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Aleppo Under Siege; Hot Air Balloon Accident Leaves 16 Dead; Donald Trump Slammed for Remarks Against Family of Fallen U.S. Soldier; Pope Franics Celebrates World Youth Day; Stepping up Security for the Olympics; Football Growing in Popularity in U.S. Aired 3-3:30a ET

Aired July 31, 2016 - 03:00   ET

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


[03:00:10] NATALIE ALLEN, CNN ANCHOR: A city under siege. Syrian government forces encircle Aleppo as a number of civilians queue up to get out.

Yet another controversy for Republican candidate Donald Trump, he's being slammed for remarks he made about the family of a fallen U.S. Muslim soldier.

And Pope Francis celebrates World Youth Day, live video here of the pope greeting people at a mass in the next hour. Thousands of worshippers will join to hear what he has to say.

And it's all ahead here on CNN NEWSROOM. I'm Natalie Allen. Thank you for joining us.

We begin in Aleppo, Syria. Russia says civilians there are using new humanitarian corridors to flee the city but many others there say they don't trust Syrian officials to protect them if they leave. Taking full control of Aleppo would be a major victory for the Syrian president. The opposition says the Syrian government is using the corridors as a military strategy to empty the city.

There's more from Ian Lee.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

IAN LEE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It was a relatively quiet day in Aleppo at least from the skies. Sources inside the city telling CNN that this is the first day in about a month there hasn't been any air strikes.

In the meantime, the Syrian government is saying that they have opened up three humanitarian corridors so that civilians and fighters, who want to lay down their weapons and be granted amnesty can leave the besieged city.

Syrian state media releasing images of families leaving the city. Russian state media saying that over a hundreds of civilians and dozens of fighters have left. Although true sources inside of Aleppo have told CNN that they have through this crossings, they didn't anyone crossing over or any evidence that they had been opened. Meanwhile, the humanitarian crisis is growing worse in Aleppo. There's a lack of food which includes sugar, cooking oil, flour, as well as water. There also is a lack of diesel to run generators. One doctor told us that they're in desperate need of medicine and medical supplies. Some one-time use items, they're using them over and over again, sterilizing them each time. They say everyday, the aid isn't delivered. This crisis grows worse as well as the malnutrition that they're seeing. The U.N. has urged both sides for a 48-hour ceasefire so that they can get humanitarian assistance inside and people that need to leave, get them out, no word on that ceasefire though.

Ian Lee, CNN, Beirut.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ALLEN: One of two brothers detained in Belgium has now been charged. The 33-year-old is suspected of planning a terror attack and participating in a terrorist organization. His brother was released without charges. They were arrested after house searches in two Belgium cities on Friday. No weapons or explosives were found. The arrest do not occur to be related to the attacks last March that killed 32 people in Brussels.

Church services will be held across France, Sunday, the first time since the terror attack on a Catholic church in France. The country has been shaken after two men murdered an elderly priest by slashing in Northern France by slashing his throat last week. France's president says ISIS is behind the terror attack calling it a cowardly assassination. Both terror suspects were shot dead by police.

Far -right protesters in Germany are demanding that Chancellor Angela Merkel resign over her refugee policies. Hundreds of people marched through Berlin Saturday shouting, "Merkel has to go." The country has seen five separate attacks over the last two weeks leaving nearly one dozen people dead. Several of the attacks were carried out by people who had come to Germany as asylum seekers. The violence has forced Merkel to defend welcoming more than one million migrants over the past year.

In turkey, hundreds of soldiers now are free after being detained in the country's post-coup clampdown. Many had surrendered about the failed military coup. Earlier this month, Turkey state-run news agency says 758 soldiers were released on Saturday on the recommendation of a judge. About 231 others remain in custody. More than 15,000 people have been detained since the coup attempt.

In what appears to be the deadliest ever hot air balloon crash in the U.S., federal authorities say there are no survivors after the balloon went down in Texas. Sixteen people were onboard. The balloon crashed in Caldwell County between the cities of Austin and San Antonio.

CNN's Ed Lavandera tells us what may have been a major factor in the crash.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) [03:05:06] ED LAVANDERA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It appears that investigators will be taking a very close look at the role that power lines in the area of where this hot air balloon went down might have played in this tragedy. Two sources tell us, one a law enforcement source and other a county official, tells us they believe the hot air balloon collided with these power lines igniting the fire and the flames onboard inside that basket that essentially killed 16 people believed be to on board that hot air balloon.

The exact cause is not clear so it's not clear what cause the hot air balloon to perhaps collide into these power lines and what exactly was going on, on board when all of this happened. So, that is something that investigators as they begin arriving on the scene and piecing together, will be taking a very close look at.

It could be some time before the National Transportation Safety Board which is the government agency here in the United States that examines these types of accidents and it usually takes them weeks if not months to come out with an official ruling as to what cause the accident. But a witness on the ground described what she saw as that hot air balloon went down to the ground.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I don't think any of them even realized what was going on because we heard the popping sounds and I didn't look in time to see the balloon go down, but the way it went up, I don't think any of them had any idea what was going on.

LAVANDERA: One other interesting to note is the debate has been going on between the National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration. Here in the United States, the NTSB several years ago was calling for more regulation governing these hot air balloon companies that operate these types of rides. The FAA pushed back on all of that. It's not exactly clear if these regulations might have made a difference in this tragedy that unfolded in Texas. But it is interesting to note that these debates about the regulations and how these companies are controlled and governed has been a topic of debate between these two government agencies here in the United States.

Ed Lavandera, CNN, Dallas, Texas.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ALLEN: Donald Trump is being slammed for his remarks against the father of a fallen Muslim U.S. soldier who spoke at the Democratic National Convention. Khizr Khan gave a powerful speech on the last night of the convention. He denounced the Republican candidate for proposing a ban on Muslims after his own son died defending his country. Khan said Trump had no idea what sacrifice means.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

KHIZR KHAN, FATHER OF MUSLIM U.S. SOLDIER: Have you ever been to Arlington cemetery? Go look at the graves of brave patriots who died defending the United States of America. You'll see all faiths, genders, and ethnicities. You have sacrificed nothing and no one. (END VIDEO CLIP)

ALLEN: Trump responded to the searing criticism by saying, "I'd like to hear his wife say something," suggesting that she wasn't allowed. She has spoken publicly about her son's death. Trump also defended himself to ABC News by listing the sacrifices he says he's made.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS, ABC HOST: How would you answer that father? What sacrifice have you made for your country?

DONALD TRUMP (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I think I've made a lot of sacrifices. I work very, very hard. I've created thousands and thousands of jobs, tends of thousands of jobs. I think I've done a lot.

STEPHANOPOULOS: Those are sacrifices?

TRUMP: Oh, sure. I think they're sacrifices. I think when I can employ thousands and thousands of people, take care of their education, take care of so many things, even in military, I mean, I was very responsible along with a group of people, for getting the Vietnam Memorial built in downtown Manhattan, which to this day people thank me for.

I raised, and I have raised, millions of dollars for the vets. I'm helping the vets a lot.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ALLEN: Trump's criticism of the Khan family has sparked widespread outrage. Former Republican presidential candidate John Kasich tweeted, "There's only one way to talk about Gold Star parents with honor and respect." Hillary Clinton lashed out at Trump saying, "Someone who attacks everybody has something missing."

Clinton and her running mate are wooing voters in bus tour across important swing states, Pennsylvania and Ohio. The Democratic presidential candidate and her V.P.-picked Tim Kaine spent Saturday in Pennsylvania where they tried to sell their economic plan to working class Americans. At a stop at Johnstown, Clinton called out her Republican rival Trump for failing to offer any solutions to fix the country's economic problems.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

HILLARY CLINTON (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: You know, in each of our conventions, you get four days to tell the country what you want to do. That's what they're supposed to be for.

[03:10:04] At the Republican Convention, they spent more time on insult said for me than on jobs for you. Donald Trump spoke for 75 minutes and offered zero solutions. Now, I don't think that's good enough. If I have this old-fashion idea if you're going to ask somebody for their vote, we owe you a clear explanation of what you're going to get for it.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ALLEN: In other news, we're following relations between law enforcement and their communities were a major focus of the recent political conventions in Baton Rouge, Louisiana and towards violence of both sides. Earlier this month, Alton Sterling, an African- American was killed by a police officer a few weeks later, a Missouri man traveled to Baton Rouge and shot and killed three officers.

Nick Valencia shows us a city still trying to heal.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

NICK VALENCIA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: In a city exhausted by violence, a tribute to the fallen.

The mood this week at the memorial for the three slain Baton Rouge officers was indeed somber but the message from the speaker was one of hope and healing, on hand, the vice president of the United States. He spoke directly to the officers' families.

JOE BIDEN, U.S. VICE PRESIDENT: When you think of your son, your husband, your daddy, I promise you the time will come when it will bring a smile to your lips before it brings a tear to your eye.

JOHN BEL EDWARDS, LOUISIANA GOVERNOR: We're going to do better and by doing better, we're going to be better.

VALENCIA: For Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards, the killings of the police officers are personal. Edwards comes from a long family line of law enforcement. His stomach sinks thinking about all that has happened this month.

EDWARDS: It's easier said than done and it won't happen overnight. But at the end of the day, we have to replace hatred and violence with peace and love. We can do it. And we're going to do it here in Baton Rouge.

COLONEL MIKE EDMONSON, LOUISIANA STATE POLICE SUPERINTENDENT: Our hearts are broken but our spirit is intact.

VALENCIA: Since the shooting death of Alton Sterling on July 5th, local leaders like Louisiana State Police Superintendent Colonel Mike Edmonson have tried to unite the community. He says he's leaned on faith to move the city forward.

EDMONSON: I want to be a part of the community. You can either be a part of the community or you're going to be apart from it. Being a part of that community means that you grieve when they grieve and you heal together. Baton Rouge is going to heal together. They're strong, they're committed, they're dedicated. We're going to heal together.

VALENCIA: There is perhaps no one who wants to see Baton Rouge heal more than the family of Alton Sterling. The aunt who raised him tears up thinking about the possibility of more violence ahead if the officers involved in the shooting death of her nephew aren't charged.

SANDRA STERLING, AUNT OF ALTON STERLING: Baton Rouge is so small. If we tear Baton Rouge up, we're not going to have anything. So we have to protect what we have right now whether it's good or bad.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: May Baton Rouge be a place for revival.

VALENCIA: In a town where sadness has been pervasive, focusing on the good is all many have left. Nick Valencia, CNN Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ALLEN: The Olympics begin in less than one week in Brazil.

Up next here, we'll show you how authorities are still working on protecting people from all kinds of emergencies at land or at bay.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[03:15:40] ALLEN: In the next hour, Pope Francis will hold a mass in Poland in celebration of World Youth Day. The Pope's five-day visit has largely centered around the international gathering of young Catholics which happens every couple of years.

Our Vatican Correspondent, Delia Gallagher joins us now and the Pope said please come out and support me, and the youth has certainly come out and droves there in Poland.

Hello Delia.

DELIA GALLAGHER, CNN VATICAN CORRESPONDENT: Hi to you Natalie, absolutely. You know, last night was a beautiful candle lit vigil.

Organizers telling us 1.6 million kids came to support the Pope, came to pray with the Pope, Natalie. They walked about 10 miles to this camp on the outskirts of Krakow with their backpacks, with their sleeping bag. They slept up overnight.

And in part, Natalie, they prayed for Syria and they prayed for Syria because they heard from a young girl, her name was Rand Mittri, and she told them what her life was like in Aleppo.

Let's take a listen to some of what she said.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

RAND MITTRI, SYRIAN WOMAN FROM ALEPPO: Everyday we live life that are surrounded by death. But like you, we close our doors behind us and each morning as we leave for work or school, it's in that moment that we are gripped by fear that we will not return to find our homes and our families as we left them.

Perhaps we will be killed that day or perhaps our families will. It's a hard and painful feeling to know that we are surrounded by death and killing and there's no way to skip, no one to help. (END VIDEO CLIP)

GALLAGHER: And Natalie the Pope told them afterwards that this is why they come to a World Youth Day, so they can hear stories like Rand's.

So it's not just something they hear about on the news and they realize that they are all brothers and sisters.

He said to them "You are children of nations that might be at war or in conflict but our response to a world at war is brotherhood." And he asked them to join hands and raise their hands and make a bridge and he said "That the world powers might learn from them."

And then he said, Natalie, "Strap on your boots, put down your phone, get off the couch and go out." He said "God is expecting something from you."

So a great welcome for the Pope and a challenge from the Pope to these young kids that have come from 187 countries around the world. They had to fundraise to get here. They're with their youth groups. So a wonderful example of what the pope calls showing their joy.

And this morning it's his final day here in Poland. He's closing with a mass and of course the much anticipated announcement of the country to host the next World Youth Day. Natalie.

ALLEN: Well as you said considering these kids walked 10 miles to get to that vigil, perhaps he has inspired them. Thank you so much Delia Gallagher for that.

Yes, the Olympics kickoff next Friday and the International Olympic Committee still have to decide on Russia's Olympic roster.

Many of the countries' athletes have now arrived in Rio not knowing if they'll be able to compete due to doping allegations. A three-person panel from the IOC will look at every banned athlete's case before coming to a decision.

The games began, as I mentioned, next week.

While the IOC said it has full faith that Brazil will host a successful Olympics, there's been no source of problems in the lead up.

A recent New York Times article has a warning for aquatic athletes as we reported here as well, it points to the dangers of competing in the contaminated water saying health experts of Brazil have a word of advice for marathon swimmers, sailors and wind surfers. Picture- postcard waters Rio de Janeiro aren't exactly bad. Keep your mouth closed.

One American rower though, Megan Kalmoe, who's hoping for gold wants to move passed all of that. She told the Guardian Newspaper, "At this point, it's known there are issues with water quality. Its known athletes are going to be at risk for illness. It's known we're going to have to be smart, hygienic, and take precautions, great. Let's move on."

She's ready.

[03:20:17] Of course, Brazilian officials have worked to make this game secure. Authorities have been doing drills to figure out how to respond in emergency, those on land and in the water. Here's Rosa Flores.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ROSA FLORES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: We're heading out with Brazilian military fire fighters for a drill ahead of the Olympic Games and here is the scenario. There is an athlete in the water and an accident has occurred.

A helicopter with several first responders is dispatched by air and lifeguards on jet skis are launched by water.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: In the game's time, we're going to provide this service in 24/7.

FLORES: A fire brigade colonel is in charge of aquatic search and rescue efforts to Rio Olympic game. And says he has 1,000 lifeguards on the ready.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Again, we're going to run about -- we are going to run five helicopters and also 37 boats.

FLORES: From the air he says pilots monitor the water below looking for people in distress. Their eyes on the water, lifeguards on jet skis.

This time I'm riding along.

The first phase of the drill, a person is drowning and needs to be air lifted. Two lifeguards drop from the helicopter near the victim, a net is dropped and the victim is scooped into the net, lifted and transported to nearby medics who begin first aid immediately.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Once the patient is out of the water, first responder say that the first thing they want to do is make sure that the patient is breathing and that the heart is stabilized.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We have not good condition of the ocean. And tires are very high.

FLORES: For part two of this drill, a person is drowning and first responders in jet skis take action.

A lifeguard jumps into the water and pulled the victim up and onto the rescue board that on the back of the jet ski.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That's the end of their mission.

FLORES: Just like Olympian's train for the game, these firefighters train to save lives. Rosa Flores, CNN, Rio de Janeiro. (END VIDEO CLIP)

ALLEN: A tropical storm is over the Philippines right now. By next week, it will threaten Hong Kong as a typhoon. Meteorologist, Karen Maginnis is keeping her eye on this one for us.

Karen.

KAREN MAGINNIS, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Yes. If there were more open water between the Philippines and Hong Kong, we would probably looking at -- an even more substantial typhoon.

Now we mentioned Hong Kong because that looks to be the path right now.

I'll show you the satellite imagery. Here is kind of a being enhanced satellite imagery. A little bit of dry air intrusion here. Meaning, a little bit of drier air has slipped into this so it kind of takes its strength a little bit, but not for long.

It is going to increase in intensity, move out over the open water to the South China Sea, not before producing just very torrential downpours across northern sections of the Philippines and then makes it way over towards Hong Kong. When it does that, it probably is going to be a typhoon intensity.

Right now, it has wind about 100 kilometers per hour. Yesterday, it was just a tropical depression intensity, it wasn't even at tropical storm strength.

But Nida is moving to the northwest but we think because it's under a ridge of high pressure, it will start to make its way more towards the west, northwest. So that's why Hong Kong is kind of being looked at right now as perhaps by late Monday and into Tuesday could be effected by Nida.

Now, here are some of the rainfall totals that I've looked at over the last couple of hours.

These are actually 24-hour rainfall totals that we've seen. But believe me, over the last three days, it's probably more cumulatively like 300 millimeters in some of these areas.

All right, in the United States, severe flooding in the state of Maryland, also in Washington, D.C. In some areas we saw about four inches of rain or about 100 millimeters.

Take a look at this pictures, there were cars floating down the street. This one caught in an embankment. There was damage to buildings there. It looks like a few more showers in the forecast.

And this has gone viral. They responded to a fire, this is in Baltimore City, Maryland. These firefighters saw this cat, it was unresponsive, they were going to call someone to take the kitty away, but they gave it oxygen and couple of its lives have been saved.

Now, Natalie, this has gone viral on Twitter now.

ALLEN: I guess so, of course. We love our pets.

MAGINNIS: Yes.

ALLEN: Thank you Karen. All right with hero.

[03:25:05] Well football is becoming more popular here in the U.S. and the New York City Football Club is making a name for itself. On Friday, the team defeated the Colorado Rapids, 5-1. It's only their second season in major league soccer but they're backed by a lot of cash and some big names.

Here's Nick Parker.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

NICK PARKER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Legendary Spanish striker, David Villa, taking care of business for New York City Football Club.

Built from scratch, the team only actually entered major league soccer last season and ambitions are high.

CHRIS SMITH, FORTRESS: There's a ton of money there and you're talking about an ownership group that is more than willing to spend. They have three designated players making over $17 million in aggregate.

PARKER: The New York Yankees have a small stake in the team, but the majority shareholder is City Football Group.

The heavyweight Abu Dhabi based consortium with other teams on their roster including English giants, Manchester City.

The influence from city is clear from the pale blue kit to sponsor's Etihad to the attacking playing style, the hope is the synergy in branding with the big team will translate into success in the MLS, at a time when U.S. consumer access to the English premier is growing.

JON PATRICOF, PRESIDENT, NEW YORK FOOTBALL CLUB: I believe it's a compliment. I'm firmly a believer on this. As passion soccer fans, you know, grow up they're going to want to consume more and more soccer all the time in any way they can.

And right now, there's a soccer fan in the United States, there's still isn't enough access to professional soccer.

PARKER: Building support in the city is key for the new team.

This event with star players in New York's mayor, they announced the partnership to build 50 football pitches for children at a cost of $3 million.

FRANK LAMPARD, NYCFC PLAYER: Across the America and across NYCFC, I've seen the NYCFC grow huge since the first years I came here, probably 10, 15 years ago now. And it's still a great, probably it can get better.

PARKER: The latest T.V. right probably is worth $90 million a year. Triple what it was two years ago, but still a long way short of the multibillion price tags with tough U.S. sports.

Big name signings like Frank Lampard are always get idols (ph) but I must say, what is needed is the development of home grown talent and higher wages for them.

It's certainly a long term play. The team is believed to be still in the red but focused on building a profitable future. Nick Parker, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ALLEN: Thanks for watching CNN NEWSROOM. I'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ALLEN: This is CNN News Now, I'm Natalie ...