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Dhaka Attackers all Bangladeshi; Car Bombs Kill 80 in Baghdad; Erdogan Visits Makeshift Memorial for Victims; FBI Interviews Clinton, Charges Unlikely; Australian Election Too Close to Call; Teacher Killed in Istanbul Laid to Rest; Children of Single Sperm Donor Unite; Germany Qualify for Euro 2016 Semifinals; North American Leaders' Handshake Goes Awry. Aired 5-6a ET
Aired July 03, 2016 - 05:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
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GEORGE HOWELL, CNN ANCHOR (voice-over): Ahead this hour, new details coming to light of what happened during Saturday's terror attack in Bangladesh, as the country begins two days of mourning.
Dozens of people are dead, more than 100 wounded in two car bomb explosions in Baghdad, ISIS claiming responsibility.
And honoring a legend: the world pays tribute to human rights activist and Holocaust survivor, Elie Wiesel.
Live from CNN World Headquarters in Atlanta, welcome to our viewers here in the United States and around the world. I'm George Howell. CNN NEWSROOM starts right now.
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HOWELL: It's 5:00 am on the U.S. East Coast. We are learning new details about the terrible attack on a cafe in the Bangladeshi capital.
Police say that all of the gunmen, they were all from Bangladesh, five of them militants, of whom police had tried to arrest before; 13 hostages were rescued after troops ended that siege on Saturday. ISIS is claiming responsibility for the attack.
We also know now the nationalities of 20 hostages who were killed: nine were Italian, seven Japanese, two Bangladeshi, one Indian and one U.S. citizen.
For the very latest on this investigation, let's cross over live to CNN's Alexandra Field by phone.
Alexandra, so what more can you tell us about the new information on these suspects?
ALEXANDRA FIELD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, George, while ISIS is claiming responsibility for these attacks, pictures have also been posted online, reportedly showing the men who attacked that cafe. ISIS has posted those pictures, identifying each of those men.
CNN cannot verify, of course, that those are the attackers. But that is the claim that is being made online.
At the same time, the period of mourning continues here in Dhaka. There are two official days of mourning for the 20 people who were killed inside the cafe and the two police officers who died in the line of duty.
And, George, you mentioned that these are people who come from a number of different countries, many Italians, many Japanese among them. At the crime scene, we have seen part of a Japanese delegation arriving, a Japanese government official. We also know that Japan is sending in counterterrorism experts to help with the investigation here.
That restaurant remains sealed off while investigators do their work inside. Japanese family members of the victims are also set to be arriving in Dhaka, where other family members are already doing the very grim job of being asked to identify the remains of their loved ones.
Remains are still in the hands of investigators, who hope to turn those remains over to the families quickly for burial -- George.
HOWELL: Alexandra, it is a nation in mourning.
Can you just talk to us about the mood of people there?
Obviously terrorism is an issue that, in the past, to some extent, has been denied by the government, though we are seeing government officials take a very strong stance against this terrible attack that happened there.
What is the mood of citizens, given what happened?
FIELD: Right, George. You have heard the prime minister say that she plans to form counterterrorism groups with the police and the public and that killing in the name of Islam must stop.
And that is, of course, a reference to the spate (ph) of attacks that we've seen in this country over the last year or two, many of them which have been claimed by groups like ISIS and Al Qaeda.
You've seen individual murders of people, people who have been hacked to death in broad daylight, these machete murders which have been claimed by these terror groups.
But the line from the government is that these groups do not operate within Bangladesh. So people have been asking the government to recognize the problem that does exist here and to do more to stop it from happening.
This is exactly the kind of uptick in violence that so many people have feared would happen, would transpire. It's what we've been hearing from them, as we've been talking to them in Dhaka for the last couple weeks and even couple of months.
It's an incredibly somber mood. There's a heavy amount of grief here. We've seen flowers that are being delivered to this cafe, which was considered a very lively place, popular with diplomats, popular with expats, right in the heart of sort of the nightlife area of Dhaka.
So incredibly somber but also there was a great deal of frustration that more has not been done to curb these kinds of attacks from happening. Certainly this is the largest attack in scale and scope of anything that's been recently seen in Dhaka. It has sent chills through the community here, people who are already fearful of the mounting violence, now just more fear -- George.
HOWELL: It is good to get the context from you there, Alexandra. You've done extensive reporting there in Bangladesh on many of these hacking attacks, hacking deaths --
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HOWELL: -- that have happened and, again, now this terrible attack that happened at a cafe. Alexandra Field, by phone with us, thank you and we'll stay in touch with you.
The majority of the victims from this attack, they were from Italy. CNN contributor Barbie Nadeau joins us now live from Rome to talk more about that.
Barbie, we are hearing from leaders there, they're making it very clear that that is a nation in mourning but, at the same time, quite resilient in the face of terrorism.
BARBIE NADEAU, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's right. Prime Minister Matteo Renzi said that Italy had been attacked in this, what they called massacre, but not brought to its knees. He vowed resolve in the fight against terrorism.
But the mood fear is very, very grim, especially as details about how these people died, hacked to death and then details against that about their lives. There was a 33-year-old pregnant woman, six months pregnant; she would have been visibly pregnant, ready to come home to have her baby, to spend the summer in Italy and then move here. She was living in Bangladesh.
There was a 47-year-old man who had twins, 3-year-old twins, had just celebrated their birthday. He's dead now.
All those stories of those people just make the situation more tragic. And we're expecting Pope Francis to address this in his noontime angelus that he'll give from St. Peter's Square today.
But everyone here really is coming together as a nation to mourn the loss of these people, ordinary people, whose lives were cut short by this senseless act of terrorism -- George.
HOWELL: Barbie Nadeau, live in Rome for us, Barbie, thank you for your reporting. Let's now bring in Nadia Sandani (ph). She is the director of the Dhaka Art Summit and lives in the neighborhood where that cafe is located, also knew two victims who studied at Emory University here in Georgia. And Nadia (ph) joins us by phone.
First of all, just talk to us about what you have heard from these families. I know that you spent some time talking to the families of these victims.
What are they saying, given what happened here?
NADIA SANDANI (PH), DIRECTOR, DHAKA ART SUMMIT: Everyone -- hello?
HOWELL: Nadia Sandani (ph), yes, you're on the line, live on CNN, this is George Howell. Just wanted to ask you so what are you hearing from the families?
SANDANI (PH): Everybody is in shock. Everybody's traumatized, heartbroken. I mean, we just can't believe that something like this can happen in our country. I mean, just -- I mean we're all, all completely shattered.
HOWELL: What is the mood of people there?
How are people dealing with this terrible event?
SANDANI (PH): The mood, I mean, last two days, every -- I mean the whole town, I feel, has (INAUDIBLE) depressed, confused, (INAUDIBLE), all people are talking about and thinking about and are praying are for these victims and what has happened.
And now it's Ramadan in Bangladesh and, in three days, it's our (INAUDIBLE) with our festivals. And this is the time in Bangladesh when it's the most festive time and so everybody is out, shopping with their families, kids, going to restaurants. And it's just become -- everybody's numb and in shock, basically.
HOWELL: Nadia (ph), I want to ask you, just to get a sense of that neighborhood, that area, you're familiar with this particular cafe, this bakery.
Just talk to us about this area, because it's very popular for foreigners, correct?
SANDANI (PH): Correct. People -- I live around that area and the holy (ph) bakery was one of our favorite places to go. I'm a regular visitor there. I regularly go there with my children. We meet up with friends and (INAUDIBLE) everybody there.
And this bakery, it wasn't in a commercial part and it was quite inside one of the roads and it wasn't really advertised. It wasn't that big (INAUDIBLE). It's just people knew, like word-of-mouth, like a very popular with the foreigners and Bangladeshis, too, but only people who knew.
It's not a place where you can drive by and spot the bakery and go in. So it was more like a word-of-mouth place.
HOWELL: Nadia (ph), I'm curious; I know that you are familiar with -- are you familiar with the fact that there have been so many hacking attacks, these deaths that have happened, quite frankly, over the last year?
Given that, is there a sense now that people are more concerned about events like this?
Or were people growing concerned, given the targeted attacks that have been happening?
SANDANI (PH): (INAUDIBLE)
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HOWELL: We're having some trouble hearing Nadia Sandani (ph). But again, she lives in that area near the bakery and was giving us her insights on that neighborhood and also her knowledge of two of the victims' families, these people who lost their lives in this terrible attack at a cafe in Dhaka.
Two car bombings in the Iraqi capital that killed at least 80 people, the blasts happened on Saturday in Central and Southeastern Baghdad. More than 130 people wounded there.
The attacks were mostly Shiite neighborhoods and ISIS claimed responsibility for one of those attacks. Our senior international correspondent, Ben Wedeman, is live in Cairo, Egypt, following this story.
Ben, so let's talk about the fact we have seen, you know, Fallujah, the troops retaking key parts in Iraq.
But the question now, are we seeing ISIS start to ramp up attacks in other places to try to spread fear?
BEN WEDEMAN, CNN SR. INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: That certainly seems to be the case. They've lost a lot of territory; at their height, they controlled almost 40 percent of Iraq. Now they're down to less than 15 percent.
Clearly, they're changing tactics. They can't hold territory in the face of the Iraqi army, the U.S.-led coalition and Kurdish forces, all amassed and fighting against them.
But these bombings overnight in Baghdad were particularly horrific, one of them, in the Karrada district in Central Baghdad, killing at least 79 people. It happened around midnight.
Keep in mind, it's the holy month of Ramadan. At midnight, the heat of the Baghdad day has abated, so there were hundreds and hundreds of people in the street, including families with little children.
Now it's believed that the bomb in Karrada was in a truck, it was a truck bomb. And this bomb, not only the blast causing much death and destruction, but it also caused fires that burned throughout the night. Emergency teams fought those fires throughout the night.
Others were trying to find more bodies and victims in the wreckage. Now this morning, the Iraqi prime minister, Haider al-Abadi, came to the scene to inspect the damage.
But people are so angry that this sort of -- these sorts of bombings continue that they drove him out of the neighborhood, throwing rocks at his entourage.
Now it's important to keep in mind that, so far this year, at least 500 Iraqis have been killed in similar car bombings, suicide bombings around the country. And according to figures kept by the United Nations, in June alone, 662 Iraqis were killed in terrorist attacks and other violence -- George.
HOWELL: Ben, given the frustration that we've seen of many people who protested the government there, do attacks like this from ISIS, are they effective?
WEDEMAN: Well, they're effective in just keeping the capital on edge and, therefore, certainly even though, as I said, the Iraqi government has been fairly successful at regaining territory from ISIS, ISIS is clearly changing tactics.
It wants to move away from its territorial fetish, so to speak, and just become, it would appear, a terrorist organization urging, waging urban warfare against the civilian population.
And whenever these bombs happen, people are understandably angry that, in their capital, in their neighborhood, as they go about their daily business, they simply aren't safe. And they can fall so often victim to bombings like these. And it's sometimes -- to ordinary Iraqis they wonder why can't the government stop them -- George.
HOWELL: Ben Wedeman, live for us.
Ben, on a little side note I had a coughing attack myself just the other day during the broadcast. No one plays off a coughing attack better than you just a moment ago. Thank you, sir, for your reporting. We'll stay in touch with you.
The people fight for their lives in Turkish hospitals; the country's president is vowing vengeance after last week's airport attacks. We'll have that story.
Plus the FBI sits down with Hillary Clinton about her private e-mail server. Why she says she was happy to answer their questions. Stay with us.
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(MUSIC PLAYING) HOWELL: Following the terror attack that took place in Turkey, that
nation is honoring the lives of 44 people killed in last week's attacks. And authorities continue their investigation as well.
On Saturday, Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan visited a makeshift shrine for the dead at the Ataturk Airport. Three suicide bombers attacked that airport on Tuesday.
Officials believe a well-known Russian jihadist and ISIS lieutenant coordinated that assault. We don't know where he is presently.
Our senior international correspondent, Ivan Watson, is live in Istanbul following the story.
Ivan, good day to you.
What more do we know about the investigation?
IVAN WATSON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, the Turkish authorities have been remarkably tight-lipped. We haven't really gotten any updates, any details on the bombers in some 48 hours now, aside from knowing that there were three of them,. Their identities appear to have been a Russian citizen, citizens of Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan, Central Asian former Soviet republics.
And we have U.S. officials suggesting that they think that the mastermind of the attack is this notorious Russian militant, Ahmed Chataev, from the turbulent Caucasus region.
We know roughly where the three suspected suicide bombers rented property, an apartment, for about a month, here in Istanbul. But, again, very few further updates and it may be because the Turks are trying to keep that information close to their cards -- those cards close to them as they continue to -- they've detained about 2 dozen people thus far in several Turkish cities -- or they're just simply trying to control the message right now, which is also very much possible.
In the meantime, on Saturday, the atrocity in the airport claimed a 44th victim. This was a 3-year-old Palestinian Jordanian boy and there are dozens of other victims still fighting for their lives in Turkish hospitals here -- George.
HOWELL: Ivan, we also heard from Mr. Erdogan about an offer to bring in many Syrian refugees, to bring them in as Turkish citizens.
WATSON: That's right. You know, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the president, he visited the border town of Kilis, which is almost synonymous with the conflict in neighboring Syria and the refugee exodus, more than 2 million Syrian refugees living here in Turkey, many of them for years and years and years, many of them in refugee camps that the Turks have set up, where they've provided --
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WATSON: -- quite good assistance, according to human rights organizations, but also living out in Turkish cities and towns across the country.
And this statement by President Erdogan, quite remarkable, saying that he is now taking steps with his interior ministry to look into providing citizenship to some of these Syrians, a sign of trying to normalize their existence even further here in Turkish society.
Some political analysts will probably also point out that this would most likely also buy Mr. Erdogan hundreds of thousands, if not a million-plus votes if he was to extend citizenship to grateful Syrian refugees in this country.
But, certainly, a much greater step towards welcoming this community than almost any other country in the world -- George.
HOWELL: Ivan Watson, live for us in Istanbul, Ivan, thank you for your reporting there.
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HOWELL: America's choice 2016: and in the United States, Hillary Clinton met with the FBI for several hours on Saturday to talk about the investigation that is casting a shadow over the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee's campaign. Sources tell us the whole thing could be wrapped up soon. Chris Frates has the details.
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CHRIS FRATES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hillary Clinton came to FBI headquarters behind me on Saturday to sit for a 3.5 hour interview with federal officials, who are investigating the use of her private e-mail server.
The Clinton campaign putting out a statement that read, quote, "Secretary Clinton gave a voluntary interview this morning about her e-mail arrangements while she was secretary.
"She's pleased to have had the opportunity to assist the Department of Justice in bringing this review to a conclusion out of respect for the investigative process. She will not comment further on her interview."
That was from spokesman Nick Merrill. But what we do know is that this is a routine part of the investigation. Hillary Clinton's aides have been brought in and have talked to the FBI and this is part of what happens at the end of an investigation, when the FBI brings in the subject for an interview.
In fact, sources telling CNN that, right now, there's not enough evidence to charge Hillary Clinton with any crimes. And barring any big game-changers in this interview today, they don't expect that there will be any charges brought against Hillary Clinton. And they may announce that in the next few weeks.
That would be welcome news for the Clinton campaign and Democrats, who want to put this issue off the table before the Democratic convention in three weeks. Now Republicans, though, continue to hit Hillary Clinton on this
issue. In fact, Donald Trump tweeted this on Saturday.
He said, quote, "It is impossible for the FBI not to recommend criminal charges against Hillary Clinton. What she did was wrong. What Bill did was stupid," Donald Trump there talking about Bill Clinton, earlier this week meeting with Loretta Lynch on the tarmac of Phoenix International Airport.
He popped over when their planes were sharing a tarmac to have a social call with Loretta Lynch. Came under huge criticism for that because, of course, as the attorney general, Loretta Lynch is overseeing this investigation. But certainly Republicans are going to continue to hit Hillary Clinton on this, no matter what the outcome of this FBI investigation is -- Chris Frates, CNN, Washington.
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HOWELL: Chris, thank you.
Hillary Clinton spoke to MSNBC here in the United States about the meeting between her -- her husband, rather, and Loretta Lynch. Listen.
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HILLARY CLINTON, FORMER SECRETARY OF STATE, PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Well, it was a short, chance meeting that occurred. And they did not discuss the Department of Justice's review.
And I know that some, nonetheless, have viewed the meeting in a different light. And both the attorney general and my husband have said they would not do it again. And the bottom line for me is I respect the professionalism and integrity of the officials at the Department of Justice handling this process.
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HOWELL: And Lynch went on to say that her meeting with Bill Clinton does not have a bearing on how the e-mail investigation will be reviewed and then resolved.
In Australia, federal elections remain too close to call. Final results from Saturday's vote are expected no sooner than Tuesday. A late swing to the opposition Labor Party has the Liberal/National Coalition in danger of losing its majority. The prime minister leads a caretaker government for now but says he is not worried. Listen.
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MALCOLM TURNBULL, AUSTRALIAN PRIME MINISTER: Tonight, my friends I can report that, based on the advice I have from the party officials, we can have every confidence that we will form a coalition majority government in the new parliament. It is -- it is a very, very close count. It is a very close count, as you know.
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HOWELL: But, the Labor Party leader says the liberals have lost their mandate.
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BILL SHORTEN (PH), LEADER, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY: Whatever happens --
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SHORTEN (PH): -- next week, Mr. Turnbull will never be able to claim that the people of Australia have adopted his ideological agenda.
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HOWELL: Exit polls showed health care and education spending were important issues for voters there.
It has been over a year since a boat carrying hundreds of migrants sank near Libya. But the bodies of most of the victims have been recovered just this weekend.
Italian officials raised the boat on Friday. It was towed to a port in Sicily. At least 500 people died when that boat sank in April of 2015. Authorities previously recovered 118 bodies but say hundreds more were trapped in a compartment below deck.
The world is mourning the death of renowned Holocaust survivor, Elie Wiesel. We look back at his life, his legacy and his impact of his work -- still ahead.
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HOWELL: Welcome back to our viewers here in the United States and around the world. You are watching CNN NEWSROOM. It is good to have you with us. I'm George Howell with the headlines we're following for you this hour.
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GEORGE HOWELL, CNN ANCHOR: Renowned Holocaust survivor and Nobel Peace laureate Elie Wiesel has died at the age of 87 years old. Wiesel was imprisoned in the Nazi concentration camps at Auschwitz and Buchenwald during World War II. His experiences were chronicled in his memoir, "Night."
Funeral services will be private but a public memorial will be announced at a later date.
For more on Wiesel's life and his legacy, we bring in CNN's Oren Liebermann, live for us in Jerusalem this hour.
Oren, good day to you. We are hearing reaction from so many people around the world, from the U.S. President, Barack Obama, and also from prime minister in Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu.
OREN LIEBERMANN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: And President Obama had one of the most powerful messages I've read. And we've seen these messages come in, as you point out, not only from Israel but from all over the world.
And that's because Elie Wiesel's passing is not just an Israeli story or a Jewish story, it is a story that resonates with millions who read his works or saw him speak. He wrote more than 50 books, many in French or in English but perhaps the best well-known is "Night," chronicling his own time in Auschwitz and Buchenwald.
It was followed by "Dawn" and "Day," talking about how he came forward and how he came to believe that there is still inherent goodness in humanity. And it is that message that we've seen resonated throughout these statements, these condolences that we're receiving. Let me read a part of President Barack Obama's message to you.
He calls Elie Wiesel one of the great moral voices of our time and the conscience of the world.
He says, "As a writer, a speaker, an activist and a thinker, he was one of those people who changed the world more as a citizen of the world than those who hold office or traditional positions of power.
"His life and the power of his example urges us to be better; in the face of evil we must summon our capacity for good. In the face of hate we must love. In the face of cruelty, we must live with empathy and compassion.
"We must never be bystanders to injustice or indifferent to suffering. Just imagine the peace and justice that would be possible in our world if we all lived a little more like Elie Wiesel."
A very powerful message from President Barack Obama. And that's a testament to what Wiesel stood for. He was a Holocaust survivor, a Holocaust educator. More than that, he was a human rights advocate, who spoke not only for his own people but for those who are oppressed around the world.
He spoke honestly, plainly, personally and, in the end, he spoke positively, again, believing in the goodness of humanity. And, George, I think it is that message that, in the end, he was still positive, that is resonating with so many people today, who are remembering him.
HOWELL: Oren, I'm also curious just to understand his legacy, how he is remembered there in Israel.
LIEBERMANN: Well, here we've already seen messages of condolence from the president, from former president Shimon Peres and of course from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Netanyahu said, "The state of Israel and the Jewish people deeply
mourn the death of Elie Wiesel. Elie, a master of words, gave expression through his exceptional personality and fascinating books about the victory of the human spirit over cruelty and evil.
"In the darkness of the Holocaust in which our brothers and sisters, 6 million, were murdered, Elie Wiesel was a ray of light."
That is a message we've heard again, echoed throughout the messages we have seen.
And let me go back to 1986, when he won that Nobel Peace Prize, it's a message that they took to heart as well. They said he was one of the most important spiritual leaders and guides in an age when violence, repression and racism continued to characterize the world.
"Wiesel is a messenger to mankind. His message is one of peace, atonement and human dignity. Wiesel's commitment, which originated in the sufferings of the Jewish people, has been widened to embrace all repressed peoples and races."
Some very powerful words, remembering a very important man and his even more important message -- George.
HOWELL: Oren Liebermann. And just a few moments ago, we saw a video of Elie Wiesel, walking with the U.S. president, Barack Obama, in Washington.
Just to get a sense of how extraordinary his life was and what a legacy he leaves behind, we see this video now, taken from April of 2012. Again, Elie Wiesel, with the U.S. president, Barack Obama.
Oren I'm struck by a statement that Mr. Wiesel made that was in a previous report but the question, "Will the world learn?"
Certainly a very important question that needs to be asked every day. Oren Liebermann, live for us. Thank you.
We move on now to Turkey, the aftermath of Tuesday's terror attacks, families there are mourning the loss of 44 people in that attack. A 28-year-old high school teacher was meeting a friend at the Istanbul airport when he was killed. That man was laid to rest earlier this week.
His family and friends, along with many of his students, they were all there to remember him.
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HASAN, TEACHER'S BROTHER: I'm Hasan. I'm 27 years old. I'm his brother.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (from captions): We pray for the soul of teacher (INAUDIBLE) and the rest of the other victims in the name of God.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: These are very, very difficult times in Turkey. (INAUDIBLE) very innocent, very good intentioned boy, a teacher. He was only 28. Many bombs are exploded around and many people are dying and (INAUDIBLE) if there is not any precautions to be taken, this is going to go on.
He was an electrician (ph) teacher. His students loved him very much. He had all the time smiling face. When he was only 5 years old, his father is dead.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (Speaking foreign language).
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (from captions): I hand you to God and there is nothing else I can do.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (from captions): OK, OK. Our duty ends here. Don't cry, my child.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (INAUDIBLE). They also had shot (INAUDIBLE).
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HOWELL: Welcome back to CNN NEWSROOM, I'm George Howell.
Heavy rains are causing some major problems in Northern India, killing at least 28 people so far.
Take a look at this here. You see flash flooding that triggered this major landslide on Saturday, blocking traffic at a highway. Some parts of the state are submerged and homes are filled with water after rain pounded that region for the past two days. Rescue operations there are underway.
A bit of good news to share with you about the ozone layer now. That shield, that natural shield that protects the Earth from harmful ultraviolet rays, it is showing encouraging signs that it is beginning to heal. And our meteorologist, Derek Van Dam, is here to explain the science of this good news -- Derek.
DEREK VAN DAM, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Spot on, George. You described it very well, a protective shield around the Earth and without it you can imagine that we would have a higher risk of skin cancers. We could also lead to less crop yields in our agricultural sector and also can disrupt the ocean's food chain.
So it's critical that we see this ozone replenish itself. It's all thanks going back to three decades ago, the Montreal Protocol. I want to show you this, I'll try to explain what the ozone layer is. There's good ozone. There's bad ozone.
Let's first establish, where in the world do we find this so-called ozone in the atmosphere?
Well, you have to look about 30 miles or roughly 50 kilometers into the atmosphere, right into the stratosphere. The troposphere is the lowest level where we live. Just above that, that's where we'll find the protective shield of gas.
Ozone is a combination of oxides of nitrogen and volatile organic compounds. But there's good ozone and bad ozone. Let me explain to you. The good ozone is that protective shield 50 kilometers or 30 miles into the atmosphere. It protects the ultraviolet radiation rays from the sun. It protects us from getting things like skin cancer, malignant melanoma, those types of things.
But there's bad ozone. That is created by ground level industries like facilities or perhaps lawn equipment, cars and the trucks that we drive on our roadways. We start to breathe that in and that can be very harmful and detrimental to humans.
So we go back three decades, 1987, roughly three decades, that's when we implemented the Montreal Protocol. We started to put a ban on all ozone-depleting gases, known as hydrochlorofluorocarbons. And that was very successful.
There was originally an uptick in the ozone, meaning it started to replenish itself just after that was implemented in 1988, roughly. You can see the ozone hole that started to grow but there's that uptick right around 1988 when the Montreal Protocol was established.
But then gradually it continued to just go downhill from there. So scientists became worried. And the Montreal Protocol, though, finally started to show some successful signs. And we are confident that it is replenishing itself.
And over the next decade or so we should start to see that hole really close up, good news for us.
Let's talk about the flash flood alerts that we have across the Central U.S., Wichita, Kansas City and St. Louis, more heavy rainfall today. So we want to monitor this area closely for the potential of flooding through your Sunday.
Remember, this is a public holiday weekend. People are trying to enjoy themselves outside. But they are definitely going to need a raincoat and umbrella.
HOWELL: Oh, rain in Atlanta, too.
VAN DAM: I've seen fireworks during a rainy Nashville last year and it was fantastic. They still got off, no problem.
HOWELL: It's better when it's sunny.
You know I wanted to ask, Derek, you talk about the 1987 Montreal Protocol. But this is, you know, an event that, you know, actually had -- made a difference. VAN DAM: It did. Without it, we would have serious problems with ozone depletion and that protective layer wouldn't be there to give us the protection from skin cancer and the ultraviolet rays that the sun emits. So it was a successful protocol implemented by many nations.
HOWELL: And then you know, we'll see what happens now with the Paris agreement. Many nations signing on to that. Very important when it comes to reducing global carbon emissions.
VAN DAM: Putting pen to paper.
HOWELL: Derek, thank you so much.
Now I want to tell you a story about a group of siblings that have traveled thousands of miles to see each other and some are meeting for the first -- very first time. They're also getting to know the person that made it all possible: their sperm donor father.
Suzanne Pham (ph) from CNN affiliate, KOMO, in Seattle has more on this growing family reunion.
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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh, that was a good idea.
SUZANNE PHAM (PH), KOMO (voice-over): They came from all over the country.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Let's go get coffee.
PHAM (PH) (voice-over): They barely just met. But they get along better than best friends.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: How was your flight?
PHAM (PH) (voice-over): They're very special siblings.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Little baby Gavin (ph).
PHAM (PH) (voice-over): Twin sisters Sarah and Jenna Malley (ph), and brother, Gavin Schuler (ph) --
[05:45:00]
PHAM (PH) (voice-over): -- didn't grow up together. But because of a single sperm donor, Dr. Todd Whitehurst (ph) from San Francisco, they share an incredible connection.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It does leave us speechless.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: That was the first time I met Todd.
PHAM (PH) (voice-over): Now they're going to meet up again for an annual family reunion, five siblings and Todd (ph), this year in Seattle.
It's absolute joy and jubilation when Todd arrives with another sibling, Carrie Virginia (ph).
Then Kelly (ph) arrives. It's a sister they've never met but they share that unbeatable family bond.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's crazy. It's definitely like looking into four mirrors at once, like we all kind of look the same.
PHAM (PH) (voice-over): They all share the same sense of humor, the same pale skin, the same sweet tooth.
PHAM (PH): These are just a few of the siblings. There's actually 25 of them around the world.
PHAM (PH) (voice-over): Todd, a physician and electrical engineer, was a sperm donor while in graduate school at Stanford.
DR. TODD WHITEHURST (PH), SPERM DONOR: There's some people who just have kids and they don't think about it. They take them for granted. People who are ultimately desperate enough to go to a sperm bank really want kids badly.
PHAM (PH) (voice-over): He was contacted by the donor sibling registry and started meeting the donor conceived kids years ago.
WHITEHURST (PH): I love it. This is so enriching.
PHAM (PH) (voice-over): Each year when the family grows, the reunion is a little sweeter and a lot more fun. Where they go next and who joins the family next, only time will tell.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HOWELL: Suzanne Pham (ph), from my old affiliate KOMO4 in Seattle.
We'll be right back after the break.
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[05:50:00]
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HOWELL: Let's talk Euro 2016. Germany is headed to the semifinals. They punched their ticket with a win on penalties over Italy. Germany's next match is July 7th against Iceland or France. CNN's Amanda Davies and Owen Hargreaves have more from Paris.
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AMANDA DAVIES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Another major tournament, another German victory on penalties. But, boy, it was tight, 18 penalties it took to see them go through to the Euro 2016 semifinal at the expense of Italy after it finished 1-1 after 90 minutes and extra time.
The CNN football analyst, Owen Hargreaves, is with me, as he has been throughout the tournament.
Owen, we knew it was going to be a tight match. It didn't disappoint. But a whole lot of entertainment in that penalty shoot-out.
OWEN HARGREAVES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, we did. We expected a close game. Two of the best defenses in the tournament so far. And there wasn't a ton of chances for (INAUDIBLE). I think Germany probably just shaded it in terms of possession and opportunity to create it.
But Italy were very, very dangerous on the counterattacks for their goal. And a mistake from Jerome Boateng giving away a penalty. But once it goes into penalties, it's a lottery and anything can happen. I think Germany were fortunate to have one of the best goalkeepers in the world, Manuel Neuer made some stunning saves.
And I think for Italy, missing two really crucial penalties, Simone Zaza was two of the worst penalties you'll see in the Euros so far, had a massive impact. And I think Germany just did enough to get into a semifinal. And this is what we expect from the Germans, always finding a way to get to the semifinals.
DAVIES: Absolutely. It's the sixth major tournament semifinal in a row for the Germans. Of course, they're looking to follow up that success at the World Cup in Brazil from two years ago.
But the big question now is, who will they be facing for a place in the decider?
Will it be host France?
Or the surprise package, Iceland?
That is what we will discover on Sunday. From Owen Hargreaves and myself, Amanda Davies, here in Paris, it's back to you.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HOWELL: Amanda, Owen, thank you so much.
Now that match between France and Iceland starts in a couple of hours in Saint-Denis, France. It is Iceland's first time reaching a quarterfinal. They stunned the world when they beat England 2-1 to reach it.
And for to date, for today's challenge, Iceland's manager says his team hasn't even played their best match.
A fashion designer is taking an everyday piece of clothing and turning it into art. The aim is to help refugees.
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HOWELL (voice-over): Berlin Fashion Week was the site of Johny Dar's the latest project, called Jeans for Refugees. He took jeans that were donated by celebrities, including Kate Moss and Sharon Stone, and painted each of them into works of art.
The items will be shown at London's Saatchi Gallery and then auctioned off. Dar says it's his way of giving back.
JOHNY DAR, DESIGNER: Yes, just kind of like to share the wealth, share the happiness, share the fortune and just be able to give back to those that are at need at the moment. Yes.
So it's been, yes, it's been something I wanted to help with for a while and I really couldn't come up with an idea. And then I was in London. I'm like, Jeans for Refugees. There's a lot of celebrities and there's plenty of jeans and I can paint. So we can do it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOWELL: That's awesome. Good on him. All proceeds go to the International Rescue Committee to help millions of refugees around the world.
During meetings among world leaders, photo ops are as important as the content of those meetings and at North American Summit, the American, the Mexican and Canadian leaders made for quite a memorable moment. Our Jeanne Moos has more.
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JEANNE MOOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): When leaders gather, it's hard enough deciding who goes first.
You.
No, you.
No, you.
And you've got to figure out --
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Wave?
MOOS (voice-over): -- how to fill up a photo op.
But that's child's play compared to pulling off a three-way shake. It was a hot mess of a handshake that almost begged to be put to music.
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MOOS (voice-over): They may call the leaders of the U.S., Canada and Mexico the Three Amigos. But their namesakes were far more coordinated.
[05:55:00]
(VIDEO CLIP, "!THREE AMIGOS!")
MOOS (voice-over): But instead of the Three Amigos, some critics compare them to The Three Stooges.
(VIDEO CLIP, "THE THREE STOOGES")
MOOS (voice-over): Slapping a Stooges' soundtrack under the Three Amigos.
This isn't the first time a three-way shake has failed.
BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: This is the idea.
MOOS (voice-over): But at least one earthshaking handshake worked.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The three of us, very good.
MOOS (voice-over): Sealing peace between Israel and Egypt.
Hand raising only raises the stakes; for instance, when Raul Castro tried to lift the limp arm of a resistant President Obama.
And handholding can invite mockery.
GEORGE W. BUSH, FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: This is our state flower.
MOOS (voice-over): President Bush and the Saudi prince got the late- night treatment.
(MUSIC PLAYING)
MOOS (voice-over): Touching a world leader tends to be touchy.
Remember when an overexcited pizza shop owner picked up the president?
Physical contact can be hit or miss.
Ted Cruz was a hit when he poked, then elbowed his own wife.
Joe Biden wasn't the only politician to get too close for comfort.
Barack Obama accidentally planted one smack on Jill Biden's lips.
Of course, they're only amigos. Maybe it's safer for amigos to shake -- Jeanne Moos, CNN, New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
(LAUGHTER)
HOWELL: Awkward.
Thank you for being with us. I'm George Howell at the CNN Center in Atlanta. For our viewers in the United States, "NEW DAY" is next. And for other viewers around the world, "The Best of Quest" starts in a moment. Thank you for watching CNN, the world's news leader.
