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Barack Obama Prepares to Meet His Turkish counterpart as Recep Tayyip Erdogan Offensive in Syria Continues to Attract International Concern; How Anthony Weiner's Latest Sex Scandal is Drawing Unwanted Attention to Clinton Campaign. Aired 3-4a ET

Aired August 30, 2016 - 03:00   ET

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


(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[03:00:00] ROSEMARY CHURCH, CNN NEWSROOM SHOW HOST: Barack Obama prepares to meet his Turkish counterpart as Recep Tayyip Erdogan offensive in Syria continues to attract international concern.

Also ahead, the presidential candidate, her aide, and her husband, how Anthony Weiner's latest sex scandal is drawing unwanted attention to the Clinton campaign.

Plus...

(GENE WILDER SINGING)

CHURCH: A lifetime of laughter comes to an end. Movie fans bid a fond farewell to Gene Wilder.

Hello, everyone. And a warm welcome to our viewers all around the world. I'm Rosemary Church coming to you live from CNN world headquarters here in Atlanta. This is CNN Newsroom.

A new strain in relations between two allies in the battle against ISIS. Turkish jets struck ISIS strongholds as Turkey pushed deeper into northern Syria, but its war planes pounded Kurdish targets in Iraq. The moves are raising U.S. concerns that Turkey is shifting its focus away from ISIS and on to Kurdish forces.

The U.S. President will meet his Turkish counterpart on the sidelines of the group of 20 meeting in China this week.

Well, Turkey's President, meanwhile, says his country will not differentiate between terrorist organizations when it comes to national security.

Nick Paton Walsh has details of the Turkish offensive that began last week.

NICK PATON WALSH, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: A fast-moving situation in northern Syria, Turkish intervention to take the town of Jarablus was initially it seem aimed at ISIS. But it was clear from politicians they also wanted to tackle the Syrian Kurds.

That really thrust U.S. policy into almost an impossible situation. Yes, they are a fellow NATO member with Turkey and they're also backing the Syrian rebels Turkey using on the ground to kick ISIS out of Jarablus.

But at the same time, they're also allies and that giving assistance to the Syrian Kurds that have proved very effective in attacking ISIS in parts of northern Syria, too. For a while, for a number of days, it looked like two sets of American allies were facing off on a front line in that particular area.

Now it appears after an air strike yesterday in which 25 Kurdish militants were reported killed by the Turkish military. There were some activists claimed civilians were caught up after the death of a Turkish soldier and an attack on some tanks and after a number of villages were besieged by those Syrian rebels who were backed by Turkey.

It appears that the U.S. has stepped in to try and lower tensions between the Syrian Kurds they're backing and their ally, Turkey. It appears at this stage, according to Kurdish militants that they are slow lying moving eastwards back towards the Euphrates River.

That is the natural boundary which the U.S. has said is the red line they do not want to see the Syrian Kurds they're backing crossed. It's not clear at this stage if all Kurdish militants or those loyal to them have in fact pulled back across that natural border.

But the Pentagon is suggesting that is the case and now they're appealing to Turkey. And the Syrian they are working with not to go too much further south than Jarablus. A lot is still fluid here. A lot is hanging in the balance for U.S. policy.

It appears these American statements both the moment are rest by it but nobody is really kidding themselves here. In the last 24 hours, Turkey said it launched 61 artillery strikes against target south of Jarablus. They had planes in the sky, they have a clear agenda.

Where President Recep Tayyip Erdogan outlined just in the last few hours, including removing all threats, be they Syrian, Kurdish or ISIS to Turkey in that border area. That's a very large agenda indeed and probably doesn't just stop.

It seems the Syrian Kurds were here to cross the Euphrates as the Americans have asked them to. It seems karma but we are certainly looking now at a whole new chapter in the Syrian war of Turkish intervention on the ground.

Nick Paton Walsh, CNN, Gaziantep.

CHURCH: A dramatic rescue off the Coast of Libya where 6500 migrants were saved from small, wooden boats in an operation involving 40 separate agencies. Many of the migrants are from Eritrea in Somalia.

The international Organization for Migration reports more than 105,000 migrants have reached Italy by boat this year.

Well, the war in Syria has forced millions of people from their homes, seeking refuge in other countries, including the United States. The Obama administration announced it has already reached its goal of welcoming 10,000 Syrian refugees to the country by October 1st. The White House also says this milestone was reached with proper vetting.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

[03:05:04] JOSH EARNEST, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: The significant screening was put in place to ensure that these individuals don't pose an under threat to our national security. That's the kind of screening that every refugee applicant is subjected to and we were able to meet this goal without cutting any of those corners.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHURCH: And let's just put that number of 10,000 into perspective. The U.N. says an estimated 4.8 million people have fled Syria to nearby countries. More than half of those are in Turkey some 2.7 million. That's roughly the population of Chicago, the third largest city in the United States.

And Lebanon has taken in about a million people equivalent to nearly 17 percent of Lebanon's population by contrast 10,000 people is less than 100 of 1 percent of the U.S. population.

Ahead of Donald Trump's highly anticipated speech on immigration, the latest national poll shows Hillary Clinton leading the race for the White House against her republican rival. The Monmouth University survey has Clinton ahead by 7 points among likely voters.

That's down from her 13-point lead right after the Democratic National Convention. The same poll shows more than half of likely voters have highly unfavorable opinions of both Trump and Clinton.

Now, we can't think of another time when a marital split took center stage in a U.S. presidential race, but this has been no ordinary campaign, right? Well, Hillary Clinton's top aide, Huma Abedin is separating from her husband, former New York Congressman Anthony Weiner.

Sources say she is furious and sickened over reports Weiner sent a sexually suggestive photo of himself lying in bed next to their young son to a Donald Trump supporter.

Well, now Donald Trump is making this a campaign issue saying, and I'm quoting here, "I only worry for the country in that Hillary Clinton was careless and negligent in allowing Weiner to have such close proximity to highly classified information. Who knows what he learned and who he told. It's just another example of Hillary Clinton's bad judgment."

Now, this is not the first time sexting scandals involving Weiner have surfaced. And a Brian Todd reports, the scandals have focused attention on Huma Abedin even as she has shied away from the spotlight.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) HUMA ABEDIN, HILLARY CLINTON AIDE: I'll be making no further comments. Thank you.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BRIAN TODD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: For someone who always seems to disdain the spotlight, Huma Abedin has repeatedly unwillingly been pushed into it. Now, Abedin, Hillary Clinton's longest serving aide is dealing with another humiliation caused by her husband, former New York Congressman Anthony Weiner.

A new report from the New York Post that Weiner sent sexually explicit photos to another woman including one picture with Weiner and Abedin's 4-year-old son, apparently sleeping next to him prompted Abedin to announce she is separating from Weiner.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

KIRSTEN POWERS, FORMER CLINTON ADMINISTRATION STAFFER: I can only imagine how painful it must be for her. She has a child with Anthony Weiner, they are family. And so, I think this is a very personal thing that she's having to live out in a very public way and I wouldn't wish this on anybody.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

TODD: A close friend of Abedin tell CNN that Abedin and Weiner have, quote, "essentially been separated for months." A clear sign of that according to the friend, Abedin had been seen recently without a wedding ring which people around the Clinton campaign noticed.

Weiner's sexting scandal go back five years when Breitbart News published a racy photo of his underwear. He first said he was hacked, then admitted he lied, the resigned from Congress.

Two years later, while Weiner was running for New York mayor, more explicit messages from him were revealed. He'd used the pseudonym "Carlos Danger." From Abedin, an extraordinary show of support.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ABEDIN: I love him. I have forgiven him. I believe in him. And as we have said from the beginning we are moving forward.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

TODD: Around that time, a documentary on Weiner's campaign was produced. At one point in the film Abedin clearly looks agitated as Weiner apologized to his staff.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ANTHONY WEINER, FORMER NEW YORK CONGRESSMAN: The level of guilt and pain that I feel and I am very sorry I put everyone in this position.

(END VIDEO CLIP) TODD: A campaign aide claims she's being harassed by the media.

Abedin forcefully coaches her on optics.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ABEDIN: You look happy?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

TOOD: Seemingly a signature response from Huma Abedin tiding up with an obsession for detail, no matter how damaging the crisis. Recently, e-mails obtained by the conservative group Judicial Watch showed Abedin was often approached for Clinton Foundation staffers for donor's access to Hillary Clinton while she was Secretary of State.

[03:10:06] The e-mails show Abedin seem to facilitate at least one meeting. The Clinton campaign denies wrongdoings. But after 20 years by her side, has huma become a liability for Hillary Clinton?

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LANNY DAVIS, FORMER WHITE HOUSE SPECIAL COUNSEL: Huma is a great asset for Hillary Clinton, for everyone in the campaign because she's brilliant, she's dedicated and she's very loyal.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

TODD: One former Clinton aide says Hillary Clinton wouldn't get rid of Huma Abedin any sooner than she would get rid of Chelsea Clinton. Abedin isn't saying anything for the moment beyond her announcement of a separation other than that she and Weiner are focused on doing what's best for their son. CNN has reached out to Anthony Weiner for comment. We haven't heard back.

Brian Todd, CNN, Washington.

CHURCH: Chicago is seeing one of its deadliest months in decades. The Chicago Tribune reports at least 78 people have died from gun violence so far this August.

Nykea Aldridge, the cousin of NBA player Dwyane Wade was one of those victims. Aldridge was killed Friday by gunfire while she pushed her daughter in a stroller near a school.

Donald Trump tweeted this in response to the shooting. "Dwyane Wade's cousin was just shot and killed walking her baby in Chicago. Just what I have been saying. African-Americans will vote Trump."

Now, Trump has changed his campaign strategy to include messages focused at black voter voters.

CNN's Randi Kaye talked to three Chicago mothers to see if they're reaching their intended audience.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

RANDI KAYE, CNN'S INVESTIGATIVE REPORTER: Do any of you trust what Donald Trump is telling you?

ANNETTE NANCE-HOLT, SON KILLED IN SHOTING: No.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Absolutely not. Absolutely not.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: No.

KAYE: Donald Trump's message to African-Americans is lost on these women. Three mothers from Chicago who each lost a son to gun violence.

NANCE-HOLT: This is not a reality show. This is real life. This is our everyday lives. You know, our innocent children doing the right things gunned down in a city that they love so much. You know, it's not a joke to us.

KAYE: Certainly not to Annette Holt, who has met with Hillary Clinton on the violence plaguing her community.

Donald Trump paints himself as this law and order candidate. I mean, is he the guy who is going to rescue these communities that are struggling?

NANCE-HOLT: I would think he doesn't even know what our communities are going through.

KAYE: Still, that hasn't stopped Trump from making his pitch, asking for the vote of every single African-American. Listen to what he said at a recent rally.

DONALD TRUMP, (R) U.S. PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: What the hell do you have to lose?

KAYE: Do you feel, Pam, that you have nothing to lose?

PAM BOSLEY, SON KILLED IN SHOOTING: I feel like Donald Trump is disvaluing our community. He has not come here. He's been running for 14 months. Donald Trump has not been to the south side of Chicago. He hasn't been here. So, how can you talk about us when you haven't talked to us?

KAYE: Trump talks about poverty in the black community. Bad schools and youth unemployment. But these women say that isn't the whole story. Pam's Bosley's son was in college when he was killed. Shot as he left choir practice.

Annette Holt's son was a 16-year-old honor student killed on his school bus. Danielle Stewart's son was in his second year of college and working two jobs when he was shot dead leaving a party.

DANIELLE STEWART, SON KILLED IN SHOOTING: The pain that you get from losing a loved one never goes away. It's going to always be there forever. So, it's just heartbreaking. It's heartbreaking and sad to see this continues to happen each and every day. KAYE: Trump says he can fix it and knows a guy inside Chicago P.D.

with a plan. Though, Chicago police have denied this. So, when you hear someone like Donald Trump say he talked to a top cop in the Chicago police who knows how to fix it in a week, he didn't exactly share what that plan was or even if he knows the plan but do you buy that?

BOSLEY: No. He's wrong.

NANCE-HOLT: No.

BOSLEY: And if he knew how to fix it in a week, why is he talking about it? Do it.

STEWART: Right.

KAYE: Pam, do you think Donald Trump has a point at all given that the democrats in leadership here have not been able to fix it?

STEWART: You know what, he don't have a point. He doesn't have a clue.

NANCE-HOLT: It's hard enough to lose your child but for somebody to take it lightly and make it like a political agenda now that he sees that maybe it might work to help advance him, it's ridiculous. I mean, it really is. Where was your heart before this?

KAYE: Randi Kaye, CNN, Chicago.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHURCH: It has been a cold case for years. Now police in China say they have caught a serial killer with the help of DNA evidence from a family member.

CNN's Matt Rivers tell us about the suspect and his allege crimes.

MATT RIVERS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, this was an investigation going on for years, but Chinese police, according to state media, say they finally have their man. The suspect in this case, Gao Chengyong. He is 52 years old, and police say he is the man that is responsible for killing 11 women over the span of about 15 years 1988 to 2002. The youngest of his victims being just 8 years old.

[03:15:00] Police say that he followed a similar sort of track in each one of his murders. He would select a target, he would follow that young woman home. That young woman was usually wearing the color red. He would follow that young woman home where he would rape and kill her and often mutilate the body after the crime was over.

Now many women understandably in this area of China for years as these attacks were going on refused to walk the streets by themselves. And that was when Chinese state media started referring to the then unknown suspect as China's "Jack the Ripper" due to the alleged similarity of the crimes that occurred to the crimes that were happening in London in the late 1800s. But rewards were posted and nothing happened for years as

investigations went on. But it was earlier this year that police said that they would be doing something new, re-examining DNA and biological evidence. And it was during the course of another crime that apparently happened.

Gao's uncle was taken in for a minor crime, gave a DNA swab, and that swab, according to Chinese state media led police to Gao, the main suspect in this case. Now as to any motive behind this crime or why no murders were committed after 2002, authorities are not saying yet.

Matt Rivers, CNN, Beijing.

CHURCH: China will host its first G-20 summit less than a week from now. Why it could be an awkward trip for a few countries, that's still to come.

And one person who won't be at the G-20 summit is Dilma Rousseff who is fighting for her presidency at home in Brazil. The latest on her impeachment trial, that's next.

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PEDRAM JAVAHERI, CNN METEOROLOGIST: It is busy set up here across the weather world. I'm Pedram Javaheri for Weather Watch.

And pick your choice. Plenty of tropical activity to choose from. Gaston is still not a major threat going to begin to move away from the United States as it turns right over the next several hours. But we're watching tropical depression eight, nine, a low chance there for formation.

But it is nine that we're concerned about just because of where its lingered. The last couple of days has already produced some flooding around parts of Cuba on into southern Florida. But the track has stayed very much the same.

A northerly track initially and then turning to the east. And really the big bend of Florida at this had point, that's where the cone of uncertainty would be from say Tampa out towards around Panama City. That's the highest concern. It does not mean or meander or veer out of what cone area. But that's the highest confidence zone as far as an impact and of course the rainfall will spread away from that center, as well.

So, that is something worth noting over the next couple of days if travel plans do take you there.

[03:19:59] But here is what's going on for tropical depression eight. Another storm system that kind of brushes by the eastern United States and mainly the Carolinas and then moves away to another wet weather maker in that sense there.

And watching Madeline and Lester, a category three and category four storm system, a menacing one. Look at satellite presentation on Lester. These two storms will impact one of them the southern tier of the islands that being Madeline later into the week. And then by Friday, we'll have the next storm, Lester, move to the north.

CHURCH: Welcome back, everyone. Well, day three of the impeachment trial of Brazil's suspended president has wrapped up after a grueling 14-hour session. Dilma Rousseff is accused of manipulating the country's budget ahead of her 2014 re-election.

Crowds set fires in the streets of Sao Paulo on Monday protesting Ms. Rousseff's removal from office.

CNN's Shasta Darlington has the latest now from Brazil's capital.

SHASTA DARLINGTON, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: A dramatic finale for Dilma Rousseff in this long running impeachment war. She was suspended last May and only now for the first time is she appearing here on the Senate floor to defend herself in person against accusations of manipulating the budget to hide a shortfall.

Now in her own words, she said she felt she had to come to look her accusers in the eye and tell them that she hasn't done anything illegal, anything that's really an impeachable offense.

And she actually took part of her 45-minute impassioned testimony to point the finger at some of the lawmakers spearheading the impeachment drive who are, themselves, being investigated for corruption.

She said this attempt to impeach her is nothing more than power grab, what she calls a parliamentary coup d'etat.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DILMA ROUSSEFF, BRAZILIAN PRESIDENT (TRANSLATED): In the face of these accusations against me in this process, I cannot stop feeling in my mouth the sharp and bitter taste of injustice. And that's why as in the past I resist.

Don't expect from me the silence of sequaciousness to cowards, who in the past used weapons in today the judicial rhetoric that aims a new to undermine democracy in the rule of law.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

DARLINGTON: After the testimony, a lengthy Q&A with each of the 81 senators allowed up to five minutes to ask questions. Rousseff allows as much time as she needs or wants to answer those questions. A final vote could come as early as Tuesday or may be dragged on a bit further because of this Q&A.

And yet, the conclusion is pretty much widely expected to be her impeachment. The two-thirds of senators would need to vote in favor of that impeachment. Most observers say that the count has already been done and that by the end of the week, Brazil's first female president will be removed from office.

Her Vice President Michel Temer will take over until the end of the term. That's 2018. He, of course, is the man who stepped in on a temporary basis in May, and the man that Rousseff accuses of working behind the scenes to have her ousted.

He's already vowed to move social and economic policies to the right and has talked about a privatization plan.

Shasta, Darlington, CNN, Brasilia.

CHURCH: Ms. Rousseff's likely impeachment will leave Michel Temer to represent Brazil at the coming G-20 summit. World leaders will meet in Hangzhou, China Sunday and Monday. They will discuss how to boost global economic growth.

Well, the U.K. will also send a new face to the meetings. British Prime Minister Theresa May is entering unchartered waters. And it's not clear whether the Brexit will be on everyone's mind or not.

Our Isa Soares explains.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

RICHARD QUEST, CNN'S QUEST MEANS BUSINESS HOST: The British people have voted to leave the European Union.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It was a decision that made headlines right around the world.

CHRISTIANE AMANPOUR, CNN CHIEF INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: The sun has risen on a completely different U.K. and a completely different E.U.

NINA DOS SANTOS, CNN CORRESPPONDENT: Sending shock waves through the global financial market.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: When it comes to the British pound, that is at a 35-year low.

QUEST: Tonight, Brexit has won.

ISA SOARES, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Generating and dominating meetings among the international community. But fast forward two months and with world leaders preparing to meet the G-20 summit in China, this Brexit still matters.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I don't think this is an issue that is going to detain the G-20 as long as -- and this is an important caveat, as long as Brexit doesn't lead to a big recession in the U.K. that then spills over into Europe and into the rest of the world economy.

SOARES: On her first day at U.K.'s New Prime Minister, Theresa May thought to put minds at ease that Britain is still relevant, both at home as well as abroad.

THERESA MAY, BRITISH PRIME MINISTER: Following the referendum, we face a time of great national change. And I know because we're Great Britain that we will rise to the challenge.

[03:25:03] As we leave the European Union, we will forge a bold, new positive role for ourselves in the world.

SOARES: A bold play to made right here a few weeks ago and one that may face difficulties in the months ahead. Sure, Britain is still one of the world's leading economies and a major player when it comes to its military.

The challenge for the new Prime Minister, Theresa May, is whether she can convince other countries of her vision of Britain on the international stage.

One man who knows how to navigate the world to diplomacy is Rupert Harrison.

RUPERT HARRISON, BRITISH CHANCELLOR OR THE EXCHEQUER: A lot of what's really being decided is not actually happening in the room.

SOARES: He attended many G-20 summits with former Chancellor George Osborne.

HARRISON: Our main goal of G-20 is to get to know her counterparts, establish those relationships and then also to send a message about the U.K. I think an important message she needs to send and will want to send is that the U.K. is still open for business.

We want to be a global trading nation that leaving the European Union doesn't mean we're going to put up the draw bridge or that we don't want to be key players in the global economy any more.

SOARES: That may well be the strategy going into the summit. But with the process of exiting the European Union taking at least two years, Britain will fight hard not to burn any bridges.

Isa Soares, CNN, London.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHURCH: We'll take a short break here, but still to come, a French court says mayors cannot ban burkinis. How the debate over the full body swimsuit for Muslim women is entering the highest level of French politics. That is still to come.

And the world economy says good-bye to one of its greatest stars. We'll look back at the work of Gene Wilder. That's coming up.

[03:30:00] (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

CHURCH: And a warm welcome back to our viewers al around the world. I'm Rosemary Church here at CNN global headquarters.

Time to update you on the stories we've been following this hour.

Turkish-backed forces are pushing deeper into northern Syria, raising U.S. concerns that Turkey is targeting Kurdish forces instead of ISIS. Turkey's state-run news agency reports Turkish jets also strike Kurdish PKK targets in northern Iraq Monday. And we are following a developing story out of Kyrgyzstan. A suicide

bomber has attacked the Chinese embassy in the capital Bishkek. Official say the man drove his car into the embassy's gates killing himself and wounding three employees. Investigators are working to identify the attacker.

Legendary comedian Gene Wilder has died. He was best known for his starring role as a mysterious candy tycoon in the 1971 classic "Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory." Wilder also starred in the iconic Mel brooks comedies "Young Frankenstein," "Blazing Saddles" and "The Producers." Gene Wilder was 83.

Well, a number of French mayors are still refusing to let Muslim women to wear the fully body swimsuits known at burkinis. Despite a court ruling last week that overturned the ban in one town.

A Muslim rights group says it will sue every town which continues with the ban. The issue has become intensely political. France's Interior Minister says he wants to see Islam more integrated with the values of the country.

But former President Nicolas Sarkozy has said he would change the Constitution to ban burkinis if he is re-elected president. Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

NICOLAS SARKOZY, FORMER FRENCH PRESIDENT (TRANSLATED): I call today for a law, because we can't leave mayors facing that situation on their own, a law which would ban the Islamic swimsuit or burkini. I'm not sure how to call it with, a law which would specifically target the wearing of burkinis on beaches and swimming pools. Because they are women, what would be the next step, what would be ask for different access hours.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHURCH: Joining me now from Paris is Regis Sommier the deputy editor- in-chief of Paris Match magazine. Thank you, sir, for talking with us. So, despite the court ruling that overturned the burkini ban in one French town, some mayors across the country continue to enforce the ban.

But even France's Interior Minister admits a nationwide burkini ban is unconstitutional. So, what's going to happen here from a legal standpoint?

REGIS LE SOMMIER, PARIS MATCH MAGAZINE CO-EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: Well, the court will be -- the court -- the court hearing will take place today and tomorrow for those towns. But the viewers have to remember one thing. It's where it's mostly located, this town. These town are in the vicinity of Nice.

As you know on July 14, there was those terrible attacks that killed 90 people and wounded 300 in Nice. So, there is really a feeling of shock and trauma in that specific area that has nothing to do, per se, with the burkini with the women wearing the bikini and going to take a swim.

But somehow, it is a feeling in that area and largely in France, that there is Islam growing everywhere. And those mayors have taken those measures even if, you know, as you said, the constitutional court said overrun the ban, but these mayors kept do, you know, enforcing them.

Because for the constituency, they have to say we are doing something. And this is, you know, they are going to go that even they don't have support for the state. They're going to, you know, keep enforcing the ban on the burkini in order to say to their people we're doing something.

CHURCH: And as we heard there, Nicolas Sarkozy says he would change the Constitution if he is re-elected as president of France in 2017. How easy will that be for him to change the French Constitution just so he can enforce a nationwide burkini ban?

SOMMIER: Well, it won't certainly be very easy, depending on the majority he's able to gather if he gets re-elected. But a lot of people and that, you know, that cross from the right to -- you know, you were talking about the Prime Minister Manuel Walls, when you think about it, he's also a bit in that position. He hasn't said he would change the Constitution, but he's given his support to the mayor that enforced the ban.

[03:35:01] So, it's a cross the aisles, issue, and Nicolas Sarkozy, if he gets elected, would probably get some support. But you have to bear into account that the ban on the burkini is only one thing. It's one minor piece of clothing that is gathering all the intention for much, much larger problem which is will Islam in France get along with the laws of the republic.

And how we can accommodate, you know, the people what live, you know, according to Islam in France so that they don't feel cast away from the national community and to the other French people don't see how that Islam is a threat.

And there is a big, big challenge in the coming years and the burkini is only one tiny aspect of this. It's not even something, but it has crystallized all the passions and, you know, as I said with this heavy terrorism, you know, context, this is something that has -- you know, that have been, you know, going on all summer and probably still has -- it's a story that still has steam.

And we'll see what's going to happen today and tomorrow in court with the, you know, the mayor's decision to keep going and enforcing the ban on the burkini.

CHURCH: Yes. Totally understood, but the problem here, of course, for France when you're talking about the international community of the optics, when you see the woman sitting on the beach there are two men standing over her with guns making her take the clothes off her. That seems to be this problem.

But it's causing problem legally and politically for the country. Thank you so much, Regis Le Sommier, for talk with us. We do appreciate it.

Well, India's tourism minister is trying to clarify his suggestion that women visiting his country should not wear skirt to prevent sexual assaults.

Mahesh Sharma made the comments over the weekend while promoting a new welcome pamphlet for tourists. He listed basic safety tips such as don't go out at night alone and don't wear skirts. There was immediate outrage. The tourism minister now says he would never tell women what to wear.

Serena Williams is on the verge of history. She's got a shot at major title number 23 of the U.S. Open. And we spoke to the legend whose record she could break.

Plus, a freak storm in Norway wipes a hundreds of reindeer, the details, still to come.

[03:40:00] (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

CHURCH: All right. I want you to look at this. An oddly shaped cloud in the skies of Siberia over the weekend has Russian onlookers both terrified and fascinated opinion. An Instagram user posted this photo of the huge mushroom shaped formation.

Now one person told CNN she thought it was smoke from an explosion but later realize it was a natural phenomenon. So, let's turn to our Pedram Javaheri, our meteorologist of course to talk more about this. It's just extraordinary. I mean, that would be terrifying, wouldn't it?

(CROSSTALK)

JAVAHERI: I can see how that would be.

CHURCH: Yes. I think I missed something. Something is going on here.

JAVAHERI: Absolutely. No, it's a natural occurrence. And you know, we know the ground warms up differently in different environments. If you have a body of water versus a grassy area versus ashphalt it's all going to warm up at different rates.

So, when the ground warms up, the air wants to rise and cool, as it does it condenses into clouds. And pretty good depiction here of what happens when you have a land mass, a body of water. Again, you get uneven warming at the surface, so the air will want to rise and you get these clouds that form cumulonimbus thunderstorms.

But once you get to certain altitude typically around 10 kilometers where you exit the troposphere into the stratosphere. At this point the various in temperatures is so large that the clouds cannot penetrate above us. So, it can put a lid on a pot essentially, so they'll fan out as you get to these altitudes.

And that's precisely what you're seeing with somewhere across the land in this region of Siberia. We have tremendous developed where the air wanted to rise versus the surrounding environment and that it reaches of the stratosphere there and it fans out.

So, that's precisely what's happening here. But again, very cool site nonetheless, and folks took some amazing photos of it as it occurred.

I want to show to quickly what's happening with tropical storm Lionrock because landfall, just a few hours away. It is a shell of its form itself. This storm was a menacing feature, a category 4 equivalent storm.

Just a couple of days ago, Sendai we'll get a heavy rainfall out of it, eventually Vladivostok will get even more rainfall out of it in the next coming two to three days here. Look at the rainfall amounts. And that's really at the top of the charts again when you get the reds and the oranges here. you're talking 250 to 300 millimeters of rainfall in the couple of days across that region.

This is across the Pacific Ocean. Now the central and Eastern Pacific Ocean. Look at the Hawaiian Islands in comparison to these menacing hurricanes. Hurricane Madeline, category 3. Hurricane Lester, category 4. These two storms are indirectly at the islands.

President Obama, believe it or not, is headed towards the Hawaiian Islands in the coming 24 hours I believe. But these two storms will actually brush one of them, the southern tier of the island, the next one the northern tier of the island.

From Thursday into Friday with stakes still we can significantly, they are going to go from a cat 4, and notice down to cat 1 as they brush by the hours. What we will see out of this is tremendous wave heights with those storms. So, it's something worth noting. If you're a surfer, might be the place to be if you watch it and go out there carefully. But a lot of the activity in the tropical world.

CHURCH: Yes, absolutely. And we want to cover another story. I want you to stay here actually with us so that we can talk about this afterwards. And I do have to warn our viewers before we show you these pictures, it will be disturbing for some people. Let's take a look.

Three hundred reindeer killed by a lightning strike in Norway. Unbelievable. A game keeper in one of the country's national parks discovered these wild deer last Friday. Three hundred eighteen animals found dead. Five others had to be put down.

The Norwegian Environment Agency says it has never seen lightning casualties on this scale. And the agency normally leaves bodies where they are when the animals die in the wild like this. But in this case of course, when you're looking at the numbers here, they're just going to have to remove them.

And, Pedram, and I just keep looking at these pictures. I can't believe it. I have never seen -- and I've been doing this for many, many, many years, even in terms of decades, but I've never seen anything like this.

JAVAHERI: It's a remarkable occurrence. You know, and a lot of this just goes unreported. This is unusual because of the high number of the animals and the size of these reindeer that were struck by this lightning.

But what likely occurred here, Rosemary, it's a high plateau among the highest places in Northern Europe and it's also has the highest density of reindeer, 20,000 live in this national park. There's been a couple hundred of them. But what happened here is a lot of times lightning strikes actually are not a direct strike that kill people or animals.

[03:45:00] It's an indirect strike on to the ground, it spreads within a few meters around the environment. These are herd animals that likes to group up in an environment so that's what they were doing.

CHURCH: Right.

JAVAHERI: It struck a region nearby and they have four legs so there's four entry points into their bodies versus a human which is less entry points into their body. So, their heart stops and they fall over.

CHURCH: Unbelievable. All right. Thank you so much for explaining that to us. I appreciate it. Thanks, Pedram.

Well, for years, Steffi Graf held the most coveted record in women's tennis. Now Serena Williams looks poised to break it. We ask Graf how she thought about that. Just ahead.

Plus, American funny man Gene Wilder has died. And we will look at some of his most memorable roles.

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KATE RILEY, CNN WORLD SPORT ANCHOR: I'm Kate Riley with your CNN World Sports headlines.

The fourth and final tennis major of the year, the U.S. Open, got underway in New York on Monday. Last year's women's singles runner up Roberta Vinci quickly dispatched her opponent Anna-Lena Friedsam 6-2, 6-4.

Two-time U.S. Open champ Rafa Nadal also opened his campaign. The Spanish hasn't made it past the third round at Flushing Meadows since his last title there in 2013, but he cruised through his first round match against Uzbekistan's Dennis Istomin 6-1, 6-4, 6-2.

One of the big shocks on the opening day was Kyle Edmund who powered past the 13th seed Richard Gasquet to surely claim the best win of his career and reach the second round. The Brit, who is ranked 84th in the world beat the former semifinalist 6-2, 6-2, 6-3 at Flushing Meadows.

Edmund absolutely dominated Gasquet with his huge full hand on his way to choose that lead, as the Frenchman struggled in the heat on court five. There was also a glimmer of hope for Gasquet when he broke the surface in the first set, but a brilliantly ramp past resulted in a five-game run that took Edmund to victory.

And it's been reported that Manchester City goalkeeper Joe Hart will have a medical on Tuesday for his slow move to Serie A side Torino. the FAA gave Hart permission to leave the England camp so he could travel to Italy. Hart has been told by the new manager Pep Guardiola that he can leave Manchester City.

And that's a look at all your sports headlines. I'm Kate Riley.

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CHURCH: The world of comedy mourns the loss of an icon. Gene Wilder, the star of "Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory," has died at the age of 83.

Jeanne Moos looks at his unforgettable career.

JEANNE MOOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: "Willie Wonka" has left this world.

(MUSIC PLAYING)

[03:50:06] MOOS: Actor Gene Wilder changed it with his performances from his Oscar nominated role and in "The Producers" to his other Oscar-nominated role "Young Frankenstein."

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Dr. Frankenstein.

GENE WILDER, ACTOR: Frankenstein. You must be Igor.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No, it's pronounced Igor.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MOOS: Wilder died at the age of 83 from complications of Alzheimer's. Though his nephew said it never stole his ability to recognize those closest to him. There was nothing wild about Wilder in person. He had a sweetness about him, even when deflecting a question.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

WILDER: Are you asking me if I want to have a baby?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I mean, you know, yes.

WILDER: Well, I'll tell you after the interview.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MOOS: He was an actor who painted water colors, who married four times. His third wife was SNL favorite Gilda Radner who got ovarian cancer even as Wilder himself successfully battled non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

WILDER: I said I'll sign right now, I'll exchange life spans with you. The irony is I meant it. I thought that she would pull through and that she live longer than I would.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MOOS: Five years into the marriage, she was gone. Wilder's fourth wife survives him. "There's a big hole in comedy's heart at the loss of Gene Wilder," tweeted comedian Larry Wilmore. Wilder braised his way through Mel Brooks's comedies, a hard drinker with a quick draw, no wonder kids liked him. He was an expert in not growing up.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

WILDER: A lot of men are babies. To grow up, it's something that comes easier to women.

(MUSIC PLAYING)

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MOOS: A toast to your imagination, Gene Wilder. You'll live in ours.

Jeanne Moos, CNN, New York.

CHURCH: He certainly will.

Well, the U.S. Open is underway in New York City. And world number one, Novak Djokovic moved on despite a scare in the second set of his match. He appeared to suffer an injury to his arm, though he since down played that.

Two-time U.S. Open champ Rafael Nadal is also through. He won in straight sets. That's an encouraging sign for him since he hasn't made it past the third round since he last won this tournament in 2013.

Well, tennis legend Steffi Graf sat atop the women's game for 20 years. And she won a record 22 Grand Slam singles titles in the open era. But today's number one, Serena Williams now shares that record.

Graf told our Don Riddell that she hopes Williams overtakes her. And that could happen in the next two weeks.

DON RIDDELL, CNN WORLD SPORT ANCHOR: It's that powerful forehand that has helped Steffi Graf become an international superstar. There's no question the 22-time Grand Slam still has an aura on court. Steffi Graf won all of the Grand Slam tournaments multiple times.

In 1988, she even won all four in the same year, plus the Olympic gold. She's the only woman in history to complete a Golden Slam. Graf now shares the open era record of 22 Grand Slam singles titles with Serena Williams.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

RIDDELL: Serena Williams has been playing very well lately the U.S. Open this year.

STEFFI GRAF, TENNIS WORLD CHAMPION: Yes. Not only lately. That's been a time.

RIDDELL: Forever. Forever, right?

GRAF: Yes.

RIDDELL: How has she changed tennis and women's sport in general?

GRAF: I think she's been unbelievable. She's been amazing to watch. I mean, if you think about it, she's been around for, you know, over 20 years. And to have a career and play at the level that she's been laying, that's pretty unbelievable. I have so much respect.

RIDDELL: How will you feel if Serena passes your record, either at the U.S. Open this year or next year?

GRAF: I'm happy for her. I'm excited for her. I think it's called that records are being broken. That's what they're there for. She's been phenomenal through the sport of tennis. It's been great to watch and I hope she does break it.

RIDDELL: Serena's strongest rival this season has been Germany's Angelique Kerber. The two have beaten each other in Grand Slam finals this year. Kerber won the Australian Open and Serena won Wimbledon.

GRAF: I've gotten to know her a little bit over the years. She's come -- Serena added a program to Las Vegas where we have a little tennis camp. She is physically really strong, she's a really hard worker.

Sometimes I felt like that she wasn't quite believing enough in herself. You could see sometimes how it would change during a match. She's gotten stronger mentally and I think that might make a big difference.

[03:55:04] RIDDELL: How far do you think she can go?

GRAF: Hey, I mean, she's been in the finals. She won Australia Open. She can do it all.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

RIDDELL: Graf says that during the Grand Slams, the TV at home is turned to tennis. She'll have plenty of story lines to watch as Serena Williams try toes break the record they now share and Angelique Kerber tries to add another Grand Slam title to her breakthrough year.

CHURCH: What a great sports woman she is.

A 2-year-old from Louisiana is more than ready for her close up. Little Violet gave a stunningly passionate rendition of her ABC's and it's getting a lot of clicks online.

That girl is going to go far. Thanks so much for your company. I'm Rosemary Church. Remember to connect with me anytime on Twitter @rosemarycnn. And stay tuned for more news with Max Foster in London. Have yourself a great day.

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