Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Newsroom

Kenya Names New President; Mega-Flood Concerns In California; Ukraine Says It Struck Wagner Base In Luhansk Region; Fall of Afghanistan: A Year Under Taliban Rule; Swiss Army Helping Thirsty Animals; Updated COVID-19 Booster by Moderna Approved in the U.K.; Political Comeback Attempt for Sarah Palin; GOP's Cheney Facing Uphill Battle Against Trump-Back Challenger. Aired 2-3a ET

Aired August 16, 2022 - 02:00   ET

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

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[02:00:23]

ROSEMARY CHURCH, CNN INTERNATIONAL ANCHOR: Hello and welcome to our viewers joining us from all around the world. You are watching CNN NEWSROOM and I'm Rosemary Church.

Just ahead. On the battlefield a roadblock for Russia months into the invasion, while Ukraine's president warns the world to resist Moscow's nuclear blackmail amid calls for action at the Zaporizhia plant.

Kenya has a new president elect after a razor thin race but many are not accepting it from chaos inside the election center to violence on the streets. We're live in Kisumu this hour.

Plus, the big concern in California has long been drought. But a new study paints a very different picture of how climate change could lead to a mega flood turning areas like this into a vast inland sea.

ANNOUNCER: Live from CNN Center. This is CNN NEWSROOM with Rosemary Church.

CHURCH: And thanks for joining us. We begin in Ukraine where officials say troops delivered a major blow to a notorious Russian backed paramilitary group. Social media videos appear to show the aftermath of an attack on a base in eastern Ukraine, apparently being used by the Wagner Group, a private military unit. The pro-Russian accounts linked to the group say there were casualties.

To the South, Ukraine is attacking bridges, part of a campaign to cut off key Russian supply lines and loosen Russia's grip on the region. Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy is accusing Russia of nuclear blackmail after days of shelling around Zaporizhia Nuclear Power Plant. The attacks have prompted grave warnings from world leaders. And yet Ukrainian officials say Russian troops are only digging in, taking over more buildings in areas near the plant.

Mr. Zelenskyy is now calling for fresh sanctions against Moscow and warns just how catastrophic a meltdown at the plant could be. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY, UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT (through translator): If a terrorist state allows itself to completely ignore the international community's demands, and furthermore, on such a sensitive topic, this clearly indicates the need for immediate action. Any radiation incident at the Zaporizhia Nuclear Power Plant can be a blow to the countries of the European Union, Turkey, Georgia and countries from more distant regions.

Everything depends only on the direction and strength of the wind. If Russia's actions lead to a catastrophe, the consequences may hit those who yet remained silent.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHURCH: And for more we want to bring in CNN's Clare Sebastian who joins us live from London. Good to see you, Clare. So, Ukraine's President Zelenskyy calling there for strict sanctions against Russia for nuclear blackmail around the Zaporizhia Nuclear Power Plant. What is the latest on this? And how might the international community respond to his call?

CLARE SEBASTIAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Rosemary, Zelenskyy really stepping up the rhetoric here. Not for the first time, by the way, calling for international sanctions on Rosaatom, which is Russia's nuclear energy monopoly. He also as you -- as you showed there, in that clip issued that stark warning that any kind of failure or accident at this nuclear plant could impact well beyond Ukraine.

That of course, we know to be true Zaporizhia is one of the largest nuclear facilities of its kind, in fact, the largest nuclear facility of its kind in Europe. So a lot at stake here. And of course, Zelenskyy pains to point that out. The background of this, of course, is that Russia took over this nuclear plant very early on in the conflict. But in recent weeks, we've seen an uptick in shelling and uptick in fighting the IAEA.

The International Atomic Energy Agency has been very clear in its concerns that well as of yet we don't -- that it doesn't see any damage to nuclear reactors or any leak in terms of radiation that it is worried that that could happen. It has been requesting access to that site. It has yet to receive that one. Interesting thing to note, though, is that there was a phone call on Monday between defense minister -- Russian defense minister Sergei Shoigu and the U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres who discussed according to the readout from the Russian side.

Conditions for the safe operation of the plant. No explicit signs of progress in the readout from the Russian side there but one perhaps slightly ominous sign that they also apparently discussed U.N. initiatives to simplify the process for the export of Russian food exports and fertilizer. Interesting because we know that Russia has been trying to leverage various elements in this war to call for the lifting of sanctions if it's trying to leverage its position in this nuclear plant for the lifting of sanctions. [02:05:12]

That of course, very much complicates the matter, especially, of course, as Zelenskyy is calling for more sanctions here.

CHURCH: And Clare, Russia's President Putin says he is ready to supply military equipment to allied countries in Latin America, Asia and Africa and also trained foreign fighters. What's the latest on this?

SEBASTIAN: Yes, Rosemary. This is President Putin speaking at a sort of Military-Technical Forum Army 2022 it's called. There are several goals it seems to this speech beyond the obvious that he's looking for more business deals. Don't forget that before this war in 2020, Russia was the second largest arms exporter in the world, about a fifth of global arms exports came from Russia.

Arms exporting is something that it's been doing for a long time. But this was clearly a continuation of the campaign that we've seen in Russia to emphasize its sort of anti-Western alliances. He talks about a multi polar world about Russia's alliances on different continents, Latin America, Asia, Africa, and how he was willing to supply arms to those friendly countries and train their forces.

So clearly an effort there to sort of provide a counter to the transatlantic alliance that we're seeing in support of Ukraine. Something that Russia has been continually doing. And secondly, a clear opportunity, domestic messaging here as well to repair the reputation of the Russian military. The kinds of arms he was talking about. He talks about more modern weapons, things like high-precision weapons, robotic technology, things like that. And he said that, in his view, that the Russian weapons were well ahead of Western foreign counterparts.

Sometimes in years, sometimes in decades. So, clearly a message to Russia's, you know, remaining allies but also a clear opportunity for domestic messaging here, Rosemary, as well.

CHURCH: And Clare, the legal team for American WNBA basketball star Brittney Griner has filed an appeal against the Russian courts verdict sensing -- sentencing her to nine years in prison for smuggling drugs into Russia. What is the latest on this and of course efforts to get her and fellow American Paul Whelan back home in a prisoner swap?

SEBASTIAN: Yes. So the appeal against the nine-year sentence was really just one part of this, Rosemary. Obviously they want to reduce that sentence as much as possible. But no one wants to see her serve nine years in a Russian prison, nor should -- do they want to see Paul Whelan continue to serve his 16-year prison sentence for espionage. What we're hearing now from the Russian side on this prisoner swap.

The spokesperson for the Russian Foreign Ministry North American Department saying to Russian news agency TASS on Monday that he confirmed basically that the name is being discussed in this prison swap are Viktor Bout, that well known arms smuggler, known as the Merchant of Death and Brittney Griner and Paul Whelan. He was responding to a request for comment that this proposal had been sent by Washington to Moscow.

So not a lot of information there. The Russian side has continually warned against carrying out these negotiations in the public eyes and not a lot of information there, but at least we know that they are still talking.

CHURCH: All right. Claire Sebastian joining us live from London. Many thanks.

Kenya's election officials have declared William Ruto to be the country's next president defeating Raila Odinga by a narrow margin. Odinga supporters protested with scores, taking to the streets and some lighting tires on fire. Odinga's political allies rejected the results before they were officially announced. Meanwhile, there was jubilation in parts of Western Kenya as supporters of William Ruto celebrated his victory.

He will be Kenya's fifth president since the country gained independence and he won the office on his first attempt.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

WILLIAM RUTO, KENYAN PRESIDENT ELECT: And in this election, there are no losers. The people of Kenya have won because we have raised the political bar. I want to say that the people of Kenya led by the 14 million who stand up to vote are the biggest winners.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHURCH: CNN's Larry Madowo joins me now from Kisumi in Kenya. Good to see you, Larry. So, we are seeing a divided response to the results of Kenya's presidential election. What is the latest on reaction to President-elect William Ruto's win?

LARRY MADOWO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Rosemary we expect to hear that in the hours ahead from Raila Odinga's Azimo coalition on what their next steps will be.

[02:10:2]

It is likely one of the major options here is going to court to contest that election as they did in 2017. If that happens they have seven days to file a suit before Kenya Supreme Court and the Supreme Court agreed with Raila Odimnga's team that there were illegalities and irregularities in the election and they annulled it which is a first in Kenya and Kenya went to another election in October which Raila Odinga set out.

He didn't believe that the Electoral Commission had made sufficient changes to run a free and fair election, but we expected the hours ahead that will tell us if that's another option that they will be looking into. But this has been a stunning upset by William Ruto, a man who after the disputed 2007 election was accused of crimes against humanity. He was tried by the International Criminal Court.

Those cases collapsed. And now he's done this turnaround into this hustler as he called himself, a man who came from nothing to somebody -- that somebody and he says if elected, this country can be a country for everyone, but it was a day of high drama, confusion and pandemonium.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MADOWO (voice over): Angry scenes inside Kenya's votes tallying center. Soldiers forced to use batons to bring fighting under control.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hereby declares that Ruto William some way has been duly elected as the president.

MADOWO: Moments later, Deputy President William Ruto was declared the country's next leader, succeeding term limited Uhuru Kenyatta. And nervous six-day wait for Kenya's election winner finally over but a narrow lead contested by candidate Raila Odinga's coalition before it was even announced.

SAITABAO KANCHORY, ONE KENYA COALITION NATIONA CHIEF AGENT: Once we see them, we would want to verify them. Once we verify them, we will be able to know and to tell the Kenyan people because a result that is not verifiable is not a result.

MADOWO: For election commissioners also designed anticipated results. Moments before the chaos descended at the national tallying center.

MADOWO (on camera): Kenyans went to the polls at a critical time for East Africa's largest economy, soaring food and fuel prices, high unemployment and post pandemic stagnation. It was a bit of battle between the friends and foes and friends and foes again, ending in this danger. Odinga supporters violently rejecting Ruta's win.

MADOWO (voice over): Both campaigns accused the other of corruption but Ruto now promising to work with his rival.

RUTO: I will run a transparent, open, Democratic government. And I will work with the opposition to the extent that they provide oversight over my administration.

MADOWO: She has a jubilation in his hometown, but a fierce contest of the results could come next.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

MADOWO: The announcement of the president elect was delayed by several hours and here on the streets of Kisumu where are Odinga has his biggest support, there are celebrations for hours but those quickly turned into disappointment and some protests, heartbreak, even anger when they learned that the man would not be the president for the fifth time trying. So they are pinning all their hopes on this petition the court if it happens.

But it's a very high bar to clear, Rosemary. It's a very high bar for the Supreme Court to throw out an entire election. The Odinga team will have to prove that any kind of irregularities they claimed, the hacking of the IBC system, the Electoral Commission that they claim did rise to the level to invalidate the entire election in William Ruto's win.

CHURCH: All right. Larry Madowo bringing us up to date on the situation from his vantage point there in Kenya. Thank you so much.

Well, state-run media in China is reporting seven officials in Taiwan have been sanctioned for supporting independence for the self- governing Island. A statement says pro independence activities became more egregious after U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taiwan earlier this month. These officials and their family members will reportedly be banned from entering the mainland and the special administrative regions of Hong Kong and Macau.

This move is in addition to the leaders China has previously sanctioned. Taiwan's foreign ministry quickly responded saying it cannot accept threats and intimidation from "an authoritarian regime."

CNN's Kristie Lu Stout is in Hong Kong. She joins us now live. Good to see you, Christie. So what is the latest on this continuing fallout in response to these two U.S. congressional delegations visiting Taiwan?

KRISTIE LU STOUT, CNN CORRESPONDENT: We are learning more about the visit to Taiwan as well as China's ongoing response to it. And we have learned that this latest U.S. congressional delegation to visit Taiwan led by the U.S. Senator Ed Markey has not only visited the Taiwan president Tsai Ing-wen as well as other top officials, but he's also met with representatives of TSMC. This is Taiwan's chip making giant on the agenda.

They discuss ways to expand economic cooperation between Taiwan and the United States including increasing investment in the semiconductor industry and on top of that how to improve the semiconductor supply chain.

[02:15:08]

I want to bring up a tweet that was sent earlier today by Senator Ed Markey describing the visit. And in it he says this, "I'm honored to have met with Taiwanese officials like President Tsai and Foreign Minister Wu as well as the Taiwan semiconductor manufacturing company. The United States must continue to support Taiwan's meaningful participation in the international community.

Now, it is very significant that Senator Markey and the delegation met with TSMC. This is the world's largest contract chip maker. They produce 90 percent, nine zero of the world's most advanced computer chips. And it comes at an interesting time earlier this month. The U.S. President Joe Biden signed the Chips Act in order to boost America's competitiveness in the semiconductor industry and Taiwan has been playing a role in that.

In fact, TSMC has pledged some $12 billion to build a new chip fab in the U.S. state of Arizona. So it remains to be seen if this visit will be able to pave the way for additional investment. Meanwhile, Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen has issued a statement today, linking stability in the Taiwan Strait to stability in the semiconductor and high-tech industry. Let's bring up the statement for you. She writes this, "The Taiwan Strait is the main route connecting the East China Sea in the South China Sea. Therefore the peace and stability of the Taiwan Strait is critical to the stability of the global high-tech product supply chain." Of course, we have been reporting that China has reacted angrily to this latest visit by U.S. lawmakers in Taiwan. A new set of military drills commenced on Monday.

According to the Taiwan defense ministry they detected 30 Chinese war planes and five vessels. The Taiwan Ministry of Foreign Affairs have condemned that activity. I want to bring up a statement for you about what the Chinese are thinking at the moment through the eyes or the perspective of Shi Yi. A senior Colonel with the Eastern theater command of the Chinese military. He says the exercises are solemn response to political plays by the U.S. and Taiwan.

They're undermining the peace and stability of the Taiwan Strait. And Rosemary, we are monitoring for more Chinese military activity today. Back to you.

CHURCH: All right. Kristie Lu stout joining us live from Hong Kong. Many thanks. Iran says it's close to resuming its nuclear deal with the United States and other world powers. According to state-run media, Iran's team has delivered a response to the latest E.U. proposal. Iran's foreign minister says Tehran is at the point of agreement if the U.S. is realistic and flexible. The original 2015 deal was meant to keep Iran from developing nuclear weapons for 10 years.

But then President Donald Trump pulled the U.S. out of the agreement and hit Iran with new sanctions in 2018.

Well, California has been devastated by drought in recent years, but the new study warns the state could swing from one extreme to another. Details on the alarming predictions of a so called mega flood coming up.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[02:20:12]

CHURCH: Three wildfires in Spain's Valencia Region have forced at least 1200 people from their homes. Many fled during the night with just the clothes on their backs. More than 7000 hectares have burned so far, rough terrain and strong winds have made the fires difficult to contain. Spain's weather agency says the fire risk remains very high in areas near the Mediterranean.

Well, more than 100 million Americans will be living in a so called extreme heat belt in the next 30 years due to climate change. That is according to a new study from the nonprofit First Street Foundation, which found that the current seven hottest days of the year in the U.S. will increase to 18 by 2053. And in that heat belt, which would stretch from Texas up to the Great Lakes, temperatures would exceed 52 degrees Celsius, or 125 degrees Fahrenheit on the hottest days of the year. Scientists are warning also of a disastrous event that could happen in California in the next four decades. And it's not an earthquake. You're looking at what is now drought prone areas in the state that are predicted to one day be a vast inland sea. A new study by Science Advances shows that climate change has doubled the chances of what's called a mega flood. Climate scientists describe it as a severe flood across a broad region that has the potential to bring catastrophic impacts to society. Experts say the flood would be unlike anything anyone alive today has ever experienced.

Daniel Swain is a climate scientist at UCLA and The Nature Conservancy and is a researcher involved in the mega flood study. And he joins me now from Boulder, Colorado. Good to have you with us.

DANIEL SWAIN, CLIMATE SCIENTIST, UCLA: Thanks for having me.

CHURCH: So for years, we have been reporting on drought conditions and wildfires in California, with the problem being not enough water your study more than shakes up that equation, pointing to the growing possibility of a massive mega flood. What factors did you consider to arrive at that scenario?

SWAIN: Well, I agree that it may sound a little bit paradoxical to be talking about the risk of a severe flood event in the midst of what is essentially a historic drought in California and the southwestern United States. But it may see -- it's maybe a little bit less paradoxical than it might seem at first glance, because we know that in a warming climate that the water vapor holding potential of the atmosphere increases rapidly with rising temperatures.

So that's one of the main reasons why the risk of an extreme flood event in California is going up. The atmosphere can hold more water vapor. It essentially raises the ceiling on how intense precipitation can become. But it doesn't necessarily increase precipitation all of the time. And in fact, that very same mechanism, that increase in the water vapor holding potential, the atmosphere also increases the severity of droughts.

Who kind of think of it like the atmosphere acting as a giant sponge, it can soak up more water, potentially, and squeeze it out in the form of increasingly extreme rainfall. But the rest of the time, it's just extracting more moisture from the landscape leading to poor drought.

CHURCH: So, what would a vast inland sea in California look like and who would it affect?

SWAIN: Well, the last time a flood of this magnitude occurred in California, it was all the way back in 1862, what came to be known as the Great Flood of 1862. And at that time, of course, California was much less urbanized and developed than is today. There were about 400,000 people living in the state then as opposed to nearly 40 million today. And California also lacked large water and flood control infrastructure.

So all those levees and dams that can mitigate flood risk under certain circumstances. So back in 1862, the Central Valley did indeed fill up like a temporary inland sea almost 300 miles in length. And that was incredibly disruptive, as you might imagine, to the nascent towns and cities that were -- that were developing there as well to agriculture. Today, I don't think we'd see that same 300-mile inland sea because of the monitor and flood control measures that are in place.

But the flooding would still be quite widespread and there would be vast areas inundated that haven't seen flooding really in recorded history.

CHURCH: So clearly, the goal here is to avoid this catastrophe in California. What measures need to be taken now to reduce the risk of a major flood?

[02:25:02]

SWAIN: Well, we know that this is something that was already possible even absent climate change because of course it happened in 1862 and the Paleo climate record suggests that this happens perhaps five to seven times per millennium. So, this is something that is very rare on the scale of individual human lifetime. But in the grand scheme of things and a geologic timescale, not that rare.

So, this was already something that we -- that was sort of lurking there in the background that we just haven't experienced recently. And moving forward, you know, one of the major things that we can do is, first to just acknowledge the risks. You know, historically, especially in recent years where California has experienced so much drought, and so much wildfire that a lot of public policy and disaster preparedness has focused on those two kinds of things, water scarcity, and wildfires for understandable reasons.

California has seen a lot of those in recent years. But one of our goals in doing this study and the broader arc storm 2.0 scenario, which is -- this is just the first phase of is to increase, not just public awareness, but also awareness among the entities at the state and regional and federal level that are involved in flood control and disaster preparedness and to really highlight the fact that this is a risk that is increasing in a warming climate even the same warming climate that is simultaneously bringing an increase in drought and water scarcity to the same regions.

This is something we've called precipitation whiplash. The notion that we're seeing larger swings back and forth between extreme dry and extreme wet conditions. And adapting to that is a bit different than adapting to a climate that's simply getting perpetually drier.

CHURCH: Right. And of course, climate change isn't just a California problem. We've seen flash flooding events across the northern hemisphere this year. Are there other regions around the world that could potentially see this kind of mega flood and how should they prepare?

SWAIN: Well, certainly it's true that the risk of extremely severe flood events is not limited to California. In fact, in some places, it may be even higher than it is in California. And so in a warming climate, we know that -- broadly speaking, the maximum intensity of precipitation and the -- these downpours that can lead to flash floods is significantly increasing. As you mentioned, we've seen a great deal of this just over the past few months.

This summer, all throughout North America. Numerous locations in the United States have experienced record breaking flooding resulting from record breaking extreme precipitation events. And last summer we saw this in Central Europe and in Southeast Asia. And in some other places that didn't quite make the headlines in the same way. So, this is something that's happening really in many places around the world and not just in wet places, but also in places that are often quite dry.

So this really is something that's going to be an increasing issue in a warming climate, both the extreme heat and the extreme precipitation events that can go along with that warning.

CHURCH: Daniel Swain, thank you so much for joining us appreciate it.

SWAIN: Thanks again.

CHURCH: CNN was in Kabul the day it was captured by the Taliban.

And we're then now one year after the takeover. We have a look at how life has changed for women and the millions of people desperate for food.

[02:30:00]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

CHURCH: As the Taliban celebrate the first anniversary of their return to power, the U.N. warns we must not forget the women and girls of Afghanistan. They are being systematically excluded from public life, with female students no longer allowed to attend secondary school. CNN's Chief International Correspondent Clarissa Ward reports from Kabul on the many ways Afghanistan has changed a year into Taliban rule.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CLARISSA WARD, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voiceover): It's a three-hour journey from Shakila's (ph) is home to the center of Kabul. But each morning, she and other women make this walk, driven by hunger and the need to feed their children. Their destination is this bakery. One of many across the capital where crowds of women now sit patiently every day. Quietly hoping for handouts.

WARD (on camera): So, all the women have been pressing pieces of paper with their phone numbers into our hands. They're desperately hoping that maybe we could help them.

WARD (voiceover): Shakila tells us on a good day they might get two or three pieces of bread. Every morsel counts.

WARD (on camera): Were you doing this a year ago, or has the situation become worse in the last year?

WARD (voiceover): There is no work this year, she says. My husband has a cart, but now he only earns 30 to 40 cents a day.

One year after the Taliban took power, Afghanistan is isolated and increasingly impoverished. Largely cut off from the global banking system and the foreign aid that once funded almost 80 percent of this country's budget. It is also unmistakably safer. One thing the Taliban has been able to improve is security.

Outside Kabul's airport, shops are open and the streets are calm.

WARD (on camera): Excuse me.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He says --

WARD (on camera): Cover my face?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Cover.

WARD (on camera): OK.

WARD (voiceover): Far cry from the chaotic scenes we witnessed last summer.

WARD (on camera): He told me to cover my face. But he doesn't want to comment on that truncheon he's carrying.

WARD (voiceover): Tens of thousands risked life and limb to try to flee the country. Many feared for their lives. Others that the Taliban would take the country back to the middle-ages.

For these girls, that fear has come true. They were just a year out from graduating. The Taliban announced a de facto ban on girls' secondary education after sixth grade. Now, they have improvised ways to defy the ban, setting up unofficial schools where they continue their studies. Naheed Sadat's (ph) dreams of a diploma may have vanished, but her drive has not.

NAHEED SADAT (PH), AFGHAN STUDENT: I always say to myself that I am so powerful. I am strong. And these things can't break my aims and my dreams and what I want to do.

WARD (on camera): Do you ever feel scared?

SADAT (PH): Yes, it's so risk for us that we don't cover our face. And we study our ways.

WARD (on camera): You are very brave.

SADAT (PH): Yes, I know.

WARD (voiceover): Girls' education is one of the main reasons no country in the world has yet recognized the Taliban government. A point we put to foreign ministry spokesman, Abdul Qahar Balkhi.

WARD (on camera): When will the Taliban allow teenage girls to go back to school?

ABDUL QAHAR BALKHI, SPOKESPERSON, AFGHAN MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS: From the perspective of the government, there's a range of mix of issues that has led to the temporary suspension of secondary schools. The most important and significant part of this is that the policy of the government of Afghanistan is education for all citizens of Afghanistan.

[02:35:00]

WARD (on camera): And yet all citizens of Afghanistan are not currently able to get an education. What is the hold up?

BALKHI: It seems that international actors are unfortunately weaponizing the issue of education. Instead of coming forward and interacting positively, they are trying to find moral justifications for some of the inhumane policies of sanctions which is leading to the collective punishment of the entire people of Afghanistan.

WARD (on camera): Do you want to see girls going to school again?

BALKHI: The policy of the government of Afghanistan is very clear. And that is education for all citizens of Afghanistan.

WARD (voiceover): The Taliban says it wants to see peaceful and positive relations with all countries, including the U.S. But those prospects were dramatically diminished. The head of Al-Qaeda, Ayman al-Zawahiri was killed by a U.S. Drone strike in a villa in downtown Kabul just over two weeks ago.

BALKHI: We've made it very clear that the government of Afghanistan was unaware of the arrival or presence of Mr. Zawahiri in Kabul. So far, we have been unable to establish -- as a fact -- as a matter of fact, that Mr. Zawahiri was indeed present in Kabul.

WARD (on camera): Isn't that almost more frightening though, the idea that you're claiming, potentially, the leader of Al-Qaeda was here in the center of the city and you didn't even know about it?

BALKHI: Again, we contend that notion that he was even present here. But even if he was, these types of incidents happen everywhere in the world. I mean --

WARD (on camera): But they really don't. I mean, how can the U.S. possibly trust the Taliban leadership though, to stay true to its promise that it will not allow sanctuary to be granted to terrorist groups?

BALKHI: If we look at the Doha Agreement, the articles that define the commitments of the government of Afghanistan, all of them have been fulfilled. And if we look at the commitments that the United States of America has made, sadly, they have not fulfilled a single article. But we are hopeful and we continue to urge the United States to adhere to that agreement.

WARD (voiceover): It's a brazen position that complicates efforts to unfreeze funding to help the Afghan people. Millions of whom remain hungry and reliant on the kindness of strangers. Clarissa Ward, CNN, Kabul.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CHURCH: Still to come, the Swiss army is bringing water to farm animals reeling under drought conditions. Our global warming is impacting the Alpine Meadows, that's next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[02:40:00]

CHURCH: The United Kingdom is the first country to approve an updated COVID-19 booster that targets both the original strain of the virus and the Omicron variant. It's made by Moderna and was approved for use in adults in the U.K. on Monday. Health officials say it triggers a strong immune response to both strands -- strains, I should say, of the virus and some of Omicron's subvariants. They also say it has mild side effects that are similar to the original booster.

Farm animals in Switzerland are sweltering amid high temperatures and the drought as Europe reels under a heat wave. Now, Swiss army helicopters are airlifting water to the Alpine Meadows to give the animals some much-needed relief. CNN's Paula Newton has the story.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

PAULA NEWTON, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voiceover): In a Super Puma helicopter, Switzerland's air force swoops in with precious cargo, water, dropped into a reservoir running critically low.

JACQUES RUFFIEUX, FARMER (through translator): We were a day and a half from not having any water at all for the animals. It was very close. Last week I was hoping we'd get more rain because we were forecasting a storm, but we only got six leaders. For the 130 animals on the farm, we estimate we need 10,000 liters a day.

NEWTON (voiceover): In Switzerland's Alpine Meadows, a summer of blistering temperatures and historically low rainfall has left thousands of thirsty farm animals desperate for water. Now, after calls for help from farmers, the Swiss army has begun a two-week operation to refill near-empty reservoirs.

FREDERIC MENTREY, DIRECTOR, CHAMBER OF AGRICULTURE OF FRIBOURG CANTON (voiceover): This year, there's a very substantial shortage of water in some places. It's very unusual and it has a huge impact on the summer pastures, but also on lowland agriculture.

NEWTON (voiceover): Emergency water supplies not only stave off dehydration for cows, goats, pigs, and other food-producing animals. They also prevent a feed shortage later in the year. Without enough water, the animals would have to graze in lowland areas where the winter hay is normally produced during summer months. And agricultural crisis averted this year with an operation that could become increasingly critical. MATHIAS TUSCHER, SWISS TERRITORIAL ARMY COMMANDER (through translator): We carried out this kind of operation in 2015 and 2018 for the Fribourg Canton. And indeed, with global warming, it is probable that this kind of mission will be more frequent in the future.

NEWTON (voiceover): As the global climate crisis appears to worsen and repeated heat waves caused chaos right across Europe, local officials say the need for a longer-term solution is increasingly obvious.

MENTREY (through translator): The use of helicopters to bring water to the pasture should not become the norm in the future. It should be the exception to the rule in unusual years. Now, we need to make the necessary investments in cooperation with the government, the private sector, and the farmers to be able to keep the water in the mountain.

NEWTON (voiceover): For now, some refreshment for the thirsty animals in Switzerland's Alpine pastures as they and their farmers endure an increasingly warming world. Paula Newton, CNN.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CHURCH: And thanks so much for joining us. I'm Rosemary Church. "World Sport" is up next, then I'll be back with more news from all around the world in about 15 minutes. You are watching CNN. Do stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[02:45:00]

BROWNSTEIN: But wait, you know, it's going to be wild until we know what happens in Alaska because it's, you know, it's kind of a double helix complication. They have a top-four primary system and then they have rank choice voting on top of that. So, if nobody gets to 50 percent, what they do is they reallocate the votes, the second choices, they'll put down their second choices --

LEMON: Let me -- I want to mention, there's another candidate here. Just a minute.

BROWNSTEIN: Yes.

LEMON: This is Neck Begich III. There's also the former Democratic State representative Mary Petola -- Peltola.

BROWNSTEIN: Right.

LEMON: So, this is her first political run since 2009. She's being backed by Trump. So, my question is, do you see her making a comeback? I know this whole rank choice thing is an issue there, but do you see her making a comeback?

BROWNSTEIN: I think it's really -- the rank choice makes it really hard to predict, you know. There are only a few jurisdictions in the U.S. They've used it -- obviously it was a factor in the mayoral race in New York. New York City is one of the places that are doing it.

I would not be surprised either way. I mean, I would -- you know, this special election, you know, while they're having the special election tomorrow, they're also having the primary for the general election, you know, for the full two-year term. This is only to fill the term through the end of this Congress. So, it's not inconceivable that the results could be different for the special than the general.

You would think that in a Trumpian party, Sarah Palin, who was kind of Trump before Trump in terms of her leveraging of cultural resentment of, kind of -- you know, the most white voters are the most uneasy about the way the country is changing. You would think she would be in a very good position.

But the Alaska Republican Party, you know, is an unusual beast. And you have a governor that's not fully Trumpified. You have Murkowski who's going to be on the ballot tomorrow. Trump is supporting a primary challenger against her. But again, we're going to have to wait a while to see how it plays out. And it's likely that she and the Trump challenger make it to November.

When you've got a top four single party jungle primary system and then a rank choice voting on top of that, there are a lot of permutations that could unfold on how these elections play out.

LEMON: Gosh. 2009.

BROWNSTEIN: Yes, it's complicated.

LEMON: Yes, but do you remember that?

BROWNSTEIN: Yes.

LEMON: Do you remember that whole -- I can see Russia from my house and lipstick on a pig?

BROWNSTEIN: Yes.

LEMON: And that little cute aside. Oh boy, here we go again.

BROWNSTEIN: Well, she was the first one who said, I'm glad to be back in the real America. I mean, really, the first one to identify the kind of white, non-urban -- white Christian non-urban America as, "The real America." And everything else as something as an impostor or a perversion of what America was meant to be, which is the animated -- which has become, I think, you know, the fuel in the Trump movement more than any other single factor.

LEMON: Listen, I'm not judging anything that happens in March (ph). It just took me back to a whole different time, that's all I'm saying.

BROWNSTEIN: Yes.

LEMON: Thank you, Ron. Appreciate it.

BROWNSTEIN: Thanks, Don. LEMON: Thanks so much. She's a Republican whose spouse ran against Liz Cheney in 2016, but now Susan Stubson and her husband, are supporting Cheney. And she says there's still hope the congresswoman will come out on top.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[02:50:00]

LEMON: All eyes will be on the Wyoming primary tomorrow. Incumbent Liz Cheney facing off against Trump-backed candidate Harriet Hageman, who has supported the former president's election lies. I want to bring in now someone who is very active in Wyoming, Republican politics, and who, despite her own husband running against Cheney in the past, now supports her. She's joining me now, writer and political strategist, Susan Stubson. Susan, thank you for joining. I really appreciate it. So --

SUSAN STUBSON, WRITER AND POLITICAL STRATEGIST: Thank you, Don.

LEMON: The Wyoming Republican Party voted to no longer recognize Cheney as a Republican, your own husband ran against her in the past, why do you still support her?

STUBSON: Well, you know it's interesting the path that we've walked with Liz Cheney has been a bit curious. In 2016, you're right, my husband, Tim, ran against her for Congress. At that point, obviously, she was our adversary. Things change quickly in politics. And frankly, her meteoric rise as a freshman congresswoman was important to us.

And in the short time that she has been there, she's really gotten a lot of things done for us here in Wyoming. You know we have one congresswoman. So, the fact that her rise was so quick and her voice was so powerful, so immediate, that's important as a voter. So, yes, we -- it was not too difficult for us to -- or for myself to become a supporter.

LEMON: You know, you say that Wyoming is -- that voters of Wyoming see Cheney as a traitor for voting to impeach Trump. But I just want you to listen into some of what she's had to say about him in his election lies.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. LIZ CHENEY (R-WY): There's a real tragedy that's occurring. And the tragedy is that there are politicians in this country, beginning with Donald Trump, who have lied to the American people. We are now embracing a cult of personality. And I won't be part of that. And I will always stand for my oath and stand for the truth.

Republicans cannot both be both loyal to Donald Trump and loyal to the constitution.

I say this to my Republican colleagues who are defending the indefensible, there will come a day where Donald Trump is gone, but your dishonor will remain. (END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: It is principle, you cannot deny that. But isn't it also the case that calling out Trump supporters so often and publicly has put her in this position?

[02:55:00]

How do you think she feels about them?

STUBSON: Well, I think that she feels exactly what she said she does. You know, as this has been noted and wildly reported, you know, Wyoming overwhelmingly twice voted in favor of Donald Trump. So, it is enough for this Republican Party or many of those in the party just the suggestion or any kind of movement against Trump is enough. Notwithstanding the realities of January 6th, the impeachment vote. It's enough to speak against Trump, which really is -- has been the death knell for Liz Cheney here.

LEMON: Yes. Ms. Stubson, thank you so much. I appreciate you joining us. Best of luck to you.

And thank you for watching everyone. Our coverage continues.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[03:00:00]