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CNN International: IDF Rescues Four Israeli Hostages During Deadly Raid In Gaza; Israeli War Cabinet Member Benny Gantz Quits Emergency Govt.; Macron Calls Snap Election In France After Far-Right Surge. Aired 8-9a ET

Aired June 10, 2024 - 08:00   ET

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

[08:00:05]

DEREK VAN DAM, CNN METEOROLOGIST: This is the warmest start in the month of June for the Sin City, and we continue to see the above- average temperatures well into triple digit territory, all thanks to this heat dome that is suppressing cloud, allowing for maximum sunshine overhead, and that means we bake underneath that heat dome, triple-digit heat for Palm Springs, Phoenix, Sacramento --

AMARA WALKER, HOST, "CNN NEWSROOM": -- everyone, and welcome to our viewers all around the world. I'm Amara Walker. This is CNN Newsroom.

Just ahead, freed but at what cost? Questions swirl over the deadly operation to rescue four Israeli hostages held in Gaza. A full report is just ahead. Plus, French President Emmanuel Macron makes a major political gamble after far-right parties surge in European elections. We are live in Paris and Berlin. And it is decision day for Hunter Biden. Will the U.S. President's son take the stand in his gun trial? Court is set to resume next hour.

The U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is in the Middle East this hour to ratchet up pressure for an agreement on a proposed ceasefire and hostage release deal. Mr. Blinken landed in Egypt a short time ago. He heads to Israel soon to meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as well as Benny Gantz, the Israeli war cabinet member who stepped down from the country's emergency government just over the weekend. Now, this comes just weeks after Gantz issued an ultimatum, calling on the Israeli Prime Minister to lay out a post-war plan for Gaza.

And this comes after a dramatic hostage rescue operation in Gaza on Saturday. Israeli forces freed four hostages who had been held for eight months. Gaza officials say nearly 300 Palestinians were killed during that operation. CNN is not able to confirm those numbers. Israel has released new edited video of the raid. Now, the IDF says the operation took weeks of preparation and it is disputing casualty figures reported by Gazan authorities. They say it's much less.

CNN'S Oren Liebermann has more. And we warn you, his report contains graphic images.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) OREN LIEBERMANN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): In a hospital in central Israel, they hugged as if there was no tomorrow, because for so long they feared there wouldn't be. Four Israeli hostages were rescued from Gaza in Israeli operation on Saturday after eight months of captivity. Among the rescued, one of the most well-known hostages, Noa Argamani, reunited with her father here. Video from October 7 showed her pleading for help, as kidnappers drove her into Gaza. Her father thanked the Israeli military for the rescue. But, reunions like this remain all too rare. This is only the third successful Israeli rescue operation since the war began. Orit Meir reunited with her son Almog one day before her birthday.

ORIT MEIR, MOTHER OF ALMOG MEIR: There are 120 hostages in Gaza, and we want a deal now.

LIEBERMANN (voice-over): The daring daytime operation in the Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza lifted the spirits of a nation. But, unity was fleeting as anti-government protests demanded a deal to secure the release of the remaining hostages and a ceasefire. On Sunday, war cabinet member Benny Gantz resigned from the government, accusing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of slow-walking the war for his own political gain. Netanyahu vowed to keep pushing towards total victory over Hamas, the cost of which was once again apparent. Witnesses in Gaza described Israel's operation as Hell on Earth, inside a dense residential area with the crowds of midday.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (Interpreted): Increasing bombardment started hitting everywhere, something we never witnessed before. Maybe 150 rockets fell in less than 10 minutes.

LIEBERMANN (voice-over): Palestinians rushed the wounded to ambulances. In this disturbing video, many, including women and children, bore the horrific scars of heavy bombardment. Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital quickly filled with the injured and the dead.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (Interpreted): Dogs were eating people's remains. We pulled out six martyrs, all torn up, children and women.

LIEBERMANN (voice-over): The operation drew swift and severe international condemnation, and Hamas called it a massacre.

[08:05:00]

The Palestinian Ministry of Health in Gaza says more than 270 were killed in the Israeli strikes and 700 wounded, which would make it one of the deadliest days for Gaza in months. The IDF disputes those numbers, saying it estimated the number of casualties was less than 100. CNN cannot independently verify these figures. On Sunday, National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan told CNN's Dana Bash that innocent people were tragically killed in this operation. He called on Hamas to accept the ceasefire that's on the table right now.

JAKE SULLIVAN, U.S. NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR: And the best way to end this war is for Hamas to say yes to the deal President Biden announced and that Israel has accepted.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WALKER: All right. And Oren Liebermann is joining us now from Tel Aviv with more. Oren, thank you for your reporting. What more are you learning about this rescue operation? And of course, there are competing figures or conflicting figures, I should say, over the civilian death toll. Also, can you tell us more about how Israelis are reacting?

LIEBERMANN: So, one of the interesting pieces of information we've learned from witnesses with whom we've spoken in Gaza is that they say the IDF came in in disguise, essentially dressed up as either Hamas militants or as displaced Palestinians. Now, Israeli military won't comment directly on what we're hearing from witnesses. Instead, the IDF spokesperson has only said that they used ways and techniques as part of the operation. It is worth noting this is a tactic we have seen from the Israeli military before, most specifically in a raid in late January into a hospital in the occupied West Bank where the Israeli military went in dressed as hospital staff and as patients. So, it is a tactic. It is a technique we have seen the Israeli military used before. So, that is something certainly to keep an eye on, as we learn more about the operation itself.

In terms of the number killed, that is a very difficult number to get a firm grip on right now, because it's impossible to go in and measure essentially the number we have heard from Palestinian officials, which is 274 or more killed as part of this operation, and hundreds wounded, versus the IDF claim that it was less than 100 casualties.

In terms of the Israeli reaction here, Israelis are overjoyed that four were rescued as part of this operation. And yet, it has not led to a wave of support for more military operations to try to rescue hostages, instead, quite the opposite. We saw the protests calling for a hostage deal now. Israeli see that as the overwhelming best way to try to bring Israelis out of Gaza, to try to rescue hostages in Hamas captivity or held by other groups. So, that is where the effort is right now. And that's exactly what Secretary of State Antony Blinken will try to get over the finish line or try to at least get support for.

The problem is, it's still not clear that he has the leverage to get this or to make any headway when it comes to Hamas, and it's unclear, now that Benny Gantz has left the government, where Israel's own government stands since far-right elements of that government have threatened to torpedo the deal and the government if they could and lead Israel to elections. Amara.

WALKER: Yeah. And it seems like it'll make it much more difficult to reach some kind of ceasefire and hostage release deal now.

Oren Liebermann, thank you very much for your reporting.

Let's bring in Nada Bashir. She has a look at Benny Gantz's resignation from Israel's emergency -- the war cabinet. Nada, good to see you. So, first off, as we're saying, Blinken is in the Mideast now. Obviously, his task is going to become much harder, because as we know, the rescue of these four hostages buys Netanyahu more time to conduct the war. Palestinians are enraged by the number of civilian casualties at this refugee camp. Talk to us about Benny Gantz and what his resignation means then, because that now leaves this war cabinet without his centrist representation.

NADA BASHIR, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, absolutely. And it certainly is a significant blow to the appearance of unity within the government that Prime Minister Netanyahu has been trying to present over the course of this war. The concern now is that the departure of Gantz from within the war cabinet will leave the floor open for more far- right members of the coalition and ministers to perhaps enter into the war cabinet. And of course, while Gantz was a centrist, he was by no means a dove, so to speak. His position within the war cabinet does not necessarily lead to the easing of the Israeli military assault on Gaza nor the lessening of civilian casualties in Gaza.

But, there is real concern that this latest move could embolden far- right ministers led by, for example, the Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, both of whom have been vocal proponents of the continuation of the war in Gaza. They have both vocally expressed their wish to see the complete destruction of Hamas before this war can come to an end. And both of whom, as Oren was just mentioning, have threatened to pull out, to withdraw from the coalition, essentially leading to a collapse of the government if indeed Prime Minister Netanyahu agrees to the current peace plan that is on the table.

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And again, this is a deal that was announced by the United States supposedly with the backing of the Israeli government. But, at this stage, no clear embracing of that deal by the Israeli Prime Minister. So, certainly, a concern there that this could scupper any hopes of a peace deal coming in the coming days and weeks.

WALKER: And what does this all mean then from U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who is in the region now? He'll be meeting with leaders from Israel, of course, Egypt, Jordan, Qatar. It would make his mission much more difficult now, even with the rescue of these hostages.

BASHIR: Absolutely. And of course, what we've seen over the last week is intensive discussions between U.S. officials and their regional counterparts and key allies. We know, of course, that the U.S. just yesterday called for a vote at the UN Security Council backing its resolution, calling for a ceasefire and full hostage-prisoner exchange agreement. But, of course, there is real concern about what this will mean for those peace talks, given the huge and significant civilian toll that we've seen over the weekend. As Oren mentioned, at least 274 people killed, according to those figures put out by Gazan authorities.

And what we've heard from regional leaders is real concern of what this will mean in terms of whether Hamas will agree to the deal. The Egyptian officials have certainly hinted as much and have said that this could certainly have a negative effect on those ongoing discussions. And of course, we've heard from U.S. officials and State Department officials saying that they believe Israel will continue to back this deal announced by the United States. We've heard from the State Department saying that the ball is firmly within Hamas' court and that they have been calling on their regional allies to pressure Hamas to come to this agreement.

But, of course, the State Department has itself also acknowledged that the terms of the current peace plan are, in the words of the State Department, near identical to an agreement that Hamas had agreed upon weeks ago. So, we are seeing some mixed messaging here as to where the exact sticking points are on either side of this agreement, and whether or not both sides can actually come to the negotiating table at this current point in time.

We've heard warnings in the past from Hamas with regards to the offensive in Rafah, saying that if there is a civilian -- a significant civilian toll, if we do see a ground offensive that they will not come to an agreement. They, of course, want to see a full cessation of violence. This latest attack on the Nuseirat refugee camp could certainly threaten those discussions and negotiations.

WALKER: All right. We will wait and see what comes out of these meetings. Nada Bashir in London, thank you very much.

We are also watching a big shift in Europe's political landscape. As the results come in after three days of voting across the European Union's 27 member states, far right-parties have made major gains in the European Parliament, and Emmanuel Macron has called for snap legislative elections. The French President is rattled. Listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

EMMANUEL MACRON, FRENCH PRESIDENT (Interpreted): In France, the far- right party's representatives have garnered nearly 40 percent of all votes. For me, who has always considered Europe to be united, strong, independent and good for France, this is a situation that I cannot come to terms with, the rise of nationalists, of demagogues, is a danger for our nation, but also for our Europe, for France's place in Europe and in the world.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WALKER: Well, observers say Mr. Macron is trying to put the brakes on Marine Le Pen's far-right National Rally party with the risky bet that it cannot win at the national level. Traders are reacting to the early results in the French President's surprise announcement, as you can see there, with Paris stocks seeing the biggest slide.

Let's get right to Paris and CNN's Melissa Bell. Melissa, tell us more about the timing and why Macron did this now.

MELISSA BELL, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: I think it took a lot of people in his own camp and certainly France's political press by surprise, Amara. He didn't have to call this snap election. I think the official reason, and going on from what you just heard from his clip there when he spoke to the nation on television last night, the official reason is that they're alarmed by this result. Remember that the National Rally, the far right got twice as many votes than Emmanuel Macron's party in terms of the national vote in these European elections, and that has alarmed them.

But this, I think, allows them to draw those alarm bells, the attention of the country to those alarm bells and say, look, be very careful about what it is you're voting for, and to present the country with a choice rather dramatically now on June 30 and then on July 7 for the second round, the French be asked to vote in parliamentary elections. The outcome of that, Amara, will determine who the next Prime Minister is. And there is a possibility of the far right make the same sort of gains they do nationally as they did in these European elections that we could come the Summer Olympics, for instance, find ourselves with Emmanuel Macron as President and a far right Prime Minister.

[08:15:00]

I think to your question, this is also strategic. There had been fears about the next presidential election and what would happen then, and whether the far right might continue its march towards power in a more significant way, that is, towards the presidency. This allows them, they believe, I think, their strategists to test the country and to galvanize those who are opposed to the far right to come together in the name of Emmanuel Macron. But, as you say, it's extremely risky. This is after all not a popular President at the helm of a party that appears not to be terribly popular either. So, the risks are great, and the possibility of a cohabitation with the far right, a distinct possibility here in France now, which only 24 hours ago would have seemed extraordinary, Amara.

WALKER: Absolutely. Melissa Bell, appreciate your reporting there from Paris. Thank you.

Now German Chancellor Olaf Scholz's government is also under pressure.

CNN's Frederik Pleitgen joining us from Berlin with more. So, give us the overall picture in Germany and the fact that the far right AfD came in second. I mean, a very strong performance. What's the reaction been to that?

FREDERIK PLEITGEN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yeah. Well ahead of Olaf Scholz's party, and I think that the situation in Germany is not quite as stark as what Melissa was just talking about there in France. Certainly, there are no snap elections on the horizon here in Germany. But, we also have to keep in mind that the parliamentary hurdles for doing that in Germany is a lot higher than they are in France.

Nevertheless, for Olaf Scholz's governing coalition, it was pretty much a disastrous night. Less than a third of the voters here in this country who voted in the European election voted for any of the parties that are right now in the governing coalition, which is three of them, Olaf Scholz's Social Democrats, the Green Party and the Liberal Democrats. The Green Party really witnessing a fiasco almost at the polls. They lost more than eight percent of the voters that they had in the last European election. So, certainly not looking good for them at all.

And there is a couple of trends that are out there, Amara, that are really concerning for a lot of German politicians and observers also of the political landscape here in this country. On the face of it, the far right party, the AfD, didn't have by far the success that for instance the far right had in France. They got less than 16 percent at the polls, the AfD did. It was a sort of, of course, a rise that they had. They did get a lot more votes than they did before, I think about 4.9 percent more than last time, but by far not as many as for instance in France and also in some other European countries as well.

However, in the eastern states of Germany, what used to be the Communist Party of Germany, the AfD, the far-right party, is by far the strongest party there. There is sort of a left-wing party called Bundnis Sahra Wagenknecht that does have some positions that are very similar to the AfD. That also was very strong there. So, certainly, what we call in Germany, the established party, the Christian Democrats, the Social Democrats, the Green Party, the Liberal Party, very weak in the eastern part of the country.

And another thing really sticks out also, Amara, and that is a lot of young people voted for the right wing AfD, also voted conservative in general as well. And there the Green Party especially lost a lot of voters. So, those are trends that a lot of people here are looking at and trying to figure out what exactly that means. But certainly, right now, for Olaf Scholz's party, for his governing coalitions, for all the parties that are in the governing coalitions -- in the governing coalition, not looking good at all. At the same time, though, what you have here is you have the government trying to portray unity. In fact, the Finance Minister of Germany, who is from the Liberal Democrats, he came out today and said he continues to back Olaf Scholz, Amara.

WALKER: That fascinating point that you make there that so many young people voted for the AfD, the far-right party, I'm sure people are taking note. Frederik Pleitgen, good to have you. Thanks so much.

Well, first, it was balloons filled with trash. Now, it's loudspeakers. We will have North Korea's warning to South Korea, after the break. Plus, it's a Venezuelan gang that has sowed terror in Central and South American countries. Now, U.S. officials warn its members that they're becoming established in the United States.

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WALKER: South Korea says Pyongyang appears to be stepping up its campaign of annoyance. The latest salvo seems to be loudspeakers placed on the border by North Korea. The South previously had giant speakers aimed at the North, seen here, and over the weekend, resumed broadcasting anti-North Korean propaganda for the first time since they were taken down in 2018. This follows a new wave of balloons filled with trash that the North sent over the border this weekend. One Democratic Party leader in South Korea is urging both sides to just stop.

Mike Valerio joining us now from Seoul with this tit-for-tat. So, where do things stand? I mean, is there any danger of this escalating into something more serious?

MIKE VALERIO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Amara, in a rare moment of agreement, we have leaders from both South Korea and North Korea, some of whom anyway are saying that indeed this tit-for-tat, this balloon feud of all things could potentially lead to some larger conflict. So, if you're just joining us, if you're just dipping into this portion of the new cycle, at the heart of this, Amara, as you alluded to in the beginning of our segment here, this is about the practice of South Korean activist groups, for years now, sending balloons from South Korea over the DMZ into North Korean territory, and attached to those balloons are parcels that have flash drives, leaflets, little slices of life in South Korea, telling North Koreans what it is like to live in a free society.

So, a few days ago, Amara, North Korea says, you know what? We see those balloon deployments, those balloon deliveries as trash. So, we're going to send our trash via balloon back to you. So, now we have South Korea resuming their propaganda loudspeaker broadcasts for the first time since 2016, since those loudspeakers were actually physically taken down two years later in 2018. And now, the Joint Chiefs of Staff here in Seoul, they are warning that they've seen indications that North Korea may be propping up their loudspeakers again, getting ready for this psychological warfare, perhaps preparing for loudspeakers to blare into South Korean ears with propaganda messages.

So, this leaves the opposition leader here in South Korea, Lee Jae- myung, saying this is a game of chicken, everybody, and this has got to stop. This has gone on for far too long. Just listen to a snippet, Amara, of what he said earlier today.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LEE JAE-MYUNG, SOUTH KOREAN OPPOSITION LEADER (Interpreted): What started as a leaflet could escalate into a local conflict or war. Looking at these two sides' responses, I wonder whether the authorities in North and South Korea are considering the safety of the people and the community.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VALERIO: So, going to North Korea, the sister of Kim Jong Un, we're talking about Kim Yo Jong, is saying that this is the prelude to a very dangerous situation. And from the North's point of view, Seoul here in South Korea is creating an atmosphere of chaos. And Amara, we've been covering the story for days now. When you speak to farmers here on the southern side, who farm and have lived for decades near the DMZ, they're saying -- they want this to stop too. They're trying to go about their daily lives and they're living with this very profoundly uncomfortable feeling and they just want this to stop.

So, the question going forward in the hours and days to come is, will North Korea resume their propaganda loudspeaker broadcasts, upping the tempo of this tit-for-tat?

[08:25:00]

And for what it's worth, Amara, according to our CNN count, we now have 1,110 balloons that have made their way from North Korean airspace here to South Korea filled with trash. It is unreal, Amara.

WALKER: Scratching (ph), it seems really petty on the surface. But, at the end of the day, who knows what North Korea's intent is. As we know, it is quite calculated and unpredictable. Mike Valerio in Seoul for us, thank you so much.

So, Ukraine says it has destroyed one of Russia's newest and most advanced fighter jets for the first time. According to Kyiv's military intelligence agency, it happened on an airbase inside of Russia, nearly 600 kilometers from the frontlines. The Su-57 plane nicknamed "Felon" by NATO is Moscow's most modern fighter jet. The price of a Su-57 is thought to be $35 to $54 million. That's according to one estimate.

Just days after taking executive action to slow border crossings, Joe Biden is apparently ready to take another dramatic step involving immigrants in the U.S. He is apparently ready to lay out protections for undocumented migrants who are married to American citizens. The move would shield them from deportation and allow them to work legally. It could affect more than 750,000 people, and is seen as a smart campaign move for Biden in swing states like Arizona and Nevada.

Now, U.S. officials believe Venezuela's most notorious gang is now established in the United States and is allegedly running a multi- state human trafficking ring, attacking police officers and dealing drugs.

Rafael Romo has the story.

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RAFAEL ROMO, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): For the last several years, they have terrorized multiple South American countries. Police in the region say a Venezuelan gang known as "Tren De Aragua" has victimized thousands through extortion, drug and human trafficking, kidnapping and murder. And now, U.S. law enforcement, including Customs and Border Protection and the FBI, say the gang has made their way into the country.

BRITTON BOYD, FBI SPECIAL AGENT IN CHARGE: The FBI El Paso can confirm that members of "Tren De Aragua" have crossed into the United States.

ROMO (voice-over): Alvaro Boza, a former Venezuelan police officer, now living in Florida, says he fled his country in large part because the gang had become so powerful, they could kill law enforcement like him with impunity. Boza says a fellow police officer who refused to cooperate with the gang was shot 50 times.

ALVARO BOZA, FORMER VENEZUELAN POLICE OFFICER (Interpreted): He refused and was murdered. He tied his body to a motorcycle and dragged it throughout the San Vicente neighborhood to demonstrate the power of the "Tren De Aragua".

BOYD: They have followed the migration paths across South America to other countries and have set up criminal groups throughout South America as they follow those paths and that they appear to have followed the migration north to the United States.

ROMO (voice-over): U.S. Border Patrol Chief Jason Owens who has confirmed multiple arrests of alleged "Tren De Aragua" members over the last year issued a warning in early April after reporting yet another arrest. Watch out for this gang, he said. It is the most powerful in Venezuela, known for murder, drug trafficking, six crimes, extortion and other violent acts.

ROMO: The challenge for law enforcement officials is that it's very difficult to know how many members of "Tren De Aragua" are already here in the United States. What some Venezuelan immigrants are telling us here in Florida and other states is that they are already beginning to see in their communities the same type of criminal activity they fled from in Venezuela.

ROLANDO VAZQUEZ, IMMIGRATION ATTORNEY: Well, they do have their hands in prostitution, contract killing, selling of drugs, selling of arms, you name it. There is just all types of criminal activity that they can engage in. Anything that's an illicit activity, they're going to engage in for a profit.

JUDGE MINDY S. GLAZER, 11TH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT OF FLORIDA: "Tren De Aragua", a violent Venezuelan street gang that is operating in the United States --

ROMO (voice-over): A judge in Miami-Dade County said in a hearing that one of two suspects in the murder of a former Venezuelan police officer in South Florida allegedly is a member of the gang. And more recently, a New York police source told CNN the 19-year-old who allegedly opened fire on two officers after they tried to stop him for riding a scooter in the wrong direction, has tattoos associated with the gang.

Boza, the former Venezuelan police officer, says the U.S. government has no way of knowing if a Venezuelan immigrant asking for asylum at the southern border is in reality a criminal because Venezuela, as a matter of policy, does not share intelligence with the United States.

BOYD: Our biggest concern would be making sure our partners are aware to be on the lookout.

[08:30:00]

ROMO (voice-over): And that's the key, federal officials say, when it comes to making sure this new threat in the United States that's not growing to the national security challenge, it's become in several Latin American countries.

Rafael Romo, CNN, Miami.

(END VIDEOTAPE) WALKER: Still to come, will he or won't he. Today is the day Hunter Biden's defense team will decide whether the President's son will testify at his own criminal trial. Stay with us.

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WALKER: The Hunter Biden gun trial is expected to resume next hour. He has arrived at the courthouse in Delaware, and so have members of his family, including the First Lady. We expect a major decision soon. Hunter and his lawyers must decide whether or not the President's son should take the stand in his own defense. They have said they will make that announcement today. Hunter's state of mind at the time he purchased a gun in 2018 is a key aspect of the case. Federal prosecutors say that if Hunter Biden testifies, they will probably call additional rebuttal witnesses, which could push closing arguments in the case back by several days. Now, of course, testifying in your own defense is always risky.

For more on the legal strategy here, we bring in Criminal Defense Attorney and former Prosecutor, Bernarda Villalona. Bernarda, good to see you. OK. So, what's your take? Do you think, first of all, he will or won't testify (ph)?

BERNARDA VILLALONA, CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEY, & FORMER NEW YORK PROSECUTOR: This is a difficult call whether Hunter Biden is going to testify. And just to be clear, he is the only person that can make that decision. Only the defendant can make a decision as to whether he wishes to testify or not. That's number one. Number two, if he does decide to testify, it teases the dynamics of jury deliberation where the case no longer belong, is whether the prosecution prove their case beyond a reasonable doubt. But, jurors have said, like, do we believe the defendant? Do we believe Hunter Biden, when he tells us that he didn't lie when he filled out the form?

Also take into account, because this is a federal trial, if he were to be convicted, the judge can use his testimony against them and trying to enhance his sentence, because if he finds that he lied, he lied under oath, the judge can use that against him in determining a sentence at the end of this case.

[08:35:00]

So, also just to think that if Hunter Biden were to testify, he is open to so much cross-examination. The government has his laptop. In fact, there was so much information on that laptop that they created a board of over 18,000 pieces of evidence that they summarized. So, they can use that information that they know to cross-examine him about, that they weren't able to bring out to win their case and cheat (ph).

So, it's a risky move, not one that I will go forward with. But also, when you look at from the defense side, only Hunter Biden is a person that can actually tell this jury, what was his intent? What was in his mind? How did he interpret that question as to whether he was an addict or whether he was under the influence of narcotics at the time? He can look for sympathy. But, we're not sure how far that's going to go with this jury. WALKER: Well, speaking of sympathy, I mean, it seems like there have been some sympathetic jurors, right? I mean, during the course of testimony, they have heard from so many of the women that have been in Hunter Biden's life in the past and in the present. Some got emotional. Some had tears. So, perhaps the argument can be made that, if he does testify, Hunter Biden, in his own case, he could he evoke more of those emotions and sympathy from the jurors.

VILLALONA: Yes. And Hunter Biden is sympathetic. You have to think what's on trial. Drug addiction is on trial. How many of us know people that are addicted to drugs or even addicted to alcohol? It's a revolving door, like, what do they actually accept whether they're an addict and also what drives them to actually drink or to use narcotics. And Hunter Biden does have a sad story, to lose his mother and also to lose his brother as well. Those are things that he was suffering. So, I think he can go for jury nullification in the sense that even if the government did prove their case beyond a reasonable doubt, that they find him so sympathetic, that they're like, we're not going to send this man to jail. We're not going to find him guilty because we don't feel that this is a case that should have been prosecuted.

WALKER: So then, what do you think about the prosecution's case so far? Because let's remind our viewers that this trial is about whether Hunter Biden was addicted or using drugs when he purchased that gun in October of 2018, and whether or not he lied on that federal form. Do you think the prosecution has shown beyond a reasonable doubt that he did commit these three crimes, these three extra charges?

VILLALONA: Well, the government has proven the case beyond a reasonable doubt that he has committed these three charges. You have to think that they've already put their star witness, who was Hallie Biden, who testified. Remember how we got here that she found a firearm inside of the car, and that she was so scared that he was going to cause harm to himself, or that her daughters would have found that firearm that she took that firearm and tossed it in a garbage can, because she was also in fear because she knew that Hunter Biden was on drugs, that he was addicted to drugs. So, they proved it in that sense.

They don't have that evidence that on the day of or around that time he was actually using drugs. But, the judge has already ruled that the prosecution does not have to prove that on that actual day when he filled out their form, that he was under the influence of narcotics or using narcotics. Also, they have, most importantly, the gun that was recovered and the gun pouch, they found cocaine residue on it. In fact, that was one of the last witnesses that the government called last week to testify that there was drug residue on those items, again, proven that there was a presence of narcotics. The question would be, would you say, Oh, that was highly or that was someone else, or we don't know how he got on the gun? Again, that's difficult.

They also used his text messages against him. In fact, one of the way he is arranging a meeting with his drug provider to go find and buy these drugs. So, these are strong pieces of evidence for the prosecution. Again, I don't think this case should have moved forward where the prosecution should have sought to go to trial on this case or to prosecute Hunter Biden on this case. I think the appropriate remedy in this case would have been a drug program or again to defer prosecution that they were looking to offer last year.

WALKER: Yeah. Unless we forget that there was a plea deal on the table last year. But, of course, all of that fell apart. Criminal Defense Attorney Bernarda Villalona, thank you so much.

So, the presumptive U.S. Republican presidential nominee is scheduled to meet later today with his probation officer. Yes. We're talking about Donald Trump. He is set to meet virtually for his pre-sentencing interview after he was convicted late last month on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records. It's all part of the report the probation department will submit to Judge Juan Merchan ahead of Trump's sentencing on July 11.

CNN's Chief Law Enforcement Analyst John Miller explains the questions Trump will likely face.

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JOHN MILLER, CNN CHIEF LAW ENFORCEMENT AND INTELLIGENCE ANALYST: What is your home situation? Do you live in a stable environment? Do you have employment?

[08:40:00]

Can you get employment? Are you suffering from any drug addiction? What is your criminal background? Is it violent? In this case, Donald Trump is going to be different from a lot of defendants, in fact, the vast majority. He lives in a triplex at the top of a building with his name on it. He has no criminal record. And yet, like many other defendants, he does have multiple other open felony cases.

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WALKER: All right. Still to come, an update on the extreme heat in parts of the U.S. with some areas that remain under triple digits. Stay with us.

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WALKER: Welcome back. So, an update now to a story we brought you just a few moments ago Hunter Biden's attorney has indicated his client will not testify. A reminder, the trial is expected to begin next hour, and we were waiting to find out if he would testify in his own defense. He will not, as we are hearing. He is charged with purchasing a firearm when he was using drugs. He has been lying on a federal form.

All right. Some developing news to us in the past few hours. Austrian Airlines said a hailstorm caused this, yes, major damage to the nose of its plane on Sunday. It was flying between Palma de Mallorca in Spain to Vienna when it encountered a thunderstorm cell. That is according to the airline. These pictures are just heart-stopping. Aren't they? You're looking at images being shared on social media, showing major damage to the front of the plane where the nose is basically missing. 173 passengers were on board as well as six crew members. The Airbus A320 landed safely, however, in Vienna.

Some 20 million people are under heat alerts in the southwestern U.S., as the southern half of the country is grappling with extreme heat at the start of the work week.

Derek Van Dam is at the World Weather Center with the very latest. We're talking about, wow, really hot temperatures, aren't we?

DAM: Yeah. It's unbelievable, actually, what I'm about to show you. But, authorities here in Phoenix are warning people that heat stress and there is a high risk of heat stress, and if you don't have adequate cooling or adequate hydration opportunities today that you may be more susceptible to heat-related illnesses. And they're even in fact advising people to limit Sun exposure from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., the hottest part of the day.

There have been 14 consecutive days where the mercury in the thermometer has climbed above 100 degrees and there is no signs of it stopping anytime soon. And it's not just Phoenix and southern Arizona. It extends across populations like Las Vegas and into the Central Valley of California. All in all, 20 million Americans under some sort of heat alerts. But, what we're focusing in on Sin City, Las Vegas. They have already had the hottest starts to the month of June since records began. That goes back to 1937.

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And meteorologists there give it about a 70 percent probability where the temperatures will reach triple-digit heat right through June 20. We're edging on the first days of summer, still in the spring season, technically. But, you can see this forecast, feeling much more like summer with temperatures well above average in Las Vegas, Nevada, for the foreseeable future, next seven days, in fact. So, this is really a concern. Adequate hydration, again, limiting Sun exposure. That is what authorities are advising people to do as they step outside and well, face the heats really. Amara.

WALKER: All right. Derek Van Dam, so to speak, thank you so much.

So, millions of people in Zimbabwe are struggling to put food on the table as a terrible drought plagues the Southern African nation. The threat of another failed rainy season has UNICEF raising the alarm.

Lynda Kinkade has this report.

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LYNDA KINKADE, CNN HOST (voice-over): Children line up for what may very well be their only meal today, waiting patiently for a scoop, maybe two of macaroni. Their parents who rely on neighboring farms for work out of the job due to crop failure. No crops mean no food, let alone any money to buy it. A drought caused by a combination of naturally occurring El Nino and human-induced global warming plagues Zimbabwe. It's the worst drought here in years after a failed rainy season from October to March, and the threat of another below average season later this year. Crops have dried up and families are struggling to put food on the table. In a flash appeal, UNICEF said 7.6 million people need life-saving support. Of those, the most vulnerable are children.

LETWIN MHANDE, MOTHER OF FOUR (Interpreted): Food is a big challenge, and sometimes, the kids carry corn snacks to school. This is different from previous years when we had good rainy seasons and I could at least pack something decent for them. We can now only afford to have one meal per day because we have no choice.

KINKADE (voice-over): At this feeding station and four others, donors fund two meals for about 1,500 children a day. But, as the drought persists and donations dip, resources stretched increasingly thin.

SAMANTHA MUZOROKI, KUCHENGETANA TRUST FOUNDER: Well, I felt that as a mother and as a woman and a member of a community, I should chip in when I hear the cries of a child next door saying they haven't eaten since yesterday. I had a moral obligation to study satisfy (ph) that need.

KINKADE (voice-over): In nearby Malawi and Zambia, the El Nino-driven drought means crops are failing, prices are soaring, and people are struggling to find food. All three countries have declared natural disasters. This Malawian farmer is used to harvesting 50 bags or 50 kilograms from her field. But, with little rainfall along with a worm issue, that number has plummeted to just two.

FANNY KUNKHOMA, SUBSISTENCE FARMER (Interpreted): I don't know what the future holds for me because honestly, I didn't expect two bags. I feel like crying because I can't understand this. What am I going to do with my children out of the two bags? I have literally nothing to give the children.

KINKADE (voice-over): It's the humanitarian crisis, one that aid organizations are working to fight, but even as the El Nino wanes, the globe only gets warmer due to climate change. And after the struggle to survive this season, families live in fear of what will come next.

Lynda Kinkade, CNN.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WALKER: Wow. All right. Still to come, Apple of its AI, the tech giant is set to announce a landmark new partnership on artificial intelligence.

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[08:50:00]

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WALKER: To China now and to look at how rapidly changing demographics are being reflected in real time, as more people move to cities to find work and raise their families. A growing number of communities are becoming so-called "ghost villages".

Marc Stewart went to visit one.

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MARC STEWART, CNN CORRESPONDENT: In parts of rural China, time stands still. We're on a road trip to show you what's known as a "ghost village". We are technically still in Beijing, about 40 miles from the city center. And we came here to show how people have moved over time. This was once a thriving village. Now, it's almost abandoned. Houses in the village are overgrown with weeds. In this home, reminders, children were once here, artwork and school certificates hanging on the wall, shoes lay on the ground. We don't know exactly what this once was, but it's clearly locked up. The windows are broken. No one has been here for a while.

To give you some context, in the 1980s, only about 20 percent of Chinese families lived in cities. Now, that number is closer to 70 percent. This village reflects that transition. This shift isn't without side effects, as young people moved to cities for better opportunities and jobs. In some cases, they're leaving parents, even children behind. Urbanization on such a massive scale has drastically changed the economic and social landscape across rural China. What's happening here isn't that much of a surprise. Modernization has been a big part of the Chinese government's blueprint for the future, an effort to keep up with the strength of the West. So, we're seeing this movement from farm to factory and now beyond.

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WALKER: All right. Marc Stewart, thank you.

Tech fans are hoping for a big announcement from Apple today as it kicks off its famous Worldwide Developer Conference. The company could announce new AI features for the next generation of iPhones. Now, there hasn't been a significant software upgrade to the iPhone for four years now. And Apple has been lagging behind the rest of the market when it comes to AI. But, of course, never count out Apple.

Brian Fung is on the story for us. Hello, Brian. So, what are we expecting these Apple AI features to look like?

BRIAN FUNG, CNN TECHNOLOGY REPORTER: Yeah, Amara. As you said, today is all about showing Apple is on top of the AI challenge. We're expecting the company to make a string of AI-related announcements that could include, as you said, a potential partnership with OpenAI. That's the company behind ChatGPT. It could also mean upgrades to Siri that could turn it into more of a chatbot or make it better at doing tasks like retrieving old photos you've taken. And the stakes here are really high. Rivals like Google are already using AI to help you draft emails and messages. So, it's possible Apple could unveil something similar to keep pace.

But, analysts say Apple really needs to showcase something different, something with a wow factor to drive future iPhone sales and to set it up for the long term. This isn't just about what will be in the next iPhone, but potentially about whole new product categories that don't exist yet. Now, historically, WWDC has been about Apple software because it's a conference for software developers. But, whatever Apple announces today could give us clues as to its future hardware plans, because all of the new AI features will likely meet a ton of computing power, and developers will need to know how much computing power they'll have access to when designing their apps for the iPhone or Mac.

So, in addition to the product updates we get today, you can probably expect Apple to outline a broader vision for its technology as AI becomes more widespread. And one big thing to look out for is that Apple is taking a strong stance on privacy and security. So, it'll be interesting to see how it applies that to some of the thorniest questions about AI, including how to handle fake responses, guard against bias, and respect to others people -- other people's digital data and intellectual property. Amara.

WALKER: I will be watching this very closely. Very interesting. So, why do you think Apple is making this move now into AI?

FUNG: Well, as you mentioned, other companies like Google and Microsoft are far ahead on this technology. And Apple really needs to show that it can keep up and not just keep up but also kind of leapfrog Apple -- leapfrog Google and Microsoft because it is seen as sort of this premium brand that delivers a really strong consumer experience. And we're just going to have to see whether Apple meets that test today.

WALKER: We will see. Brian Fung, good to have you.

[08:55:00]

Thank you. And thank you for joining me here on CNN Newsroom. I'm Amara Walker. Connect the World with Becky Anderson is up next.

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