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U.S. Officials Continue To Warn Against Invasion Of Rafah; Putin Replaces Defense Minister in Rare Cabinet Shake-Up; Georgia: Thousands Rally In Protest At 'Foreign Influence' Bill; Trump Trial Key Witness Michael Cohen Expected To Testify Monday; More Than 300 Killed In Afghanistan Flash Floods; UNICEF Official: Food Expected to Run Out in South Gaza; Pro-Palestinian Protesters Interrupt Commencement Ceremonies; Prince Harry and Meghan Wrap Up Three-Day Tour; Decoding the Language of Sperm Whales; Scientists Milk Venom from Deadly Marine Life for Medicine; Djokovic Out of Italian Open. Aired 1-2a ET
Aired May 13, 2024 - 01:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
MICHAEL HOLMES, CNN ANCHOR: Hello and welcome, everyone. I'm Michael Holmes. Appreciate your company. Coming up here on CNN Newsroom. Warnings from U.S. officials against an invasion of Rafah appear to fall on deaf ears, as Israel remains poised to advance on the city sheltering a million and a half Palestinians.
A new architect of Russia's brutal war in Ukraine Vladimir Putin replaces his defense minister with a civilian economist, and standing against Russian influence, thousands of Georgians protest outside parliament in an attempt to stop a foreign agent bill from becoming more.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Live from Atlanta. This is CNN Newsroom with Michael Holmes.
HOLMES: Now as Israel continues to plan an expansion of its military operations in Rafah, the Palestinian death toll from the war in Gaza has passed 35,000. That's according to Gaza's Ministry of Health. On Sunday a large explosion in Gaza, you see it there on your screen, as the health industry says at least 63 people were killed over the weekend, many others wounded.
The Israeli military says it is now conducting operations in northern central and southern Gaza. The IDF says its aircraft struck more than 150 places over the weekend.
On the ground, Israel says it's opened a new crossing for humanitarian aid shipments in coordination with the US. The western Erez crossing is in northern Gaza. The U.N. says no aid has come through southern Gaza over the past several days.
Meanwhile, the IDF Chief of Staff said he bears responsibility for the military's failure to defend its civilians on October 7. General Herzi Halevi (INAUDIBLE) Israel's Memorial Day ceremony at the Western Wall in Jerusalem. CNN's Paula Hancocks, with the latest on evacuations from Rafah ahead of the expected expansion of ground offensives.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
PAULA HANCOCKS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Some 300,000 Palestinians are believed to have evacuated Rafah so far, these are figures we're getting not just from the U.N. on the ground, but also the Israeli military. And this is as the IDF is continuing it's limited operations at this point in eastern Rafah but they are calling for civilians to evacuate.
Many of them we're hearing from UNRWA, for example, the U.N. group on the ground are literally moving anywhere they possibly can. They're being told there's an area along the coast on Mawasi, which is considered according to the Israeli military aid, humanitarian safer zone, but according to the U.N., it is an inhumane displacement, pointing out that this area that they are being told to move towards is simply not suitable for the sheer number of people. And the humanitarian support simply isn't there at this point.
Now the humanitarian support and the aid that is getting into these areas of Rafah and southern Gaza have been severely hampered over recent days since this operation began. We know that the Israeli military is in control of the Rafah crossing. This was a key crossing to get the humanitarian aid trucks in.
And we understand that Egyptian officials at this point are not coordinating with Israel to get more trucks because they are citing security concerns. It's not just managing to drive a humanitarian aid truck through into the Gaza Strip, you are driving into a war zone and it is extremely difficult to then be able to safely distribute the aid once inside.
Now we understand according to the Israeli military that they have opened another crossing now they say in the north of Gaza, they're calling it the western Erez crossing. But at this point, the critical concentration of displaced is in the southern area is in the Rafah area and according to U.N. teams on the ground, they are rapidly running out of aid to be able to help those people.
Now when it comes to the fighting as well, we are hearing from the Israeli military that it's not just in Rafah that they are engaging Hamas. They are also fighting in central Gaza. They are fighting in northern Gaza, Jabalya refugee camp, for example, the Israeli military say that they have issued evacuation orders there as well as they are fighting Hamas.
They say they have intelligence that Hamas has tried to regroup and try to reassemble in this particular area.
[01:05:04]
And this is an area that the Israeli military said that they had cleared and that was controlled by them and had been operated in many, many months ago.
So this really is an indication of how difficult it is for Hamas to be totally destroyed, as the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has insisted his military will do. Paula Hancocks, CNN, Abu Dhabi.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HOLMES: Top U.S. officials are repeating their warning to Israel that a major ground offensive in Rafah could lead to widespread civilian casualties. U.S. national security adviser Jake Sullivan spoke with his Israeli counterpart on Sunday. The White House says he discussed how to quote ensure the defeat of Hamas without an expanded invasion of the Southern Gaza City.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken also sounded the alarm saying going into Russia, quote, could have dire consequences.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ANTONY BLINKEN, U.S. SECRETRY OF STATE: They will be left holding the bag on an enduring insurgency because a lot of armed Hamas will be left no matter what they do in Rafah. Or if they leave and get out of Gaza as we believe they need to do, then you're going to have a vacuum and a vacuum that's likely to be filled by chaos by anarchy. And ultimately by Hamas again. We have the same objective as Israel.
We want to make sure that Hamas cannot govern Gaza again. We want to make sure it's demilitarized. We want to make sure that Israel gets its leaders. That's what we're determining. We have a different way and we think a more effective, durable way of getting that done. We remain in conversation with Israel about exactly that.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: The President of Colombia and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu are quitting criticizing each other via social media. On Saturday, Colombian President Gustavo Petro posted on X that Netanyahu will quote go down in history as genocidal. Netanyahu responded by calling Petro quote, an antisemitic supporter of Hamas.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has replaced his defense minister Sergei Shoigu with a civilian. The Kremlin said the move was due to the country's rising military budget and the need for innovation. Shoigu was criticized for his handling of the invasion of Ukraine most forcefully by the late Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigogine. The Kremlin says Shoigu has now been appointed Secretary of Russia's Security Council. He'll also oversee the country's military industrial complex.
The new defense minister Andrei Belousov is a civilian and previously served as First Deputy Prime Minister.
Russia claims meanwhile to have captured four more villages in the Kharkiv region after launching a surprise cross border attack on Friday. Ukraine's army chief says the situation on the Northern Front has quote significantly worsened but he didn't comment on Russia's claims, which CNN cannot independently confirm.
Ukrainian police officers also evacuated residents from a city in the Kharkiv region on Sunday, as Russian forces pushed in. Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy say this is quote a new wave of counter offensive actions by Russia.
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VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY, UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT (through translator): Our task is obvious, we need to inflict as many losses on the occupier as possible. In particular, the situation on the outskirts of the city of Vovchansk is extremely difficult. The city is under constant Russian fire and counter attacks by our military are underway. Local residents are being helped in the city. It is very important that everyone who is directly there in the Kharkiv region shows maximum efficiency.
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HOLMES: At least 15 people are dead after Ukraine bombed the Russian city of Belgorod on Sunday. That's according to Russian state media. Rescue is trying to dig out survivors after a high rise apartment building was hit.
Late Putin critic Alexei Navalny was postulatly (ph) awarded the Dresden Peace Prize on Sunday in honor of his pro-democracy work. The prize commemorates the Allied bombing of Dresden Germany in 1945. Navalny's widow accepting the award on his behalf and vowing to speak openly about the threat Putin poses as long -- to the world as long as he's empowered.
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YULIA NAVALNAYA, WINDOW OF RUSSIAN OPPPOSITION LEADER ALEXEI NAVALNY (through translator): We have different values depending on where and when they are said in a cozy and beautiful hall, it is easy for you and me to say that we are against war. It is difficult for those in Russia. You can go to jail for saying, that if you are already in prison, you will be waiting for punishment cell hunger, torture, a new sentence and sometimes even death, but Alexei talked about it anyway. He paid the highest price to be had.
[01:10:04]
So that his sacrifice is not in vain so that the sacrifices of thousands of Russians arrested out anti-war protest and hundreds of political prisoners held by Putin and torture conditions are in not in vein. It is necessary. At last for the world to get rid of false hopes, and hear those that have been warning of the danger all these years.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: Day 16 of Donald Trump's criminal hush money trial will kick off in the coming hours. Trump's former attorney and fixer Michael Cohen expected to take the stand. And prosecutor say it's entirely possible they will rest their case by end of this week. CNN's Zach Cohen with more.
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ZACHARY COHEN, CNN NATIONAL SECURITY REPORTER: Prosecutors in Donald Trump's hush money trial are expected to key witness to the stand on money. The testimony of Michael Cohen, Trump's one time attorney and fixer, could make a break the Manhattan District Attorney's case against the former president. He's the only witness who will testify about Trump's involvement both the alleged decision to pay adult film actress Stormy Daniels $130,000 to keep her from going public about a past encounter with the former president ahead of the 2016 election and the plan to reimburse Cohen for advancing the money.
Now, tying Trump to both the decision to pay Daniels and the reimbursement is critical for prosecutors who are seeking to prove Trump allegedly falsified business records to keep Daniels quiet.
Now the jurors have already heard a lot about Cohen from other witnesses who have testified over the last three weeks and most of it has been unflattering. Trump's defense attorneys will likely try to further undercut Cohen's credibility, during what it showed to be attends cross examination.
Prosecutors, meanwhile, have tried to lay the groundwork for Cohen's testimony by introducing documents, including emails and texts, they say backup his version of events. Ultimately, the case could come down to whether or not the jury finds Cohen's testimony credible or if Trump's attorneys are able to convince them otherwise. Zachary Cohen, CNN, Washington.
(END VIDEOTAE)
HOLMES: Meanwhile, Joe Biden's campaign is bringing star power to its Los Angeles fundraiser next month. A source telling CNN that Hollywood A listers George Clooney and Julia Roberts along with former U.S. President Barack Obama will unite to help fill Biden's coffers.
The Biden campaign is that an advantage when it comes to fundraising with the latest filings showing Biden with nearly twice the funds of rival Donald Trump. Mr. Biden raised $10 million over 24 hours during a West Coast fundraising spree last week.
Protesters in Georgia say the future is at stake. Will the country turn towards Europe and the West? Or will it move closer to Russia? That outcome is what they're trying to prevent? We'll have a live interview on that next.
Also, flash flooding in Afghanistan kills hundreds and wipes out entire villages. We'll have the latest on the damage and calls for help.
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[01:15:00]
HOLMES: Demonstrators in Georgia staged all night protests outside the country's parliament building they want to block lawmakers from entering for the final debate on the Russian style foreign agents bill. If passed, the law would require groups receiving more than 20 percent of their funding from abroad to register as foreign agents or face heavy fines and critics say it could do a lot more than just that.
The E.U. says the law could jeopardize Georgia's candidate status. Protesters say it would turn their country into something unrecognizable.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TEKLA, STUDENT PROTESTER: I want Georgia to live in Europe. I want -- I do not want to wake up in Russia. And I really hope that our generation is going to have a bright future because I want to get education. I want to get educated in Europe, not in Russia. And I have this sincere fear. And I want to ask these governments. What does it really gave you that it's caused you our fear.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: Giorgi Revishvili is a political analyst and former senior advisor to the National Security Council of Georgia, he joins me now from Tbilisi. And thanks for doing so. The level of public opposition to this bill has been extraordinary yet it cleared its second parliamentary stage by a margin of 83 to 23 votes. Why have the politicians, the government, the Prime Minister not listen to those so opposed to the bill?
GIORGI REVISHVILI, POLITICAL ANALYST: Michael strategic goal is to remain in power at all costs. Georgia Dream is pivoting away from Georgia's constitutional foreign policy pad of joining the European Union and NATO and drifting back into the Russian sphere of influence.
The Georgian Dream is a playing a geopolitical gambit here, sacrificing the democracy and Georgia's European and era Atlantic integration just to maintain for grip on power. That's the sole and simple explanation of the situation. That's why they don't listen to people outside -- outside the parliament.
But we need to look at the broader geopolitical implications quickly here as well. Georgia set columns to Russian influence, it will follow the bolster diplomacy be realistic ambitions. Armenia is also a crucial part of this puzzle theater when it has been swiftly moving towards alignment with the European Union actively seeking to enhance cooperation.
So Georgia acts as a pure gateway for Romania to to pursue its aspirations within Europe. So my point is, it's vital to recognize the situation precedents mirror local security and political issues.
HOLMES: Right, right. I mean, when it comes to that we've seen the opposition on the street. But there have also been these reports of a pretty organized campaign of intimidation threats against opponents to the bill, that some have described as Soviet style Men in Black attacking protesters, menacing phone calls to opponents. What impact is that had? How's that played out? And who's behind it?
REVISHVILI: You're exactly right. There has been a Soviet style terror campaign of intimidation aimed at suppressing protests participation the whole week. This nasty campaign closely mirrored so it's methods of intimidation, and harassment depicting all outspoken opponents as enemies of the nation. Many individuals are received threatening and harassing calls from unknown numbers, even underage children.
On top of that the opposition leaders and activists have incorrectly ambushed and brutally beat up near their homes. So many here in Georgia feel that the government is behind all this campaign because of this coordination, because it happened as simultaneously at different areas in Tbilisi, and throughout Georgia.
HOLMES: And it gets back to the, you know, the public's position. Georgia has had ambitions to join the European Union. It's got candidate status as part of the Constitution. 80 percent of Georgians want that to happen. But how would the EU likely react to this bills passing?
REVISHVILI: The E.U. and not only the European Union, United States have harshly criticized and condemned Georgian dreams decision to reintroduce the bill. They ultimately said and underscored that the draft legislation jeopardizes Georgia's European and federal Atlantic aspirations.
And it basically goes against Georgian government's commitments. So, I will assume that the reaction will be very tough from the European Union. That's what many in Georgia also expects from our Western partners.
HOLMES: Yes, 80 percent of the public wanted. The protesters fear that this, of course, you know, it's about more than you know what they say it's about that it could be used to crush critical voices their head of parliamentary elections later this year.
[01:20:00]
How are those elections shaping up for the governing Georgia Dream party in terms of momentum? And given that all of this has reenergize the youth sector? Who will they be more driven to turn out to vote? What's the momentum like when it comes to those elections?
REVISHVILI: You're absolutely read, Michael, there is a fundamental shift in the political landscape that never seen before. The younger generation is becoming increasingly involved in politics promising higher turnouts in the upcoming parliamentary elections.
The strand enhances the likelihood of Georgia and Dreams defeat. But we have to keep in mind that the elections should be free and fair. That's why it's important to have a robust civil society and also have in a national election observer missions to make government accountable to conduct free and fair elections. And there is momentum, because, you know, people are determined to defend Georgia's democracy, freedom and European future.
HOLMES: Right. I read an article you wrote recently, and you said that Georgia, I think the quote was stands at a critical juncture, if you had to guess what direction is the nation likely to take, as it sits at that juncture, when you've got the public opinion on one side, and obviously a very determined government on the other?
REVISHVILI: We have to look at two angles of this situation. If government continues to double down on violence and clamping down demonstrations, it will backfire because we've seen that before. Just yesterday, despite this brutal crackdowns and intimidation campaign 200,000 people came out to the streets to protest deal again. So it doesn't work, the intimidation.
So my educated guess will be that the protests will go on whether the government tries to suppress it or not, and it will be crucial parliamentary elections in October. And the likelihood again of defeat of Georgian dream is quite high. Given the as I said, given the elections are free and fair.
HOLMES: Yes. Giorgi Revishvili, thank you so much for your analysis. Appreciate your time.
REVISHVILI: Thanks for the privilege Michael.
HOLMES: More than 300 people are dead after devastating flash floods in Afghanistan over the weekend. According to the World Food Programme, those floods destroying entire villages washing away homes, livestock and access to clean drinking water and food. Taliban officials are now calling for help from the international community. CNN's Anna Coren following the story from Hong Kong, you've covered Afghanistan for many, many years. It's a country that really doesn't need any more bad news.
ANNA COREN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: No, it doesn't, Michael, and yet it continues to. Look, the images that are coming out of Baghlan province in the north of Afghanistan are extremely distressing and we need to warn our audience that what you're about to see may be upsetting so for some viewers.
We're going to play these videos that were shared on a journalist group in Afghanistan and it shows the ferocious flash flooding as it hits a village in Baghlan province. We're going to play some of the audio for you people are screaming, run away, run away.
Now we're looking at these children who've been plucked from the mud. They're shaking, shell shocked. They have just been rescued. There are bodies and bodies of children and then there is this little girl who is saying the flood took everything, she's asked where's your mother? And she says she was taken away in the floods.
Now, Michael, we understand this happened on Friday around the time of Friday prayers, men were at the mosque. So women and children were at home. And the region has been experiencing unusually heavy, heavy rainfall across the north of the country. You know, this is mountainous areas the provinces hit hardest, you know, harassing the West to go to Kabarakztan (ph). And then Baglan, which is the worst hit by far.
The Taliban is claiming more than 300 people have been killed, over 1,600 injured. Thousands of homes have been destroyed. But there is a real discrepancy, Michael, between what the Taliban is saying and what humanitarian groups believe the death toll in fact is. They believe it is going to rise dramatically.
The U.N. fears there are hundreds upon hundreds of people trapped under mud and debris and you know, this has affected five provinces and a lot of these areas they are remote and inaccessible, Michael. So there is a huge job ahead of them. The Taliban says they are mobilizing all the necessary resources.
[01:25:00]
They're also calling on the U.N. and humanitarian organizations to come to their aid.
HOLMES: Just unbelievable video. Important to see though. Anna, thank you for your reporting. Anna Coren there for us. Well, well, at least 37 people were killed due to flash floods and cold lava flowing from an active volcano on Indonesia's Sumatra Island.
The floods affected four districts sweeping people away and submerging buildings. Officials say more than a dozen people were also injured. Cold lava is a mixture of volcanic material and pebbles that flowed down the volcano slopes during wet weather.
And in Brazil, more than 2 million people have been impacted by ongoing flooding Aas another round of heavy rain hits that region. The country's Civil Defense Agency reports nearly 150 people have died hundreds of thousands displaced from this natural disaster. But at a CNN Dario Klein reports, first responders are working around the clock to rescue those still in need.
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DARIO KLEIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT rescue missions don't stop even when it's night. It's 24 hours a day. This is like rescue center with many, many hundreds of volunteers are arriving here to help the way they can. Some goes into the water with their boats, with their jetski to find people, to find pets, to give a food to the people.
But other dishes come and cook, they give a hug beverages, they give coffee, they help with the animals. They just wait there to poor people to arrive and ask for a rescue. You have doctors giving massages to the people. You have a pharmacy, giving leptospirosis charts and all sorts of medicine.
This doesn't stop 24 hours a day. I did one stop for probably more than a month because the water don't go down, because the water is still going up. Because it's still raining. It doesn't stop and probably will keep raining even tomorrow, and for many days.
So the situation won't get better. Their water is still not going down. But when he does, like probably for more than a month, we will see what those waters are still hiding. Dario Klein, CNN, Porto Alegre.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HOLMES: The war in Gaza has taken a massive toll on human lives infrastructure and on farmland. Just head, scientists explains what's happening to Gaza has the ability to grow its own food.
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[01:30:06]
HOLMES: Welcome back. You're watching CNN NEWSROOM with me, Michael Holmes.
Now Gaza's ministry of health says the Palestinian death toll from the war has now passed 35,000. This coming as the Israeli military is expanding its operations in Gaza.
U.S. officials are warning that a full Israeli invasion of Rafah could lead to massive civilian deaths. The U.S. Secretary of State says it would create quote, "a vacuum filled by chaos".
So far the IDF and United Nations say more than 300,000 people have evacuated Rafah, more than 1 million Palestinians remain in the city.
Now Israel's war on Gaza has decimated buildings and homes and so on. But it's also decimated the enclave's ability to produce its own food.
According to an investigation by "The Washington Post," more than six months into Israel's invasion, the territory's already vulnerable agricultural system is now on the brink of collapse.
The paper's analysis uses agricultural data, satellite imagery, and interviews with experts and Palestinians to show the destruction of food and water resources there.
While Israel expands its offensive into Rafah and forces Palestinians to flee, eight officials also sounding the alarm that the area will soon run out of food.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
HAMISH YOUNG, SENIOR EMERGENCY COORDINATOR IN GAZA, UNICEF: Food stocks to support the people in the south are expected to run out in the coming days. And the last functioning bakery in the south is about to run out of fuel.
At a time when people have been forced to pick up and move again, life-saving supplies that sustain and support them have been entirely cut off.
So let's be very clear this will result in children dying. These are deaths of children that can and must be prevented.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: He Yin is an assistant professor of geography at Kent State University. He joins me now.
Professor, depressing research but what it has shown -- tell us what it has shown in terms of damage done to the agricultural sector in Gaza. HE YIN, KENT STATE UNIVERSITY: Yes. So what do we see? Farmer cellular (ph) data is really, really devastating. So using a cellular data, we estimated that almost more than half of every total land were completely destroyed. That means nothing left.
Regardless the trees, regardless the orchard -- all of them that were halted. They are pretty much (INAUDIBLE). So this is really devastating because it's much higher than the other on the tropical regions like Syria.
HOLMES: Yes. You know, as experts like you've said, I mean Gaza's agricultural system was already vulnerable before this conflict. How would you describe it now.
YIN: Well, I seriously have no words for this because as you mentioned that before the war that's already really bad for the insecurity, you know, 3 million people live in (INAUDIBLE) in limited space, not enough land.
So they already relied on food. You know, import under aid. But right now and with almost half agricultural land is down, (INAUDIBLE).
HOLMES: Yes, you touched on this and I want to ask you about it. You have studied other war zone -- Syria, Chechnya, and so on. How does the level of destruction comparative to size as well in Gaza compared to those places?
YIN: Yes. So in Gaza the city is extraordinary because in Syria and in Chechnya we see that (INAUDIBLE) caused of a lot of damage, but another so much for them, for Syria and also in Chechnya. Yes, that damage rate, let's say around 20 percent in the other place. (INAUDIBLE) agricultural land is not as damaged.
But in Gaza, it's like bombed at the half percentage -- sorry, 50 percentage. But also we saw a lot direct impacts. While in Syria and in Chechnya, a lot of, you know, impacts (INAUDIBLE) which means the farmers are left the land.
So there was like abandonment. In Gaza we followed direct impact, the fear when we saw the (INAUDIBLE) right away.
So that is really astonishing.
HOLMES: And you know, when you look, at what you have seen, the evidence that you have, do you see any obviously military objective in this specific agricultural areas. Do you see a reason why they would be destroyed like this.
[01:34:39]
YIN: That is really good question.
So it's not easy, but farmer satellite data, we can see some traces. You know, just like darker magic, leaves a mark. So we can see that there are some craters. Sometimes we see the track of the bulldozers or sometimes we see like a burning so that's a lot of stuff that's going on.
Certainly not like one factor but the multiple strategies operations, military operations and other factors cause that damage which we saw from the satellite data.
HOLMES: Yes. When we talk about crops or I guess even greenhouses I mean that that's one thing because you know, they can be rebuilt if you like. But when we're talking about fruit orchards or olive groves, some of them, you know, 100 years old being bulldozed, they can't just be easily re-established.
How long could it take for Gaza to rebuild its food production given the level and the type of destruction.
YIN: Oh boy, this is really tough (ph). You know, as we know as we know, it's not like if the war ends right now, the farmers can go back, they can, you know, climb the trees and harvest on that year (ph), no way.
Because the trees takes years to grow and then it will take at least for three years to have like (INAUDIBLE) and the trees are not even material. And if we think about, you know, nuts like pistachio or a taste, at least several years, farmers can have some economic returns.
So you can imagine even a world can stop now, tonight, there are still -- there were, still no way, to re-assess the agriculture sector particularly the tree clubs within next three years is a long-term impact.
HOLMES: Yes. Yes.
Some of these olive trees can be centuries old. Professor He Yin, thank you so much. We really appreciate your information, your expertise and the studies that you did.
YIN: thank you, Michael.
HOLMES: Pro-Palestinian protests are continuing at some colleges across the U.S. as they held commencement ceremonies over the weekend.
CNN's local affiliate reports more than two dozen students walked out as actor and comedian Jerry Seinfeld was bound to speak at Duke University's commencement ceremony.
Pomona College in southern California moved its ceremony more than 30 miles away after days of protests on campus.
CNN's Camila Bernal with details.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CAMILA BERNAL, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Many students and parents frustrated in this case because they have to drive 30 miles and change their plans just to make sure that commencement goes on as planned.
So instead of it being in Pomona College, it's going to be here in L.A. at the Shrine Auditorium. You can see it here behind me.
There are security measures already in place.
There is a barrier or metal barrier and already security guards. You are not allowed inside the auditorium if you do not have a ticket.
The school apologizing and saying not only that this was an inconvenience, but also saying that they would provide transportation for the students to get here to Los Angeles.
Nonetheless, students just disappointed and say they're not happy about this whole change. Take a listen to what one student said.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think it's sad and I think it's a really bad way to end your college career. And I think its showing exactly where Pomona is headed.
BERNAL: And some universities like Columbia and USC canceling altogether this big traditional commencement ceremony. And instead making other plans citing safety reasons and wanting to avoid protests.
We saw students at Duke University walking out, right as the commencement speaker was introduced, that was Jerry Seinfeld. He was able to give his address as planned with no apparent interruptions.
And this weekend at different universities we saw students at U.C. Berkeley chanting and protesting and briefly pausing the commencement ceremony. They then walked out of that event.
And also at Virginia commonwealth university, at least a dozen students also walking out when the governor was beginning to give his commencement address.
So again, that's what a lot of universities are trying to avoid this weekend. And others who have events later on. And of course, this has also caused just a lot of frustration among students who had to deal with graduating from high school in the middle of a pandemic.
And now again, having to deal with commencement under difficult circumstances or under something that they do not consider a normal commencement ceremony.
Camila Bernal, CNN -- Los Angeles.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HOLMES: Prince Harry and Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, wrapped up their visit to Nigeria on Sunday with a basketball charity event in Lagos. The trip was linked to Prince Harry's Invictus Games, but was also an opportunity for Meghan to learn more about her Nigerian genealogy.
CNN's Stephanie Busari reports.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) STEPHANIE BUSARI, CNN LAGOS PRODUCER: It's the third day of Prince Harry and Meghan's visit to Nigeria. And they've really been given the red-carpet treatment out here.
On Sunday, their trip moved to Lagos, the economic capital, where Meghan received Mother's Day wishes.
[01:39:48]
BUSARI: They also visited a school to see the work of Giants of Africa, a charity founded by former NBA star Masai Ujiri, which helps under-privileged kids.
Meghan and Harry announced a partnership between their Archewell Foundation and Giants of Africa to empower young people through sports especially basketball.
They mingled with wheelchair basketball players at the event and Harry scored a basketball shot, cheered on by excited kids at the end.
Their visit to Niger has been special for Meghan in particular who has been on a journey of discovery to learn more about her Nigerian heritage. She had previously disclosed that that she found out she's 43 percent Nigerian after a gene test.
And during the trip she described Nigeria as "her home and her country". She also shared at a women's leadership event how meaningful it was to learn about her roots especially as an African-American.
During their Lagos visit, Harry and Meghan also met with the Lagos governor and held a private fundraiser to raise money for a state-of- the-art Invictus Center in the country.
Stephanie Busari, CNN -- Lagos.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HOLMES: Still to come on the program.
Scientists are one step closer to decoding the secret language of one of the sea's largest creatures. I will speak with the lead author of a remarkable study after the break.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: Now to a breakthrough in our understanding of sperm whales. What was once thought to be random bursts of clicking noises made by the creatures turns out to be a communication system bearing some similarity to the human language, according to scientists.
Researchers used statistical analysis and A.I. to examine sperm whale calls and found their system of communication is far more complex and sophisticated than previously thought.
Joining me now, Pratyusha Sharma, lead author of the study and Massachusetts Institute of Technology doctoral student in electrical engineering and computer science. She's in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
It's great to see you. It's a remarkable study. Give us a sense of what you and your fellow research such as found, real quick.
PRATYUSHA SHARMA, MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY DOCTORAL STUDENT: Yes. So our study really just looks at -- tries to analyze the communication of sperm whales. And sperm whales communicate using these clicking sounds. And their communication calls are made by putting together a short bucket of clicks called coders.
So one of the things that we found was that sperm whale vocalizations are more complex than previously believed.
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SHARMA: And we show how the sperm whale calls has both combinatorial structure as well as like a context-dependent call modulation.
HOLMES: Right. I mean I sort of described it as pretty much like it's not just noise, it's kind of like an alphabet. I mean how, how rare are these kinds of complex vocalizations in nature?
SHARMA: Yes. So complex vocalizations systems are quite rare in nature, but there are some examples. For example, honeybee it's not a vocalization system, but the waggle dance of the bees has these two parts, one of which communicates the direction and another that communicates the distance. And their dance is assembled by combining these two features.
Theres also like other examples. And for example, in birds and chimpanzees. But now we also see that -- like the calls of the sperm whales ways are assembled by combinatorially (ph) combining a few different set of features.
HOLMES: I saw this described on the MIT Web site as a data gold mine. So what do we learn from this? What do we do with this knowledge now?
SHARMA: Yes. So for example, what we have for good out now is how to even represent their calls. And GIVE some understanding of what features their calls they probably can control. And can choose to, in principle, encode going information using. So one of the things that we're looking at next is now we understand how these calls are assembled. But these calls are all select sequence together in the course of an exchange. So next we're looking at the underlying rules or the protocols of how these calls get sequenced together in dialogue.
HOLMES: I learned a new word while researching for this -- cetology. I hope I said that right. It's basically whale science.
Now we know they're communicating but not what they're saying. How much more do you think we could potentially learn from cetology, how whales communicate?
SHARMA: Yes. So I think there's like a lot to learn, like we still don't know, like I was saying, the ways that the calls get sequenced together. And what are the rules that, you know, governs how the cost gets sequenced together and how that ultimately connects to what kinds of meanings they're choosing to represent and communicate about.
I think also next like as part of the study we're going to be looking at their, you know, behavioral data and see how, in what contexts or what kind of calls need and how this also affects sequencing their calling differently result in different behaviors and so on.
HOLMES: Yes sequencing as in, you know, like putting together a sentence if you like.
I guess you're wearing an -- yes.
Making a sentence out of these noises were learning a lot all the time. But in some ways this shows us again how little we really know or you know, perhaps a sign of how much we don't know about, not just whales, but marine life more broadly.
SHARMA: Yes absolutely. I think -- I think science, like nobody can like speed up or the base of science, especially like I think like what projects that he's doing is collecting a tunnel, like a lot of data, you know, round logged data throughout the your and overtime, I think, you know, we start to - start to look at those data as we start to analyze more such large-scale data.
Or maybe we start finding things and as anything like, you know, were really just building on the shoulder of giants, like there's a lot of work that has gone before us people are very carefully studied the calls of whales.
And I think we're just, you know, moving that little bit forward.
HOLMES: Well, it's great work, it's exciting research and results.
Pratyusha Sharma, thank you so much. Appreciate it.
SHARMA: Thank you so much.
HOLMES: Scientists said one facility in Australia are on a potentially deadly mission to help save lives, they're collecting poison from some of the continent's deadliest marine creatures so it can be turned into anti-venom and other medicine.
Have a look.
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HOLMES: It can be painful and risky. But it's a necessary job to save lives.
Venom milking, tanks of venomous fish sitting in Jamie Seymour's lab some of the deadliest marine animals in Australia,
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JAMIE SEYMOUR, TOXICOLOGIST, JAMES COOK UNIVERSITY: Australia is without a doubt, the most venomous continent in the world.
HOLMES: The stings from some marine life like, the box and Irukandji jellyfish can be fatal. Seymour says, you'll feel the most unbearable pain. And he knows. He says he's been stung 11 times in all.
SEYMOUR: It feels like someone takes a big elephant, sticks it on your chest so you can't breathe. I get the pins and needles like someone's got a red-hot poker and sticking it in the joints.
HOLMES: But even with the risks Seymour and his team are working to save the lives of people who may be stung by one of these animals.
They're taking venom and turning it into anti-venom by extracting deadly fluid from the fish's venom glands. They then send off what's been captured to another lab where they inject the venom into an animal with a strong immune system such as a horse, which then produces antibodies, which are extracted, purified, and reduced for humans.
Now, what was once deadly creates something life-saving. Seymour says the need for anti-venom may increase as ocean temperatures rise due to climate change. Warmer waters are pushing the marine life further south and can also change the toxicity of the venom.
This could then make pre-existing anti-venoms ineffective.
SEYMOUR: It is only a matter of time before these animals turn up in large enough numbers and the only option we have down here at the moment is to shut the beach.
HOLMES: Meanwhile after successful testing on mice, studies have shown antivenom could possibly treat conditions like arthritis. Researchers have only used one of hundreds of different components in venom so there's much more to discover to find the true power of anti-venom.
SEYMOUR: Can we find the next cure to cancer, arthritis, things of that nature? So it's sort of an open slather (ph) to do whatever you really want to.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HOLMES: Still to come on the program, Novak Djokovic's shocking defeat at Italian Open. Why he thinks an incident with a fan's water bottle could have something to do with it.
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HOLMES: Well, the NBA's Atlanta Hawks didn't make the playoffs this year again, but they were big winners on Sunday with only a 3 percent chance of coming out on top. The Hawks won NBA draft lottery. That means they'll have the first pick in this year's draft. And boy, do they need it?
The team with the year's worst record, the Detroit Pistons will pick fifth. Now, world number one tennis star Novak Djokovic suffered a shocking defeat at the Italian Open on Sunday. And it came after the Serbian was hit in the head by a water bottle.
CNN's Don Riddell with more on that.
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DON RIDDELL, CNN WORLD SPORT ANCHOR: Yes. Novak Djokovic was knocked out of the Italian Open in Rome on Sunday, continuing what has been a really frustrating season for the world number one.
Going into the French Open later this month, he still hasn't played a final yet in 2024, but he says his performance might have been impacted by a freak accident on Friday when he was correct cracked on the head by a water bottle.
Djokovic have just played very well in his opening match of the tournament. And he was signing autographs when that bottle slid out of a fan's backpack and landed right on top of his head.
Tournament organizers at the time said that he'd suffered a bump on the head, said he'd been checked out. There was no cause for concern. And he was certainly making light of it when he arrived for a practice hit on Saturday, wearing a cyclist helmet.
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RIDDELL: But on Sunday, Djokovic was struggling against the unheralded Chilean Alejandro Tabilo. He was just blown away.
In a tournament that he's won six times before, he was bounced out in the third round, losing 6-2, 6-3 in only 67 minutes to reload.
Tabilo, to be fair, played superbly. But afterwards, Djokovic indicated that he wasn't feeling quite right.
NOVAK DJOKOVIC, PRO-TENNIS PLAYER: Then I felt this very strong hit in the head and that has really impacted me a lot, you know. after that I got the medical care and been through, you know, half an hour, an hour of nausea and dizziness and blood and you know, a lot of different things.
So but I managed to sleep, ok. You know, I had headaches but, you know, the next day or yesterday was pretty fine so I thought, you know, it's ok.
But maybe it is ok. Maybe it's not. I don't I mean, the way -- the way I felt on the court today was just completely from its like different player entered in my shoes, you know. It's just no rhythm, no tempo, no balance whatsoever on any shots. So it's a bit concerning.
RIDDELL: It doesn't sound good. Hopefully, he's going to be ok. Djokovic will be heading to the French Open in Paris in two weeks' time, where he's looking for what would be a record extending 25th Grand Slam title. Back to you.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HOLMES: Now, the newly-crowned winner of the Eurovision song contest has made a triumphant return to Switzerland. Nemo receiving a hero's welcome at the airport as you can see. The singer and rapper is of course the first non-binary musician to win the prize, Nemo's song, "The Code" is about the singer discovering and embracing their non- binary identity.
Nemo captured the hearts of Eurovision's judges, and the audience and fans in Zurich.
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ERICH FEHR, MAYOR OF BIEL, SWITZERLAND: Amazing, truly amazing that Nemo from Biel, one of the most important music competition in the world. We are truly happy and are celebrating with Nemo.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: (INAUDIBLE) for our community. It's a big step into the right direction. We see a big support for Nemo that is being shown who you are, and the rest doesn't matter.
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HOLMES: And thank you for watching CNN NEWSROOM, spending part of your day with me.
I'm Michael Holmes.
CNN NEWSROOM continues with Rosemary Church, because one Australian is never enough.
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