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Biden Assures the Ukrainian President a Strong Support; Chinese V.P. Says Taiwan is an Inalienable Part of China's Territory; Visa Services between India and Canada Halted Following Issues Surrounding Their Relations; Multimedia Mogul Rupert Murdoch Steps Down After His Seven-Decade Media Career; King Charles Addresses the French Senate; Record-Setting NASA Astronaut Talks to CNN. Aired 3-4a ET
Aired September 22, 2023 - 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)
KIM BRUNHUBER, CNN ANCHOR: And welcome to all of you watching us around the world. I'm Kim Brunhuber, ahead on "CNN Newsroom."
Ukraine's president gets a mixed reception in Washington with President Biden promising continued support, but some lawmakers balking at paying for that support.
China doubles down at the U.N. on plans to bring Taiwan back into the fold.
And Rupert Murdoch steps down as head of the media empire he created, sending shockwaves through the media and politics.
UNKNOWN (voice-over): Live from CNN Center, this is "CNN Newsroom" with Kim Brunhuber.
BRUNHUBER: Next stop for Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Canada for talks with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and an address to parliament.
The Ukrainian president wrapped up his U.S. visit, expressing gratitude for a new $325 million military aid package to help defend against Russian aggression. Zelenskyy spent Thursday afternoon at the White House, meeting with President Biden in the Oval Office and attending a Cabinet meeting.
The U.S. president offered his assurance that his administration will support Ukraine for as long as it takes. Here he is.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOE BIDEN, U.S. PRESIDENT: That's what this is all about. The future, the future of freedom. America can never, will never walk away from that. That's why 575 days later, we stand with Ukraine and we'll continue to stand with you, Mr. President. VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY, UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT: I thank United States of
America and Mr. President for the new defense package for Ukraine, a very powerful package. Thank you so much. And it has exactly what our soldiers need.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BRUNHUBER: Zelenskyy also met with leaders of the U.S. Senate who are united in their support for Kyiv. But Republican House Speaker Kevin McCarthy was less committed. He would not allow official photographers access to his meeting with the Ukrainian president. A source shared this photo with CNN.
We have more now from CNN's Kayla Tausche at the White House.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
KAYLA TAUSCHE, CNN SR. WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, wrapping up a critical visit to Washington, including a stop at the White House.
REPORTER: Mr. President, How important is this visit?
ZELENSKYY: Very important.
TAUSCHE (voice-over): To sustain the marathon of war, funding set to dry up in weeks. The Biden administration sending more weaponry, high- mars systems, anti-armor capabilities, artillery and cluster munitions from money already greenlit by Congress.
BIDEN: Mr. President, it's an honor to welcome back the White House and the Oval Office.
TAUSCHE (voice-over): Zelenskyy, in his trademark fatigues, sharing his battlefield perspective with the White House Cabinet.
ZELENSKYY: I thank United States of America and Mr. President for the new defense package for Ukraine, a very powerful package. Thank you so much. And it has exactly what our soldiers need.
TAUSCHE (voice-over): And his plans to rebuild with the former Commerce Secretary.
But first, he needs tens of billions of dollars to fight. Lawmakers on Capitol Hill, still skeptical.
I wish Ukraine well, and I also wish our European allies to do their part.
TAUSCHE (voice-over): House Speaker Kevin McCarthy refusing to commit to a vote on new funding.
KEVIN MCCARTHY, U.S. HOUSE SPEAKER: Look, we've got to get our first, our fiscal house taken care of here in America.
TAUSCHE (voice-over): The White House says the weapons are working. JAKE SULLIVAN, U.S. NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER: We are providing our
helping Ukraine not only make forward progress, but also critically defend the territory that they continue to hold against Russian efforts to overrun it and occupy it. Because Putin has not given up on his fundamental goal, which is to subjugate the country of Ukraine. And we will not permit that to happen, and the Ukrainian people will not permit that to happen.
TAUSCHE (on-camera): President Biden and President Zelenskyy were asked by reporters how confident they were that the U.S. Congress would support that additional aid for Ukraine. President Biden, answering on behalf of both leaders, said that he was relying on the good judgment of Congress and, in his words, said there is no alternative.
Kayla Tausche, CNN, The White House.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BRUNHUBER: And for more on this, let's go live now to Kyiv. Andriy Zagorodnyuk is the country's former defense minister now advisor to the Zelenskyy government, thank you so much for being here again with us.
ANDRIY ZAGORODNYUK, UKRAINE'S FORMER DEFENSE MINISTER AND CURRENT GOVERNMENT ADVISER: Thank You.
BRUNHUBER: So, first, I want to start on the substance of what President Zelenskyy came away with as we just heard there in a package. We heard the president say exactly what our soldiers need but is that true it didn't include any long-range missiles. How crucial is that?
[03:05:04]
ZAGORODNYUK: No, it did not include those missiles and we, to be honest, I mean the analytical community was expecting that a bit because there were discussions that perhaps they would be included.
They are important because they are, they can allow to hit the targets which are further away from the frontline and obviously that would substantially help the counter-offensive effort. So for many independent analysts, it's still a question why they're not provided because there's no explanation coming, like real explanation that we would understand. And I'm not talking just about Ukrainian analysts, I'm talking about the whole coalition.
But in the other respect, yes, it's a powerful package and indeed we are -- we are receiving a lot of weapons which are working, which are helping on the counteroffensive and also to protect the cities. For example, every second day, the Kyiv is bombarded with the either drones or rockets. Just a couple of days ago, Kyiv was a subject of the massive attack of the rockets and all of them were destroyed by, including by the American equipment. So people in Kyiv can live and work relatively normally despite being like bombarded by an absolutely immense amount of missiles. BRUNHUBER: Now to the politics of the atmosphere in Washington was
really different from President Zelenskyy's last visit the partisan divide on Ukraine and continues to grow with more Republicans coming out against funding for the war at the current levels, how much of a concern is that do you think?
ZAGORODNYUK: Of course, it is a concern because we're not talking about any changes in the war effort. We're not talking about any changes in, let's say, in Russia, which is still determined to destroy Ukraine, diminish world order, et cetera.
We're talking about some politicians using the war effort in order to basically gain their own political goals and there is a massive strategic meaning of this war. There is a massive importance of this war for American people.
As it was said by many politicians of both parties, we always enjoyed the bipartisan support because this is about global stability and this war has a huge meaning as a precedent for the future generations and so on.
And it's been repeated all the time. So yes, it is a concern that we're hearing a quite aggressive rhetoric against Ukraine, and I don't think that, you know, this is fair and this is strategic to us.
BRUNHUBER: Some Republicans say they want to know from President Biden exactly how he plans to bring this war to an end. So what role does the pace of the counteroffensive play with winter around the corner, many Americans, Republicans especially, say they fear the U.S. is again going down the path of an open-ended conflict?
ZAGORODNYUK: Well, first of all other has been a schedule of the counteroffensive published ever so the estimations of base is very subjective because that it's a -- there's nothing to compare it with. The conditions are extremely unique and extremely difficult is like massive mining all around the country particularly in the area where the counteroffensive takes place, there's no technical solutions currently which would be easy you know bridge through these minds of these two solutions are being developed as we speak right now.
And there is no air supremacy because the planes apparently are just coming, so they're not there yet, obviously. And so those complaints about the counteroffensive are based on expectations, which were developed very far from frontline and actually very far from Ukraine, but then expecting this to resolve everything.
And it's also was quite unrealistic because we're talking about a very substantial effort and substantial war. But I don't think Biden needs to, you know, is to specifically like it must be expected to resolve this within the next months or so. I mean, seriously, we're talking about the war against Russia, and Russia is still a very powerful military country, and they have massive budgets and a huge amount of soldiers and so on.
So, again, I think it's more political talk than realistic about the war. BRUNHUBER: Listen, I really appreciate getting your expertise on this.
Former Ukrainian Defense Minister Andriy Zagorodnyuk, thanks so much for joining us.
ZAGORODNYUK: Thank you.
BRUNHUBER: The Middle East is in focus at the U.N. General Assembly as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will address world leaders in the day ahead. Now that follows a warning of sorts from Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas that peace can't prevail unless his people enjoy their full legitimate national rights.
CNN's Hadas Gold reports.
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HADAS GOLD, CNN JERUSALEM CORRESPONDENT: The Palestinian Authority president Mahmoud Abbas didn't mention the word Saudi Arabia in his speech to the United Nations General Assembly, but it was clear that a possible normalization between Saudi Arabia and Israel was on his mind from the very first line of his speech. Take a listen.
MAHMOUD ABBAS, PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY PRESIDENT (through translator): Those who think that peace can prevail in the Middle East without the Palestinian people enjoying their full legitimate and national rights would be mistaken.
GOLD: It's interesting to know that line was actually not in the official transcript that was sent out to reporters, so it may have been added at some point. It seemed to be a direct response to much of the news over the last day or so, which is the interview that the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia had with Fox News, where he talked about the talks, negotiations towards normalization with Israel. And a big question in this normalization will be what will the Palestinians get or what will happen to the Palestinians?
And what we hear from the Palestinian Authority president is essentially, you cannot have this piece that you seek in the Middle East without a full recognition of a Palestinian state. It was interesting to hear from the Crown Prince, Mohammad bin Salman, in that interview, not even mention that we're necessarily a state for Palestinians, but instead talking about ways that they could ease the lives of Palestinians in this normalization deal.
We do know that the Palestinians have set out certain things that they would like to receive as a result of this normalization deal, that's according to media reports, as well as statements we've heard from Palestinian officials. These are things like U.S. backing for recognition of Palestinian statehood at the United Nations, which is something that Mahmoud Abbas mentioned in his speech.
The U.S. reopening its consulate in Jerusalem that was closed by former President Donald Trump, and as well as Israeli transfer of certain parts of the West Bank territory into Palestinian control. Now it is going to be hard for much of these things to get through this current Israeli government. The most right-wing extremist in Israeli history, something that Mahmoud Abbas addressed, calling it a right- wing racist government.
Otherwise for the rest of a speech, much of it is things that we have heard before from the Palestinian leader, things like demanding an end to the occupation, asking for full recognition of the state. But Palestine talking about what he called a double standard, saying why is Israel recognized, but the state of Palestine is not recognized. He also is calling for Israel, he said, to be held responsible for its actions, saying that there have been so many U.N. resolutions in that very body that he says have not been upheld.
But definitely the biggest takeaway from his speech was that first line, his sort of direct response to all the discussion about the normalization between Israel and Saudi Arabia. But next up will actually be Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu who is going to give his speech to United Nations on Friday morning.
Hadas Gold, CNN, Jerusalem.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BRUNHUBER: In his speech before the U.N. General Assembly on Thursday, China's vice president touched on several thorny issues including world expansion in Taiwan. Han Zheng said China opposes expansion and dominance over other states. He added that Beijing's committed to an independent foreign policy and will uphold the common values of humanity that include peace, justice, democracy and freedom.
Now on the topic of Taiwan, an independent and democratic country for decades, the Vice President stressed that Beijing will continue to strive for peaceful reunification with Taipei. Here he is.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
HAN ZHENG, CHINESE VICE PRESIDENT (through translator): China stays committed to safeguarding its sovereignty and territorial integrity. There is but one China in the world. The government of the People's Republic of China is the sole legal government representing the whole of China. And Taiwan has been an inalienable part of China's territory since ancient times.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BRUNHUBER: Chinese President Xi Jinping chose not to go to the U.N. meeting. He's expected to attend the opening ceremony of the Asian Games in the coming hours.
According to new satellite images obtained by CNN, three of the world's biggest nuclear powers have recently constructed new facilities and dug new tunnels at their test sites. CNN's Ivan Watson is in Hong Kong with more on what that could mean.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) IVAN WATSON, CNN SR. INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (on-camera): It's no secret that there's growing geopolitical tension between the U.S. and Russia and China. All three powers routinely conduct military exercises, clearly trying to demonstrate their strength to each other. And it stands to reason that eventually this competition would start to bleed into an area that I think many people haven't really thought about since the end of the Cold War, and that is their nuclear arsenals.
[03:15:02]
CNN has gotten an exclusive look at the serious investment that all three countries, China, Russia, and the U.S., have put into their nuclear weapons testing sites.
(voice-over): The world's three most powerful militaries, the U.S., Russia and China, have all been expanding their nuclear testing sites in recent years. The evidence revealed in these commercial satellite images obtained exclusively by CNN.
(on-camera): These are the Russian, Chinese and American nuclear testing sites. Novaya Zemlya, a Russian archipelago in the Arctic Ocean; Lop Nur, a dried up salt lake in China's Xinjiang region; and the Nevada National Security Site in a desert northwest of Las Vegas.
Images from each location show new tunnels, roads, and storage facilities constructed within the last five years.
(voice-over): Nuclear nonproliferation expert Jeffrey Lewis first collected and analyzed these images.
JEFFREY LEWIS, WEAPONS EXPERT: One big factor for both the United States, but also Russia and China, is a desire to make sure the nuclear weapons that they designed and tested in the 1980s and 1990s still work.
CEDRIC LEIGHTON, RETIRED U.S. AIR FORCE COL.: All three countries, Russia, China, and the United States, have invested a great deal of time, effort, and money in not only modernizing their nuclear arsenals, but also in preparing the types of activities that would be required for a test.
WATSON (voice-over): While there's no evidence of an imminent test, Russia's Novaya Zemlya site did see a burst of new construction over the last two years.
On the one-year anniversary of his full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin declared Russia's readiness to conduct nuclear tests.
VLADIMIR PUTIN, RUSSIAN PRESIDENT (through translator): Some figures in Washington, we know this for a fact, are already thinking about the possibility of a natural test on their nuclear weapons. If the U.S. conducts tests, we will do so too.
WATSON (voice-over): This time lapse reveals five years of above- ground expansion of the U1a complex, an underground facility at the testing site in Nevada. A spokesperson from the U.S. National Nuclear Security Administration confirms to CNN that it is quote, "recapitalizing infrastructure and scientific capabilities at the U1a complex," adding, "the United States has not conducted a nuclear explosive test since 1992 and has no plans to do so."
Since the end of above ground testing, governments have used deep tunnels for their nuclear tests. Satellite images reveal a new fifth tunnel carved out at China's Lop Nur testing site along with a growing pile of excavated debris. Washington accuses China of dramatically expanding its nuclear arsenal.
MICHAEL CHASE, U.S. DEPUTY ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF DEFENSE FOR CHINA: We project out to 2035 when we expect that they'll want to have about 1,500 nuclear weapons.
WATSON (voice-over): In a statement to CNN, China's foreign ministry also denied plans to test, saying, quote, "this kind of report only speaks on hearsay evidence and hypes up China's nuclear threat for no reason."
The specter of a new nuclear test would shatter restraint exhibited by the U.S., China and Russia ever since the 1990s.
LEWIS: If you are a farmer in Ohio or a shopkeeper in Shanghai, the threat of nuclear testing isn't the test themselves. It's the fact that you are essentially agreeing to pay vast sums of money in an arms race that no one can win, but we can all lose.
WATSON (on-camera): As far as we know, not one of the three countries has conducted a full-scale nuclear weapons test since the 1990s. Most recently, that would be China, with an underground test conducted in 1996. The U.S. has been conducting for years tests that it calls subcritical tests, and they're meant to ensure the reliability of existing nuclear weapons, some of which have been around for some 30 years, longer than many people might keep a car in their garage.
But you know, investing so heavily in these nuclear weapons testing facilities does not bode well in this environment of growing geopolitical tension and mutual suspicion.
Ivan Watson, CNN, Hong Kong.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BRUNHUBER: All right, still to come, why India claims Canada should worry about its international reputation as relations between the two countries sour. We'll have more on that coming up. Stay with us.
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[03:20:00]
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BRUNHUBER: Canada's prime minister is calling on India to cooperate and allow justice to take its course after the murder of a Sikh leader on Canadian soil. Justin Trudeau's message from the United Nations comes as diplomatic relations between India and Canada go from bad to worse. Earlier this week he accused the Indian government of possibly playing a role in the assassination. Here he is.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JUSTIN TRUDEAU, CANADIAN PRIME MINISTER: I can assure you, the decision to share these allegations in floor of the House of Commons was not done lightly. It was done with, or Monday afternoon, was done with the utmost seriousness.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BRUNHUBER: Well, none of this is going over well with India, which has now suspended visa services for Canadian citizens. CNN's Vedika Sud is covering this lie from New Delhi and Vedika, relations between two countries don't seem to be on the mend. What's the latest?
VEDIKA SUD, CNN REPORTER: Absolutely, Kim, and they won't be resetting ties anytime soon from the rhetoric we're seeing from on rather both sides.
Mow on Thursday India's a ministry of external affairs did hold a press conference in which the spokesperson had a very strong worded statement for Canada. I'm going to read a quote out now from that press conference. Arindam Bagchi, the spokesperson said, if you're talking about reputational damage, if there's a country that needs to look at this, I think it's Canada and its growing reputation as a place -- as a safe haven for terrorists, for extremists, and for organized crime.
I think that's a country that needs to worry about its international reputation. He was responding to a question by a journalist asking if the controversy is going to impact India's global reputation, and that was his response, and a very, very strong-worded response thereby the spokesperson, a straight-out message to Canada that they're not going to back down any time soon.
Meanwhile, on Thursday another big development took place. The Canadian High Commission here in New Delhi announced that they will be downsizing their diplomatic staff here in India. Now we're waiting for word on whether that's happened already or are they still going ahead and mulling how much to downsize it by. And this was confirmed by the Indian government as well, that they have requested for this since they wanted the equal number of staffing to be here in India as they have in Canada.
Now, the White House has also responded to questions on the growing tensions between India and Canada. Jake Sullivan did address the media yesterday, though he refused to mention any details on whether the U.S. President has already spoken to the Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, about this controversy or whether he will be speaking to him in the days to come. Here's what Sullivan had to say.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) SULLIVAN: I'm not going to get into private diplomatic conversations that have either already happened or are going to happen on this topic, only to say that we have been and will be in contact with the Indians at high levels on this issue.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SUD: Now the White House has repeatedly called on India to cooperate with Canada on the investigations, but the big question here is, Kim, where is the evidence?
You had the Canadian Prime Minister come out yesterday. You played out his statement right at the top before you got to me for this discussion.
[03:25:05]
But a lot of people in India and even in Canada, where he will be going back to in a few days from now, are asking this question. Where is the evidence, Mr. Prime Minister? You've made that very strong statement in Parliament. The ties have been going south between the two countries ever since, but that proof is still something that India is awaiting and so are the countries who haven't weighed in yet, really, Kim. They are waiting for some substantial evidence to come about for Trudeau to table that in parliament for them to really come out with a statement on who they would side with if they do. Back to you.
BRUNHUBER: Yeah, exactly. All right. Thanks so much Vedika Sud in New Delhi.
Meanwhile, a landmark bill is now on the books in India that ensures more women are in government. The measure sets aside a third of the seats in India's lower house and state assemblies for women.
215 lawmakers in the country's upper house voted in favor of the bill Thursday. Women make up nearly half of India's 950 million registered voters, but only 15 percent of lawmakers in parliament and 10 percent of state assemblies. India's prime minister called the bill, quote, "a historic moment in our country's democratic journey."
Ukraine and Poland move to mend fences amid their dispute over grain. Next, the latest on a disagreement that's put Polish weapons deliveries on the line. Stay with us.
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BRUNHUBER: Ukraine and Poland are dialing down tensions following their bitter dispute over Ukrainian grain. On Wednesday, Poland's prime minister said Warsaw would stop deliveries of new weapons to Kyiv, but the Polish president later appeared to walk those remarks back, saying the prime minister had been misinterpreted. Here he is.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ANDRZEJ DUDA, POLISH PRESIDENT (through translator): The prime minister talked about this weapon in the context of the new weapons we are buying for our army. Yes, that was the statement. In my opinion, the prime minister said we will not transfer to Ukraine new weapons that we are currently purchasing as a part of the modernization of our army.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BRUNHUBER: Lithuania stepped into the dispute on Thursday with its president offering to mediate while Ukraine's Ambassador to Warsaw believes Poland will keep helping Kyiv because that's in its best interest.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
VASYL ZVARYCH, UKRAINIAN AMBASSADOR TO POLAND (through translator): I believe that this cooperation will continue, because I believe that military support for Ukraine is in the interest of the Republic of Poland, because it's not charity or philanthropy. It's also an investment in their own security. We must do everything to stop this enemy in Ukraine, so that the Russian boot does not trample on Polish soil.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
[03:30:00]
BRUNHUBER: Well, for more on this, Katie Polglase joins us from London. So Katie from a Ukrainian perspective is there reason for optimism here?
KATIE POLGLASE, CNN INVESTIGATIVE PRODUCER: There may be, Kim, and clearly this is an issue that Ukraine really can't afford to have at the moment. I mean, while the -- Zelenskyy is in the U.S. just this moment, he is pleading for more assistance for this counteroffensive. And so having Poland, one of Ukraine's staunchest allies throughout this war, have this major U-turn in terms of reflecting that they may no longer be given weaponry to Ukraine is really something Ukraine can ill afford to have.
So this might be why this compromise, this de-escalation is starting to happen and why we're seeing this language perhaps optimistically saying that there is no crisis here, that they can talk about it and they will find a solution.
Now it's worth remembering that Poland was one of the first NATO countries to provide fighter jets to Ukraine just in the spring. They have continued to be a major route for a lot of Western equipment to get through to Ukraine. So not just Polish equipment, but a lot of Western aid goes via Poland to get into Ukraine. All of this means it's quite critical that Poland is very much still onboard. The language we've seen overnight indicates that they are starting to move towards a compromise. And let's not forget it isn't just Poland that had instituted a ban on this Ukrainian grain, this grain being what started all of this dispute, Ukrainian grain being exported at a cheaper price and as a result Poland and various other countries instituting a ban. It isn't just Poland, it's also Slovakia and various other countries.
Now just yesterday we saw that Slovakia and Ukraine reached an agreement, they reached a new grain trade agreement where there would be an issuing and controlling of licenses of Ukrainian grain. We don't have many more details on it yet, but there is an indication there that compromises can be made in this area. And clearly, when it comes to supporting Ukraine with weaponry for this counteroffensive, that is very much something that Ukraine wants to ensure they still have the support of Poland.
Particularly as we enter these winter months, and particularly as we now look at U.S. funding becoming increasingly uncertain, it's more and more important to Zelenskyy and all of the Ukrainian leadership that security from their European allies very much remains in place as we head into these winter months. Kim?
BRUNHUBER: Yeah, critical as you say. Katie Polgalse in London, thanks so much.
The new dress code bill passed by Iran's parliament hands out harsh punishments to people who violate it. Under the new legislation, women who don't wear the hijab properly and men who wear quote "revealing clothing" would face fines and in certain cases up to 10 years in prison.
The bill has a three-year trial period and still needs to be approved by Iran's Guardian Council which oversees legislative matters. Iranians had mixed reaction to the new restrictions.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNKNOWN (through translator): There was no survey of people in the society to pass this law, and this law, which they say is according to the community of people and according to the customs of the society. Let's hold an election and see if they agree or not. Then it will be clear.
UNKNOWN (through translator): I think there should be a law. If the freedom of the hijab is to exist, it must be in accordance with the society we live in.
UNKNOWN (through translator): I think the government will not step back because it's part of the ideology of the Islamic Republic.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BRUNHUBER: Iran is investigating a fire that broke out of the Defense Ministry warehouse. Iranian state media posted these images showing columns of black smoke rising from a building near Tehran and said the warehouse was used to make batteries. State media reports the fire has since been contained and the cause is under investigation.
Just two days after, Azerbaijani forces stormed the ethnic Armenian enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh and took control, representatives from both sides proceeded across from each other to map out a way forward. One challenge is how to integrate the enclave's 120,000 ethnic
Armenians, who are mostly Christian, into Azerbaijan's Muslim society. The enclave has been disputed territory beyond Azerbaijan's control for decades, but Azerbaijan put a decisive end to that on Tuesday with an overwhelming military strike against Armenian separatists killing at least 200 people. Six Russian peacekeepers were also reported killed.
Armenia's Prime Minister explained in a video address why Armenia didn't interfere. Here he is.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
NIKOL PASHINYAN, ARMENIAN PRIME MINISTER (through translator): Many believe that in this tense regional environment, in the face of occasional military conflicts, it is not adequate to talk about peace. This path is not easy, but we must go through it for the sake of independence, for the sake of statehood, for the sake of the future.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KIM BRUNHUBER: The situation in Nagorno-Karabakh has been deteriorating for months after Azerbaijan blocked shipments of humanitarian aid into the enclave. CNN's Salma Abdelaziz has more from London.
[03:34:55]
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SALMA ABDELAZIZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Constructive and positive were the terms used to describe the first round of talks held Thursday between the government of Azerbaijan and local authorities from the Nagorno- Karabakh region along with Russian mediators.
This comes after a ceasefire was declared on Wednesday after a military operation by Azerbaijan in that ethnically Armenian enclave. Again, it is internationally-recognized as part of Azerbaijan, but that military intervention led to dozens reported killed, among them children and civilians.
There is significant hope that this round of talks could potentially lead to a lasting resolution for the decades-long conflict that has ravaged again that ethnically Armenian enclave. Why these changes now? Well, the supporters of the ethnically Armenian population, again, in tens of thousands living in that enclave. Those supporters are wavering, among them of course Armenia, which has said that it is not party to these mediations, that it does acknowledge of course that this region is internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan. That sent demonstrators into the streets in Armenia where many felt that their government was not protecting the Armenians. Regardless, you also have Russian mediators as well on the ground. Russia has been seen as a major security guarantor for Armenians. It has also stepped back as it has become more and more involved in the Ukraine conflict. Now, both parties agreed to resume talk soon without providing a
specific date. A few questions here that remain. How will disarmament take place? And to what extent will Azerbaijan require that disarmament? What happens? What is the fate of the tens of thousands, an estimated 120,000 Armenians that live in that enclave, in that region, and what does integration into Azerbaijan look like for them?
Salma Abdelaziz, CNN, London.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BRUNHUBER: Still ahead, it's the end of an era. Rupert Mudroch is passing the torch and handing off his global business empire. And that's raising questions about the future of his companies, News Corp and Fox News. Stay with us.
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BRUNHUBER: Media baron Rupert Murdoch is stepping down from his business empire. The 92-year-old chairman of Fox Corp. and News Corp. is transitioning away from that leadership role and handing control to his eldest son, Lachlan.
Rupert Murdoch will take the new role of chairman emeritus, with the company stressing he intends to remain fully involved, but what that involvement will be remains unclear.
[03:39:53]
Here's part of a memo written to employees. Quote, "for my entire professional life, I have been engaged daily with news and ideas, and that will not change. But the time is right for me to take on different roles knowing that we have truly talented teams."
Murdoch built a vast newspaper and magazine empire across the globe which includes the "Wall Street Journal," Britain's "The Times" and Sky News in the U.K. and Australia where News Corp also owns numerous newspapers. The 1990s saw the emergence of the Fox television network in the U.S. as a major competitor but he will always be known for ratings powerhouse. Fox News with his reputation for right-wing propaganda, conspiracy theories, bigotry and outright lies making billions of dollars.
Rupert Murdoch's resignation after seven decades in media sent shockwaves through the industry. Over the years his right-wing newspapers, magazines and T.V. networks attracted controversy after controversy. As Jason Carroll reports, Murdoch's step back raises questions about the future of his empire.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BILL HEMMER, FOX NEWS ANCHOR, AMERICA'S NEWSROOM: Rupert Murdoch created all of this.
JASON CARROLL, CNN U.S. NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Love him or hate him may depend on which side of the political aisle you sit on, but there's no denying Rupert Murdoch is one of the most influential media moguls in history and one of the most powerful forces in right-wing politics.
Now at 92 years of age, the longtime chairman of Fox and News corporations is stepping down. Starting in November, he'll hold the honorary title of chairman emeritus.
In a statement saying, our companies are in robust health, as am I. We have every reason to be optimistic about the coming years. I certainly am and plan to be here to participate in them.
The question in media circles, age aside, why step down now?
BRIAN STEINBERG, SR. T.V. EDITOR, VARIETY: I wonder if Rupert has said, I need to help my son get settled as the leader, de-facto person in charge, and to do that, maybe I need to take a step back in terms of outward facing our responsibilities.
CARROLL (voice-over): His elder son, Lachlan Murdoch, will take over as chairman and will continue as executive chair and chief executive officer of Fox Corp. Murdoch's right-wing media empire began about 70 years ago in Australia, where he turned a small newspaper chain he inherited from his father into the global multi-billion-dollar media empire of today.
RUPERT MURDOCH, NEWS CORP. CHAIRMAN: I had a lot of that. We've now reached this moment when we can firmly announce the starting of a Fox News channel.
CARROLL (voice-over): That was Murdoch when he launched Fox News in 1996. The conservative 24-hour news channel has grown into a cable ratings juggernaut, but not one without challenges as of late.
JAKE TAPPER, CNN ANCHOR, THE LEAD: Moments ago we learned there is a settlement.
CARROLL (voice-over): This year, Fox News settled with Dominion Voting Systems for more than $787 million in the largest publicly-known defamation settlement in U.S. history involving a media company over its airing of 2020 election lies.
Fox News also severed ties with right-wing extremist and popular primetime host Tucker Carlson this year.
TUCKER CARLSON, FORMER FOX NEWS HOST: Trump is continually hunted for any reason.
CARROLL (voice-over): And faces new competition from pro-Trump cable news outlet Newsmax.
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The series' "Succession" airs on HBO, which like CNN is owned by Warner Brothers Discovery. It is believed to be loosely based on their Murdochs and their media empire.
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Unlike the series' satirical world, it's clear who the new leader is now that Lachlan Murdoch has been named sole chairman.
In a statement, he thanked his father for his vision, his pioneering spirit, his steadfast determination and enduring legacy.
Media insiders say after so many years of building an empire, it's unlikely stepping down means the elder Murdoch will completely step away from exerting his influence.
CAITLIN HUSTON, BUSINESS WRITER, HOLLYWOOD REPORTER: From the letter that he sent to, that Rupert sent to employees, it sounds like he's still going to be incredibly involved. Maybe not in the logistics, but at least like ideologically it sounds like.
CARROLL (on-camera): And in that letter to employees, I have a copy of it here. Rupert Murdoch also said that expect for him to offer his advice, ideas, and thoughts from time to time, and also expect him to see him still in the office on late Friday afternoons.
Jason Carroll, CNN, New York.
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BRUNHUBER: The second day of talks between striking writers and Hollywood studio executives has ended without a deal.
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A source tell CNN there has been progress toward ending the strike now in its 144th day another meeting is scheduled in the coming hours. Actors unions joined the strike in July. Both groups are demanding better wages, residual payments from streaming services and protections against artificial intelligence.
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ADRIAN DEV, SAG/AFTRA STRIKE CAPTAIN: I think we've gotten our hopes up so many times, especially the writers. I think it's hard to say until a deal is actually set and done. There's so many stories out there every day, every couple of days right now about what's going on with AMPTP and writers.
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And, you know, I think, you know, just them getting back to the table two days in a row, I think it's a great sign. But until a contract's set and done, it's hard to say.
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BRUNHUBER: Economists say the strikes are taking a toll on many industries with losses nearing the six-billion-dollar mark. U.S. Government recorded a drop of nearly 39,000 employees in the motion picture and sound recording industries between May and August. The mayor of a Texas border town says the Biden administration has
been silent as a new surge of migrants crosses into the U.S. illegally from Mexico. He says about 5,000 people have crossed the border in the past few days in his town of Eagle Pass, Texas, and that's where we find CNN's Ed Lavandera.
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ED LAVANDERA, CNN U.S. NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Dozens of migrants stand in the Rio Grande, moments after forming a human chain to cross the river and through layers of razor wire, trying to reach Eagle Pass, Texas.
They tell me they're from Venezuela, among them a woman and her toddler. The danger for them is real. Two people, including a three- year-old boy, have drowned this week after being swept away in the river current. But after a nearly 3,000-mile journey, they accept the risk.
(on-camera): How long are you gonna wait here?
They said they're gonna wait here until they let them in.
(voice-over): The migrants tell us they've been robbed and attacked on the Mexican side of the river. After hours of waiting, the migrants figure out a way to crawl under the razor wire. In a surreal scene, one man instantly apologized.
(on-camera): They wanted to apologize for crossing illegally into the U.S. and that they're begging and asking for mercy. But to understand that they're coming from a country where they're persecuted and they feel like if they were to be returned home, they would be killed.
(voice-over): The mass influx of migrants causing tension between federal and state authorities. Texas Governor Greg Abbott posted this video accusing border agents of cutting razor wire at an undisclosed location in Eagle Pass, allowing trapped migrants to turn themselves in.
DHS officials refused to comment on the governor's allegation. On Wednesday, about 3,000 migrants crossed in Eagle Pass alone.
SHERIFF TOM SCHMERBER, MAVERICK COUNTY, TEXAS: It's something very strange. Never thought I was gonna see something like that in Eagle Pass Texas.
LAVANDERA (voice-over): The local sheriff tells us smugglers are praying on the hopes of these migrants, offering to move them to other cities if they can get into the U.S.
SCHMERBER: I know this because we have smugglers coming from Houston, Florida, Austin, everywhere to pick up those immigrants. There's a connection there.
LAVANDERA (voice-over): Reasons for this surge vary, but migrants we spoke to say they've grown frustrated with the CBP-1 app that processes formal applications, many waiting months on the Mexican side for an appointment. These two men from Venezuela say they crossed illegally because
they're desperate and have been waiting three months for the appointment to request asylum. It's a risk we had to take, he tells me. We know there's a chance we get deported, but it's in God's hands.
(on-camera): Right now, the question that local officials all along the U.S. southern border have is whether or not this latest surge of migrants is an anomaly, a temporary problem, or is it a sign of a more sustained problem that they will be dealing with for weeks, if not months ahead. Right now, no one really seems to have a clear answer.
Ed Lavandera, CNN, Eagle Pass, Texas.
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BRUNHUBER: A bus carrying dozens of high school students and four adults crashed and tumbled into a steep ravine in New York State on Thursday. Two of the adults were killed and at least five people were critically injured. The bus had been on its way to Pennsylvania for a band camp event. Officials investigating the crash say that a faulty front tire could have contributed to the accident.
Still ahead, a cosmic homecoming of sorts. NASA is preparing for one of its spacecraft to swing by Earth doing precious cargo after a historic mission. More details coming up, stay with us.
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BRUNHUBER: A big legal win for Brazil's indigenous people in a land dispute against a powerful farm lobby group.
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Brazil's Supreme Court overwhelmingly voted against using a cutoff date that would have limited indigenous people from claiming ancestral lands unless they lived on the land in 1988 when Brazil passed its constitution.
Indigenous advocates say it was an attempt to legalize the theft of millions of hectares of indigenous land. A group representing farmers says it will now push Congress to pass a bill to limit new claims by native communities.
Pope Francis is heading to the French port city of Marseille in the coming hours for a short visit that he hopes will draw attention to Europe's migration crisis. The 27-hour trip was planned months ago to allow the pontiff to make closing remarks at a gathering of young Catholic people and bishops. What is now happening is thousands of migrants are arriving on the Italian island of Lampedusa. One of the Pope's first events in Marseille will be a visit to a monument honoring the heroes and victims of the sea. The U.K.'s King Charles made history on Thursday, becoming the first
British monarch to make a speech from the French Senate chamber. Have a look.
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Parliamentarians gave the 74-year-old sovereign a warm welcome, 231 years to the day since France abolished its own monarchy and established a republic. CNN royal correspondent Max Foster has more.
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MAX FOSTER, CNN ROYAL CORRESPONDENT: A very rare honor indeed for any head of state in France and a first for a British monarch. King Charles was invited to address the floor of the French Senate. He spoke movingly about his mother and the tribute that came from France following her death and he used very pointed language as well about the war in Ukraine and how the West needs to protect democratic values. These are values shared by Britain and France.
KING CHARLES, UNITED KINGDOM (through translator): Together, we stand in resolute solidarity with the Ukrainian people. Together, we are steadfast in our determination Ukraine will triumph and that our cherished freedoms will prevail.
FOSTER: The King then came to the Sports Hall in Saint-Denis to meet some quite noisy kids involved in projects run by charities to help them get involved in sport. He had a go himself as well.
He also met some Paris Saint-Germain players. Time for a stroll around the market, named after his mother, the late Queen. And the current Queen, Queen Camilla, worked with the First Lady of France to launch a literary prize as well. She spoke French in a speech as well. Then they had a chance to go to the Notre Dame cathedral to see the painstaking work carried out by craftsmen trying to rebuild that famous church, world famous church, an icon here in France which sadly burnt down a few years ago.
So a chance for the King and Queen to get to know France a bit better but also to really emphasize those ties between two countries that have had a pretty tense political relationship in recent years. The organizers seem pretty happy with the way it's all gone.
Max Foster, CNN, Saint Denis, France.
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BRUNHUBER: NASA is on the verge of a historic achievement years in the making. One of its spacecraft is just days away from delivering the first asteroid sample collected in space. When the Osiris-Rex craft swings by Earth on Sunday, it's set to release a capsule containing about eight ounces of rocks and soil from the near-Earth asteroid Bennu.
The craft will continue its tour of the solar system while the capsule is expected to land in Utah. Now, scientists hope the sample will provide insights about the asteroid. NASA will begin live streaming the event starting at 10 a.m. Eastern Time on Sunday.
His journey to the International Space Station was only supposed to last six months, but one NASA astronaut will head back to Earth next week with the U.S. record for the longest time in space. CNN's Kristin Fisher spoke with Frank Rubio as he prepares to make the trip home.
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KRISTIN FISHER, CNN SPACE AND DEFENSE CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): A few weeks before NASA astronaut Frank Rubio launched to the International Space Station with two cosmonauts on a Russian Soyuz rocket, I spoke with him about the geopolitical tensions that he'd be leaving behind on Earth.
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Did you ever have any second thoughts about flying on a Russian Soyuz in the middle of this conflict with Ukraine?
FRANK RUBIO, NASA ASTRONAUT: You know, again, not really, because I do, I trust my crew wholeheartedly. If anything, right, there's a little bit of nerves about the whole big picture of going to space for the first time, spending six months up there.
FISHER (voice-over): But six months quickly turned into a full year after his ride home. The Soyuz spacecraft was struck by a small object in space, puncturing the Soyuz's radiator and spewing coolant into space.
Russia's space agency, Roscosmos, decided the spacecraft was unsafe and a replacement Soyuz would need to be sent to bring the crew home.
For Rubio. who was on his first space flight and had just become the first Salvadoran American to go to space, it meant being away from his wife and four children for double the time that he'd been preparing for.
(on-camera): If you had known at the time you launched that you were going to be up in space for a full year instead of six months. Would you have still done it?
RUBIO: Yeah, hey Kristin, it's good to talk to you again. I think it would have depended on when I would have found out. Obviously if they had asked me up front before you start training because you do train for a year or two years for your mission, I probably would have declined and that's only because of family things that were going on this past year and had I known that I would have had to miss those important events, I just would have had to say thank you but no thank you.
But once you commit to the mission, once you're part of the training, I would have been committed to the mission.
FISHER (voice-over): By the time Rubio returns to Earth next week, he will have been in space for 371 days, longer than any other American in history. Three spacewalks conducted dozens of science experiments, but perhaps the most interesting experiment for this army doctor turned astronaut is the one that zero gravity has been conducting on his own body.
RUBIO: The reality is we're not standing, we're not walking, we're not bearing our own weight and so it'll be anywhere from two to six months before I essentially say that I feel normal.
FISHER (voice-over): And normal is exactly what Rubio's craving. Spending time with his family and time outside these walls on earth.
RUBIO: Up here we kind of have the constant hum of machinery that's keeping us alive and so I'm looking forward to just being outside and enjoying the peace and quiet.
FISHER (on-camera): And if all goes according to plan, Rubio should be returning to Earth next Wednesday. Kristin Fisher, CNN, Washington.
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BRUNHUBER: All right, thanks for watching. I'm Kim Brunhuber. "CNN Newsroom" continues with Max Foster.
