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Rescue Set to Resume; President's Event-Filled Week Ahead; President to Name Supreme Court Nominee Monday; Southgate Leads England to First WC Semifinals since 1960; Murder Probe After Woman Dies Of Nerve Agent Exposure; 56,000 Troops Mobilized For Rescue Efforts. Aired 1-2a ET

Aired July 09, 2018 - 01:00   ET

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

PAULA NEWTON, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Hello, I'm Paula Newton at the CNN Center. We are following breaking news out of Northern Thailand and it is, of course, a race against time and weather. Divers are gearing up to try and restart that rescue mission after officials put the mission on hold overnight. Now divers brought out four boys Sunday but more rain now threatens the mission to save those nine people still trapped in the cave. Now, the rescued boys were rushed to a hospital where doctors are still checking out their medical condition. Meantime, crews are now refilling oxygen tanks, resting, and planning their next move. An entire nation, the world really in the meantime is praying they can bring everyone out safely. Now for the latest CNN's David McKenzie is live in Northern Thailand. And David, I understand that you do have an update in terms of what is going to happen and how likely it is that this mission will restart in the next little while.

DAVID MCKENZIE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well yes, in a way what we do have an update on Paula is from a senior government official who's part of the decision-making process. When we contacted him, he was in the middle of that meeting with the other officials and experts and said that the -- as of about 45 minutes ago as the rescue attempt hadn't resumed today. Now, that would be slightly delayed from yesterday's rescue. Not necessarily a work at this stage speculating too much into that but we do know that they are still discussing the options and deciding when and if to move.

Now, if you look at the mountain behind me, Paula, there's a heavy cloud cover. The cave system is in that mountain and it has been dumping overnight into the wee early hours of this morning a very heavy rainfall. It could be the start of the monsoon season in earnest. Now that could be a factor in them deciding when exactly to move. They have all their plans in place. The team is rested. They got those four boys out in dramatic fashion. Yesterday the ambulance trailing past me, the helicopters flying overhead, the boys were brought out taken to an area hospital where they will be recuperating. And the fact that they even managed to do this Paula, this exit out of this cave with full face masks through these narrow passages as we've been talking about.

But worth mentioning again the zero visibility and the difficult nature of this technical dive for only the very best in the world, they got four of them out. And the hope from the community members here today is that they will get more of them out. But the Prime Minister asked a short time ago on an official trip to Phuket said you know, it's not his place to rush the teams. He said the decision is a joint one between the Thais and the international experts. Paula?

NEWTON: You certainly do not want a second guess what is just such a difficult mission. And David, you're really correct in bringing up the fact that getting these four out was in itself miraculous and they are expected to do miracles again to work those miracles again. Now, you know, I've been heartened to see that in the last few hours at you and I have been together, you've been updating us and we haven't seen a downpour. We will get to the weather forecast shortly but what conditions are they fearing that we'll hit those caves if those monsoon rains are started in earnest again shortly?

MCKENZIE: As all depends on how much rain and where it falls if it's in the direct catchment, area it will possibly flow into that cave system and outpace the pumps that they've had feverishly going 24 hours a day for several days to get the water out. Why is this important? Well, that early section of the cave they've managed to get most of the water out. That is most of the water in the sense you don't have to dive anymore from the entrance towards the chamber three as of yesterday. Beyond that, there have been very tricky sections they have to dive. Now we have just learned from a family member, Paula, of the member of that soccer team that they have not been told whether there --which children had made it out so it seems like some of the parents and the family members at the very least are also in the dark exactly who got out there. There have been named circulating. Of course, that's a very sensitive issue so we are not going with those names at this time. Why is that important, because of the stages of this rescue and that several boys appear to be taken out each time who they select and how they come up with them is obviously crucial and possibly a life-and-death decision. Paula?

NEWTON: Yeah you're so right and we should note as well that health officials have said that even the poor boys are rescued will likely not be reunited with their families for at least a day or two. Our David McKenzie will continue to remain with us throughout the hour as we expect more news shortly from that rescue mission. David, thank you again. I want to bring in now, Bobby Chacon is a former dive team leader for the FBI. He joins me now live from Los Angeles. And you know, Bobby, I know what you are going to tell me. I'm so happy that you and I, unlike the way we were speaking last night, we now know that it is possible. Four boys came out safely but I bet you are going to tell me not to get complacent.

BOBBY CHACON, FORMER LEADER, FBI DIVE TEAM: That is right. And that's exactly right, Paula. And you know, I think what they have done is debriefed the divers coming out after the successful mission. So in effect, it looks like everything went right, but we all -- we know that nothing ever always goes right in a dive. And so there's adjustments to the dive plan, if there's slight tweaks that they want to make, they're thinking about making them on how to make those. I'm sure the divers had some feedback when they came out of the water even though it looks very successful that they had you know, four boys came out alive. They are probably going to go over that feedback that the divers had and seeing if they can make it better or different because quite frankly, the conditions are changing. And so, the conditions for the second set of boys coming out, and those divers bringing them out might be completely different. You know, the water might be rushing, the visibility might be different, so you know, and the boys themselves will be in different positions. They'll be you know, different levels of fitness and stuff. So I think they are -- they're revaluating, they're putting that plan back into place and they're going to choose the (INAUDIBLE) to then go in and execute that plan again.

NEWTON: Yes, if I hear you, Bobby, you're saying each rescue mission here, the one that they just you know, gone through with successfully may look nothing like the one they are about to attempt.

CHACON: That is absolutely right. And the word you used is perfect, complacency and I always had to be on guard from my divers that you know, just because you have one success doesn't mean the next one is. Complacency is a killer when it comes to this types of situation. You have to be on your -- on your top of your game each and every time. And as a dive team leader, what I used to I used to try to isolate my divers from the other noise that was going on particularly in high profile dives that we're in. We did the TWA Flight 800 crash off of Long Island in '96. We did the I-35 Minneapolis Bridge Collapse, we did the 2003 shuttle crash. And so all of those had this kind of atmosphere where there's a lot of distractions. You know, and as a dive team leader, I had to isolate my divers away from that so they could completely focus on the task at hand of what they were going to do when they are in that dangerous situation under the water. And I'm sure that there is a certain measure of that going on now. Those divers needed to rest, they need to be away from the crowd from all of the chaos that's surrounding this and when they have to go in again, they have to be well rested and well-focused and that very important for the success, the safe success of the next mission.

NEWTON: Yes, absolutely. I'm sure the family members have been told that and yet it must be excruciating. You know, perhaps it's too much to hope for, Bobby, but do you think in terms of lessons learned, they've tried to rescue -- operation with these four and the fact that we are expecting more rain. You know, as an experienced diver, is there any opportunity here to try and get them out a little bit more quickly. We could be looking at torrential downpour again in 24, to 48 hours.

CHACON: Well, I think that's the reason that they brought these four out when they did because over the weekend we had some rain and it's kind of stopped. So I think we had a bit of a low and they knew that. the other factor that was -- that was I think contributed to the haste in bringing them out was that the oxygen level in that cave is going lower and lower. These kids where is in a hypoxia situation. Being hypoxic to start this dive is not a good situation to begin. So I think that -- I think that resting their rescue divers and as soon as they can go again because of the weather and because of the oxygen levels in that cave, they will go again as soon physically possible. I don't think there's any reason to wait. I don't think anything is going to get better by waiting. NEWTON: And wait we do and as you said, we are expecting hopefully

imminently that they will be back in there. Bobby, thanks for being with us in explaining all this. It is complicated. And thank you for pointing out that those rescuers are risking their lives and their loved ones are worried about them as well. Thanks again, Bobby.

CHACON: And let's remember that we've already -- we've already lost one diver. It's been a high price to pay so let's keep him in our thoughts.

NEWTON: Yes, you're so right. And unfortunately, it's already been a tragedy here. OK, Bobby, thanks again.

CHACON: Thank you.

NEWTON: We'll keep checking in with you. I appreciate it. Meteorologist Pedram Javaheri is here with us right now. OK, so with -- today we've been talking an hour -- and hour -- and hour after hour unfortunately about these rains. We've already been so lucky, haven't we?

PEDRAM JAVAHERI, CNN METEOROLOGIST: We really have.

NEWTON: Monsoon rain haven't started.

JAVAHERI: It's incredible. You know, we get a lull, four, five, six days of very little rainfall in one of the wettest place on our planet in the heart of the wet season. So that's remarkable in and of itself. We know that that is coming to an end very quickly so of course folks know how serious the next step will be -- have to be as far as getting the amount of work done and hopefully rescue efforts underway again when the rain here before it picks up intensity. Let's show you exactly what's happened over the last several hours that we're seeing the shift in this monsoonal pattern. Of course, this is not a single storm, it's not a single event. The winds now entirely shifting from the east pushing back towards the west. Northern areas of Thailand, that's where the heavy rainfall is expected to really pick up.

And back on June 24 very little rainfall the next day almost no rainfall came down and then a couple days into when the boys were trapped down in the cave you see tremendous rainfall and then, of course, things have really dissipated. The pattern we expect to return to what we've seen in those initial days when the boys were initially trapped there and of course the water filled the caves. And you notice, each and every single afternoon over the next three afternoons we get thunderstorms that develop. This is a tell-tale sign of the monsoons. It's really taking shape in the forecast brings just a couple of millimeters by this afternoon and this evening not a tremendous amount just yet. So really Monday becomes a key day as we go in towards Tuesday, say 11:00 a.m. noon, 1:00 p.m. Tuesday, and then through much of the afternoon some heavy rainfall certainly expected the highest amounts come down on Wednesday afternoon.

And these three days alone would be the three wettest days so far in the first 16 of these little boys have been trapped in this cave system. And in fact, when you take a look at that, maybe not seem like a lot of rainfall 60 millimeters in the span of three days but take that down, bring it down onto a soccer or a football field, that would equate even just 60 millimeters would equate to a half a million liters of water over an area just the size of a soccer field. The reason I say that -- it's about 12 and a half swimming pools -- but the reason I say that, you accumulate that amount of water, you funnel it into a channel, into a cave system, it becomes a tremendous amount of water to work with not just 60 millimeters to work with and that's what's concerning across this region. Notice over the next seven days potentially as much as 150 to 200 millimeters could come down.

And of course, the landscape across this region very mountainous near the cave entrance, all of that water will want a funnel downstream. And Paula, when you look at that and you try to think about how much water that is just 60 millimeters turning into a half a million litres of water over just a football-field-sized area and of course there's a lot more of that area than just one football field, there's millions of litres of water that could once again funnel back in there quickly.

NEWTON: And no way to predict exactly where that water's going inside that cave system. OK, Pedro, we get it. 24 to 48 hours is very crucial right now. Thanks so much. I appreciate it. Now, bringing out the first four boys was quite a victory in and of itself. Our Tom Foreman looks at how the first rescues took place.

TOM FOREMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: The initial part of this rescue actually happened a little bit faster than officials expected with two boys coming out about ten minutes apart, then two hours later two more coming out. And that was possible only because of a massive effort to pump out so much of the rainwater in this cave that some portions of it became walkable. Now other areas still remain completely submerged and that's why these divers had to go in there and put these boys into full face masks. There were 18 skilled divers in the cave at this time and as they brought them out, they use this configuration. A diver would go up front tethered to the boy behind him carrying the air supply for that boy behind him. They're all following a line and then another diver would come there backing up the entire effort. How many parts of the cage do they have to do this? It's not really clear from the maps that we can see them so far. A lot of the cave clearly is still submerged but we don't know what that means. By some accounts, it's a quarter of it which would be around a kilometer which is maybe 11 football fields that they had to go under completely submerge with no vision, bad currents, cold that's a huge ask for kids who've never even been in scuba gear and yet they managed to get four of them from in there out here. And now they have to get the others. First thing, they've got to replenish those oxygen supplies because they've used up everything. They're starting all over. That's going to take some time but they don't have a whole lot of time. Look, all of the pumping effort has been aimed at the rain that collected from the time the boys disappeared. They had a little lull in here and now the monsoon rains are coming back in earnest. And that is giving an urgency to this effort beyond even what we have seen so far.

NEWTON: All right, our Tom Foreman there with the stark details of what these boys are facing. Now, the four boys rescued Sunday are said to be in good condition. Our Chief Medical Correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta explains what doctors are looking for as they try and evaluate them.

SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CHIEF MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: These doctors had a long time to think about and prepare for what is unfolding now. Their basic concerns when the boys come out of the cave and you can pare it down to simple ABC, airway, breathing, circulation. You want to make sure that you address these things at the scene at the mouth of the cave and make a decision then how quickly do the boys, these players, the even the divers if something happens need to get to a hospital.

[01:14:59] We saw one boy get airlifted. It could have been a problem with breathing. It could have been a problem with blood pressure as a result of dehydration. We don't know, but that's how these decisions get made.

Keep in mind the timeline. This is something that doctors are really paying attention too as well to sort of predict what these boys will need. June 23rd, the boys, and the coach are missing. Nine days before some of that food shows up as result to those rescue divers.

What were the conditions in the cave? We know the oxygen levels drop, we know that there is a concern about dehydration. That's how you sort of process things up from a medical standpoint.

I fight a guess. I would say most of these boys probably won't be in the hospital that long. Because whether it's dehydration, malnutrition, some other concern. Most of that can be addressed pretty quickly. So, from a physical standpoint, pretty fast. Psychologically, mentally, we'll have to wait and see.

NEWTON: And we thank Sanjay, for that update. Now, for the families of the trapped boys, the long vigil appears to be hopefully in its final anxious hours. Parents and other family members have occurs been glued to news reports for 16 days praying for the moment when they can be reunited with their loved ones.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SALISA PROMJAK, AUNT OF TRAPPED BOY, PRAJAK SUTHAM (through translation): It's like I'm counting every second. I want to see his face. I want to see how he gets out, how they get him out. I am so happy.

KIAWAKHAM CHANTAPHOON, GRANDMOTHER OF TRAPPED BOY, PRAJAK SUTHAM (through translation): Grandma loves you the most in the whole world. I miss you dearly. I think, every country, everyone helps the kids to get out. It's like a miracle.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

NEWTON: OK. Now, of course, we're going to update you on the situation in Northern Thailand, especially as we await hopefully, the next phase of this mission to begin.

But next, a nerve agent has now killed a British woman and the suspicion is Russia may be behind the attacked.

Plus, seeing the dramatic rescue this time in Southwestern Japan. As the rain stops, the rescues begin and we'll have the details ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

VINCE CELLINI, CNN SPORTS ANCHOR: I'm Vince Cellini with your CNN "WORLD SPORT" headlines. We start with Formula One. Lewis Hamilton seeking a record, fifth straight home victory at the British Grand Prix. But, a disaster start for him, he went from row one to last place only the battle back and end up in second.

In the end, it was Ferrari and Sebastian Vettel. Vettel navigated through what was going on around him to take the lead at the start, and despite losing the lead during safety car periods, able to move back in front and lock up his 51st career victory, second triumph at Silverstone.

Switching over to the Tour de France, and stage two, we've already seen more than our fair share of crashes. Another day of contact with stage two seeing yesterday's winner, Fernando Gaviria, involved in the crash in the final two kilometers.

It left the door open for Slovakia's World Champion Peter Sagan to power his way to the win. Meaning he's now in possession of the yellow jersey after stage two.

And the UFC, Daniel Cormier, becoming only the second person in the history of the sport, simultaneously holding two titles in two different divisions.

Cormier already the light heavyweight champion fought Stipe Miocic, the heavyweight champion. Cormier was considered a big underdog going into the fight but knocked out the world champion in the heavyweight division in the first round. Miocic surrenders the belt. That's a look at your sports headlines, I'm Vince Cellini.

[01:20:58] NEWTON: Not once, but twice, civilians now in England have been poisoned with a military-grade nerve agent. Now, one of those civilians has died from exposure to novichok.

This British woman there, Dawn Sturgess, leaves behind three children. Her death is now being investigated as murder. Now, her partner Charles Rowley remains in critical condition after also being exposed to the same agent used to poison a former British spy and his daughter in March. They survived and investigators are now trying to determine if the two cases are connected.

Now, the deaths of the British woman could though worse on the diplomatic dispute between the U.K. and Russia. We discussed that earlier with our Phil Black in Salisbury.

PHIL BLACK, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (via telephone): The long saga has been unfolding here since, but it all took that sharp unexpected turn over about a week ago. And Dawn Sturgess and her partner, those fell ill. Initially, the authorities and the doctors were treating. When they -- thought it was as a result of some sort of drug use gone wrong. But it was after several days of treating them that they began to suspect that something was different here and they conducted tests and they determined it. Yes, once again, this was novichok poisoning. Just like Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia.

Further tests, then determined that it seemed that they had held some sort of item that had been contaminated with the substance. So, what they know is that it's the same poison, it's the like the same toxic nerve agent, the same Russian chemical weapon, that's the key point.

What they haven't determined if it's from precisely the same batch as that which was used in the attempted assassination of Sergei and Yulia Skripal.

I think the logical working theory is that that's exactly what it is. That this is some form of leftover and if you like from that attempted assassination that has been lying somewhere near the streets, you know, within the Salisbury area. Somewhere not obvious perhaps, somewhere not easily accessible as a result, it hasn't been disturbed the crucially it seems the nerve agent hasn't degraded over that time so still incredibly potent. These two have picked that up and as a result, full and violently ill.

And now, a week later or so, Dawn Sturgess has died. It is sad news but it's also really important news in terms of the International fallout from all of this. Because as you've touched on there, but it was already very angry that a Russian chemical weapon was used on British soil.

NEWTON: Our thanks to Phil Black, there. Now, British Prime Minister Theresa May, says she's shocked and appalled by the death. The Prime Minister has blamed Russia for the poisoning of the Skripals. And the British home secretary is demanding answers from the Kremlin. But he says there are no plans to impose new sanctions on Russia. The Soviet Union first developed novichok but Moscow denies any involvement in the two cases.

Now, another stumbling block to Britain's efforts to leave the European Union. Brexit Secretary David Davis has now resigned. He said he wasn't willing to be a reluctant conscript to a compromise plan agreed upon Friday. The plan would press for a free trade area for goods with the E.U. and maintain close trades that ties. Other conservative lawmakers criticized the compromise. Saying, it offered a Brexit only in name. Prime Minister Theresa May faces Parliament, Monday night.

Now, days of deadly rain in Southwestern Japan are coming thankfully, finally to an end. And now, residents and emergency workers are trying to dig out and assess the damage from massive flooding and landslides. At least 75 people have died and more than 50 people remain missing.

The government calls it a disaster of historic proportions easy to see when you see those pictures there as carry in joins your reports, though the rain is clearing up the danger still lurks. [01:24:44] KAORI ENJOJI, TOKYO BUREAU CHIEF, CNBC: The death toll continues to melt across Japan as more bodies are being found after torrential rains triggered landslides and mudslides and flooding throughout the country over the weekend.

Some 56,000 troops have been mobilized from Japan's self-defense forces which is basically the military to try and get helicopters, boats, rafts, to bring people to higher ground and towards safety.

The problem has been that this devastation has occurred through large parts of the country. From southwestern areas of Kyushu, all the way to the central area of Japan, as well.

And they're saying that some of the remote areas they haven't really been able to get access to, so they really don't know the full scale and intensity of the damage across parts of this country.

The weather agency says that the rains have stopped and there are no rain warnings per se today here in Japan on Monday. That's you can see there's still sporadic rain in some -- in some areas, and the land has been so wet over the last few days, that any kind of motion, even a light rain could trigger further mudslides. And so, they're urging people to be very vigilant.

Some tens of thousands of people spent the night in evacuation centers across the country. And I think the rescue efforts are going to be compounded by the fact that there's very little access to some of these centers because train lines -- some of the local train lines are still halted and the highways are closed, as well.

And temperatures are going to be rising today. Forecast to rise to some 30-32 degrees in some of these areas. So, you're looking at possibility of dehydration especially among some of the vulnerable parts of the population, like the elderly.

And remember, in some of these remote areas of Japan, you're talking about a very, very aged -- rapidly aging population in some of these areas.

So, it's still a very precarious situation in Japan after a very harrowing weekend of torrential rain and flooding. The vulnerability of some of these areas still continues to be very high. That's the latest from Japan. I'm Kaori Enjoji.

NEWTON: OK, stay with us. We will have much more on the Thai cave rescue operation, and the trapped boys have bring letters to their parents. We'll read you some of their encouraging words. That's ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[01:30:23] NEWTON: Welcome back to CNN NEWSROOM. Here is a look at your headlines this hour.

A British woman has died after being exposed to the same nerve agent used in March to poison a former Russian spy and his daughter in England.

British police have now launched a murder investigation. The woman's partner Charles Rowley was also exposed. He remains in critical condition.

The Novichok nerve agent was first developed by the Soviet Union but Russia denies any involvement.

Brexit secretary David Davis resigned late Sunday. He said he wasn't willing to be a reluctant conscript through a compromise plan to maintain close trading ties with the European Union. Prime Minister Theresa May faces parliament later Monday.

Hundreds of rescues are underway across Japan after record rainfall caused flooding and landslides. At least 75 people have been killed and many more missing. First responders are using helicopters and boats to evacuate hospital patients and the elderly. The government is advising millions of others in flood zones to evacuate immediately.

And now we continue tracking our breaking news out of Thailand. Rescue teams are watching the weather as they're set to restart efforts to save a youth football team. Four boys were pulled safely from the flooded cave on Sunday. Their eight team mates and coach remain trapped with more rain in the forecast.

Standing by for us, of course, is CNN's David McKenzie. David -- you know, last when we spoke they were in meetings. Do you have any kind of an update about whether or not a new mission -- the beginning of a new rescue mission here is imminent.

MCKENZIE: Well, let me bring you the latest information, when threaded together doesn't necessarily give us all that much but does speak to the atmosphere of tension on the second day possibly of this extraordinary rescue attempt.

First coming from an official within those strategic meetings on the mountainside behind me where international divers and their Thai counterparts both military and civilian have been discussing earlier today the strategy and the steps they'll take to get more of those boys out of that cave.

Now the latest was from about an hour ago that they have not yet moved in to resume that operation. We know that the key members of this rescue team, the specialist divers were given rest overnight here in Thailand. They also got their kit, their oxygen supplies ready to go.

We also know, Paula, from a family member of one of those soccer team players stuck in their cave for so long, hasn't been made aware by the government if their boy had been taken out or not which most importantly shows you how careful they are being about the flow of information.

On this issue, there have been names circulated. We're not comfortable because of the sensitivity of that to release those names. But four boys at this hour in a hospital about an hour's drive from where I'm standing, recuperating from that arduous journey through those tight passages in a rescue attempt some thought just couldn't be done -- Paula.

NEWTON: Yes. It really is incredibly miraculous and we have been warned, David, not to be complacent. That's what the experts tell us. So we await the reentry into that cave. Our David McKenzie there, who continues to stand by as we await that news.

Thanks, again -- David.

Now, at any age, of course being away from your family really hurts. But the boys in the cave have been putting on brave faces in letters to their loved ones. We want to share with you a little bit about what they shared with their parents.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I love you mom and dad. Don't worry. I'm safe already. Love to everybody.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Mom, are you ok at home? Stay at home. I'm ok. Please tell my teacher too.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm fine. But the weather is quite cold. But don't worry. Don't forget my birthday.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm ok. Don't worry. I love dad, and mom and everybody.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm (INAUDIBLE) up here for only two weeks. I will go back and help mom to sell every time I have a free day. I will rush to go back.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Now don't worry about us any more. I miss everybody. I really need to go back home.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: If I can get out -- mom, dad -- take me to eat pork on a hot plate.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Don't worry, I miss everybody -- grandfather, auntie, mom, dad, and brothers. I love everybody.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I love mum and dad. Don't worry about me. I love everybody.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I love mom and dad very much. Don't worry about it. I can take care of myself.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

NEWTON: Some real insight there into their innocence.

Now a judicial announcement followed by key moments on the international stage. After the break, we have a preview of President Trump's packed agenda this week.

[01:35:00] Plus England's coach, Gareth Southgate is being commended for leading the Three Lions to the World Cup semifinals. It's also bringing back a fashion statement -- you see it there -- that dates back to the 17th century.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NEWTON: Ok. The President will kick off a busy week with his highly- anticipated announcement of a Supreme Court nominee Monday night and after that he'll move on to several critical international events.

Our Boris Sanchez has a preview.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BORIS SANCHEZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): President Trump is getting set to make a historic announcement Monday night at 9:00 p.m. Eastern -- his nominee to replace Justice Anthony Kennedy of the Supreme Court.

Of course, the backdrop of that decision is the news over the weekend that the President's attorney Rudy Giuliani has laid out some very specific demands of the special counsel in order for President Trump to testify.

Though President Trump has repeatedly said that he wants to sit down with Mueller, Giuliani laid out a list of demands, one of them being that the special counsel has to provide evidence that there is suspicion of wrongdoing on behalf of the President.

Giuliani has openly said that he does not believe Robert Mueller will comply with all of these demands. He is effectively setting up a situation where the special counsel will issue a subpoena to try to compel the President to testify.

That is something that Giuliani says he will challenge in court. Here's more from the former mayor of New York Sunday morning on "STATE OF THE UNION" speaking to Dana Bash. Listen.

RUDY GIULIANI, TRUMP ATTORNEY: I have no idea what he is going to do. I think if he does, we can have the subpoena quashed. To subpoena the President, never been done successfully in the history of this country. There is very, very strong law that the President cannot be subjected to criminal process.

[01:40:00] There's very good argument in the OLC opinion, governing Mueller says that but certainly constitutional law may say it. The reality is that we have a very strong argument that they haven't made a case for an interview.

SANCHEZ: It appears that the President's legal team would prefer this court battle to the President actually testifying.

And of course, this is all unfolding during a very busy week for President Trump. He doesn't only have that Supreme Court decision, he is also headed to Europe to meet with NATO allies, to visit the United Kingdom, and also that one-on-one sit down with Russia President Vladimir Putin.

Boris Sanchez, CNN -- traveling with the President near Bedminster, New Jersey.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

NEWTON: Ok. You get the idea. It's a busy week.

Now, last hour I spoke with political analyst Peter Matthews about the candidate President Trump is considering and what might factor into that choice.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PETER MATTHEWS, POLITICAL ANALYST: I think it is between Kavanaugh, Hardiman and Amy Barrett who's the only woman in the nomination running right now. but I think the principle is he wants to make sure that this nominee will abide by the principles the Republican Party has is to basically overturn Roe v. Wade.

That's been the party platform and Trump promised that to his followers. He is going to try to hide it by not bringing up the issue or saying that the (INAUDIBLE) should not bring it up either in the proclamation process.

But he has -- I'm sure he wants that to be in there. And he has to pay off his supporters who are the hardcore supporters who support banning or overturning Roe v. Wade. It's very, very dangerous and probably troublesome for American women especially.

NEWTON: You know, with two of those three candidates that you, you know, talked about they don't really -- they haven't really purposefully and very explicitly stated their opinion on abortion. They are, of course, conservatives.

And what I am getting at is do you think in terms of the conservative base that if he does not appoint someone who is very strong on the issue of abortion, that his base will think it is essentially a failure?

MATTHEWS: I think a big part of his base which by the way, is the evangelical and more fundamentalist Christians, Christian right for example, they would -- some of them, a good percentage might drop out of his support and stay home out their, you know, feeling like he didn't really stick to his guns, stick to what he promised.

And that is 40 percent of the primary -- Republican primary voters who belong to that Christian fundamentalist group. So it's a large part (ph) of the party and if they (INAUDIBLE) even if ten percent stay home, his reelection in 2020, he's in trouble. I think it's going to have an impact definitely if he doesn't stick with someone who is actually is known to be wiling to overturn -- or wanting to overturn Roe v. Wade.

NEWTON: Yes. I mean look, it is a reality show in the making here. He wants it that way. It is 9:00 m. Eastern Monday night announcement and we all wait for that decision. He claims he has not quite decided yet. So one wonders what that the phone call is going to be like, right Peter? (CROSSTALK)

NEWTON: You are one of these candidates who've been in the wings and you're waiting for that phone call.

MATTHEWS: The whole country will be awake at that time. 6:00 in the West Coast, 9:00 in the East Coast.

NEWTON: Exactly. He knows what is he is doing. It is called prime time for a reason.

Moving on to then rest of the week, you know, dealing with the NATO meeting in Brussels, he has taunted nearly every ally around that table. Do you think he will find a way to perhaps look like the peacemaker? Because he does at times find ways to be ever so slightly more magnanimous to keep us all guessing. Do you think he will go in there again reinforcing the point that most NATO members are not paying their way?

MATTHEWS: Again, it's very unpredictable with him. He can go both ways. And the reason he may (INAUDIBLE) is because he pushes so far in the other way where he has really turned off so many of our allies in NATO and demanding they pay the 2 percent of their GDP into defense. The U.S. pays 3.5 percent, Germany 1.2, I think that Britain's over 2.2 percent or so.

So it all depends on what he wants to do. I think that he is going to really think about his base once again. He has go to be the tough guy against even our allies and then cozy up to Mr. Putin to some extent because it seems like his base wants to do just that. They want him to be -- to stand up in the contrary way to what, you know, regular American leaders have done in the past.

NEWTON: Yes. Incredible, you know, just the optics going from the Brussels meeting, to then meeting Theresa May and the Queen, and then to Vladimir Putin, especially as we're all dealing with this latest scandal in Britain as well and now a murder investigation.

MATTHEWS: Yes.

NEWTON: Peter -- very quickly before I let you go, do you think there is any kind of chance that during the NATO meeting specifically and then Theresa May in the follow-up that they will be able to perhaps temper his mood a little bit?

MATTHEWS: I think it is very possible that he will temper it temporarily. But then again, he can reverse himself just the next day or the next week with just one tweet. And that's the problem.

I don't think he should be really aggressively, you know, anti-Russia or anti-anyone. He should actually try to be accommodating, be more measured and balanced in his foreign policies, make sure that our friends and allies are happy and content and trust us.

[01:45:04] And that Russia knows that we demand certain things of them if we're going to be on good terms with them. He needs to be presidential. That still hasn't been forthcoming yet in my view.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

NEWTON: Ok. That was analyst and political science professor Peter Matthews.

Now, the U.S. Secretary of State sent a message to North Korea during his stop in Vietnam. After meeting with the general secretary of Vietnam's communist party, Mike Pompeo urged Pyongyang to follow Hanoi's example, to engage and enjoy the possibility of lucrative trade relations.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MIKE POMPEO, U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE: He wants unimaginable prosperity and partnership we have with Vietnam today. I have a message for Chairman Kim Jong-Un. President Trump believes your country can replicate this path. It's yours if you'll seize the moment. The miracle could be your miracles. It can be your miracle and North Korea as well.

The United States has been clear about what we seek from North Korea to set in motion this great chain of events. The choice now lies with North Korea and its people. If they are able to do this, they will be remembered and Chairman Kim will be remembered as a hero of the Korean people.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

NEWTON: Pompeo dismissed North Korea's assessment that the two days of denuclearization talks had a quote, "gangster-like mindset". He also noted economic sanctions on the North remain in place until denuclearization is complete.

Coming up -- a devoted dad did what he could to help his daughter walk, just ahead. See how dedicated doctors are making sure that happens.

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JAVAHERI: Very July-like weather patterns shaping up across portions of North America. I'm meteorologist Pedram Javaheri watching tropical storm Chris sitting there off the coast of the Carolinas while these stationary frontal boundary parts are in place and a lot of wet weather across portions of the Gulf Coast states. And of course, the big time heat in store in the central United States.

But right now watching this carefully because very little movement in the initial track of the system here but we do know it is going to churn up enough waters here to create a dangerous (INAUDIBLE) for some of the coastal communities there as far as rip currents are concerned, certainly getting swells as well across that region.

But initially it will meander there. And then over the next several days we'll see this gradually pull away and become category 1 hurricane Chris. At this point, models indicate this will want to push in toward the Canadian maritime, enter cooler waters and then rain itself out across that region for the latter portion of this week.

[01:49:52] But how about this? Very uniform set up of temperatures -- 31 in New York, 32 in Montreal, 33 in Atlanta and it just continues into the lower and middle 30s for just about everyone across the country with the exception of the north western U.S. there. But it's comfortable. You know, the British Columbia remaining comfortable there as well.

Chicago -- how about we cool you off a little bit in the next several days? While in New York City, this trend is also a little more bearable of a trend.

Looking at the pattern around the western United States in places like Portland, Oregon -- big time heat wave shooting up to the upper 30s in the late week.

NEWTON: Ok, ready. At least four European countries are. The anticipation is building for the World Cup semifinals. Two countries are looking to win football's biggest prize for the second time on Tuesday.

The 1998 winners France will face Belgium's star-studded squad. Fans think it may finally be time for Belgium and its so called golden generation.

And then on Wednesday, the 1966 champion England try to get one step closer to giving a new generation of fans a World Cup. But a talented Croatia squad could end England's dreams just as they crushed the aspirations of host country Russia.

Now, thankfully in any case, it is only a few days before find out. Remember this is England's first time in the World Cup's semifinals in 28 years. And you know, many are giving credit to the coach, the manager -- Gareth Southgate.

Mark Bolton has more on Southgate's career and, of course, his fashion sense.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MARK BOLTON, SPORT JOURNALIST: England's unlikely hero and he somewhat unexpected manager's foundations lie here at Selhurst Park. He was captain in the 90s when they were outside the Premier League. But the qualities he showed early on led to Premier League captaincy elsewhere at two other clubs before he finally put on the arm band for his country.

The early signs of emotional intelligence and a holistic approach to football have seen Gareth Southgate come a long way from his humble, grounded start.

MARK BRIGHT, FORMER TEAMMATE, CRYSTAL PALACE: A good captain obviously because of his leadership qualities. A Humble person, a professional, you know, really good professional as a youngster. And those sorts of habits carry through your career.

You know, you set your own standard and he's loyal, you know, to his friend. And I just think he is enjoying the moment.

BOLTON: Southgate's glass has always been half-full even at the nadir of his playing career when his penalty miss forced England out of the 1996 European championships making him a national pariah, he managed somehow to turn a miserable moment into a positive one with some smart self-deprecation.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Miss -- Pizza Hut pan pizza -- Unless I am mistaken. Thank you -- Miss. Come on Gareth. It only took me six years to get out of it. Have some pan pizza.

BOLTON: Pan pizza from Pizza Hut -- a light fluffy base with a crispy crust smothered with generous toppings.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Thanks a lot, boys. I feel much better now.

MICHAEL CULFIELD, DIRECTOR AND SPORT PSYCHOLOGIST, SPORTING EDGE: He learned the most important lesson of all that one bad moment in your life doesn't lead to a bad life. It was a, (INAUDIBLE) a day in July 22 years ago. That didn't finish his career. It didn't finish his life. It hurt him. He wished to this day obviously he would have scored it. It didn't define his life. He didn't allow that to come to the event for which he would be remembered for.

BOLTON: Management potential at Middlesboro was unfulfilled but free of the archaic machismo endemic in much of the football management. The Football Associate embraced Southgate's more cerebral approach. And after a promising spell with England's under-21 squad promoted him to football's so-called impossible job.

BRIGHT: And I think reluctant England manager I think at the start because I don't think he wanted the job. I think he wanted a bit more time and then embrace it. And make some tough decisions, Joe Hart (ph), Chad Wilshire (ph), Rooney -- not going. And got a young group and has molded them and given self-belief and created a bit of history for himself and the country.

And as you see we're enjoying an amazing summer here and an amazing tournament.

BOLTON: For Queen and country, Southgate and his young team march on; he is quickly becoming another national treasure.

But who'd have thought a style icon. England may be crowned world champions. Southgate could always be known for that infamous waistcoat.

BRIGHT: The waistcoat -- I mean, I mean we run out of waistcoat. I mean certain department stores -- it is just his style.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

NEWTON: Mark Bolton reporting there. Now you can imagine, fashionistas are wondering, ok are those England fans going to really come out and wearing those waistcoats -- vests to me, for the semifinal. We shall see. We will be looking for them.

[01:55:01] Now, one little girl from Aleppo, Syria is finally getting the help she needs. Eight-year-old Maya was spotted walking around in the Idlib refugee camp using tin cans as prosthetics.

She was born without limbs. Her father designed the tin can legs so she could have some sort of protection from the ground. Now, thanks to specialists in Turkey, she has real prosthetics.

Maya's father said his job was made easier -- pardon me, Maya's doctor said his job was made easier by her father's dedication and the makeshift limbs he created for her.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MOHAMMED MARDI (ph), MAYA'S FATHER (through translator): The situation was very difficult. We were in Aleppo and we had to move to Idlib. We faced many challenges, especially moving from the place we lived in tents; many challenges that we had to face.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

NEWTON: Now, the doctors hope she will be able to walk on her own with them sometime within the next three months.

Thanks for joining me here on CNN NEWSROOM. I'm Paula Newton.

Stay where you are, George Howell will be back with more on the Thailand rescue operation and of course, more news. That's right after the break.

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