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Uvalde Parents Saying Their Last Goodbye; E.U. Gradually Cuts Russian Oil Imports; Russian Forces Gaining Ground in Donbas; U.S. Will Not Send Rockets to Ukraine; Hurricane Agatha Now a Tropical Storm; Thousands of Flights Cancelled; U.S. Senator Visits Taiwan; Mass Shootings Angered Sports Teams. Aired 3-4a ET

Aired May 31, 2022 - 03:00   ET

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

[03:00:00]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ROSEMARY CHURCH, CNN ANCHOR: Hello and welcome to our viewers joining us here in the United States and all around the world. You are watching CNN Newsroom, and I'm Rosemary Church.

Just ahead, a week after the deadly Texas school shooting funerals began. As troubling new video reveals what's police knew while they waited outside of the classroom.

The E.U.'s tougher sanctions on Moscow since the invasion of Ukraine, three months ago, set to ban 90 percent of Russian oil imports. Plus, a history making hurricane, as Agatha slams into Mexico, as a Cat 2 storm.

UNKNOWN: Live from CNN center, this is CNN Newsroom, with Rosemary Church.

CHURCH: Well today marks one week since 21 innocent lives were cut short by a gunman who opened fired inside an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas. And in the hours ahead, the first funeral will be held in the devastated community one day after grieving families gathered for visitations for two of the younger victims.

More visitations and funerals are planned in the week ahead for some of the 19 students, and two teachers killed in the horrific shooting. But amid the grief, there is growing anger over the police response as the Justice Department prepares to launch a review of law enforcement actions.

CNN's Adrienne Broaddus has more.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ADRIENNE BROADDUS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: We are now getting our first glimpse at some of the information relayed to officers outside Robb Elementary School as a massacre was unfolding on the inside. ABC News obtained a portion of video that appears to be audio from one 911 operator relaying information from a child inside of the classroom. UNKNOWN: We have a child on the line. Child is advising he is in the

room full of victims.

BROADDUS: CNN has not been able to independently confirm the audio or at what point in the incident it was heard. On Friday, the Texas Public Safety director said there were at least eight 911 calls from two colors in the school, pleading for help. Investigators now say 19 officers waited outside the classroom where the gunman was for about 15 minutes until a Customs and Border patrol team decided to go in without direct orders. That's according to Texas State Senator Roland Gutierrez.

ROLAND GUTIERREZ (D), TEXAS STATE SENATOR: What's been made clear to me is that at that point the CBP team that went in in frustration said, we are going in.

BROADDUS: The Justice Department now says it will review the law enforcement response, which Texas officials say deviated from active shooter protocols.

ALFRED GARZA, AMERIE GARZA'S FATHER: Had they gotten in there sooner, and somebody would've taken immediate action, we might have more of those children here today, including my daughter.

BROADDUS: Texas State Senator Roland Gutierrez said President Biden told him that Robb Elementary School would possibly be raised and rebuild. Gutierrez says there is a federal grant process for schools where there had been mass shootings.

GUTIERREZ: What kind of world are we living in that legislation was created for raising these schools?

BROADDUS: For too many, Uvalde parents, those questions come in too late.

GARZA: No matter who is held responsible, it's not going bring my daughter back.

BROADDUS: This is how those who loved 10-year-old Amerie Jo Garza will remember her, a decade showing a happy girl with a sweet smile described by family as sassy, funny and a little diva who hated wearing dresses. Memories of happier times as her family, friends and community say goodbye during visitation and a rosary service.

GARZA: It's brings me joy to know that she -- that I got an opportunity to have such a great daughter, and you know, I tried to be the best father that I could be.

BROADDUS: Just down the road another grieving family says goodbye to Maite Rodriguez, also 10 years old.

UNKNOWN: I love her. I miss her. And I'm proud of her. She wanted to be a marine biologist before she could even say the word. She loved animals.

BROADDUS: So much potential. Maite's cousin told us her classmates called her a hero. They said she was brave, showing the other students in the room where to hide moments before that 18-year-old gunman entered their classroom. And Maite's mother also said her daughter was her heartbeat, but it's the rhythm of this community that's helping her family and others move forward as they face their new reality, life without the children and adults they loved.

[00:05:08]

Adrienne Broaddus, CNN, Uvalde, Texas.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CHURCH: Mark Follman is a reporter for Mother Jones and is the author of "Trigger Points: Inside the Mission to Stop Mass Shootings in America." And he joins me now from California's Bay Area. Thank you so much for being with us.

MARK FOLLMAN, REPORTER, MOTHER JONES: Thank you for having me.

CHURCH: We are of course all distressed and sickened by news of yet another deadly mass shooting in this country. And this time at an elementary school where an 18-year-old man was able to legally purchased weapons of war and murder young children. And we want to see some progress on gun control. Most Americans do.

So, in your article you state that the epidemic of mass shooting is neither inevitable nor unsolvable. So how do we stop this from happening again?

FOLLMAN: As I wrote late last week, I think that it's important for the American public to recognize that there is a lot more we can do to deal with this epidemic of mass shootings, that it's not just about the gun debate and gun policy. That of course is essential to this. And there is an incredibly stark disconnect between what the majority of the American public wants and what our political leaders do.

CHURCH: So, Mark, how are you suggesting that be done?

FOLLMAN: So, my focus, is on community-based violence prevention. I think we could use a lot more of it. It's more proactive approach to seeing the warning signs that lead up to these attacks. We have some big myths about mass shootings. We talk about all these mass shooters as if they are crazy people who just snap. And come out of nowhere. And that's just wrong when you look at these cases.

And every single case there's a long process leading up to them with warning signs, and so by working to intervene more proactively there's a lot we can do to prevent these kinds of attacks including like the one we've just seen in Texas and in Buffalo, New York.

CHURCH: And Mark, in addition to this, urgent bipartisan negotiations are underway discussing red flag laws, to deny guns to individuals deemed a threat to themselves or others. Expanded background checks, which most Americans support and more money for mental health and school security. Now senators from both parties are meeting virtually this week and

will hopefully have a bill ready to vote on next week. But you know, people are pretty cynical, they have seen some movement before and nothing has happened. So how likely is it that these bipartisan talks will see progress in stopping mass shootings?

FOLLMAN: I think the skepticism is very well warranted. The politics of this are as tough as ever and extremely difficult political environment in the United States. So again, I think there is more we do at our state and local levels to deal with this problem.

Building up mental health care systems, building up community-based violence prevention. Dealing with political extremism that turns violent, which is a growing problem in our country. It has been fueling some of these mass shootings as I have written recently. So, we can't rely on a single political fight to continue to going forward if we want to see real change in this country.

CHURCH: Yes. And I think what most people overseas find so shocking is that an 18-year-old has access to legally purchased these sorts of weapons. And you know, that is just extraordinary. Because for the most part, it's 18, 19, 20-year-old men who are committing these mass shootings.

So, I want to get to the media here, because it does have a role to play to cover these stories without sensation to talk about the lives of the victims, because that's important. So, people understand who has been lost here to this gun violence and not to talk about the gunman to pressure those in power, to do something about these unacceptable mass shootings. And you have written that this is a real challenge for the media. That it's a balancing act. So, are news outlets getting better at covering these shootings, do you think?

FOLLMAN: I think there has been some improvement in recent years. And it is a big challenge with these cases because it's very important to avoid sensationalism and excessive attention on the perpetrators of these attacks because we know from case evidence that they seek that attention. They want notoriety. At the same time, reporting on these events vigorously is very strongly in the public interest.

These attacks have enormous impact and, you know, cause profound trauma. Not just in the communities where they happen, but really throughout the country. Now look where we are again now just with the last couple of weeks.

[03:09:56]

So, it's very important that journalists dig into what happens in these cases and report on the circumstances. In Uvalde, in particular, the law enforcement response, which appears to have been catastrophic, that's a very important story going forward.

But again, we have to do this in a way that does not sensationalize this kind of violence. And I also argue, does not buy into the idea that it will never end. it will never, that we are sort of resigned to this point on and on, because that in and of itself is feeding into the problem in my view at this point.

CHURCH: Yes. Sadly, there are so many parts to the story, it is just tragic. Mark Follman, thank you so much for joining us, we appreciate it.

FOLLMAN: Good talking with you, thank you.

CHURCH: Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is now pushing to strengthen gun control. In a news conference on Monday, he introduced legislation that would place a national freeze on handgun ownership across Canada. Meaning, the bill would cap sales, transfers, and imports.

Mr. Trudeau said the fewer guns in the community, the safer everyone will be. The new legislation would also require that long gun magazines be limited to five rounds.

The E.U. is one step closer to passing a new sanctions package on Russia. On Monday, E.U. leaders agreed to a partial ban on Russian oil imports as a response to Moscow's invasion of Ukraine. The move would cut up to 90 percent of oil imports by the end of the year. And after weeks of negotiations, all E.U. leaders seem to agree on its principles, this according to European Commission president, Ursula von der Leyen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

URSULA VON DER LEYEN, PRESIDENT, EUROPEAN COMMISSION: Thanks to this, council should now be able to finalize a ban on almost 90 percent of all Russian oil imports by the end of the year. This is an important step forward.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHURCH: And CNN's Clare Sebastian joins me now live from London. Good morning to you, Clare. So, this is a partial ban but significant nonetheless. How will this work, and how will it take to impact Russia's economy? Which obviously is the goal here?

CLARE SEBASTIAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Rosemary, not as much as the E.U. had wanted to do. Not as much as was in the original announcement of this six-package about a month ago. But frankly, more than we have been told to expect from this extraordinary summit which is taking place on Monday, and continuing today.

How it will work is that initially this will be just a ban on seaborne oil exports from Russia. That covers about two thirds of the E.U.'s imports from Russia, then to get to 90 percent, the pipeline oil. Some of it will go through the Druzhba pipeline which apparently is the only remaining pipeline that delivers Russian oil to Europe.

It's got the northern part that goes to Poland and Germany, and a southern part that goes to Slovakia and services Hungary and several other countries. The northern part, Ursula von der Leyen said that she had a verbal agreement from Poland and Germany that they would wind that down by the end of the year. It's the southern part that will be exempted.

E.U. leasers are set to return to that, she said, soon. But this isn't just about the logistics of it. The importance of reaching this deal was about showing unity in the face of Russian aggression, a unity that has been tested by the very prospect of an oil ban.

Listen to what the E.U. Council president Charles Michel had to say about that.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CHARLES MICHEL, PRESIDENT, EUROPEAN COUNCIL: I think it's a signal to send today because the recent hours, the recent days there were speculations about the risk for a lack of unity of European Union's unity. And I think more than ever, it's important to show that we are able to be strong, that we are able to be firm that we are able to be tough in order to defend our values, to defend our interests.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SEBASTIAN: Well, of course, this is also about inflicting pain on the Russian economy, an economy that continues to fund the war in Ukraine. Now in its fourth month oil and gas together accounted for about 45 percent of Russia's budget last year. Oil is the biggest export in 2020. Russia exported about $74 billion worth of oil.

Oil traditionally is more lucrative than gas. So, this -- this, you know, potentially hits Russia where it hurts. The E.U. has also been as a block, the biggest customer for Russian oil. But I think how much it hurts Russia, Rosemary, depends on how they react to the face end of this. How quickly they can find new customers.

We know that, for example, China, which was the biggest individual customer even before this has been ramping up. We know that India has been ramping up. I think the question is, how fast can they find alternative buyers?

CHURCH: Very good point. Clare Sebastian joining us live from London. Many thanks.

And we will get the latest updates from the battlefield in Ukraine including a look at Russia's push to capture a city that's already in ruins. That's next here on CNN Newsroom.

[03:15:00]

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CHURCH: Russian forces are gaining ground in the eastern Donbas region of Ukraine and moving into this city of Severodonetsk. The Ukrainian military governor says Russian troops are gradually moving toward downtown but haven't captured the whole city.

Ukraine's defense ministry reports battles have reached a maximum intensity with artillery strikes along much of the front line. A spokesman says the Russians are trying to encircle Ukrainian troops in Donetsk and Luhansk. Severodonetsk is set to be in ruins with two thirds of the properties destroyed. And a street fighting is underway between Ukrainian and Russian troops.

[03:20:06]

Meantime, U.S. President Joe Biden says he will not provide Ukraine with a long-range rocket system that can fire into Russia. An adviser to Ukraine's president says Kyiv can't defeat Russian militarily without them.

Well joining me now from Edinburgh, Scotland Stuart Crawford is a retired lieutenant colonel in the British army now working as a defense analyst. Thank you, sir, for being with us.

STUART CRAWFORD, DEFENSE ANALYST: Good morning, good morning.

CHURCH: So, Russian forces are gaining ground in Ukraine's eastern Donbas region moving into the city of Severodonetsk. How inevitable is it that Russia will take control of that city and ultimately the Donetsk and Luhansk regions?

CRAWFORD; Well, I think that a recent report will indicate that perhaps the Russians have taken about a third of that city. But the fighting appears to be particularly fierce at the moment. And their progress is slow and I suspect very costly. Whether they will take this city quickly I very much doubt. But there seems to be an almost an inevitability about the city following at some point if the assault, the intensity continues as it is at the moment.

But at present, the pocket is not cut off by the Russians. The Ukrainians can still resupply and reinforce. And so it's not over yet.

CHURCH: And of course, we know Russia's Foreign Minister Lavrov has indicated that liberating Donetsk and Luhansk is Moscow's unconditional priority, his words. What does that indicate to you in terms of what Russia's new military goals might be in Ukraine?

CRAWFORD: Well, I think it shows that they are very much reduced from the goals that it may have had when the whole affairs started on the 24th of February. Of course, nobody is really clear what Vladimir Putin's strategic aim was. We suspect that it was to topple the government in Ukraine and perhaps, annex the whole country. Well, that's not going to happen.

So, their goals are very much reduced. And I think they're having to compromise by reducing their aim to just getting control of the Donbas province that they seem to be fixed on at the moment.

CHURCH: And U.S. President Joe Biden as we mentioned, has said he won't send rockets to Ukraine that could be fired into Russia, clearly worried about escalating tensions with Moscow. So, what weapons should be sent to Ukraine at this juncture? And what could they potentially achieve? And of course, Kyiv is saying that this is problematic if they don't get these rockets.

CRAWFORD: Yes. I think we are becoming slightly confused with some of the terminology here. The option is still open for President Biden to send the multiple launch rocket systems which Kyiv so clearly wants and needs. All he is saying really is that, he is not going to send the missile -- the missiles, the ordinance, the munitions with that system that can stretch far into Russia.

The standard rockets that comes with MLRS has a range of about 40 miles or thereabouts. There were long range, things can go up to 180 miles beyond. So, I think that MLRS will be supplied to Kyiv in due course, but only with what I would call the battlefield missiles, not the long-range ones. And that's exactly what -- sorry?

(CROSSTALK)

CHURCH: So, do you think President Biden said that, that was clearly to be heard in Moscow?

CRAWFORD: Yes, I think so.

CHURCH: Right.

CRAWFORD: He obviously doesn't want to escalate things by supplying Ukraine with missiles that can strike deep into Russia.

CHURCH: And meantime, of course, what's happening in the southern city of Kherson? Could Ukrainian troops perhaps seize back control of that city and even go as far as moving into Crimea next? Do you see that as a possibility?

CRAWFORD: Well, I do. Yes, I've been banging this drum for some time now. Because the main Russian effort is in the eastern Donbas, so that's where they have concentrated their forces. And evidently, forces elsewhere will not be as strong. And perhaps be even reduced to reinforce that main effort.

That opens up the opportunity for a Ukrainian counter offensive as and when they have sufficient weaponry and material to do that. And there appears to be a counteroffensive of sorts developing roundabout Kherson in the south. And if they take Kherson, of course that really is a gateway to Crimea. And then who knows what might happen after that?

CHURCH: Of course, and when you look at what's happening on the ground how long do you think Russia and Ukraine can't keep up with this level of warfare? And which side is likely to be victorious in the end, do you think?

[03:25:07]

CRAWFORD: Well, in war, as you know, I mean, it's a trying thing to say, but there are no real winners. But I think the indications are that Russia is getting weaker, we see them moving obsolete tanks, the T62 tanks, 50 years old into the theater now to replace their losses.

And at the same time, Ukraine is getting stronger, slowly as aid from the west filters through. So I think we're going to end up at a stalemate over the summer and then thereafter, as ever, peace negotiations will settle how it will all ends.

CHURCH: All right, we shall see. Retired British army lieutenant Colonel Stuart Crawford, thank you so much for joining us.

CRAWFORD: Thank you for having me.

CHURCH: I appreciate it. Wonderful.

Well still to come, hurricane Agatha becomes a tropical storm after hitting Mexico. Meteorologist Karen Maginnis will have the latest coming up.

[03:30:00]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

CHURCH: We are tracking severe weather in the U.S. Midwest. You are looking at the aftermath of a possible tornado in Douglas County, Minnesota. It hit near a small town of less than 20 people but the storm took down power lines and damaged as many as 100 homes.

And in Mexico, hurricane Agatha remains a threat after becoming a tropical storm. Agatha made landfall on Monday on the Pacific coast but there are still more rain and heavy wind to come.

So, let's go to CNN meteorologist Karen Maginnis, she joins us with the very latest. Good to see you, Karen. So, what are you seeing there in the forecast?

KAREN MAGINNIS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Yes. Well, we can see from the video that winds were lashing this coastal area. It looks like some storm surge here. It looks like some water that has inundated some of these coastal areas, very heavy surf. And it isn't over yet as you just mentioned, Rosemary.

Because we are going to watch it ring out for the most part across this rough terrain in this area from Puerto Escondido to this coastal region right around the bay of Campeche. Now it takes about eight hours from coast to coast. It's about 250 miles, give our take from point to point.

But this is still going to have enough energy here that we might see it regenerate possibly into a tropical system.

We got an update just in the past hour or so from the National Hurricane Center and they said that as the remnants move out into the Yucatan, then we have about 60 percent chance of development. I looked at some of the computer models and it does show some of this moisture making its way up into the Florida Peninsula.

To what degree, we're not exactly sure at least at this point. There's still a tropical storm warning out for some of these coastal areas, most of the deep convection is along that eastern edge of the hurricane, very consistent with that deep convection. It made landfall during the early afternoon hours, it had supporting winds of 105 miles an hour, or for our international viewers nearly 170 kilometers per hour.

That landfall was in the vicinity of this Puerto region that we just showed you just a few minutes ago. This is in the Oaxaca state. And it will continue to make its way towards the north and northeast. Rainfall amounts could be between 10 and 20 inches or around 250 millimeters to 500 millimeters for our international viewers.

And the Yucatan Peninsula does need to keep an eye out for what happens as we go into the next five days for that potential development as the National Hurricane Center mentioned. Rosemary?

CHURCH: All right. Thanks for keeping a very close eye on all that. Karen Maginnis, wonderful.

Still to come, an agonizing weekend for airlines and passengers. We will explain why thousands of flights were canceled around the world. You are watching CNN Newsroom. We're back in just a moment.

[03:35:00]

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CHURCH: Up to 6,000 flights across the world were canceled over the past few days, causing chaos and frustration for travelers. U.S.-based Delta Airlines was among the hardest hit, with more than 500 flights axed over the long holiday weekend. The carrier blames the weather, air traffic control, staffing issues and increased COVID cases. The U.S. transportation secretary says that a spike in consumer demand is also a factor.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PETE BUTTIGIEG, U.S. TRANSPORTATION SECRETARY: We saw a lot of airlines during the pandemic thinning out their schedules and thinning out their workforce, not knowing when demand was going to return. Now faster than expected, the demand has come roaring back and they are struggling to keep up. That's true whether we are talking about flight attendant crews, whether we're talking about pilots and so we've got to make sure that we have short term and long-term approaches.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHURCH: Now to another consumer prices, record high gas prices in the United States. AAA says the national average price for regular gas rose to a new record of $4.62 a gallon on Monday. Seven states are now averaging $5 a gallon.

Well, in the coming hours, U.S. President Joe Biden plans to discuss soaring inflation with the Federal Reserve chairman Jerome Powell. The meeting comes as the U.S. battles its highest rates of rising prices in decades. The Federal Reserve is under pressure to combat inflation and cool down the economy without pushing the country into a recession.

In an op-ed for the Wall Street Journal President Biden promises not to meddle with the Fed but he calls fighting inflation his number one economic priority and outlined a three-pronged strategy.

[03:40:04]

First, he says the Federal Reserve has a primary responsibility to control inflation. Next, Mr. Biden says that we need to take every practical step to make things more affordable for families during this moment of economic uncertainty, and to boost the productive capacity of our economy overtime.

And finally, the president says we need to keep reducing the federal deficit which will help ease price pressures.

Well for our international viewers African Voices Changemakers is up next. And for everybody here in the U.S. and Canada, I'll be back with more news after a short break. Do stay with us.

[03:45:00]

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CHURCH: A terrifying close call for three young people in Canada who narrowly avoided getting hit by a train. Surveillance video shows one person standing next to the tracks while two others run in front of the train. One of the runners even crosses right in front of the train before it passes.

Toronto's metro links agency says it released the video to underscore the dangers of walking on the tracks. Incredible video there.

Well in Nepal the bodies of all 22 people on board the downed Tara Air flight have been recovered by search and rescue teams. It took crews more than a day to pull the remains from the wreckage which is scattered across a remote mountainside.

The flight was traveling from the city of Pokhara proper to Jomsom on Sunday when air control lost contact. The cause of the crash is under investigation.

Well, a show force near Taiwan the island says mainland China flew dozens of warplanes into its air defense identification zone on Monday. The same day a U.S. delegation led by Senator Tammy Duckworth arrived in Taipei. The unannounced visit comes amid heightened tensions between Beijing and Taiwan, especially after U.S. President Joe Biden's controversial comments about American policy towards the island.

And despite pushback from Chinese officials over her visits, Senator Duckworth reiterated U.S. support for Taiwan.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. TAMMY DUCKWORTH (D-IL): I support (Ph) by saying that there's tremendous support for Taiwan within the legislative branch. Our president has shown his support for Taiwan. You've heard from our military. And as a member of the legislative branch, I will tell you it is a bipartisan agreement that the U.S. should stand with Taiwan. (END VIDEO CLIP)

CHURCH: And for more, we want to bring in CNN's Kristie Lu Stout who joins us live from the Hong Kong. Good to see you, Kristie. So, what more are you learning about the show force on the part of China and of course this meeting, and this visit to Taipei.

KRISTIE LU STOUT, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, first, let's talk about the meeting. You have this U.S. congressional delegation making this unannounced surprise three-day visit in Taiwan. They are there right now. They are led by U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth, and they had a meeting with the Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen earlier today.

As expected, they discussed economic cooperation, regional security issues, as well as trade. And in that meeting we heard from Tsai Ing- wen she thanked Senator Duckworth for America's donations of COVID-19 vaccines during the pandemic, as well as American support on security. Here is the Taiwan president.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TSAI ING-WEN, PRESIDENT OF TAIWAN (through translator): We look forward to deeper and closer U.S.-Taiwan relations in matters of regional security. At the same time, to address the challenges of the post-pandemic era. Taiwan and the U.S. have reviewed and assessed the many facets of our trade cooperation.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LU STOUT: Now China has been reacting angrily to the visit, saying that it firmly opposed this surprise stop over. In the statement we heard from the spokesperson of the Chinese embassy in the U.S. saying the following, quote, "we urge the U.S. side to earnestly abide by the one-China principle and the three Sino-U.S. communiques handle Taiwan- related issues in a cautious and proper way. Stop all forms of official interactions with Taiwan and avoid sending wrong signals to the Taiwan independence separatists forces," unquote.

Now the visit comes right after U.S. President Joe Biden's recent visit to the region. And he made that assertion that the United States would intervene militarily if China was to try to take Taiwan. This is an assertion that he's made before. This is also an assertion that the White House has been forced to walk back on or to downplay which it did at that moment.

Tension keeps rising in this region. On Monday, you had, according to Taiwan's defense ministry, 30 Chinese warplanes fly into it and make these incursions into the air defense zone of Taiwan. This is the highest number of such flights attempted in about four months. And that prompted this concerned tweet by a minister of parliament in Taiwan who took to Twitter to say this, quote, "the more China does this, the sooner we become used to it and it will become increasingly difficult to determine if China is just doing their routine exercises, or are they are preparing to launch an attack on Taiwan. This, he adds, is a very worrying trend," unquote. So, Rosemary, Taiwan's president from back when she has vowed to maintain peace in the region while adding that she will defend Taiwan if necessary. China stands, of course, it claims Taiwan as its own territory and says it can take Taiwan back if deemed necessary by force. Back to you.

[03:50:06]

CHURCH: We'll continue to watch this. Kristie Lu Stout joining us live from Hong Kong, many thanks.

LU STOUT: You bet.

CHURCH: EUFA, the governing body of European football has commissioned an independent review of the events outside the Stade de France before, during, and after the Champions League final. This includes the people trying to force their way in and the police -- the police says -- the police using tear gas two days after the match.

The French interior minister said that the large number of fake tickets was to blame for the crowd trouble which caused the match to be delayed by more than half an hour. He noted that as many as 40,000 English fans were at the stadium either without a ticket or with counterfeits.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GERALD DARMANIN, FRENCH INTERIOR MINISTER (through translator): What we have observed is massive industrial scale and organize fraud concerning fake tickets since according to the pre-screening conducted by stadium staff. The Stade de France and the French Football Federation forecasts that nearly 70 percent of all tickets were faked upon entry to the Stade de France.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHURCH: He also said the French government regretted the disorganization and the reception of the British supporters unlike the Spanish supporters. Britain's prime minister added that he is hugely disappointed in how Liverpool fans were treated.

Well in the aftermath of the Uvalde shooting several professional athletes and sports teams are demanding action on gun violence.

CNN's Brian Todd looks at how and if they can make a difference.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

STEVE KERR, HEAD COACH, GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS: Since we left (Inaudible) 14 children were killed 400 miles from here.

BRIAN TODD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Steve Kerr set the tone just hours after 19 children and two teachers were murdered in Uvalde, Texas. The Golden State Warriors coach who had a crucial playoff game that night wasn't about to talk basketball. KERR: When are we going to do something? I'm tired. I'm so tired of

getting up here and offering condolences to the devastated families that are out there. I'm so tired of -- excuse me I'm tired of the moments of silence. Enough!

TODD: Late last week, San Francisco Giants manager Gabe Kapler decided to take his own personal stand against gun violence regarding a pre-game tradition.

GABE KAPLER, MANAGER, SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS: I don't plan on coming out for the anthem going forward until I feel like there's -- I feel better about the direction of our country.

TODD: Kapler said on his blog, quote, "every time I place my head over my heart and remove my hat, I'm participating in a self- congratulatory glorification of the only country where these mass shootings take place." Kapler did stand for the national anthem ahead of his team's game on monday because of Memorial Day.

The New York Yankees a team so mindful of tradition that it won't allow its players to have beards have taken their own action. Last Thursday, while their teams competed against each other on the field the Yankees and Tampa Bay race organization used to social media accounts to post messages and facts about gun violence in the U.S.

The NBA's Miami Heat in the midst of an intense playoff run urge fans to contact their lawmakers about gun law reform.

CHRISTINE BRENNAN, CNN SPORTS ANALYST: At the heart they are members of the community. Athletes and coaches, managers are members of the community. And if their community is hurting those are their fans. Those are the people who watch and cheer for them.

TODD: In Steve Kerr's case, it's personal.

KERR: I want every person here, every person listening to this to think about your own child or grandchild, or mother, or father, or sister, or brother. How would you feel if this happened to you today? We can't get numb to this.

TODD: Kerr does know the feeling. His father Malcolm, president of the American University of Beirut, was assassinated by gunman in 1984 when Steve Kerr was a freshman in college. Even at a moment as unique as this can sports figures make any different in the gun debate?

BRENNAN: It that just gives it a little nudge maybe that can help. But I don't think anybody of us is a Pollyanna here and assuming that just because a few athletes coaches, managers voices are heard, that teams are doing things on social media, that that by itself is going to change things.

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TODD: But Christine Brennan says top sports figures can still make a difference if they take further steps, if they go to legislators, if they appear on PSAs on TV, if they speak at schools. The challenge for them, she says, is to stay focused on the issue beyond the days immediately after mass shootings.

Brian Todd, CNN, Washington.

CHURCH: Calling for change in this country. Well, actor Tom Cruise has soared back into the danger zone taking the top spot at the Box Office with his latest film "Top Gun Maverick."

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UNKNOWN: Good morning aviators. This is your captain speaking.

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CHURCH: The sequel to the 1986 hit earned about $124 million during its opening weekend in America. Keep in mind it was only projected to bring in $80 million. This is the biggest opening in Tom Cruise's 40- plus career and the first time his scored 100 million in the first weekend.

Thank you so much for spending part of a day with me. I'm Rosemary Church. CNN Newsroom is back with Isa Soares after a short break. You are watching CNN.

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