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China Casts Itself As New Global Leader In Security Summit; Rescuers In Afghanistan Race To Save Lives After Earthquake Kills At Least 800; Israel: Genocide Claim Based On "Hamas' Campaign Of Lies"; Russia Denies Targeting Plane Carrying E.U. Leader; Kim Jong-un and Putin to Join Xi for Huge Military Parade; Iraq Reopens al-Nuri Mosque in Mosul; Astronaut Records a Red Aurora in Space. Aired 2-2:45a ET

Aired September 02, 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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[02:00:33]

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, a summit of strong men. Putin, Kim and Xi, prepare to come together in public for the first time to solidify their partnership against Western influence.

It's a race against time in Afghanistan as rescue crews search for survivors following a deadly and devastating earthquake.

A plane carrying a top European leader forced to land using paper maps after its GPS system was targeted and jammed during flight.

And an astronaut captures an incredible view of our planet's beauty, the science behind this magical display.

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

CHURCH: Good to have you with us. Chinese leader Xi Jinping has just unveiled his country's diplomatic vision for the world, framing China as a stable superpower and counter force to the West during a major security summit this weekend.

Now, Beijing is preparing to put on a massive show of military strength. On Wednesday, it will host a parade marking the end of World War II, following Japan's formal surrender. China says it will show the country's latest weaponry and military advancements, and it will feature some high-profile guests, including North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, who's traveling to Beijing right now on his famous armored train.

And Russian President Vladimir Putin is also set to attend. He's now in Beijing, where he met with Chinese leader Xi Jinping for their first formal bilateral meeting since Putin arrived in China Sunday. CNN's Ivan Watson breaks down everything that happened at the summit.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

IVAN WATSON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): A show of international solidarity at a time of global uncertainty. Leaders of three of the world's largest countries happily rubbing shoulders at a summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization in Tianjin, China.

WATSON: The leaders of China and Russia have long complained that the U.S. and its Western allies have dominated international relations. So now they've gathered heads of state from across Asia and the Middle East into this vast building to call for the creation of a new world order.

WATSON (voice-over): The host, Chinese President Xi Jinping, denouncing bullying and double standards and promoting China as a champion for developing countries.

XI JINPING, CHINESE PRESIDENT (through translator): The House rules of a few countries should not be imposed upon others.

WATSON (voice-over): Those points echoed by his close partner Vladimir Putin. Even as his military continues its nightly bombardment of Ukrainian cities defying U.S. President Donald Trump's demands for peace.

But the Russian president accuses the West of starting Russia's war with Ukraine and makes his own appeal for a new global system of governance.

VLADIMIR PUTIN, RUSSIAN PRESIDENT (through translator): A system that would replace the outdated Eurocentric and Euro-Atlantic models, taking into account the interest of the broadest possible range of countries truly balanced.

WATSON (voice-over): But it is the presence of India's prime minister that has been most notable at this gathering. Narendra Modi came to China still stinging from 50 percent tariffs imposed by the Trump administration on Indian goods.

Snubbed by Washington, Modi is now mending fences with China. Despite an ongoing Chinese-Indian border dispute that five years ago turned very deadly.

Modi also spent an hour talking to Putin in the Russian president's limousine. Demonstrating India has other powerful friends, if it can no longer count on U.S. support.

WATSON: Chinese leader Xi Jinping demonstrated diplomatic might at this regional summit. In a few days' time, he'll put on a show of military might. China is set to hold a huge military parade in Beijing. The VIP guests are to include Vladimir Putin, as well as the leaders of North Korea and Iran.

Ivan Watson, CNN, Tianjin, China. (END VIDEOTAPE)

[02:05:05]

CHURCH: Steven Erlanger is the New York Times chief diplomatic correspondent. He joins me now from Brussels. Good to have you with us.

STEVEN ERLANGER, CHIEF DIPLOMATIC CORRESPONDENT, NEW YORK TIMES: Morning.

CHURCH: So, the leaders of China, Russia and India strutted together on the international stage calling for the creation of a new world order. How big a threat does this pose to the Western order do you think?

ERLANGER: Well, they've been calling for that for some time now. This is not a new call. What changes the circumstances are the actions of President Trump. Because President Trump has decided that American national interests require big tariffs, which punish his allies and which creates doubts among allies who seek other ways of doing business. It is -- the world order is changing. The world is changing demographically. China, as we know, is the cliche, as China is rising and it is rising, and India is rising and Brazil is rising.

And so, it makes sense that these countries might come together to push for reform of the international system, a new one, I think is a bit much, and I think we risk overestimating what is a wonderful symbolic show of different powers.

But these are powers who really are not aligned to one another. I mean, Russia and China have a very, very complicated relationship, partly built on Chinese help for the Ukraine war, and also an anti- Trump view. India and Russia have always had good relations. This is -- this is really nothing new.

I mean, India depends on Russian arms, and has done since the beginning of the state of India. And I think it was really intriguing that when Modi of India and Putin had their big meeting, they did it in Putin's car. Why? Because they don't trust the Chinese not to listen in to their conversations.

So, there's a lot of friendship smiles here and slaps on the back. But you know, countries have interests, and the interests of these three countries are not always aligned. One thing they are aligned with is a feeling that the United States, under this administration, is pushing them all very, very hard.

CHURCH: And Steven, China is using this opportunity to send a message to the world that it is a reliable, predictable and stable global power. How much of that is a dig at Trump and his erratic trade and tariff policies that have pit many allies, including India?

ERLANGER: Yes. Well, I think this is precisely the message, and China doesn't have to work hard to make this message. And it resonates in Africa. It resonates in South America, whereas the U.S. is whacking back its aid programs to all of these countries because Trump doesn't believe in them. China gives them loans. It builds infrastructure for them. It looks like a more generous partner at this point.

Now, China also, you know, China doesn't have a lot of allies, let's be honest. I mean, Russia sort of as we've said, but Russia, China have always had their strains, and Russia really worries about Chinese dominance. Russia doesn't want to be the little brother to China. Russia is pushing oil onto China. China's bargaining for hard prices. There's a dominant player here.

But in Southeast Asia, people want the United States to kind of conquer balance China. India, still, you know, has decent relations with the United States. Wants to preserve them. I think Modi will outlast Trump. That's his view, because he doesn't want to be -- he can't be allied with China, because they really are almost enemies, and Russia is an ally anyway.

So, India is balancing, the world is balancing. And I see, you know, this is a very good symbolic view of how the rest of the world is reacting to an American first policy.

CHURCH: And Steven, the White House says the optics of India unifying with Russia and China is troublesome, and comes after Trump hit India with 50 percent trade tariffs as punishment for buying Russian oil. What do European leaders think about this summit and the bilateral meetings being held on the sidelines?

[02:10:00]

ERLANGER: Well, Europe is worried about being left out, to be honest. Its relationship with the United States is very crucial to it. It's one reason it has swallowed this tariff deal. European officials have been very explicit to me in saying we do it because we're dependent for our security against Russia on the United States. But this was not a negotiation. This is a concession.

And the Europeans obviously have their own relationships with India, China, because they want trade. I mean, they are trading nations, and they are taking advantage to some degree of the markets that shift when tariffs go too high.

But mostly what Trump represents for everyone is instability, because the tariffs come in and come out. Trump changes his mind. I think this is -- this is part of what China is offering.

But again, I wouldn't overestimate India's move here, because India is hosting next year a big BRICS Summit, which is this other basically counter Western organization, Brazil, Russia, South Africa, China. And Modi wants Xi Jinping to come to India for this summit.

So, it's one main reason he's gone to Xinjiang for Xi's Summit, because if he hadn't gone, it's unlikely Xi would have come to Delhi next year.

So, I mean, this is the kind of personal diplomacy that's also part of this game. CHURCH: Interesting. Steven Erlanger joining us from Brussels. Many thanks. Appreciate it.

ERLANGER: Thank you.

CHURCH: A landslide has killed at least a thousand people in Western Sudan, days of heavy rain caused the disaster, which destroyed a village in a remote mountain region on Sunday.

According to the Sudan Liberation Movement Army, only one person survived. The group is asking the United Nations and international aid agencies to help them recover remains. The victims sought shelter in the area from the raging war between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary rapid support forces in North Darfur state.

Rescuers are desperately trying to reach survivors after a powerful earthquake struck eastern Afghanistan, at least 800 people were killed and more than 2800 injured in the 6.0 magnitude quake centered near Jalalabad.

Military helicopters flew missions throughout the day to evacuate casualties. Entire towns and villages have been decimated in the remote mountainous region near the Pakistan border.

CNN's Nic Robertson has this report on the ongoing rescue operations, made more difficult by both physical terrain and the economic and political conditions of the country.

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NIC ROBERTSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMATIC EDITOR (voice-over): Chaotic scenes searching for survivors in the dark. Most people asleep in their homes. When the magnitude six quake struck. By day, the scale of destruction becoming clearer. This young boy desperately calling for his older brother as other villagers arrived to help.

The relatively shallow quake eight kilometers or five miles contributing to the destruction and staggering death toll Kunar province, the worst affected homes here are often made of mud, rock and trees, particularly vulnerable to quakes, 95 percent of the houses in our village have been destroyed. This survivor says every household has lost between 5 to 10 family members. We appeal to all Muslims to open their hearts and help us at this time of hardship. Some of the worst affected areas in the mountainous, rural east of Afghanistan could only be reached by helicopter, as dirt roads already weakened by weeks of heavy rain, were cut by quake induced landslides.

KATE CAREY, DEPUTY HEAD OF OFFICE, U.N. OCHA: There are some locations and some villages in a few of the most hard hit districts that are only accessible by foot up to three hours. And of course, the priority is also to unblock, impassable roads.

ROBERTSON (voice-over): The Afghan government spokesman warning while they've reached most villages, it will take some time before international aid agencies will get there to help. The nearest major city, Jalalabad, receiving some of the injured. Only the luckier survivors able to get to hospital. At least one NGO, the International Rescue Committee, reporting entire villages have been destroyed. In our district alone, 100 to 150 people were killed, this man says. We still don't know the number of the injured. The roads are still closed.

[02:15:11]

The Taliban-ruled country is already reeling from the effects of shrinking international aid budgets. Healthcare at the forefront of basic services impacted. USAID contracts alone down $1.7 billion over the last year.

In 2023, a magnitude 6.3 quake caused more than 2,000 deaths. Not clear if the toll this time will exceed that. But for sure, the country's ability to cope with this type of catastrophe is weakening.

Nic Robertson, CNN, London.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CHURCH: There's fear on the streets of Gaza City as more Palestinians flee from Israel's intensifying attacks. The latest on the conflict just ahead.

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[02:20:31]

CHURCH: The world's leading Association of Genocide Scholars says Israel's policies and actions in Gaza have met the legal definition of genocide. That announcement coming in a resolution passed by the group. They also say Israel's actions constitute war crimes and crimes against humanity, as defined in international humanitarian law.

Israel has blasted the accusation, saying it's based on a, "Campaign of lies by Hamas." All this coming as Israel ramps up its attacks on Gaza City ahead of a planned full-scale assault.

CNN's Jeremy Diamond has more details, but first a warning, his report contains disturbing images.

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JEREMY DIAMOND, CNN JERUSALEM CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): As Israeli attacks intensify, fear is coursing through the streets of Gaza City, driving some families to flee.

But this hail of bullets is a reminder that even running away carries immense risk and no guarantee of reaching safety. Fear etched across Saeed (ph) and Mariam's (ph) faces, but they listen intently as their mother tells them to stay close to the buildings they set off once more.

They are among thousands of Palestinians who have begun to flee under similar circumstances. The U.N. says nearly 1 million could be forced out of Gaza City, which is already experiencing famine. Israel is halting humanitarian airdrops and ending daily tactical pauses that enabled more aid trucks to reach the city. The first stages of Israel's assault on Gaza City, already underway. Airstrikes and artillery shelling of the city are ramping up. The casualty count mounting alongside it.

A hundred thirty-five people have been killed by Israeli strikes in Gaza City since Friday, according to hospital officials. Israel says Abu Obeida, the longtime spokesman of Hamas's military wing, was killed in one of those strikes on Saturday. No comment from Hamas.

And once again, the all too familiar sight of children among the dead, a mother's anguish. And the outpouring of grief and disbelief that follow.

"We were gathered in a tent, and we had nothing to do with anything. Look in front of you. These are children," this man says. "This elderly one here is my grandmother. This is my sister. I don't know where my brother is."

But these images represent just a fraction of the death and destruction that await this city. These plumes of smoke indicate Israel is readying a path for its tanks and troops to take the city, even as Israels top general urges his government to reconsider a full- scale assault and accept the ceasefire and hostage release deal on the table.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Right now, we don't have -- we don't know where we go. They're bombing around us.

DIAMOND (voice-over): Like so many here, Mohammed al Durham (ph) no longer knows where to flee, but his pleas are directed toward one man.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Mr. President Donald Trump, stop the war right now, everyone died. And if you -- if you are care about Gaza cities, you should stop the war because everyone here will die.

DIAMOND (voice-over): Jeremy Diamond, CNN, Jerusalem.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CHURCH: And Israel is now considering the possible annexation of parts of the West Bank. Three Israeli officials tell CNN that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held an initial discussion on the idea last week, but the security cabinet has not discussed the matter in detail, and no decision has been made.

It's just one of the steps Israel is weighing in retaliation for the anticipated recognition of a Palestinian state by a growing list of countries at this month's U.N. General Assembly. The latest to join that list is Belgium, which also plans to impose new targeted sanctions against Israel.

E.U. authorities are investigating an attempt to disrupt the GPS system of a plane carrying the bloc's president.

Coming up the country that's suspected of the interference, and its reaction to the allegations. Back with that and more in just a moment.

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[02:29:52]

CHURCH: Welcome back, everyone. Russia denies it had anything to do with the targeting of a plane carrying the European Commission president. Ursula von der Leyen was on board when officials say someone or something tried to jam the plane's navigation signal as it landed in Bulgaria.

[02:30:00]

The plane landed safely. The Commission suspects Russia was behind the incident, but the Kremlin says that's incorrect. CNN's Melissa Bell has more.

MELISSA BELL, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: A plane carrying the top E.U. leader targeted by GPS jamming. Ursula von der Leyen, the European Commission President, was on a whistle-stop tour of Eastern Europe and trying to land in southern Bulgaria when the plane systems went down with the pilots having to land the aircraft using paper map. That's according to a source close to this incident.

What we've learned from the European Commission is that they heard from Bulgarian authorities very quickly after the incident and then announced it to the public on Monday, that the Bulgarian authorities believed that it was Moscow behind these attempts. This, of course, in the wake of many years of hybrid warfare being waged on European, ground, often in the shape of these sorts of incidents of GPS jamming. Ursula von der Leyen landed safely in southern Bulgaria, but spoke immediately having knowledge of what had just gone on, but before the rest of the world found out of the fact that there was an important need to remember the urgency of continuing to deal with Russian aggression and continuing to support Ukraine.

That's what her tour had been about, trying to shore up support for Ukraine, even as ceasefire talks appear to falter.

Melissa Bell, CNN, Paris.

CHURCH: North Korean leader, Kim Jong-un is on his way to Beijing for a massive military parade hosted by Chinese leader Xi Jinping. He will also stand alongside Russia's Vladimir Putin in a rare gathering of more than two dozen world leaders. North Korean state media released images of Kim leaving Pyongyang by armored train after he was seen inspecting a reportedly new missile production line. CNN's Mike Valerio has more.

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MIKE VALERIO, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): As North Korean leader, Kim Jong-un prepares to take an elevated place on the world stage, traveling to Beijing for a historic first, Kim meeting with both Chinese Leader Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Kim's regime is out with a new highly-edited propaganda video designed to show the North Korean people an idealized glimpse of how the North's army is fighting in Russia's war in Ukraine.

But the reality of the video multiple, if not most of the scenes, appear to be staged. CNN cannot verify if any scenes show actual combat. The point of the display though, experts say, is to show glory, a sanitized picture of sacrifice. Title cards purporting to describe how some North Korean soldiers were killed, painting their service as part of a heroic struggle helping Russia.

HONG MIN, SENIOR RESEARCH FELLOW, KOREA INSTITUTE FOR NATIONAL UNIFICATION (through translator): It could form a narrative that North Korea's national status has risen through its participation in the Ukraine war, and that it is forming a solidarity front with powerful countries on the diplomatic stage.

VALERIO (voice-over): While much of the footage is dubious, the message is clear. North Korea trying to show it is no longer the isolated regime of years ago.

MIN (through translator): It does connect North Korea's participation in Ukraine war with its diplomatic achievement of Kim Jong-un becoming an important leader with a strategic position in Northeast Asia that is on par with Putin and Xi Jinping.

VALERIO (voice-over): But Professor Andrei Lankov notes the timing of Kim's latest propaganda documentary could be part of a continued effort to show the new experience North Korea's army is gaining.

ANDREI LANKOV, PROFESSOR OF KOREAN STUDIES, KOOKMIN UNIVERSITY: For a long time, for decades, North Korean propaganda always emphasized the significance of the military. However, it had very little real actual stuff to talk about.

VALERIO (voice-over): North Korean state media also released new photos on Monday, showing Kim examining a "newly inaugurated missile production line." Taken together, the images paint a picture of a nation trying to assume a new place on the geopolitical stage, North Korea figuratively and literally standing with Russia and China.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

VALERIO (on camera): Worth noting the last time a North Korean leader was at a Chinese military parade, that was back in 1959. This will be the first multilateral meeting Kim Jong-un attends with more than two world leaders present. In fact, there will be more than 20 world leaders at this gathering in Beijing.

Mike Valerio, CNN, Seoul.

CHURCH: An astronaut captures a rare site from the International Space Station, the story behind this glowing view from high above Earth. That's coming up on "CNN Newsroom."

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[02:39:24] CHURCH: Welcome back, everyone. Iraq has reopened the historic al- Nuri Mosque in Mosul nearly eight years after it was destroyed by ISIS. The militant group took over the city in 2014 and turned it into a stronghold. It was from this mosque where they declared their self- styled caliphate. The mosque reconstruction began in 2019 with money from the United Arab Emirates, working with UNESCO and the Iraqi Antiquities and Heritage Commission.

An American astronaut is sharing a stunning view from the International Space Station.

[02:40:00]

This is video of a red aurora taken by Don Pettit. He says he saw scenes like this two or three times during his six-month mission to the ISS. An aurora is the release of light energy that occurs when solar particles collide with atoms and molecules in Earth's upper atmosphere.

I want to 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 stick around.

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[02:40:29]

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