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Protesters Storm P.M.'s Office, Demand Leaders Step Down; Biden To Meet With Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid; Century-Old School Destroyed By Russian Missile; Russian Soldier Appeals War Crimes Conviction; U.S. Inflation Surges, Hits 40-Year High In June. Aired 1- 2a ET
Aired July 14, 2022 - 01:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
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LYNDA KINKADE, CNN ANCHOR: Hello, everyone, I'm Lynda Kinkade, good to have you with us.
Ahead on CNN Newsroom, political chaos in Sri Lanka. After the president fled the country, protesters stormed the prime minister's office demanding for him to go to. Ending the Black Sea blockade, Ukraine tries to strike a deal with Russia to export more food out of the war zone. And the real impact of a warming planet scorching temperatures helping to fuel massive wildfires burning across Western Europe.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Live from CNN Center, this is CNN Newsroom with Lynda Kinkade.
KINKADE: Anger, chaos and political uncertainty gripping Sri Lanka's capital, after protesters fed up with their country's financial collapse stormed the prime minister's office.
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KINKADE: This was the scene Wednesday, just hours after Gotabaya Rajapaksa fled for the Maldives. The demonstrators were furious that the Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe was named as the acting president. Both men have pledged to resign but neither one has formally done so. Dozens of people were injured in the protests.
The acting president accuses demonstrators of trying to seize control and he's vowing to restore law and order.
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RANIL WICKREMESINGHE, SRI LANKA ACTING PRESIDENT (through translation): Even though we took steps to elect a president, some groups in the struggle plan to storm the prime minister's office, surround the Air Force commanders house because you provided an aircraft for the president to travel to Maldives and also to surround the houses of the army commander and the navy commander. That was an attempt to grab power.
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KINKADE: Well, Peter Smith of ITV News was there as protesters descended on the prime minister's office. He filed this report.
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PETER SMITH, ITV NEWS CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Having removed their president, the people of Sri Lanka now turn their attention to the prime minister. But the atmosphere on the streets of Colombo changed when the unarmed crowd tried to get to the prime minister's office, heavily armed military and police stood in their way.
UNIDENTIFIED SPEAKER (in unison): (Speaking Foreign Language).
SMITH (voice-over): We will cut through you came the chance. One military commander came out to assure the crowd there would be no violence here today.
BRIGADIER ANIL SOMA WEERA, SIR LANKAN ARMY: We are protesting peacefully, that's all.
SMITH (on-camera): OK. Will you fire tear gas?
WEERA: No, no. We will not. We will not fire, no. We will not fire at them.
SMITH (voice-over): Word that proved ominous because no sooner than the first attempt was made to scale these gates. Round after round was fired into the crowd.
(on-camera): The military guarding the prime minister's office had to fire tear gas on the crowd. They have the weapons, but the people have the numbers and they're going back in.
(voice-over): The tear gas kept coming, attacking the lungs and burning the eyes and skin of the people. It was an attempt to force this crowd to go home. It failed.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: They say prime minister also had to leave the -- his mansion.
SMITH (on-camera): It's not enough that the president is gone?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We fight them to get our freedom.
SMITH (voice-over): At last, the gate holding these people back give way and the soldiers give up trying to stop them. (on-camera): The protesters are now inside. There's no resistance anymore. So like these people are now in control of the prime minister's office.
(voice-over): The military are still in here, forced to just stand and watch. But there is no sign of the Prime Minister because he is now in hiding. The president has already fled the country. This though is the man tipped to take control in Sri Lanka. Sajith Premadasa, educated in London is the country's opposition leader and he has a message for the protesters.
[01:05:05]
SAJITH PREMADASA, SRI LANKAN OPPOSITION LEADER: They made their point and I hope the prime minister has taken that point and resigns immediately respecting the wish and the will of the people.
SMITH (on-camera): Who is in control in Sri Lanka?
PREMADASA: Absolutely no one. That's total and absolute anarchy.
SMITH (voice-over): But the leaders of the people's protests won't change.
(on-camera): So what change are you going to bring?
DANISH ALI, PROTEST CO-LEADER: Everything, from top to bottom, bottom to top.
SMITH (on-camera): You're talking about revolution here.
ALI: You call it revolution, we call it a system change. And be a Sri Lankans and we will safe this country.
SMITH (voice-over): Sri Lanka now has a revolution without weapons. And so far, the people are winning.
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KINKADE: Well joining me now from Colombo, New York Times South Asia Correspondent Emily Schmall. Good to have you with us, Emily.
EMILY SCHMALL, SOUTH ASIA CORRESPONDENT, THE NEW YORK TIMES: Thanks.
KINKADE: So, absolutely extraordinary scenes we've been seeing a week after storming the residences of the prime minister and president. We saw protesters overpowering security forces who are armed with tear gas and again, overrun and get another public building. These scenes of chaos is certainly becoming more common.
SCHMALL: Yes, that's true. And actually yesterday evening, in Sri Lanka, a group of protesters attempted to take over the parliament building as well, which was the last top office building they had not yet cease. They weren't able. But we think that they will continue their efforts, particularly up until Friday when lawmakers are set to return to Parliament. KINKADE: Because he's gone back on his word to resign, appointing the prime minister to be acting president. This means that Rajapaksa remains president, he has immunity. But he also leaves the country politically paralyzed. The acting president will remain in power until lawmakers vote in a new president. Is that still likely to happen late next week?
SCHMALL: It's really hard to say this has been such a dynamic situation. But I think that in order to shore up some public supports, the acting prime -- the acting president, excuse me, who's also the prime minister will go ahead with the procedure to select a new president. But again, anything could happen between now and then.
KINKADE: And he did on being announced president enact a curfew, declared a state of emergency. What's the situation there now?
SCHMALL: Right now, it's quiet, the curfew lifted earlier today. But again, I think the plans the protesters have are to continue pushing to take over the parliament building. And there could be other targets. Yesterday, they briefly took over the state broadcaster and declared that the live -- the television network would not show anything except news about the struggle as they call it.
So it's been a bit unpredictable and the protest doesn't have a leadership. So there are factions within it who want to remain peaceful as this movement has largely been the last few months but there are other factions that are growing quite frustrated and are willing to push harder.
KINKADE: And Emily, the overall situation is pretty dire, schools have been closed, hospitals are struggling, a fuel and food shortages continue as well as power cuts. This was a country that was used to having a comfortable middle class and upper middle class. How much of the country's economic woes are a result of the mismanagement of government?
SCHMALL: Well, certainly economists think that the House of Cards that Rajapaksa has built by taking on an enormous amount of debt to fund infrastructure projects, and some vanity projects in their home district in the south of the country, are a major contributor to the collapse. And then beyond that, there was hubris and denial about the fact that Sri Lanka was really struggling after the pandemic to pay down that debt with tourism, all but vanquished.
And, but at the same time, of course, the pandemic, the Russian invasion of Ukraine, have had huge impacts here as well. Sri Lanka is a country that imports nearly everything it consumes. So for prices of commodities to be rising as they are everywhere in the world, and inflation to be rising as well is really hurting people here.
KINKADE: Yes, it certainly is an issue everywhere but specially in Sri Lanka right now. In terms of help for Sri Lanka, which countries, if any, will help Sri Lanka through this crisis?
SCHMALL: Well India has been a really steadfast partner. They have given Sri Lanka about $4 billion in aid in the last few months and it's expected that they will continue to try to help whatever the political situation, in part because of historic ties, but also because they don't want instability so close to their country.
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But Sri Lanka is looking far afield. They've sent people to go to Russia and to China and elsewhere, trying to renegotiate debt and receive aid. They're hoping to get a reduced a sort of discounted amount of oil from Russia. And I think they're looking to whomever might be willing to stand up and offer them some assistance.
Of course, they have negotiations ongoing with the International Monetary Fund. They're really looking for a $6 billion bailout to help them import the essentials, the food, the fuel, the medicine that they'll need in coming months, but with all of the political unrest at the moment, those negotiations have been suspended. And anyway, it wouldn't come immediately. And what protesters are really demanding is immediate relief.
KINKADE: Yes, and they certainly need it. Sri Lanka is a beautiful country. They certainly need help right now.
Emily Schmall in Colombo from the New York Times, thanks so much for joining us.
SCHMALL: Thanks for having me.
KINKADE: And we have a live shot of the capital of Sri Lanka, this is Colombo right now. The curfew ended a few hours ago. But as you can see, the situation right now there quite calm.
We want to move now to Israel, where U.S. President Joe Biden will meet with the new prime minister, Yair Lapid in just a few hours. Mr. Biden is hoping to bring Israel closer to normalizing relations with Saudi Arabia, which he will visit this weekend.
And on Wednesday, he met with Holocaust survivors in Jerusalem and got a briefing on the Iron Dome and the Iron Beam defense systems. Mr. Biden also stressed the importance of preventing Iran from developing nuclear weapons.
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JOE BIDEN, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Because the only worse than the Iran that exists now is Iran with nuclear weapons. And if we can return to the deal and hold them tight, I think it was a gigantic mistake for the last president to get out of the deal. They're closer to a nuclear weapon now than there were before.
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KINKADE: I wanted to live now to Jerusalem and Journalist Elliott Gotkine joins us now. Good to have you with us, Elliott. So what can we expect in the coming hours when the U.S. President meets with the new Israeli Prime Minister? ELLIOTT GOTKINE, JOURNALIST: So this meeting with the Israeli Prime Minister due to happen this morning, and then a few hours later -- well, he's meeting with Lapid this morning on a one-on-one with the Israeli Prime Minister, then they will also be taking part in a virtual meeting of the newly formed I2U2, this is India, Israel, the United States and the United Arab Emirates, where they'll be talking about clean energy, and also food security, too.
Of course, with Yair Lapid, they'll be discussing Iran, also security and the U.S. administration's hope to keep alive the prospect of a two state solution, which it's still supports. Now, one concrete measure, if you like, that's going to be happening, a physical act, rather than just words will be the signing of a joint declaration with Israel between Prime Minister Yair Lapid and President Biden this afternoon, alongside a press conference that they're due to give.
This is a joint declaration in which both parties will undertake to never allow Iran to get nuclear weapons, and also, in the words of U.S. administration official will point to the -- will address the destabilizing activities of Iran and its proxies. And in particular, its threats against Israel. Today, Israel as well.
Later on President Biden will receive the Presidential Medal of Honor from the Israeli President Isaac Herzog. He's also due to meet with opposition leader Benjamin Netanyahu. And then later on today, he's due to attend the opening ceremony of the Maccabiah Games, the so- called Jewish Olympics where he'll be meeting with U.S. athletes there at a stadium here in Jerusalem.
So another incredibly busy day for Joe Biden. And then, of course, tomorrow, he will go to meet with Mahmoud Abbas, the President of the Palestinian Authority. Lynda?
KINKADE: Elliott Gotkine for us in Jerusalem, thanks so much for that update.
Well, I want to turn now to the U.K. in the contest to name a new prime minister. In the coming hours, Conservative Party members on the influential 1922 committee will carry out the next round of voting. Right now, six candidates is still in contention. Former Finance Minister Rishi Sunak topped the ballot in Wednesday's first round of voting with 88 votes, Jeremy Hunt and Nadhim Zahawi were eliminated.
[01:15:01]
Well, meanwhile, the outgoing Prime Minister Boris Johnson defended his scandal field time in office during question time on Wednesday.
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BORIS JOHNSON, OUTGOING BRITISH RIME MINISTER: And I'm also proud of the leadership that I have given and I will be leaving, Mr. Speaker, I will be leaving through wave my head held high.
(END VIDEO CLIP) KINKADE: Conservative lawmakers will continue voting until they narrow the field down to two candidates. The announcement of the next prime minister and the leader of the Conservative Party will come on September 5th.
Ukraine's military is again striking deep inside Russian held territory. Ukraine says it targeted Russian military depots in the strike in the heart of the Donbas. The latest on the fighting just ahead.
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KINKADE: Well for a second day, Ukraine is claiming it struck Russian military depots deep inside Russian controlled territory.
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KINKADE: This time, it was in the city of Horlivka in the central Donbas region. The video was shot by the local pro-Russian administrator. He claims the Ukrainian military shelled residential buildings but caused no casualties. Not far away in the city of Bakhmut. Ukraine says at least one person was killed and five injured on Wednesday, a Russian shelling of residential structures.
And to the west, at least two Russian missiles targeted the city Zaporizhzhia on Wednesday, including one that struck a large factory. Ukrainian officials say seven people were hurt in that attack. Russia has also stepped up missile attacks on the Ukrainian port city of Mykolaiv. The mass says powerful explosions rocked the city early Thursday. And attack earlier in the week destroyed a century old school.
CNN's Ivan Watson reports.
IVAN WATSON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: This used to be a classroom in school number 60 in the southern Ukrainian city of Mykolaiv. That is until before dawn on Tuesday when what appears to have been a Russian rocket slammed into the building.
Nobody was hurt, thankfully, perhaps due to the time of day and it's summer vacation right, but look what's left. The principal says that this school was constructed more than 100 years ago. It's completely devastated now.
And the Ukrainian authorities here they say the same morning, the city was hit by nearly two dozen other impacts including a hospital which just goes to show that nothing and nobody really is safe in this conflict zone.
VITALIY KIM, GOVERNOR, MYKOLAIV REGION: This is terrorism and that's it because this is like a strategy of Russian to scare civilian people to make panic. [01:20:09]
WATSON: What is your message to your own residents when a school can be blown up like this?
KIM: We will build it. Once again, it will be better than it was.
WATSON: The fighting is intensifying on Ukraine Southern front. Ukrainian forces have succeeded in pushing back Russian troops in some areas and the Ukrainians also claimed to have carried out some strikes deep behind Russian front lines destroying what they claim are ammunition depots and even a Russian military officer's position.
The Ukrainian government is urging residents of the nearby Russian occupied city of Kherson to evacuate if they can, they're anticipating even more fighting in the near future. In the meantime, the Russian military continues to lob back long-range munitions at places like Mykolaiv.
And I want to show you this, the teachers say that some other kinds of Russian artillery hit the courtyard of this school back in early April, spraying the walls of the nearby gymnasium with shrapnel. So this school has been hit twice since the Russians invaded Ukraine in February of this year. And with Mykolaiv, this city so close to the front lines, things could get much worse here in the near future.
Ivan Watson, CNN, Mykolaiv in southern Ukraine.
KINKADE: Well there are encouraging signs that millions of tons of Ukrainian grain will finally get exported to the international market. Turkey said four party talks in Istanbul ended Wednesday with an agreement on the basic principles to get the exports moving. With parts of the world facing severe food shortages, the U.N. Secretary General says he's optimistic this can be resolved soon.
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ANTONIO GUTERRES, U.N. SECRETARY GENERAL: In a world darkened by global crisis today at last, we have a ray of hope, a ray of hope to ease human suffering and alleviate hunger around the world. In the end, the aim of all parties is not just an agreement between the Russian Federation to Ukraine, but an agreement for the worlds.
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KINKADE: Many parts of the world depend on Ukraine's agricultural products, especially cooking oil. Sunflower oil accounts for more than 40 percent of the world market. Before the Russian blockade Ukraine shipped down about 80 percent of its exports out of the Black Sea ports.
The first Russian soldier convicted of war crimes in Ukraine is appealing the life sentence handed down to him in May. CNN Scott McLean has the details.
SCOTT MCLEAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, 21-year-old Vadim Shishimarin was the very first Russian to be convicted in a war crimes trial in Ukraine since this latest invasion began convicted of killing a 62- year-old man riding his bicycle just four days into the war. He entered Ukraine in the Sumy region, and the convoy that he was traveling in was hit by Ukrainian shelling, so he and four other soldiers went into a nearby village in a stolen car, where they came across this senior citizen on the bicycle speaking on his phone.
The argument that he made in his initial trial is that he was ordered by a superior to fire the shot. That was not an argument, though, that the judge ultimately bought because he was given the harshest possible sentence -- life in jail with no possibility of his parole. Now, though, he is trying to appeal that sentence to get something more lenient.
The hearing was actually delayed by an air raid siren in key for about an hour. When it resumed, he stood in the prisoner's box listened to the proceedings through a translator, and ultimately, his lawyer tried to persuade the judge that his punishment didn't fit the crime.
VIKTOR OVSYANNIKOV, DEFENSE LAWYER FOR CONVICTED RUSSIAN SOLDIER (through translation): He is undoubtedly remorseful. This situation happened very unexpectedly for him. I insisted, insist and will insist that he had no intention of killing a civilian. It is all down to the circumstances.
ANDRIY SUNYUK, UKRAINIAN PROSECUTOR: I have absolutely no sympathy for these people. I approached this case with a cold heart and clear mind relying only on the facts. And the fact is that he came to our land and the military equipment in order to destroy as many Ukrainians as possible. He is complicit. No one forces a person to carry out a criminal order.
MCLEAN: No decisions were made in this hearing. It's possible though that there could be a ruling later on this month. If she Shishimarin sentence is reduced, the next harshest penalty he could receive is 15 years behind bars. There is nothing between 15 years and life that's possible in the Ukrainian justice system.
[01:25:09]
The only other possibility for Shishimarin is a prisoner exchange, though, lawyers for both the prosecution and defense say that that's not a question for the court. Of course, that is a political decision.
Scott McLean, CNN, Kyiv.
KINKADE: Well, the White House says the war in Ukraine and the COVID- 19 pandemic are driving up inflation in the United States and around the world. According to new economic data, consumer prices have risen 9.1 percent in the last 12 months ending in June, that is a 40-year high.
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CECILIA ROUSE, WHITE HOUSE ECONOMIC ADVISER: The inflation we're seeing is due to the pandemic, and is due to the war. And we're not done with this pandemic. We're now seeing that they're -- you know, China is under threat of lockdown again. While we have made great progress on many aspects of the supply chain, we're not done with this pandemic.
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KINKADE: Joining me now is Ryan Patel, a Senior Fellow at Drucker School of Management at Claremont Graduate University. Good to have you with us.
RYAN PATEL, SENIOR FELLOW AT DRUCKER SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT: Thank you, Lynda.
KINKADE: So inflation now the highest level in more than 40 years, driven largely by the jump and fuel prices.
PATEL: Well, I mean, I think that is one of it. I think mainly, there's also you think about the supply chain issues. You talked about the war in Ukraine, but you also talk about, you know, goods starting to become more expensive and consumer prices rising, as you mentioned, for decades, it just means that inflation isn't under control, but it is not -- and it started last year, when you think about when the Fed said it was transitory -- it's not.
So it is building up, it didn't happen overnight, obviously, and it's not going to get fixed overnight, either. And even with gas prices potentially decreasing, it doesn't -- it's not necessarily going to save food prices are going to decrease at the same rate.
KINKADE: And, of course, it was interesting to note, Ryan, that the U.S. administration were quick to highlight that gas prices have come down in the last 30 days, that was suggesting that the data is out of date. What do you make of those comments, are they right?
PATEL: Yes. You know, Lynda, thank you for leading me to that aspect because it is a data point. Of course, I think gas prices people pay attention to. I think what we're also missing a part of this data point is that consumer goods, you think about rent, you think about auto healthcare, they've all increased if you see the latest numbers.
And if you take the, you know, the latest information from the core CPI, it rose 5.9 percent. So you take out food and energy compared to the estimate 5.7 percent, it is going up. And so, part of that, yes, it's great. But that doesn't mean that, you know, you go to the grocery store, you're going to see a big decrease, you won't.
Prices are -- being passed on to the consumer. Things are still expensive to buy. That's what the data is showing. So one thing maybe not as expensive, but we're still above beyond than what we're used to.
KINKADE: And, of course, Ryan, it's not just in the U.S., we are seeing inflation all over the world. And again, the U.S. President was saying that, despite the fact that the inflation here is unacceptable, he said the U.S. is faring much better than much of the world. Which countries are really struggling right now with soaring inflation, and what is the main factor globally?
PATEL: Yes, I mean, I think the biggest thing is we are interconnected. So it's really -- it's difficult to go ahead. This, you know, if you think about the European Union, and you think about all Europe, they're interconnected. So one place has a higher place in inflation than neighboring parts -- larger spreads when hourly wages are not worth as much, they're going to have to control their spending. And that will have a detrimental impact of what consumers can buy, not just in the city, but in the region as well.
KINKADE: And Ryan, negotiations to unblock them, millions of tons of grain, exports in Ukraine are constructive, that's according to Ukraine. If that issue is resolved, what impact would that have? What does it made for the health of the global economy?
PATEL: Well, it's only a plus and I'm really glad to see this information coming out that it seems like it's likely you're optimistic, because that was a huge impact of grain exports and even I think it was mentioned sunflower oil coming from the Ukraine, it will alleviate. I'm not saying all the pressure but toward those countries demand and really more importantly rely on those, it will help.
[01:29:39]
But when you think about the whole global economy, I mean I hate to use the word it's a "band-aid", but it gives you some breathing room, but it doesn't solve all the problems. So if we're looking for one specific variable to help solve the problem or a magic bullet, it's not.
This is not how it's going to happen. That's why I think the Fed is going to be really aggressive in the Fed meeting that's coming up, I'd be shocked to see if they do anything less than 0.75 basis points because they said they needed to be aggressive. They've been aggressive. And there hasn't been that much inflation data being put on to it because it's going to take time. They're going to have to probably follow what they have said.
KINKADE: Yes. I mean I suspect it will be at least 75 basis points but we'll see how that all --
PATEL: Well, it's funny. If we're at this rate and nor do I want to say this, it could be potentially one basis point. And they haven't ruled that out either. So if we're at this pace when the meeting comes, I guess that won't shock me either.
KINKADE: Me either. We'll see how that plays out. Ryan Patel in Los Angeles, thanks so much.
PATEL: Thank you.
KINKADE: Well, thousands are on the run from searing wildfires in western Europe. And now one mayor says his community has become a ghost town because of those fires. We'll have that story ahead.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK) KINKADE: You're watching CNN NEWSROOM. I'm Lynda Kinkade.
Well, there's no break in sight from a blistering heat wave scorching parts of western Europe. Temperatures reached 45 degrees Celsius in parts of Portugal and Spain on Wednesday.
For this weekend, the heat wave is expected to reach Britain and possibly bring the highest temperatures ever recorded there. And as the heat grips the continent, so do massive fires.
CNN's Jennifer Gray reports.
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JENNIFER GRAY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Plumes of smoke billowing into the sky. Flames scorching hundreds of hectares of land. Emergency crews battling to bring the blazes under control.
In Portugal, France and Spain, dozens of wildfires are sweeping the region amid a blistering heat wave threatening residents and tourists.
MYLENE DOREAU, MAYOR OF GUILLOS, FRANCE (through translator): There are no longer residents in my town. Maybe two or three people, but no one is left. When I saw the fires by the houses, and we had to evacuate people who didn't want to leave their homes, that's alarming.
Everyone has dogs, cats, chickens. They wanted to save everything. But they had to move quickly.
[01:34:52]
GRAY: In southwestern France, local officials say thousands have been evacuated. Many now in temporary shelters as they escape the raging wildfires.
PASCAN CORDONNIER, TOURIST EVACUATED FROM TROYES, FRANCE (through translator): We see it on TV and we tell ourselves, it'll never happen to us. And then, inevitably, when it does happen, it's upsetting, especially the people shouting.
The smell of smoke and all that, it's scary. I didn't think it would be so hard. And with the heat and fatigue, I'm just glad we're here now.
GRAY: Hundreds in western Spain and central Portugal have also been evacuated. As firefighters struggled to control a series of wildfires there.
JOAQUIM GOMES, RESIDENT OF OUREM, PORTUGAL (through translator): I've been here for 50 years and I can't remember something like this ever happening before because it's everywhere. It's burning in all directions. I just can't remember anything like this.
GRAY: Portuguese officials tell CNN, that the country is better prepared to combat the ongoing fires than in previous years after reforms implemented since devastating wildfires killed dozens in 2017. But the current wildfires do pose a grave challenge.
JOAO GOMES CRAVINHO, PORTUGUESE FOREIGN AFFAIRS MINISTER: The convergence of factors that we are having this week, in Portugal, in Spain, in the whole of the Mediterranean with after very little rainfall, very high temperatures, not just in the air but of n the ground. Very low humidity, wind from the southwest. This convergence of factors is extremely worrying.
GRAY: As fires tear through the region, millions across western Europe are sweltering in an extended record breaking heat wave with the highest level of heat alerts issued in several areas.
But those scorching temperatures and devastating fires that accompany them, may soon become the new norm. According to a February report from the United Nations, the number of extreme wildfires is expected to go up by as much as 30 percent within the next three decades as the climate crisis triggers searing heat and droughts.
Fires blazing across western Europe, it appears, the latest impact of human caused climate change and an increasingly warming world.
Jennifer Gray, CNN.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KINKADE: The heat wave has brought record high temperatures to dozens of cities in China. On Wednesday, Shanghai matched its highest recorded temperature of nearly 41 degrees Celsius. That's more than 105 degrees Fahrenheit.
CNN Beijing bureau chief Steven Jiang joins me now. Steven, these heat waves aren't unusual in parts of China, but certainly it has been very widespread right now.
STEVEN JIANG, CNN BEIJING BUREAU CHIEF: That's right, Lynda. That's the extraordinary report about this heat wave, not just seeing certain pockets of the country but an extended part of the country from Shanghai on the East Coast all the way to many provinces in the heartland.
On Wednesday, 84 cities across the country actually issued their highest level red level, meaning temperatures in their locations would be reaching at least 40 degrees Celsius in the coming 24 hours.
Shanghai actually just issued its latest red alert for Thursday. It's been almost a daily occurrence for them since Sunday. Remember, these temperatures don't even factor in humidity levels.
So in a humid place like Shanghai, the feel like temperatures sometimes could be something like ten degrees higher. So not surprisingly, people here are doing all they can to escape the heat, not only turning up their AC, but also headed to air rigged (ph) shelters in many places and of course, flocking to the beach when they can. Not to mention buying things like ice cream, cold drinks and watermelons. But the added challenge this year, of course, is this is happening at a time when we're seeing a resurgence of COVID cases in many places in this country, including in Shanghai. Especially with the detection of the highly transmissible omicron subvariant BA.5.
So it's for certain there will be more outbreaks throughout China and because of this country's strict zero COVID policy, that automatically translates into new lockdowns and mass testing. So we just imagine having to line up on the streets in the scorching sun for hours to get tested, already we have seen some social media images of COVID testers in full hazmat suit having to really lie down on huge blocks of ice to cool themselves down.
And then of course, there are huge economic implications here as well, because the struggling economies is obviously trying to recover from previous lockdowns. But now, with this kind of temperature, many authorities at local levels are already warning residents and factories to use less power in some cases, even started that power rationing.
And then of course these temperatures will definitely have adverse effects on crop production, and in turn, the prices of animal feeds and need worsening the problem of inflation.
So this heat wave really couldn't have arrived here in China at a worse time, Lynda.
KINKADE: Yes, exactly. As you said, lots of cold drinks, lots of ice cream might help somewhat. Steven Jiang, thanks so much.
[01:39:51]
KINKADE: All right. I want to bring in meteorologist Tom Sater for more on all of this. Tom, why are these heat waves so unusual? It's so spread right across that Asian region?
TOM SATER, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Well, you know, they are getting warmer every year. Slightly warmer. We're breaking way more high temperature records than we are low temperature records, even though we do that.
But you've got to look at the two previous seasons. This is all northern hemisphere. I mean from North America to Europe to Asia. If your winter and your spring are dry, that limited moisture in the soil really allows the atmosphere to heat up a little bit more.
So we have widespread heat and these heat waves are not just packing overnight bags. There's a large piece of luggage. They're staying for quite some time.
Look at Shanghai. 40.9 ties an all-time record, records in Shanghai go back to 1873. That's a lot of summer days. They've only topped 40 degrees 16 times. But 14 of those 16 have been since 2009.
So that fingerprint of climate change inching well into the 40s, they stay above that until about finally a chance of rain in about four or five days. But along this heat dome, on the periphery, is where you have thunderstorm growth. And these thunderstorms grow to tremendous highs, so they just drop tremendous amounts of rainfall.
On the periphery, just north of Tokyo. Take a look at these numbers, staggering. Almost 400 millimeters of rain. 218 fell in just four hours, that's a foot of rainfall in that area.
Now the fires. 73 large fires in Portugal alone. I think today will be the worst of the fire days, it gets marginally better as you get into Friday and Saturday, but the heat is going to continue to build and it is going to spread across areas of France.
We've got 16 of 18 mainland districts in Portugal alone that are under those excessive heat warnings.
Now take a look at Madrid. You're at 41, that's just ten degrees warmer than normal. We're going to get warmer than that. I mean the three-day forecast, this is going to extend for sometime.
I mean notice this, we are well into the mid 40s, little bit of a break, but it extends northward all the way up toward London in parts of Britain, you've got an amber alert for your heat. That's on Sunday. It was Sunday alone.
until they extended it Monday and Tuesday, and here's why. It's mainly just Britain, but when you look at the seven-day forecast for some of these areas, let me show you.
Here's the cloud cover. It slides a little bit to the east. A little bit of rainfall with this. But remember, that's where those stronger storms are. The heat will build in and that fire threat is going to spread from the Iberian Peninsula in towards central Europe.
London, 35 degrees. That's why they extended those amber alerts as you get into Monday Tuesday.
Paris, the news is worse. 38 degrees, Lynda, as we get in towards Tuesday. Some of these temperatures that are being on these computer models last week, we are giving us numbers scientists didn't think we would see for maybe another 20 years.
So let's hope we can hold it at this, but this is only the second heat wave across Europe so far this summer. We are at number four in the U.S.
KINKADE: Wow. Absolutely extraordinary. And good to see you, Tom, it's been a while since we --
SATER: You too. Got my time to see you.
KINKADE: Thanks, Tom.
Still to come on CNN NEWSROOM, Joe Biden will meet with the Palestinian Authority president this week and we'll see why expectations in the West Bank are so low.
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KINKADE: Well, as the world opens up to travel once again, tourist destinations are attracting visitors from across the globe. But what impact an increasing number of travelers have on natural environments.
Today on Call to Earth, a marine habitat destroyed by overtourism has been restored to its former glory, providing a potential model for sustainable travel.
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UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: In the (INAUDIBLE) waters of this tropical island, a place of breathtaking beauty. It has inspired a generation of travelers. This is Maya Bay, made famous by the year 2000 movie "The Beach" starring Leonardo DiCaprio. But over the following two decades, this island paradise became an environmental nightmare. Attracting up to 5,000 tourists per day.
THON THAMRONGNAWASAWAT, DEPUTY DEAN, FACULTY OF FISHERIES: : Before we have 100 boats in the bay, you couldn't walk on the beach. You couldn't see any sea. There's a lot of people here. They don't have the place to see themselves, because it's very crowded.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Boats and beachgoers destroyed the coral in the bay's shallow waters, reducing it by over 60 percent in the past 30 years.
The line in the sand came in 2018, when the Thai government made the controversial decision to close the moneymaking tourist destination and begin to restore the ecosystem.
The man overseeing that restoration is a Thai marine scientist known as Dr. Thon. Since the bay closed, he and a team of volunteers have planted over 30,000 pieces of coral to kickstart the regeneration of the ecosystem.
THON: Now coral starts to grow and spread by themselves. So we created our transplant project, and let the mother earth doing her job.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: They are using a fast growing coral cultivated nearby. Dr. Thon says without this transplant work, it could take 30 to 50 years for the reef to regenerate naturally in the bay. By giving nature a helping hand, the hope is to maintain the delicate balance of tourism, environment and economy.
Maya Bay reopened to the public in January 2022, and tourists are returning. For now numbers are limited to just 300 visitors at a time, leaving plenty of room for selfies. Rules protecting the recovering coral are strictly enforced.
A new jetty at the back of the island enables boats to dock without entering the bay, allowing other life to return. These blacktip sharks are thriving in the shallow waters.
THON: When we closed the bay, only three months, the blacktip sharks come back. They keep on mating. Some of them give birth. So there are a lot of things happening in Maya Bay that is not only the coral reef.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Dr. Thon hopes Maya Bay can act as a model for other tourist destinations at risk, and help change perspectives at home and abroad.
DR. THON: If we change the image of Thai tourism, share the image that we are not just a country that is crazy about money, we would like to save our seas.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The legacy of a lifetime. His work will help protect this incredible environment for generations to come.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KINKADE: A beautiful part of the world. Let us know what you are doing to answer the call with the #Call to Earth.
We are going to take a short break, we will be back in a moment.
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KINKADE: Welcome back to CNN NEWSROOM.
I'm going back to our top story now, the deepening crisis in Sri Lanka. The country's acting president is now looking to restore law and order amid protests over the economic and political turmoil gripping the nation.
So far the situation appears calm on the streets of Colombo -- this is a live shot Thursday morning. Wednesday, at least 75 people were injured during protests. Police in Colombo used tear gas to disperse the crowds.
The crisis in Sri Lanka signals the fall of one of the country's most powerful political families.
CNN's Vedika Sud looks at the rise and fall of the Rajapaksa dynasty.
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VEDIKA SUD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: This was the moment that sank (ph) Sri Lanka's Rajapaksa dynasty. On Saturday, protesters stormed the abandoned presidential residence of Gotabaya Rajapaksa demanding he resign.
Days later, the president fled the country just before he was due to formally resign, bringing an end to his three-year presidency. Also an and to more than a decade of his family's dominance of Sri Lankan politics.
Gotabaya Rajapaksa's father was a member of parliament from 1947 to 1965. But it was his older brother Mahinda Rajapaksa who brought the family to national prominence, working his way up the political ranks for decades until becoming prime minister in 2004 and president in 2005.
Mahinda Rajapaksa appointed to his brother Gotabaya as defense secretary, and they led a brutal war against the Tamil Tigers separatist group, ending a 25-year insurgency in 2009.
Mahinda Rajapaksa lost the 2015 presidential election, but the brothers came back to power in 2019, this time, Gotabaya as president.
Five family members were appointed to key government positions. Mahinda Rajapaksa became prime minister. But in the years since, the family was accused of mismanaging the economy, borrowing too much. Spending on vanity projects, and cutting taxes too steeply.
Then, they were hit by the coronavirus pandemic, devastating tourism and drying up revenue. This year, skyrocketing fuel costs have pushed the public to the brink.
After weeks of protests, Gotabaya Rajapaksa urged several family members to resign from the cabinet. Mahinda resigned as prime minister in May.
And now with Gotabaya out, the Rajapaksa dominance appears to have ended.
Vedika Sud, CNN.
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KINKADE: Well it's day two of Joe Biden's first visit to Israel since he became U.S. president. He is scheduled to meet with Prime Minister Yair Lapid and President Isaac Herzog. On Wednesday, Mr. Biden laid a wreath at the World Holocaust Remember Center in Jerusalem.
The U.S. President wiped away a tear as he spoke with two women who survived World War II genocide.
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KINKADE: Mr. Biden travels to Saudi Arabia Friday where U.S. officials say he will likely bring up the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. Before that he'll meet with the Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas in Bethlehem.
More now from CNN's Hadas Gold.
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HADAS GOLD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Five years ago on his last visit to the White House, the Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas made a rare venture into English.
MAHMOUD ABBAS, PRESIDENT, PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY: Now Mr. President, with you we have hope.
GOLD: Several months later that hope proved to have been terribly misplaced. DONALD TRUMP, FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: It is time to
officially recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.
GOLD: Under Donald Trump, U.S. policy tilted heavily towards Israel, the Palestinian political office in Washington was closed, the American consulate in Jerusalem which symbolized U.S.-Palestinian relations also closed and almost all economic aid to the Palestinians was switched off.
So when Joe Biden won the election, there was great relief among many in the Palestinian community. But that relief has little to show in terms of action.
The Biden administration highlights renewed financing. About half a billion dollars, mostly on schools, hospitals, and other humanitarian aid projects. A further $100 million is said to be announced on this trip, including some money for Palestinian hospitals in east Jerusalem.
But politically, the White House seems unwilling to pressure Israel over continued expansion of West Bank settlement and (INAUDIBLE) in the face of Israel's resistance over plans to reopen the consulate in Jerusalem.
Hussein Sheikh (ph) is one of Abbas' closest aides.
HUSSEIN SHEIKH, SECRETARY GENERAL, PLO EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE (through translator): The U.S. administration has been talking with us about these issues for more than a year. But nothing has been achieved. Even so, we continue to hope this visit will produce serious outcomes that it provides hope, and a political horizon.
GOLD: Biden's visit to the West Bank will take him not to Ramallah, the headquarters of the Palestinian authority but to Bethlehem, just a few miles south of Jerusalem. But the president will find it hard to avoid stark reminders of the conflict.
One issue that will likely be staring president Biden right in the face, the killing of Shireen Abu Akleh. This giant mural of the al Jazeera journalist is right on the road you take as you enter Bethlehem.
For many here, the U.S. response to the death of the Palestinian- American reporter, shot dead while covering an Israeli military operation has been inadequate and indicative, they believe, of the U.S.' unwillingness to force Israel to get serious about peace and bringing an end to the occupation.
LINA ABU AKLEH, SISTER OF SHIREEN ABU AKLEY: Putting an end to this injustice, putting an end to this impunity is important because it sheds light, it continues to shed light on this picture of what Palestinians continue to endure on a daily basis.
GOLD: From the Palestinian perspective, the overwhelming feeling around the president's visit is one of pessimism.
Hadas Gold, CNN -- Bethlehem.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KINKADE: Well thanks so much for joining us for this edition of CNN NEWSROOM. I'm Lynda Kinkade.
The news continues with my colleague Rosemary Church right after this.
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