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Canadian Police Search for two Suspects in Mass Stabbing; Ukrainian Forces Appear to Retake Town in Kherson; Germany Announces Relief Package Amide Rising Energy Prices; Conservative Party Vote Results Expected in Hours Ahead. Majority of Voters Reject New, Progressive Constitution in Chile. Aired 1-2a ET

Aired September 05, 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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[01:00:13]

MICHAEL HOLMES, CNN ANCHOR: Hello and welcome to our viewers joining us all around the world. I appreciate your company. I'm Michael Holmes.

Coming up here on the program, deadly mass stabbings in Canada, residents told to stay vigilant with the suspects still at large. The success of the Boris Johnson set to be revealed the new U.K. Prime Minister will face a number of challenges, including a flagging economy. And the breakthrough in the race to save Caribbean coral that has scientists excited.

ANNOUNCER: Live from CNN Center, this is CNN Newsroom with Michael Holmes.

HOLMES: We begin in Canada where a manhunt is still underway for two suspects in connection with a deadly mass stabbing. Police in Saskatchewan say the attacks killed at least 10 people in more than a dozen crime scenes in the province. At least 15 people taken to hospital for other injuries and leaders of the James Smith Cree Nation have declared a state of emergency.

Police have identified the two suspects as Damien Sanderson and Myles Sanderson. They are considered armed and dangerous and believed to be traveling in a black Nissan Rogue with a Saskatchewan license plate.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called the attacks horrific and heartbreaking. Authorities urging residents to shelter in place.

CNN's Paula Newton has been following the Saskatchewan stabbings stories since it broke. She's on the phone with me now from Ottawa. Paula, thanks for being with us. So, what have you been learning about what happened? What do you know right now?

PAULA NEWTON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I mean, these are really extraordinary circumstances, Michael and remember that this started, Saskatchewan time, this started early Sunday morning with people getting those kinds of very dramatic alerts on their phone. But as it unfolded hour after hour, and the death toll continued to arrive. And more than that, Michael, think about it that the manhunt is still underway. They say that they may or may not be in an SUV, but they can't be sure. And the circumstances, the police being very forthcoming and saying, look, we believe that these were targeted, but then they were also random that they do not believe as of now that any firearms were used, that these were all stabbings, they released the names of the suspects and continue to look for them. But some of the eyewitness accounts Michael are so disturbing, people who had been stabbed to Gotham, so these are in rural areas, in some case, isolated that had to get themselves to find medical attention, bleeding, holding their blood in from wounds that continued to be gushing blood by time they tried to get to these hospitals.

And again, you can imagine the violence involved here, Michael, when the death toll is already at 10. And again, two suspects identified Damien Sanderson -- Damien, pardon me, Sanderson and Myles Sanderson, police continue to say that they are dangerous, even the Prime Minister tweeting to say, look, everyone who's there, keep abreast of local developments, keep your phone don't look for those alerts and follow the advice of local authorities.

HOLMES: And you see, that's the thing, isn't it that the police named the suspect. They -- the suspects, they released the photographs. Is there any other information on them or any other information on possible motives? Or is it just too early for any of that?

NEWTON: It is just too early. Again, police are trying to piece this together. When you think about, we are at well over a dozen crime scenes and counting, the problem there is that they are trying to figure out exactly what happened, what may have started this and again, where they may be hiding out, where they may be going to next.

And in terms of trying to piece this all together as we understand it, this also covers a fairly large territory. And police, if you can imagine are even asking right now at this hour, they believe there are people who are out there who were injured, who have presented themselves for medical attention, who still haven't told police that they were actually attacked.

As this information starts to come in, Police believe they will get a clearer picture as to motive, as to how all this unfolded and crucially, where the suspects may be trying to hide out right now. But I can't emphasize enough that if you are in these rural communities, and you are looking at law enforcement and the fact that some of these communities are not well served with law enforcement, it's just the areas just too vast. A lot of people unnerved to buy this at this hour, still wondering where the suspects are, especially as I say given the violence that they know has already gone on here.

[01:05:03]

HOLMES: Paula Newton, I appreciate that, thanks so much.

And earlier I spoke with Jason Kerr. He's the Editor of the Prince Albert Daily Herald. He says, the mass stabbing in small town of Saskatchewan is shocking that close knit community. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JASON KERR, EDITOR, PRINCE ALBERT DAILY HERALD: There are a lot of people who are stunned that something like this could happen in their community. There are a lot of your Sunday morning is for church services typically. And a lot of the church services in this area have been turned into prayer services, where they're praying for the victims. They're praying for the families of those who died. So, a lot of people are used to seeing this kind of thing in large urban centers. Your New York's, your Los Angeles says maybe Toronto, Vancouver to see something like this in small towns of Saskatchewan is very unnerving.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOLMES: And our thanks to Jason Kerr, Editor of the Prince Albert Daily Herald for his time.

Well, Ukrainian forces are saying that they're gaining ground in their southern counter offensive. The military appears to have taken control of a town in the Kherson Region. The social media photograph shows Ukrainian soldiers raising a flag on a building. Though CNN has not independently verified the location yet. CNN's Melissa Bell with more on the battle for the South.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MELISSA BELL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: There's been some good news from the Ukrainian counter offensive according to officials here in Kyiv, with the -- an aide to President Zelenskyy tweeting a picture of what he says as Ukrainian flag being placed once again on the rooftops of Vysokopillya.

Now, this is a town that had been the center of battles for some time, we're getting some confirmation of the fact that it may well now be in Ukrainian and also from the Russian side since there's been talk on some pro-Russian telegram channels of the retreat of Russian forces around that town. And it is, of course, a counter offensive now that's been going on for just about a week and about which Ukrainian authorities have been remaining pretty tight-lipped insisting that this is about degrading Russian military capabilities, trying to take out infrastructure that allows them to resupply their troops around Kherson, and not really aimed at fast territorial gains. And yet the tweeting of that picture a reminder that of course, this is also about morale and momentum.

There's been bad news, however, from the Zaporizhzhia power plant where continued shelling over the weekend has led not just to the closing down of one of the last remaining functioning reactors at the plant, but also damage to the last remaining functioning external power supply.

Now, there is an extra power supply that leads to a thermal power plant that allows both the energy leaving Zaporizhzhia to get to the Ukrainian electricity grid and the plant itself to be supplied with electricity. But Rafael Grossi, who was there only last week, the head of the IAEA has been saying that although the presence of his six inspectors still inside the Zaporizhzhia plant hadn't been able to do much in terms of stopping the shelling, saying that the fact of their presence had been important in gathering the information they needed, and then changing their ability to try and get things up and running in Zaporizhzhia once again calling that presents a game changer.

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HOLMES: That was Melissa Bell reporting for us from Kyiv in Ukraine.

Meanwhile, Germany is planning to spend nearly $65 billion to help millions of households struggling with inflation and soaring energy prices. Chancellor Olaf Scholz promised to help Germans through the winter after Russia announced it is suspending some gas deliveries indefinitely.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

OLAF SCHOLZ, GERMAN CHANCELLOR (through translator): Russia is no longer a reliable energy supplier. That's part of the new reality. The German government prepared itself for this scenario. The third relief package we put together is bigger than the first two combined, it is of a large dimension. We are talking about 65 billion euros when you add everything together, and we are talking about 95 billion if you include the first two relief packages, that's a lot we are doing and it's necessary.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOLMES: Now, the aid package includes proposals for an extension to discounted public transport and tax breaks for energy intensive companies. The government will also use income from windfall taxes to lower prices for gas, oil and coal.

Mr. Scholz also met with the Ukrainian Prime Minister on Sunday to discuss the war and reconstruction of the country.

Joining me now is Matthew Karnitschnig from Berlin. He's Politico's Chief Europe Correspondent. Thanks for making the time, and getting up early for us. So, this is a huge age aid package. I mean, $65 billion, shows how worried the government is. How do you think it's likely to be used and how is the package being received in Germany both politically and publicly?

MATTHEW KARNITSCHNIG, CHIEF EUROPE CORRESPONDENT, POLITICO: Well, it is a massive package especially by German standards, 65 billion euros, as you said. And it really is a kind of laundry list that the government has put forward here in terms of how they want to use it.

[01:10:09]

And despite that and despite the size they've been promising, they would put forth a package with punch. And, you know, the headline numbers certainly suggest that, but it has been criticized for not doing enough for lower income households, for example, you've had the industry lobby coming out saying it doesn't do enough to help companies, and that it's going to take too long for a lot of these measures to be introduced. It could be months before German see, some of this money and other measures depend on what the E.U. is going to do. For example, there's a plan to cap electricity prices, which is something that a lot of German households, pretty much every German household is worried about right now. But it's not clear how and when that is going to take place. So, I expect there will be a lot of political discussion about this in the coming days, or weeks.

HOLMES: Of course, Germany, as we've been discussing is among the most effective nations when it comes to reliance on Russian oil and gas, how has that impact likely to show itself this winter package or no packages, that package is going to be enough to mitigate the impact?

KARNITSCHNIG: Well, economists say that the increase in energy prices are going to cost Germans and an additional 200 billion euros in the coming years. So, the 65 billion will compensate for part of that, but certainly not for all of it. And I think one of the big questions is how this affects the German economy, because the German economy in particular, relies on cheap Russian gas to run many of its factories. And if they don't have that competitiveness that they've enjoyed for so long, was basically their business model has been to use cheap Russian gas to fuel their economy, and then they sell their cars and other equipment to Asia, the United States and so forth.

And that equation has really kind of gone out of whack now. So, I think this is something that a lot of people are worried about, in the medium term, it seems likely the Germans will be able to get through this winter, at least they have their gas storage facilities, which are nearly full now. But the big question is what happens after that, because it doesn't seem that these energy prices are going to be coming down anytime soon.

HOLMES: Yeah. Meanwhile, the Ukrainian PM visiting, as we said, calling for even more weapons as well as at a play likely to be heard?

KARNITSCHNIG: Well, I think that the Ukrainians are likely to continue to get weapons from Germany, but maybe not the kind of weapons that they want. They really been pushing for tanks, and, you know, more armored vehicles. But the Germans are very, very reluctant to do that. Because they feel that that would be provoking the Russians and that the Russians would declare them to be a party in this war. Other Europeans have -- other European countries have delivered tanks to Ukraine, the United States has it in Germany is arguing well, until the U.S. does, it's not going to either. So, I think this is going to remain a very contentious issue between Ukraine and Germany.

HOLMES: I wanted to ask you something else on the social level. There's a large Russian population in Germany, one of the biggest in the world, I think, and a lot of them are at odds with the government's overall stance on Russia. There have been reports of Russian saying that they're being harassed. And there are reports of Ukrainian saying that they're being harassed by Russians. What is the tension level like?

KARNITSCHNIG: Well, there have been demonstrations on both sides. And you do hear reports of Ukrainians complaining that they're being harassed by Russians in the subway and so forth. But it hasn't become violent yet. There were some protests yesterday in Germany, some demonstrations, and then there are counter demonstrations. It clearly is a -- something that people are worried about in the political realm. You have over 200,000 Russians living in Germany, and they're almost a million Ukrainian refugees who have been registered here. So, I suspect that this is going to be something that people are going to continue to grapple with because it's very easy to recognize a Russian -- you hear Russian often on the streets of Berlin, for example. And that's when it comes to these clashes if you will.

HOLMES: Yeah, yeah, I guess, something to keep an eye on in Germany. Matthew Karnitschnig, thank you so much for joining us from Berlin early in the morning there. Thanks for taking the time.

KARNITSCHNIG: Thank you.

HOLMES: Ukraine's First Lady hitting back at critics of the economic cost of Russia's war in Ukraine. In an interview with the BBC, Olena Zelenska was asked what she would say to people in the U.K. facing soaring energy costs as a result of the war. She said, the human cost is far greater.

[01:15:08]

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

OLENA ZELENSKA, UKRAINE'S FIRST LADY (through translator): Well, of course, I understand the situation is very tough. But let me recall that at the time of the COVID-19 epidemic, and it's still with us, and there were price hikes. Ukraine is affected as well. The prices are going up in Ukraine as well. But in addition, our people get killed. So, when you start counting pennies on your bank account or in your pocket, we do the same and count our casualties.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOLMES: Mrs. Zelenska said she believes stronger international support for Ukraine will shorten the length of the crisis.

Seven Israelis are in hospital after two gunman opened fire on a bus traveling through the West Bank, this according to the Israel Defense Forces. At least six Israeli soldiers and one citizen, civilian rather, were on the bus. One soldier was severely injured, the others sustained light injuries. The two suspects are in custody according to police. While not claiming responsibility, a Hamas spokesman has praised the attack.

Still to come here on the program, we'll soon learn who is replacing Boris Johnson as Britain's next prime minister, the details from London just ahead. Also, Chilean voters reject a new constitution that was up for approval. A look at what rubbed voters the wrong way. That's when we come back.

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HOLMES: Welcome back, in just a matter of hours, Britain's ruling conservative party is set to announce their new leader and the person who will become the next prime minister. The party will be voting in either Foreign Secretary Liz Truss, or former Finance Minister Rishi Sunak, two months after Boris Johnson announced he would be leaving the post. CNN's Scott McLean with more from London.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SCOTT MCLEAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: We are now just hours away from finding out who the next British Prime Minister will be. Back in July, it was Conservative Party MPs who whittled down the candidates to just two, now it is party members who have voted between Foreign Secretary Liz Truss and the former chancellor Rishi Sunak, the man whose resignation arguably helped force Boris Johnson to step down.

Now, if you believe the polls, then Liz Truss is likely to be the next Prime Minister. The political talk shows in this country are already talking about her almost as if it's a done deal, if she does win, she'll get the keys to Number 10 Downing Street on Tuesday after a quick trip to Scotland to see the Queen, where she will be formally asked to form the next government.

Now, while there is plenty of speculation that Boris Johnson may one day plot a political comeback to try to come back as Prime Minister, for now, he is urging his party to back the new leader wholeheartedly in a newspaper column he wrote in part, "As a lead Number Ten after three tough but often exhilarating years, I know just how big and demanding this job is. I also know that either candidate is more than capable of delivering for the people of this country."

[01:20:20]

But delivering will be particularly challenging for whoever does win. The U.K. is facing inflation at more than 10%, soaring energy bills the threat of labor strikes plus the war in Ukraine.

The rising cost of energy is currently dominating the headlines and may well be the defining issue of the new Prime Minister's term in office.

Last month, Liz Truss pledged not to give handouts for energy bills now though she is planning an immediate action plan announced within her first week though she hasn't given any specifics. Rishi Sunak, meanwhile, is pledging direct payments to help with energy bills if he defies the odds and winds. Scott McLean, CNN, London.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HOLMES: Joining me now is CNN European Affairs Commentator, Dominic Thomas. Always good to have you on, Dominic. I guess it's always the Korea pinnacle for a politician to lead their nation. But what will this new PM be inheriting in the midst of all of these crises? I mean, I guess how poisoned is the chalice?

DOMINIC THOMAS, CNN EUROPEAN AFFAIRS COMMENTATOR: Well, I think, Michael, considerable baggage, let's not forget that this will be the fourth Conservative Party Prime Minister in just a six-year period. And I think we also have yet to really assess the damage that was done by Boris Johnson, as prime minister to the Conservative Party brand.

So, the election that was just held, also proved to be incredibly divisive within the Conservative Party, and the new prime minister is clearly going to have to restore unity. The issue for the two candidates and whichever one is ultimately elected, and we will find out tomorrow is that they ran essentially a campaign that at the end had to appeal to the Conservative Party membership, that represents less than 1% of the U.K. electorate. So, the big issue really is going to be how do they go about reconcile that agenda and those promises, with a very great concern that the British people face moving forward, particularly when it comes to the economy, Michael.

HOLMES: And going forward, what does the electoral map look like for the Tories in this climate? I mean, how unified is the party? How Unified is the Labor Party? Might the new PM not want to fully unpack at Number 10?

THOMAS: Yeah, well, I think that, you know, certainly when we see what's happened to the previous prime ministers that might not be wise. I think it's really important to look at the fact that Boris Johnson was essentially elected on a single issue, which was Brexit, at a time when the British electorate was so fatigued by the multiple and general elections, party elections, and then watching the situation unfold in parliament, and they just wanted to get Brexit done.

So, we ultimately one on emotions. The new prime minister has to deal with real issues, the kinds of issues that Scott just outlined, that have to do with inflation and recession and the legacy of COVID. And unless this new elected prime minister is able to convince the British people that this is the best person to have it their hell, it's going to be an uphill struggle for the Conservative Party, as they head into a general election, which may come anytime now. But certainly, by 2024 at the latest, Michael.

HOLMES: Yeah, maybe move into Number 10 with an overnight bag. What do you see ahead for Boris Johnson? He's not really the type two with apologies to Dylan Thomas, go gentle into the good night, is he?

THOMAS: No, he's not. But he's got his own struggles here. There's a parliamentary investigation underway that in many ways will determine his immediate kind of political position and future. But I think it's important to look at the fact that, you know, he really has damaged the Conservative Party, and as much as many around him felt like they could legislate with him and determine the agenda moving forward. I think the British public are not about to forget the kind of sense of entitlement that defined his prime ministership, and the incredible sacrifices that they made during that COVID era. And I think to that extent, he's positively damaged as he goes about facing the British public in a more general way, if that was ever part of his ambitions, Michael.

HOLMES: Yeah. Hard to see him sitting quietly on the back bench, I guess. Liz Truss is the favorite. I guess everybody thinks that. She's the Foreign Secretary. She has that experience. But for international viewers., I mean, she's been pretty gaffe prone. She's put her foot in and a couple of times, a couple of weeks ago, she said the jury was out on whether France's Emmanuel Macron was friend or foe. How do you think she will be viewed internationally if indeed she is picked for the job?

THOMAS: I think it's not just her, Michael, is once again, it's the biggest situation in the U.K., as European leaders particularly especially in the aftermath of Brexit, and I other important global leaders are looking for certainty as they deal with the global energy crisis, the situation in Ukraine, they're not finding that kind of reliability in the U.K.

[01:25:10]

This is not an elected prime minister. This is a prime minister elected within the party, as a leader who has not yet faced the British people. And I think it's important to remember that particular aspect is as they tried to build trust moving forward, it's difficult to do that when you're not certain that the person who is your interlocutor is going to be an office one or two years from now. And I think that's the major challenge that she faces internationally, that clearly it's the domestic issues that are going to be the hardest to tackle for this incoming Prime Minister.

HOLMES: Yeah, then she's already suggesting a big spend up to try to tackle some of those issues. Always great analysis. Dominic, thank you so much. Dominic Thomas, there.

THOMAS: Thank you, Michael.

HOLMES: And do stay with CNN for extensive coverage of the leadership announcement, Max Foster, Bianca Nobilo, and Isa Soares will bring that to you starting at noon Monday in London at 7 a.m. in New York.

Chilean voters have soundly rejected a new constitution, the progressive document emerged years ago as a response to political protests, that on Sunday, it felt a negative public opinion. CNN's Rafael Romo reports.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

RAFAEL ROMO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: The new proposed Constitution was rejected in every single province, it even failed in the more liberal region of Santiago, the capital and its metropolitan area by a nearly two-thirds majority of Chileans decided they would rather keep the constitution that has ruled the country since 1980, instead of adopting a more progressive one.

The rejection came as a surprise to the leftist ruling coalition of precedent Gabriel Boric, who took office in March and who scored a decisive victory and last December's presidential election. And an address to the nation Sunday night, Boric said, the Chilean people have spoken and they have done so in a strong and clear manner. They have given us two messages, he said the first one is that they love and value their democracy. The second message the President said is that Chileans were not satisfied with a proposed Constitution, adding that there's a need for a new one that better represents everybody. Why did the effort to replace the Constitution approved during the dictatorship failed? The document was a wide-ranging proposal some viewed as a wish list. It included demands for social rights and special interests. It also mandated the creation of expensive welfare programs the state would have been responsible for. At 388 articles, it would have been one of the longest in the world, misinformation and the belief that special interests prevailed over citizen's concerns, including security and the economy alienated many voters. This is not the end of the story. Both sides have vowed to begin a new process to rewrite the Constitution. Promising voters the next one will better reflect their interests. Rafael Romo, CNN Atlanta.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HOLMES: Now, in the coming hours, Kenya's supreme court is expected to decide whether to uphold or toss out last month's presidential election result. Opposition Leader Raila Odinga challenged his loss in court claiming widespread fraud led to the current Deputy President William Ruto being declared the victor. On top of this dispute, a majority of Kenya's Electoral Commission disowned the tally. Ahead of the ruling that declared President Elect Ruto says he will abide by the court's decision.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

WILLIAM RUTO, DECLARED PRESIDENT-ELECT BY ELECTORAL COMMISSION: We will respect the decision of the judiciary because we are a country based on the rule of law and respect for all the institutions. That is the only way we will remain democratic. That's the only way we will remain a constitutional country. And that is the only way that citizens of the Republic of Kenya will be equal.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOLMES: If the court nullifies the result, the government must organize a new election within 60 days.

Exactly one month after 10 workers were trapped in a flooded coal mine in Mexico family members held a memorial for their loved ones. Those who attended the service on Saturday were taken to the site in military vehicles, relatives carrying musical instruments, flowers and portraits of the miners. There have been no signs of life or contact with those workers since the mine collapsed on August the third. The Mexican government has offered the family's compensation no word on whether they have accepted that deal.

A powerful typhoon moving towards Japan and South Korea, we will track the storm and get the forecast from Gene Norman when we come back.

Also, Pakistan taking drastic measures to save areas for even more flooding. We'll have that as well after the break.

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[01:32:19] HOLMES: In East Asia, Typhoon Hinnamnor is set to make landfall on the

Korean Peninsula and Japan's southern islands on Tuesday. The storm has been lashing parts of mainland China, Taiwan, Japan, and the Koreas with heavy rain and strong winds. Officials in parts of Japan and China have canceled dozens of flights, and closed schools because of the storms.

Let's bring in meteorologist Gene Norman. What are you seeing in terms of strength and direction, Gene?

GENE NORMAN, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Well Michael, this storm is likely not going to get a whole lot stronger before it makes that run for southern Korea, and it will kind of cut right between Southern Korea and the Ryukyu Islands here of southern Japan.

If you can clearly see the eye, the storm right now is as strong as a category three hurricane with 205 kph winds. We've dialed up the radar out of the Japan Meteorological Association. You can see these showers continuing to move closer to Seiju in southern Korea.

But watch the forecast track, because that's very important. This system will move into southern Korea sometime early on Tuesday before making its way into the Sea of Japan, where it will weaken considerably.

Now let's take you hour by hour as far as when that rainfall and heavy winds will arrive. Looks like, again, early on Tuesday morning, before all of this moves out of the picture.

But as it moves in, we're talking about torrential rains. We've already had reports of over 500 millimeters in sections of Taiwan and at least that much in southwestern Japan as the storm has been meandering there in the water.

As far as the rainfall accumulations we could be seeing close to 250 millimeters or more, that leads to a flood threat. And then we have to worry about the storm surge, because watch these winds. They're going to churn that water right between Busan and Fukuoka. That's going to cause a likelihood of some storm surge concerns especially along those coasts, before the system quickly moves out of the picture.

And as far as wondering -- if you are wondering about how rare it is to have a storm of this intensity hit South Korea, it's pretty rare. It only happened seven times in an equivalent category two storm like we have right now has hit this area.

Now, the last two were in 2020. Before, that 2012. So the intensity or the frequency of these events is starting to increase in what's been a fairly lackluster Western Pacific typhoon season.

But Michael we're still watching this. It could be pretty dangerous.

[01:34:48]

HOLMES: All right. Keeping an eye on it for us, Gene Norman, appreciate it. Gene, thanks. Well now, to the latest in flood-ravaged Pakistan. Authorities have breached the country's largest fresh water lake. It's a move they hope will save densely-populated areas from further flooding.

This as the death toll keeps rising with children accounting for a third of the victims. Monsoon rains have affected 33 million people in the country since June.

Let's bring in CNN's Anna Coren, following developments from Hong Kong. This is interesting, this breaching of this lake to, I guess, save more people than it disrupts.

ANNA COREN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, it was set to prevent another disaster enfolding in a country which is grappling to deal with this climate change and huge (ph) catastrophe.

But this lake, the Manchar Lake is the largest freshwater lake in Pakistan. It's in Sindh Province in the southeast of the country. The water levels, Michael, where dangerously high, so officials decided to deliberately breach it.

It has impacted 100,000 people, which may sound like a lot, but if they left it up to Mother Nature, then perhaps the toll would've been so much higher. It would've impacted densely populated cities, which is why they made that decision.

But as we know, Pakistan has been dealing with this now for months, the death toll stands at more than 1,300 people. One third of those victims, Michael, are children.

And the forecast is not good. Rain is expected in the coming days for a country that is facing a humanitarian disaster.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

COREN: As rushing floodwaters turn stagnant, the nightmare for Pakistani citizens who survived the initial onslaught now displaced by one of the worst flooding events in the country 's history has only just begun.

MUHAMMAD KHURSHID, FLOODING SURVIVOR: Villages have been submerged one after another. Our village was on the front side, and it was also submerged. In 30 minutes, our village was there no more.

COREN: With an estimated more than one third of the country underwater, makeshift shelters like this one are overrun with survivors with no home to return to.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There are too many people and very few rooms. The bathrooms are clogged, and there's no water.

COREN: Hunger, lack of sanitation, and disease now threaten to extend the monumental suffering for the more than 33 million people affected.

FAISAL EDHI, EDHI FOUNDATION: I can see a very big famine looming very close. Very soon. I can see its initial stages. Right now, there are people who are hungry for a week, or even ten

days. This is a very alarming situation.

COREN: Doctors also sounding the alarm about a system struggling to cope.

VIJAY KUMAR, HOSPITAL DOCTOR: Before the floods, we used to see 50 to 60 patients during my night duty. But now, we're seeing 130 to 140 patients due to illness arising from unsanitary conditions.

While it's almost impossible to comprehend the level of devastation brought on by what the U.N. calls a monsoon season on steroids. This satellite image of just one district in Punjab Province, a little less than a month ago, compared with now, gives a glimpse into just how dire the situation is.

For some, fortunate enough to see floodwaters recede, a new shock.

ASHAN ULLAH, SHOPKEEPER: The town has been turned to ruins. Before, it was a lively place and hundreds of tourists would come and go. But now, everything is turned to ruins.

COREN: Aid agencies, alongside the Pakistani military, are doing their best to reach those still cut off by impassable roads with herculean rescue efforts ongoing. And as the death toll continues to rise, more rains are expected for much of September. That forecast an ominous warning that the worst may be far from over.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COREN: Michael, I think it's really important to note that there are still areas that have yet to be reached by these emergency services. There are people there who are starving, that official speaking about a looming famine. That is real. We know the U.N. Secretary General, Antonio Guterres is arriving in Pakistan this week. Two U.S. lawmakers are there right now, assessing the damage.

But the appeal from the Pakistani government, Michael, if for more international aid, more international assistance now.

HOLMES: Yes. The area underwater is mind-boggling. It's hard to get your head around it. It is a huge disaster.

Anna Coren, thanks so much for following it for us.

Now, a week after a water treatment plant failed, FEMA says it is still too early to say when Jackson, Mississippi will have safe drinking water. Residents have been under a boil water advisory since June.

[01:39:52]

HOLMES: The problem came to a head on Monday, when river flooding pushed an already damaged water treatment plant to failure. FEMA says it is not certain when the plant will be fully operational again.

Jackson's mayor says even when water is restored, it's just a matter of time before the aging system breaks down again.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MAYOR CHOKWE ANTAR LUMUMBA, JACKSON, MISSISSIPPI: Safe, drinkable, reliable, sustainable, and an equitable water treatment facility is a much longer road ahead. But as I have always warned, you know, even when the pressure is stored, even when we are not under a boil water notice, it's not a matter of if these systems will fail, but when these systems will fail.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOLMES: Two communities, one in the U.S., the other in the U.K., are also dealing with a water crisis that is forcing them out of their homes. Climate change and rising sea levels threaten to submerge their towns.

Some residents of Louisiana have already moved to the mainland through new federal resettlement grounds. But people in Fairbourne, Wales are still waiting to learn their fate.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

HOLMES: With the stroke of a pen, it's a new beginning for a handful of residents of Louisiana. This is now home.

GOVERNOR JOHN BEL EDWARDS, LOUISIANA: This is the first project of its kind in our nation's history. These are basically climate change refugees.

HOLMES: Less that 40 miles away, some 60 kilometers is where they used to live, on the Isle de Jean Charles, which is vanishing into the sea. Climate change and erosion from oil and gas canals are largely to blame.

CHRIS BRUNET, FORMER ISLE DE JEAN CHARLES RESIDENT: In our own yard, right here, I could count 15 trees. When I was growing up, they're not there anymore.

HOLMES: Facing the reality of a 98 percent loss of lands in just under seven decades, the state of Louisiana and an indigenous tribe from the island applied for a new federal grant in 2016 designed to help areas impacted by climate change to move the community to the mainland.

It's a controversial solution which was met with some resistance by people who didn't want to leave. But it's one the countries around the world are considering as they too, face the loss of habitable land due to climate change.

Forecasts say in 30 years, the Welsh village of Fairbourne is at risk of being engulfed by rising sea levels. So about a decade ago, officials decided they couldn't afford to maintain its flood defenses against such conditions.

And that by 2054, Fairbourne would no longer be a safe or sustainable place to live. Authorities say they're working on a plan to eventually relocate people, but some say they don't have details on when and where they will go.

JOHN HAYCOCK, FAIRBOURNE RESIDENT: Many thousand people live here. This is their home. This is where they live.

HOLMES: Some residents aren't giving up easily, and are challenging the government to find other alternatives. But a recent report by the Royal Meteorological Society says that sea levels around the U.K. are on the rise, especially over the last 30 years, leaving coastal land in more danger from winds and waves, and larger and more frequent storms. A prospect some villages say is worrying.

ANGELA THOMAS, FAIRBOURNE: In, I don't know, 100, 200, 300 years time, if what is being talked about comes to fruition, the U.K. is going to be just a bit of a strip of land down the middle, and, where are all these people going to go?

HOLMES: A question residents in many places are pondering. If more action isn't taken to protect coastal lands, as the effects of climate change are felt closer to home.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HOLMES: Still to come here on the program, China extends a lockdown in the city of Chengdu amid a new outbreak of COVID infections.

We're live in Beijing with the latest efforts to contain new cases.

[01:43:53]

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HOLMES: The Chinese city of Chengdu has extended COVID lockdown measures in an effort to isolate an outbreak of new cases. Officials shut down the city on Thursday after more than 100 new infections were reported. A new round of mass testing will run from Monday to Wednesday for the city's 21 million residents.

CNN Beijing bureau chief Steven Jiang joins me now with more. I guess, Steven, how long can China keep this zero COVID policy, given the massive social and economic impacts?

STEVEN JIANG, CNN BEIJING BUREAU CHIEF: Yes Michael, there's no doubt they're going to keep this, at least through that all-important major communist party meetings set to start in mid October, where Xi Jinping is all but certain to assume a precedent-breaking third term as the country's supreme leader.

So local officials at all levels are really sticking to their old playbook, despite growing evidence that this is not working well against the highly contagious omicron variant, because in their mind, they're doing this to ensure social stability ahead of that event. But also probably more importantly to show political loyalty to Xi Jinping, who has very much put his personal stamp of approval on this policy.

But it's not just Chengdu, there are literally dozens of Chinese cities of all sizes across this vast country currently under full or partial lockdown. And that includes major ports and economic centers like Tianjin (ph) and Dalian (ph) but also multiple districts in Shenzhen, China's Silicon Valley.

That's why Goldman Sachs last Friday said the GDP of all those cities now accounting for some 35 percent of the country's total GDP. So if this persists, many fear that the third quarter GDP growth could be even worse than the second quarter, which was only 0.4 percent.

And that would make the government's full year growth target of around 5.5 percent very much out of reach.

And I've been speaking to numerous residents affected by this latest wave of lockdowns, and their grievances really run deep. Their stories sound like a deja vu from the Wuhan and Shanghai lockdown. They felt their life and livelihood disrupted overnight with little notice.

And many are literally trying to flee their hometowns in anticipation of imminent lockdowns. So that's why a once very supportive Chinese public has grown frustrated and resentful of this policy, many no longer buying into the government claim that this still saving lives. But many are still of course, holding on hope that all of this could be loosened up after that major pretty congress is over.

But as of now, Michael, the government has not indicated any timeline for relaxing let alone abandoning their zero COVID approach, Michael.

HOLMES: All right. Appreciate the update. Steven Jiang in Beijing, thanks.

Now, Pope Francis says he takes personal responsibility for ending sexual abuse within the Catholic Church, adding that there should be zero tolerance for it.

In an exclusive interview, the Pontiff told our partner channel, CNN Portugal, quote, "a priest cannot remain a priest if he is an abuser.

CNN's Delia Gallagher with more on that interview.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DELIA GALLAGHER, CNN VATICAN CORRESPONDENT: Pope Francis gave this interview in advance of a trip he'll make next year to Portugal for World Youth Day. He discussed a number of topics, including sexual abuse in the Catholic Church, which he called diabolical and a monstrosity. Here's some more of what he had to say.

POPE FRANCIS, HOLY CATHOLIC CHURCH (through translator): If he's a priest, he is there to lead men to God and not to destroy men in the name of God.

Zero tolerance, and we cannot stop on that. Every case of abuse that appears hurts me. It hurts me. But we have to face it.

GALLAGHER: The Pope also said that he didn't think that the Catholic Church's rule on celibacy had anything to do with sexual abuse, given that abuse happens in other sectors of society like the family, he said, where celibacy is not an issue.

Francis was also asked about the war in Ukraine.

[01:49:54]

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: What is it possible for a Pope to say to President Putin and President Zelenskyy?

POPE FRANCIS: I don't know. I don't know. I had a dialogue with both. They both visited me here before the war. And I always believe that in dialogue, we always have to move forward.

GALLAGHER: The Pope says that a visit to Kyiv and Moscow was, quote, "up in the air". We know that he has been invited on several occasions to visit Kyiv. He has said that it is something he would like to do, but that he would also like to visit Moscow. However, an invitation from Moscow for the Pope has not yet been given.

Delia Gallagher, CNN -- Rome.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HOLMES: Still to come here on CNN, keeping coral reefs alive through technology. How one group of scientists could hold the key to reversing climate damage on endangered coral.

We'll be right back.

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HOLMES: Scientists say they've made a major breakthrough in the fight to save a species under threat in the Caribbean. The elkhorn coral which could also offer protection from hurricanes.

Isabel Rosales explains in this CNN exclusive report.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ISABEL ROSALES, CNN REPORTER: They're deadly, violent, and unleash mass destruction. Year after year, we pay the price in dollars and lives when hurricane season strikes.

But under the waters where storms gain their strength from, there's an unexpected layer of protection, coral reefs. They break up large waves and barred coast lines from storm surge, acting as a buffer against property damage and erosion.

Spanning about 360 miles, Florida has the world's third largest barrier reef. And right now, it's at risk from stressors like pollution, disease, and warming oceans.

KEN O'NEIL, SENIOR CORAL SCIENTIST, FLORIDA AQUARIUM: They're dying around the world.

ROSALES: Caused by the climate crisis. O'NEIL: I would say that the problems facing coral reefs right now are

human caused. You can't have the ocean running a fever every summer and not expect there to be impacts.

ROSALES: But in this tank, a sign that hope is not lost for Florida's reefs. We're looking at a major scientific breakthrough. Elkhorn Coral spawning. The Florida Aquarium says that it's now the first in the world to reproduce this threatened coral, using aquarium technology.

O'NEIL: When it finally happened, we were just, the first sense is just sheer relief.

ROSALES: Ken O'Neil is a senior coral scientist. She's also been dubbed the coral whisperer. And she lives up to her name.

This spawning produced a couple thousand baby elkhorn corals. O'Neil expects about a hundred could survive into adulthood. Her team has figured out how to spawn 13 (ph) other species, yet elkhorn takes the top spot.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's really the most important. This is a critical step to preventing elkhorn coral from going extinct in the state of Florida.

ROSALES: Named for its resemblance to elk antlers, the coral lives right at the top of the reef crest meaning it plays a big role in protecting Florida's coastline from devastating storm surge, which climate change is making even worse.

The problem is, now there are so few left that there's just a few scattered colonies. Only about 300 of them are left around Florida, she says.

O'NEIL: It makes me emotional, because I've seen the destruction of this species in my career.

ROSALES: Getting them to reproduce isn't as easy as you think.

[01:54:55]

O'NEIL: Terrestrial animals do this all the time. You know, when you have an endangered pandas, chimpanzees, the first thing you do is start a breeding program. But coral reproduction is super weird.

ROSALES: O'Neil tells me in the wild, they're not successfully reproducing. They're also notoriously difficult to keep alive in aquariums. Part of the reason why, she says, they face so much doubt from the scientific community that they can make this moment happen.

O'NEIL: We faced a lot of criticism from people. You can't keep those in an aquarium. You know, that's impossible.

ROSALES: In the race to restore the reefs, there's more work to be done. This breakthrough only a first step.

O'NEIL: We're really buying time. We're buying time for the reef, we're buying time for the corals.

ROSALES: The goal is a breeding program where they could ultimately breed more resilient coral capable of withstanding threats like pollution, warming ocean waters and disease.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Three, two, one, got it.

ROSALES: Nature can then pick up the rest.

O'NEIL: There is hope for coral reefs. Don't give up hope. All is not lost. However, we need to make serious changes in our behavior to save this planet.

ROSALES: I'm Isabel Rosales reporting.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HOLMES: Former president Barack Obama has now won half of the full major U.S. entertainment awards, on Saturday, receiving an Emmy for outstanding narrator for the Netflix documentary "Our Great National Parks".

Obama previously won Grammys for audio versions of his memoirs and the former president may want to consider doing some musical theater next because he's now won two awards short of what they call an EGOT -- that's somebody who has an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and a Tony -- EGOT. Get it?

Now, an emotional tribute in London for the late drummer of the band The Foo Fighters.

(MUSIC)

HOLMES: The band honored Taylor Hawkins, their late drummer, at a packed Wembley Arena on Saturday. Hawkins' 16-year-old son, Shane, is on the drums there. He took his dad's place as the band played their hit, "My Hero".

It was the first Foo Fighters performance since Hawkins died suddenly back in March, and the first of two tribute concerts planned in his honor. And his son did him proud.

Thanks for spending part of your day with me.

I'm Michael Holmes. You can follow me on Twitter and Instagram @HolmesCNN.

Stay with us. CNN NEWSROOM continues next with Rosemary Church.

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