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Shinzo Abe Will be Laid to Rest: Killer Have Pre-Planned Abe's Death; Steve Bannon and Oath Keepers Leader to Testify to House Committee; Texas Wants to Change Gun Laws; Russian Forces Continue to Target Civilians; Sri Lankan's People Power Gone Extreme; U.K.'s Conservative Party Set to Change Their Leader; Soaring Prices Dampen Eid al-Adha for Muslims in Turkey; Violent Protest Over Frozen Bank Deposits; Abortion Rights Activists Protest Outside White House; Authorities Crack Down on Drones Near Wildfires. Aired 3-4a ET

Aired July 11, 2022 - 03:00   ET

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

[03:00:00]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

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

Just ahead, Japan prepares to lay to rest its longest serving leader, as new details emerge about his shocking assassination. We are live in Tokyo with the latest.

A high-profile Trump associate says he is now ready to testify after months of refusals.

And frantic rescue efforts in Ukraine after a Russian strike on an apartment building leaves nearly 20 people dead and others trapped under the rubble.

UNKNOWN (voice-over): Live from CNN center, this is CNN newsroom with Rosemary Church.

CHURCH: Thanks for being with us. Well, Japan is set to begin its two-day farewell to beloved former leader Shinzo Abe, just hours after his party won big in parliamentary elections. This is the hearse carrying Abe's body, arriving at the temple where a private wake will begin about two hours from now. His funeral service will be held there Tuesday afternoon. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken made an unscheduled trip to Tokyo to pay his respects.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ANTONY BLINKEN, U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE: During his time in office, Prime Minister Abe really took the relationship between our countries to new heights. And as I shared with our colleagues, we saw in him something rare, a man with a vision, who had the ability to realize that vision. But mostly, I came at the president's behest because more than allies, we are friends. And when a friend is hurting, other friends show up.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHURCH: Well, meantime, new details are emerging about the suspect, and what he is telling police including information about the weapons that he used and how he learned to make them. All of this, of course, against the backdrop of Sunday's election.

Japanese broadcaster NHK says the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, of which Abe was a member, has won big at the ballot box. They have secured at least 63 seats, more than half of the seats at stake in the upper House.

CNN's Blake Essig is in Tokyo, he joins us now live. Blake, we all saw the arrival of the hearse, what more are you learning about the planned wake and of course, the farewell of this beloved leader?

BLAKE ESSIG, CNN CORRESPONDENT: You know, Rosemary, we are still outside Zojo-ji Temple in central Tokyo, where later on tonight, 6 p.m. local time a closed-door vigil is set to take place. In preparation the hearse carrying Abe's body arrived just about an hour ago. And behind that hearse were dozens of people, looking like they were attendees, some of them carrying flowers, heading towards the temple.

Now this is also where the funeral service will be held tomorrow afternoon for the assassinated former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. Few details have emerged about the memorial services for Abe, other than that it's expected only to involve close friends and family.

For now, the guest list doesn't include the emperor or any members of the royal family, who according to the imperial household agency have no plans to attend. Now despite the proceedings being closed off to the public, we had expected to see a lot of people gathering here throughout the day to pay their respects. But it really hasn't happened.

We've been outside for several hours, and really just a lot of journalists here. A handful of people have come by to ask us what's going on, why all of the cameras are set up. It's clear that a lot of people just simply don't know which highlights not only the intimacy of these proceedings, but also the suddenness in which these proceedings were put together and are taking place.

Of course, that could change. But it's playing out to be quite a different scene than what we saw over the weekend on Saturday when Abe's body returned to Tokyo as the car carrying his body got closer to his home, hundreds of people started lining the streets of his quiet residential neighborhood.

[03:05:08]

Just to catch a glimpse of the former prime minister's motorcade. People brought flowers, laying them inside, or just right next to his home to pay respects for the controversial, but hugely popular former prime minister. Rosemary?

CHURCH: It certainly shocked a nation. So, what more are we learning about the suspect, Blake?

ESSIG: Well, Rosemary, NHK Japan's public broadcaster reporting that the suspect targeted Abe because he held a grudge against the group that he believed had ties to that he -- that Abe had ties to and that his mother was actually linked to.

Now CNN has contacted local police but they wouldn't name or provide any information on this group. And as for the homemade weapon used to kill the former prime minister, Nara police say that the alleged gunman may have tested it at a certain group's facility, again police refused to name the group but did say that they believe the suspect's car was caught on security cameras close to where the weapon was tested.

Now NHK citing investigators is also reporting that the suspect watch YouTube videos to help make the guns, and that he practiced with the weapons in the mountains in the days before the assassination. These weapons, the same weapon used to assassinate former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, were made with iron pipe barrels and wrapped in duct tape. Rosemary?

CHURCH: It's just simply horrifying, isn't it? Blake Essig, joining us live from Tokyo, many thanks.

Well, the U.S. House select committee investigating the January 6th insurrection will hold its next hearing on Tuesday. The committee plans to focus on the role extremist groups played in the capitol riot. And a former spokesperson for the far-right anti-government group the Oath Keepers is expected to testify.

Now this comes as Trump ally Steve Bannon, who defied a congressional subpoena, now says that he is willing to testify before the committee.

CNN's Marshall Cohen has details.

MARSHALL COHEN, CNN REPORTER: Steve Bannon, who is one of former President Donald Trump's staunchest and most controversial allies, he now says that he is willing to testify to the January 6th select committee. Bannon made the announcement in a letter to the panel this weekend, after months of stonewalling.

He was subpoenaed last year but refused to sit for a deposition and refused to turn over any documents. He claimed he couldn't do that because of executive privilege. But the Justice Department wasn't buying it, probably because executive privilege only applies to people who are actually serving in the executive branch, unlike Bannon who left the White House in 2017.

So, the Justice Department charged him in November with contempt of Congress and his criminal trial was supposed to begin next week. His new offer to the January 6 committee about potential testimony, it could be an attempt to try to undermine the prosecutor's case. Bannon says that he would like to testify at a public hearing, some

committee members have already indicated they want him to do a private deposition, just like all of the other witnesses have done. So, there is no guarantee that this is actually going to happen, some legal experts are very skeptical of Bannon's motivation, with his trial fast approaching.

We really should find out more about this in the next few days, two sides should come together and negotiate, we should find out how everything shakes out.

Meanwhile, the committee, the January 6 committee is moving ahead with its next major public hearing. That is scheduled for Tuesday, and that session will focus on the role of right-wing extremist groups. How they embraced Donald Trump's lies about the 2020 election, and how they plan to violently disrupt the peaceful transfer of power to President Joe Biden.

The committee will highlight the Oath Keepers, and the Proud Boys among other groups. Dozens of their members stormed the capitol on January 6th, including some who are now facing sedition charges. Now, members of the committee have said that they are going to use Tuesday's hearing to connect the dots between these militants and Donald Trump's inner circle.

Marshall Cohen, CNN, Washington.

CHURCH: We are following a new push for gun reform in the U.S. state of Texas. County commissioners in Uvalde where a deadly school shooting took place in May, a meeting in the coming hours and they are set to consider a resolution, asking the governor to call a special session of the state legislature to raise the minimum purchase age for semiautomatic and assault style weapons from 18 to 21.

Now this comes as families and residents there continue to mourn the loss of the 19 students and two teachers killed at Robb Elementary.

[03:10:01]

Some of those people marched in a rally on Sunday part of a renewed push for answers surrounding the police response to that shooting.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNKNOWN: What do we want?

CROWD: Justice.

UNKNOWN: When do we want it?

CROWD: Now.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHURCH: Meanwhile, Texas state lawmakers investigating the response to the school shooting may release their preliminary report within the next 10 days.

Well, the streets of downtown Highland Park, Illinois reopened on Sunday, just six days after a mass shooting killed seven people and injured dozens more.

CNN's Camila Bernal reports on residents reacting with a range of emotion.

CAMILA BERNAL, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: So many people have been out and about since that police tape came down. And look, a lot of people just walking up and down the street, because a lot of the stores are still closed, others sitting down, processing, talking, having a moment of silence, maybe saying a prayer.

This is difficult for a lot of, people especially because right here behind me is that building where the shooter was when he opened fire into the crowd. And right across the street from that building is another growing memorial, where you see the faces of all of the victims. More flowers, more candles, balloons, just people honoring and remembering the victims.

Now, there are a lot of people who are processing this differently, I spoke to one mother who was here on the fourth, here is how he described her process.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REBECCA WEININGER, DIRECTOR, NORTH SUBURBAN LEGAL AID CLINIC DOMESTIC VIOLENCE LAW PRACTICE: What I'm doing is I'm evolving. I'm not healing, I'm evolving. There is a new me that is coming out of this. That is embracing this pain, and embracing the newness of this, that is hugging this community closer and is speaking louder. And I'm going to do that through acts of love, and I'm going to do that with my voice.

BERNAL: A lot of people here are voicing their desire for change. Among them is the governor of Illinois, J.B. Pritzker, who says that he wants to see changes in three different areas. He wants a ban on assault weapons. He says that there has to be changes when it comes to high-capacity magazines. He says that no one should have 90 bullets at the ready.

And then he also wants to see changes in red flag laws. He also talked to CNN about motive and said that among the evidence is a symbol of white supremacy. He says that he doesn't know though whether or not the shooter targeted a specific group.

Camila Bernal, CNN, Highland Park, Illinois.

CHURCH: Ukraine's second largest city coming under fire this morning. Officials in Kharkiv say that at least three Russian missiles hit the city within the past few hours including a strike on a residential building and a school.

Now this as the death toll rises after an attack on an apartment building in the eastern Donetsk region. Ukrainian officials say at least 18 people were killed. Six others have been rescued and crews say that they've made contact with two people still trapped underneath the rubble.

In his nightly address, Ukraine's president said those who carried out the attack will be brought to justice, no matter how long it takes.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY, PRESIDENT OF UKRAINE (through translator): You know, Nazi murderers are found and brought to justice even when they are 90 or 100 years old. They are caught all over the world, of course we don't want to wait that long. But I give this example to show that punishment is inevitable for every Russian murderer, absolutely everyone.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHURCH: Ukraine appears to be stepping out counterattacks in the south, claiming a precise hit on a Russian military target in the occupied region of Kherson on Sunday. Russian state media reported explosions in the sky that it says were caused by air defense systems.

Meanwhile, Ukraine is condemning Canada's decision to return a repaired turbine for the Nord Stream one gas pipeline. Ukraine says the decision sets a dangerous precedent that will allow Russia to continue weaponizing energy supplies.

For more on all of this, we want to bring in CNN's Scott McLean, he joins us live from Kyiv. Good to see you, Scott. So, we are learning new information on the rescue efforts in Chasiv Yar. What more are you learning?

SCOTT MCLEAN, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Rosemary, yes. From the last update that we had late yesterday we know that three more people have been pulled out of the rubble dead. One more person has remarkably been able to be pulled out alive. And you mentioned it earlier there, they still have contact with two people under the rubble. That means that they are able to hear their voices and actually communicate with them. They just don't have a way to actually get to them.

They have already removed a remarkable amount of rubble from that area. But of course, it's a delicate operation, trying to move the rubble, to perhaps try to get some kind of a route in down to where these people may be trapped without disturbing things, without causing this to collapse further.

[03:15:06]

Because when you look at these pictures, it's remarkable honestly, that anyone could have possibly survived. An entire section of this building has completely collapsed into just a pile of concrete and rebar.

The scary thing, is that local officials say that their preliminary guess at least is that there could still be 22 people underneath of the rubble, not clear how many they think may be potentially alive. But they think that of that number, again, people they think that may have been in the building at the time there may have also been a nine- year-old boy.

And keep in mind as well, Rosemary, that this is an area that is still at war. This, the Ukrainians say that Chasiv Yar, this town in the Donetsk region was actually hit again by shelling last night. Thankfully not the same area of this apartment building, but officials say that in the region of Donetsk, the shelling simply does not stop. It appears that the Russians have not been able to really move the frontlines themselves over the last few days.

And so, instead, they are resulting to just flattening the towns and villages, whatever they can really. The Ukrainians claim that of the 49 or so things that were hit, most of those were actually residential sites.

You also mentioned the situation in Kharkiv, those three missile strikes it's remarkable that no one was killed. Only an 86-year-old woman pulled out of the rubble of an apartment building. But some of the most intense fighting that we have seen over the last few days is actually happening in the southern part of the country, as Ukrainian officials have been warning people in the Kherson region, Zaporizhzhia regions to get out to evacuate if they can. Though, frankly that's not always easy to get out from Russian held areas, Rosemary.

CHURCH: Yes. It is a horrifying situation. Scott McLean joining us live from Kyiv. Many thanks.

Well, protesters in Sri Lanka who stormed the president's palace are making themselves right at home, using the gym, taking tours, and even having picnics on the grounds. More on the political uncertainty now facing the country, that's next.

Plus, British conservatives are gearing up for a leadership race to choose the man or woman who will replace Boris Johnson. You will look at some of the contenders straight ahead.

[03:20:00]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

CHURCH: Welcome back, everyone. Well, Sri Lanka is facing an unprecedented political crisis fueled by the country's ongoing economic turmoil. Brazen protesters are now occupying the official residences of both the president and the prime minister, and say they won't leave until both leaders officially resign. Until then, they are enjoying the luxury's most can only dream of as CNN's Michael Holmes reports.

MICHAEL HOLMES, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice over): For many protesters in Sri Lanka, roaming the halls of the presidential residence they have occupied since Saturday, this is the good life. A chance for many Sri Lankans, many who can't afford to buy enough food or fuel to live like a king, at least for a short while. Armed security guards stood outside the compound, but didn't stop the

curious from taking a peek inside the palace. This man says he brought his family here to enjoy a picnic on the grounds. "He says, I got a chance with my kids to come and have lunch here," adding, "it's once in a lifetime."

This is after all how their president, Gotabaya Rajapaksa lived while the country suffered through an economic meltdown, with soaring inflation, shortages of critical supplies, and rolling blackouts. Conditions that sparked months of protests, that led to Saturday's extraordinary show of people power when more than 100,000 protesters flooded the streets of Colombo, a massive public display that finally forced the president to give in to their demands. The country's speaker of parliament announcing soon afterwards the president will resign on Wednesday. The prime minister saying he too will step down.

The protesters say promises aren't enough, and they won't leave the residents until both officially resign.

AKUSHLA FERNANDO, PROTESTER: We don't trust him anymore, because he has already broken our trust, our country's trust. He has already sold our country.

HOLMES (voice-over): The next few days could be a turning point for Sri Lanka if there is a leadership change, but even if that happens, its economic troubles are far from over and could take years to reverse. It will be a heavy lift for whoever takes power next, and while the country remains in political limbo, many protesters say they will continue to enjoy the luxuries of the house, with a warning for the next full-time occupant.

As this man says, politicians should understand the power of people, and this is the maximum of it.

Michael Holmes, CNN.

CHURCH: In the coming hours, the British Conservative Party's 1922 committee will meet to elect new members. Those members will set out the timetable for the leadership race that will determine the country's next prime minister.

A raft of conservative MPs have launched bids for the top spot including Foreign Secretary Liz Truss and former Health Secretary Sajid Javid. Boris Johnson resigned as party chief last week, but remains as caretaker prime minister.

The opposition Labour Party has said they will bring a vote of no confidence as soon as Monday if he is not removed. And earlier, I spoke with CNN European affairs commentator Dominic Thomas. I asked him which of the many contenders have the best chance of eventually Boris Johnson. Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DOMINIC THOMAS, CNN EUROPEAN AFFAIRS COMMENTATOR: This is going to be quite a race. As you just pointed out, Rosemary, I mean, let's not forget that they had one in 2016 and 2019, and here we go again in 2022. And in many ways, I would say there were a couple of races going on, the race for the new leader who of course will end up being prime minister.

[03:25:02]

But there is also in this very large field and we'll know and by early next week when the race gets underway probably on Tuesday and whether we have how far we get into 10, 11, 12, and potentially even higher.

And also, those that are running and ultimately as sort of positioning themselves hoping that their ultimate endorsements as they are illuminated with each round of voting will perhaps position themselves for future cabinet jobs. And we certainly have certainly seen that play out in these elections and before.

Having said that, it's also interesting to look at the candidates that are not running. I think that raises serious questions, and into that extent the current deputy prime minister, for example, Dominic Raab is not in the race and the defense secretary, Ben Wallace who was considered a front-runner in the early days of last week, And I think that tells us a lot about whether the party are genuinely interested in finding a new leader that would potentially reunite the party and take them into that 2024, 2025 election, or whether this is really aimed at mitigating that damage.

And so, to that extent, I think the most likely candidates to emerge as we go through those rounds are these major players that are currently in the cabinet. You've mentioned some of them already, but also the trade secretary, for example, Penny Mordaunt, Rishi Sunak, the former Chancellor of the Exchequer.

So, these are the high-profile figures, but there are also some backbenchers there and it's going to be interesting to see because in the early rounds of course it's the MPs that vote, and their job is to reduce the pile to two. And I think that there's a discrepancy between the membership of the conservative party that will ultimately vote on those, and the role of the MPs in selecting these candidates. So, it's going to be interesting to see as they are gradually brittle down.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHURCH: Our thanks to CNN European affairs commentator Dominic Thomas.

Well, many Muslims celebrated the Feast of Sacrifice amid skyrocketing inflation. Just ahead, we will show you how soaring cost in Turkey forced many to sacrifice their usual for Eid al-Adha.

[03:30:00]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

CHURCH: Welcome back, everyone. Well, as Americans grow impatient over skyrocketing inflation, the White House considering lifting tariffs on China. U.S. President Joe Biden said on Friday he hadn't made the decision yet, adding he wanted to go through them one at a time. The hope is that easing levies on China could help curve rising prices to consumers just in time for the November midterm elections.

Although the White House doesn't have a timeline on the announcement, U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo explained why she believes lifting Trump-era tariffs makes sense.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GINA RAIMONDO, U.S. COMMERCE SECRETARY: Lifting tariffs isn't going to bring down top line inflation in a very significant way. What it will do potentially is help consumers on certain, as you say, household goods. And so, for that reason, given where inflation is, I think it could make sense to do it.

If he decides to lift certain tariffs, it will because he knows he has to think about doing everything he possibly can to provide any relief to consumers. But he is going to do it in a thoughtful way that this strategic.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHURCH: In the U.S., inflation is at a 40-year high, creating high prices for everything from gas to groceries. And crippling inflation isn't just a U.S. problem. Inflation in Turkey reached almost 80% in June, it's highest level in almost two decades.

CNN's Jomana Karadsheh reports soaring prices are making celebrations for Eid al-Adha considerably more expensive.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JOMANA KARADSHEH, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): After two years of pandemic restrictions, this sacrificial livestock market in Istanbul is coming back to life. It's Eid al-Adha, the Muslim feast of sacrifice, a time when Muslims traditionally buy and slaughter sheep and cattle and share the meat with those in need.

It is a lively scene with buyers and sellers haggling and cutting deals. Despite the jubilation, the state of Turkey's economy is making it hard to celebrate. With skyrocketing inflation, sellers say they are struggling to keep up.

Feeding them is expensive, he says. The cost of medicine, trucks to come here are expensive, and there is the rent we pay for this place. Business is getting harder, he says.

(On camera): The cost of an average sheep this year is about 4,000 Turkish lira. That is about $213 U.S. in a country where the minimum wage is equivalent to just over $300 U.S., making this something many can't afford this year.

(Voice-over): Erdogan Gawk (ph) is here with his grandchildren to buy a sheep. It is a tradition he wants to keep alive. But he says this isn't a pleasant even. Rising costs have left him no choice but to shutter his business last week and lay off his 20 employees.

Over the past 26 years in my business, I have witnessed every crisis, he says. But nothing like this. It is like a fire burning people.

That fire is Turkey's worst inflation in more than 20 years. The official rate hit nearly 80% in June. But many believe in reality, it is much higher than that.

The government raised the minimum wage twice since December. But with the cost of pretty much everything continuing to rise, people say it is impossible to keep up. The cost of food, every day staples has nearly doubled in a year, making the traditional sweet delights evade out of reach for many.

Sherry Teberra (ph) says her family will have to give up the traditional tray of baklava this year. They can barely afford the necessities these days. This couple tells us high costs have taken away the joy of shopping. No new clothes for the children this year, just the basics.

But the hardest part for these devout Muslims is not being able to afford a sheep to sacrifice. Rising global energy costs, the war in Ukraine, and the Turkish lira losing about half of its value in the past year all contributed to the soaring inflation.

But economists blame much of this on the Turkish president's unorthodox economic policies. Erdogan refuses to raise interest rates to fight inflation. He has even vowed to cut them further.

[03:35:00]

KARADSHEH (voice-over): This 29-year-old tells us he only has enough to buy second-hand shoes. A loaf of bread is five lira. Tomorrow, it will be six, he says. Who is responsible? Let us not talk about that.

If you will talk about who they blame, they will likely take their grievances to the polls next year and that could cause the president. But for now, it is ordinary Turks who will continue to bear the brunt of this troubled economy.

Jomana Karadsheh, CNN, Istanbul.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CHURCH: A protest over frozen bank deposits turned violent in China. Just ahead, how a local banking scandal sparked a nationwide outcry. We will have a live report from Beijing back in just a moment.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

CHURCH: Welcome back, everyone. Well, a massive protest over frozen bank deposits turned violent in Zhengzhou, China.

For more on this, I'm joined now live from Beijing by CNN's Steven Jiang. Good to see you, Steven. So, this local banking scandal has sparked a nationwide outcry. What is going on? STEVEN JIANG, CNN BEIJING BUREAU CHIEF: Rosemary, it was quite an extraordinary scene to see more than a thousand people show up in front of this government building on Sunday morning demanding their money back because, as you know, the authorities there have been hellbent to prevent this from happening, even trying to tamper with these people's health QR codes, which is a basic necessity these days for anyone in China to even leave their homes.

But that effort failed after triggering a nationwide backlash. That is why this protests still took place and with the demonstrators really turning (ph) their fire at the local authorities, burning (ph) national flags, chanting slogans with some banners, accusing the local police of using violence against them, even calling for human rights and the rule of law.

[03:40:00]

JIANG: But their peaceful tactics did not make their protest last long. After a few hours, you can see hundreds of security personnel, including many plain-clothes agents charging towards the crowd, forcibly removing everyone, including the elderly and children. And anyone who resisted got kicked and punched, some sustaining minor injuries, according to protesters.

These protesters' actions and the plan actually have struck a chord with many people around the country because they are mostly low-income people who had put their life savings into these banks and because of their faith in the country's banking system that instead they lost everything.

And, of course, this is happening at a time when the economy here is already being battered by the harsh enforcement of the zero-COVID policy, not to mention it is happening at a very politically sensitive year when Supreme Leader Xi Jinping is expected to take a precedent- breaking third term later this year.

That is why you see the provincial authorities there take such extreme actions to suppress this peaceful protest because they are so worried about a tinderbox situation. They simply do not want to see any spark that could ignite even more anger and frustration not just in their province, but across China. Rosemary?

CHURCH: It is a big concern. Steven Jiang joining us live from Beijing, many thanks.

I'm Rosemary Church. For those of you here in the U.S. and the Canada, I will be back with more "CNN Newsroom" in just a moment. And for the rest of our international viewers, "Inside Africa" is next.

[03:45:00]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

CHURCH: Welcome back, everyone. U.S. President Joe Biden spent the weekend at his beach home in Delaware. This as abortion rights activists gathered outside the White House, furious over the Supreme Court's overturning of Roe v. Wade. And although he wasn't there, the president had a message for them.

CNN's Jeremy Diamond has more on that.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JEREMY DIAMOND, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, President Biden spent his weekend at his beach house in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware. But in front of the White House this weekend, we saw protest from abortion rights activists, and President Biden taking a moment as he was going on a bike ride to comment on some of those protests, encouraging abortion rights activists to continue to make their voices heard.

JOE BIDEN, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Yes, keep protesting because -- keep making your point. It is critically important. We can do a lot of things to accommodate the rights of women in the meantime. But fundamentally, the only thing that is going to change this is if we have a national law that reinstates Roe v. Wade. that is the bottom line. The only way we do that is through an election in the United States Congress.

In the meantime, states can make those judgements. But the ultimate goal is to reinstate Roe v. Wade as a national law by passing it in United States Congress, and I will sign it the moment that happens.

DIAMOND: The president there at the end making that fundamental point that what he needs is voters to go out and elect more pro-choice Democrats so that he can codify abortion rights into law, passing a bill through Congress that he would then sign.

The president in the meantime is taking executive action. He signed an executive order on Friday that seeks to safeguard women's access to reproductive health care, including medication, abortion, also taking steps to protect women's privacy and safety at these abortion clinics.

That is something that the president talked about again on Sunday, but ultimately making clear here, the president was, on Sunday that, look, he can take some piecemeal steps to try and help the current situation but ultimately, he is going to need Congress to act and that is where voters come in in November.

Jeremy Diamond, CNN, travelling with the president in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CHURCH: U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has tested positive for COVID-19. A spokesperson says Schumer has very mild symptoms and that the senator is fully vaccinated and double-boosted. The New York Democrat plans to isolate and work remotely this week as the Senate returns to Washington after the July 4th recess.

New versions of the Omicron variant are fueling a summer surge of COVID-19 here in the United States. Health officials are now urging many Americans to return to masking indoors.

According to Johns Hopkins and the CDC, coronavirus infections nationwide are up by 6% with more than 100,000 new cases reported each day over the past two weeks.

And earlier, I spoke with Dr. Eric Topol. He is a cardiologist and professor of molecular medicine at Scripps Research. I asked him about the sudden rise of COVID cases in the U.S. and the CDC suggestion to return to indoor mask wearing.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ERIC TOPOL, CARDIOLOGIST: We've already seen in the last couple weeks 20% increase in hospitalization. And this is worrisome because it is disproportionate. The case (INAUDIBLE). We have capitulated, as you're alluding to, to the situation of the virus.

So, what is in store is that like what has happened with this BA.59 (ph) in Europe, and now many places in Asian Pacific, South America, around the world, is we are going to see escalating numbers of cases and more hospitalizations. And one good thing is it does not appear to be accompanied by ICU admissions and deaths as previous variants. But this is definitely concerning.

CHURCH: Yeah, that is the critical point, isn't it, because the BA.5 variant is so contagious that even when people have three or four vaccine shots, they are still getting infected with COVID, although, as you point out, most are avoiding hospitalization, serious hospitalization or death because of the vaccines.

And some people feel that recovering from the infection is like getting another booster shot. So, they don't see any harm in getting infected in the first place.

[03:50:00]

CHURCH: What would you say to those people?

TOPOL: Oh, this is a key point, Rosemary. And that is that this variant, BA.5, is so distinct from the BA.1 Omicron where a lot of people, 40% of Americans and throughout the world, there is common infections, they don't protect from this variant, BA.5., and this is crucial because this variant is so unrecognizable to our immune system relative to previous versions of the virus.

So that is why gearing up with things like high-quality masks and distancing and air filtration, ventilation, all these are important. No less critically important are getting boosters and second shots for people over age 50. That's how we can increase protection against BA.5.

CHURCH: And doctor, when someone recovers from the BA.5 variant, how long might it be before they potentially get infected again? Do we know that for sure at this junction?

TOPOL: We don't know that. A very interesting report came out today from Australia whereby the infectivity of the BA.5 is enhanced compared to any prior Omicron virus, much akin to Delta. You may recall how Delta is able to get into cells and get into our lungs better. So, this report is concerning because it can last longer. Instead of the average of five days, it could be 10, 12 or even 15 days to clear it.

So, it may not be there is some early reinfection. It is just is that the clearance of the virus, because of markedly increased copies, is increased. And that is what it looks like we are dealing with right now.

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CHURCH: Our thanks again to Dr. Eric Topol. Well, Lakeside Beach in Iowa is temporarily closed after a swimmer was hospitalized with a rare brain-eating amoeba. It is most often found in fresh, warm waters such as lakes, rivers, and ponds.

Health officials says the amoeba can infect people when contaminated water enters the body through the nose. The infection can be life- threatening, although it is incredibly rare. Since 1962, there have only been 154 known cases here in the United States.

A frightening scene at the world's busiest airport. Flames and smoke coming out of a Spirit airlines jet just after it landed here in Atlanta.

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UNKNOWN: What the hell! (INAUDIBLE).

CHURCH: A passenger captured the smoke rising from the plane that had just arrived from Tampa, Florida. The jet had to be towed to the gate. A passenger on board the Spirit flight captured a firetruck that arrived to assist. The airport says the jet's breaks overheated and caught fire. Nobody was hurt and nobody had to evacuate.

A wildfire in Yosemite National Park threatens to destroy more than 500 of California's famous giant sequoia trees. The Washburn Fire has burned nearly 1,600 acres. That is more than 640 hectares. The fire has spread to the grove of trees but hasn't damaged the historic sequoias so far. Firefighters carried out a controlled burn to create a protective ring around the trees.

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CHURCH: Unauthorized drones flying in the area are making it harder for emergency workers to do their job. The FBI has been called in to help find the people responsible for hindering firefighting efforts.

CNN's Stephanie Elam has this exclusive report.

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STEPHANIE ELAM, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Just one rogue drone --

DAVID LAUB, CAPTAIN, LOS ANGELES COUNTY FIRE DEPARTMENT (voice-over): It makes our aircraft divert or land.

ELAM (voice-over): -- is all it takes to ground a firefight from the sky.

LAUB: It is a mandatory stop operation when we see drones operating in our -- in our emergency locations. We don't know what the operator is going to do. So, the potential damage to our helicopters or our fixed wings is extensive.

ELAM (voice-over): Let alone the danger to firefighters on the ground. Yet while an-authorized drones can stop aircraft from dropping crucial water or fire retardant on a blaze, that blaze turns on.

LAUB: It continues to burn, it continues to get bigger, it threatens people's homes, property, the environment.

ELAM (voice-over): The Los Angeles County Fire is now going on the offensive, partnering with the FBI in the first of its kind drone- deterrent program that can hone in on offending drones in seconds.

JAMES PEACO, III, WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION COORDINATOR, FBI: When the exact equipment finds the drone and identifies its operator, its location, we can very rapidly get that information to a ground intercept team who can then go make contact with the drone operator.

LAUB: I set this up so that I will be notified if a drone crosses within the location. And it is very accurate.

[03:55:00]

LAUB: Speed, direction, elevation, where he took off from and where he is standing.

ELAM (on camera): What happens when they do get to whoever is operating the drone?

PEACO: The first thing we do is order them to bring the drone back, explain to him that there is a wildfire and flying that drone during a wildland fire is actually a federal felony. We break violators into

three categories: clueless, careless, and criminal. And if it is just clueless or careless, we will either issue a citation or even just warn him off and tell him not to do it. The majority of people are happy to comply.

MICHAEL NARDONE, CAPTAIN, LOS ANGELES COUNTY FIRE DEPARTMENT: (INAUDIBLE).

ELAM (voice-over): Los Angeles County Fire also deploys its own drones to battle structure fires and wildland blazes.

NARDONE: They can get a bird's eye view.

ELAM (voice-over): Helping first-responders scout fires and target hotspots.

NARDONE: We can do a 360-degree lap around the entire fire and in really pinpoint where the fire is without having to put firefighters in harm's way. ELAM (voice-over): Optimally, from 50 to 200 feet away, watching this demonstration for CNN as the drone's high definition camera detects the temperature of the fire and any people nearby.

UNKNOWN (voice-over): I can switch from regular video screen to infrared screen so you can see where the hotspots are in the building. So, we can see pretty much anything and everything we like to see.

ELAM (voice-over): Putting eyes in the sky where they need them and keeping them away from places where they shouldn't be.

Stephanie Elam, CNN, Los Angeles.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CHURCH: Novak Djokovic has done it again! The world's number three won his fourth consecutive Wimbledon title on Sunday. Djokovic defeated Australian Nick Kyrgios who advanced to the final after Rafael Nadal pulled out due to injury.

Kyrgios got off to a strong start but it wasn't enough. Djokovic now has seven Wimbledon men's singles crown, and 21 grand slam singles titles. He is now second on the all-time list of most men's singles grand slams.

And thank you so much for spending part of your day with me. I'm Rosemary Church. "CNN Newsroom" continues next with Max Foster.

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