Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Newsroom

Death of Abe Shinzo; Boris Johnson Shows No Signs of Leaving; Russia's War on Ukraine; Climate Change Threatens Most U.S. National Parks. Aired 2-2:45a ET

Aired July 09, 2022 - 02:00   ET

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

[02:00:00]

(MUSIC PLAYING)

MICHAEL HOLMES, CNN ANCHOR (voice-over): Hello everyone, I'm Michael Holmes, appreciate your company.

Coming up here on CNN NEWSROOM, just one day after Japan's former prime minister was gunned down, the body of Shinzo Abe now in Tokyo, as people there come to grips with an act of violence difficult to comprehend.

A warning from Ukraine's deputy prime minister: the people living in the occupied south, get out now.

And climate change sweeping one of America's treasures: U.S. national parks.

(MUSIC PLAYING)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (voice-over): Live from CNN Center, this is CNN NEWSROOM with Michael Holmes.

HOLMES: Welcome, everyone.

The body of Shinzo Abe has now arrived in Tokyo, one day after the former Japanese prime minister was gunned down during a campaign event in Western Japan. A short time ago, a hearse carrying his body pulled into the Tokyo residence where Abe had lived.

Members of Abe's political party lining the streets to pay their respects. No funeral arrangements have yet been announced. Condolences have been pouring in, though, from world leaders who knew and worked with Abe during his many years as prime minister, the longest tenure in Japanese history.

CNN's Blake Essig has the latest for us from Tokyo.

It's good to see you again, Blake. Give us a sense of what has happened with Mr. Abe's return to Tokyo.

BLAKE ESSIG, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Michael, things are quiet here now. But a little over an hour ago, when the body of Shinzo Abe, accompanied by his wife, arrived at their home in Tokyo, from the western city of Nara, where the former prime minister was assassinated, the streets were just packed with people.

And now that he's home, Abe's office says that funeral arrangements will be discussed. His home, located in a fairly quiet residential neighborhood but, again, as the car carrying the Abes got closer, dozens of camera crews, police and hundreds of people started showing up, many bringing flowers, ready to pay their respects and try to catch a glimpse of the former prime minister as he drove by one last time.

There's no question, Michael, that this country, at this moment oven in time, is in mourning.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ESSIG (voice-over): Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was speaking at a campaign rally east of Osaka on Thursday when chaos ensued.

Two shots can be heard. Abe is hit in the chest and neck.

The weapon: a handmade gun lying on the ground. Bystanders tried to aid the former prime minister before he was rushed to the nearest hospital. But soon news broke. He had succumbed to his injuries and died at age 67.

HIDENORI FUKUSHIMA, PROFESSOR, NARA MEDICAL UNIVERSITY (through translator): There were two bullet wounds. He was in a cardiopulmonary arrest after damage to large blood vessels in the heart. We took resuscitative measures but unfortunately, he died at 5:03 p.m.

ESSIG: Police have arrested the suspect, a 41-year-old man who did not flee after the shooting. A rare occurrence in Japan, a country with one of the world's lowest gun rates.

FUMIO KISHIDA, JAPANESE PRIME MINISTER (through translator): He loved this country and constantly looked beyond the current generation working hard for a brighter future of this country, leaving behind many major successes in various categories.

ESSIG: World leaders condemned the assassination. U.S. President Joe Biden stunned in outraged by Abe's death, calling him a champion of the friendship between our people.

JOE BIDEN, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: This hasn't happened in Japan in decades. I'm told all the way back to the late '30s. The Justice Department is going to be going in and give me more details.

ESSIG: Former U.S. Presidents Barack Obama and Donald Trump also grieving the death of a personal, quote, friend of America.

From China, reaction came from the country's embassy in Japan, highlighting Abe's contribution to promoting the improvement and development of Sino-Japanese relations.

Shinzo Abe's relations with Beijing were sometimes contentious. He was the first Japanese PM to meet with the Chinese counterpart in years but was also critical of Beijing's stance on Taiwan. His premiership marked Japan's history in bilateral relations.

[02:05:00]

ESSIG (voice-over): However, his assassination now a black dot in the country's history, a violent act of crime that is due to send ripples of shock across Japan.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ESSIG: Abe's family will now focus on planning his funeral overnight and throughout today. We've learned more about the suspect involved in the assassination and the weapon he used.

Police say the suspect, a 41-year-old unemployed man, has admitted to the shooting. He was swarmed by security after the shots were fired yesterday and was arrested on the spot, in possession of what was described as a homemade gun.

Japanese public broadcaster NHK is reporting that that gun was made with iron pipes and wrapped with sticky tape. Those parts were purchased online, in each case, citing police, when they say that they found multiple guns with iron pipe barrels at the suspect's home.

They say that those bullets would be dropped into the barrel to load the weapon. As for the motive, police say that this man went after Abe because he hates a certain group that he believes Abe had ties to -- Michael.

HOLMES: I wanted to ask you this, too. You mentioned security tackling him to the ground. Authorities say there was security there for Mr. Abe. But he was clearly -- there were massive failures, though, given the gunman was able to get so close to the former prime minister, not least with a weapon.

ESSIG: Absolutely. And in the wake of this tragedy, many questions have been raised about the security meant to protect the former prime minister. According to NHK, a security plan was drawn up to watch Abe from all sides and behind him, while he was in Nara, especially giving that speech.

It involved dozens of local plainclothes officers and one especially assigned officer from the Tokyo police force, of course. We know that it didn't stop the gunman from slowly walking out behind Abe, while he was speaking, and firing those two fatal shots.

Japan's national police agency will now review security arrangements. And you have to imagine, Michael, that changes will be coming, as far as the security detail surrounding prominent lawmakers here in Japan moving forward.

HOLMES: Yes, exactly. Appreciate the reporting there. Blake Essig there in Tokyo for us.

Japan may be a stranger to gun violence. The United States, of course, far from, it. Hours after former prime minister Abe was assassinated, FBI director Christopher Wray sat down with CNN.

He said the most lethal terror attacks in the U.S. in the past several years have been largely from domestic terrorists. And he points out there is a right way to protest political grievances and clearly a wrong way.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CHRISTOPHER WRAY, FBI DIRECTOR: There are way, way too many people in today's world who are taking their very passionately held views and manifesting them through violence.

And in our system, as you know, under the First Amendment, doesn't matter what you're upset about, who you're upset with or what side of an issue you're on, there's a right way under our Bill of Rights to express yourself. And violence, threats of violence, destruction of property, those kinds of things are not it.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

HOLMES: Kazuto Suzuki is a professor of public policy at the University of Tokyo. He joins me now.

Thanks for doing so. Professor, when we talk about the violence aspect, just how rare is political violence of any kind in Japan?

And how might Japan respond to such political violence in terms of, perhaps, security changes, as we were discussing?

That gunman got remarkably close to Mr. Abe.

KAZUTO SUZUKI, UNIVERSITY OF TOKYO: So the number of gun violence is very, very low. Most of the gun cases or any injuries and death by gun are in between the mafias, the Yakuza gang groups.

There are very rarely, like less than five people that died by the gun violence each year. I think this incident will increase the security details for the major political figures. But this is a national election.

And all the people are moving around, one place to another. And especially, this is an upper house election. And the most of the candidates are not the candidates for the prime ministers. They are basically the backbenchers, rank-and-file politicians.

So I think it's extremely difficult to provide enough security for anybody who is working to support these candidates.

[02:10:00]

HOLMES: Yes. And it is a hallmark of Japanese campaigning, that they are amongst the people. And that's got to be a good thing, really.

When it comes to Mr. Abe himself, not many leaders have entire policies named after them. Abe Shinzo has Abenomics.

Was that a watershed moment?

What lasting impacts has his leadership had?

SUZUKI: He, of course, he was the longest serving prime minister in the history. And he had a lot of legacies to be remained. Abenomics is, of course, the one outstanding in economics.

But also he rescued the TPP, the Trans-Pacific Partnership, when president Trump left from the framework. And then he tried to gather up the 11 countries all together and maintained it.

He also was the leader to change the geoeconomics or geopolitics in East Asia. He gathered the strengths and the national security apparatus in Japan. And he set up the National Security Council.

And he also had tried to reestablish a relationship with South Korea and China. And of course, he proposed the idea of Indo Pacific and to bind up the Quad countries -- United States, Japan, Australia and India -- to strengthen the -- to make a countermeasure against the emerging China.

HOLMES: Right. He had a remarkable career. He was prime minister twice. As you said, the country's longest serving prime minister. He wasn't ever defeated in an election, either.

And when he was twice elected, in 2014 and 2017, it was landslide victories.

How active has he been in domestic politics since leaving office for health reasons?

And what power did he still have in the political arena?

SUZUKI: He was, of course, very strong in the elections. He had six national elections and he never defeated. He had a landslide. He had a two thirds majority in both lower house and upper house, which are the requirements for changing the constitution. However, he wasn't able to mobilize such power, to change the constitution anyway.

He was also the head of the largest faction of the Liberal Democratic Party, the ruling party. So he had a very strong influence in the policy making. And he, standing as the sort of top figure in the hawkish group, in the LDP; whereas Kishida, the prime minister is the dovish part of the LDP.

So Kishida and Abe were rivals. But also they are friends to help out to unite the LDP for the various policies. So I think Kishida will miss Abe as a leader of the right-wing party. But as an ally, to hold on this unity in the party.

HOLMES: Yes. Certainly, leaving an indelible mark on Japanese politics. Kazuto Suzuki, thank you so much, appreciate your time, Professor.

SUZUKI: Thank you very much.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HOLMES: Leaders around the world expressing their shock and their sadness. Chinese state media reporting president Xi Jinping praised Abe for working to improve relations with China while he was in office.

The French president, Emmanuel Macron, writing, quote, "On behalf of the French people, I send my condolences to the Japanese authorities and people after the assassination of Shinzo Abe. Japan is losing a great prime minister, who dedicated his life to his country and worked to bring balance to the world."

The Indian prime minister, Narendra Modi, saying, quote, "I am shocked and saddened beyond words at the tragic demise of one of my dearest friends, Shinzo Abe. He was a towering global statesman, an outstanding leader and a remarkable administrator. He dedicated his life to make Japan and the world a better place."

There were also tributes visible in cities around the globe. U.S. President Joe Biden ordering flags at the White House, government buildings and military installations to be flown at half staff in honor of the former leader.

Japan's flag can be seen flying at half staff Friday at the country's embassy in Washington, D.C.

[02:15:00]

HOLMES: In Taiwan, the landmark Taipei 101 building was lit with messages of appreciation for Japan's longest serving prime minister. One line describing him as a, quote, "friend of Taiwan forever."

Now the former Angolan president, Jose Eduardo dos Santos, has died. Dos Santos was president from 1979 to 2017, one of the longest running presidencies in the world. Critics say nepotism thrived under dos Santos, even as Angola saw strong economic growth.

Dos Santos died Friday in a hospital in Barcelona, Spain. He was 79 years old.

Coming up here on the program, replacing the British prime minister, the race starting to heat up. We'll look at some of the likely contenders and how the process will play out.

Also, Ukrainians not lowering their guard, even after resisting Russia in their second largest city. We'll go to Kharkiv, where Russians have been pushed back but the fighting is far from over.

(MUSIC PLAYING)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(MUSIC PLAYING) HOLMES: In the coming days, Britain's Conservative Party is expected to announce a timetable for picking the next prime minister. Boris Johnson is still in office until the new prime minister is appointed, of course.

But that's not going over well with leaders of the opposition Labour Party, who are threatening a confidence vote as early as Monday, if Johnson doesn't leave office immediately. Nada Bashir with details on that and on who might replace him.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

NADA BASHIR, CNN CORRESPONDENT: The race for Conservative Party leadership is certainly picking up. Former chancellor Rishi Sunak threw his hat into the ring, saying he wants to restore trust, rebuild the economy and reunite the country.

Sunak's bombshell decision to step down as chancellor on Tuesday set off an avalanche of resignations, which eventually led to Boris Johnson stepping down. He's already received some endorsement, despite coming under fire during his time as chancellor over controversy surrounding his personal wealth and tax affairs.

Other leadership hopefuls include attorney general Suella Braverman and MP Tom Tugendhat, who wrote in an op-ed on Friday, the government needs a clean start.

But it's still early days and bookmakers are also keeping a close eye on a number of other key names, including former health secretary Sajid Javid, foreign secretary Liz Truss and home secretary Priti Patel.

The Conservative Party's influential 1922 committee of backbench lawmakers is also set to outline a timeline for the leadership contests next week. It's a process which could take weeks, if not months, to take play out.

The prime minister, meanwhile, seems determined to stay at Number 10 until a new leader is finally elected. And according to a cabinet readout seen by CNN, he won't be making any drastic changes but will plow ahead with the policy areas he was elected to see through.

But critics from across the political spectrum say the prime minister has lost the support and confidence of far too many lawmakers to remain in office --

[02:20:00]

BASHIR: -- and should give way to a new caretaker prime minister. The opposition Labour Party's deputy leader, Angela Raymond, going so far to say that Labour will call for a vote of confidence before Parliament's summer recess if Johnson refuses to leave.

Meanwhile, Johnson's biggest critic, Labour Party leader Keir Starmer, is feeling the benefits of a political gamble he made in May, vowing to step down himself if fined for breaking COVID regulations after he was photographed having a meal with colleagues, after a campaign event in April 2021.

Police confirmed on Friday they would not be issuing a fine or taking any further action, clearing the opposition leader, who has fiercely criticized the prime minister for his own direct involvement in the Partygate scandal, a controversial chapter which not only contributed to his downfall but will also leave a lasting mark on his legacy at Number 10 -- Nada Bashir, CNN, at Downing Street in London.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HOLMES: Ukraine is sending a message to residents in its occupied south, leave while you still can. Ukraine's deputy prime minister urging people in Kherson and surrounding regions to get out.

She says there will be major battles when Ukraine tries to regain that area in the future. She says Russians might try to use the civilians there as human shields.

Meanwhile, four more advanced U.S. rocket systems will soon be on their way to Ukraine. They are part of a new batch of U.S. military aid announced on Friday. Washington had already promised eight other HIMARS systems and some are already in use on the battlefield.

President Zelenskyy quick to thank the White House, posting on Telegram, quote, "Let's go to victory together."

Mr. Zelenskyy went to the front lines in the southeast on Friday, where he met with troops and visited a hospital.

In the northeast, Ukraine has pushed Russian troops away from its second largest city, Kharkiv. As Alex Marquardt reports, even though Russians are gone for now, residents struggle to pick up the pieces.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ALEX MARQUARDT, CNN SENIOR NATIONAL SECURITY CORRESPONDENT (voice- over): In downtown Kharkiv, this team of postal workers is gearing up for a trip to the front lines, a village, until recently, was occupied by Russians.

Their mission is critical. They have cars full of cash to deliver to Ukrainian pensioners who rely on the funds to survive. They drive past fields littered to mines, to Vilkhivka, where the older residents have already gathered in the small post office, pockmarked by shrapnel.

Only the most vulnerable people stayed here, says the head of today's operation. During the Russian offensive, it was impossible to evacuate these people. We come here because no one else will help them.

Bills are counted out and one by one, they collect around $100 at the counter. Their pension for an entire month.

Seventy-eight-year-old Stepania Leskiv has come from nearby. We walk back with her past a school destroyed. Stepania's home also lies in ruin, hit in late March. She bursts into tears at the sight of it. And says the shelling happened right in front of her. The house started burning. I fell down and I managed to crawl out to the road, she said. In 20, 30 minutes, everything was burned down.

She is staying with a neighbor but worries what will happen when winter comes. She is a widow whose son died from the Chernobyl disaster.

I wish it was over for me, she says. When the bombing starts, I don't know where to hide.

Russian forces occupying much of this region have been pushed back by Ukrainian troops. Fear is growing they will try to come back soon. These Ukrainian soldiers claim they are ready.

They might be stronger than us in numbers and in weapons. You know that, this soldier says. But we are much more motivated. We will be fighting until our last bullet, so they don't take our land.

These Ukrainian forces have positioned this rocket launcher here among the trees to try to hide it on the edge of this field. This is called an Uragan. It's an old Soviet-era Ukrainian rocket launcher, much more basic with far less range than the handful of American rocket launchers that have just been given to the Ukrainian military.

But this is what these troops have. And they tell us that their commanders today have given them the coordinates of a Russian position inside Ukraine to fire on. In a couple moments, they will drive the truck with its rockets a short distance away and target that Russian position.

The launcher rumbles into the middle of the field and fires four rockets in quick succession. Black smoke trailing into the sky.

We move out in case there's a response but the soldiers' day is just getting started -- Alex Marquardt, CNN, Kharkiv, Ukraine.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

[02:25:00]

HOLMES: President Putin is warning Russian energy companies to be ready for the European Union's new package of sanctions and oil embargo. The Russian state news agency Tass reporting that Mr. Putin told company leaders, the West is trying to force other countries to increase energy production.

He said, the Russian market is stable and he pointed to the increase in oil production this year over 2021.

The latest now on Brittney Griner, the American basketball star, who pleaded guilty after she was detained in a Russian jail on drug smuggling charges. Griner's wife, Cherelle Griner, said on Friday, U.S. President Joe Biden sees Griner, quote, "as a person." She says, Mr. Biden understood the letter that Griner wrote to him

last week, pleading for help to get her freedom. CNN's Matthew Chance with more on that story.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): This is Russian justice, conducted behind closed doors. Just a glimpse of Brittney Griner towering above her guards, being led handcuffed into the courtroom.

The WNBA star was detained at a Moscow airport in February, when Russian customs officials say they found small quantities of cannabis oil in her luggage, an illegal substance under Russian law.

U.S. officials say she's being wrongfully detained. But recordings made inside the court captured the 31 year-old through a translator, pleading guilty to the serious drug smuggling charges against her.

BRITTNEY GRINER, WNBA (from captions): I would like to express my attitude toward my charges.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Of course.

GRINER (from captions): I would like to plead guilty on the charges. But I had no intention of breaking any Russian laws.

CHANCE (voice-over): But under those laws, which carry a maximum 10 year sentence, the U.S. athlete, who told the court she packed the oil in a hurry by mistake, could now be made an example of, especially at a time of such strained U.S.-Russian relations.

And there's concern that the Biden administration should be doing more to help the two-time Olympic gold medalist, who wrote to President Biden earlier this week, expressing concern that she could be detained forever and pleading for her and other U.S. detainees not to be forgotten.

BORIS SANCHEZ, CNN ANCHOR AND CORRESPONDENT: Is the White House doing enough to get Brittney Griner home?

VANESSA NYGAARD, PHOENIX MERCURY: We got great response recently with BG's letter to President Biden and Biden responding with a call to BG's wife, Cherelle. We think progress is being made on that front.

You know, the coverage of women sports and the coverage of women athletes is really the concern here.

The question, is would Tom Brady be home?

But Tom Brady wouldn't be there, right, because he doesn't have to go to a foreign country to supplement his income from the WNBA.

CHANCE (voice-over): But U.S. officials in Washington and Moscow insist they are doing everything they can. ELIZABETH ROOD, U.S. EMBASSY IN MOSCOW: I was able to speak with Ms.

Griner in the courtroom. She said that she is eating well. She is able to read books and, under the circumstances, she is doing well. Most important, I was able to share with Ms. Griner a letter from President Biden and Ms. Griner was able to read that letter.

CHANCE (voice-over): It's unclear what was written. But U.S. officials already negotiated the release of one U.S. citizen, Trevor Reed, from a Russian prison earlier this year, in a controversial prisoner swap.

There's no indication another prisoner swap involving Brittney Griner is imminent. But her Russian lawyers say that they're hopeful her guilty plea plus her positive contribution to global sport will this basketball star avoid the most severe sentence -- Matthew Chance, CNN, Moscow.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HOLMES: Do stay with us, we'll have the latest from Japan in a moment. The body of the assassinated former prime minister, Shinzo Abe, returns to Tokyo.

Also, the shock of the killing reverberating in the region and all around the world.

You're watching CNN NEWSROOM. We will be right back.

(MUSIC PLAYING)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[02:30:00]

(MUSIC PLAYING)

HOLMES: The body of former Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe now back in Tokyo. It arrived a short time ago from the city of Nara, where Abe was gunned down and killed during a campaign rally.

Abe's wife traveled with her husband's body. Funeral arrangements are still being discussed. Japan, of course, still in shock, mourners gathering near the site of the shooting, bringing flowers, praying and crying.

Now the fact that former prime minister Abe was killed by a gunman has unsettled not just Japan but others in the region. Gun violence in South Korea is almost nonexistent, as it is in Abe's home country. CNN's Paula Hancocks has the reaction.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

PAULA HANCOCKS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: South Korea, in many ways, is like Japan, in the fact that you don't have gun crime here. For a political assassination to have been carried out in this way is shocking.

There have been political assassinations here in Japan and in the past. But they are fairly rare and gun crime is negligible. And so certainly in that respect, there will be a shock. We heard from President Yoon Suk-yeol here in South Korea. He extended his condolences and he also said the shooting that killed prime minister Abe is an unacceptable criminal act, also speaking of his deep sorrow and shock.

And shock is a word that you are hearing from leaders around the world, shock is a word that you're hearing from everybody, talking about this, something so unexpected in a country where the least unexpected, has really taken people by surprise.

And it's worth pointing out that, Shinzo Abe, even though he stepped down in 2020 for health reasons, he was still a very prominent figure in Japanese politics. And certainly, when other countries are dealing with Japan, they knew that Shinzo Abe was there in the wings, that he was still having a certain amount of influence with the current prime minister.

Certainly, within the LDP, there is a faction that is considered to be Shinzo Abe's faction. So it is a shock in that respect as well because this is not a former prime minister in the sense that you often hear of former prime ministers. He was still very much involved in the political scene in Japan itself.

And there's a huge amount of shock here in South Korea as there is in many countries around this region. But this is actually something that has gripped further afield than just Northeast Asia. This is something that has global reverberations.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HOLMES: Shinzo Abe may have stepped down as prime minister in 2020, as you heard there, for health reasons but he continued to exert an enormous influence on Japanese politics.

Earlier I spoke to Tobias Harris, an expert on Japanese politics and author of the political biography of Abe. Here is what he had to say.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TOBIAS HARRIS, CENTER FOR AMERICAN PROGRESS: He is two years out -- or was two years -- almost two years out from his resignation in 2020. And I think what we have seen over the last year is, he actually managed to accumulate, a still substantial amount of power as a former prime minister.

He was the head of the LDP's largest faction. He was also the head -- basically the champion of its informal, largest ideological bloc, basically the conservative bloc, which I think is the single -- probably the single largest numerical bloc, ideologically speaking.

And, of course, as a respected global statesman, he had, I think, an enormous bully pulpit. And you put that all together, he had a tremendous ability to influence the direction of policy debates and also just to work on behalf of his faction members.

HOLMES: To that point, I actually heard you say earlier that there is a huge vacuum in the heart of Japanese policy making now.

How so?

HARRIS: Well, I think he was very clearly playing a role, I think, and certainly in the nine months since Kishida became prime minister, where I think Abe saw his role as safeguarding his achievements from his time in office.

He had really laid out policy blueprints, I think, for economic policy and for foreign policy.

[02:35:00]

HARRIS: And was nudging the Kishida government in certain directions, particularly on defense spending and expanding military roles for Japan's self-defense forces. He was also pushing very hard for increased defense spending -- or increased debt spending to pay for defense spending.

And clearly, he wanted to play that role. He really wanted to push the Kishida government -- and now you don't necessarily -- you are not going to have him playing that role.

The question is, does one of his allies step up and play that role?

Is there anyone who has Abe's stature and Abe's weight to play that role?

Or does Kishida have an opportunity now to step up and be more independent?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOLMES: That was Tobias Harris, an expert on Shinzo Abe and Japanese politics, speaking to me a little earlier.

Now climate change is threatening most of America's national parks.

What is being done to combat the effects?

Coming up.

(MUSIC PLAYING)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(MUSIC PLAYING)

HOLMES: Twitter says it expects to follow through on its deal with Elon Musk and threatened legal action after Musk moved on Friday to terminate his $44 billion takeover bid.

Lawyers for Tesla's CEO accuse the social media company of what they call "material breach" of their agreement. Musk has repeatedly claimed, without evidence, it must be said, that Twitter has more spam accounts than it admits. Analysts speculate it's a pretext to get out of the deal. Twitter's

board chairman tweeted that they are committed to closing the transaction at the agreed price and expressed confidence they would prevail in court.

Tsunami waves 12 meters high could hit Seattle, Washington, in minutes, should a major earthquake occur. Those are the results of a new study by Washington State geologists. The simulation was for 7.5 earthquake on the Seattle fault.

The study was conducted to help emergency personnel, quote, "refine response and preparedness plans." It's believed the last known earthquake on the Seattle fault happened more than 1,000 years ago.

Experts are warning that climate change poses a very serious threat to most of America's national parks. CNN's Rene Marsh with that story.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DEANNA MITCHELL, SUPERINTENDENT, HARRIET TUBMAN UNDERGROUND RAILROAD NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK: The land is disappearing before our eyes.

RENE MARSH, CNN AVIATION CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Maryland's eastern shores in the crosshairs of climate change induced sea level rise. And so is the rich history preserved at the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad National Historical Park.

We are wearing these nets because so much water here. It's standing water. The mosquitoes are really bad.

MITCHELL: The mosquitoes are bad.

[02:40:00]

MITCHELL: So this is almost like a requirement during the summer.

If Harriet Tubman were living right now, she would recognize this landscape but she would be shocked at how quickly it's disappearing.

MARSH: As water from the Chesapeake Bay encroaches, University of Maryland scientists project large portions of the national park will be underwater by the year 2050 if planet warming emissions are not drastically curbed. Rising tides threaten places like this cemetery for freed Black people in Tubman's community.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Over time, these low-lying areas that were a part of the important trails that allowed people to escape at that time will be lost in some places.

MARSH: More than 70 percent of national parks in the Continental U.S. are at high risk from the effects of climate change, from sea level rise and flooding to extreme temperatures, drought and wildfires.

Historic flooding at Yellowstone National Park last month forced it to shut down for more than a week. At California's Sequoia National Park, home of the world's largest trees, wildfires have burned large swaths of the giant sequoia growths.

Wildfires and extreme heat have forced California's Yosemite National Park to close several times in recent years.

Meanwhile, Glacier National Park in Montana is rapidly losing its namesake feature. This is the Grinnell Glacier in 1910 versus 2021.

STEPHANIE KODISH, NATIONAL PARKS CONSERVATION ASSOCIATION: These are places that tell critical stories of our history and people and culture and these places are not going to be able to withstand these repeat assaults.

MARSH: More frequent, more intense natural disasters will drastically transform national park landscapes and there's the economic loss.

KODISH: In 2021 alone, our national parks saw over 297 million visitors. They generated over $42.5 billion.

MARSH: Back on Maryland's eastern shore, the National Park Service says it is teamed up with the Army Corps of Engineers and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association to fight the growing impacts of climate change.

It is high tide and water is flowing over the banks here at the Jefferson Memorial, in part because the water level has risen a foot since the memorial was built some 75 years ago.

And this issue of climate change in national parks, it is on the radar for some members of Congress. Just this week, members visited Yosemite National Park to see firsthand how climate change is impacting these national parks.

And these members of Congress are going to use that information to essentially figure out the best way to spend federal dollars to make these national parks more resilient -- Rene Marsh, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HOLMES: That'll do it for me. Thanks for spending part of your day with me. I'm Michael Holmes. "MARKETPLACE ASIA" starts after a short break.