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Thousands Pay Respect to Charlie Kirk, Trump and Erika Kirk Remembers His Legacy; More Countries Announce Their State of Palestine Recognition; Murdochs Could Soon Take Over TikTok's U.S. Operations. Aired 3-4a ET
Aired September 22, 2025 - 03:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[03:00:00]
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BEN HUNTE, CNN ANCHOR: Hello, wherever you are in the world, you are now in the "CNN Newsroom" with me, Ben Hunte, in Atlanta, and it is so good to have you with me.
Coming up on the show, contrasting messages as mourners, including U.S. President Trump and White House officials pay their respects to Charlie Kirk. We'll have a look at how the conservative activist is being remembered.
More calls for Palestinian statehood. Details on the countries to announce the recognition and how Israel is reacting.
And we're learning more about the TikTok deal to keep the app running in the U.S., including who is involved in taking over its all- important algorithm.
UNKNOWN (voice-over): Live from Atlanta, this is "CNN Newsroom" with Ben Hunte.
HUNTE: Welcome.
Top conservative leaders in the U.S., including President Donald Trump, are vowing to keep Charlie Kirk's movement alive. Tens of thousands of supporters attended the activist memorial service in Glendale, Arizona on Sunday.
The President, the vice president and several administration officials spoke to the massive crowd. They praised Kirk's Christian values and described him as a martyr whose message would live on after he was assassinated at Utah University nearly two weeks ago.
Kirk's widow, Erika, delivered an emotional and powerful speech offering forgiveness to her husband's alleged killer.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ERIKA KIRK, CHARLIE KIRK'S WIDOW: The answer to hate is not hate. The answer we know from the gospel is love and always love. Love for our enemies and love for those who persecute us.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HUNTE: President Trump struck quite a different tone. While he honored Kirk's life and his influence on the conservative movement, he made little effort to offer a unifying message. At times, he veered into the type of political rhetoric typically heard at his rallies.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD TRUMP, U.S. PRESIDENT: He was a missionary with a noble spirit and a great purpose. He did not hate his opponents, he wanted the best for them. That's where I disagreed with Charlie.
I hate my opponent and I don't want the best for them, I'm sorry. I am sorry, Erika.
But now Erika can talk to me and the whole group, and maybe they can convince me that that's not right. But I can't stand my opponent.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HUNTE: Well, let's get some more now from CNN's Arlette Saenz reporting from the stadium where the memorial took place.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ARLETTE SAENZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: President Donald Trump and top Republican leaders in the U.S. joined tens of thousands of attendees here at State Farm Stadium to memorialize Charlie Kirk just 11 days after his assassination. These attendees sat for nearly five hours hearing personal testimonies from people who knew Charlie Kirk the best, talking about his influence on the conservative movement and also his role as a man of faith.
Perhaps the most powerful moment came in the speech from his widow, Erika Kirk, who talked about not just her relationship with her husband, but also his commitment to his Christian faith and to God. And there was a very poignant moment where she said that she is ready to forgive the man who shot and killed her husband. Take a listen.
KIRK: He wanted to save young men just like the one who took his life. On the cross, our Savior said, "Father, forgive them for they not know what they do." That man, that young man, I forgive him.
SAENZ: That moment sparked a standing ovation, and I could see many in the crowd shedding tears as she talked about forgiving her husband's assassin.
Now, there were moments that turned more political. President Donald Trump did use his speech to try to talk about his own personal relationship with Charlie Kirk and the work that he had done to help him get reelected back in 2024. But there were points where the president veered into more political tones as he talked about the radical left and said that he hates his opponents, something that he believes Charlie Kirk would have disagreed with him on. [03:05:03]
But overall, the moments that really caught and captivated the attention of the audience here was when people spoke about Charlie Kirk in very personal terms, speaking about him as a man of faith, a man committed to his family and a man who really helped the conservative movement grow, especially among young people.
Erika Kirk, as she closed her speech, said that it is now her mission to take on Charlie Kirk's mission. There are many questions around where this movement will head going forward in the loss of Charlie Kirk.
Arlette Saenz, CNN, Glendale, Arizona.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HUNTE: A long list of Republican Party leaders also spoke at Charlie Kirk's memorial. Some gave speeches memorializing Kirk, while others expressed how his death has galvanized the conservative movement. Let's have a listen to some of the speakers.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
J.D. VANCE, U.S. VICE PRESIDENT: Charlie knew that we were all children of God. He knew deep down the truth of scripture. And from that confidence, everything else flowed.
That unshakable belief in the gospel led him to see differences in opinion, not as battlefields to conquer, but as way stations in the pursuit of truth.
MARCO RUBIO, U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE: The irony in all this is that what our nation needs, one of the many things it needs, is the ability to discuss our differences openly, honestly, peacefully, respectfully. And Charlie Kirk did that more than anyone alive in America today is doing.
STEPHEN MILLER, WHITE HOUSE DEPUTY CHIEF OF STAFF: You cannot defeat us, you cannot slow us, you cannot stop us, you cannot deter us. We will carry Charlie and Erika in our heart every single day and fight that much harder because of what you did to us. You have no idea the dragon you have awakened.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HUNTE: Two women who were among the huge crowd of mourners at the event said Erika Kirk's message of forgiveness deeply touched them.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KIMBERLY KEHL, ATTENDED CHARLIE KIRK MEMORIAL SERVICE: It was powerful and you could feel. You could feel so much love and so much want for this country to just get better and grow and this love for the Lord and just a change like we just need a change. And it was impactful. MARJIE FAVIA, ATTENDED CHARLIE KIRK MEMORIAL SERVICE: It really is a point where I really cried because she had so much reason to be angry and really want to get it even with him. But her heart knew in a Christian way that she should do what God wanted her to do.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HUNTE: I spoke with CNN senior political analyst Ron Brownstein earlier and asked him what stood out to him about the tone of the speeches at Kirk's memorial service. Here's part of what Ron had to say.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
RON BROWNSTEIN, CNN SR. POLITICAL ANALYST, AND OPINION COLUMNIST, BLOOMBERG: I think the degree to which it was dominated by religious language and religious imagery was, you know, stunning actually. I mean, you know, on the one hand, it is a personal memorial for a young man who was senselessly and tragically killed and who had a very deep religious faith.
On the other hand, it is a series of public officials, you know, essentially summoning their supporters to something like a religious revival or crusade to change the direction of American life. The contrast that you played at the beginning between the tone of Charlie Kirk's widow, Erika, in forgiving the person who shot -- who was alleged to have shot him and the President saying, you know, I hate my enemies. It was two very different visions of, kind of, what religious faith could mean to the country, I thought, offered at that moment.
And I'm guessing that the response from the administration in the days ahead is going to reflect more of what the president said than what Erika Kirk said.
HUNTE: Well, let's stay with that, because looking to the future, do you expect that the aftermath of this incident and this huge memorial is going to push people towards forgiveness and togetherness or towards a more like burn it all down approach?
BROWNSTEIN: You know, when you have the leadership at the top of the country projecting such a polarizing and adversarial message, you know, where he has talked about his political opponents as vermin, said the immigrants are poisoning the blood of the country. He said again today that critics of one of his economic policies hate America.
It's very hard to get to a place of reconciliation. I mean, you can't overstate the degree to which President Trump is not only not doing what previous presidents have done at time of tension and tragedy, but is actively doing the opposite.
I mean, from LBJ after Martin Luther King's assassination to Ronald Reagan and the challenger, Barack Obama, singing "Amazing Grace" at Mother Emanuel. Presidents have always used these moments to try to speak to and for the entire country.
[03:10:08] And, you know, Trump's instinct is to use this kind of moment and really anything that happens as a way to mobilize his side against the other. I suspect that's more of what we are going to see, even as Erika Kirk offered a very different path that is basically the road not taken at this point.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HUNTE: During his speech at Charlie Kirk's memorial, President Trump took a couple of detours. At one point, he teased a major announcement from his administration coming on Monday.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: I think you're going to find it to be amazing. I think we found an answer to autism. How about that autism tomorrow?
We're going to be talking in the Oval Office in the White House about autism, how it happens so we won't let it happen anymore, and how to get at least somewhat better when you have it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HUNTE: The announcement is expected to link the development of autism with the use of the pain reliever Tylenol during pregnancy and low levels of the vitamin folate. The "Washington Post" reports health officials will likely warn women against using paracetamol early in pregnancy unless they have a fever, and that is all despite experts saying there's no established link between the drug and autism.
President Trump expressed frustration in a social media post calling on U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi to prosecute his political enemies, but now he's praising her. CNN's Julia Benbrook has the story for us.
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JULIA BENBROOK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: President Donald Trump had several late-night posts related to this, starting with one in all caps that said justice must be served now. He followed that with a stunning post where he directly addressed Attorney General Pam Bondi. We know this because he even started the post with her name.
In it, he called out several of his frequent targets of frustration, including former FBI Director James Comey, Senator Adam Schiff, and New York Attorney General Letitia James. He claimed without evidence that they are quote, "all guilty as hell."
He went on to say this, making it clear that he has at least some expectations here, writing, quote, "we can't delay any longer, it's killing our reputation and credibility. They impeached me twice and indicted me five times." And then again, in all caps, over nothing justice must be served now.
As the president left the White House on Sunday, he did take questions from reporters and he was asked if he would fire Bondi if she refused his demand to aggressively pursue some of his political foes. In his answer, he praised her.
REPORTER: (inaudible) Bondi if (inaudible) not indicting?
TRUMP: No, she's doing a great job. Pam Bondi is doing a great job. I think Pam Bondi is going to go down as one of the best attorney generals of the ages.
BENBROOK: And this all came not long after the news broke that Eric Siebert, the U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, was stepping down. Siebert was under intense pressure from the president to make certain moves. And while Siebert told his staff he was resigning, Trump said that he did not quit, instead that he had pulled his nomination after he received strong support from Democrats.
Now, according to a source briefed with Internal Conversations, Siebert and his team were bracing for this possibility as the Trump administration was ramping up political pressure in recent weeks. Trump has said that he has selected one of his former personal lawyers and a senior White House aide, Lindsey Halligan, to replace Siebert in that role. He has described Halligan as a tough, smart and loyal attorney, highlighting that he has worked with her for quite some time.
Julia Benbrook, CNN, Washington.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HUNTE: Hurricane Gabrielle is now a category one storm and is gaining strength over open Atlantic waters, that's according to the National Hurricane Center. The storm is now packing sustained winds of around 75 miles or 120 kilometers per hour, it's currently located about 400 kilometers southeast of Bermuda.
Rapid intensification is expected over the next day or so, with Gabrielle forecast to pass east of Bermuda on Monday. Swells, rough surf and strong rip currents are already reaching the island and are expected to impact the eastern United States from North Carolina up the coast.
And sticking with storms, the most powerful storm on earth this year is slamming the northern Philippines with destructive winds and torrential rain. Super Typhoon Ragasa rapidly intensified into the equivalent of a category five hurricane, packing sustained winds of 267 kilometers or 165 miles per hour. More than 10,000 people have been evacuated in the Philippines and authorities warn of life- threatening flooding with storm surges up to three meters or 10 feet.
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Forecasters warn tens of millions could be impacted as Ragasa tracks towards Hong Kong and southern China by midweek.
O.K., just ahead, Israel's reaction to some allies formally recognizing a Palestinian state and why this symbolic milestone may not change the reality on the ground in Gaza or the West Bank. And a bit later, high powered tech executives and broadcast television
moguls might fill the shortlist of investors who could control TikTok operations in the U.S.. We'll have those potential names ahead, see you in a bit.
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HUNTE: Welcome back.
The U.K., Canada, Australia and Portugal formally recognized a Palestinian state on Sunday, and several more countries are expected to follow suit in the coming days. The announcement by British Prime Minister makes good on his pledge to recognize a Palestinian state unless Israel met certain conditions that included a ceasefire deal and committing to a two state solution.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KEIR STARMER, BRITISH PRIME MINISTER: We recognize the state of Israel more than 75 years ago as a homeland for the Jewish people.
[03:20:00]
Today, we join over 150 countries who recognize a Palestinian state also. I pledge to the Palestinian and Israeli people that there can be a better future.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HUNTE: France and a number of other nations are due to make similar announcement at the United Nations General Assembly meeting this week. However, Israel remains defiant in response to this push for a Palestinian state and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vows it will never happen.
CNN's Paula Hancocks joins us live from Abu Dhabi with the latest. Paula, thanks so much for being with me. We are seeing a lot of movement around Palestinian statehood. How seriously is the international community taking it right now?
PAULA HANCOCKS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Ben, we've certainly been seeing quite a sharp uptick in the number of countries that are recognizing the state of Palestine. In particular, the fact that this is the first time members of the G7 are recognizing Palestine.
It really does increase the isolation that Israel is feeling going into this, the United Nations General Assembly. Now, it doesn't change anything on the ground. It is symbolic, it doesn't physically create a state of Palestine. Certainly, it is the words that are important rather than any actions at this point.
But what we've heard from the leaders of Australia, of the U.K., of Canada, is that this is a way of trying to marginalize Hamas. They say that they believe that they are empowering those that do recognize the state of Israel, that do want to have this two-state solution, living peacefully side by side. But it is something that has been firmly rejected, as you mentioned,
by the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Let's listen to exactly how he reacted to it.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BENJAMIN NETANYAHU, ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER (through translator): You are giving a huge reward to terrorism. And I have another message for you, it will not happen. A Palestinian state will not be established west of the Jordan River.
For years, I have prevented the establishment of this terrorist state despite tremendous pressure, both domestically and internationally. We did this with determination, and we did it with diplomatic wisdom.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HANCOCKS: So we're hearing there from the Israeli Prime Minister that he has no intention of allowing a Palestinian state to be created. There's well over 145 countries within the U.N. itself, member states, that have already formally agreed and recognized the state of Palestine.
But what we're seeing on the ground is this reality of this far-right coalition of Benjamin Netanyahu increasing the number of settlements, for example, that are going to be built, increasing significant settlements. The E1 plan, for example, that will effectively cut the West Bank in half and make it very difficult on the ground for a Palestinian state to be created.
Now, we will be seeing later today France and Saudi Arabia that will be co-hosting a conference on a two-state solution. We will be hearing France as well formally recognizing the state of Palestine.
But on the ground, the actual technicalities mean that very little will change. We're hearing from the three countries yesterday, for example, the U.K., Canada and Australia, all strong allies historically of Israel, saying that it is also a way to try and put pressure on Israel to stop the war in Gaza, to allow humanitarian aid into Gaza.
And certainly from the U.K. point of view, it was conditional that the U.K. Prime Minister had said to the Israeli Prime Minister, we will recognize Palestine in September if the war has not ended, if the hostages have not been released and if a ceasefire deal has not been secured with humanitarian aid into Gaza.
So these opinions at this point, these positions are diametrically opposed. And of course, the key is that the United States is not going to recognize the state of Palestine. It does not agree with what these G7 members are doing, and it is firmly in the Israeli camp at this point, Ben.
HANCOCKS: Okay, we appreciate your update. Paula Hancocks, thank you.
North Korea's leader is speaking out about his relationship with U.S. President Donald Trump and the U.S.. State media quotes Kim Jong Un as saying "there's no reason to not sit down with the United States," but only if the U.S. drops its quote, "absurd obsession with denuclearizing us." Kim is saying his country will not give up its nuclear arsenal in exchange for sanctions relief.
[03:25:01]
Kim Jong-un met with Donald Trump three times during Trump's first presidency before the peace talks dissolved, his comments come as South Korea's government urges Trump to take the first steps in restarting dialogue with North Korea.
Okay, still to come, thousands pay tribute to Charlie Kirk in Arizona. How GOP officials and Kirk's widow memorialized the late conservative activist, next.
And California moves to block federal agents from wearing masks. But can the state actually do that? Details ahead on CNN.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HUNTE: Welcome back to "CNN Newsroom," I'm Ben Hunte. Let's check some of today's top stories.
U.S. President Donald Trump says his administration will make a big announcement in the coming hours, revealing what he says is a major cause of autism. It's expected officials will link the disorder to the use of Tylenol or paracetamol during early pregnancy and a shortage of the vitamin folate.
As the U.K., Canada, Australia and Portugal formally recognize a Palestinian state, the Israeli Prime Minister is vowing there will never be one. Benjamin Netanyahu also says the international community should expect a response to this move in the coming days.
[03:30:03]
Tens of thousands of mourners gathered inside a stadium in Glendale, Arizona on Sunday to pay tribute to Charlie Kirk. The conservative activist who was assassinated earlier this month was repeatedly described as a martyr whose movement would live on. The list of high profile speakers at the memorial included the U.S. President, Vice President and several top administration officials.
CNN's Marybel Gonzalez has more from Arizona on the messages delivered at the memorial service and the extraordinary measures that were taken to keep the event fully secure.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MARYBEL GONZALEZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Tens of thousands of people packing State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, Sunday to say their final goodbyes to assassinated political activist, Charlie Kirk.
Lines of mourners wrapping around the block to get in.
UNKNOWN: I need to mourn Charlie and I wanted to be with the fellow patriots.
UNKNOWN: We're here to honor a great man that was a man of God.
GONZALEZ (voice-over): Several high profile Republican leaders, including President Donald Trump, speaking at Kirk's memorial.
TRUMP: America is a nation in grief, a nation in shock and a nation in mourning.
GONZALEZ (voice-over): The conservative political activist and founder of Turning Point USA was shot and killed earlier this month while speaking at Utah Valley University. He leaves behind a wife and two young children. His widow speaking out Sunday.
KIRK: I saw the wound that ended his life, I felt everything you would expect to feel. I felt shock, I felt horror and a level of heartache that I didn't even know existed.
GONZALEZ (voice-over): In a powerful moment, she forgave her husband's alleged killer.
KIRK: I forgave him because it was what Christ did.
GONZALEZ (voice-over): Federal and local law enforcement beefing up security ahead of Sunday service. The Department of Homeland Security designating the service as a special event assessment level one, which is reserved for major events like the Super Bowl and Kentucky Derby.
JONATHAN WACKROW, FORMER SECRET SERVICE AGENT: High-profile events such as this actually when they're coupled with significant media attention and attendee profile really present a very attractive target for somebody with malicious intent.
GONZALEZ (voice-over): Kirk's memorial comes as political figures are increasingly worried about threats and attempted attacks. The White House recently asked for $58 million in more security funding for executive and judicial branch employees.
In Glendale, Arizona, I'm Marybel Gonzalez.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HUNTE: While Charlie Kirk's widow preached forgiveness during her speech, eulogizing her husband, U.S. President Donald Trump at times had quite a different message. Have a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: He did not hate his opponents. He wanted the best for them, that's where I disagreed with Charlie. I hate my opponent and I don't want the best for them.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HUNTE: Presidential historian Tim Naftali weighed in on the event when speaking to CNN earlier, he expressed praise for Erika Kirk and concern over Donald Trump's comments. Have a listen to this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TIM NAFTALI, CNN PRESIDENTIAL HISTORIAN: Let me just say how grateful I am to her for her courage and her power tonight in making sure that the Christian message of forgiveness and of compassion was the most powerful way to memorialize her husband's mission. What the President did following her was not in the tradition of American presidents or of American healers and chiefs. It was its spirit.
It's the parts that were written for him echoed some of that. But when he digressed to what he really cared about, he did not speak the language that his predecessors spoke in trying to heal a worried, scared country in the 1960s. And we desperately need more language like that from the White House at this desperately tough time.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HUNTE: Well, as Donald Trump pushes U.S. immigration agents to carry out arrests across the country, California is moving to unmask some of those agents literally.
Governor Gavin Newsom has signed a bill making his state the first to ban most law enforcement officers from covering their faces while conducting official operations.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GOV. GAVIN NEWSOM (D-CA): The impact of these policies all across this city, our state, and nation are terrifying. It's like a dystopian sci- fi movie.
Unmarked cars, people en masse, people quite literally disappearing. No due process, no rights. No rights in a democracy where we have rights.
Immigrants have rights. And we have the right to stand up and push back.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
[03:35:01]
HUNTE: It is not yet clear how or if the state can actually enforce the ban for federal agents. Trump administration officials are criticizing the law, with one Homeland Security official saying, while our federal law enforcement officers are being assaulted by rioters and having rocks and Molotov cocktails thrown at them, a sanctuary politician is trying to outlaw officers wearing masks to protect themselves from being doxed and targeted by known and suspected terrorist sympathizers.
President Trump says a group of American investors is being formed to potentially take over TikTok operations in the U.S. so the app can avoid a complete ban here. CNN chief media analyst Brian Stelter has more details on who may be joining that team. (BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BRIAN STELTER, CNN CHIEF MEDIA ANALYST: Several of President Trump's billionaire supporters are involved in his plan for a takeover of TikTok's U.S. assets, and that's raising fresh questions about whether the app and its powerful algorithm could be harnessed for partisan political gain.
The ongoing U.S. talks with China over a TikTok deal have involved the creation of an American investor consortium, and it's increasingly clear that this setup will benefit Trump-friendly media moguls and Trump-friendly tech executives.
The latest example came on Sunday, when Trump said in an interview on Fox News that the father and son who control Fox News, Rupert and Lachlan Murdoch, are in the mix to be a part of the consortium. Now here's exactly what Trump said.
TRUMP: You know, they're very well-known people, and Larry Ellison's one of them. He's involved, he's a great guy. Michael Dell is involved.
I hate to tell you this, but a man named Lachlan is involved. You know who Lachlan is? That's a very unusual name, Lachlan Murdoch?
PETER DOOCY, "THE SUNDAY BRIEFING" HOST: Mr. Murdoch.
TRUMP: I believe, and you call him, and Rupert is probably going to be in the group.
STELTER: So Trump seemingly breaking the news about Fox's owners right there on Fox. Although he made it sound like Rupert and Lachlan Murdoch might be involved individually as investors on their own. I'm actually told by a person familiar with the matter that it is Fox Corporation as a media company that it is in talks for a small stake in that TikTok U.S. consortium.
Now, if this plan does go forward, it could be a big boost for Fox Corporation, which has been making many digital media investments in order to offset declining areas of business like broadcast T.V.
Meantime, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said over the weekend that this new U.S. TikTok entity will have seven board members, six of whom will be American, as required by the law that Congress passed last year. Trump has been repeatedly delaying the enforcement of that law, even though some legal scholars say he's on shaky legal ground. In fact, this has been described by some constitutional law experts as an illegal action to keep extending the deadline repeatedly.
TikTok has been caught up in this broader discussion between the U.S. and China, and that is the bottom line here. It is China that has the final say about what happens with TikTok, and we have not heard anything definitive from Beijing.
Analysts have told CNN that Chinese leaders are most likely using the TikTok app and its popularity in the U.S. as leverage to extract concessions that would be far more consequential to Beijing. Those concessions could include the U.S. easing export controls on semiconductors and possibly relaxing the current tariffs on China.
Brian Stelter, CNN.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HUNTE: Still to come, Estonia is asking the U.N. to act after what it calls a brazen Russian incursion into its airspace. That's ahead.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[03:40:00]
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HUNTE: In the coming hours, the U.N. Security Council will hold an emergency meeting. Estonia requested it after three Russian fighter jets entered its airspace on Friday before being intercepted by NATO, Estonia calling it a brazen act after Russian drone incursions into Polish and Romanian airspace too.
Also upcoming is the 80th session of the U.N. General Assembly where Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is expected to meet with U.S. President Donald Trump.
Let's keep talking about it. CNN's Ben Wedeman joins me now from Rome. Thank you so much for being with me, Ben.
We are expecting an emergency meeting in just a few hours from now. What's the latest you're hearing about what could come out of it?
BEN WEDEMAN, CNN SR. INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, because it's going to be the Security Council of which Russia is a permanent member, it's unlikely that anything will come out of it in terms of concrete action. But it really does underscore the worries in Europe about what seems to be increasingly brazen activity by the Russians in the European airspace.
We've had in the last two weeks four separate incidents starting back on the 9th of September when 19 Russian drones entered Polish airspace, followed by, of course, on the 13th of September, a Russian drone entering Romanian airspace, and on Friday, three Russian MiG-31s entering Estonian airspace.
This all amounts to a fairly serious escalation of tensions in Eastern Europe along the border with Belarus and Russia. So this is why Estonia has called this emergency meeting of the Security Council. But more importantly, on Tuesday we understand that the North Atlantic Council, which is the most senior decision-making body within NATO, will be meeting because Estonia has invoked Article 4 of the NATO Charter, which calls for urgent consultations of NATO members when one of the NATO members feels that their sovereignty has been violated.
So certainly this meeting in the Security Council in New York will be important. But what we're seeing is that countries like Poland, which also invoked Article 4 after that 9th of September drone incursion into its territory, are increasingly concerned about the Russian behavior.
And unsaid in all of this is increasing concern about the United States' commitment to NATO when it comes to this sort of situation along the eastern border of NATO. Ben?
HUNTE: Okay, we will leave it there for now. Ben Wedeman, thank you, I appreciate it.
Protesters gathered in every state across Brazil on Sunday to oppose a possible pardon for former President Jair Bolsonaro and his allies.
(VIDEO PLAYING)
Last week, Brazil's lower house passed a constitutional amendment making it harder to arrest lawmakers or launch criminal proceedings against them. It also voted to fast-track a bill that would grant amnesty to Mr. Bolsonaro and many convicted right-wing supporters.
[03:45:01]
Earlier this month, Bolsonaro was sentenced to just over 27 years in prison after he attempted to stay in power despite losing re-election in 2022. The uprising that ensued in January 2023 also saw hundreds of people convicted for aiding in the attempted coup. Recent polls show the country still remains deeply divided over Bolsonaro's verdict.
At the Unstoppable Africa Summit in New York, featuring some of Africa's top leaders, investors and innovators, CNN's Larry Madowo spoke with the CEO of tech and multimedia company Naspers South Africa about its plans to expand into Europe and beyond by backing local tech entrepreneurs.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
LARRY MADOWO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: In August, the European Union approved your acquisition of JustEastTakeaway.com and that's a big investment in Europe. Why?
PHUTHI MAHANYELE-DABENGWA, CEO, NASPERS SOUTH AFRICA: From a geopolitical perspective, a lot has changed. And so we see an opportunity for us as an organization that comes from the African continent to be able to invest into Europe. We think that the E.U. is now in a position to be able to decide for itself on how it is going to be articulating the use of A.I. and for it to be able to come up with its own solutions.
Our business is focused on backing tech entrepreneurs. So when we go into Europe, we back founders of businesses. And so with JET, as an example, as you mentioned with JustEastTakeaway, we are going to be supporting those business people there to ensure that we can expand the business, get it to be more profitable and also make sure that it's more meaningful for the consumers in Europe.
MADOWO: You're backing tech entrepreneurs in a big way, billions of dollars, in Europe, in Latin America, why not in Africa?
MAHANYELE-DABENGWA: Africa is critical. But what we need is to ensure that our African tech entrepreneurs have access to the start-up capital that's required to be able to start a business, have the ability to at least be able to get their business to a certain level of development. So we invest in early stage businesses and then we scale those up, we're not focused on start-ups as such.
And so from that perspective, what we need is for countries to be also focused on ensuring that tech entrepreneurs are getting access to capital in their countries so that we can come in and be able to scale them beyond that.
MADOWO: Because you don't do seed investing, you don't do pre-seed.
MAHANYELE-DABENGWA: Correct.
MADOWO: You do early stage investing.
MAHANYELE-DABENGWA: Absolutely.
MADOWO: And you're not seeing enough of these companies in Africa yet?
MAHANYELE-DABENGWA: We're not seeing enough of that yet. We need to see them being able to develop to a point where we can invest into them as early stage investors and then be able to scale them up beyond that. Because the reality is, as we both know, that by 2050, one in four people on the planet will be African and so we need to ensure that we are enabling as many Africans to be real significant players.
MADOWO: You have a delivery business in South Africa, Techalot. And how are you making sure that you're insulated? If an Amazon were to come and dominate that market, or any of the Chinese brands for that matter, can you survive?
MAHANYELE-DABENGWA: So it's actually interesting because Amazon is there. And when we looked at our competitive environment, we were afraid that with Amazon coming, we would be gone. And they're a great player, Temu and Shein are absolutely there but we've been able to hold our own.
I think the fact that we have backed a South African player. And so this is the strategy that we use. If we're in Kenya, we back a Kenyan player. Because you can't say that because you are from one part of Africa that you can understand other markets.
So we back those tech entrepreneurs in those markets because they are the ones who understand the needs of the consumers in those markets. And so we've been able to withstand the competitive environment that we now find ourselves in.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HUNTE: Ready, set, serve. Waiters and waitresses from cafes across Paris hit the streets, trays in hand. All via for one of the city's greatest food-serving honors. Details on the historic waiters' race next on CNN. See you in a bit.
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[03:50:00]
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HUNTE: The NFL's Sunday night football saw a showdown between the Kansas City Chiefs and the New York Giants. The game was locked in a defensive stalemate for much of the first half but then the Chiefs found their momentum on offense in the third quarter.
Quarterback Patrick Mahomes threading the needle here to find Taequann Thornton in the end zone. Kansas City closed out the game 22-9, marking their first win of the season. The Giants, meanwhile, sink to an 0-3 record.
Serving food and drinks in a busy restaurant will keep anyone on their toes. And in Paris on Sunday, dozens of waiters and waitresses donned their aprons and carried coffee and croissants, not to serve customers but in a bid for wait-staff glory. Saskya Vandoorne goes inside the city's historic waiters' race.
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EWA FONTAINE, WAITRESS, LE MESTURET: This is really a challenge for me.
SASKYA VANDOORNE, CNN PARIS BUREAU CHIEF (voice-over): This is Ewa Fontaine. And she's not training for a marathon or the Olympics, but for one of Paris' most iconic traditions, the 100-year-old waiters' race.
Born in the 1920s, it was created to celebrate the heritage of French cafes and to showcase the skill and dexterity of those who keep them running.
FONTAINE: Don't run, stay calm, stay focused, and try to balance well your tray.
VANDOORNE (voice-over): Fontaine came in fourth place last year. This summer, she's been training hard, set on winning a place on the podium.
FONTAINE: I didn't watch my back enough, and I was overtaken by another runner at the last moment.
VANDOORNE (voice-over): It's race day. The waiters are picking up their bibs, and the goal is to cross the finish line as quickly as possible--
VANDORNE: -- without spilling, running, or carrying the tray in both hands.
[03:55:00] She had a great start, the tray is steady. She hasn't spilt on a thing. She's got four kilometers of Parisian pavement ahead of her.
How are you feeling?
FONTAINE: I feel well still, not tired. We are approaching the banks of the Seine, which is my favorite part.
VANDOORNE: We're almost at the finish line, Ewa's neck-and-neck. Here's another waitress. This could cost her a place on the podium.
VANDOORNE (voice-over): Now we're into the final stretch, you can feel the tension. The crowd is cheering, competitors closing in.
Ewa Fontaine pushes forward, every step counts. And across the finish line, what a performance. Ewa Fontaine takes fourth place, just shy of the podium, but a fantastic effort.
FONTAINE: Of course, I will be back next year too, with pleasure.
VANDOORNE (voice-over): Saskya Vandoorne, CNN, Paris.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HUNTE: Love that.
A giant monkey on a skateboard took to the skies in the French Alps this weekend. Yep, you heard that right.
The annual Icarus Cup, a French paragliding festival, attracted some real characters, from the big monkey mascot to frogs and octopuses. In windy weather, dozens of gliders in surprisingly non-aerodynamic costumes took flight in a unique gathering. The event is named after the Greek myth of a famously unsuccessful attempt at flight, but all these participants made it safely back to the ground.
Love it. Thanks for joining me and the team, I'm Ben Hunte in Atlanta, that's all I've got for you.
For our viewers in North America, "American Pulse" is coming up after a quick break. And for the rest of the world, it's "The Amanpour Hour." But stick around for "Early Start" as well at 5 a.m. Eastern.
See you at the weekend at the same time. Thanks for being with me.
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