, one of the professors was trying to get a few of the student out. They told him to get the children out and you can go. And he said, no. After that he came out of the class himself, lock the doors. They beat him up. A lot of the professors actually tried to save the students.
[01:34:50]
KARADSHEH: Students in their thousands are staging protests on campuses and on the streets across the country. What started with demands for justice and accountability for the death of Mahsa Amini has quickly morphed into more daring widespread calls for regime change and for bringing down the repressive Islamic Republic.
Anger that has been building for years, captured in video like this one. Protesters in Tehran, tearing down and destroying the Islamic Republic street signs.
The regime that has a bloody history of suppressing dissent is only just beginning to unleash all its got against its own people. But, defiant protesters say this time, there will be no turning back.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No, no, no. This is far from over. We are not discouraged. We are outraged. We are serious. You know, these people think that we are the future (ph) of this generation that if you do this, you're going to just stop.
We are not going to stop. This is a (INAUDIBLE) for us because if we stop, they are going to kill even more people, take even more people into custody, torture them, rape them.
These people can do anything. So we won't stop. This is not the end. I promise you that.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
VAUSE: Jomana Karadsheh with that report. Live now to London, CNN's Nada Bashir (INAUDIBLE) with the story for us now.
And Nada we finally heard from the Supreme Leader, and yet again Israel and the United States are to blame, again.
NADA BASHIR, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes again, and despite the overwhelming amount of social media video coming up, we've seen that and saw that in Jomana's reporting showing that violent crackdown. The Supreme Leader of Iran focused his remarks on criticizing those he described as inciting instability and violence in response to the death of Mahsa Amini, an incident he described as tragic, which is something which had saddened the entire country.
But as you mentioned there, he also spoke focused on the United States and Iran accusing them of meddling in the country's internal affairs attempting to, in his words, stand in the way of the progress that the country has been making in the face of western sanctions.
Take a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
AYATOLLAH KHAMENEI, SUPREME LEADER OF IRAN (through translator): I said, clearly, that these riots and the insecurity were engineered by the U.S., the occupying (INAUDIBLE) Zionist regime as well as their paid agents. With the help of some traitors, Iranians abroad.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BASHIR: Now, of course -- (INAUDIBLE) mentioned that the U.S. and the Biden administration saying it has been appalled and alarmed by the violent crackdown. Canada has announced for sanctions on individuals and entities in Iran and has accused of human rights violations. And here, in the United Kingdom, we heard yesterday from the foreign secretary James Cleverly calling on the Iranian regime to take responsibility for its actions for that violent crackdown and to stop laying the blame on external actors.
And the foreign ministry here in the United Kingdom has now summoned Iran's envoy to the United Kingdom. Later today, we are expecting the European parliament to hold a special (INAUDIBLE) -- focusing on that violent crackdown that we saw.
Top of the agenda for that meeting later today will be called for an urgent investigation, a transparent investigation into the death of Mahsa Amini as well as proposals for tougher E.U. sanctions on the Iranian regime. And that resolution is set to be voted on later this week on Thursday.
What we heard from the European parliament president Roberto Metsola speaking yesterday. He focused on of course, a role that women have played at the heart of these demonstrations, taking a stand against the repressive measures that have been laid against women of Iran. And, as well as other ethic minorities and of course, in general, the human rights abuses that we've seen from the Islamic regime.
He spoke directly, addressing a message to the women of Iran, telling them that they do not stand alone, John.
VAUSE: Nada thank you, we appreciate the update here. Nada Basher there in London.
In the wake of the devastation, caused by Hurricane Fiona Puerto Rico will receive $50 million in federal funds to help storm proof the island.
The announcement was made by U.S. President Joe Biden who visited the island Monday, surveying the damage and meeting with victims and survivors.
He acknowledged the federal government has failed the U.S. territory after other national disasters, notably, the response to Hurricane Maria in 2017.
He says his administration would do better.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOE BIDEN, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Puerto Rico is a strong place. And Puerto Ricans are a strong people. But even so they have had to bear so much. And more than need be and you haven't gotten the help in a timely way.
After Maria, Congress approved billions of dollars for Puerto Rico. Much of it not having gotten here, initially. We're going to make sure you got every single dollar promised.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
VAUSE: This week, Mr. Biden will also travel to Florida where more than 100 people have been confirmed dead from Hurricane Ian. A week on and recovery is slow.
[01:34:57]
VAUSE: More than 450,000 customers remain without power. Neighborhoods are flooded. Rescue efforts, ongoing.
And residents of the hardest hit region, Lee County, say officials waited too long to order evacuations.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SHAWN CRITSER, FLORIDA RESIDENT: And then when an evacuation order came we're like 24 hours, that's not a lot. But, you know, we still can make it. And it wasn't until Wednesday morning, when we woke up and saw that they had made another adjustment and, at that point, it is just too late.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
VAUSE: State and local officials had refused to accept responsibility for the late evacuation notice. And when asked about it the government dismissed the criticism and defended Lee County's response.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GOV. RON DESANTIS (R-FL): People that are here working hard, trying to pull themselves up, so many people we need to be helping, we should be focusing on what we can do to do good. We should be focusing on lifting people up and stop incessantly talking and trying to cast aspersions on people that were doing the best job they could with imperfect information.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
VAUSE: Meantime, Hurricane Orlene has weakened to a tropical depression, as it moves across Mexico. Orlene made landfall Monday, in southwestern Mexico. And heavy rain caused severe flooding popular resort areas along the coast.
Another tropical storm has also formed off the Baja Peninsula. It's expected to move away from land in the days ahead. We're on that one.
Much more ahead this hour on CNN, including details of a damning investigation into abuse and sexual misconduct in U.S. Women's soccer.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
VAUSE: In Indonesia, there are some serious questions being asked about police policy after a weekend football match spiraled into chaos, one of the deadliest disasters ever in the sport. Players from the home team were officially emotionless as they paid their respects at a memorial on Monday.
At least 125 people were killed. More than 300 hurt after fans and police crashed on Saturday. 33 children are among the dead, one as young as three years old. Many of those killed were trampled or suffocated after police used tear gas.
And that's despite (INAUDIBLE) rules prohibiting the use of tear gas inside the stadium. (INAUDIBLE) lost a friend in this country says football was what brought them together.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: My friend's name is Benny. He was like a brother to me. He would come to my house and we would talk about football, the Arema Club. On the day of the incident, he asked me to meet up. But, it was raining heavily in Malay. Later, I got a phone call saying that he was one of the casualties. I was shocked.
I still don't know how to feel. I keep thinking, why him.
(END VIDEO CLIP) VAUSE: At least nine police officers have been suspended and now under investigation. The local police chief has been removed from the job.
[01:44:49]
VAUSE: A damning investigative report shows a culture of verbal, emotional and sexual misconduct committed by coaches of the U.S. National Women's Soccer League. A warning now, we're about to describe what is a very disturbing encounter -- so just be aware of that. It's between a coach and a player reviewing game footage together.
Quote, "He told her he was going to touch her for every pass she f'ed up. He put his hands down her pants and then up her shirt."
Now, this report comes a year after professional players refused to compete in games, demanding this behavior be addressed. Behavior that many (INAUDIBLE) coaches that others knew about but did nothing to stop it.
The lead investigator says this culture of verbal and emotional abuse is starting in youth leagues.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CINDY PARLOW CONE, PRESIDENT, U.S. SOCCER FEDERATION: This is very emotional for me. And, honestly, I'm having trouble absorbing everything in that report. I think it will take some time to really read through it and think about the actions and inactions of certain people.
And it will take us some time to really think about what needs to be done in terms of discipline.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
VAUSE: To Washington now and Christine Brennan, a CNN sports analyst, as well as an award winning national sports columnist for the "USA today". Thanks for being with us. It's good to see you.
CHRISTINE BRENNAN, CNN SPORTS ANALYST: Great to see you, John. Thank you.
VAUSE: Ok, so, gymnastics, swimming, skiing, snowboarding, taekwondo, equestrian, now soccer. It's 2022 and judging by this report, Harvey Weinstein would be welcomed as a head coach in women's soccer. Why does this keep happening?
BRENNAN: Yes, it's a great point that you make. It's a horrible point. And that's why. Why. At its base, the horse that we are seeing unleashed on young athletes, representing the United States, maybe not even getting that far, playing in high, playing in college, maybe just playing a little kids.
The horrors that we're seeing unleashed on -- emanate from power and control. Because this is in the DNA tragically, horribly and inexplicably, in the DNA of the sport that there is going to be abuse heaped upon you.
All of a sudden, it's really hard for that young woman to distinguish what is, obviously, completely unacceptable. Saying enough is enough. And, when they do speak out, then especially when it gets to the sexual, sexual misconduct, sexual innuendo which is what is detailed in this report.
But, it gets to that point and young people have been beaten down so much that it's so hard for them to speak out because they don't want to lose that spot, potentially on a national team.
And if they do speak out -- Alex Morgan spoke out on behalf of others than what we're hearing from this report, clearly, is they're not being listened to. That no adults -- the adults in the room are now acting like adults. And are not listening to the women. And are not taking action against these horrible people who are doing these terrible things to young people in the name of sports.
VAUSE: (INAUDIBLE) Yates is a former attorney general who conducted this investigation. She makes that note about power. Here's is part of the executive summary.
"The players affected are not shrinking violets. They're not shrinking violets. They are among the best athletes in the world. We heard report, after report of relentless after the degrading tirades, manipulation that was about, power not improving performance in retaliation against those who intended to come forward.
And, Christine, that's tell the best players are treated. What about the other players have listed they were the (INAUDIBLE) are blessed, abilities less stature. And, you know, what sort of adults yells verbal abuses at little girls as young as five? Who does that.
BRENNAN: Well, and to the point you're making John is all these people that we haven't heard from, the stories that we haven't heard. I, mean this required a lot. This required a lot of effort. A lot of, confidence a lot of strength of support, teammates to say yes, it's time to speak up.
And, frankly, it was journalism. It was the "Washington Post". And it was the athletic who first told these stories of abuse of these terrible coaches doing these awful things, sexual misconduct or sexual assault to these young female athletes.
And, because of the great journalism. Then this report's out, this investigation by the former deputy attorney general Sally Yates this was commissioned and that is what U.S. Soccer now wants to find out.
VAUSE: And you know, much like pedophile priests in the Catholic Church, are coaches who were relocated to avoid public scandal and costly lawsuits. Just like the church did with the priests. So those running (ph) omen soccer, they can do exactly the same thing.
BRENNAN: They did, yes it's moving the dirty laundry to another town. Think about this. I, mean what kind of a human being is told by an athlete, Alex Morgan did go to the authorities in U.S. soccer to warn them about a certain coach. And that you hear that and, go ok Alex, you know one of the greatest players ever.
[01:49:51]
BRENNAN: And it doesn't have to be Alex, but in this case it was Alex Morgan And you don't do, anything and you go I think you need to call the authorities maybe I need to call state park (ph), maybe I did to do something.
No, you just say yes, we'll file it in a war that we all don't want to hire this guy. And then, this, coach Paul Riley, ends up going -- and coaching the WSL -- and continuing to perpetuate these horrors on other young women as Alex is trying to win. Warn them about.
VAUSE: And very quickly, here's a part of a statement from the league in response to this.
We recognize the anxiety and mental strain that any investigation have caused, and the trauma that many, including Players and staff, having to relive.
It's kind of a nothing statement really but this is a 300-page long report by Yates with a lot of suggestions, like you just outlined for you there. But if the league is serious about fixing this, they have options here of what they can do.
BRENNAN: They do. Now, the good news is there's true leadership in the league. There's true lead there is new leadership in U.S. Soccer than (INAUDIBLE).
Some of the bad apples -- a very nice way to say it, they're way worse than that -- are gone. Until you control that power structure, you know your sports, I know sports. We cheer for kids and nieces and nephews and the neighborhood kid and everyone has.
Until that power structure, you can break it down and mom or dad can come up to a coach and say don't ever do that again and get that coach fired. As opposed to the coach is the one with the power and the parents are powering. Because they're so concerned about even chatting with the coach, because you, know your little kid if you're hoping might get a college scholarship someday.
Until that power dynamic changes, John, I hate to say this, because I'm an optimistic person but I think we're going to hear stories like this again and again. Right now, the power structure in U.S. sports is broken.
VAUSE: Yes. Christine, it's a good way to finish -- good summary. Really appreciate it. Thank you for being with us.
BRENNAN: John, thank you.
VAUSE: Still to come -- no shelter, no food, no water. It could get soon a lot worse for more than a million Somalis. The U.N. warning a full blown famine is on the horizon.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
VAUSE: According to the U.N., more than a million Somalis have been displaced over the last year searching for food and water, amid the country's worst -- drought in decades. And while calls for international aid is slowly being answered, that may not be enough to prevent an impending famine.
CNN's Larry Madowo reporter has our report.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
LARRY MADOWO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: This is what I'm hearing from every Somali official I've spoken to and every aid worker there. this is one of the worst droughts they have ever seen and the effects are heartbreaking.
But with so much else happening in the world, suffering Somalis can get forgotten. Right now, about half of the population in Somalia need humanitarian assistance. And it could get worse.
Somalia could face a full blown famine in less than a month. That is what the U.N. says. But try telling that to the people here. Nunay Adan Duwo (ph) and her family are already struggling.
NUNAY ADAN DUWO, SOMALIAN (through translator): For the last three years, we have not harvested anything due to the lack of rain. And we are staying at a temporary shelter close by.
MADOWO: Duwo is a mother of ten. She fled her home, traveling 200 miles to find medical help for her three-year-old son suffering from severe malnutrition.
DUWO: A lack of water has driven us away. To get (INAUDIBLE) kind of water, you have to trek for two hours before you can get back for the next one.
[01:54:58]
MADOWO: The country has gone two years without rain. And is experiencing its worst drought in 40 years.
Aid agencies say around 7 million Somalis are projected to face food insecurities. Even animals struggle to survive but it is not just supplies at home that are an issue.
The battle against the armed group al-Shabaab makes delivering aid hard.
And the war in Ukraine has sent food prices soaring. But help is coming. More than 70 percent of the $1.4 billion in aid for Somalia have been raised mostly by the U.S.
And, just this month, Ukraine pledged 50,000 tons of wheat to both Somalia and Ethiopia. Much like the shipment which docked in Djibouti last month. So, will it be enough?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It will help every assistance coming from any nation will help whether it's cash or kind. We import 80 percent of our food out of the country. We mainly rely on Russia and Ukraine. Wherever the response comes, the cost of preventing the famine will be higher.
MADOWO: One of the most critical needs, right now, specifically?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It is money. It is funding. Funding, funding, funding. If the rainy season (INAUDIBLE) -- it will be a next month global. And there is not a (INAUDIBLE) funding, funding is real and it is happening.
MADOWO: Somalia was last hit by famine just over ten years ago. More than a quarter of a million people died then, and there is little sign this looming famine will be any different.
As you heard there Somalia was already suffering from the impacts of the global pandemic. But add to that, the effect of Russia's invasion of Ukraine on food supplies. But especially, the severe drought has brought the country to the brink.
The situation is so desperate that, if nothing changes, more people could die. That is why that funding they are looking for will be so critical.
Larry Madowo, CNN -- London.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
VAUSE: This year's Nobel prize for (INAUDIBLE) or medicine has been awarded to an evolutionary -- of Sweden was recognized for his discovery about extinct human species, and the evolution of man. Nobel committee says he accomplished something seemingly impossible by completely sequencing the neanderthal genome, uncovering the generic differences between humans of today and our extinct relatives.
Thank you for watching CNN NEWSROOM. I'm John Vause.
My colleague and friend Rosemary Church picks up after a very short break. I'll see you back here tomorrow.
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