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Legal And Political Firestorm After FBI Search; Efforts To Revive The Iran Nuclear Deal; One Dead After Explosions Near Russian Air Base In Crimea; 3 Palestinians Killed in Israeli Raid; Rescued Miners in Good Condition in Dominican Republic; 10 Miners Trapped in Mexico Coal Mine Still in Dire Condition; Cuba Brings Massive Oil Depot Fire Under Control; Return of wildlife to Bolivia's famed "Death Road"; Primary Night in Several Major Races in Key States. Aired 2-3a ET
Aired August 10, 2022 - 02:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
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[02:00:27]
ALISON KOSIK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Welcome to our viewers joining us from around the world. I'm Alison Kosik. Ahead on CNN NEWSROOM. The war must end with Crimea, Ukraine's President calling for liberation of the occupied territory. On the same day, a series of explosions rocked a Russian airbase in the region.
The unprecedented FBI search of Donald Trump's Florida home opens up a ton of legal and political questions as many prominent Republicans rally around the former president.
Plus, the high stakes efforts to revive the Iran Nuclear Deal. An agreement is within reach, but will detail the critical obstacles that remain.
We begin with Russia's war on Ukraine and a series of explosions that rocked a Russian airbase in western Crimea.
Local officials say at least one person was killed and several others were wounded. Ukraine is not claiming responsibility for the blasts. And Russia says they were caused by detonated ammunition not an attack. Moscow annexed Crimea in 2014 helping spark a conflict that simmered for years until Russia launched its full scale invasion in February. In his nightly address, Ukraine's president vowed to retake Crimea, but stopped short of addressing the explosions.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY, UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT (through translator): This Russian war against Ukraine and against all of free Europe began with Crimea and must end with Crimea. It's liberation. Today it is impossible to say when this will happen. But we are constantly adding the necessary components to the formula for the liberation of Crimea.
(END VIDEO CLIP) KOSIK: The U.N.'s nuclear watchdog says there's no immediate danger from the most recent shelling around Zaporizhia Nuclear Power Plant. That's Europe's biggest. Strikes over the weekend raised fears of a disaster at the plant which is currently under Russian control. But on Tuesday, the International Atomic Energy Agency said radiation levels remain normal. Russia and Ukraine have blamed each other for the attacks which damaged the plant's external power supply and wounded one employee.
Russia's military claims it destroyed an ammunition depot in central Ukraine. Moscow says the site house ammunition for advanced rocket launchers sent by the U.S. Ukraine has hailed the weapons as game changers on the battlefield allowing them to hit targets well behind Russian lines.
Some of the most brutal fighting is in Eastern Ukraine where Russian forces have unleashed a relentless barrage of artillery for months. Part of Moscow is pushed to capture the entire Donbas region. But despite the constant fighting, the frontlines have barely moved in weeks. And for residents living nearby, the threat of death is never far away.
CNN's Nic Robertson has more.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
NIC ROBERTSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMATIC EDITOR (voice over): In Siversk, civilians are buried where they fall. No time no safety for a cemetery send off. No bomb too big, no building and this eastern Ukrainian town seemingly off Russia's target list in their slow but relentless push westwards.
ROBERTSON (on camera): This town is on the fringes of what the Ukrainian government controls. They're surrounded on two sides by Russian forces to the east and to the north. About five miles eight or 10 kilometers away.
ROBERTSON (voice over): Shelling here an ever present danger. Among the ruins, people are surviving. 2000 of a prewar, 11,000 clinging on. Valeria (ph) barely seems to notice another shell exploding.
ROBERTSON (on camera): How hard is it to live here now?
I don't realize it. But she's about to teach me how hard. She is not kidding. She comes back with a saw and a floorboard scavenge from a blown building.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Every day.
ROBERTSON (on camera): Every day. So --
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Every day.
ROBERTSON: So -- every day (INAUDIBLE) OK. So this is hard. Why do you -- yes, good muscles. Why do you stay here? If it's so hard why do you stay? [02:05:05]
ROBERTSON: Valeria's lesson for me, yes, life here is very hard. But this is home and leaving would be harder.
ROBERTSON (on camera): It's home.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: My house.
ROBERTSON: Yes.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: My house.
ROBERTSON: But it's so dangerous there. There's bombs and explosions and --
Someone has to stay, she says. We go in the basement when they're shelling.
Go? OK. I'm coming.
ROBERTSON (voice over): She leads us to the basement.
ROBERTSON (on camera): So you're sleeping in here. You're living down here.
We've been sleeping down here for more than three months, she says. Down here her cheerful Sparkle is gone.
We have no gas, electricity, water or communication, she says. I have nowhere to go.
ROBERTSON (voice over): There's more she wants to show us.
ROBERTSON (on camera): Yes, look at this. Smashed.
ROBERTSON (voice over): Valeria's neighbors like her cooking outside.
ROBERTSON (on camera): Hello.
ROBERTSON (voice over): She's brought me to what's left of her friend's house.
ROBERTSON (on camera): It's all destroyed. The people who were here, did they survive?
ROBERTSON (voice over): God save them she says but now they've left. By local standards, the shelling this day less than usual.
This elderly lady venturing out for food. She tells us the food handout she needs hasn't arrived. The shelling getting closer. We go. Not so lucky those we leave behind.
Nic Robertson, CNN, Siversk, Ukraine.
(END VIDEOTAPE) KOSIK: Ukraine is stepping up grain shipments from its Black Sea
ports. The largest cargo yet since an agreement with Russia left on Tuesday headed for South Korea. Two additional ships have been authorized to depart for Ukraine for loading under the Black Sea Green Initiative. Ukraine's infrastructure ministry says its goal is to increase shipments to three to five vessels a day within the next two weeks.
The European Union's ban on Russian coal imports is now taking effect. The ban is part of an E.U. sanctions package approved in April to punish Russia for its invasion of Ukraine. And it marks the first time Europe has gone after Russia's vast energy sector. More than half of the E.U.'s solid fuel imports mostly coal are from Russia which has also been the E.U.'s main supplier of crude oil and natural gas.
The European Commission estimates the coal ban will affect nearly $9 billion worth of Russian exports per year. But when it comes to fuel bans, coal was always the easy target. Ditching Russian natural gas and oil is much trickier for Europe.
Finland and Sweden are another step closer to becoming part of NATO. The American president signed the U.S. endorsement of their application on Tuesday, Joe Biden praised the two traditionally neutral countries for the strength of their democracies, militaries and economies and said they will improve the alliance.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOE BIDEN, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: It's more united than ever. And when Finland and Sweden bring the number of allies to 32, we'll be stronger than ever. Stronger than ever.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KOSIK: Here in red, you see all the NATO members that have given Sweden and Finland the green light. Those in yellow, which include Turkey have yet to give their approval. The accession of the Nordic countries would mark the most consequential expansion of the alliance since the 1990s.
Now to the FBI search of Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate. A source tell CNN investigators carried out the search because they suspected the former president and his team were withholding documents that had national security implications. They had also believed the Trump team was not being completely truthful with investigators. CNN's Jessica Schneider has more.
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JESSICA SCHNEIDER, CNN JUSTICE CORRESPONDENT (voice over): New details about the FBI search of Mar-a-Lago are emerging as Republican congressional leaders cry foul about the target and the timing.
REP. KEVIN MCCARTHY (R-CA): I know doing this 90 days before an election reeks of politics. SCHNEIDER: House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy tweeting, the
Department of Justice has reached an intolerable state of weaponized politicization warning about investigations if Republicans take the house in November writing, Attorney General Garland preserve your documents and clear your calendar.
REP. JIM JORDAN (R-OH): Merrick Garland, Chris Wray, come to the House Judiciary Committee this Friday and answer our questions about this action today, which has never happened in American history. What was on the war? What were you really doing? What were you looking for? Why not talk to President Trump and have him give the information you're after.
SCHNEIDER: Trump was in New York in Trump Tower when the search began Monday morning. His son Eric said he alerted Trump about what was unfolding in Florida.
[02:10:08]
ERIC TRUMP, DONALD TRUMP'S SON: The purpose of the raid from what they said was because the National Archives wanted to, you know, cooperate, whether or not Donald Trump had any documents in his possession and my father has worked so collaboratively with them for months. In fact, the lawyer that's been working on this was totally shocked because I have such an amazing relationship with these people. And all of a sudden, I know -- notice they sent, you know, 20 cars and 30 agents.
SCHNEIDER: The National Archives asked the Justice Department earlier this year to investigate Trump's handling of White House records after the archives recovered 15 boxes of documents from Mar-a-Lago and discovered some of the Presidential records had been torn up or contained classified information. Sources tell CNN, Monday's search was focused on Trump's office and personal quarters at Mar-a-Lago and it included examining where records had been kept to make sure everything had previously been handed over to the archives.
CNN has learned four federal investigators visited Mar-a-Lago in early June. Sources say Trump's attorneys met with the investigators and took them to the basement room where boxes of material were stored with the investigators later leaving. However, a source says some of the documents had top secret markings. And Trump's attorneys later received a letter asking them to further secure the room where the documents were stored.
ANDREW MCCABE, FORMER FBI DEPUTY DIRECTOR: I really don't believe that the department would have taken such a significant step as getting -- pursuing a search warrant for the president's residence about information that they already had back. There had to be a suspicion, a concern and indeed specific information that led them to believe that there were additional materials that were not turned over.
SCHNEIDER: Trump releasing a lengthy statement. These are dark times for our nation as my beautiful home Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida is currently under siege, raided and occupied by a large group of FBI agents. Nothing like this has ever happened to a president of the United States before. Also noting, they even broke into my safe. Trump later called into a virtual rally for Sarah Palin, where he referenced the raid again.
DONALD TRUMP, FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: That's right. Another day in paradise. This was a strange day.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SCHNEIDER: And our team has learned Trump was aware of federal investigators probing the potentially classified documents that he took to Mar-a-Lago. In fact, Trump interacted with investigators when they visited his Florida home earlier this year. And in April and May, aids to Trump at Mar-a-Lago were actually interviewed by the FBI as part of this probe into the handling of presidential records.
Meanwhile, so far there has been no comment from Attorney General Merrick Garland, or FBI director Chris Wray. Jessica Schneider, CNN, Washington.
KOSIK: Areva Martin is a CNN legal analyst and civil rights attorney. She joins me now from Edgartown, Massachusetts. Thanks for being here.
AREVA MARTIN, CNN LEGAL ANALYST: Thanks, Alison.
KOSIK: So this search appears to be focused on material that Trump brought with him to Mar-a-Lago when he left the White House. He delayed returning the boxes for months. Finally, the National Archives got them in January which then referred the case the DOJ. So, question for you. Why the search now? The timing of it all and is there one smoking gun that they're looking for?
MARTIN: You know, Alison, it's not clear as to whether there is a smoking gun. But what we do know is that the National Archives apparently didn't believe that all of the material that was taken from the White House, classified material, material that belonged to the U.S. government that was taken by Trump, they don't believe that all of that material was returned. And we know in order for the FBI to get the kind of search warrant that was gotten, that allowed them to go into Trump's private residence, to search his residence, to take boxes and boxes of materials away from his residence, they had to convince a judge that not only was there materials that belonged to the U.S. government in Trump's private residence, but that there was some evidence of a crime.
Some criminality that had taken place in that residence that would allow that FBI, the agents that presented affidavits to that judge to obtain the search warrants. So this is unprecedented for a former U.S. president to have his home raided by the FBI and for a president to remove confidential, sensitive documents that belong to the U.S. -- to take those to his home. And what we've heard, Alison, is that Trump routinely threw documents away, flush documents down the toilet. A crumbled up sensitive documents. So this is quite stunning of the rate that we saw executed on his home just a day ago.
KOSIK: What possible federal crimes could be at play here and are there any charges that could keep Trump if he's convicted of possible charges from running for office again? MARTIN: It's not clear what the FBI, you know, may -- what the DOJ I should say may charge Trump with, we know there's a possibility that he has violated the Espionage Act.
[02:15:08]
We know that it's possible but that he's violated an act that prevents the president of the United States from intentionally removing classified documents from the White House. And there is a federal statute that says if a president or in this case, Donald Trump intentionally removed sensitive classified documents from the White House that he might be barred from running again from public office.
But there's some controversy about whether he in fact, could be barred, the constitution lays out the parameters that allows an individual to run for office including to run for president. So, that would be a huge legal battle that will take place on a state by state basis because those state electors would have to be the ones making the determination to bar Trump from being placed on a ballot in their particular states.
Not clear how that's going to play out. We know Trump is planning, at least he's been talking about planning to announce that he's going to run again for president of the United States for 2024. No announcement as of yet, but clearly, that's the possibility of federal charges has to be playing heavily on his mind, on the minds of his team that is contemplating making this announcement.
KOSIK: Areva, what are -- what are the next steps of this investigation?
MARTIN: What we know is that this investigation is ongoing. I don't expect to see charges filed right away. We know that there's some subpoenas that have also been issued. And one thing we should note too, is although this raid of Trump's house seems to be focused on documents that were removed from the White House when he left office, this kind of raid allowed the FBI that if they saw other evidence of crimes, while they were doing their raid of Trump's private residence, they were allowed to take that evidence as well.
So, even though this wasn't directly related to the January 6 insurrection, it wasn't directly related to the false electors that we know Trump was behind. It's quite possible that there was evidence found during the search that may lead to further investigation or other potential criminal charges. So, I think this is just the beginning of what we should expect from this department of justice.
We know they've been highly criticized for not taking aggressive action with respect to Trump, but I think this is the beginning of an investigation that is far reaching and may possibly result in some kind of charges being filed against the former president.
KOSIK: OK. Areva Martin, CNN legal analyst and civil rights attorney. Thanks so much for your time.
MARTIN: Thank you, Alison. KOSIK: Police in Albuquerque, New Mexico have arrested a man they say is the primary suspect of the killings of four Muslim men. 51-year-old Muhammed Syed faces two homicide charges and more could follow. He was caught almost 200 kilometers from Albuquerque. Police say there's evidence Syed knew the victims. They believe some sort of conflict may have led to the shootings. But the motive is still unclear. They say tips from the community were crucial in tracking down Syed and his vehicle.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CHIEF HAROLD MEDINA, ALBUQUERQUE POLICE: We knew Albuquerque would step up and somebody would find and identify that vehicle for us which is exactly what happened. And it is that the city of Albuquerque, its residents, and in particular the members of the Muslim community who stepped forward, had faith in the department, trusted us and gave us the information needed.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KOSIK: Police also searched Syed's home, saying they found more evidence tying him to the murders.
Still to come. Deadly torrential rainfall is hammering the South Korean capital and the threat of more flash flooding is not over yet.
Plus, tourists are finally allowed to leave a Chinese resort city after a surprise lockdown, but it comes with conditions. A live report when we return.
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[02:21:15]
KOSIK: Nearly 3000 people have been evacuated in France as wildfires raged across the south and west of the country. More than 1300 firefighters have been called in to assist. To make matters worse, many areas are struggling with drought and a lack of drinking water. France is also bracing for a new heatwave to hit this week.
At least nine people are dead and seven missing following record rainfall in Seoul, South Korea. The (INAUDIBLE) flooded homes, roads and subway stations, cutting power and forcing hundreds to evacuate. Cars and buses were left strewn across roads and sidewalks blocking traffic early Tuesday. More heavy rain is expected through Thursday.
Let's go to meteorologist Pedram Javaheri. Pedram, you know, these pictures coming out of Seoul are just incredible.
PEDRAM JAVAHERI, CNN WEATHER ANCHOR: It's devastating. You know, the amount of rainfall that we saw here in a span of just a few hours in some cases leads to floods like this. And this is an impressive flood event for anyone standards regardless of this being the wet season. And you kind of look how the current pattern is shaping up and we do expect additional rounds of strong thunderstorms potentially getting in very similar areas. And this is peak season. Usually July into August you have the seasonal rains, the plum rains as they're known here where we do have significant rainfall scattered about eastern areas of Asia into portions of the Korean Peninsula. And in fact, August is the single wettest month of the year. So that aspect of it is not unusual. But the typically the wettest month is usually brings you about 350 millimeters.
But some of these observations in a span of just 48 hours, so north of 500 millimeters. We're talking half a meter in Seoul which is roughly equivalent, almost about 10 months worth of rainfall in London they saw in a matter of just two days. And in fact, record amount 141 millimeters fell in Seoul in just one hour. Never have we seen amounts to that significance there in just the one hour time.
And you'll notice it wasn't just across portions of South Korea, work your way towards the east into areas of Japan as well significant rainfall was observed and that same pattern that stationary front that sets up here with southerly winds colliding with northerly winds set the stage here for additional flooding potential to be in place. And notice the models do bring in pretty significant amount of rainfall possibilities there.
One hundred to maybe 250 millimeters over the next couple of days. Certainly a story worth noting in that region and also worth noting what's happening across southwestern areas of Europe here as big time heat begins to build. Look at Paris up to 33 degrees, London touches 30 yet again, Dublin, high temperature around 24 degrees. And what separates this particular heatwave from the one we had last week is that this one has some longevity associated with it.
So we do expect the warmth to stay put there for at least the next five, maybe six days. Paris climbing up to about 33 to 34 degrees before finally early next week. Some relief is expected. And in London, look at this heat wave here. Temp staying into the middle 30s possibly for a better part of three maybe four days before it begins cooling off really next week, Alison.
KOSIK: All right. Pedram Javaheri in Atlanta, thank you.
JAVAHERI: Thank you.
KOSIK: Tourists are being allowed to leave the Chinese resort city of Sanya after a sudden lockdown due to a COVID outbreak last week. A small group that met COVID precautions was able to board flights out of the city on Tuesday. Chinese officials say 80,000 tourists were stranded because of the lockdown. CNN's Kristie Lu Stout joins us now from Hong Kong with more. Kristie, a number of Chinese tourist destinations have been struck by zero-COVID measures. First what's the latest in Hainan where 80,000 tourists have been stranded?
KRISTIE LU STOUT, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It was a little bit of good news. Chartered flights now getting the stranded tourists out of Hainan. This is according to state-run media.
[02:25:03] They're saying that the first batch of tourists who have been stranded there ever since lockdown measures were imposed in this tropical island the south of China. The first batch was able to return home to Xian on Tuesday but for some 80,000 tourists, they have had to deal with looking at what was supposed to be an ideal tropical island getaway turned into a vacation nightmare when last weekend officials in the resort city on Hainan called Sanya suddenly and hastily imposes lockdown in order to curb rising cases of COVID-19.
The number of cases still pale in comparison to many places in the west but still enough to trigger those harsh zero-COVID measures in China. So since Saturday in Sanya, you had restrictions of people's movements in place, you had a suspension of public transport. In addition to that, people were told to stay put stay in their hotel rooms for seven days, unless they had to go out to do COVID tests and they had to clear five COVID tests in order to do so.
Officials, they have been contrived. They said that they realize and acknowledge, you know, the impact this is having on people's lives. And they pledged to help and yet there has been a lot of frustration about the situation there. I want to share one comment from one tourist who spoke to us. He is a foreign resident of Shanghai and he share these thoughts with us. In pretty strong words he said, the situation going forward is unsustainable.
He adds, it's a little bit like Russian roulette on where you go and whether or not that area is going to get locked down. And he requested to remain anonymous out of fears of nationalistic blowback on social media in China. It's not just happening here in the south, in Sanya across a number of cities and areas across China, these popular domestic tourist destinations, you got the number of tourists coming in, COVID cases are rising.
Just last month in one popular destination, the south Beihai, 2000 tourists were stranded because of lockdown measures and rising cases. And at this moment, we're seeing rising COVID cases and popular tourist destinations in China, including Xiamen, Xinjiang and Tibet. Back to you, Alison.
KOSIK: All right. Kristie Lu Stout. Thanks so much. Still to come. Talks to restore the Iran Nuclear Deal lead to a final text. But will the U.S. and Iran sign off on it? We'll have the latest ahead.
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KOSIK: More than a year after negotiations to revive the Iran Nuclear Deal first began. The European Union's foreign policy chief says a final text is now ready to be signed. In a tweet, Josep Burrell said all that can be negotiated has now been negotiated. And it's up to the U.S. and Iran if they will approve it.
A state department spokesperson says the U.S. stands ready to quickly conclude a deal on the basis of the E.U.'s proposals. Iran has expanded its nuclear program since the U.S. withdrew from the nuclear deal in 2018, under then-President Donald Trump.
[02:30:00]
A return to that agreement would mean that Iran will have to roll back its nuclear program in return for the lifting of sanctions.
Aaron David Miller is a CNN global affairs analyst and has an op-ed on the Iran nuclear talks. It's up now on cnn.com. He joins me now from Maine. Thanks for being with us.
AARON DAVID MILLER, CNN GLOBAL AFFAIRS ANALYST, FORMER U.S. STATED DEPARTMENT MIDDLE EAST NEGOTIATOR, AND SENIOR FELLOW, CARNEGIE ENDOWMENT: Pleasure Alison.
KOSIK: So, what are the hurdles to getting this nuclear deal done?
MILLER: I mean, we're talking 16 months now of negotiations. I don't know. Negotiations are not direct. They've been indirect. Having been around in (INAUDIBLE) on the Arabs is the only really issue I can -- the Americans and Iranians were talking directly. It may well be that they would've created a sense of confidence and trust that doesn't now exist. And maybe they would've been able to sort this out.
But after Mr. Biden's predecessor pulled out, unilaterally pulled out of the deal, the Iranians essentially said we're not going to negotiate directly with the Americans. We don't trust them. So, the Europeans have taken the lead role, along, of course, with the Chinese and the Russians. An indirect negotiations are fine, if in fact there's a sense of confidence and trust. Not only that, you've got a variety of issues in these talks which are generally difficult to manage.
The agreement that they're trying to negotiate is -- would provide a pathway back to the 2015 Iran nuclear agreement. It would create incentives for Iran by removing sanctions for the Americans and the Europeans. It would impose restrictions on Iran's nuclear program. And there would be a sequence in which both of these things would be orchestrated.
And there's one outstanding issue, which is outside of the agreement, and that is probed by the international atomic agency, IAEA. Has a multi-year investigation going based on evidence that the Israelis provide from a cache of Iranian documents, from say, managed to get out of Tehran. And apparently, there are traces of Iranian rich material which the Iranians have not disclosed.
So, the IAEA wants full disclosure and wants answers to these questions. The Iranians want the probe closed off. So, that's going to remain a hurdle. And essentially, I think, that's where we stand.
KOSIK: Why is it so important for this deal to go through? Can the Iranians be trusted? You know, you think about what happened when JCPOA, the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action was rolled back in 2015 because of the Trump administration. You know, it gave Iran, you know, kind of free reign to getting pretty close to having a nuclear weapon. So, what's the likelihood that even with the new deal that Iran will just, you know, roll that back after all that work that's put in? MILLER: Right. They came pretty close, Alison, to producing enough physical material enriched Iranian to make a nuclear weapon. We probably estimate requires another two years to actually do a physics package and miniaturize the warhead and create a delivery system and they want to do it via a ballistic missile. But that's a key point.
But remember, unilateral withdrawal from the agreement is on the Trump administration. And it's a consequence from their -- from the previous administration's campaign and maximum pressure, the Iranian economy suffered to be sure. But Iran has made extraordinary advances in terms of how much uranium that they now actually have. And how quickly they could now move to produce enough physical material for one or maybe three or four nuclear weapons.
I think the deal is still important because it's, frankly, the only restraint or constraint on a weapons program. That if in fact the Iranians decide to weaponize, you're going to -- we're headed, clearly, for a preemptive Israeli strike or perhaps even a more comprehensive American one.
So, reentering the JCPOA, it's a flawed but functional agreement. It would essentially constrain Iran's nuclear program and prevent them from becoming a nuclear threshold state, probably for about eight years.
[02:35:00]
The downside of the agreement, of course, assuming it can be monitored and there's transparency, is that with sanctions relief and with oil rejoining the market. The Iranians are going to have an enormous amount of resources. And now access to their frozen reserves in order to spend down their regional activities which is one of the great weaknesses, I think, of the process. The agreement was never resigned to restrain Iran's regional activities, or frankly, its ballistic programs.
I think as flawed as the agreement may be, it really does create a break and a deterrent on what could easily be, not only Iran's determination to continue to enrich and spin advanced centrifuges, and perhaps even weaponize. It's going to spur a regional arms race. Among other care of states, the Saudis and the Emiratis in particular, who are going to argue, if Iran is on the path towards creating a weapon. We need one too.
KOSIK: Right. All right. Aaron David Miller, CNN Global Affairs Analyst. Thanks for all of your great analysis.
MILLER: Thank you, Alison.
KOSIK: Clashes and unrest rattling parts of the West Bank after an Israeli military operation against suspected Palestinian militants.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
(END VIDEO CLIP) KOSIK: Gunfire erupted in the old city of Nablus, Tuesday after Israeli forces surrounded a building and targeted it with a shoulder- fired missile. Israeli police released this helmet cam footage showing the operation. Three Palestinians were killed, including a regional commander from militant group the al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigade, who is accused of being involved in shooting attacks on Israelis in the West Bank.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KOSIK: The raid in Nablus triggered clashes across the West Bank. In Hebron, the Israeli army said it responded with live fire after Palestinians threw rocks and burned explosives. The Palestinian Health Ministry says a 17-year-old was shot and killed by Israeli soldiers.
Still to come, South America's, Highway of Death. Why life is returning to an infamous route, through the mountains of Bolivia. That's after the break.
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KOSIK: Two minors in the Dominican Republic are set to be in good condition after being trapped in a collapsed mine for 10 days. Experts from several countries were called in to help with the rescue. After a landslide trapped them in on July 31st. They received extensive physical exams after they were freed on Tuesday.
[02:40:00]
The mining company's president says he's confident this operation will be a model for underground rescues going forward.
Meantime, in Mexico, the situation is still dire for 10 miners trapped in a flooded coal mine. Using a drone to assess the conditions inside, officials say that they saw blocked tunnels other and unsuitable conditions, making it impossible for rescue teams to enter. They plan to keep pumping water out until obstacles can be removed and divers can go in safely. The miners have been trapped for a week now and it could take a few more days to drain enough water to make conditions safe.
Cuban officials say that the worst fire in the island's history is under control. It started Friday when lightning struck Cuba's main fuel storage facility and the flames quickly spread. At least one firefighter died and 14 people are missing. The damage is raising concerns about the nation's power supply with Cuba facing frequent blackouts and gas shortages.
After causing the deaths of hundreds of Bolivians, the country's infamous death road has now become a source of new life. A study from the Wildlife Conservation Society says animals of all types are flocking to the area since the road is no longer in use. Journalist Stefano Pozzebon reports.
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STEFANO POZZEBON, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voiceover): Sharp turns, dust, and fog. Waterfalls and sharp drops of 2,000 feet. A deadly combination for drivers on the North Yungas Road in Bolivia. But the historic dirt path is better known as Death Road, appropriately nicknamed since hundreds of drivers have died trying to navigate the serpentine route since it opened in 1930.
The road connects the capital city of La Paz to the Amazon rainforest in the northern part of the country. It was open to anyone who dare to drive it. Often merchants who pack into trucks and buses to sell their goods in town. The road was not only dangerous for drivers and passengers, but it disrupted local wildlife too.
MARIA VISCARRA, BIOLOGIST, WILDLIFE CONSERVATION SOCIETY (through translator): When the death road was opened, the fauna was heavily affected by pollution from cars, noise, and dust as the road was used 24 hours a day with heavy vehicle circulated on it.
POZZEBON (voiceover): In 2007, Bolivia's government opened a new, much safer road nearby. And it not only saved human lives but lead to a surge in wildlife activity in the area. The Wildlife Conservation Society, or WCS, set up 35 cameras along the old road and found over a dozen species of mammals and nearly -- estimated to be even higher, based on visitor sightings. Some examples include these white-nosed coatis, this black-and-chestnut eagles, and this oncilla tiger.
GUIDO AYALA, BIOLOGIST, WILDLIFE CONSERVATION SOCIETY (through translator): Today, thanks to work on the new road. Heavy vehicles don't use this road. Biodiversity has come back to this zone. You can see birds, such as hummingbirds, toucans, parrots, blue-throated macaws, and many more. You can notice biodiversity returned and it's very nice to see a place, so near La Paz around 50 minutes away. And you can come here and enjoy this beautiful nature.
POZZEBON (voiceover): It's an increasingly great example of good news for the environment. As the demise of Death Road brings a rebirth of biodiversity. Stefano Pozzebon, CNN, Bogota.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KOSIK: Thanks for joining us. I'm Alison Kosik. Follow me on Instagram and Twitter at alisonkosik. "World Sport" is up next then I'll be back with more news from around the world in about 15 minutes. You're watching CNN.
[02:45:00]
COATES: All right. It's primary night in America. And CNN is following several major races in key States. The votes are coming in, so let's get right to it. Here with me now is CNN Political Analyst and New York Times Political Correspondent, Jonathan Martin, who's the co-author of, "This Will Not Pass".
Jonathan, I mean, look the -- if the big race tonight, of course, is in Wisconsin, or as they say because I'm from Minnesota, Wisconsin. It's in Wisconsin where the --
JONATHAN MARTIN, CNN POLITICAL ANALYST AND CO-AUTHOR, "THIS WILL NOT PASS": Wisconsin. Wisconsin.
COATES: Wisconsin where the GOP gubernatorial primary serves, as you know, the latest front run in the proxy war between Trump and, of course, Vice President Mike Pence. I am wondering, how do you expect this all to go tonight in Wisconsin?
MARTIN: Well, you're right, all eyes are on that governor's race because it is a really important proxy war between Trump and Pence, in one of the most important States, I should add, on the presidential map. You know, Wisconsin is one of those key battleground States that every four years, we see people spending a lot of time. And you can see on your screen there that the Trump-endorsed Tim Michels, who's a wealthy businessman, is enjoying a narrow lead.
Now, there's still about 40 percent of the vote out, but right now, he does have a narrow advantage over the Pence-backed candidate, the former lieutenant governor there, Rebecca Kleefisch. Look, so if Trump gets a victory there by backing Tim Michels, I think it would be an important feather in his cap.
I would just add one more note, Laura. And that is Trump also endorsed further down the ballot in Wisconsin to unseat the sitting speaker of the Wisconsin State Assembly, Robin Voss, who's a powerhouse in the State capital there. Who's won transgression when it comes to Trump, at least, is that he's not been assertive enough for the former president in trying to overturn the results of the last election. And so, because of that sin, Trump's trying to unseat him in the primary.
COATES: I mean, just think about that, not being assertive enough. You know, there is, sort of, a script that one must follow it seems at the times. But also in Wisconsin, Jonathan, you got the Republican Senator, Ron Johnson.
MARTIN: Right.
COATES: He's up for reelection.
MARTIN: Yes.
COATES: And he's facing minimal competition on his side. You already see what the projected -- it looks like the winner on that, of course, is going to be. There are a lot of questions about his efforts to push that fake elector plot leading up to January 6th.
Now, the Democrats for their part in Wisconsin, if they can actually pick up the seat --
MARTIN: Right.
COATES: -- with a man named Mandela Barnes, who is lieutenant governor in Wisconsin. And I'm wondering what you make of what's will happen there. There's going to be another race about the truth of the election that could be on the ballot here again? MARTIN: Well, I think, yes. I think the 2020 election will be central in this election because of what Ron Johnson has said and done since then. But look, this race is also important for the future too. If Ron Johnson does win reelection, and its GOP takes control of the Senate, he's going to be one of the leading figures in the Senate investigating Joe Biden. So, this is a really important race for the future of the Senate.
It's also an important race for control of the Senate. Look, there's basically two seats right now, GOP-held seats on the senate map. One is Pennsylvania and one is Wisconsin, where Democrats feel like they have a chance to pick up a seat. And I think in Wisconsin, against Ron Johnson, look, it's a really evenly divided State. There is a history of closed presidential elections there. And I think you could see a very competitive race for the Senate this year between Mandela Barnes and Ron Johnson.
I'll just add really quick here, you know, Mandela Barnes had a contested primary up until about two weeks ago, when all the candidates running against him dropped out, sort of, clearing his path against Ron Johnson. It's a fascinating race. Young, African-American, fairly progressive, although he's kind of shifted more to the middle here recently running against one of the real conservative, sort of, Trumpy firebrands in the Senate in this key battleground State in the heart of the Midwest. We're going to be spending a lot of time writing and talking and thinking about the Wisconsin's race this fall. Laura.
COATES: But only issue to what you've said is since I'm from Minnesota, which is the true heart of the Midwest. I'll leave that alone and let this night be about Wisconsin, momentarily. Thank you, Jonathan. I appreciate it.
MARTIN: No love for the cheese curds. No love for the cheese curds.
COATES: I -- no, I love the cheese curds.
MARTIN: All right.
COATES: And it is State fair time, but you can't tell a Minnesotan with the heart of the Midwest is and not include Minnesota, don't you know?
MARTIN: There you go. There you go.
COATES: Thank you very much. All right. Jonathan.
MARTIN: See you.
COATES: Oh, gosh. OK. All right. Now, Trump allies are enraged, not engaged, they might be engaged, I don't know. But they're enraged about the FBI search. And they want you to think that he is above the law. Is he? I'll make my case next.
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[02:50:00] COATES: So, there's this phrase that keeps going over and over again in my head. And it came from former speaker of the house, Newt Gingrich.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
NEWT GINGRICH, FORMER SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE: If 30 FBI agents can take over the house of a former president of the U.S. and probable candidate for the president, what can they do to you?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COATES: So, there's something that's been bothering me about the statement, among many other things. It's not the first or the last time I have heard it, or that will ever hear it. But it's because it doesn't actually require one's imagination. It requires you to actually be aware of the reality. Every single day in this country, law enforcement executes search warrants on residences, on businesses, everywhere they have probable cause to believe that evidence of a crime might exist. Sometimes, they get it right. Sometimes, they do get it wrong.
[02:55:00]
But if the criteria has been met, and a judge has been convinced, the warrant is not only issued but executed. Now, on everyday people, by the way, whose names have never found their way on any kind of a ballot. So, then the novelty is not that it happened but that it happened to a former president.
Now, the outrage that has followed seems to suggest that it shouldn't ever happen to a former president because of political optics. The uptick that it may be perceived as politically motivated. I mean, is that the new standard in the nation of laws we're supposed to live in? Post-Watergate, perhaps the one thing the nation could agree on was that no one is above the law.
Now, I always took that phrase to mean that you would be subject to the same laws and perhaps inconveniences everyone else's. And your title, whether it's current or former, it wasn't some conferral of immunity or a guarantee of special treatment. If you broke the law, you ought to be treated like everybody else who broke that law.
Is the new standard now that as long as you've been a politician or you might one day consider running to be one again, not that you're above the law, no, that's not it. It's just that you can't ever be investigated or searched or questioned or charged. OK. I think I get it now. No one is above the law, but politics surely is.
Next, why did investigators search Mar-a-Lago? We're getting new details of what made them so suspicious.
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[03:00:00]
