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Singaporean Swimmer Wins 100M Butterfly Over Phelps; Sweden Eliminates U.S. Women's Football Team; Growing Humanitarian Crisis in Aleppo; Cannes Bans Burkinis; Trump Walks Back "Founders of ISIS" Comments; Turkish NBA Player Abandoned by Family; Protests Over Rapist's Sentence; Controversy Over Argentinean Singer's Comments; Usain Bolt's Mother Speaks Out. Aired 4-5a ET
Aired August 13, 2016 - 04:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[04:00:11] GEORGE HOWELL, CNN ANCHOR: Shocking results for two Olympic giants, a young swimmer from Singapore clinches gold in the 100-meter butterfly, while Michael Phelps ties for silver.
Sweden shocked the world by eliminating the U.S. world's football team. We'll have that story.
And a growing humanitarian crisis in Aleppo as U.S. backed fighters evacuate civilians after retaking a nearby town.
Plus, mixing politics and sports, the Turkish NBA player who's been abandoned by his own family. We'll tell you why.
From CNN world headquarters in Atlanta, welcome to our viewers here in the United States and around the world. I'm George Howell.
CNN NEWSROOM starts right now.
Day seven of the Rio Olympics and another list of winners to tell you about from Friday's events. First, the U.S. swimmer, Katie Ledecky, did you see this? She broke her own world record, winning the 800- meter freestyle. And on the men's side, Joseph Schooling, won the 100-meter butterfly, this is Singapore's first ever Olympic gold medal. The U.S. swimmer Michael Phelps also, he finished in a three way tie for second place, making his 27th Olympic medal. And the U.S. women's footballer, there was a major upset when Sweden knocked out the defending champions in the quarter-finals.
Let's go live to Rio for the very latest. CNN's Shasta Darlington live with us this hour to walk us through all the highlights. Shasta, it's good to have you with us.
So, let's start with the swimmers. Katie Ledecky breaking her own world record and Michael Phelps falling short of the gold.
SHASTA DARLINGTON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's right, George. As you said, it was his 27th medal in the Olympics, but it wasn't meant to be gold, instead, he was literally given the schooling by Joseph Schooling, who beat him out in the 100-meter butterfly. But he did win the silver. He tied with two of his rivals, including South Africa's Chad le Clos, and the three of them in a show of a good sportsmanship, locked arms when they stepped up on the podium to receive the medals.
Now, Schooling, on the other hand, at a press conference, went on to say that Phelps had, in fact, inspired him when he was a kid and is the reason he's in swimming today. So, despite to the fact that Phelps didn't get another gold, he thrilled the crowds with all of this great sportsmanship. All the swimmers really sort of coming together and these great stories from his fellow swimmers.
Now, Katie Ledecky, as you mentioned, she was on fire, 3rd individual gold medal breaking a world record and really setting herself as one of the best female swimmers for the U.S. or the international teams, someone to watch in Olympics to come. So, that was an exciting night in the pool.
We do have one more chance to see Michael Phelps tonight. That will be the relay. He says he's not coming back in Tokyo. But his teammates do seem to keep questioning him about it. George.
HOWELL: Shasta, let's also talk about women's football or soccer, as we call it here in the state, a bit of controversy between the United States and Sweden.
DARLINGTON: Exactly, George. A real disappointment for those of us who follow the women's football team, Team USA, they were knocked out by Sweden in penalty kicks. And yet, I think the most difficult part was the bad show that Hope Solo put on when she again failed to catch some of those penalty kicks, but then went on to call the Swedish team a bunch of cowards, saying that she still felt that Team USA was the better team that day.
And to tell you the truth, George, she just hasn't been very popular here in Brazil at all after a lot of comments she made about being afraid of Zika, not wanting to come. So, she's been a bit harassed by the fans here when she steps out, when she's got the other team shooting gold at her. You'll hear from the crowd, people shouting, "Zika, Zika." So, she did really have the public going against her there, George.
HOWELL: I also want to talk about the situation of polluted water. What are we learning about the source of that?
DARLINGTON: Well, George, we're -- we've been focusing on the polluted water yet again because, unfortunately, the Belgian coach has been saying that one of their players actually, one of their sailors got sick earlier during a training session with a gastrointestinal disease that they think could have been from the water and that affected their performance during the Olympics. And so, we went -- we actually followed some of this water upstream, if you will, to see where all of this pollution is coming from.
[04:05:02] You know, 50 percent of homes in Rio aren't connected to switch systems. And when you go up into the favelas and the neighborhoods up in the hills, you can literally see that sewage dripping out from the homes, running down the streets and it all ends up in the water, George. HOWELL: Wow. Shasta, thank you so much. We'll stay in touch with you and obviously find out, you know, what the next day brings for many of these athletes who where there to compete. Thank you.
When it comes to the medal standings, the United States is comfortably on top at this point. The American athletes have the most gold medals, 20 and the most overall medals with 50. China firmly in 2nd place with 13 golds and 37 altogether. And Britain and Japan both neck-and-neck for 3rd, each with seven gold medals and just two medals separating their overall count.
So today, several gold medals are up for grab, first in the pool. The women will swim the 50-meter freestyle and the 4x100 meter medley relay. For the men, they will swim the 1,500-meter, Michael Phelps soaring for the gold, gold number 23 hopefully in the 4x100 medley relay.
On the dry land, men's track and field athletes, they will compete in the 10,000-meters and the women's sprinters will run the 100-meter race.
And, of course, for all the latest Olympic stories, all the highlights from Rio, you can get it right there at our website, cnn.com/olympics.
Other news we're following around the world, the United States claims that an ISIS leader was killed in Afghanistan. The Pentagon says that strike in the eastern part of the country killed, Hafiz Saeed Khan on July 26th, and that it is a major blow to ISIS operations in that country. According to the Pentagon, the U.S. and Afghan Special Forces conducted that mission. ISIS is most often associated with Iraq and Syria, but U.S. officials have expressed concern about its growing presence in Afghanistan.
In Syria, forces backed by the United States say that they have fully retaken the key city of Manbij from ISIS. A U.S. spokesperson says the terror group used that city to plan external operations and that it was an entry point used by foreign fighters.
I want to show you these photos now from Reuters. Showing civilians celebrating as they were evacuated on Friday, however, we are getting reports that ISIS militants fleeing that city, took many other civilians also as human shield.
And now, for the western Manbij to the battle -- to control Aleppo, it is becoming bloodier and even more ruthless, that city used to be Syria's economic powerhouse. Syrian government forces are on the defensive there after rebels broke a regime siege last week. And the last remaining doctors serving the rebel-held areas sent an open letter to the president of the United States. The doctors are urging Washington to do more to prevent the deaths of thousands more civilians. The humanitarian needs for people still in Aleppo are great.
To talk more about this, we're joined now by Pablo Marco, he is the Syria program manager for Medecins Sans Frontiere where doctors without borders supporting hospitals and medical personnel in Aleppo, and now joining us live via Skype from Barcelona. Pablo, thank you so much for being with us to talk about this.
First, if you could just generally describe the situation that your teams are dealing with on the ground.
PABLO MARCO, SYRIA PROGRAM MANAGER, MEDECINS SANS FRONTIERE: Well, the operation in East Aleppo has been effectively (inaudible) from aide for almost the last month since this happened. You know, in the last week, it is broken, have still very little aid hasn't been able to get inside the city, which means that it's a desperate population. The situation is still critical. Having very few, little supply in, very few -- very little food in, and this is still very difficult to evacuate the people out of the city.
HOWELL: Talk to us about the situation, though, for doctors that are trying to deal with patients there when it comes to medical supplies, when it comes to simply their safety, given the continued bombardment there. How are your teams coping with that?
MARCO: Yeah, yeah. The hospitals in Aleppo, they are working now under extreme conditions. The brutal bombings in the last week have brought a very high influx of wounded people to the nurses' rooms until to the personnel theaters. They absolutely overwhelmingly the capacity of the hospitals, but at the same time, are being bombed on a constant basis.
Out of the eight hospitals, (inaudible), the eight of them have been affected by bombing in the last three months and in the last three weeks, several of them have been affected by bombing. You can imagine what it means to be a mental staff or even a patient in Aleppo.
[04:09:59] They basically being in the hospital overwhelmed, the wounded people and at the same time (inaudible), you know, sooner or later, a bomb is going to fall over you.
HOWELL: Pablo, this letter that was sent to the U.S. President, you know, if people are watching this broadcast now who can make a difference in the international community, in the United States, politicians, government agencies around the world, what would you tell people that needs to be done right now?
MARCO: For me, the message for the warring parties is very clear. Their hospitals (inaudible) an infrastructure from bombing, and all the wounded to be evacuated to a safe place and (inaudible) the supply of foods, rags (ph) and vitamins in the city. If the bombing continues, very soon, there will be no more medical services available in Aleppo for anyone.
HOWELL: I saw a clip recently of one of our correspondents talking about the situation there and she described it as just hell and wondered if it could get worse and said that it could get worse. The people who are there who were, you know, decided to stay and help people, they are dealing with situations that none of us could imagine.
Pablo, thank you so much for being with us and we wish you safety and continued support on your efforts there. MARCO: Thank you. Bye-bye.
HOWELL: We move on now to France where some women could face fines if they don't reveal enough skin on the beach. The Mayor of Cannes is temporarily banning women from wearing burkinis at the French Riviera's beaches. These are full body bathing suits, as you see here, or other overtly religious clothing. It is a move that is drawing heat from many humanitarian rights groups.
Michael Holmes has this report.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MICHAEL HOLMES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: The burkini is a body-covering swimsuit with the face usually exposed, seen by many Muslims as a modest way to swim in public. To the local authorities in Cannes, it is a provocation.
The new municipal law says beachwear that "ostentatiously displays religious affiliation at a time when France and places of worship are the target of terrorist attacks is liable to create risks of disrupting public order."
As the controversy grew, the Mayor of Cannes doubled down, telling local media that by banning the swimsuit, "I am banning a symbol of Islamic extremism." The law came into effect late last month but is making news now because a local Muslim association, the Collective Against Islamaphobia, says it will challenge the law in court, demanding that it be revoked as discrimination. The Mayor's office denied accusations of discrimination, saying the law was meant to defuse, "provocative attitudes" and that police would have discretion when and if to enforce it.
Islamic dress has been a controversial issue in France for some time. In 2011, laws were passed against women wearing full-face coverings, and in 2004, a ban on head coverings in schools.
This, of course, all coming at a time of nervousness and fear over terror. The Nice attacks were a matter of a few miles from the beaches impacted by this Cannes law. But Muslim organizations and human rights groups say such laws just add to the divisions in French society between Muslims and non-Muslims, and can feed the ISIS narrative of it's them against us.
Michael Holmes, CNN, Paris.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOWELL: Michael, thank you.
This is CNN NEWSROOM.
Still ahead, Donald Trump says that he was sarcastic when he claimed the President of the United States founded ISIS. He's also sparking another controversy over his comments about a key swing state. We'll have more of that story coming up. Plus, one of the most famous Turkish players in the NBA disowned by his own family. How Turkey's failed military could divide a son and his parents?
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[04:16:28] RICHARD QUEST, CNN" HOST: I'm Richard Quest and these are the top business headlines. Several people have died and more than 30 were injured after a wave of bombings rocked a string of popular tourist areas in Thailand over the last 24 hours. Police say they don't suspect international terrorism.
Speaking to me on "QUEST MEANS BUSINESS" the country's tourism minister said her country will learn from these terrorist attacks.
KOBKARN WATTANAVRANGKUL, THAILAND TOURISM MINISTER: Thailand similar to many countries around the world, we face many difficulties, ups and downs, throughout the period of time, but we learned a lesson. And I think one of the good character of Thailand is that we are very flexible and we learn fast.
QUEST: Economic crisis in the eurozone slowed in the second quarter, half was expanded by just three tens of a percent from April to June, it's the slowest pace since the middle of 2015. And the regions being rocked by a series of terror attacks and concerns over Brexit, the decision to leave the European Union by the U.K.
The NASDAQ money, 3,000 record close for a second straight day, one day after the three indices touched records for the first time since 1999. The Dow, as mentioned, just 37 points, the U.S. retail sales stalled in July after three months of gains.
You're up to date with the business headlines. I'm Richard Quest in New York.
HOWELL: America's choice 2016, and well a new controversy to tell you about from Donald Trump, now telling voters, the only way that he will lose the key state of Pennsylvania is if Hillary Clinton cheats. During a campaign stop there on Friday, he said that he wants law enforcement officials to closely monitor the polls to make sure that people don't vote multiple times.
Both campaigns have been devoting significant resources to Pennsylvania, which has been a base of working class voters for the candidates that's hoping to swing the election their way.
In the meantime, Donald Trump appears to be walking back his widely criticized claim this week that the president of the United States, Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton were the founders of ISIS.
Jim Acosta has this report for us.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JIM ACOSTA, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Have you heard the one about the presidential candidate who called President Obama the founder of ISIS?
DONALD TRUMP, (R) PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE: So I said, the founder of ISIS. Obviously, I'm being sarcastic. Then, then -- but not that sarcastic to be honest with you.
ACOSTA: Donald Trump says that one-liner is more stand-up than stump speech.
TRUMP: Barack Obama is the founder. He got everybody out and he let them know when and we're leaving. He is the founder in a true sense.
ACOSTA: "Just kidding," says Trump, who asked a certain television network in a tweet, they don't get sarcasm? That explanation follows ample opportunities to clear up what he meant.
HUGH HEWIT, RADIO TALK SHOW HOST: I know what you meant. You meant that he created the vacuum., he lost the peace.
TRUMP: No, I meant he's the founder of ISIS. I do.
ACOSTA: But it's more of head scratcher than a knee slapper to even his own top surrogates.
NEWT GINGRICH, FORMER HOUSE SPEAKER: His candidacy is the imprecise language. He sometimes uses three words when he needs 10. I know what Trump has in his mind, but that's not what people hear. And I think that's -- he has got to learn to use language that has been thought through and that is clear to everybody.
[04:20:07] The GOP nominee's attacks on the President come as a reminder surfaced that Trump also wanted a quick exit from the war in Iraq.
PIERS MORGAN, BRITISH TALK SHOW HOST: If you were president, would you take all American troops out of Afghanistan and Iraq now? Straight away?
TRUMP: Well, Iraq, we shouldn't have been there and I'd get them out real fast. Afghanistan is not the bigger problem. The bigger problem is Pakistan.
ACOSTA: Trump's steep drop in key battleground states is no joke. He trails by double digits in Colorado, North Carolina, and Virginia. But he's hanging on in Florida. The slide follows days of damaging moments like this one in Florida when he asked Russia to hack into Hillary Clinton's e-mail server.
TRUMP: Russia, if you're listening, I hope you're able to find the 30,000 e-mails that are missing.
ACOSTA: Trump said that was sarcasm too.
TRUMP: And I obviously was being sarcastic. In fact, the people in the room were laughing. They found it very funny. Everybody knew that. ACOSTA: But it's a pattern that makes it hard to determine when Trump is playing it straight on important policy issues like whether U.S. citizens could be tried for terrorism at the detention center at Guantanamo. Trump says they should, even though that's a departure from current U.S. laws.
TRUMP: I know that they want to try them in our regular court systems, and I don't like that at all. I don't like that at all. I would say they could be tried there. That'll be fine.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOWELL: That was CNN's senior White House correspondent, Jim Acosta, reporting for us.
It has been a busy week in the world of politics. Let's bring in Jacob Parakilas for analysis. He is with the international think- thank, Chatham House and joins us now live at London.
Good to have you with us. So, let's first talk about this latest claim from Donald Trump that if he loses the State of Pennsylvania, it's because Hillary Clinton cheated.
JACOB PARAKILAS, U.S. AND THE AMERICAS PROGRAMME, CHATHAM HOUSE: This is a really dangerous claim and it's something that Trump has been saying, not only about Pennsylvania, but about the election generally. He's trying to in advance delegitimize the result of an election.
And if you go back to 2012 and look at Donald Trump's tweet on the election night, he said a very similar thing. He doesn't really want to accept the idea that an election -- that he could lose a legitimate election, so he's basically laying the groundwork for a claim of illegitimacy in the event that he losses.
And in the event, all the polls show him behind by a considerable and in some cases, double digit margin in Pennsylvania right now. So, it's a little bit strange for him to be making this claim.
HOWELL: Actually, I want to hear Donald Trump's words here. Let's listen to the actual sound byte. We can talk about it on the other side about cheating.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: If we get cheated out of this election, if we get cheated out of a win in Pennsylvania, which is such a vital state, especially when I know what's happening here, folks. I know. She can't beat what's happening here.
The only way they can beat it, in my opinion, and I mean this 100 percent, if in certain sections of the state they cheat. OK?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOWELL: So, Jacob, two questions. Number one, is Trump laying out the groundwork for the possibility that, you know, that he might not win as he's setting the stage for that by talking about cheating? And secondly, let's talk about how important a state like Pennsylvania is for that candidate?
PARAKILAS: Well, to answer your first question, yes, he absolutely is laying out the groundwork. And I think you're seeing, you know, you saw his comments earlier in the week about how if he lost, he would go and take a very long vacation. I think in a way, he's beginning to come to terms of the fact that at the moment he is lacking pretty considerably in the polls.
Obviously, we're still nearly three months out from the election. Many things can change. But that is -- that realism, the sort of defense that the polls are actually showing Hillary Clinton victory if the election were held today, is beginning to make its way into his rhetoric.
And in terms of the importance of Pennsylvania, yes, Pennsylvania's very important for Trump strategy, because there are very few roots to the White House for him if he doesn't win that state. But the latest round of polls that came out last night showing Clinton with, in many cases, double digit margins in Colorado, Virginia and North Carolina, Florida, other polls showing her ahead or even just slightly behind in traditionally Republican states like South Carolina, Pennsylvania may not matter in the end.
HOWELL: Let's also talk one other issue coming from Donald Trump, walking back his claim that the president of the United States, Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton, that they were both the founders of ISIS, now saying that he was being sarcastic.
PARAKILAS: This is a very strange claim for him to make. I mean, because it's not -- it's so absurd on its face that I'm not even sure that it's a particularly effective attack line. And he says now that it's being -- that he was being sarcastic, but he was sarcastic repeatedly. And we saw that in the video you showed earlier. We saw him given multiple opportunities to walk it back and he just sort of stuck with it.
I really don't know what that claim is or what advantage it gives him aside from sort of maintaining his space in the headlines.
And I think the problem is to a great degree, he's trying to replicate the strategy that worked for him in the Republican primary contest where by monopolizing headlines, he could prevent the emergence of an alternative narrative.
[04:25:09] But in a one on one general election contest that's increasingly becoming a referendum on whether he is suited to be president of the United States, that strategy just doesn't seem to be getting the same kind of traction.
HOWELL: For his opponent, it's not the unforced errors so to speak or the curious claims that are being made but rather her handling of e- mail and specifically we're getting a new controversy when it comes to the e-mail between the State Department and the Clinton Foundation. How significant will that be with Hillary Clinton? PARAKILAS: I don't think these new revelations are going to end up being particularly significant. Certainly, they show a degree of closeness between the State Department and the Clinton Foundation. They lead, they feed into a existing narrative that there were some impropriety between the Clinton Foundation and the State Department when Clinton was secretary of state. But I don't think there are any new revelations. There's no sort of sense of new impropriety there. And frankly, if Trump is unable to sort of let Clinton's bad news cycle be Clinton's bad news cycle, there's no way he's actually going to be able to capitalize on it.
HOWELL: Jacob, thank you so much for taking time with us. A lot to talk about in the world of politics and we always appreciate your insight. Thank you.
This is CNN NEWSROOM.
And still ahead, a family's very public anguish. The parents of one of Turkey's most famous NBA players disowns him. We'll tell you why that happened, next.
Plus, in the South Central United States, look at that heavy flooding, it's claimed at least three lives and forced numerous rescues.
We're live this hour in the United States and around the world. You're watching "CNN NEWSROOM".
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[04:30:17] HOWELL: And a warm welcome back to our viewers here in the United States and around the world. You are watching CNN NEWSROOM. It is good to have you with us. I'm George Howell with the headlines we're following for you this hour.
The Olympics saw a major upset on Friday in women's football in a quarter-final bout. Sweden knocked the defending champion U.S. out of the medal contention. The Swedes won the match on penalties after a 1-1 draw led to 30 minutes of extra time. It is the first Olympic loss for the U.S. team since 2000.
In Syria, forces backed by the U.S. say they have fully retaken a key city, the city of Manbij from ISIS. Fighters there say they liberated hundreds of civilians, but we are getting reports that ISIS militants fleeing that city took many other people with them as human shields. The U.S. is hoping to acquire key intelligence left behind by that terror group.
The Mayor of Cannes is temporarily banning women from wearing, what you see there, burkinis and other overtly religious outfits on the French Riviera in the beaches there. The move follows several terror attacks in France, including last month's attack in a nearby city, Nice that killed 84 people. But human rights activists say that ban could only enflame tensions.
Hillary Clinton has released her 2015 tax returns and is challenging her Republican rival, Donald Trump, to do the same. The documents show that she and her husband, the former U.S. President Bill Clinton, earned $10.6 million, most of it all in speaking fees. They paid about $3.6 million back in federal taxes.
Self-exiled Turkish cleric, Fethullah Gulen, wants an independent investigation into last month's failed military coup in Turkey. In an opinion piece in the French newspaper, "Le Monde", Guillen says that he would turn himself over to Turkish authorities if any accusations against him were found to have any substance. Even so, he insists he had nothing to do with the coup attempt and believes that the Turkey -- the government there is trying to control the country's justice system. Turkey has been pressing the United States to hand him over.
This rift between the Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Gulen has untangled the family of one of the most famous Turkish players in the NBA. They disowned their own celebrity son. And now, he, in turn, is distancing himself from them.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
HOWELL: While dozens of NBA players are battling it out in Rio to honor their countries and families, one is being publicly disavowed by his, Turkish NBA player and his counter plays center for the Oklahoma City Thunder. In a statement released earlier this week, his family publicly disowned their son saying, "I apologize to the Turkish people and the President for having such a son," wrote Mehmet Kanter.
The rift in his family comes in the wake of a failed military coup in Istanbul. And as Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan targets potential threats. Kanter belonged to a group specifically facing Erdogan's wrath, the Gulen movement. It's founder, Fethullah Gulen, was once an ally of the Turkish president but now lives in self- imposed exile in the United States. President Erdogan blames the group for the recent coup attempt and demands that the U.S. extradite its leader to face charges in Turkey.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: This organization will be revealed properly in all its aspects and to be destroyed within the framework of legal actions.
HOWELL: Gulen denies any involvement.
FETHULLAH GULEN, TURKISH CLERIC: (Through translation) I consider what has been done is directly against our nation, an act of treason aimed to end the unity of the people.
HOWELL: Kanter has been an outspoken supporter of Gulen and a critic of President Erdogan. Because of his comments, Kanter received death threats shortly after the coup and now it seems even his family is willing to cut ties with the NBA star, even demanding he change his name.
His father even saying, "His statements and behavior trouble our family. I told Enes that we would disown him should he not change his course. He did not care." Shortly after being disowned, Kanter posted a message in Turkish on Twitter, "Today, I lost those who for 24 hour years I called mother, father, brother, my family." He finished with a defiant tone, "God will protect the devoted members of this movement. God will raise us. Hang on my brothers, my sisters, my siblings. Let's not lose this fight."
(END VIDEO CLIP)
[04:35:06] HOWELL: And Kanter actually signed that letter on Twitter, Enes Kanter Gulen, adding that last name apparently as a sign of support for the cleric. His Twitter account reportedly has been blocked in Turkey.
This is CNN NEWSROOM.
Still ahead, one local official in Louisiana says the flooding that you see here, that it's the worst he's ever seen in that area. Look at the destruction that it's caused when we return.
Plus, a singer shares some tone deaf opinions on women and sex. How Argentina is turning on one of its most famous vocalists.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOWELL: Welcome back to CNN NEWSROOM. I'm George Howell.
Windy conditions combined with hot dry weather are fueling wildfires in parts of Europe. Take a look at these pictures here, you get a sense of what's happening on the Portuguese island Madeira, that is where at least three people died this week.
And in France, more than 3,300 hectares, that's more than 8,000 acres of land have been ravaged by fire. Three people were injured there.
Heavy rains have been drenching parts of the United States, Louisiana specifically and Mississippi causing the flooding that you're seeing right there. At least three people have died in this flooding and numerous people have been rescued from rooftop, from cars, and even in one case, from a tree.
This video shows what conditions were like on Friday in the town of Greenwell Springs, Louisiana. One official tells CNN these floods are the worst that he's ever seen.
For the very latest on what's happening here in that part of the world, let's bring in our meteorologist Derek Van Dam. I mean, when you look at those images, Derek, it's pretty intense for those communities.
DEREK VAN DAM, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Scary moments. In fact, small towns have been completely cut off from major infrastructure because of the flooded roadways in that area.
[04:40:01] In fact, the National Weather Service are calling this nearly a one in 500 year rainfall event, just to give you an idea of how large this catastrophe actually is.
Take a look at some the video coming out of the area so you can see the problems that people are dealing with. Louisiana governor, John Bell, has actually declared a state of emergency. Interestingly enough, George, his own basement is flooded because of the rains that's taking place here. And unfortunately, there are three fatalities, one person missing and dozens of high water rescues, people being pulled from cars and rooftops, as you mentioned, also, 10,000 people without power as we speak. And I'm about to show you something that just gives you a great indication of the ferocity of the rushing waters taking place in some of the rivers and creeks across this region.
We're looking at the Tickfaw River at Montpelier, this is just north and east of the Baton Rouge area, some of the hardest hit parts of Louisiana. And this is a river gauge, gives you an idea of the water level within this particular river.
What's interesting to note is that the river rose 20 feet, an astounding 20 feet in 14 hours. That's over six meters of water rise in a short period of time. No wonder there are flash flood warnings taking place across this area, anywhere you see that shading of red. You see that kind of brighter green that follows some of the rivers and creeks that are soaring across this area as well.
Radar estimated rainfall totals in excess of 15 inches. I want to point out the Greensburg and Zachary region, because this area has been hit particularly hard. That's where we're seeing some of the images just like this as people unfortunately still don't take advice from the National Weather Service and meteorologists like myself, do not drive across flooded roadways like this. It's a terrible decision because you just don't know how deep that water actually is. And when you get rainfall totals in excess of 20 inches, you need to start paying attention to the local emergency reports over this area.
Baton Rouge, you've been hit pretty hard as well. Your average for the month of August is just over five inches. You've already received over 10 inches, I've got to update these numbers, that's over 150 percent of your monthly total just in a 24-hour period. There's low pressure system, plenty of gulf moisture being drawn into this. And unfortunately, there is more rain to come. You can see the heavy rain bands still circulating around this from Baton Rouge into the Hammond region.
We expect the flooding to continue for the next day if not through the early parts of next week because we all know, George, when flooding and saturated land like this, it takes so long for that water to actually recede. And not to mention, George, some of these areas are below sea levels, like -- excuse me, New Orleans is about two feet on average below sea level. So, flooding, the major concern.
HOWELL: Derek, thank you. We'll stay in touch with you.
VAN DAM: Absolutely.
HOWELL: Also, we're following the story of a college student, a former U.S. college student who was convicted of rape but has now been spared prison. Many people are asking why?
Dan Simon has details on this case. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DAN SIMON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: 22-year-old Austin Wilkerson has been sentenced to two years in the Boulder County Jail. But there's a catch. It's called work release, an arrangement where defendants are able to go to work or school during the day. Prosecutors say it's too lenient of a sentence for a convicted rapist.
LISA SACCOMANO, PROSECUTOR: We were hoping to see a prison sentence in this case. Obviously we feel that prison is appropriate for someone who commits a rape of this nature and then particularly given the aggravated facts here.
SIMON: They were students at the University of Colorado. It was March of 2014, a St. Patrick's Day party, lots of drinking. Wilkerson offered to look after the victim. Instead prosecutors say he sexually assaulted her. Court documents say when confronted by investigators, Wilkerson said he made repeated advances on the victim but that she rebuffed him each time. He later admitted to friends that she was passed out and he let his hands wander. But in court, Wilkerson story changed, claiming the encounter was consensual and that the victim was sober.
SACCOMANO: He definitely, in our opinion, and as we argued to the court, throughout the process has given whatever version of the story at that moment is best going to serve him.
SIMON: In the end, jurors found Wilkerson guilty of sexual assault and unlawful sexual contact. Changing his story yet again he admitted to his crime and apologized at sentencing
Judge Patrick Butler who also sentenced Wilkerson to 20 years probation said he struggled with the decision. "Mr. Wilkerson deserves to be punished, but I think we all need to find out whether he truly can or cannot be rehabilitated."
The outcome immediately drawing comparisons to the sentence of Stanford swimmer, Brock Turner, who received six months in jail for raping a woman behind a dumpster.
[04:45:03] Victims advocate say the legal system is failing to recognize the seriousness of rape on college campuses. With the Colorado case being the latest example.
JANINE D'ANNIBALLE, MOVING TO END SEXUAL ASSAULT: In this case, we have kind of come to accept that light sentences in these kind of crimes are the norm.
SIMON: Prosecutors requested a sentence of anywhere from four to 20 years in state prison. Wilkerson's lawyer did not respond to repeated requests for comment but says his client is showing genuine remorse. It should also be noted that the judge based his decision in part on a recommendation from the probation department which actually called for no prison time.
Dan Simon, CNN, San Francisco. (END VIDEO CLIP)
HOWELL: Dan, thank you.
An Argentinean singer is facing major criticism after making a number of offensive remarks in a recent speech to journalism students. The vocalist's career is already suffering as he finds himself now at the center of a nationwide controversy.
Our Rafael Romo has this report.
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RAFAEL ROMO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Gustavo Cordera rose to fame as the leader of a popular rock band in Argentina in the '90s, fame that only grew when he launched a solo career in 2009. But the 54-year-old went from famous to infamous almost over night after making deeply offensive comments about women and sex.
"There are women who need because they're hysterical. They need to be raped to have sex because it's a psychological need," Cordera said.
Cordera made the statements last Monday in front of student at a journalism school in Buenos Aires, the capital of Argentina. He also said he disagrees with laws prohibiting sex with minors. One of the students posted Cordera's comments on Facebook and the controversy went viral. Cordera has profusely apologized for his comments on several media interviews, saying that he was playing a role and not actually condoning violence against women.
GUSTAVO CORDERA, SINGER: (Through Translation) "Me and my daughters have received death threats," Cordera said, "a lot of people on social media are threatening to rape my daughters."
The Argentine Senate also took issue with Cordera's controversial comments. Senators approve the motion Wednesday to repudiate the singer's comments, calling them hate speech, misogynistic and sexist.
FEDERICO BUJAN, NATIONAL ANTI-DISCRIMINATION INSTITUTE OF ARGENTINA: (Through Translation) "I believe Cordera's statements are very serious," this human rights activist says. "They degrade women especially because they come from such a public figure."
Now Argentina's women council with support from the country's National Anti-Discrimination Institute are planning to sue the singer, saying he's promoting sexual violence against women.
Cordera's career is now in jeopardy. Several of his concerts have already been cancelled and a rock radio station has announced it will no longer play his music.
Rafael Romo, CNN.
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HOWELL: Some are calling him the lightning bolt, she calls him son. The mother of an Olympic great Usain Bolt talks about his success, still ahead.
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[04:50:34] QUEST: I'm Richard Quest and these are the top business headlines. Several people have died and more than 30 were injured after a wave of bombings rocked a string of popular tourist areas in Thailand over the last 24 hours. Police say they don't suspect international terrorism.
Speaking to me on "Quest Means Business", the country's tourism minister said her country will learn from these atrocious attacks.
WATTANAVRANGKUL: Thailand similar to many countries around the world, we face many difficulties, ups and downs, throughout the period of time, but we learned a lesson. And I think one of the good character of Thailand is that we are very flexible and we learn fast.
QUEST: Economic crisis in the eurozone slowed in the second quarter, half was expanded by just three tens of a percent from April to June, it's the slowest pace since the middle of 2015. And the region is being rocked by a series of terror attacks and concerns over Brexit, the decision to leave the European Union by the U.K.
The NASDAQ money, 3,000 record close for a second straight day, one day after the three indices touched records for the first time since 1999. The Dow, as mentioned, just 37 points, the U.S. retail sales stalled in July after three months of gains.
You're up to date with the business headlines. I'm Richard Quest in New York.
HOWELL: Aiming for the gold, he is one of the biggest stars at the Rio Olympics. Here's the thing, though, he hasn't even competed yet. I'm talking about Jamaican runner, Usain Bolt. He won three gold medals in each of the last two Olympics. He is looking to repeat that same success in Rio. Fair to say, few people can catch the lightning bolt on the track. But our own Don Riddell caught up with the woman who knows him best, his mother.
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DON RIDDELL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Usain Bolt is such an iconic Olympic sprinter that you could easily think he was born that way. But that wasn't quite the case. And nobody knows him better than his proud and loving mom, Jennifer.
JENNIFER BOLT, USAIN BOLT'S MOTHER: As a young boy, he was, you know, hyperactive, very jovial, friendly. He can go up to people, you know, and say something to them that can -- that will make them laugh.
RIDDELL: Jennifer has witnessed his development from a happy-go-lucky kid to a six-time Olympic champion, and hoping for an unprecedented sprint treble treble.
Usain oozes confidence now, but he wasn't so sure ahead of his first major event, the World Junior Championships in his homeland of Jamaica. It was a scene portrayed in a new animated film about his life.
In the film, there is this moment where you talk to him and you give him some advice. What was it that you told him and, and how did he process that information?
BOLT: I literally talked with him. He, you know, he stopped crying. And I think he think about it. And then he say, "OK, mommy, I'm going and I'm going to do my best."
RIDDELL: And what did you say to him?
BOLT: I said the Lord is with you and I'm going to pray for you. And, and I saw the race, and saw him in front, and the crowd started to shout his name. I think that helped to motivate him a bit because he could hear the crowd in the stadium.
RIDDELL: Bolt won the 200-meters that day and, at the age of 15, became the youngest ever World Junior gold medalist. These days he's well used to all the acclaim and celebrity. He'll be the biggest draw in Rio with fans and many fellow athletes all hoping to meet him.
Your son is not just an amazing athlete, people adore him. There's adulation for him everywhere he goes. How do you feel when you see the crowd at these races and how people respond to him?
BOLT: Oh, I'm so overwhelmed. The joy, sometimes I cried tears of joy.
RIDDELL: What does he say to you when he finds you in the crowd after these gold medal performances?
BOLT: He doesn't really say anything, just hug me. But I can see that it is joy within him
RIDDELL: Rio will be Bolt's fourth, and he says, final Olympics.
[04:55:01] And he's planning to retire from the track after the World Championships next year.
As a mother, what would you hope for Usain in the future, once he stops competing?
BOLT: I would hope he'll settle down, get married, and start his family.
RIDDELL: Can you see him settling down?
BOLT: Yes, I know he'll settle down because he had told me that many times that he's going to start his family.
RIDDELL: What do you think Usain's message is?
BOLT: He's trying to, you know, to get everybody to love -- to love because he has grown, you know, close to us and he has gotten a lot of love. So, I would like to share some of that joy with others. RIDDELL: There's no doubt he'll do that again in Rio. And whatever happens, whenever he retires, Usain Bolt's athletic prowess and infectious personality will be sorely missed.
Don Riddell, CNN.
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HOWELL: Don, thank you. Usain Bolt takes to the track in the coming hours. And for the very latest on Olympic scores, highlights and stories, you can find it all at cnn.com/olympics.
Finally, we take you to Mexico now, an expo for marijuana enthusiast, happening this weekend where producers, growers and others in the industry are working to draw a positive attention to the controversial plant. A number of politicians have called for legalization and people at that expo will be pushing that, too as they try to remove some of the stigma surrounding marijuana.
Thank you for joining us this hour for CNN NEWSROOM. I'm George Howell at the CNN Center in Atlanta.
We'll have more news from around the world right after the break. Stay with us.
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