Return to Transcripts main page
CNN Newsroom
Zelenskyy Visits Frontline Troops As Ukraine Retakes Half Of Severodonetsk; Zelenskyy Pays Tribute To Lithuanian Filmmaker; Queen Elizabeth II Appears On Final Day of Platinum Jubilee; South Korea, U.S. Launch Eight Missiles In Response To North Korea; Beijing To Allow Indoor Dining, Further Easing COVID Curbs; Dozens Killed in Nigeria Church Shooting; Wave of Deadly Shootings Throughout America over Weekend; Queen Makes Appearance on Final Day of Celebrations; Celebrations Come Amid Growing Republican Movements; At least 49 Killed in Bangladesh Container Depot Fire; Astronauts Promoting Gender Equality in Space Industry; Nadal wins Record-Extending 22nd Grand Slam Title. Aired 1-2a ET
Aired June 06, 2022 - 01:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[01:00:58]
MICHAEL HOLMES, CNN ANCHOR: Hello, and welcome to our viewers joining us all around the world. I'm Michael Holmes, appreciate company. Coming up here on CNN Newsroom. Ukraine's President visits with his frontline troops in the southeastern part of the country, where Russia is showing no signs of slowing down it's assault.
Plus, missiles launched off the Korean Peninsula, this time by American and South Korean troops in a show of force matching North Korea's missile display a day earlier.
And a party fit for the Queen, Queen Elizabeth making a surprise appearance at her own Platinum Jubilee after missing several days of celebrations.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Live from CNN Center. This is CNN Newsroom with Michael Holmes.
HOLMES: Ukraine says President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has visited the war torn east of his country as Ukrainian troops are said to be taking back ground in Severodonetsk, fierce fighting has raged in that city for weeks as Russian forces pushed to capture the entire Donbas region.
On Sunday Mr. Zelenskyy reportedly visited frontline troops near Severodonetsk and in the city of Solda (ph) in the Donetsk region. Before that, he met with displaced residents from the devastated city of Mariupol, which of course fell under Russian control last month.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY, UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT (through translator): Each family has its own story. Most were without men, someone's husband went to war. Someone is in captivity. Someone's unfortunately died. A tragedy, no home, no loved one. But we must live for the children true heroes, they are among us.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: And while President Zelenskyy was visiting the front lines, his Russian counterpart was making threats from Moscow. In an interview with state media, Vladimir Putin said Russia would strike new targets in Ukraine if the U.S. and its allies follow through on promises to supply the country with long range missiles. That warning coming as Russian missiles shattered the sense of relative calm in the Ukrainian capital on Sunday, seen as Matthew Chance with that.
(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)
MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (on camera): Well, the fighting in Ukraine continues to be at its most ferocious in the east of the country where Russian troops are pounding Ukrainian positions in several locations, pushing to gain full control of the Donbas region, which Moscow of course says its military priority.
Streets in the city of Severodonetsk are apparently changing hands racket rapidly according to Ukrainian military officials with conflicting reports of Ukrainian and Russian forces gaining the upper hand.
The city of Sloviansk is also now according to Ukrainian officials under renewed Russian attack, as Moscow pushes hard for military gains. But Donbas in eastern Ukraine is not the only focus it seems of Russian strikes in the past day. Also, there appears to have been an upswing of violence elsewhere with Russian missile attacks.
For instance, on the southern ports of Mykolaiv with three people have been killed and a grain storage terminal was destroyed further damaging Ukraine's ability to export food. And of course Kyiv, the capital, has again come under sustained attack with five Russian cruise missiles slamming into the city, hitting at least one military target according to Ukrainian officials, but also destroying a train repair factory.
The Russian President meanwhile, Vladimir Putin, has criticized the United States for agreeing to supply Ukraine with long range artillery, telling Kremlin controlled media that that move was intended to prolong the armed conflict and vowing that Russia will respond by striking unspecified facilities that he said had not been targeted yet. Matthew Chance, CNN in southern Ukraine.
[01:05:09]
HOLMES: Now on Sunday, Ukraine's President paid tribute to a Lithuanian filmmaker killed in Mariupol. He was captured and killed by Russian forces in April while working on a documentary about life in Mariupol after Russia's invasion. The film was later completed by his partner and screened at the Cannes Film Festival. Mr. Zelenskyy praised the filmmaker for his life and work during a tape to dress at Sunday's Lithuanian National Film Awards.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ZELENSKYY (through translator): It is important to bear the truth, it is important to support art that is for life, not for those who want to destroy that life. Ukrainians will remember Mantas Kvedaravicus as a man who was just like that. He really deserves the Golden Swan. He valued life and always spoke out against what was life threatening in his view. And that was a very attentive view.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: Pope Francis prayed for peace in Ukraine on Sunday and urged national leaders not to, quote, bring humanity to ruin. The pontiff made the comments during his weekly address one day after telling a Ukrainian child that he wanted to make a papal trip to the war torn country. The pope also called on world leaders to start diplomatic negotiations.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
POPE FRANCIS, HEAD OF CATHOLIC CHURCH (through translator): I renewing appeal to national leaders. Please do not bring humanity to ruin do not bring humanity to ruin. Start real negotiations, concrete talks for a ceasefire and for a sustainable solution. Listen to the desperate cry of the people who are suffering. We see it every day in the media, respect human life. Stop the McCobb (ph) destruction of cities and villages everywhere.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: Now if you would like to safely and securely help people in Ukraine who might be in need of things like shelter, food and water, please go to cnn.com/impact You're going to find a lot of ways to help there plenty of resources on that site.
Surprise appearance on the final day of Queen Elizabeth Platinum Jubilee gets the crowd roaring.
And there she is the Queen herself appearing with her family on the balcony of Buckingham Palace in front of an adoring crowd celebrating her 70 year reign. Ahead of that, thousands of people hit the streets of central London for a huge parade in the Queen's honor, which included her majesty's golden carriage. CNN's Max Foster with more now from London.
(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)
MAX FOSTER, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The priceless gold state coach travels down the mountain kicking off the final day of the Queen's Jubilee celebrations. Then on to Buckingham Palace, just as it did 70 years ago, carrying a young recently proclaimed Queen Elizabeth.
Now, the 96-year-old monarch appears represented by a hologram a sign of the times, but also of the Queen's frailty after she missed all but one of the Jubilee events due to her discomfort.
Prince Charles again taking on the Queen's responsibilities, saluting the parade as it passed. An estimated 1 billion people watch the so called people's parade, including the Prime Minister Boris Johnson, and other members of the royal family in the audience, but not Harry and Meghan.
The event aim to tell the story of the Queen through a parade marking the most iconic fads over the past 70 years. From the 50s Lambeth Walk to the Notting Hill Carnival, and even punk culture.
With a special appearance of some UK celebrities, national treasures, and many more to the great delight of the Queen's great grandchildren. Even the iconic double decker bus got a special makeover for the occasion, a celebration of the last 70 years of British culture and the testimony to the incredible length of the Queen's reign. Her many challenges, her worldwide responsibilities as leader of the Commonwealth, and even her personal interests.
It was also an opportunity to get a rare glimpse of the more informal part of the royal family dynamic.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I feel like it's been monumentous. I feel like this is the people's pageant, our chance to say thank you to her majesty's 70 years of service.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I think the people are genuinely, yes, much more happy towards her and talk more about her because of her age.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes. I think most people are just proud of her, so we love her.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes, we are.
[01:10:05]
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Keep crying all afternoon.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We came through -- I've been crying out a lot. I even got (INAUDIBLE) tissues.
FOSTER: In a statement the Queen said she was humbled and touched by the support and said, quote, while I may not have attended every event in person, my heart had been with you all.
British singer Ed Sheeran close Sunday's festivities with a tribute to Queen Elizabeth before the surprise highlights of the day.
(on camera): It was the book ending to this four day Jubilee celebration that so many people have been hoping for one last glimpse of their aging Queen up there on the Buckingham Palace balcony. And for the queen in the twilight of her reign reassurance that she's loved more than ever. Max Foster, CNN, Buckingham Palace, London.
(END VIDEO TAPE) HOLMES: South Korea and the U.S. launched eight surface to surface missiles early on Monday morning, sending a stern message to North Korea about its recent missile tests. The South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff say the move is a direct response to Pyongyang's own launch of eight short range ballistic missiles on Sunday.
North Korea also fired three missiles last month after U.S. President Joe Biden ended an Asia trip where he agreed to new measures to detail Pyongyang.
CNN's Ivan Watson joining me now with more from Hong Kong. It's no -- it's nothing unusual for the North Koreans to be testing missiles. It is unusual for the U.S. and South Korea to respond like this. What's the significance of it?
IVAN WATSON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, this is a new form of communication between North Korea and the U.S. and its allies tit for tat missile launches. This isn't the first time that the U.S. and South Korea have fired missiles in a show of saber rattling in response to North Korea's missile launches. But it may be a sign of where the regional politics and military posturing is headed.
So less than 24 hours after North Korea fires off eight missiles from four different locations around North Korea, you have this launch of seven South Korean missiles and an American missile that are fired off on Monday morning.
This is also coming with another show of military readiness by the U.S. and Japan with what they describe as a ballistic missile defense exercise which the Japanese said was addressing the ballistic missile threat this was conducted on Sunday and is a show coming from the U.S. and its allies that it will not just sit as North Korea fires its missiles.
Let's look at the arc of launches that North Korea has been conducting over the course of just this year alone. This is the 17th missile launch, showing you that the uptick of activity that it is working on its ballistic missile technology.
But this is not necessarily unusual look at, Michael, at the course of missile launches over the course of the last several years from North Korea. And you'll see that there have been other years with far more missile launches. And as North Korea had been engaged in face-to-face diplomacy with then-U.S. President Donald Trump.
We're going to have to see how this develops. But you've got a new conservative president in power in South Korea, who is making clear he will not stand idly by as North Korea continues to launch weapons that are banned according to United Nations Security Council resolutions, Michael.
HOLMES: All right, Ivan, thanks for the reporting. Ivan Watson there in Hong Kong for us. Appreciate it. And there is much more to come here on CNN Newsroom. Parts of Beijing reopening as COVID-19 cases are trending down. We'll have a live report from Hong Kong and Kristie Lu Stout, just ahead.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[01:16:28]
HOLMES: Now, as we reported earlier fighting continues in eastern Ukraine, and they were even explosions in the recently quiet capital Kyiv in recent days. Well, joining me now from Kyiv is Ukrainian Member of Parliament, Kira Rudik. It's good to see you again.
Kyiv has in recent weeks returned to some semblance of normality after the initial Russian assault, I mean, cafes and restaurants have been reopening. But now these Russian missile strikes in recent days, why do you think that's happened? And what worries you about it?
KIRA RUDIK, UKRAINIAN PARLIAMENT MEMBER: Hello, Michael. So we see that Putin strategy is to constantly bombard different cities of Ukraine, to make sure that we don't feel safe anywhere, to make sure that there is no the sense of normality. And we see strikes on Kyiv sometimes these strikes are on leave on other peaceful cities, that are sending their strong sign saying, I am there, the war did not go anywhere, and you should not be feeling safe. And we're in your own country.
This is obviously frustrating. But it also sends a message that we need to ramp up their protection game. We need to make sure that at some point we are able to protect at least some regions, create this analogy of Iron Dome in Israel, at the certain places in Ukraine. So we will make sure that people can come back there to make sure that people can feel safe at these places, businesses can continue and the economy can continue working.
HOLMES: And to the point of, you know, the threat in light of longer range with Western weapons being brought in. Vladimir Putin told state media that Russia would quote, strike at those facilities, we are not targeting yet even say which ones but are you are you worried by what he means by that?
RUDIK: We have seen that all the responses of Russia to any moves from the western country have been usually just threats. Russia does not care what anybody does, or like they're just going with their own strategy. Like with Finland and Sweden joining NATO. Putin just made some empty threat but actually he didn't do anything.
With Ukrainian forces and the Ukraine receiving weapons at the beginning of the war, he was saying, Oh, I will use nuclear weapons or something else. And you see he didn't do anything. So, they are going with the strategy that does not have anything to do with real world and what the world does so that makes the argument of oh, we should not annoy Putin. It just makes it obsolete.
He will continue with his plan. And we need to continue with ours take care of our country and the Western countries need to continue to support us with this fight that we are taking.
HOLMES: But it is clear, though, that Russia is trying to consolidate its hold on territory in the east and the south along the Sea of Azov and wants to go up towards Moldova. Is there any chance that Ukraine would agree to any settlement that would involve Russia holding more territory than it held before this war?
RUDIK: No. I believe that we would never agree to that.
[01:20:02]
When we are talking about settling with the territories or something, we are not talking just about movement or some borders here and there. You have seen what happened to Bucha. You have seen what is happening in temporary occupied territories, when they are torturing people, when they're killing people, when they're actually committing every single war crime in the book. So how can we give up on the territories and give up on our people and just sacrifice them to Russian soldiers, we cannot do that.
And nobody can do that to their own people. And nobody in the world should be able to do that to the citizens of their country. So we will be fighting to return back to normality, to human rights that needs to be actually respected on all those territories. And we would be fighting for that. Absolutely.
HOLMES: But, you know, I guess, you know, because of the fighting, which of course, dominates the news, it's perhaps easy to lose sight of the damage already done, the cities and apartments and villages and churches utterly destroyed. As a politician, but also as a Ukrainian citizen, what is it like to see this devastation in your country?
RUDIK: It's heartbreaking. It's terrifying. But it will also -- but it is also something that keeps you pushing. After what that have seen in Bucha all the atrocities and deaths, it just made me fight harder and ask for more help and it made our people to continue fighting and make sure that we would not give up. Because we know right now what we are facing. It's not some just virtual Russians. We know that it's pain and death and atrocities.
But we are also -- we also have so much energy to rebuild it. We also are pushing to unite the forces right now win this war, and then concentrate on rebuilding everything that was destroyed and everything that was broken. There are so many people who already put their life. So we will be here where we are. There are so many people who died. So we will be able to push Russians away from keep away from Kharkiv.
And right now we just need to continue and make sure that the sacrifices we're not for nothing.
HOLMES: Yes.
RUDIK: And we need to continue fighting and striving for our country. This is the goal. This is the aim. And this is what Ukrainian people feel right now.
HOLMES: Yes, well, could -- I just want to finally ask you 100 days into the war. Are you satisfied with what the West has done to help your country? What else would you like to see in terms of assistance? RUDIK: As on the day one, I want to see the no-fly zone, whatever you call it. But you see right now with the recent attacks on Kyiv, that we do need the protection from the air, otherwise Putin maybe fighting on the east and on the south. But the whole Ukraine would be always in work. And we cannot allow that.
So, we need more assistance in protecting our peaceful cities. We need more weapons. And not only just proclamation. We need the weapons right on our front, because it's been three months when and it's only right now when we started getting some of the weapons that were promised on the day one or two.
And we obviously need sanctions and not halfway sanctions, but through sanctions that will start working now. The six package will start working at the end of the year. How can we expect Russia to fail if Europe will continue paying them billion euros for energy resources at day for another half of the year? And then then the sanctions will start working.
So with Western support, it is there but we need more. And we need it to be united and we need it to be pushy. We need it to be at the loo of fighting the second largest army in the world because we Ukrainians, we are fighting this army.
HOLMES: Yes.
RUDIK: And what we are asking for is the support not in the troops that will be sent in Ukraine but with the weapons, with the sanctions, with the finances. And this is what we are getting right now.
HOLMES: Kira Rudik, Ukrainian Member of Parliament, always good to speak with you. Thank you so much.
RUDIK: Thank you and Glory to Ukraine.
HOLMES: Yes. Well, Beijing is easing its COVID measures citing a decline in cases since late May. Workers can now return to the office. Restaurants can return to dine in services except in some areas.
And starting June 13th, elementary, middle and high schools will be able to return to in-person learning.
[01:25:05]
Residents wanting to take public transport or enter public spaces will need to show a negative PCR test taken within 72 hours. Let's get more on all of these developments from Kristie Lu Stout joining me live from Hong Kong. I guess the infections are falling. China easing restrictions in Beijing and Shanghai but normal life not there yet, right?
KRISTIE LU STOUT, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, as normal as possible at zero COVID China, right. Look, what we know is this both Beijing and Shanghai are further slowly easing COVID-19 restrictions starting today in the Chinese capital workers will be able to return to the office, dine-in service will resume except in the Fengtai District in parts of Xianping (ph). We also know that public transport will operate normally.
But the catch is all the residents of the Chinese capital they have to provide proof of a negative nucleic acid test or PCR test taken within 72 hours before they can access public venues, go back to the office or to enter certain buildings.
So meanwhile, in Shanghai, the financial capital of China after emerging from that punishing two-month lockdown, most of the city's 25 million residents have been able to go out and about and leave the residual compounds.
Starting today, we've learned that older high school students will be able to resume in-person classes, but authorities there are still trying to hunt down the virus. Hundreds of thousands of residents in Shanghai being subjected to mandatory COVID testing. ON Friday, three cases of COVID-19 were detected. And guess what three residential neighborhoods were sealed off as a result. Back to you.
HOLMES: I wanted to ask you to where you are there in Hong Kong cases on the rise. What do you see as the train line there?
LU STOUT: Yes, on Sunday, local authorities here in Hong Kong confirmed 515 new daily cases of COVID-19. That is the highest daily tally in six weeks and that's really stoking a lot of fear and concern among residents here that the government could further backpedal on what had been an easing COVID 19 pandemic policy.
You know, it was last week when we learned that Hong Kong officials were sending people infected with a subvariant of Omicron into these government run quarantine camps like Penny's Bay, mild cases were sent there close contacts were sent there as well. So as cases rise in Hong Kong will we see a further backpedaling of the easing of measures that was so widely welcomed here that remains to be seen. Michael.
HOLMES: All right. Good to see Kristie. Thanks.
LU STOUT: Thank you.
HOLMES: Kristie Lu Stout there in Hong Kong. All right, communities around the U.S. grieving after a weekend that saw nearly 10 more mass shootings. The stark details on America's escalating gun violence epidemic when we come back. Also, celebrations marking the Queen's 70 years on the throne. But some nations are considering moving on from the British monarchy. We'll take a closer look at that after the break.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[01:30:30]
MICHAEL HOLMES, CNN ANCHOR: Welcome back to our viewers all around the world. I'm Michael Holmes, you're watching CNN NEWSROOM.
At least 28 people were killed after gunmen stormed a Catholic church in southwest Nigeria and opened fire. A local lawmaker told CNN that the gunmen arrived on motorcycles and began shooting. We must warn you, the following video is graphic. Authorities told CNN they've yet to confirm the total number of casualties or identify those behind the attack.
According to a statement from the Vatican, the Pope has been informed of the shooting, and is praying for the victims and the country.
America's epidemic of gun violence worsened over the weekend. Parts of the Philadelphia, in fact are under curfew right now after police say multiple shooters opened fire on an bustling entertainment district on Saturday night. The city's mayor says he is fed up with the bloodshed and is calling for tougher gun laws. It's just one of several mass shootings in the U.S. in recent days.
CNN's Pamela Brown with more.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
PAMELA BROWN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: As one community buries 19 children after the horrific massacre in Uvalde, Texas -- in the last few hours and days, more killings. The numbers are staggering.
At least eight mass shootings since Friday, and according to the Gun Violence Archive, more than 240 mass shootings this year.
Sunday morning in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
MAYOR TIM KELLY -- CHATTANOOGA, TENNESSEE: I'm tired of standing in front of you talking about guns and bodies.
BROWN: Three people killed and at least 17 others injured near a downtown nightclub. Police say some victims hit by bullets and others by fleeing cars.
KELLY: There are families whose lives have been shattered forever because once again, we had people deciding to resolve their issues with firearms.
BROWN: Another overnight shooting at a bar, this one out west. Two people dead and two more injured in Mesa, Arizona.
Saturday night, at least three people were killed and 11 others injured after a shooting in Philadelphia. Police say several active shooters fired into a crowd.
DANIELLE OUTLAW, PHILADELPHIA POLICE COMMISSIONER: We're absolutely devastated. Devastated by this incident. And we mourn the lives lost, and the dozens and dozens of lives affected by this tragedy.
BROWN: A drive-by shooting at a graduation party in South Carolina left one woman dead and several people injured, including a child. Police said they recovered roughly 60 shell casings from the scene so far.
And there's more. A strip mall shooting early Saturday morning left one person dead. Phoenix police said the victim is a 14-year-old girl. UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: A group of people that just started running like
every different direction. And I myself, was like, hiding behind cars, because the shots kept getting closer and closer.
BROWN: And in small town Wisconsin, a former judge targeted in his home and fatally shot. Authorities say the suspect had a hit list of high-level government officials.
All of this as the nation waits for Washington to do something about this uniquely American epidemic.
JOE BIDEN, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: For God's sake, how much more carnage are we willing to accept? How many more innocent American lives must be taken before we say, enough. Enough.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HOLMES: Pamela Brown reporting there.
And following her report, CNN has confirmed at least nine mass shootings over the weekend, claimed the lives of 12 people, wounded nearly 60 others.
If you would like to provide financial support or blood donations to the victims and communities, including the Texas school shooting, go to CNN.com/impact. You'll find several ways there you can help.
A triumphant finale to historic jubilee celebrations in London. Queen Elizabeth making a surprise appearance on the balcony of Buckingham Palace on Sunday, capping the final day of events marking her 70-year reign.
The Queen hadn't been present at events on Friday and Saturday. In a statement, the 96-year-old monarch said she was humbled and deeply touched that so many people came together to mark the milestone.
But amid this celebrations, some nations in the Commonwealth are considering moving on from the British monarchy.
[01:34:57]
HOLMES: Just last year, Barbados removed Queen Elizabeth as head of state and inaugurated its first ever president. That was the first time in nearly three decades a nation made such a move. But with the growing Republican movement in the commonwealth, some wonder who might be next.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
HOLMES: Joining me now with perspective from Australia is Peter Fitzsimons, sports writer for the "Sydney Morning Herald". Peter, good to have you with us. So the platinum jubilee celebration is over. You and many Australians have long fought for the Queen to no longer be Australia's head of state. When is the time right to make that change and is it inevitable? PETER FITZSIMONS, SPORTS WRITER, "SYDNEY MORNING HERALD": Michael,
about now. We are in the third decade of the 21st century, and we wish the Queen WELL, and we warmly congratulate her on 70 years.
I think she's 14 prime ministers in and maybe 15 soon. But you know, she's done an extraordinary job but is it inevitable? No. It's not inevitable despite all that.
In 1797, it was the first time the word "inevitable" was used for an Australian republic. Then in the 1830s, then in the 1890s, 1930s, 1970s, 1990s. The problem is, people say it's inevitable, but we Australians actually have to roll up our sleeves, sign up, and get involved.
And the wonderful thing now, is that for the first time in Australian history, the incoming Australian government has said, wherein it. We now have a minister, an assistant minister for the republic, and to use the phrase used by one the monarchists, we now have a minister for the crown devoted to removing the crown.
HOLMES: Exactly. That was going to be my next question, about how that might give impetus to it but you've answered that. Cutting those, you know, head of state ties with the Queen, that has been rejected before. How have you evolved, and have they evolved enough in Australia since the last referendum on this issue?
Much love still, for the Queen, perhaps not as much for Prince Charles, but for the Queen.
FITZSIMONS: In 1999, we never say 99, we always say last century, when we had the referendum, we had a government and a prime minister that was resolutely against it. John Howard, who was the sitting prime minister, he said out loud, very strongly came in front against it, I don't want the Australian people to vote for this.
And as you would know, as an Australian, only eight times in our history have we ever had a referendum pass. And so, it's not easy to get a majority of people in a majority of states to change the constitution.
But things have moved on, and to have a prime minister Sir Anthony Albanese is the new prime minister, the previous prime minister, Scott Morrison, I asked him, sir, where are you up to on this? Are you a Republican?
And he said I'm a constitutionalist. Which basically meant that when Moses came down from the mount, he had the ten commandments and he had the Australian constitution and thou shalt not change it.
And Anthony Albanese is not like that. Anthony Albanese spoke at a Republican dinner in Canberra old parliament house not long ago and I've put him down as if I'm the loudest Republican in the land, he's probably the most passionate.
He's very strong -- but he wants to do the timing, has to be a correct. You know, the reason for having a minister for the Republic is to till the soil, to nurture the ground, to make sure that when the referendum takes place, the Australian people will be behind it and with a sufficient majority.
HOLMES: You know, I think it's 15 nations out of 54 in the commonwealth have kept the Queen as the symbolic head of state, including Australia, of course. And we have seen a lot of pushback on the royal role in several of those countries. Six Caribbean nations, recently indicated they wanted to remove the Queen as head of state.
How do you see the broader commonwealth trend to make the break, and why? I mean you and I know the argument that we would make is that you don't want foreigners as your head of state.
FITZSIMONS: No. That's exactly it. I mean -- the line that I say is everything I say is premised by personable respect for the Queen. In the ARM, the Australian Republic Movement, we have respect for the Queen.
But the simple premise of the Australian Republic Movement is that in the 21st century, we as a nation can do better than to find our head of state from a family of English aristocrats living in a palace in London, much as we might admire the head of that family, the Queen of England.
Paul Keating (ph) our erstwhile prime minister from the early 90s, he said a mature nation does not have a foreigner as head of state.
You mentioned the Caribbean when Barbados, I think it was in November of last year. Barbados said I think we can do this on our own. I think a lot of Australians really, they looked at Barbados, and with the obvious well look if Barbados can do this and go on their own, so can we. And so (INAUDIBLE) it's what gives us impetus.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
[01:40:01]
HOLMES: Peter Fitzsimons there speaking with me earlier. He's with the "Sydney Morning Herald" newspaper and the Australian Republican Movement.
And on the final day of the platinum jubilee, street parties took place across the U.K. to celebrate the Queen. CNN's Anna Stewart was at one such event in London, where crowds turned out to mark the last day.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ANNA STEWART, CNN CORRESPONDENT: The great British street party is a long-standing tradition for marking royal events. Coronations, royal weddings, and jubilees. Thousands took place across the U.K. Sunday, in spite of the typically British weather.
This one on a very aptly named street.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They call this Elizabeth Street. And Queen Elizabeth, it's got to be done really.
So we come all this way to be at the street party that's closest to Buckingham Palace.
STEWART: It's a party catering for all ages, from military veterans to some much younger residents.
How do you describe Mr. Punch for an international audience?
This mischievous puppet speaks mostly gibberish, but luckily, has a translator.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He said he likes to jubilees because he gets lots of work.
STEWART: This street has some notable shops, including hatters to the royals, Philip Tracey, and they're all part of the celebrations.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm here to sell across the roads. So it's part of my neighborhood.
On Elizabeth Street, we've always had like a villagey atmosphere, so I think it's come across really well.
STEWART: Above all, street parties are about uniting communities. It's a moment to break bread, or in this case scones, cucumber sandwiches, meringues, and of course, some bubbles.
Cheers. Happy platinum jubilee.
Anna Stewart, CNN -- from Elizabeth Street in London.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HOLMES: Having way too much fun.
The Queen being honored at the platinum jubilee but her great grandson Prince Louis got a lot of attention. During the pageant parade on Sunday, the four-year-old got into it with his mother, the Duchess of Cambridge, covering her mouth, shaking his head there, making faces on live TV. Parents around the world can probably sympathize with the duchess.
I'd like to do that all the time.
Anyway, coming up here on CNN NEWSROOM, we're going to have the latest on a fire in Bangladesh that killed dozens of people, injured hundreds more.
And we'll introduce you to a group at NASA hoping to send more women into space. We have the details next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[01:44:58]
HOLMES: Welcome back.
Firefighters in Bangladesh battling to contain a container depot fire that has already claimed the lives of at least 49 people. Nine firefighters among the dead, two others remain missing since that fire began on Saturday night.
Here are some more details on the fire.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
HOLMES: Smoke rises in the air. The result of a massive fire in Bangladesh can be seen for kilometers. The wreckage still smoldering by day, after intense battle to douse the flames the night before.
It's unclear what started the fire at this storage depot in the southeastern part of the country. But it escalated quickly when shipping containers, some of which may have contained chemicals, exploded throughout the site.
Residents said the blast shook nearby neighborhoods, hundreds of firefighters were on the scene to try to contain the blaze before it reached even more containers.
But on Sunday, more explosions. Officials say the army was called in to assist the firefighters. Dozens of people have died, hospitals were packed with injured people, and distraught relatives searching for loved ones.
It's an unfortunately common scene in Bangladesh, which has seen several fires in industrial complexes in recent years, where hundreds of people have died.
Experts say weak safety codes and a lack of oversight have contributed to the tragedies.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HOLMES: Some three Chinese astronauts are now on board China space station core module after blasting off into space early on Sunday. Now the crew is going to six months aboard to continue constructing the Chinese space station.
At the end of their mission, three more astronauts are expected to join the current crew, and live with them for a few days. Now, that'll bring the number of Chinese astronauts in space at the same time to a record number of six.
Now, space travel is a profession long-dominated by men, but some NASA astronauts are working to change that.
CNN's Rachel Crane with the story.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
RACHEL CRANE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: 250 miles above the earth, history is being made. Jessica Watkins is the first black woman to do a long duration mission on board the International Space Station.
JESSICA WATKINS, ASTRONAUT: Certainly I would like to, you know, spend as much time in space as I can.
CRANE: Despite her history making mission, Watkins and NASA, diversity in space continues to be a problem. According to NASA, 622 people have been to space. Yet only 75 of them have been women. That's just 12 percent.
Speaking to CNN while orbiting in microgravity, Watkins says she's doing all shew she can to work towards a pipeline of young talent that is more diverse.
WATKINS: Investing in school programs and education --
CRANE: Does the space industry have a gender inequality problem?
PAM MELROY, NASA DEPUTY ADMINISTRATOR: I think, absolutely. The entire aerospace industry, I'll add, has a gender inequality issue.
CRANE: NASA deputy administrator Pam Melroy is taking action from the ground. As a former astronaut who made three trips to space, and was one of only two women to command a space shuttle, she knows it's a tough problem to solve.
MELROY: We're just ignoring untapped potential. We have to take the proactive steps to make that number more similar to what the average population is.
CRANE: Sally Ride was the first American to open the doors for women like Melroy, with her historic mission to space in 1983. That opened the floodgates for a series of firsts.
First female commander of the International Space Station, first black woman in space, first all-female spacewalk.
SALLY RIDE, FIRST WOMAN IN SPACE: There were a lot of people who told me that women couldn't be pilots, couldn't be astronauts, but it is very tough when you are the first or the only. But I had a reason to keep going.
CRANE: Still, nearly four decades after Ride's first flight, women make up just above 36 percent of NASA's active astronaut class.
BRIDGET CHATMAN, WOMEN IN AEROSPACE: We really have to go deeper in the academic channel.
CRANE: Bridget Chatman is an executive who also chairs Women in Aerospace. And she says the key is to start young.
CHATMAN: Middle schools, those little girls who are excited about science and math before someone whispers in their ear that they should look at a different profession.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Hey everybody. CRANE; Nasa has more plans for Watkins. She has been selected by the
agency to be a part of her astronaut class for Artemis, a mission which plans to send the first woman and the first person of color to the moon. But she hasn't been chosen to make the journey yet.
No matter who is selected, Melroy is convinced the impacts of sending a woman to the moon will be astronomical.
[01:49:53]
MELROY: You can believe it if you see it. This is going to have an impact far beyond that lucky individual who I'm already jealous of.
CRANE: Rachel Crane, CNN -- New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HOLMES: Rafael Nadal shows us once again why he is king of the clay. He became the oldest champion at the French Open, hear what he's got to say about playing at Wimbledon next.
We'll be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: Pain and despair for Ukraine's national football team who've fallen short in their bid to qualify for this year's world cup in Qatar. The men's team lost to Wales 1-0 on Sunday in Cardiff, thanks to a free kick by global superstar, Garrett Bail (ph) that bounced off a Ukrainian defender for an own goal.
The stadium was packed with Ukrainian fans, including refugees given tickets by the World Football Association.
Here is what fans for Ukraine and Wales were saying after the match.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And, our victory of our country is in the future. Our forces will soon win which is (INAUDIBLE) and it's the most important for us.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Disappointed but, you know, the team lost today.
So we played well and probably deserve to play in the World Cup but you know, I really wish the best to Wales now.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We are very proud of them. They have done very well. And this, you know everything that's happened at the (INAUDIBLE) in Ukraine really touches our hearts.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I tell you what, the fans (INAUDIBLE) going over to Ukraine fans at the end. I am absolutely -- that shows us more -- it's not, you know, it's not just about football. It's also about what's going on in the world as well. (INAUDIBLE)
We really wanted to win over -- (INAUDIBLE).
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: This will be Wales' first trip to the World Cup since 1958, they will face the U.S. in their first match in Qatar which kicks off in November.
Now in tennis, another win for Rafael Nadal at Roland Garros. The 36- year-old Spaniard easily defeating Norway's Casper Ruud in straight sets for his 14th French Open title. Nadal also has extended his own record for majors, winning 22 Grand Slams now.
CNN Christina MacFarlane with more from Paris.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CHRISTINA MACFARLANE, CNN SPORTS CORRESPONDENT: It is the most familiar scene in sport. Rafa Nadal lifting the French Open trophy on a Sunday night in Paris. His 14th title, extending his record at Roland Garros, cementing his legacy as the undisputed king of play.
RAFAEL NADAL, FRENCH OPEN CHAMPION: And for me, I have this trophy next to me again. It means everything. So, yes. I've been emotional. Victories without a doubt, unexpected in some way. Yes. I'm very happy.
MACFARLANE: But, this was his most hard-fought unlikely victory. Rafa Nadal has had to contend with many injuries over his long career but this past year has been particularly grueling.
After withdrawing from tennis for six months due to an ongoing foot industry, it's taken extraordinary grit and belief for the champion to force his way back into the equation. Even after this unexpected feat of brilliance, Nadal is not done yet.
[01:54:51]
NADAL: I am going to be in Wimbledon if my body is ready to be in Wimbledon. That's it. Wimbledon is not a tournament that I want to miss. I think nobody wants to miss Wimbledon. I love Wimbledon. I had a lot of success there. I lived amazing commotions (ph) there. So full credit and respect to the tournament.
A player like me, I am always ready to play Wimbledon.
MACFARLANE: He now leads his greatest rivals Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic by two Grand Slams and has the potential to add even more with the chance for a first ever calendar Grand Slam.
BEN ROTHENBERG, CNN TENNIS CONTRIBUTOR: You know it hasn't been done in men's tennis since 1969 Rod Laver and Novak Djokovic came within one match of it last year winning the calendar Grand Slam.
It's been tough for Nadal. I mean Nadal hasn't won the Wimbledon since 2010. It's been a tougher tournament especially in the years with his knee injury, getting down to his lowballs. Not easy for him. But so long as the foot holds up we will see what kind of further treatments he's able to do to exercise (ph) it on the grass. He could do it there. And he's won the U.S. Open four times in the previous decade. He can do it there as well. But it's still very tough.
I would say it's definitely less likely than not that he does it. But Nadal has shown time and time again that you really can't ever totally count him out comfortably.
MACFARLANE; There is no doubt the 22-time Grand Slam champion is edging ever closer to the twilight period of his career. But, as long as body and mind are willing, Rafa Nadal will continue to chase history.
Christina Macfarlane, CNN -- Paris.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HOLMES: And Nadal will join Christiane Amanpour on Monday to talk about his record extending French Open win. You can catch that 6:00 p.m. in London, 7:00 p.m. in Paris, 1:00 p.m. in New York only here on CNN.
Well, the NBA finals are now even at a game apiece thanks to a dominant performance by the Golden State Warriors in Game 2. Led by superstar, Steph Curry's 29 points, the Warriors defeated the Boston Celtics, 107-88.
The Warriors ran away with the game in the 3rd quarter, outscoring Boston 35-14. Game 3 is in Boston on Wednesday -- a tougher crowd up there.
Now, a week after taking off at the box office, "Top Gun Maverick" is still flying high. The latest movie starring Tom Cruise made an estimated $86 million in the U.S. over the past weekend. That is just a drop of just 32 percent from its record-setting opening. A very unusual thing to have that big of a second weekend. Most blockbusters typically see drops that are considerably much higher than that. Paramount says it's earned are nearly $550 million globally.
Thanks for spending part of your day with me. I'm Michael Holmes.
My colleague Anna Coren will be back with more news in just a moment.
[01:57:38]
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
