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British P.M. Clings To Power Amid Resignations, Calls To Quit; Ukraine: Russian Military Suffering "Enormous Losses"; Ukraine: Sloviansk Appears To Be Next Russian Objective; Partial Lockdown in Xi'an, China; COVID Vaccine Mandate in Beijing; Increasing Number of Undernourished in North Korea; U.S. President and VP Talks to Griner's wife; Interview with Brittney Griner's Former Olympic Coach And Three- Time Olympic Gold Medalist Dawn Staley; Pat Cipollone to Testify to January 6th Select Committee. Aired 2-3a ET
Aired July 07, 2022 - 02:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[02:00:56]
ROSEMARY CHURCH, CNN INTERNATIONAL ANCHOR: Hello and welcome to our viewers joining us from all around the world. I'm Rosemary Church in Atlanta.
MAX FOSTER, CNN ROYAL CORRESPONDENT: And I'm Max Foster outside the Houses of Parliament. A defiant Boris Johnson says he's not going anywhere despite a wave of resignations. Can the prime minister hold on to power?
CHURCH: And the sheer scope of the destruction as Ukraine tries to slow Russia's advanced through the Donbas. We are live in Kyiv with the latest on the military front.
A defiant Boris Johnson is vowing to fight for his future as Britain's prime minister saying he won't step down despite growing calls for him to do so. Discontent over his leadership, intensified over the last week. As yet another scandal engulfed the government. That led to the sudden and shocking resignations of two key cabinet members on Tuesday, the finance minister and the health secretary but isn't stopped there.
Dozens of other lawmakers have since stepped down from their posts. But Wednesday night it was Mr. Johnson who decided to sack senior Cabinet Minister Michael Gove. Sources say Gove had urged the prime minister earlier in the day to accept that time was up. We've also learned the delegation of cabinet members went to Downing Street to ask Mr. Johnson to resign. That coming after he was battered by questions during an appearance before a parliamentary committee.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
(CROSSTALK)
BERNARD JENKIN, BRITISH HOUSE OF COMMONS LIAISON COMMITTEE CHAIR: -- this house --
BORIS JOHNSON, PRIME MINISTER OF UNITED KINGDOM: That I'm not going to step down and the last thing this country needs, frankly, is election.
JENKIN: Because this house --
JOHNSON: What this -- on the contrary, I think the risk is -- the risk is that people continue to focus on this type of thing. And I think that is a mistake.
(CROSSTALK)
JENKIN: And how can help --
(CROSSTALK)
JOHNSON: -- get on with stable --
(CROSSTALK)
JENKSIN: How we could help the --
(END VIDEO CLIP)
FOSTER: Nada Bashir is in Downing Street where Boris Johnson is today, many people didn't expect that. Did they, Nada? He's clearly defiant. He's clearly intending to stay and we've just heard that more of his cabinet have gone.
NADA BASHIR, CNN INTERNATIONAL REPORTER: Yes, absolutely. It really has been an incredible 24 hours. A stunning show by Prime Minister Boris Johnson who has remained defiant. He believe that he still has the mandate of the British people even though we have seen that mounting pressure from cabinet ministers in just the last few moments as secretary of state for Northern Ireland announcing his resignation, adding to that significant list of cabinet ministers, Junior ministers and M.P.s who've already left their posts.
Owing to the fact that they believe the prime minister simply doesn't have the mandate to control this government anymore. Brandon Lewis saying a decent and responsible government relies on honesty, integrity, and mutual respect. And of course, this is the key thing that we have been seeing across these resignation letters. Questions about the prime minister's integrity. Whether or not he can be trusted after we've seen scandal after scandal, crisis after crisis hit this government.
Those historic local election losses. Clearly they believe that the prime minister needs to go and not only for the good of party, but also for the good of the government. Max?
FOSTER: People talking about a possible constitutional crisis here because you've got a prime minister who apparently doesn't have the support of his party, but he's sticking it out because he says he has a mandate from the public because he won the last election in a way that makes the process simpler, doesn't it? Because backbenchers now the only option really is for them to call a vote of no confidence or I guess the opposition could call a vote of no confidence but they're going to have to force him out.
BASHIR: Yes, absolutely, Max. And that mandate that the prime minister says he is clinging on to is really crumbling hour by hour, growing more and more fragile as we see that mounting pressure from these resignations. And we do understand the 1922 committee which is that committee of backbenchers which oversees the process of calling a vote of confidence, is set to elect a new executive next week on Monday.
[02:05:08]
BASHIR: And then it is believed that they will discuss the process of triggering another vote of confidence. Now, of course, we already saw Prime Minister Boris Johnson face that sort of vote just a month ago, he narrowly survived that vote of confidence. And typically, the prime minister would be immune from another vote for further 12 months. But it is believed that the 1922 committee, those backbenchers will be discussing next week whether or not to change those rules in order to allow for a vote of confidence to be called earlier.
And of course, as we've seen this mounting pressure from the cabinet ministers from M.P.s, from some of the prime minister's closest allies in government, it is believed that it is likely that that vote of confidence will be triggered, and it is widely believed that he will lose this vote of confidence. But that, of course, remains to be seen. But what is also important to note, Max, is that it's not only the resignations where we're seeing that mounting pressure.
As you mentioned that cabinet ministers who have chosen to remain in office yesterday, meeting with the prime minister, calling on him to step down and in the words of David Davis to do the honorable thing and issue his own resignation.
FOSTER: Well, he may have had time to reflect overnight. Let's see how he comes out today. And if he's on similar sort of defiant form. Later in the show, I'll speak with a Financial Times commentator who's gone through all of this before, but actually, in many ways, this is historic. So he's learning about it for the first time as well. Do stay with us for that, Rosemary.
CHURCH: All right. Many thanks to you, Max. We'll get back to you very soon.
Ukraine admits its losing ground in the Donbas to advancing Russian forces, but claims those Russian troops are suffering enormous losses in the process. Ukrainian officials believe Russia's next objective is the city of Sloviansk in the Donetsk region. It's one of the few remaining Ukrainian strongholds in the Donbas with much of Russia's firepower now aimed at Sloviansk and nearby towns.
Ukrainian civilians still in the area are being urged to get out if they can. The Russian airstrikes are not limited to the Donbas. Ukraine's president says a teachers' college in Kharkiv was destroyed on Wednesday by a Russian missile. And CNN's Scott McLean joins us now live from the Ukrainian capital. Good to see you, Scott. So, Ukraine says its forces are putting up fierce resistance in the Donbas and that Sloviansk appears to be Russia's next target. So, what is the latest on the military front?
SCOTT MCLEAN, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes. The Russians are clearly keying in on the Donetsk region. But the Ukrainian say that there are actually still pockets of Ukrainian resistance in the Luhansk region that they continue to fight for. Ukrainians also say that the Russians are taking heavy losses which is really hampering their ability to move forward. Now, CNN can't confirm troop losses on either side.
But the reality is that even some pro-Russian commentators have suggested that the battle for Luhansk can -- specifically the city of Lysychansk and Severodonetsk, well, they were far too costly in terms of human life. Also getting in the Russians ways to Severodonetsk river, that is a natural barrier that the Ukrainian say that the Russians are stuck on the other side of and they say that they might actually be able to hold them there on the other side for months.
Unfortunately, the expectation though, is that the Russians will continue to launch bombs and launch artillery strikes on the other side on the towns and villages, including Sloviansk, that main city with increasing intensity there. But the president also says that there is a game changing tool that the Ukrainians are really starting to use with increasing intensity and that is the Highest Mobility Artillery Rocket System, HIMARs provided by the United States.
President Zelenskyy says that it is extremely accurate. Exactly what they need at this stage. And he says that they've been able to strike caches of weapons, supply lines, things like that. Just the other day, there was a strike on the city of Donetsk, what looks to be a cache of ammunition though the Ukrainians aren't confirming anything. Rosemary?
CHURCH: And Scott, what more are you learning about the teachers' college that was destroyed in Kharkiv by a Russian missile?
MCLEAN: Yes. So this strike was overnight, night before last, around 1:00 in the morning, local time on the eastern edge of the city of Kharkiv. This was a teacher's college and the pictures really tell the story here. One of the buildings -- at least one of the buildings is completely obliterated. The president says that the main building, lecture halls, museum and the library, they were all destroyed all impacted severely. A security guard who was on duty overnight was killed in that strike as well.
[02:10:04]
MCLEAN: Zelenskyy says that strikes like this on civilian infrastructure, well, they are exactly the definition of what barbarism is. Now Zelenskyy has in recent days stepped up his calls for a more modern air defense system trying to get more support from that, more help, more equipment from the west to actually make that happen. And so that people far from the front lines don't have to live their lives in terror. He says that getting that system upgraded, that is a top priority for his government right now, Rosemary.
CHURCH: All right. Scott McLean joining us live from Kyiv. Many thanks.
The trial of U.S. basketball star Brittney Griner is set to resume in Russia today. That is the day after U.S. President Joe Biden spoke with Griner's wife on the phone and said the U.S. is doing everything it can to get Griner released. Officials also say Mr. Biden responded to Griner's recent letter from jail. She wrote that she is afraid Russia may never let her out. Griner is facing drug smuggling charges for reportedly having cannabis oil in her luggage after landing at a Moscow airport. If convicted, she faces up to 10 years in prison. The U.S. says she is wrongfully detained.
The suspect in the Illinois parade shooting makes his first court appearance. Just ahead, we will tell you what prosecutors say he admitted and why the attack could have been so much worse.
Plus, a look at the new gun safety law signed by President Biden and what problems it aims to address.
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CHURCH (voice over): Residents of Highland Park, Illinois a gathering for vigils to remember the seven people killed in the 4th of July parade shooting. They range in age from 35 to 88. Parents, grandparents, beloved family members who died celebrating Independence Day in the United States.
Prosecutors say the gunman has admitted firing into the crowd and seriously considered a second attack. CNN's Josh Campbell has details.
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JOSH CAMPBELL, CNN SECURITY CORRESPONDENT (voice over): The Highland Park government's first appearance in court Wednesday comes this new surveillance video shows people running for safety in a nearby store. One woman is seen crawling on the ground to protect a child from gunfire and another inspects her bleeding leg. The gunman is now being held without bond.
Charged with seven counts of first degree murder for shooting into a crowd of parade goers on July 4th. The prosecutor naming each one of the seven victims as he read the counts and police saying the suspect admitted to the shootings.
[02:15:02]
ERIC RINEHART, LAKE COUNTY STATE ATTORNEY: He went into details about what he had done. He admitted to what he had done.
CHRISTOPHER COVELLI, DEPUTY CHIEF, LAKE COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE: His motivation isn't necessarily clear. He had some type of affinity towards the number four and seven and inverse was seven four.
CAMPBELL: Saying his affinity for the numbers.
COVELLI: Only comes from music that he's interested in.
CAMPBELL: During the rooftop attack, police say the gunman shot from three magazines. Each containing 30 rounds.
RINEHART: The defendant fired emptied one clip of I believe 30 rounds and reloaded a second clip.
CAMPBELL: The prosecutor saying he looked down his sights, aimed at open fire. Investigators said they found 83 spent shell casings. Police say after he exited the rooftop, he dropped his rifle and fled. And he said he dressed in women's clothing and covered up his tattoos with makeup so we wouldn't be recognized. On the run for almost eight hours that day, he still had approximately 60 rounds of ammunition in his car when he considered attacking a second gathering in Madison, Wisconsin, but decided not to. When asked if he was deterred.
COVELLI: Indications are that he hadn't put enough thought and research into it.
CAMPBELL: Now there are new questions about whether the attack could have been stopped. Authorities say the suspect passed four background checks despite a previous threat in 2019 that was reported to the Illinois State Police.
COVELLI: It occurred in September of 2019. A family member reported that Crimo said he was going to kill everyone and Crimo had a collection of knives.
CAMPBELL: Yet he's still passed background checks through the firearms transaction inquiry program between June 2020 and September 2021. Authorities say the suspect legally purchased the high-powered rifle he used in the shooting and today dodge questions about the gunman's father who apparently sponsored a gun license for his son.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Are you looking at any potential criminal charges with other family members? The parents perhaps?
RINEHART: I don't want to comment on that. I don't want to answer that question right now in terms of what our work continues to be to look at all of the information and evidence in this case.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
CAMPBELL: Now I was inside this courthouse for the first hearing and the prosecution of this case. The suspect appearing via video late showing no emotion as prosecutors read the names of the seven victims deceased after that parade shooting. Prosecutors say that thus far they have filed first degree murder charges. They're expecting additional charges the future. Josh Campbell, CNN, Lake County, Illinois.
CHURCH: A new report on the police response to the elementary school massacre in Uvalde, Texas details a series of missed opportunities and mistakes. Chief among them. The report says a police officer had an opportunity to take out the gunman before he entered the school but didn't. The shooter went on to kill 19 young students and two teachers. CNN's Rosa Flores has more.
ROSA FLORES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: With these new stunning details is by a review by law enforcement training experts that looked at video at witness accounts, at documents and determined that there were at least two instances in which police officers could have stopped the gunman before the gunman entered the school. Now the first instance is very early on right after the gunman crashed near the school.
According to this review, it states that this law enforcement officer who was armed with a rifle had a chance to take a shot at the gunman. And the report says the following, "The officer armed with a rifle asked his supervisor for permission to shoot the suspect. However, the supervisor either did not hear or responded too late. The officer turned to get confirmation from his supervisor. And when he turned back to address the suspect he had entered the west hallway unabated."
Now the other instance according to this report, is there was a school resource officer that was in the parking lot. He was driving his cruiser in the parking lot and the -- and the gunman was still outside the school. But this report says that this police officer was driving too fast and didn't see the gunman. The gunman then entered the school. One of the other interesting details pointed out in this report is that once the officers did go in and we know from this outline and also the one presented by Texas DPS that there were 11 officers in the first three minutes of this shooter entering the school.
According to this report, the officers lost momentum when they didn't return fire and instead retreated after that engagement with the shooter. Now, one other thing that I should mention about this is the incident command. According to this report, there was an issue with incident command. Now Texas DPS has previously identified School Police Chief Pete Aredondo as the incident commander.
[02:20:03]
FLORES: This report does not say that. In fact, this report says that there was an issue with the lack of incident command and I'm going to quote here. It says, "it does not appear that effective Incident Command was established during this event, the lack of effective command, likely impaired both the stop and killing and stop and dying parts of the response." Key there, stop the dying.
One of the final things that I want to mention about this report is that it explicitly says that people could have been saved if received more rapid medical care, difficult pill to swallow there considering that the families of the victims here are yet again receiving a different set of facts about this terrible massacre. Back to you.
CHURCH: And the Uvalde shooting led to the first bipartisan agreement on new gun safety measures in decades. President Biden signed the bill into law last month saying "God willing, it's going to save a lot of lives." It includes $750 million for Crisis Intervention Programs, closes the so called boyfriend loophole, requires more gun sellers to register as federally licensed firearm dealers and bolsters the review process for 18 to 21 year olds buying guns.
Well, joining me now from Los Angeles, Matthew Littman is the Executive Director of 97percent. A nonprofit advocacy group working to reduce gun violence. And sadly, you and I are talking once again about another deadly mass shooting in this country. And it comes in the wake of last month's new bipartisan gun safety law we just mentioned coming too late, apparently, to avert this tragedy.
So why did it happen again, despite these new gun control measures? And the red flag laws that are already in place?
MATTHEW LITTMAN, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, 97PERCENT: Well, first of all, the new gun control measures are too new to have had an effect in this case. What happened in this case was that this person who made themselves certainly were very vocal about the fact that they were threat, the person's father bought them a gun, even after they had made threats. And this isn't the only time we've seen this.
So, it is very difficult to legislate away from your father getting you a gun. And as we've talked about before, Rosemary, even with this good, not great legislation that the president signed into law, we're not going to be able to reduce all deaths, we're not going to be able to reduce all mass shootings. We may be able to make some difference but we cannot make all the difference when you have 400 million guns floating around in the United States.
There are going to be shootings in and the bad news is tragic events like this are going to continue to occur.
CHURCH: Yes, let's talk about that. Because pro-gun groups keep saying these mass shootings are more about mental illness, not to have easy access to guns, but America doesn't have any more mental illness than any other country. But what it does have is more guns per person than any other nation in the world. So, what needs to be done to put meaningful gun controls in place to try and stop this happening over and over again? And do we need an immediate ban on assault weapons?
LITTMAN: So, Rosemary, we have to be realistic, though, about what can happen. So there are a lot of things that people would like to happen, but they're not based in reality. So for example, you're talking about assault weapons, which have almost enough votes in the House of Representatives to pass but not quite. They have 210 out of 218 that they would need to pass but it won't get through the Senate.
Plus, most gun owners, 34 percent don't want a ban on assault weapons. So right now, while that may not make sense to your audience, there's no chance of an assault weapons ban passing right now. It's just not going to happen. You have to be realistic. One thing that the new federal legislation does not do was create universal background checks, for example, which more than 90 percent of the country we say 97 percent, that's where we got the name, supports universal background checks and we don't have it. So what we're seeing, Rosemary, is states are taking it upon themselves. New Jersey just passed a bunch of gun laws. California has strict gun laws. And what you're going to see now, going forward is a battle between the states and the federal government and the courts because states are going to take the lead with new gun control legislation.
CHURCH: And Matthew, you touched on this. So, we know that police previously responded to the Illinois parade shooting suspects home two times back in 2019. Once when he attempted suicide. A second time when he threatened to kill family members and yet the suspect's father sponsored his son's application for a firearm owner's identification card which then of course allowed the suspect to pass four separate background checks and purchase guns.
[02:25:08]
CHURCH: Should the father face criminal charges? And should all parents be held accountable in shootings carried out by young men like this?
LITTMAN: Well, I think in the father's case, he did sign some form that said he was liable. But it's really not for me to say who should be held responsible, but he should be held responsible. I mean, it's absolutely ridiculous. If the person is threatening to shoot people to then go buy them a gun. I can't imagine anything that's less responsible than that. So, as a citizen, it's infuriating that this happens and it's not the first time it's happened.
It keeps happening. I do not understand why a parent's when their child is making these threats. Again, this has happened before and other shootings would then go out and get them a gun. That's just -- I can't understand that at all. It's not up to me. I've not -- that's not my purview. But it is incredibly infuriating and I certainly understand it if that person is held responsible.
CHURCH: Yes. It is extraordinary that a parent would do that. Matthew Littmann, thank you so much for joining us.
LITTMAN: Thank you.
CHURCH: Appreciate it. Key allies have told the British prime minister it's time to go but he is refusing to budge despite facing a growing revolt and dozens of resignations. The latest from London just ahead.
And later, a Chinese city goes into partial lockdown after new cases of an Omicron subvariant found. We will go live to Beijing to find out more. Back in just a moment.
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FOSTER: (INAUDIBLE) British government's political crisis and with anything other than the British prime minister's resignation. That question is on the minds of millions as Boris Johnson vows to fight off the mounting rebellion from within his own Conservative Party. Some 50 members of his government have resigned since Tuesday, leaving behind a glut of newly vacated positions that won't be quickly filled, if at all.
Among the latest to go, Northern Ireland Minister Brandon Lewis, Minister for Security and Borders Damien Hinds, and Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury Helen Whately. Now among those urging Mr. Johnson to step aside, close ally and senior cabinet minister Michael Gove, whom the prime minister then proceeded to sack last night and let's say Mr. Johnson's career could be on the cusp of a dramatic disintegration and his brushing off calls for an early election insisting the country needs him to do his job.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
[02:30:05]
JOHNSON: The country's going through tough times. And I think that we have the biggest, you know, you're making a point about duty, right?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.
JOHNSON: And I look at the issues that this country faces. I look at the pressures of people are under, and the need for government to focus on their priorities, which is what we are doing. I look at the biggest war in Europe for 80 years. And I can't, for the life of me, see how it is responsible just to walk away from that.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
FOSTER: All right. Quentin Peel, is a "Financial Times" and an associate fellow with the Europe Programme at Chatham House.
Thank you, Quentin for joining us. I'm trying to make sense of all of this. When I was talking to someone very close to Boris Johnson yesterday, he said that if, you know, though these rumors going around, that the cabinet and the chief whip were going to go into Downing Street and tell Boris to go. And he said if that happens, then it's all over.
It did happen and it's not all over. I mean, could this -- you know, could you describe this as a constitutional crisis when the party is not supporting him and he's staying in power?
QUENTIN PEEL, ASSOCIATE FELLOW, EUROPE PROGRAMME, CHATHAM HOUSE, AND COMMENTATOR, THE FINANCIAL TIMES: Yes, I think it is. It's as if Boris Johnson almost wants to bring the whole temple crashing down rather than go himself and recognize reality. He's living in a complete fantasyland. It's a shamble. He hasn't got a government that is effectively functional now if -- with almost 50 members have quit, including absolute leading members of his cabinet. And they've urged him to go.
So, he's just in denial of reality and insisting that the rules don't apply to him. And anybody who suggests that he could go to the Queen and say dissolve parliament and we go to the country. They say, well, that's just not constitutionally possible. Because the Conservative Party that he had, has a huge majority in parliament. It's the party that's fallen apart.
FOSTER: There is no written constitution in this country. So, there's not really a clear path forward is there? But it does seem as though the only option is for a confidence vote, either called by his own party or by the opposition party, is that correct?
PEEL: Yes, I think so. And the obvious one is a confidence vote called by his own party. They've got to change the rules in order to do that. But they've, effectively, said that they will and they can. And I think the one thing that Boris Johnson seems to have said is that, if he loses the Confidence vote in his party, he will actually recognize that reality.
But it is extraordinary because what he seems to be saying is, he won personally the last election. Not his party. And it was a personal mandate. And that's what he is going to carry on with. I think the problem is that, here is a man who spent most of his political life absolutely dreaming that he would be prime minister and he cannot wake up from that dream.
FOSTER: One of the real concerns here is that, you know, we have more than -- well, we've had 50 members of government resign at this point. Can a government actually function -- as I understand it, there's only one minister left in the education department, for example, and one in the leveling up department. And there's important work to be done which isn't being done.
PEEL: Yes, absolutely. I think it's a shamble. You cannot have a functioning government if most of its members have actually walked away. I just don't think they're the people to do the job. But I really do believe that, in fact, he will have to go. If not today, then really within a very few days. He has to be gone by next week because otherwise there will be no functioning government here. It certainly feels like a constitutional crisis.
FOSTER: When we talk about constitutional crisis, we end up talking about the queen. I know that the cabinet secretary, the top civil servant has said that, you know, a general election now, if Boris wants to call one would embarrass the Queen. The Queen doesn't want to get involved in this whatsoever, does she? But if parliament can't handle this, we do often look to the Queen, don't we, to sort things out? Ultimately, I guess, she could sack him, but there's no way she's going to do that, is there?
PEEL: No, I think that -- I mean, if he goes -- what I would expect is he goes along and says, you know, I'm in a complete bind. I -- we have to go to the country. And she will have been advised to say, but your party has a large majority in parliament. Surely, Mr. Johnson, it is time for you to hand over to somebody else in your own party.
[02:35:00]
I think she could say that straight to him, but she'd hate it. It would be against everything that she's always stood for in not interfering in politics. FOSTER: OK. Quentin, thank you very much for joining us. As ever with your deep insight into this historic occasion really in parliamentary politics. In the coming hours, many will be watching closely to see if this is the beginning of the end of Boris Johnson's prime ministership. Here's a look at the humiliating week he's had so far.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ISA SOARES, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT AND ANCHOR: We start with breaking news, in the last hour, the UK prime minister has suffered not one, but two devastating blows. Chancellor of Exchequer Rishi Sunak and Health Secretary Sajid Javid posted on Twitter within moments of each other. Saying they could no longer work for a government mired in scandal.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Morning.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Morning.
SAJID JAVID, FORMER HEALTH SECRETARY: We have the Sue Gray report. A new Downing Street team. I continued to give the benefit of the doubt. And now this week again, we have reason to question the truth and integrity of what we've all been told. And at some point, we have to conclude that enough is enough.
CROWD: Yay.
JAVID: I believe that point is now.
FOSTER: They weren't the only ones who stepped down. UK's Solicitor General, Alex Chalk, said he was resigning with great sadness. That it can't defend the indefensible. Several junior-ranking government officials also quit. And the Conservative Party vice-chair announced live on television that he, too, planned to leave his post.
BIM AFOLAMI, BRITISH CONSERVATIVE PARTY VICE CHAIR: I just don't think the prime minister, any longer -- has not just my support, but he doesn't have -- I don't think the support of the party, or indeed the country anymore. And I think for that reason, he should step down.
FOSTER: Now, his office is moving quickly to fill those vacant posts. Nadhim Zahawi, previously the secretary of state for education has been appointed chancellor. And Downing Street chief of staff Steve Barclay is the new health secretary.
KAY BURLEY, SKY NEWS "KAY BURLEY" HOST: Do you think, as prime minister, has integrity?
NADHIM ZAHAWI, CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER: I do. I think he, not only --
BURLEY: So, we need to know.
ZAHAWI: Well, because he's determined to deliver for this country.
KEIR STARMER, BRITISH LABOUR PARTY LEADER: The only thing he's delivering is chaos.
CROWD: Yay.
STARMER: Anyone quitting now, after defending all that, hasn't got a shred of integrity.
CROWD: Yay.
STARMER: Mr. Speaker, isn't this the first recorded case of the sinking ship fleeing the rats.
IAN BACKFORD, WESTMINSTER LEADER, SCOTTISH NATIONAL PARTY: Whether he ignores it or now, he is now an ex-prime minister.
CROWD: Hear, hear.
BACKFORD: But he will leave behind too deeply damaging legacies. I hope the dishonesty of his leadership, follows him out the Downing Street door.
JOHNSON: Frankly, Mr. Spreaker, the job of a prime minister in difficult circumstances when he's been handed a colossal mandate, is to keep going. And that's what I'm going to do.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: In Hong Kong, where space is at a premium, traditional farms are few and far between. The city grows just two percent of its fresh produce. This start-up wants to change that. Farm66 grows microgreens, like lettuce and wheat grass in towers. Co- founder, Gordon Tam, says he uses different wavelengths of light to improve the growth of plants without having to worry about weather or insects.
According to Tam, the farm has the capacity to produce up to seven tons of vegetables a month to sell to local supermarkets. But right now, it's producing less than 30 percent of that. As the start-up backed by groups like Alibaba Entrepreneurs Fund, focuses on research and development. Including robots that help harvest in efforts to grow plants in zero gravity.
GORDON TAM, CO-FOUNDER, FARM66: We are trying to use a new technology to improve farming for our next generation.
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[02:40:00]
CHURCH: In China, the city of Xi'an is under a partial lockdown after new cases of a highly transmissible Omicron COVID subvariants were detected. It comes as Beijing announces its first-ever vaccine mandate. CNN's Selina Wang joins me live from Beijing.
So, Selina, we saw how draconian the lockdown was in the City of Shanghai. How worried are people in Xi'an that they may confront the same challenges? SELINA WANG, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, well, Rosemary. For the people of Xi'an, this brings back a lot of painful memories. Because remember, back from December to January, Xi'an itself was also in a very brutal and strict draconian lockdown. And there were shocking across China during that lockdown because of so many complaints about food shortages, heart breaking stories of critical patients being denied medical care.
So, now again, the city is dealing with an outbreak in COVID cases, driven this time by that highly transmissible new Omicron subvariant. The city has announced a seven-day sweeping restrictions that partially shuts down the city. So, this means large gatherings, indoor restaurant dining is banned, large venues are closing down, schools were told to go on summer holiday early, aAnd several residential buildings and neighborhoods have also been shut down.
And as authorities are dealing with this flare-up in Xi'an which is home to some 13 billion people, well, Shanghai is again dealing with new COVID cases. And that city is now undergoing mass testing. So, you can understand the sense of paranoia that people in these cities are feeling.
Meanwhile, here in Beijing, China has rolled out its very first vaccine mandates. So, starting next week, people here have to show their proof of vaccination in order to enter public areas. This is already coming on top of having to have a recent COVID test to enter public areas. And we have to scan our health codes anywhere we go.
Now, China has a high vaccination rate overall, incredibly high. However, this vaccination rate, especially paired with a booster shot is lower for the elderly population. It is lagging behind for that more vulnerable section of the population. And critical here is that China has not approved an mRNA vaccine. And those types of vaccines are proven to be more effective against these new variants than China's homegrown and produced inactivated vaccines.
And the concern here from experts is that even though China is trying to produce its own mRNA vaccine that by the time it's actually available for wider use, well, it's going to already have been outpaced by the quickly mutating COVID variants. Rosemary.
CHURCH: Selina Wang joining us live from Beijing, many thanks.
Well, the United Nations says more than 41 percent of North Koreans were undernourished between 2019 and 2021. The finding is in a new report on food insecurity which was made worse in North Korea by extreme weather and international sanctions. The figure is almost eight percent more than it was about 15 years ago. The report also found about a third of North Korean women, ages 15 to 49, had a mania -- anemia, rather, a low blood -- red blood cell condition.
I'm Rosemary Church. Thanks for your company. My hot colleague, Max Foster, and I will be back with more CNN Newsroom in about 15 minutes. World Sport is coming up next.
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[02:45:00]
COATES: The WNBA's Phoenix Mercury is hosting a rally in support of their teammate, Brittney Griner tonight. The basketball star has been detained in a Russian jail now for more than 100 days. This rally follows both President Biden and Vice President Harris speaking with Griner's wife by phone earlier today.
As you know, Griner wrote a letter to President Biden earlier this week, expressing her fears about being held in Russia indefinitely. Griner's wife, Cherelle, putting out a statement tonight saying that she's grateful to both Biden and Harris for speaking with her and their express commitment to getting Brittney home. Joining me now is Brittney Griner's former Olympic coach and three-time Olympic gold medalist herself, Dawn Staley.
Dawn, it's good to see you here. There has been, as you know, a conversation between President Biden and Vice President Harris with Brittney's wife, trying to tell her they're going to work to secure her release. And I'm wondering what you make of this. I mean, is it a sign of progress here? Does it give you some hope that maybe they will do all that they can and have that rhetoric match the action?
DAWN STALEY, BRITTNEY GRINER'S FORMER OLYMPIC COACH AND THREE-TIME OLYMPIC GOLD MEDALIST: Yes, I think it's a God's wink. You know, when God winks at you, I think it's an incredible thing. So, I think everybody in Brittney's camp has been wanting this. If not, an in- person meeting, some type of communication, with the President of the United States and -- you know, to add some graciousness to it. Vice President Harris was on the line, as well.
[02:50:00]
So, it -- you know, we got two banks for our buck. And hoping that this expedites Brittney's process to get her home a little bit quicker than we thought yesterday.
COATES: Now, Dawn, I mean, you know her quite well. I mean, her cause has really been heard about. People are really trying to be her champion at this point in time. But I want to know, from the person -- I mean, in the letter that she wrote to the president, she wrote, "I'm terrified I might be here forever." She goes on and talk about that she sits there along with her thoughts without the protection of her loved ones or any of her accomplishments. Talk to me about how you think she is feeling right now. STALEY: Well, it is what I think. I think Brittney had a bad day. And if that happens when you are in that situation. And I think, for the most part, is she terrified? Yes. Is she afraid? Yes. Is she strong? Yes. Has she tapped into that mental strength that requires a pro of her level, an elite player of her level to have? Yes.
So, I think you go on an emotional rollercoaster when you're in a position that she's in. But I'm hoping the -- I'm hoping she's hearing that Cherelle talked to the president, talked to the vice president. And I hope for Cherelle's sake and Brittney's sake that they could sleep a little bit -- just a little bit easier tonight. But not any other night because until she's home will she get that sleep that we all want her to have.
COATES: And Dawn, as you know, there was a really powerful letter that was signed by so many people, so many black women concerned about Brittney Griner and that is a very large group of people that goes even beyond black women, as you well know. And part of the letter talked about the idea of her playing overseas in part because of pay inequities here in the United States of America that actually brought her to play for the Russian team. And I want you to listen to what Brittney Griner's head coach had to say this very week about her still being detained. Listen to what she had to say.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
VANESSA NYGAARD, PHOENIX MERCURY HEAD COACH: If it was LeBron, he'd be home, right? It's a statement about the value of women. It's a statement about the value of black person. It's a statement about the value of a gay person. All of those things. And we know it. And so that's what hurts a little more.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COATES: What's your reaction to that? Do you agree?
STALEY: Well, I mean, there's a lot of things that were said in that answer to the question that she was asked. I think the most important thing is we have an American citizen wrongfully detained in a Russian prison. If that's not scary enough, I don't want to add layers to, you know, to what it is.
I think it's quite -- when we keep it as simple as it is, it's an American citizen and she's not the only one. And Brittney -- and in her letter, she was like, she said, bring all of us home. Bring all of --
COATES: Right.
STALEY: -- all the Americans home. In her moment of reaching out to the president, she separated -- she didn't separate herself from everybody else. She just said, bring us all home because I'm sure everybody that's wrongfully detained in a Russian prison or a prison abroad is feeling, you know, helpless.
So, we need to keep our focus on getting her home. Getting every other American home in a place in which, you know, their families can rest a little bit easier. So, we have to be all hands-on deck. The letter that the way where black women sent to the White House, the Reverend Al Sharpton, and all the foot soldiers like myself, and everybody else that had been screaming at the top of our lungs to get Brittney Griner home is what we're going to keep that synergy going. Because that synergy is moving in the right direction finally. And hopefully, it will expedite just that and bring her home.
COATES: Dawn Staley, thank you so much for reminding people about the selflessness contained in that very letter. And reminding people not to forget about her or the others who -- and that's a special classification to be wrongfully detained. To have that announcement, it triggers different mechanisms of trying to get the person home through an envoy process. Dawn, thank you for giving us some insight into what she is like and about the focus remaining on her and those who were also wrongfully detained. I appreciate hearing from you.
[02:55:00]
Trump's White House Counsel is testifying. I'm going to talk to Nixon's White House Counsel and a Watergate special prosecutor, next.
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COATES: Look, there's a major breakthrough tonight for the January 6th Select Committee. Sources telling CNN that Trump White House counsel, Pat Cipollone, will testify before the Committee on Friday. Not that it will take place behind closed doors but it will be transcribed and videotaped.
I want to bring in Nixon White House Counsel, John Dean, and special Watergate Prosecutor, Nick Ackerman. Good to see you both gentlemen on these issues.
In particular, I want to begin with you, John, because you've been saying for quite some time, every time Pat Cipollone's name has been mentioned.
[03:00:00]
