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India, Pakistan Exchange Fire Across De Facto Kashmir Border; Vladimir Putin To Meet With China's Xi Jinping In The Coming Hours; Cardinals To Vote For New Pope On Day 2 Of Conclave; Air Traffic Controller Calls Newark Airport Systems Outage Most Dangerous Situation; Disney to Open New Resort Destination in Abu Dhabi; Valerie the Dachshund Back With Family After 540 Days. Aired 2-2:45a ET

Aired May 08, 2025 - 02:00   ET

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

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[02:00:28]

ROSEMARY CHURCH, CNN ANCHOR: Hello and welcome to our viewers joining us from all around the world, and to everyone streaming us on CNN Max, I'm Rosemary Church.

Just ahead, the international community is calling for restraint as tensions rise between India and Pakistan.

Two formidable leaders are set to meet face-to-face. We're live in Moscow as Russia prepares to mark the anniversary of its Victory Day.

And the conclave is underway while the world watches the Vatican chimney. We'll take a look at some of the top papal contenders.

ANNOUNCER: Live from Atlanta. This is CNN NEWSROOM with Rosemary Church.

CHURCH: Good to have you with us. Well, reports of more shelling between India and Pakistan across their de facto border in the disputed Kashmir region, as fears grow that the two sides are on the brink of a wider conflict. Pakistan is vowing to retaliate after India launched military strikes against its neighbor over tensions in the region.

Pakistan's military says the death toll has risen to 31 with 57 people wounded, with those casualties coming from the initial strikes, as well as Indian gunfire at the line of control.

The Pakistani defense minister says India's attacks on the country and on Pakistan administered Kashmir were a, "Clear cut violation." But he says Islamabad is trying to avoid a full-fledged war.

Pakistan's Prime Minister says he has authorized the military to carry out corresponding actions, and it has pledged to only hit military targets in India, not civilian.

Meanwhile, a senior Indian defense source told CNN, shelling by Pakistan has killed at least 12 civilians and wounded 57. Both countries have had near daily exchanges of fire since the April 22nd massacre of tourists in Indian administered Kashmir that sparked this latest conflict.

And just a short time ago, Pakistan reopened its airspace after India's attacks prompted its closure and disrupted airline flights in the region. More than 20 airports across northern India will remain closed until Saturday.

CNN's Kristie Lu Stout is covering all of this live for us from Hong Kong. She joins us now. Good to see you, Kristie. So, what is the latest on this escalating conflict?

KRISTIE LU STOUT, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Rosemary, Pakistan is vowing retaliation after India's military action on Wednesday in the wake of that tourist massacre in Kashmir.

And meanwhile, India is saying if Pakistan responds, India will respond. So, all this adding to the fears of a wider and greater confrontation between these two nuclear armed rivals.

Now we're keeping a close eye on the human cost of this conflict so far. Pakistan reporting at least 31 civilians have been killed. We heard from the Pakistani Prime Minister, who, in a televised address to the nation, said that India will pay the price. He also said this, watch.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SHEHBAZ SHARIF, PAKISTANI PRIME MINISTER (through translator): Perhaps they thought that we would retreat, but they forgot that, by the Grace of Allah Almighty, we are a nation of brave people.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

STOUT: India says at least 12 people have been killed by cross border shelling conducted and carried out by Pakistan. Dozens of people have been injured, been taken to hospital for care and for treatment, and survivors have been speaking out. Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SIBIR HASSAN, VILLAGER (through translator): There were 14 to 15 small explosions during the cross border shelling during the night. Children and elderly are in a state of fear and panic, and that is why they have fled their homes.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

STOUT: India says nine sites were targeted in Wednesday's military action, that they were all, "Terrorist infrastructure, both inside Pakistan proper, as well as in Pakistan controlled Kashmir." Among those sites a religious school in eastern Pakistan near Lahore.

And I want to bring up fresh satellite imagery showing the aftermath of the strike on this religious school in Muridke near Lahore in eastern Pakistan.

And the side by side images you can bring up on your screen, you can see the difference, the school before the strike and after the strike, you see scorched earth, charred buildings. As sources do tell on the ground, Reuters, that five missiles struck that building and killed three people who were inside.

[02:05:02]

Now, there have been losses for India as well. We mentioned civilian losses, also military asset losses. Pakistan's military has claimed it shot down five Indian aircraft. A French government source tells CNN that, yes, one of those aircraft that was shot down, at least one, was a Rafale French made elite aircraft. That was confirmed by that French government source.

But we also learned this day from India's Embassy in Beijing taken to social media to say all these reports are, "Disinformation."

Back to you, Rosemary.

CHURCH: And Kristie, what is the international community doing right now to try and deescalate tensions between these two nuclear armed nations?

STOUT: Yes. Rosemary, since yesterday, we've been monitoring the international response to this escalating conflict. There have been calls for restraint, calls for calm from China, from the United States, from the United Nations.

We did hear fresh comments from U.S. President Donald Trump overnight. He said that he hoped India and Pakistan would, "Work it out." He also said that he would offer to help step in and to deescalate the situation, but he is not leading any major effort to deescalate this conflict that's emerged between these two -- these two nuclear armed rivals.

But we have heard some pretty poignant responses from Malala Yousafzai, the Pakistani Noble Peace Prize winner, who went to social media to share this. Let's bring up what she said.

She said, "Hatred and violence are common enemies, not each other. I strongly urge leaders in India and Pakistan to take steps to deescalate tensions, to protect civilians, especially children, and unite against the forces of division."

How she expressed condolences to those who have lost loved ones, both in India and in Pakistan, and she urged the international community to continue to pursue diplomacy and dialog, Rosemary.

STOUT: All right. Our thanks to Kristie Lu Stout joining us live from Hong Kong with that report. Appreciate it.

Joining us now from Los Angeles, CNN Senior Military Analyst, Admiral James Stavridis. He is a former NATO Supreme Allied Commander and a partner at the Carlyle Group, a global investment firm. Thank you, sir for joining us.

ADM. JAMES STAVRIDIS, CNN SENIOR MILITARY ANALYST: Thanks, Rosemary.

CHURCH: So, as tensions escalate between Pakistan and India, Pakistan's Prime Minister is warning India it will pay the price for striking inside his country, and says Pakistan will take the war to the end. Where do you see this conflict going from here, if more global pressure is not applied or brought to bear on this?

STAVRIDIS: I fear we're in for some level of escalation. I don't think either side, Rosemary, thank God, are planning on breaking out nuclear weapons. We're a long, long way from that.

But there are innumerable options available to both these countries to include massive air strikes, artillery barrages and something very few are talking about, this could turn into a war at sea.

India has a very strong navy. Pakistan a reasonably capable coastal navy. You can see confrontations at sea as well.

So, let's hope, and I believe the nuclear option will remain in the barracks, so to speak. But what I am concerned about is an escalation of conventional force.

And I'll close with this, I'm with Malala. Let's get some constraint here. Let's start figuring out how to walk this back. For the international community, there needs to be more diplomatic effort made, both to Islamabad and to Delhi.

CHURCH: Yes, let's talk about that. Because since Pakistan and India gained independence from Britain in 1947, they have had four major wars. Three of them started in a very similar way, didn't they, lasting up to 15 months, in some instances, with thousands killed.

And now, of course, both the nuclear armed nations making it even more imperative the tensions are deescalated sooner rather than later. So, what role should the United States specifically be playing at this time?

STAVRIDIS: I think the United States could best influence what's happening if President Trump were to call Prime Minister Modi.

By all accounts, they have a very good personal relationship. The two nations are in the middle of trade talks. I think there's some leverage there. U.S. investment is high and growing in India, typically at the expense of China.

So, at the moment, I think the U.S. can best attempt to deescalate by working with India. Conversely, I would say to President Xi Jinping of China, that is the group that could put additional leverage and pressure on Islamabad.

So, I think if China were to roll in on the leadership in Pakistan, the U.S. were to do the same in India, I think that would be very helpful.

[02:10:06]

And frankly, I'd also like to see European Union leaders, U.K. has strong relationships with India. Russia has strong relationships with India. This really is all hands on deck, Rosemary, to hopefully put a cap on this before it leads into a higher level of war.

CHURCH: So, you really see this as a global effort. That, you know, you're talking here, the United States, China, the E.U., Russia, others coming together to sort of tell both these nations to just back down and back off.

But we're not really seeing a lot of that. Are we? Why is that? Because we have in the past seen more effort on the part, certainly of the United States. Why are we not seeing more effort of de-escalation at this juncture, do you think?

STAVRIDIS: Well, first we should acknowledge that in the open press and the media, we really don't know what's happening back channel, if you will.

Number two, let's face it, the United States and much of the world are consumed with other crises at the moment. We've got ongoing war in Gaza. We have discussions about strikes against Iran. We have an active, serious war in Ukraine, between war and Russia. We see high tension in the South China Sea between China and the Philippines. There are patrols from China around Taiwan. Rosemary, there's a lot of crisis going on.

Having said all that, because these are two nuclear armed powers and two enormous populations. The combined population of India and Pakistan is well over 1.7 billion people. So, I think this situation has to rise quickly to the top, and we need to see more leadership from global actors, as you and I just discussed.

CHURCH: Right. And what is your biggest concern as we watch this tense exchange play out, and is all out war inevitable, given the history of these two nations, if there isn't this global effort that you talk about?

STAVRIDIS: I don't think it's inevitable, but certainly, as you listen to the rhetoric on both sides, and you look particularly at the air activity, the number of fighters up and around Kashmir, dozens and dozens from both sides, airports closing, this is quickly escalating.

And what I fear is that without some outside influence, the internal rhetoric, the internal politics on both sides of that line of control, both in Pakistan and in India, we'll continue to ratchet this up.

And finally, at the very dark end of the spectrum. Yes, there are nuclear arsenals, about 180 weapons on both sides. Above all, we need to collectively ensure that we don't escalate to that threshold.

CHURCH: Admiral James Stavridis, thank you so much for joining us. Appreciate it.

STAVRIDIS: Thanks, Rosemary. CHURCH: Of course. Well, Russia's unilateral three day cease fire in Ukraine is only a few hours old, but already there are reports of violations. The Ukrainian Air Force says Russia launched guided bombs on the Sumy region in northern Ukraine.

The Air Force says no drones or missiles were launched into other parts of Ukraine. There's been no word of damage.

Russian President Vladimir Putin declared the truce ahead of this week's celebrations commemorating 80 years since the defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II. A huge military parade is planned in Moscow on Friday.

Chinese President Xi Jinping is among the world leaders in attendance. He is scheduled to meet with President Putin in the day ahead.

So, let's go live now to Moscow and CNN Senior International Correspondent Fred Pleitgen joins us now.

So, Fred, what is expected to come out of this meeting between Presidents Putin and Xi?

FREDERIK PLEITGEN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Hi there, Rosemary and world leaders certainly already pouring into Moscow and have been over the past couple of hours.

But as we know, none more so important than Xi Jinping, who Vladimir Putin himself has said is very much the guest of honor for that May 9th Victory Day parade. That's so important for the Russians because it comes 80 years after the defeat of Nazi Germany.

But today, as you correctly pointed out, is really a day for those bilateral relations between Russia and China. And I think the things that are going to come out of this, first and foremost is two things, is that, first, both sides are going to reiterate their strategic partnership, strengthen their strategic partnership, which, of course, has been growing and has become more important.

But then, Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping are also, once again, going to reiterate and strengthen the personal friendship, really, that they've had over the last many years. Really very difficult to see two leaders who are closer to one another than Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping of China.

[02:15:15]

Now there is, of course, an official program, and there are going to be several agreements that are going to be signed. Two of them very important for the Russians and for the Chinese. One is about strategic stability, and then one is about strategic partnership between China and Russia, both sides saying that they are going to expand in those areas.

A lot of it is also, Rosemary, going to be about the energy sector, specifically the Siberian Power 2 pipeline that, of course, the Russians and the Chinese want to expand. But in general, right now, this meeting comes, of course, at a very

important time as U.S. President Donald Trump has really been changing the way diplomacy is done around the world.

Of course, we've seen the United States' advances towards Russia as the U.S. tries to do something at least, to stop the war in Ukraine.

But at the same time, of course, China is involved and engulfed in that trade standoff with the United States as well.

And within that, we expect that Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin of Russia are once again going to reiterate that they are really an anchor of stability for one another. Russia, of course, has become a lot more important.

Over the past couple of months, the Trump administration has been in office for the Chinese especially, selling a lot of goods here. If you go on the streets here in Moscow, you can see Chinese cars, other Chinese products all around.

And at the same time, the natural resources that Russia has have also become more important for the Chinese as well. Oil and gas are one thing, but we also talking about things like, for instance, water and lumber for that giant economic machine that the Chinese continue to be expanding.

So, these are two countries that are very much on the same page as far as international politics are concerned, and that very much also feel the squeeze of the Trump administration in the international order. Right now for the Russians, a very delicate a very interesting time where they see those advances and even the promise of possible sanctions relief by the United States, if some sort of agreement with Ukraine is made.

And at the same time, you have the Chinese in that sea of uncertainty right now, with the Trump administration having imposed those tariffs.

So, within that, both leaders and they've said this also ahead of the meeting, they say that the two things are two of the main things that they're also going to be talking about, is the conflict in Ukraine, but also relations with the United States, because of the challenges that both of them face from the Trump administration, Rosemary.

CHURCH: All right, our thanks to Fred Pleitgen joining us live from Moscow with that report. Appreciate it.

As the Catholic enclave enters its second day, all eyes are focused on this chimney in Vatican City, the smoke that will signal the election of a new pope. Details coming up after a short break, stay with us.

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CHURCH: We are looking at live pictures out of Vatican City, where all eyes are on the Sistine Chapel chimney. If there's white smoke, it would signal a new pope has been chosen to lead 1.4 billion Catholics around the world.

133 cardinals are casting secret ballots to elect Pope Francis' successor, and there could be as many as four rounds of ballots in the coming hours. The first round ended on Wednesday, when black smoke billowed from the chimney indicating that a new pope had not been chosen.

CNN's Christopher Lamb has more on some of the cardinals who are considered to be front runners.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CHRISTOPHER LAMB, CNN VATICAN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): After days of mourning of Pope Francis and intense discussions and meetings. The only thing on people's lips in the Vatican is who will be Francis's successor. A wide-open race with, at this stage, little consensus on who might be chosen.

Cheers for the American cardinals heading to the Vatican. This perhaps the best chance yet of an American pontiff.

A special mass for the election of a pope in St. Peter's Basilica and a message to the electors from the dean of the College of Cardinals.

CARDINAL GIOVANNI BATTISTA RE, DEAN OF THE COLLEGE OF CARDINALS: This is a human act for which every personal consideration must be set aside.

LAMB (voice over): With the cardinals gathered and sworn to follow the secrecy rules of the conclave, and, if elected, to serve faithfully, some have pointed to possible frontrunners. Italy's Cardinal Parolin, the Holy See secretary of state, receiving, it seems, some encouragement from Cardinal Re today. Filipino Cardinal Tagle, who will be the first Asian pontiff. Chicago born Cardinal Prevost, who would be the first American pope. And Congolese Cardinal Ambongo, a respected figure who may receive votes.

But as an old saying about papal election goes, he who enters the conclave as pope leaves it as a cardinal.

In lockdown, totally isolated from the outside world, the eyes of the world are fixed on one small Vatican chimney, waiting for white smoke.

Christopher Lamb, CNN, Rome.

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CHURCH: Air traffic controllers at New York's New York airport temporarily lost communication with pilots last week. Now we're learning it wasn't the first time it happened. That story just ahead.

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[02:29:39] CHURCH: Welcome back, everyone. U.S. President Donald Trump says he'll announce a trade deal in the coming hours, and a source told CNN that deal will be with the U.K. The president said on social media that he will hold a news conference about, "A major trade deal with representatives of a big and highly respected country." The president claims this will be, "The first of many."

[02:30:00]

Newark Liberty International Airport continues to feel the effects of last week's air traffic system meltdown. For about 60 to 90 seconds, air traffic controllers could not communicate with pilots or see planes on radar scopes. More than 1,000 flights have been canceled since the April 28th outage. One air traffic controller on duty that day tells CNN it was the most dangerous situation you could have. But it's not the first or only time such an outage has hit Newark Airport in the last year. Kyung Lah has this exclusive report.

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UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: They all have radio failure and they're turning every plane that's in the sky, so I have no idea.

KYUNG LAH, CNN SENIOR INVESTIGATIVE CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): This was the evening of November 6 last year, months before this recent crisis at Newark.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We just lost all frequencies and communications here.

LAH (voice-over): That call came from the Newark approach air traffic controllers, unable to communicate with passenger planes. And this tech failure wasn't the only one. It happened multiple times within the last year. A CNN review of safety reports and air traffic audio show newer controllers were repeatedly sounding the alarm about "incredibly dangerous" conditions in Newark airspace saying the FAA's moves in the last year pose a "significant detriment to safety."

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Flight 743 heavy descend and maintain 3,000 and speed 180.

LAH (voice-over): That appears to be the last radio call from the Newark approach controllers in the November incident. The system then fell silent for minutes as pilots from three different planes were left in the dark.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We haven't heard anything in a minute.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yeah, we have no answer on approach, so I don't -- it seems like he's not talking to anyone.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Nobody answering.

LAH (voice-over): This plane, FedEx 743 should have landed at Newark, instead, with no communication from the Newark approach controllers, it ended up where it wasn't supposed to be, in LaGuardia's airspace. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We're on a 150 heading. What do you want us to do now?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: FedEx 743 heavy turn left, heading 360.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Left 360, FedEx 743 heavy.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: FedEx 743 heavy, climb and maintain 5,000.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: 5,000 FedEx 743 heavy.

LAH (voice-over): Critical minutes ticked by with no word from the Newark approach controllers until --

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: United 1043, Newark.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yeah. United 1043. Go ahead.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: OK, got you loud and clear. Thank you.

LAH (voice-over): For the next few minutes, air traffic controllers for Newark checked in with the planes in the air.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: OK. Besides -- listen up everybody, real careful. Anybody besides United 1560, 1043, or 2192, is there anybody else that can hear me on this frequency?

LAH (voice-over): Last July, the FAA moved about two dozen air traffic controllers in New York who were overseeing Newark to Philadelphia, splitting duties between two locations. The reason to address staffing problems and air traffic congestion. Within weeks, air traffic controllers reported serious safety issues because of the move.

The fact that there was no catastrophic mid-air collision is nothing short of luck, wrote a controller about an August incident. I am absolutely dumbfounded, another controller reported about the lack of training on the Philadelphia move. And another wrote that moving the controllers has caused an extremely dangerous situation in the extremely complicated NYC area airspace.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: 2346, how do you hear this transmission?

LAH (voice-over): The November failure captured in real-time in air traffic recordings as was the relief from the pilots in the sky.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: 070 134 point niner, thanks for the deconflict. Appreciate it. Good night.

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LAH (on camera): We did reach out to the FAA with very specific questions about the repeated criticism from controllers and experts, as well as what happened on what you just heard on November 6th. Now, the FAA did not respond directly to our questions, but said it is taking immediate steps to improve the reliability of operations at Newark, including upgrading technology and increasing staffing at the Philadelphia location. We did also reach out to FedEx who had their plane go into LaGuardia airspace. A FedEx spokesman says the crew complied with air traffic control instructions before landing safely.

Kyung Lah, CNN, Los Angeles.

CHURCH: Disney plans to open its most technologically advanced theme park and it says it has a fitting location, a city that's all about futuristic designs. That story just ahead.

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[02:39:03]

CHURCH: The happiest place on Earth, as Disneyland is sometimes called, will set up shop in the Middle East. Disney plans to open its seventh global resort destination in Abu Dhabi, possibly by the early 2030s. Officials say it will be the company's most technologically advanced park. Among other things, it will include technologies used in making movies to combine images with real attractions. Disney says up to half a billion people in the region will have the means to visit the venue.

Well, after surviving 540 days alone on South Australia's Kangaroo Island, Valerie the Dachshund is back with her family. The pup went missing in November 2023 on a camping trip with her owners. They tried to find her, but eventually gave up fearing the worst. But after reports of Valerie's sightings emerged, volunteers organized a search and the dog was found on April 25th.

[02:40:00]

Now, it's not clear exactly how the frisky pup survived, but owner Georgia Gardner said she burst into tears when a well-fed and healthy Valerie ran up to her on Tuesday.

Lovely happy ending for a change. Thank you so much for joining us. I'm Rosemary Church. "World Sport" is coming up next. Then I'll be back at the top of the hour with more "CNN Newsroom." Do stay with us.

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[02:45:00]

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