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Police: Jerusalem Explosions May Be "Combined Terror Attack"; Zoo Gives Update On Chimp & Her Baby After Reunion Went Viral; Thanksgiving Ingredients Will Cost 13.5% More This Year. Aired 2:30-3p ET

Aired November 23, 2022 - 14:30   ET

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


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[14:34:44]

VICTOR BLACKWELL, CNN HOST: Israeli police say a pair of explosions in Jerusalem were suspected of being a combined terror attack. At least one person, a 15-year-old student, is dead, and more than a dozen others injured, including two U.S. citizens.

BIANNA GOLODRYGA, CNN HOST: CNN's Hadas Gold has more from Jerusalem.

So, Hadas, what are authorities saying about the investigation so far?

[14:35:05]

HADAS GOLD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Bianna the first explosion took place just after 7:00 a.m. on a bus stop along one of the major entryways and exit points into the city. And then 30 minutes later, a second explosion at another bus stop not far away.

Police are saying that what happened was bombs were placed in bags or packages of some kind and hidden at both bus stops and then detonated remotely. They were filled with screws and nails and ball bearings to cause the maximum amount of jury and impact.

We were at the scene earlier today. And I can tell you the blast radius for the first one, it stretched across the sidewalk and across at least three lanes of traffic. That goes to show the impact of this blast.

As you noted, a 15-year-old Canadian-Israeli was killed. More than 14 injured, including two U.S. citizens.

Now, so far, no militant group has claimed responsibility. Israeli police are still searching, they say, for the suspects, and haven't pointed the finger at any sort of militant group yet who they say may be behind this, other than saying it was a well-organized and sophisticated operation.

The Israeli prime minister, Yair Lapid, vowing to catch those who are behind it. Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) YAIR LAPID, ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER: (through translation): I want to say to the citizens of Israel, we will find them. They can run, they can hide, it won't help them. The security forces will reach them. If they resist, they will be eliminated. If not, we will punish them to the fullest extent of the law.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

GOLD: This has been already a deadly and violent year for both Israelis and Palestinians. But today's attack is quite a high escalation.

And it's bringing back memories of the Second Intifada where there was regular suicide bombings and bombings at bus stations and restaurants and the like.

Because there has not been an attack like this, a bombing like this of this sophistication, in several years here -- Bianna?

BLACKWELL: I'll take it.

Hadas Gold, in Jerusalem, thank you.

GOLODRYGA: To Ukraine now, where there are widespread power outages after a new barrage of Russian missiles strikes across the country today.

Ukrainian forces say Russia launched 70 missiles leaving most of Ukrainian power plants deenergized.

At least seven people died, including a teenaged girl in Kyiv. Dozens more are injured.

The strikes have also caused massive blackouts in neighboring Moldova, as well.

BLACKWELL: Now in the Zaporizhzhia region, Ukraine says Russian rockets hit a maternity ward. Officials rescued a woman and doctor from the rubble, but the woman's newborn was killed.

Ukraine's President Zelenskyy condemned the attack saying Russia continues to fight against civilians and civilian targets.

GOLODRYGA: And turning to the World Cup now, the German national team took a moment before their match to protest Qatar's poor record on human rights and FIFA's ban on the one-love armbands.

The German Football Federation leased a statement saying, "It wasn't about making a political statement. Human rights are nonnegotiable. Denying us the armband is the same as denying us a voice."

BLACKWELL: Well, Germany didn't win on the pitch today in another shocking upset. Japan beat the four-time World Cup champion, 2-1.

GOLODRYGA: Well, it was the video that went viral this past week.

Have you seen it, Victor?

BLACKWELL: I've seen it.

GOLODRYGA: You may have had a tear in your eye or two.

BLACKWELL: No.

GOLODRYGA: A chimpanzee mom reuniting with her baby after a C-section. The zookeepers taking care of them join us next with an update on how they're doing.

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[14:43:04]

GOLODRYGA: The heartwarming moment that went viral.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

(CHIMP NOISES)

(END VIDEO CLIP)

GOLODRYGA: An emotional reunion of a baby chimpanzee and his mother at the Sedgwick County Zoo in Kansas.

Now the birth became difficult for the mother. The zoo called in the two ob-gyns from a local health clinic to perform an emergency C- section. The baby was immediately taken away after delivery to receive supplemental oxygen.

Two days later, they were reunited, as you saw in the video, and they were instantly inseparable.

Joining us is zoological manager, Danielle Decker, and zookeeper, Devin Turner.

We've been looking forward to this conversation all week, I have to tell you. Especially our executive producer. We can't stop talking about it.

Let me begin with you, Danielle.

How are mom and Baby Kucheza doing right now?

DANIELLE DECKER, ZOOLOGICAL MANAGER, SEDGWICK COUNTY ZOO: They are doing fantastic. They are bonding. Baby Kucheza is reaching all of his milestones. We couldn't be any more happy with how things are going right now.

GOLODRYGA: And, Devin, I take it you were the first to hold Baby Kucheza after that emergency C-section. Walk us through the delivery experience and when you knew, ultimately, that something was going wrong.

DEVIN TURNER, ZOOKEEPER, SEDGWICK COUNTY ZOO: Well, I had come in that morning, and she was in labor. Things were progressing normally. We were, of course, very excited. She was an experienced mother. She had had two before at her previous institution.

And unfortunately, her labor stalled, and the contractions became farther and farther apart. So we immediately notified our veterinarian, and he brought in the ob-gyns.

[14:44:58]

Once we were in the delivery room, they found that Kucheza's heart rate was slower than we wanted. So they were moving forward with a C- section.

Of course, there's always -- you're so excited, but you're also nervous, hoping that mom and baby are both OK.

To have him in my arms and have him healthy was just -- it was the most amazing experience.

GOLODRYGA: We're watching video of the baby getting that oxygen supplement there. And the actual video of the C-section. It's incredible to see.

Thank goodness for the experienced staff there that you have, Danielle.

Because this has been a difficult process. Over the last few years, the last time you delivered a chimp, that was in 2019, the baby turned out to be stillborn.

How concerned were you that things were going to turn for the worse here, as well?

DECKER: There's always that risk. You know, you don't know when to intervene and when -- you don't want to do it too soon or too late.

But like I -- like you said, we have a very experienced staff here, and we knew what we needed to do.

You know, with the sadness of 2019 of having the stillborn, you know, we were worried. You know, we were really excited about the pregnancy, and adding a new chimpanzee to our group. Chimpanzees love babies, and they thrive in their group setting.

We just are so ecstatic that we have the good outcome we did because we're so excited for our group.

GOLODRYGA: I can't get over -- enough of this video and watching them together.

If you can, Danielle, give us a sense of what you went through when you finally saw them reunited and when you saw mom turn and see her baby and quickly grab him.

DECKER: Yes, there was that moment where she came into the area, she kind of just was looking around. And then that moment the baby vocalized and reached his hand up, and she scooped him up in her arms. That was the best outcome we could have ever asked for.

It was very emotional for me and my keepers. Watching the -- that mother love knows no bounds. It just brought us joy and tears, and --

TURNER: Yes.

DECKER: Just a very emotional time. Yes.

GOLODRYGA: That maternal instinct kicked right in for the mother. It is precious to see them together.

We've been covering so many devastating stories this week so thank you for bringing us in bit of good news and incredible video.

We appreciate your time, and congratulations on the baby.

Danielle Decker and Devin Turner, thank you.

DECKER: Thank you.

DEVIN: Thank you.

BLACKWELL: Let's talk about Thanksgiving now. Dinner this year will cost a little bit more. We'll tell you just how much next.

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[14:51:58]

BLACKWELL: All right. Thanksgiving is tomorrow. And putting together that meal this year is costing families more money.

Rising inflation combined with higher demand, even bird flu, have led to big price hikes in grocery stores across the country. And that means some families may have to get creative with their menus this year.

GOLODRYGA: CNN's Gabe Cohen is at a grocery store.

Gabe, we're looking at a graphic and all the arrows are pointing up in terms of the price increase this year. What are you hearing from people?

GABE COHEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: What we're hearing is frustration and sticker shock that a holiday all about celebrating with family and friends is suddenly just yet another stressful inflation strain.

Surveys show Thanksgiving dinner could cost an extra 13 percent to 20 percent this year. And that's a big blow to so many families that are already struggling to make ends meet. Paying more now for groceries in general, home heating, gasoline, electricity, and much more than that.

And for so many around Thanksgiving, they're just wondering how they're going to be able to make ends meet and put enough food on the table. One of the strategies I've heard in recent months from people about

how they can actually save money is by changing how much food they buy and where they get it.

And something I'm hearing again, in this parking lot, some people are willing to eat those inflated Thanksgiving costs. Others just can't put enough food on the table.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We've bought all the same stuff we normally buy. We just have to pay more for it.

COHEN: What does that mean for you?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That means we're going to pay less for something somewhere else.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I just made the sacrifice and probably didn't buy as much and won't have as many leftovers.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm looking to make smaller dishes.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I didn't buy a Turkey this year. I didn't buy a ham this year.

COHEN: Because of the price?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Because of the prices. If people don't like what I'm buying, I'm not begging them to eat it.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COHEN: And I also heard from two friends in this parking lot that said they're having Thanksgiving together because their families couldn't afford to travel to Virginia for the holiday between airfare and the price of gasoline.

So inflation hitting on this holiday in more ways than one, but especially food.

Even food banks are struggling to keep up with that surging demand. Feed America spent and extra 30 percent on Turkeys this year. But with donations plummeting, their food, their supplies are being stretched thin -- Bianna, Victor?

BLACKWELL: A lot of adjustments being made because of rising costs.

Gabe Cohen, for us there in Manassas, thank you.

GOLODRYGA: The upcoming "Avatar" sequel was so expensive to make it'll need more than $2 billion at the global box office just to break even.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

(MUSIC) UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR: Why do you come to us?

UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR: I just want to keep my family safe.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

[14:55:05]

BLACKWELL: Director James Cameron told "G.Q." magazine that "Avatar" has to be the third- or fourth-highest-grossing movie in history to turn a profit.

The highest grossing movies at the box office includes the last two "Avengers" films, Cameron's other hit "Titanic."

"Avatar 2" is the first of four "Avatar" sequels planned. That hits theaters December 16th.

Are you excited?

GOLODRYGA: Can I be honest?

BLACKWELL: Please.

GOLODRYGA: I didn't love the first one in the movie theater. I appreciate the artistic technology and the time that went into it. I can't say I'm itching to go back to the theater to watch this one.

BLACKWELL: I don't remember if I saw the first one. And if I did, it wasn't in a theater. It might have been in a headrest on a Delta flight.

GOLODRYGA: I remember exactly where in the theater I was sitting. So that tells you something.

BLACKWELL: Yes.

GOLODRYGA: Maybe not for the right reasons, but we'll see. We'll give it a try.

BLACKWELL: The Justice Department now wants to speak with former Vice President Mike Pence as a witness in its investigation into the January 6th insurrection. More on the breaking news, next.

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