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Ukraine: At Least 22 Killed In Strike On Train Station; Ukraine Marks Independence Six Months Into The War; U.K. PM Announces $66m Aid Package During Surprise Visit; U.S. Pledges Nearly $38b In Security Assistance For Ukraine; Ethiopian Govt. Troops Clash With Tigrayan Forces; Protesters Worry Cybercrime Law Enabling Crackdown; Heat Wave In China Puts Crops & Livestock At Risk; Floods Have Killed Dozens In Sudan So Far This Year. Aired 1-2a ET
Aired August 25, 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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[01:00:33]
JOHN VAUSE, CNN ANCHOR: Welcome back, everyone. You're watching CNN Newsroom. Coming up this hour, Ukraine marks 31 years of independence from the Soviet Union and six months of war with Russia. Today we saw 22 Ukrainians killed by a rocket attack on a train station.
In Sierra Leone, new criminal cyber law is backed by the E.U. and U.K. being used to legitimize hunting down and punishing those who speak out against the government. And after the former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan was charged with breaking anti-terror laws, a court is now set to decide if he should be arrested and detained.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Live from CNN Center, this is CNN Newsroom with John Vause.
VAUSE: As Ukraine marked its Independence Day, it was showered with new weapons and ammunition from allies or Russian missiles and rockets rained down on major cities appearing to target civilian areas. According to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, at least 22 people including an 11-year-old boy killed in one missile attack which is a train station and nearby home. Rescuers is still searching through the debris looking for survivors.
And in an emotional address Wednesday, Zelenskyy pledged that Vladimir Putin's war of choice would end with a Ukrainian victory.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY, UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT (through translation): We will definitely make the occupiers pay for everything they have done. We will without any doubt evict the evaders from our land. No trace of this whatever remain in our free Ukraine. Let's make this our way to victory. There will be victory.
(END VIDEO CLIP) VAUSE: Sound of anti-aircraft fire was heard now Ukraine second biggest city Kharkiv on Wednesday, as the military marks 31 years of freedom from the tyranny of the Soviet -- of the former Soviet Union. This year, Ukraine's Independence Day coincided with the six-month mark of the Russian invasion. Fighting continues across the east in places like Donetsk. The Ukrainian flag is flying high. This instance lifted into the sky by balloons, followed by cheers as it took flight.
And in Kyiv, many Ukrainians ignored warnings sustained side with fears of increased Russian missile and rocket attacks. But as CNN's David McKenzie reports from the Capitol, for many this was not the day to coward to Moscow.
DAVID MCKENZIE, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, the air raid siren is going off right now in Kyiv. But despite that, look at all these people here behind me. They're ignoring the calls of the government to stay at home, to stay out of large crowds because this is an important moment for Ukrainians. This is the anniversary of independence from the Soviet Union.
It's also six months on from when this war began. They've lined up tanks all along this main street. Tanks, APCs, rocket launchers from the initial attack of Russians on Kyiv many months ago.
So Dima (ph), what do you think about today?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's a great day. It's the day of independence of Ukraine. And I came here to celebrate this day but not to have fun or cheer, but to see at which price the independence is gained exactly.
MCKENZIE: And you were told to stay away from big crowds but everyone is here. Why do you think that is?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, Ukrainians value life but they will your freedom even more.
MCKENZIE: For young people, what is the last six months been like?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Actually, it was very scary. And I have no words really. So sad.
MCKENZIE: You know, Ukrainian officials said that Russians would have wanted their own military parade here in Kyiv, so they gave them one, Ukrainian style. And people are writing messages on the tank. This one says for Kyiv, for Donetsk, for all the regions that have seen fighting and have been occupied by the Russians in this brutal war. This fight could go on for a long time yet.
VAUSE: On Wednesday, the Ukrainian president said the Russian invasion was like a new Independence Day when Ukraine had to fight for its freedom, rather than just vote for it. Volodymyr Zelenskyy and the First Lady laid flowers at the memorial wall of Ukraine's fallen defendants. He also greeted the outgoing British Prime Minister made a surprise visit to Kyiv announcing another $66 million in aid for Ukraine, which includes hundreds of drones. C (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BORIS JOHNSON, BRITISH CARETAKER PRIME MINISTER: Here today in Ukraine, I believe that history is at a turning point. After decades in which democracy has been on the defensive, on the backfoot, we have an opportunity to join you in saying no to tyranny, saying no to those who would stifle Ukrainian liberty and independence and we will. And that is why Ukraine will win.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
[01:05:13]
VAUSE: The United States also continuing with insecurity assistance for Ukraine, announcing the largest military aid package yet $38 billion.
Matthew Schmidt joins us now. He's an associate professor at the University of New Haven, widely recognized expert on Defense Intelligence, national security analysis, as well as Russia and Ukraine. Good to have you back. It's been a while.
MATTHEW SCHMIDT, PROF. NATIONAL SECURITY & POLITICAL SCIENCE, UNIV. OF NEW HAVEN: It's good to be here.
VAUSE: OK. So the U.S. military aid package for Ukraine is the largest so far. Here's part of what they're getting, six additional national advanced surface-to-air missile systems, 245,000 rounds of artillery ammunition, 65,000 rounds of mortar ammunition, 24 counter artillery radars, Puma unmanned aerial systems and support equipment for Scan Eagle UAS systems, VAMPIRE counter-unmanned aerial systems, laser- guided rocket systems, funding for training, maintenance, and sustainment.
Now, what stands out to me though, in all of that is this huge amount of ammunition for artillery and also the number of mortars which they're sending.
SCHMIDT: Yes, I think there's two things here. The first is that this is an artillery war on both sides. And so you see that in these purchases. And the second thing is, is the unmanned vehicles, right? That rounds out the rest of this $3 billion. When you look at counter drone and counter aircraft and more drones for them on the offense, it really tells you something about the nature of this war.
VAUSE: And what is that
SCHMIDT: This is future war. What you see right now in Ukraine really prefaces what you're likely to see if no, God forbid, if the U.S. and China ever went to war in Taiwan, you're going to see these unmanned systems everywhere, right? There now a part of the way we fight, and they're not going away. And what's happening in Ukraine is you have a lot of very creative people. And I think a lot of viewers don't know that Ukraine was the center of the Soviet high tech, military, you know, industrial system.
So there's a lot of people there that know how to work with this equipment. And they're creating the tactics that we're learning from in the United States that Russia is learning from and that China is learning from. So it's really future war. What you're seeing today is what you're going to see 30 years from now.
VAUSE: Yes, until 2014 Ukraine was a major arms exporter as well. I think people don't realize that either. And we have this message now coming from the Biden administration that, you know, the sheer size of this package, along with promises of future aid, a sign of ongoing commitment from the United States, to Ukraine, and its war with Russia. Listen to this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
COLIN KAHL, U.S. UNDER SECRETARY OF DEFENSE FOR POLICY: By its very nature, this USAI package underscores our commitment to supporting Ukraine for the long term, representing a multi-year investment in critical defense capabilities. This package is about building enduring strength for Ukraine as it continues to defend its sovereignty in the face of Russian aggression.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
VAUSE: Yes, but I guess it's not a bottomless pit of money, is it? And there's a big issue here, it seems that history has shown Americans are all in until they're not. Asked the Kurds in Syria, or the women of Afghanistan about promises made by past administrations? Will this be different?
SCHMIDT: I'm not sure. But right now, we don't see it. We don't see it in the polling, and we don't see it in the campaigns that just finished for American primary elections. And we're not seeing it in the midterms right now, right. This war has support from both the Republicans and the Democrats, at least for now. So we're not seeing either side shooting, you know, metaphorically, at the opposite candidates saying they're spending too much money outside the country and Ukraine, bring it back home. That doesn't have any traction yet.
VAUSE: OK. There was a lot of talk of standing with Ukraine from the E.U. and the U.K. as well. But it seems the Secretary General of NATO kind of said out loud what everyone else was thinking. Here he is.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JENS STOLTENBERG, NATO SECRETARY GENERAL: Winter's coming and winter is going to be hard and NATO allies across Europe and North America are paying a price, caused by the sanctions, caused by, of course, the brutal war of Russia against Ukraine, increasing energy prices inflation. But at the same time, we know that the price we have to pay if we don't support Ukraine can be much higher.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
VAUSE: I guess the question here is, will European do a record high energy costs for the sake of Ukrainian sovereignty? Will that united front come to an end? Or has Putin made another miscalculation here, and European unity will hold? SCHMIDT: I think there's greater chance that European unity will break that European publics will demand that their politicians do something to bring those prices down. I think there's a greater chance of that than in the United States. That said, this is really a German problem. If Germany holds and continues to work with the rest of the E.U. and not break ranks with them, then they can get through the winter. But it's going to be hard.
Europe is trying to find ways to bring in liquid natural gas, for instance, and get around, you know, Russian pipeline supplies, but that's going to take time. I think that the real question is, what happens a year from now? What happens, you know, next spring haven't gone through this winter to see really what the European public's going to do then?
[01:10:07]
VAUSE: Yes, well it was that they face another tough winter with high energy prices, oh boy.
Matthew Schmidt, good to see you. Thanks for being with us.
SCHMIDT: Thank you.
VAUSE: In Syria, U.S. coalition bases have again come under rocket fire with one U.S. servicemembers suffering minor injuries. In response, he was attack helicopters killed at least two people believe responsible for the rocket fire. On Wednesday, the U.S. military said it struck nine logistics and ammunition bunkers used by Iran-backed groups in Syria. U.S. President Joe Biden ordered the strikes after a briefing from his top military advisers.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KAHL: We're not going to hesitate to defend ourselves. We're not going to tolerate attacks by Iran-backed forces on our forces anywhere in the world to include in Syria, and we won't hesitate to protect ourselves and take additional measures as appropriate.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
VAUSE: This latest exchange have started last week, when two coalition bases in Syria came under attack. Iran, though, denies any involvement.
Fighting has erupted in Ethiopia's Tigray region after a five-month long ceasefire. Ethiopia says it shut down a plane carrying weapons to Tigrayan forces from Sudan. Tigrayan spokesperson calls that a blatant lie. U.N. accuses Tigrayan fighters of seizing 12 fuel tankers in a regional capital. Fuel shortages have kept aid supplies from people in desperate need. CNN's Larry Madowo has more now.
LARRY MADOWO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: For a few months, there was a glimmer of hope that the Ethiopian government and the Tigray People's Liberation Front that control the North could sit down and actually talk. The African Union has been leading efforts to try and get them to the same table. They were a little reluctant the Tigrayans to have the African Union lead that.
Nairobi, the capital of Kenya was one neutral location that seemed to work for both. The outgoing Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta was one that again, immediately that both sides seem to like, however, that seems to be more unlikely now with the resumption of hostilities. That is why the U.N. Secretary General says he's shocked and saddened by this resumption of hostilities and hopes they can come back to talk
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ANTONIO GUTERRES, UNITED NATIONS SECRETARY GENERAL: Deeply shocked and saddened by the news of the resumption of hostilities in Ethiopia. Ethiopians, Tigrayans, and Samaras, Oromos, Afars have already suffered too much. My strong appeal is for an immediate cessation of hostilities. And for the resumption of peace talks between the government and the TPLF with, at the same time, the full guarantee of humanitarian access to people in need, and the establishment of public services.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MADOWO: Months after the Ethiopian government and the Tigrayan People's Liberation Front agrees to a ceasefire, the aid still not been getting through to the people that badly need it. There's no resumption of essential services, banking and telecommunications. There are people who are in dire need of access the rest of the world and dire need of food, and just a lot happened.
And with this resumption of hostilities, the fear among many agencies, among the people that live there is that their flights will continue to be extended for how long nobody knows at this time.
Larry Madowo, CNN, Nairobi.
VAUSE: In Sierra Leone, the government is facing accusations that it's using a new cybercrime law as legal cover to crack down on political dissent. The law was supported by the U.K. and the European Union, but European officials say it was never meant to be used against free speech. CNN's Katie Polglase has a story and a warning, some of the images in her report are disturbing to watch.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
KATIE POLGLASE, CNN INVESTIGATIVE PRODUCER (voice-over): On August 10, in Sierra Leone's capital, Freetown, people took to the streets to protest a worsening cost of living crisis. Rising food shortages have left over half the population without enough food to eat, according to the World Food Programme. Protesters held rocks, set buses alight.
Authorities were quick to condemn the destruction which they said left eight officers dead with the president of Sierra Leone and labeling the protesters as terrorists. There was no mention of the number of civilians killed, which Reuters reported as high as 21. But it was the severe police crackdown both on the streets and online that is revealed worrying signs of a government suppressing freedom of speech.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translation): Don't destroy the cars, please. Move from here.
POLGLASE (voice-over): The voice you're hearing is of 20-year-old Gibrilla Kojo (ph), sitting on his balcony. He calls for those running past to be careful and not damage the cars parked below. Just over an hour later, Gibrilla would be dead. His friend David, whose name we have changed to protect his identity, witnessed the shooting and says Gibrilla was shot in the neck by Sierra Leone's police.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He was totally harmless. He was not even part of the protest. He was at the balcony, watching the protesters.
POLGLASE (voice-over): David's videos of the events are rare and risky. He told CNN he believes it was the site of him and his friend filming that made them a target for police.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translation): The moment before Gibrilla died, we argued. I told him that they were firing live rounds. We need to back off, we need to get inside. But he insisted. He said they were firing rubber bullets. But it was live rounds.
[01:15:14]
POLGLASE (voice-over): CNN analyzed a bullet casing found at the scene which was confirmed by weapons experts to be from live ammunition. The police have made no comment on whether they did use live bullets during the protests.
David's filming two hours before Gibrilla's death reveals armed police standing on the streets below. You can see the red hats indicating it's the Operational Support Division, an armed unit of the police, which according to Amnesty International has a track record for shooting an unarmed protesters dating back to 2007. As other scenes of injured and bloody protesters across Freetown began to be shared on social media, the internet was cut off.
By midday just half an hour after Gibrilla's death, NetBlocks recorded a total shutdown of the internet. Activity NetBlocks identified as an intentional disruption. The next day, a statement was issued by the Government's Department for Cybersecurity warning that anyone spreading incendiary information online could be punished with up to 20 years in prison. And the basis for this threat was a new cybersecurity law introduced in 2021 and backed by the E.U., U.K. and the Council of Europe.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: To sign into law today, the Cybersecurity and Crime Act.
POLGLASE (voice-over): The law had aimed to safeguard intellectual property and privacy online and was part of a broader initiative by the E.U. and U.K. to fund projects across Africa that tackled cybercrime. In statements to CNN, the E.U. and U.K. delegations to Sierra Leone said they were engaging with the government on freedom of speech and protest.
The delegation encouraged all measures which lead to dialogue and refrain from repressive measures. the EU said. And the Council of Europe said the spreading of incendiary information is not listed in the offences under the act.
(on-camera): Do you think it's what the U.K. and E.U. intended for this law to be used by?
WIESLAW GOZDZIEWICZ, FORMER NATO LEGAL ADVISER: Definitely not. I mean, neither the E.U. which is founded upon the basic principles of human rights, and nor any democratic state in the world, including the United Kingdom, would even consider an attempt to limit the freedom of speech in such a manner.
POLGLASE (voice-over): Reporters Without Borders told CNN, "Any repressive provision of freedom of expression online must be repealed." And said they called on authorities in Sierra Leone to highlight the fact the act should not interfere with the rights to freedom of expression. And for many in Sierra Leone who spoke to CNN, they said this law made them fearful to use social media to document what they witnessed during the August 10th protests.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They don't want you guys to see it, the foreign medias. They don't want the foreign medias to be seeing these videos.
POLGLASE (on-camera): Do you feel scared right now?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Of course, yes. Of course, I'm afraid. Yes. Yes, yes, yes. I am actually expecting a physical assault but I pray it don't happen.
POLGLASE (voice-over): Katie Polglase, CNN, London.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
VAUSE: We had this note, CNN reached out to government officials in Sierra Leone for comment regarding the new cybersecurity law, and also the Amnesty International report. We're still waiting for a comment.
Still to come finding new ways to beat the heat as a scorching heat wave across China wreaks havoc on crops, livestock, environment, everything else. Also ahead, after deadly flooding and a call for help, emergency aid is reaching Pakistan. Why officials they say it's been so hard to recover from recent storms, that's when we return.
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[01:20:52]
VAUSE: It's a fire tornado or firenado. It took shape Monday in Portugal, amid a wildfire in the Alvao Natural Park. Authority say that fire is now under control. So far, though, that 1 percent of Portugal has been left blackened by fire this year. That's 1 percent of the entire country affected by fire flames. That's the highest percentage of any country in the E.U.
Day 74 of China's heatwave that just won't quit. While the Yangtze River has run dry in some places and with crops struggling amid soaring temperatures, food supplies are at risk and adding another layer of misery out of misery, government ordered mass COVID tests forcing millions outdoors.
Let's go live to Hong Kong. CNN's Kristie Lu Stout has more. This is just -- it's just horrible thing, about --
KRISTIE LU STOUT, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes.
VAUSE: -- millions of people are being put through every day in China?
STOUT: Yes, the suffering, John, you're right is absolutely immense. You have this historic, record-breaking heatwave and drought that has been literally scorching the country since June affecting 900 million people and across the country. People have been scrambling to find ways to cope through the heat, to cope through the power cuts in place to ration electricity. And just imagine the struggles of Chinese farmers as they are trying desperately to save their livestock and their livelihoods.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
STOUT (voice-over): Pile upon pile of dead poultry at a chicken farm in Sichuan, China, and the farmer is devastated.
I watched them die, she says through tears. The temperature was so high yesterday. Yet they cut out the power. Her livestock and her livelihood. The latest casualties in China's ongoing power crunch and sweltering summer that is China's hottest ever on record. Across the country, farmers are struggling to save their livestock and crops including this corn farmer collecting a wilted harvest.
As huge parts of China bake under a heatwave that is lasted more than two months, riverbeds like this Yangtze River tributary run dry. Wildfires have broken out like these blazes and Chongqing, which authorities say are under control. And factories across Sichuan and Chongqing have shut down in a desperate bid to save energy. A record- breaking heatwave has been scorching China's since mid-June, affecting some 900 million people. People are scrambling to find ways to manage the heat as well as the power cuts.
In this state media video, villagers in Sichuan's Chongqing county find shelter from the heat in 2,000-year-old tubes. Elsewhere in the province, people crowd onto a bridge at night because it's too hot to sleep at home. And in this video from Chongqing, we see the subway running in complete darkness. The lights have been switched off to save electricity.
(on-camera): This map from China's National Weather Service underscores the intensity and scale of a prolonged heatwave that is stretched from June to August. On Wednesday morning China issued a red alert heat warning that's the highest level to at least 147 cities and counties as where temperatures could surpass 40 degrees Celsius or 104 degrees Fahrenheit.
(voice-over): Authorities have advised people to avoid outdoor activities and take protective measures against heatstroke. And yet in Chongqing, millions have been ordered to line up outside at night for mass COVID-19 testing. Even China's zero COVID policy is at the mercy of the country's worst heatwave on record.
Through tears, the chicken farmer shows her dwindling livestock. She says only the small chickens are left. How can I not be sad and not shed tears, she weeps. This is what I have left. Who can bring me justice. Waiting for justice as she surveys all she has lost during China's cruel, blistering summer.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
STOUT: John, so many people across China are suffering right now in China's zero COVID policy is adding yet another layer of misery. We have additional video from Chongqing. It apparently shows people waiting outside in the daytime for mandatory COVID tests. Keep in mind that the temperatures outside in Chongqing have exceeded 40 degrees Celsius or 104 degrees Fahrenheit.
[01:25:13]
Officials there have said that 10 million residents are required to undergo mandatory COVID tests. And we also have new additional video of showing how residents there are trying to help out in efforts to put out new blazes in Chongqing. There new fires apparently broken out in Sichuan Mountain. And the residents are on motorbikes going up the mountains, going up the hills to help out the firefighters by delivering supplies to them, doing whatever it takes to help out is trying to burns and the earth is just scorched with this ongoing record-breaking heatwave. Back to you.
VAUSE: And it does make you wonder the day after all of this. What happens then when so much has been left destroyed? That's a story for another day though. Kristie, thank you. Kristie Lu Stout for us in Hong Kong.
STOUT: Thank you.
VAUSE: China is sending humanitarian aid to Pakistan after heavy rains and flooding left more than 900 dead. More than -- no more than a third of them, those killed, are children. Along with emergency cash supplies, China is sending supplies like tents for those displaced by the rising water.
Pakistan's Minister for Climate Change says this country is now dealing with humanitarian disaster.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SHERRY REHMAN, PAKISTANI MINISTER FOR CLIMATE CHANGE: We've never, in living history, seen six, seven and we're right now in the eight cycle of relentless monsoon rains. It barely gives us a gap of half a day or one day. The city of Karachi, for instance, saw 400 millimeters in a few hours. No city is structured or geared up, or that climate resilient, that it can cope with this amount of water in such short time. So it's literally buckets pouring down.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
VAUSE: Meteorologist Pedram Javaheri joins me that was more. So what are we looking at here?
PEDRAM JAVAHERI, CNN METEOROLOGIST: You know, John, an incredible monsoon season here and you look at the numbers of how many people have been impacted about 2 million Pakistanis have been impacted by the floods here from mid-June until essentially right now. And talking about almost 100,000 homes that have been destroyed. And really the most sobering of it all is almost 3,000 kilometers of roadways in Pakistan have been destroyed as a result of what's been happening with these rains.
That's the equivalent of taking your car driving from London to Istanbul, that amount of length and roadways scattered about the nation that have been damaged or destroyed because of these floods that have taken place. Notice 305 percent of rainfall for the month of August, an incredible amount of rainfall. This is in the southwestern province, there a bulge just done. The wettest July in 30 years in that same region. Of course, August continues here with incredible rains that have been observed in recent days.
And notice we're talking 1,500 millimeters of rainfall observed so far this summer season. Compare that to what's happened across India where they're prominently known for their monsoons, the rainfall there has actually been less than what's been playing out across portions of Pakistan. Off towards the west, some of these areas 200 to 500 percent above what is considered normal for this time of year.
But if you take a look at the rainfall this time of year, there certainly is a peak across areas off towards the west. But nowhere near the numbers that we're seeing several 100 percent above what typically plays out this time of year. So all of this has led to the significant flooding, rainfall amounts in the past couple of days. Still as impressive as it gets here when it comes to how much has come down.
And John, we often talk about this, a warmer atmosphere has a higher ability to retain moisture that leads to heavy rain events that is among the highest likelihood of why this has been playing out because we see these over and over again, record rainfall keeps coming down in these areas. And we know a warmer atmosphere again retains more moisture allowing these rainfall events to be that much heavier.
VAUSE: Yes. It's worth repeating. Thanks for that. Pedram, appreciate the update.
JAVAHERI: Thanks, John.
VAUSE: And floods continue to wreak havoc in Sudan. More than 150,000 people reportedly affected so far this year, double the number since this time last year. More than 80 people have died and tens of thousands of houses have been damaged or destroyed.
CNN's Zain Asher has more.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ZAIN ASHER, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): This year's rainy season in Sudan is off to a deadly start, with severe flooding, killing scores of people and leaving thousands of others homeless, according to official figures. The country declared a state of emergency Sunday because of flooding across six states, including the River Nile state.
These disasters aren't new for Sudan. From May to October each year, the country faces heavy rains that devastate infrastructure and destroy crops. But this year's rains and flooding have affected twice as many people and communities as they did last year. One resident who lives near the Nile River described the destruction.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translation): The floods were heavy and instantly filled the streets of the neighborhood. And then the alleys, and into houses, yards, rooms inside, balconies, kitchens and storage rooms, the water was heavy and running. Only a few managed to save their furniture.
[01:29:50]
ASHER (voice-over): Others in the village are worried that the rains and flooding will get worse in the coming weeks.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): Autumn has just started, and people are worried that there will be more rains and there is no place to stay. Not all families have shelter. And we are worried for the children's safety as there are scorpions and snakes. People are worried about what the heavy rain could bring with it.
ASHER: Scorpions and snakes aren't the only thing that people should watch out for. One humanitarian official cautions that waterborne diseases like cholera could increase as a result of the floods.
FARID ABDULKADIR, HEAD OF SUDAN'S DELEGATION, IFRC: At the moment, what is presently (ph) required is the shelter material that is including of tents, blankets, tarpaulins for shelter. But also the requirement also has to look at water and sanitation.
Water has been contaminated. If you don't distill the contaminated water, there is a secondary disaster coming which is outbreak of diseases.
ASHER: With a month of rain still to come, relief agencies warn that nearly half a million people in Sudan could be affected by floods this year. Far higher than in recent years.
Zain Asher, CNN.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
VAUSE: U.S. President Joe Biden has announced plans to write off millions of dollars in student loan debt which is either too little and does nothing or too much and will fuel inflation. We'll explain, in just a moment.
Also, Donald Trump's legal team facing two key deadlines this week, what more could we learn about the FBI's search of his Mar-a-Lago estate. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)
VAUSE: Welcome back. I'm John Vause, you're watching CNN NEWSROOM.
U.S. President Joe Biden is under bipartisan heat over his plan to write off thousands of dollars of student debt from federal loans. Here are the numbers. The plan is to erase $10,000 in debt for individuals making less than $125,000 a year or $20,000 of debt release if they went to college on a Pell Grant awarded for financial need.
Advocates of loan forgiveness complain that it's too little. Critics argue it's not fair to people who have repaid their loans. Here's Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. MITCH MCCONNELL (R-KY): I think it's a bad idea. An awful lot of Americans choose not to go to college. And then there are those Americans who borrowed money to pay for school and paid back. In what way is it fair to those taxpayers?
[01:34:53]
So I think fundamentally, when we borrow money we ought to pay it back. And I don't think the government ought to be forgiving these student loans.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
VAUSE: Overall, the plan seeks to kind of overall the entire student loan process. In addition to, that there will be a pause in debt repayments which were implemented during the pandemic. That will be extended through the end of the year.
The "Washington Post" is reporting the National Archives wanted Donald Trump to return documents as far back as May last year. Even one of the former president's lawyers agreed the records should be returned.
Meantime President Biden responding to claims that he knew about the FBI search of Trump's residence.
CNN's Jessica Schneider reports.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JESSICA SCHNEIDER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Tonight, President Biden forcefully declaring he had no knowledge of the Mar-a-Lago search before it happened.
JOE BIDEN, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Didn't have any advanced notice, none, zero, not one single bit.
SCHNEIDER: Trump's allies have been insisting that Biden was somehow behind the unprecedented search on August 8th, arguing that it was part of a political takedown. UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: If he was a registered Democrat, this wouldn't
have happened.
SCHNEIDER: The spin from Trump's team coming as to legal deadlines are looming. Tomorrow at noon, the Justice Department will lay out what prosecutors are willing to reveal from the Mar-a-Lago search warrant affidavit. The suggestions though will be under seal and not made available to the public.
Then Judge Bruce Reinhart will ultimately decide whether to release portions of the warrant which Trump says he wants out there, but that may include damning details.
And Friday, Trump's lawyers must clarify their request for a special master to review the evidence seized from his home.
RYAN GOODMAN, FORMER U.S. DEFENSE DEPARTMENT SPECIAL COUNSEL: What is this? It's really not what a legal complaint looks like. It's a lot of political arguments. But it's also unclear as this, why is this in her court?
SCHNEIDER: The judge assigned to the case, Aileen Cannon, expressed similar confusion. The Trump nominee was highly critical of his legal team's filing. First, imploring them to use the court's Website to see an example of the way they should have filed the motion.
And then demanding they answer basic questions. Like, what is the precise release sought? Whether Trump is seeking an immediate injunction? What legal standard apply, and if Trump has served his motion to the DOJ.
GOODMAN: It really, kind of a very significant kind of rejection in a certain stance of what they but giving them a second opportunity.
SCHNEIDER: Meanwhile, the question from Congress continue about whether Trump compromised national security by keeping hundreds of highly-classified documents at his Florida home.
REP. JACKIE SPEIER (D-CA): It puts people at risk who are serving our country. He doesn't own them, he's stolen them. He needs to give them back. He dragged his heels and prevented that from happening for a year and a half. He needs to have more than a slap on the hand.
SCHNEIDER: And all of this is unfolding as the Georgia Election interference probe plows forward. Prosecutors from the Fulton County DA's office are right now fighting efforts from two Republicans to avoid appearing before the grand jury.
Senator Lindsey Graham is saying he shouldn't be questioned because of his position as a U.S. senator. And Governor Brian Kemp is asking a judge to completely throw out the subpoena he received.
Jessica Schneider, CNN-- Washington.
(END VIDEOTAPE) VAUSE: Well, Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan is expected in court in the coming hours. The court order which was issued to prevent his arrest will soon expire. The former cricket star turned politician was investigated for possibly violating anti-terrorism laws during this speech, Saturday night. Khan appeared to make a veiled threat against the head of police and the Pakistani magistrate.
That's because according to Khan, his former chief of staff was tortured after his recent arrest which police denied. Arresting the popular prime minister is a non start for his supporters. They pledged they would in their words take over the capital if he is detained.
For more, we're joined now by Azeem Ibrahim, a research professor at the Strategic Studies Institute, which is part of the U.S. Army War College. He's also a columnist at "Foreign Policy Magazine". Thanks for being with us.
So Imran Khan's rise and fall, it is far from unique in Pakistan. Other leaders have -- sooner or later they fall out of favor with the political elite and the military leaders. They're forced out of office?
In the past some go to prison for real or imagined crimes. Others flee the country. But now he's being charged under the anti-terrorism laws, can Khan actually avoid possible jail time? What it his likely fate?
AZEEM IBRAHIM, RESEARCH PROFESSOR, STRATEGIC STUDIES INSTITUTE: Well John, Imran Khan was removed from office in a no confidence vote as far back as April and the opposition politicians along with the military were hoping that he would simply just disappear.
And in fact, Imran Khan was a celebrity before he entered politics so this was a very viable option. And instead he's actually become exponentially more popular amongst the people (INAUDIBLE) since he left office. And he's demonstrated that he can actually survive as a politician, out with the office of a prime minister.
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IBRAHIM: And so the opposition has now been attempting to engineer various crisis on Imran Khan and this terrorist accusation is just the latest. They've also had tried to get him banned for campaign finance issues and so on. And they basically were trying to eliminate him as a political entity before the next elections.
VAUSE: And Khan, as you mentioned, he's really been spending a lot of his time rallying his supporters, firing them up about this need for democratic reform like this. Here he is. Listen to this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
IMRAN KHAN, FORMER PAKISTANI PRIME MINISTER (through translator): The most positive thing about all of this is that the people of our country have woken up. They have become so aware that I am confident that the genie of awareness that has come out of the bottle is not going to go back into the bubble again no matter how hard anyone tries.
It is my belief that God willing, this is going to carry the country forward towards real freedom.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
VAUSE: And so in "Foreign Policy" you write this. "Not only is Khan criticizing the military and the corruption at the heart of Pakistan's army led economy but he's also doing so in a 21st century fashion, using tools the generals may not well understand. He may have kicked off the beginnings of a digital democratic revolution."
It's all very well and good to start a revolution the challenge usually is to bring it to a successful conclusion. But the military, for example, they would not lie down and acquiesce over a few tweets and social media postings, will they?
IBRAHIM: Certainly, this is what Imran Khan is doing is actually quite unprecedented. Nobody's has challenged the military in this kind of fashion before. And Imran Khan is actually circumventing many of the traditional mechanisms that the military has utilized in the past to silence opponents. They banned him from TV for example.
But Imran Khan is utilizing more than technology. And you know, he has a vast social media following. He has a vast following in YouTube. So many of the speeches have been (INAUDIBLE) to those and it seems to me that if Imran Khan is successful at managing to beat the military and beat the opposition dynastic politicians that are currently in power then we may actually see the beginning of a new mass led movement in Pakistan, a genuine democracy.
Pakistan is a country at 75 years old has been a democracy for 25 years of, but the reality is that the Army Chief it has always been the most powerful person in the country and know they are at a bit of a loss in terms of what to do with. this celebrity politician. The old techniques are simply not working on him.
VAUSE: And what's interesting is that Pakistan, the average age, it's a young country, the vast majority of people are young. They actually use these new tools that Imran Khan seems to also embrace as well.
IBRAHIM: Yes, 64 percent of the population is under 30. So most of them are on social media. Many of them don't watch the news channels from (INAUDIBLE). He appeals to the younger generation, the more dynamic generation is a few female. So those are not the traditionalist target that the military and the TV studios and the radio studios have used in the past so all their techniques that they have utilized in the past are simply not effective against some of Imran Khan's popularity.
VAUSE: The military's role in every day life in Pakistan is pretty obvious, but explain who the other forces are. Who are the political elite, these families, these dynasties who want Khan out of office?
IBRAHIM: The dynasties are the likes of the Bakhtos (ph) and Sharifs (ph) who have ruled Pakistan for a considerable amount of time. They exercise of considerable power. They have extreme (INAUDIBLE). And one of the reasons why Imran Khan was actually popular in the first place is simply because he did not have a dynastic family.
One of the things that many of these politicians do as soon as they come to office is that they try to groom their children to take over. Imran Khan's children have absolutely no appetite to enter politics in Pakistan. So this was actually quite appealing for many people.
And we can see the same thing that many of these politicians have returned to office and the children are now getting plum position in various (INAUDIBLE) and various governorships and so on.
So these are what you would call the deep establishment along with the military that are the architects of the Pakistan political structure.
VAUSE: Azeem, thanks for being with us. We really appreciate your insights and explanation. It's good to have you there. Thank you, Azeem Ibrahim.
Well, the widow of Kobe Bryant has won a lawsuit against Los Angeles county over graphic photos of the helicopter crash site where the U.S. basketball star died. A federal jury awarded $16 million in damages to Bryant's wife, Vanessa. She sued Los Angeles County over photographs that police and fire crew (ph) shared of human remains at the scene. Another $15 million went to the husband and father of two other victims who joined the suit. Nine people including Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna died in the crash in 2020.
Still to come, Iraq in the midst of a devastating drought turning once fertile marshlands into dust. Some destroying an entire way of life.
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VAUSE: As ocean temperatures continue to rise, more and more tropical reefs are being threatened by mass bleaching events leaving much of the sea life that inhabit them critically in danger.
Today on "Call to Earth", we visit one of the healthiest reef ecosystems in the Caribbean to see how conservationist are protecting and restoring marine habitats.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: In the southern Caribbean, just 50 miles off the coast of Venezuela, like the Dutch Island of Bonaire. Beneath the surface of its turquoise waters, whole reefs cling to the coastline and are home to over 350 species of fish.
But a recent four-year study here concluded in 2020 has shown annual coral bleaching as high as 61 percent, a phenomenon that reveals signs of stress, potentially deadly to the organisms.
ROXANNE-LIANA FRANCISCA, MARINE BIOLOGIST: One of the big impacts in climate change is, of course, the oceans getting warmer. What we have seen in Bonaire over the last couple of years is a lot of bleaching that happens.
But luckily not a lot of corals have died. But of course, if we keep having these really big, intense bleaching events, the corals do not get the time to recover that can really change what your reef looks like.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: In 1979, the waters around the island were given special protection as one of the planet's first marine reserves. Since then, the ban on fishing in the reserve plus the prohibition of anchoring and any removal of coral is monitored and regulated by the Tinapa Park Foundation. Today, the reef maintains its status as one of the healthiest in the Caribbean.
FRANCISCA: Today, we are doing checks on some lightened temperature sensors we have located in the park. The sensors, we can get an idea of how the temperature is changing through the years. Is this temperature change the same in all of the marine parks? Is it the same on all depths? And this can really help us in the future, if we are planning on doing restoration by targeting which corral species survive best in which temperature changes. Which areas would do better restorations and the better we understand that, the better we can protect and conserve what we have.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: For the past ten years, local organization Reef Renewal Bonaire has been using that valuable information to implement a process of natural coal core recovery called fragmentation.
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FRANCESCA VIRDIS, REEF RENEWAL BONAIRE: We propagate thousands and thousands of corals in our nursery, just cutting them. Like, sort of gardening under water, so let's say you have a coral, we call it the parent colony -- you can cut a portion of it and this fragment is able to heal first the scar and then start growing.
So, the new corals, growing will be a clone of the parent colony. In this way, cutting, we are able to produce an old plant back to the reef, almost 10,000 corals per year.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Most of the restoration is focused on two species of branch and coral. Staghorn and Alcorn, both critically endangered. And both crucial as shelter for the marine life in the reef.
FRANCISCA: When the project started, we sampled all around the island, almost 50 different strains of these two species. We need to find corals that are more resistant. They are more resilient.
To see the spawning of corals that you grew, simply a little fragments, and you span a couple of years, you know, first in the nursery and then I'm planting them and monitoring them over the years, and see them spawning, it is very rewarding. It means that what you are doing is really making a difference.
I am still very optimistic about the future of Bonaire's reefs. We need to decide what we want the future to look like and then we need to take the steps to make sure that we can speak for that future. I think we are at the point where we can make those decisions that
will make sure that in 20 years, Bonaire is maybe one of the only places that can say, well, we still have very nice, beautiful reefs left.
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VAUSE: So what are you doing to answer the call? Well, you can have the snow with the hashtag call to earth. That's hashtag call to earth.
You are watching CNN. Back after a very short break.
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VAUSE: For a country already vulnerable to climate change, the impact from extreme heat in Iraq is only going from bad to worse as temperatures rise. With summer temperatures hovering around 50 degrees Celsius already, the once fertile marsh lands in the South -- now for the most part, dry. That's leading to the end of an entire way of life.
Here's Jomana Karadsheh.
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JOMANA KARADSHEH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It's hard to believe this parched land is where it is thought the Garden of Eden once stood. Droughts, water shortages and rising temperatures have turned the lush, green marshlands of southern Iraq into this desolate, desert. Increasingly uninhabitable for a population that has relied on this land and water for survival.
The marshes are one of Iraq's poorest regions and one of the most affected by climate change, according to the United Nations. These local buffalo herders are among the hardest hit.
"The effects of dehydration are very clear on the animals," this woman says. The buffaloes can walk, drink or cool themselves because of the drought.
Where do they go now? They might fall in the mud and die. Many have already lost their livestock, their livelihood. The unprecedented low water levels are threatening not only the incomes but the very existence of thousands of families.
"This year since there is a drought everywhere," this man says, "people were forced to leave. Most sold their animals, which they used to survive and were forced to find different jobs."
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KARADSHEH: The U.N. says Iraq is one of the world's most vulnerable countries to the effects of climate change. And everywhere across this country, people are feeling the impact.
Baghdad has been hit with more sandstorms this year than any other year in memory. It's also been sweltering under persistently high temperatures this summer. But the capital's ill-equipped to deal with these extreme heat waves.
Decades of sanctions, wars, corruption and mismanagement have decimated the infrastructure. People here get electricity a few hours a day. Those who can pay for it rely on private generators, making air conditioning a luxury many can't afford.
When the temperatures hit extreme highs of more than 50 degrees Celsius or 122 Fahrenheit, the government had to declare a public holiday.
But staying at home is not an option for day laborers like Muhammad. He has to earn a daily wage to feed his three children.
"It's so hot. I feel exhausted and thirsty all the time," Muhammad tells us. "But we have to go out to work. Lives must go on."
As the scorching summer sun sets on Baghdad, the capital comes to life. With improve security, parents now can take their children out at night. But nightfall brings little respite from the heat.
"It is still hot but what can we do, we have to entertain the kids," this grandmother tells us. Others take their children out to escape the heat indoors and fall asleep.
On this night, it is around 40 degrees Celsius here. "God help those who work during the day," this man tells us. "I'm out here at night, I have an air cooler and the temperature is not normal."
But this appears to be the new normal for a nation that has already gone through so much.
Jomana Karadsheh, CNN -- Istanbul.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
VAUSE: He was one of the greats, Luciano Pavarotti. And he's been honored with a star on Hollywood's Walk of Fame. 15 years after he died. His daughter accepted the accolade on behalf of the family, saying her father would have been ecstatic with the recognition.
Besides being one of the most famous opera singers of the 20th century, Pavarotti sang live in an astounding -- get this -- 378 performances. That is a lot of performances.
Thank you for watching CNN NEWSROOM. I'm John Vause.
CNN NEWSROOM continues with my colleague and friend Rosemary Church. I will see you soon.
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