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China Touts Its Leadership Partners in a 'Chaotic World'; ICRC President: Mass Evacuation of Gaza City 'Impossible'; Judge Blocks Deportation of Unaccompanied Guatemalan Minors; Pope Leo Makes First Public Comments on Gun Control; France Prepares to Loan Bayeux Tapestry to British Museum. Aired 12-12:45a ET

Aired September 01, 2025 - 00:00   ET

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

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POLO SANDOVAL, CNN ANCHOR: Polo Sandoval live in New York. Wherever you may be watching from, welcome to CNN NEWSROOM. We have a lot to get to today, including Chinese President Xi Jinping hosting more than 20 world leaders as Beijing tries to unify its own coalition in a direct challenge to the West.

A live report from Tianjin coming up.

And Russia says European nations, they are getting in the way of peace between Moscow and Ukraine. This as Vladimir Putin continues to ratchet up attacks against Kyiv.

And the Red Cross warning a mass evacuation of Gaza City is unfeasible. A member of that organization joins me to discuss how they are preparing for the next stage of Israel's war on Gaza.

ANNOUNCER: Live from New York, this is CNN NEWSROOM with Polo Sandoval.

SANDOVAL: Well, let's begin with Chinese leader Xi Jinping touting his country and its partnerships as a stabilizing force in what he calls a fluid, chaotic moment in history.

And that message coming on the final day of a landmark security summit in Tianjin, China. Mr. Xi is hosting leaders and dignitaries, as well, of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, including Russian President Vladimir Putin.

On Sunday, Mr. Xi praised the group as a, quote, "pivotal force in advancing a new type of international relations."

All of this as he positions China as a powerful counterweight to the United States and the West.

CNN's Steven Jiang joining me live now from Tianjin.

It's been a very busy, busy weekend there, Steven. I was listening to the president, the Chinese president's remarks earlier today as he called on SCO members to oppose block confrontation and bullying practices. Obviously, that's going to lead to quite a bit of speculation, if he was maybe referring to U.S. President Donald Trump and his trade practices.

STEVEN JIANG, CNN BEIJING BUREAU CHIEF: Yes, Polo, Trump is always the elephant not in the room. And of course, Xi Jinping, in that opening session speech, really hitting all the predictable notes, right, about deepening ties between member states and their partners on multiple fronts.

But his messaging on the bigger theme of this kind of gatherings really has been delivered long before all the other world leaders set foot here -- here in Tianjin.

As you mentioned, that is China and perhaps Russia, as well, as a co- founder of this organization, trying to present an alternative vision for the world in which the international order is not dominated by the U.S. and its alliances.

And -- and this new order, this alternative order, in their words, is going to be fairer for all the developing countries, giving them a bigger say in regional and international affairs.

And this vision perhaps made a bit more appealing, given what's been going on in Washington as Trump continues to upend the global trade system and America's traditional alliances and partnerships.

And China really trying to present itself as a contrast, as you mentioned, but also seizing on this opportunity, especially as America's relations with many other countries taking a negative turn.

Case in point, of course, is India. Its Prime Minister Modi here, his first trip in seven years after these two countries experiencing a years-long diplomatic deep freeze because of bloody military conflicts along their disputed border regions.

Now, of course, because of what's happening between India and the U.S., Modi's here all warm and fuzzy with Xi Jinping, talking about -- talking about friendly neighborly relations and ready to resume and revive ties on multiple fronts, with Xi, of course, praising Modi for making the right choice and saying things like the dragon -- that is China -- and the elephant -- that is India -- should be dancing instead of fighting.

But you know, in this kind of gatherings, what's more telling in terms of the dynamic -- dynamic between leaders, which translates into relationships -- relationships between their governments with a lot of global implications, tends to be a lot of those candid photo moments, not in the more formal settings.

Just earlier today, we saw Putin, the Russian leader, and Modi, and Xi really having that huddle, all smiles, very much at ease with each other.

But what's more revealing, Polo, is perhaps what happened on Sunday night when Xi Jinping greeted Putin in such an animated fashion. Big smiles. A lot of animated gesturing. Apparently, Putin told him a joke, and he obviously seemed to appreciate that.

But that is unusual for Xi, who tends to be more restrained or even stoic in this kind of settings [SIC]. Very much sticking to the script.

[00:05:06]

So, that full display of his personal rapport with Putin is perhaps why, even though with growing pressure on Putin to end this war in Ukraine, especially after that Alaska summit with -- with Trump, and with the pressure on China to do something about it, given their alleged role in propping up Moscow's war machine.

It doesn't seem Xi is ready to address any of that with his close friend and partner, Putin -- Polo.

SANDOVAL: Yes. We were playing that, what appeared to be a lighter moment between the Russian and Chinese presidents, trying to read their lips during that moment.

Steven Jiang, thank you so much for the very latest there, reporting live out of the SCO summit.

Well, at that very same summit -- and at that very same summit, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said that Russian attacks on Ukraine will not stop until Kyiv shows real signs that it is ready for peace.

He also blamed Europe for getting in the way of U.S. efforts to end the war.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DMITRY PESKOV, KREMLIN SPOKESMAN (through translator): The Europeans are hindering these efforts. The Europeans are putting spokes in the wheels. The Europeans are, in every way, condoning and probably encouraging the Kyiv regime to continue the absolutely absurd line of intransigence. This is a big mistake. It will not do any good to the Kyiv regime.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SANDOVAL: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says Vladimir Putin's trip to China is just a distraction, as Russia ignores calls for a ceasefire.

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VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY, UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT (through translator): Now, during his visit to China, Putin will once again try to wriggle out of the situation. That's his favorite sport. Everyone in the world has said that the fighting must be ceased. Everyone insisted that the war must end. That was everyone's position.

(END VIDEO CLIP) SANDOVAL: All of this while the war rages on, Russia launching a new large-scale drone attack on Ukraine's Southern Odessa region early Sunday.

The strikes targeted critical energy facilities, cutting power to more than 29,000 people.

And President Zelenskyy says that authorities, that they've already arrested a suspect in the deadly shooting of a prominent Ukrainian lawmaker. Police say the alleged killer shot Andriy Parubiy several times in a carefully planned attack on Saturday.

He died on the scene in the Western city of Lviv.

Zelenskyy says that the suspect has given an initial testimony, and an investigation into that murder is underway.

Parubiy previously served as chair of Ukraine's parliament and as secretary of the National Security and Defense Council.

To another conflict now. Israel appears ready to proceed with its military takeover of Gaza City, and this, despite mounting pressure at home and abroad.

On Sunday, the Israeli security cabinet reviewed the military plans for the operation. Two Israeli officials tell CNN that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is also considering a full annexation of the West Bank, or partial annexation -- annexation of selected settlements.

And while outside the meeting, Israeli protesters called for the release of hostages and a ceasefire deal with Hamas, Israel hasn't responded to the latest proposal which Hamas accepted two weeks ago.

And over the weekend, the Israeli military carried out intense strikes in and around Gaza City, killing at least 71 people. The International Committee of the Red Cross is one of many groups on the ground condemning Israel's plan to take over the city.

The Red Cross president says a mass evacuation of Gaza City is unfeasible and incomprehensible.

Steve Dorsey is a spokesperson for the International Red Cross, and he's also joining us from Baltimore, Maryland. Steve, thank you so much for taking the time.

STEVE DORSEY, SPOKESPERSON, ICRC: Glad to be here.

SANDOVAL: So, your organization insists that a mass evacuation of Gaza is -- is impossible. ICRC's president wrote that such an evacuation would trigger a massive population movement that no area in the Gaza Strip can absorb, given the widespread destruction of civilian infrastructure and the extreme shortages of food, water, shelter and medical care.

Steve, can you describe the conditions that the injured or sick Palestinian civilians, who physically cannot evacuate, are being forced to endure?

DORSEY: Yes, they're being forced to endure areas where there are no roads, where there are piles of rubble, here there is no access to clean, safe drinking water, to medical care, to food.

In many places throughout the Gaza Strip, there are massive areas of unexploded ordnance, as well.

So, this is really impossible to do in a safe and dignified way for a city, the largest city in Gaza, a half million people.

[00:10:09]

And we know many of these people, these civilians will be staying behind, because many of them are starving. They're sick, they're disabled; they're elderly; they're injured, and they have nowhere else to go.

SANDOVAL: When it comes to the Israeli military, Steve, they declared Gaza City a, quote unquote, "combat zone." They also warned that there will be no longer those -- those pauses in their operations, that they were meant to allow some aid into the region.

So, in the face of an Israeli offensive, is your organization planning to remain in Gaza?

DORSEY: Absolutely. We have no plans to withdraw from where we operate in Northern Gaza, in Gaza City or in Rafah, where we operate in the Southern part of Gaza a critical field hospital, 60-bed facility that, in many times, has been overwhelmed in the last five months, with dozens of people showing up with gunshot injuries, with shrapnel wounds, trying to access food distribution sites.

The need is immense, not only for medical care, but also for food, of course, because we've been seeing those images, those videos for months coming out of Gaza. We also know that people need infrastructure, power, fuel to cook, really, anything that can be eaten there.

And we're committed to staying as long as possible. But still, there are restrictions to security and logistical restraints. And that's something that we have to navigate, as well.

SANDOVAL: And obviously, staying there would make your organization's mission. It would go from -- from extremely difficult to nearly impossible. But -- but as you mentioned, the organization quite determined here.

You mentioned logistics. What is your organization right now doing to try to provide that support to civilians in the middle of an expected offensive?

DORSEY: Yes, absolutely. So, we do support the limited amount of health care facilities that are still operating, not only across Gaza, but specifically, near Gaza City. We also support, essentially, soup kitchens, community ovens. We

provide infrastructure repairs, things like clean water lines, sanitation systems as -- as best as we can.

And for many of these communities, hundreds of thousands of people have been -- have been depending on these services that we provide and that other humanitarian actors provide in a -- in a situation that is at risk of quickly deteriorating to an unimaginable level.

SANDOVAL: I mean, is there any sort of international mechanism, be it perhaps laws in place that are supposed to protect the Palestinian civilians who are, you know, as we -- as we've discussed, either too sick or too injured to evacuate?

DORSEY: Polo, of course. It's international humanitarian law. That's the laws of -- of armed conflict. Those are the rules of war that the world has come to rely on for decades, especially since World War Two.

And those require all sides, including Israel, to provide for the protection and essential services and aid of civilian populations in areas that are -- that are under siege, including the people that are being forced to evacuate to a small patch of land in Gaza, where almost 80 percent is already under an evacuation order. And to provide for the people and protect the people that are left behind, as well.

SANDOVAL: Yes, the laws are in place. The question is, is the infrastructure there to allow the adherence of those laws?

Steve, wondering if you could just, you know, to talk a little bit about also the political dynamic here at play. We continue to -- to monitor the negotiations and potential for ceasefire.

What are the nonprofits on the ground realistically, what is it that they want to see happen amid this ongoing threat from the Israeli military?

DORSEY: Well, the key thing that we need is a ceasefire, Polo. We need something that provides for a surge in humanitarian aid that meets the needs of civilians across Gaza. We need an end to the hostilities going on, an end to the fighting.

But we also, of course, need to see the release of these hostages still being held in Gaza and to see them reunited with their families. That's what Gaza -- that's what the world really needs right now.

As humanitarian actors, the Red Cross, other humanitarian groups we're not part of the negotiating team for a political solution here. That's up to the sides and the parties and the states involved in this conflict.

We're here to implement the humanitarian relief and aid as part of that agreement. And we can only call for that access, for that aid and to be there when -- when it becomes reality.

[00:15:10]

SANDOVAL: Steve Dorsey, thank you so much for the update and for your perspective.

DORSEY: Thank you, Polo.

SANDOVAL: And still to come here on CNN NEWSROOM, a U.S. judge blocks the Trump administration from deporting unaccompanied Guatemalan minors. We'll have the very latest on that order, as officials push for answers.

Also, the U.S. deploying naval forces near the entrance to the Panama Canal. Why Venezuelan officials consider that a direct threat to the region.

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[00:20:07]

SANDOVAL: A 6.0-magnitude earthquake struck Eastern Afghanistan on Sunday, hitting Northeast of Jalalabad. That's near the border with Pakistan.

At least nine people were killed and dozens injured in Nangarhar province, according to Reuters. But officials fearing that these numbers are likely to rise.

U.S. Geological Survey models estimating that the quake could result in hundreds of fatalities.

Resources now being deployed at this hour to the region to try to help in rescue and relief efforts. This, as strong aftershocks have been reported in that same area.

The latest as we get it into CNN.

And catastrophic flooding swept through parts of Pakistan on Sunday, destroying homes and also leaving devastation in its wake. Torrential monsoon rains, along with India releasing water from dams, it's all caused three separate rivers to overflow their banks.

The flooding affected an estimated 1.5 million people across the country.

And in India-administered Kashmir, flash flooding from a cloudburst killed four people on Friday while damaging hundreds of homes there. Experts blaming climate change for the recent rise in the frequency of these cloudbursts.

In the United States, a federal judge has temporarily blocked the Trump administration's attempt to deport unaccompanied minors from Guatemala back to their home country, potentially hundreds.

Attorneys representing them, arguing that the migrant children have special protections and cannot be removed without due process or a chance to get relief from deportation.

CNN's Betsy Klein is at the White House.

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BETSY KLEIN, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: It was a remarkable scene on Sunday after the Trump administration, in recent days, had identified hundreds of Guatemalan children --

KLEIN (voice-over): -- to be repatriated to Guatemala.

And according to a federal judge, overnight Saturday into Sunday, some of those children were woken up in the middle of the night and put on planes set to return to Guatemala. Their providers were told to prepare them to be discharged within hours and to collect their belongings and prepare them a pair of sack lunches.

A federal judge says that she was woken up at 2:35 in the morning and notified that a complaint had been filed in this case, trying to get in touch with the federal government. And those children loaded onto planes and essentially stuck on the tarmac while an emergency hearing played out on Sunday afternoon.

Now, the Trump administration had been fixated on this idea of unaccompanied minors in the United States. These are children who arrive here without a parent or legal guardian. They are then placed into U.S. Department of Health and Human Services care, and then officials work to place them with U.S.-based family members while they go through that immigration process.

What's unprecedented here is that these children were identified to be returned to Guatemala before that process could play out.

Now, advocates for those children say that some of them are afraid to go back to Guatemala. Some of them have experienced abuse or neglect. While the U.S. government says that they have been requested to be returned to Guatemala by their parents or legal guardians. So, a clear disconnect here.

The judge in this case seeking more clarity and facts on the matter and stepping in with a temporary restraining order to stop those flights from taking off as they sort out some of these next steps.

She set a new Friday deadline for the federal government to send a formal response back.

And one of that judge's main questions was, what happens to those children in the meantime? She received assurances from the Trump administration that they would be taken off of those planes and returned to U.S. custody.

KLEIN: Betsy Klein, CNN, the White House.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SANDOVAL: And there's also this new drone video that we want to show you here shortly from Venezuela's government. It shows a buildup of U.S. naval forces near the entrance to the Panama Canal.

Seven warships and a nuclear-powered fast-attack submarine are either in the region or expected to arrive very soon, with more than 4,500 sailors and Marines.

U.S. officials insist that this is all part of their fight against drug cartels. Venezuela's defense minister, however, is asking for continued peace, but says that he is ready to fight if the U.S. violates Venezuelan sovereignty.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

VLADIMIR PADRINO LOPEZ, VENEZUELAN DEFENSE MINISTER (through translator): So, we call on the international community to reflect a call to respect the people's sovereignty, a call to uphold international law. A call for mutual respect among nations. And to observe closely this new aggression from the North American empire here in this very region, with no need to cross the Atlantic here in this same region that, as we've said, will not only impact Venezuela, but the whole Latin American region and the Caribbean.

No to war. Let's work together for peace.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

[00:25:00]

SANDOVAL: Still on the way, Pope Leo has spoken out on what he described as "the pandemic of arms." The pontiff's message for his international audience when CNN NEWSROOM returns.

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POPE LEO XIV, LEADER OF CATHOLIC CHURCH: A shooting during a school mass in the American state --

(END VIDEO CLIP)

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[00:29:54]

SANDOVAL: Welcome to CNN NEWSROOM. I'm Polo Sandoval in New York. Let's take a look at today's top stories.

Chinese leader Xi Jinping hosting the final day of a major security summit in Tianjin, China. He praises the Shanghai Cooperation Organization as a group of, quote, "friends and partners opposing the hegemony of the West."

Earlier, Mr. Xi met with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

And Israel is proceeding with plans to launch a full-scale offensive in Gaza. On Sunday, Prime Minister Netanyahu and his cabinet secretary -- security cabinet, I should say -- reviewed the military's plans to take over the enclave's largest city.

Meanwhile, the Israeli military carried out intense strikes in and around Gaza City over the weekend, killing at least 71 people. And a federal judge in the United States has temporarily blocked the

removals of unaccompanied Guatemalan minors. The Trump administration has been moving to return them to Guatemala by working with that country's government.

Attorneys for some of the children say that those who have been identified are at risk of harm if they're returned home.

Now to Pope Leo. He is pleading for an end to what he called the pandemic of arms, in his first public comments on gun control since becoming head of the Catholic Church.

At the same time on Sunday, the pope offered prayers to the victims of the shooting at Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

CNN Vatican correspondent Christopher Lamb, with more.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CHRISTOPHER LAMB, CNN VATICAN CORRESPONDENT: Pope Leo XIV making a strong appeal to end the proliferation of arms that he sees across the world today.

LAMB (voice-over): And speaking after the tragic shooting at a Catholic school in Minnesota, Leo XIV, the first American pope in the church's history, speaking in English on Sunday as he condemned the pandemic of arms, both large and small.

Leo XIV making his first public remarks about the question of gun control since his election on the 8th of May this year.

Of course, Leo, able to speak in English as his mother tongue, and, therefore, his words having a greater resonance as he spoke out about this pandemic of arms, which he sees.

Leo, when he initially responded to the school shooting, sent a telegram which offered his condolences to the victims, but didn't get into the question of gun control. Today, he entered into that territory, albeit diplomatically.

He called for prayers, once again, for the victims and for all children who are caught up in violence, who are being injured and killed, he said, every day.

Now, Leo XIV, in keeping with his predecessor, Pope Francis, who condemned the arms trade. Leo has done that repeatedly.

Pope Francis also called or warned about the widespread use of guns by civilians, which he said could become a habit. Leo didn't quite go as far as Francis today, but making his views very clear about the widespread proliferation of arms, both large and small, and which he sees as injuring and damaging the lives of children.

LAMB: Killing children in so many places today and particularly following that tragic school shooting in Minnesota. Christopher Lamb, CNN, London.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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SANDOVAL: Crowds flocked to view the priceless Bayeux Tapestry in France over the weekend, before it moves to London's British Museum. But not everyone is happy about this -- this move. Let's go to CNN's Ben Hunte for more.

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BEN HUNTE, CNN INTERNATIONAL ANCHOR/CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The story of a famous battle, nearly a thousand years ago, unfolds scene after scene on the famous Bayeux tapestry.

Tales of a shipwreck, a broken oath, the death of a king, and the victory of William the Conqueror at the Battle of Hastings in 1066, embroidered on a 70-meter-long linen cloth, a piece of history that will soon go on loan to the British Museum in London, while the Bayeux Museum in France undergoes renovations.

Over the weekend, visitors lined up to see the exhibit before it closes to the public.

NEIL KLOTZ, MUSEUM VISITOR: Well, we came specifically to see it in France, because we knew it was going to England. We thought, well, we could just wait a year, and we'll see it there. But what the heck, let's see it where it's from.

HUNTE (voice-over): The Bayeux Tapestry, which is technically an embroidery, will be viewable again next year in September at the British Museum until July of 2027, as part of a cultural exchange that was announced by French President Emmanuel Macron and U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

But critics say moving the 11th Century artwork could seriously damage it. And there is an online petition with more than 66,000 signatures to stop the loan, saying the tapestry is too precious and too fragile to risk such a transport.

DIDIER RYKNER, ART HISTORIAN (through translator): If we could loan it, we should do so. I have no problem with that. But we just cannot. We can't just loan an object that will get damaged. That's unacceptable.

HUNTE (voice-over): Historians say the ancient artifact has rarely been moved from Bayeux, except for brief periods in Napoleon's rule and World War II.

[00:40:03]

But the British Museum says it will take the greatest care with it, saying its conservation team is experienced with handling this type of material.

A French official in charge of the move says no decision has been made yet on how to transport the tapestry, but some museum goers in Bayeux, getting one last look at it before its hiatus, say they understand why people are so fascinated with it.

NICOLE LAWLER, MUSEUM VISITOR: They're worried that it won't survive, which would be horrendous. But I can also see why, in the U.K., they would want to have it available there, because it is a significant part of that history.

HUNTE (voice-over): Ben Hunte, CNN.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SANDOVAL: Well, thank you for watching CNN NEWSROOM. I'm Polo Sandoval. I will be right back with much more news at the top of the hour. For now, though, we leave you with WORLD SPORT.

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