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Bahrain Reports Damage After New Iranian Strikes; Israel Hits Lebanon a Day After Signing Framework Agreement; Venezuelan Rescuers Race to Save Trapped People as Death Toll Soars; Deadly Heat Wave Shatters Records Across Europe; "Great American State Fair" Kicks Off 250th Celebrations; U.S. Supreme Court Immigration Ruling. Aired 4-5a ET

Aired June 28, 2026 - 04:00   ET

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

[04:00:00]

SALMA ABDELAZIZ, CNN ANCHOR: Hello and a very warm welcome to our viewers joining us from around the world and in the U.S. I'm Salma Abdelaziz in London. Let's get into the headlines.

Tensions are now escalating between the U.S. and Iran with the Gulf nations yet again caught in the middle. We're going to take you live to the region with the details on those strikes that are further testing a very fragile truce. And as the death toll rises from the Venezuela earthquakes, rescuers are also finding survivors including a little baby trapped in the rubble. We'll have the latest on the aftermath. Plus, a closer look at what a Supreme Court ruling could mean for hundreds of thousands of people living legally in the U.S.

ANNOUNCER: Live from London, this is CNN Newsroom with Salma Abdelaziz.

ABDELAZIZ: We're getting the first images of damage after these new Iranian strikes targeted U.S. military facilities in the Gulf. Earlier, Iran said it had launched attacks on facilities in Kuwait and Bahrain. The government in Bahrain now says a residential building suffered heavy damage, but no one was killed. It was also hit by a number of missiles and drones. That's according to a statement from the country, which calls this a dangerous escalation.

This is all happening after the U.S. had carried out its second wave of strikes on Iranian military targets in just as many days. U.S. CENTCOM called it a response to an Iranian attack on a civilian vessel on Saturday morning.

Joining us now is Paula Hancocks. She is live and monitoring these developments for us from Abu Dhabi. Good morning, first of all, to you, Paula. I mean, we are seeing now yet again an exchange of fire. Sirens were ringing out in Bahrain this morning. Kuwait was intercepting Iranian missiles. What are you learning and why is this escalating, Paula?

PAULA HANCOCKS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes. So, Salma, this is really the most serious escalation that we've seen between the U.S. and Iran since that MOU was signed, the Memorandum of Understanding. Now, we have seen that in Bahrain, in Kuwait, there was very little sleep for many residents there. Bahrain, for example, we have seen pictures from the Interior Ministry showing one residential building, the top floor, seriously damaged. Now, they say there have been no loss of life at this point. But we do have a statement from Bahrain, and they have called it, quote, "a deliberate policy and a systematic pattern of repeated aggression against Bahrain's sovereignty and the security of its citizens and residents." A similar situation in Kuwait, as they were intercepting missiles and drones in the early hours of Sunday morning.

Now, this was Iran's retaliation, they said, for U.S. strikes against military targets in Iran. The U.S. said that was in retaliation for an Iranian drone hitting a vessel in the Strait of Hormuz back on Thursday. So, we have been seeing these tit-for-tat escalatory strikes from both sides. Now, we have heard from a Revolutionary Guard spokesperson. Let's listen to what he had to say.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

HOSSEIN MOHEBBI, ISLAMIC REVOLUTIONARY GUARD CORPS SPOKESPERSON (through translator): This is simply the nature of our enemy. It is untrustworthy and prone to breaking its commitments. At any moment, it may engage in such actions. Regardless, it is consistent with the enemy's nature because we know its character. But as I said, what is most important is that we have always responded to the enemy, and we will continue to do so.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HANCOCKS: Now, one of the key issues here, of course, is the Strait of Hormuz. Tehran considers it to be in charge of vessels that are transiting that crucial waterway, saying that they have to use Iranian routes, meaning the northern route of the Strait of Hormuz, close to the Iranian coast, and they have to ask for Tehran's permission. What we have been seeing, of course, is some going closer to the Omani coast in the southern part of the Strait of Hormuz so they can avoid those kind of technicalities. Iran said that that would provoke more response if they saw that going forward.

We heard from the U.S. president, Donald Trump, as well, talking about these escalations. I'll read part of his post, and it says, there may come a point when we are no longer able to be reasonable and will be forced to militarily complete the job that we very successfully started, saying, if that happens, the Islamic Republic of Iran will no longer exist.

[04:05:00]

Now, it's not the first time we've seen this kind of threats from the U.S. president. In fact, in the past, we've heard from Iranian officials saying that these strong threats really point to the desperation of the United States. But it is the most serious escalation we have seen, as I say, since the MOU was signed, and certainly it does make the Strait of Hormuz more concerning as to whether or not it is going to be accessible to vessels. Central Command has said there are still commercial vessels trying to make the transit. We will try and get figures of how many actually dare to try and cross through. Salma.

ABDELAZIZ: Paula Hancocks there on the most serious escalation, as you said, since the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding between Iran and the United States. Thank you very much for those updates.

There are also escalations in Lebanon. Israel says it has killed a number of Hezbollah militants in the southern part of the country. This is just a day after the two countries had signed a framework ceasefire agreement. Israel says it also dismantled a rocket launcher near Nabatea on Saturday.

Earlier, the Lebanese health ministry said one person was killed and two others were injured in that area. Israel and Lebanon had signed a trilateral agreement with the U.S. on Friday. It was hailed as a first step towards a lasting peace, but Hezbollah was, of course, not included, and its main political ally in Lebanon rejected the agreement on Saturday.

Rescue teams in Venezuela are scrambling to save trapped survivors as the death toll from Wednesday's double earthquake soars past 1,400 people. It is a race against the clock for emergency workers, since more than 72 hours have now passed since those quakes. The chances of survival have dropped rapidly after three days without any water.

But more than 7,200 aid workers from 24 countries have arrived, along with tons of equipment and medicine. And there are some moments of hope.

This crying nine-month-old, you can hear the cries there, was rescued by the U.S. and local teams. The child's mother was also saved. Both only had minor injuries.

And take a look at this one. Cheers of joy captured after one man was pulled by Spanish workers free from the rubble.

Our CNN contributor Stefano Pozzebon is there in Venezuela with more on the race to find those alive.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MILEIDY DUQUE, SEARCHING MISSING RELATIVES (through translator): There's no words to explain everything that you feel. Once you get here, you have to imagine that your family's in there and not receiving help from anyone. It's very sad.

STEFANO POZZEBON, CNN CONTRIBUTOR (voice over): Mileidy Duque is one of many Venezuelan mothers waiting for news of their loved ones.

DUQUE: My 82-year-old mother lived here alongside my brother and my 20-year-old daughter. My daughter's boyfriend had come over to deliver a meal to my mother, and, well, the last contact we had with her was at 5:45 P.M. on Wednesday. Since then, we've heard nothing more. POZZEBON: Her hometown, La Guaira, was one of the hardest hit by Wednesday twin earthquakes. Despite not being at the epicenter, huge parts of the coastal city have been destroyed, with Venezuelan Acting President Delcy Rodriguez declaring it a disaster zone.

On Friday, as rescue searches continued, some people took advantage of the chaos to take items from local businesses, desperately grabbing hold of whatever they could.

Near the capital, Caracas, operations continued on Saturday to try to recover those still trapped in the rubble. For this woman, the wait has proven unbearable.

SUSANA HENRIQUEZ, CARACAS RESIDENT (through translator): These past hours have been filled with great pain and uncertainty. Today, the rescuers and the dogs finally arrived. We truly hope they manage to finish rescuing our neighbors who are in the building next door.

POZZEBON: And although her family has been taken care of, she knows many others haven't been so lucky.

HENRIQUEZ: Fortunately, we have resources, but there are many people who are in need.

POZZEBON: Before the earthquake, Venezuela was already in the throes of a humanitarian crisis, amplified by recent political instability and international sanctions. Now, as authorities struggle to provide an emergency response, signs of hope may finally be on the horizon.

[04:10:00]

Emergency aid has been sent from Brazil, Panama, Costa Rica, and several other countries, while the United States has promised to send elite rescue teams, military transport, and $150 million in humanitarian aid.

Venezuela's acting leader thanked countries for the show of support on Saturday.

DELCY RODRIGUEZ, ACTING VENEZUELAN PRESIDENT (through translator): Venezuela is not alone. We have received a helping hand of solidarity from the world.

POZZEBON: Back in La Guaira, the search continues for signs of life in the rubble.

Stefano Pozzebon, CNN, Valencia, Venezuela.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ABDELAZIZ: In Kentucky, catastrophic flooding has killed at least four people. Many cars, houses and roads have been submerged in floodwaters, as you can see there. Some areas received six to seven inches of rain. A church has been forced to cancel its services after it collapsed from floodwaters in Richmond. That's about 30 miles from Lexington. And dozens of people have already been rescued. The governor has declared a state of emergency to help deploy more resources, as more rain is expected. Officials are urging people to be cautious and avoid unnecessary driving.

Now, coming up this hour, a closer look at a major immigration ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court, what the decision could mean for thousands of Haitians currently living in America.

And also, ahead, the latest World Cup results from the final day of the group round and a look at the history of soccer's most coveted trophy.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[04:15:00]

ABDELAZIZ: A record-breaking heat wave is moving across Europe. Dozens of deaths in the continent have been linked to the sweltering heat. Germany hit its highest temperature ever recorded on Saturday. Thermometers reached 106 degrees Fahrenheit in a city just east of Leipzig. That's 41.5 degrees Celsius. And Paris hit a June record of 105 degrees Fahrenheit or 40 degrees Celsius on Wednesday.

And the heat is not stopping. On Saturday, the French capital and 36 other regions remained in an extreme heat warning zone. Officials say nearly 3,000 people were seeking care in hospitals, about a third more than usual.

The eastern U.S. is also about to feel the most severe heat wave of the summer so far. A heat dome will bring dangerously hot and humid conditions to the region. Millions will feel like temperatures are hitting 100 to 110 degrees. Some places will peak as high as 115 degrees. And several metro areas could see temperatures climb to their highest level yet this year, including Chicago, Detroit, St. Louis, Dallas and Nashville. Starting Sunday, heat alerts will begin from Kansas to Wisconsin and east to St. Louis.

Utah's governor is restricting fireworks over Independence Day weekend as the state battles one of its most destructive wildfire seasons on record. A state of emergency has been declared to help fire crews battle more than a dozen brush fires burning across the state. Rather, many residents are grieving the loss of their homes while others face uncertainty.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JARED RICHARDSON, TOOELE COUNTY, UTAH RESIDENT: My house could be gone tomorrow, tonight. And you don't know.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ABDELAZIZ: The largest fire is known as the Colton Fire. It is ripping through the Fish Lake National Forest east of Beaver. More than a thousand personnel are fighting this blaze as it's grown more than 92,000 acres as of Saturday night. That's an area bigger than Salt Lake City. Its cause is still under investigation. More than 75 percent of the state's wildfires this season have been sparked by people. Officials warn anyone whose illegal actions ignite a wildfire could face criminal charges.

For more on all of this, joining me now is meteorologist and climate scientist Chris Gloninger. Thank you so much for being on with us this morning.

I mean, we're just talking about all of these extreme temperatures from Europe to the United States. But I really want to start with what's happening in Utah right now, because there's 10 active fires that are burning, 144,000 acres right now statewide. Are these rare conditions? Is this an unprecedented event? What has triggered this and what keeps this blaze going?

CHRIS GLONINGER, METEOROLOGIST AND CLIMATE SCIENTIST: Salma, good morning. Yes, these fires are quite unprecedented across parts of Utah and now in western Colorado.

This area over the course of the winter only saw about half of their typical amount of snow. And that drought has only gotten worse in the last couple of months. We've seen exceptional drought conditions throughout many of those states across the West.

And we have winds that are reaching 35 to 40 miles per hour. Red flag warnings are up across that part of the country. The drought, again, the large driver behind the explosive growth of these fires and then you add in the wind.

Typically, fire season starts a little bit later and then we may see monsoon season start, but that won't be until probably July. So, these conditions may keep going for the next month or so across parts of Utah, Colorado and northern Arizona.

Human caused when you hear the ignition source, but also, Salma, because of climate change, because we burn oil, coal and gas, we have conditions that really pour fuel on these fires that make them that much worse.

ABDELAZIZ: So, you are talking again, you've spoken about record low snowpack, warmest winter on record for Utah. You've mentioned climate change, but I want you to delve into that more here. What is the impact of that and why are we seeing this extreme weather happening now? Is it going to get worse?

GLONINGER: We have a couple of things going on, right? So, we talked the human cause of all of this right with the atmosphere warming about a degree and a half Celsius since the late 1800s. And that might not seem like a lot. But when you look at the atmosphere and the globe as a whole, that's a significant amount, and that's enough to cause these extremes.

[04:20:00]

Fire season to start earlier, fire season to burn longer, fire season to be more extreme, and that is what we're expecting to continue over the coming weeks across that part of the country. And the winds driving it too will be a big, big concern.

El Nino is the other issue that we are dealing with. And yes, typically that means the south and parts of the east coast are wetter than average but this could delay the start to monsoon season which is truly the only relief that we can expect naturally for these fires.

And then across the east, we're starting to see the heat build and you saw all of the areas painted in pink and orange with those excessive heat warnings across parts of the plains and great lakes. That will then shift across parts of the east coast as well, already seeing excessive heat watches up for places like Philadelphia, well out ahead of the peak of the heat which will likely happen in time for the 4th of July holiday.

So, this is the type of weather that we expect in a changing climate but also with an impending strong El Nino that likely won't peak until later on in the fall and early winter, Salma.

ABDELAZIZ: And, Chris, I have to ask about Europe. I'm based here in London and you know from the U.K. to France to Germany we've seen record-breaking heat just in the last few days and all of us here are asking the same question, is this a fluke or is this our new normal?

GLONINGER: It is our new normal, Salma. And the World Weather Attribution Organization, which looks at attribution science, so how much of a role climate change has played on these particular events. 50 years ago, this heat would have been virtually impossible without human-caused climate change and that is a significant statistic. We are seeing temperatures in London for example that broke their record all-time record June temperature three days in a row. So, each day we broke that new record that was set.

So, they look at modeling the Earth's atmosphere, right, and then you take greenhouse gases out of the equation and see what weather conditions we would have seen without burning oil, coal and gas. So, that is how they're able to tell that we are tipping the scale and making these conditions a lot more favorable.

The bad news is across parts of Europe, once we're done with this heat in the next couple of days, we expect it to return. We have these dueling heat domes one across the eastern part of the United States east of the Mississippi and then a new one forming across Europe and this is a part of the world where many residents don't have air conditioning, and that is what makes this heat that much more extreme across parts of Europe and especially the U.K. and parts of France, Salma.

ABDELAZIZ: Chris Gloninger there on our new normal of extreme weather conditions and hotter and hotter summers. Thank you so much.

Some scary moments for travelers in Miami on Saturday. An American Airlines flight that was bound for Bermuda had to abort its takeoff when a business jet showed up on the same runway. Here's how that moment sounded from air traffic control.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Four Quebec Sierra.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: 4 Quebec Sierra.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: 4 Quebec Sierra, you just crossed an active runway Hold short of runway 8 left.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You just told me to cross the runway, sir.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No, we said Amerijet at 461.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ABDELAZIZ: In a statement American Airlines said it appreciates the quick actions of their crew and they thank their customers for their understanding. The flight later took off for Bermuda.

It is do or die time as the World Cup's knockout stage starts today for the 32 surviving teams. Yesterday at the late group stage matches England finished at the top of their group after a 2-nil win against now eliminated Panama. Captain Harry Kane became England's all-time World Cup scorer after making the 11th tournament goal of his career during that game.

Defending champs Argentina beat Jordan 3-1 knocking them out of the competition. Lionel Messi hopped off the bench and onto the scoreboard with a penalty kick extending his record to seven straight World Cup matches with a goal.

And a six-goal thriller between Algeria and Austria ended in a 3 to 3 draw. The two teams traded stoppage time goals but Algeria synced an equalizer in the final moments. Both teams now advance into the next stage of the tournament.

From this point on there are no second chances. The knockout round starts later today with South Africa facing off against Canada in Los Angeles and the action continues Monday when six teams will fight to keep their World Cup dreams alive. Team USA will play on Wednesday against Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The FIFA World Cup trophy as it's officially named has been lifted by the sport's biggest stars over its decades long history. But its story began decades ago in an artist studio in Milan. Our Antonia Mortensen has this report.

[04:25:00]

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ANTONIA MORTENSEN, CNN SENIOR PRODUCER: The World Cup trophy, one of the most recognizable symbols in sport. But behind it, a story few people know.

Well, this is the original prototype made and designed right here in Milan more than 50 years ago by Italian sculptor Silvio Gazzaniga. From a studio in Milan to the biggest sporting stage on earth. GIORGIO GAZZANIGA, SILVIO GAZZANIGA'S SON (through translator): This magical thing happened, the previous World Cup, the remake Cup had been awarded to Brazil.

MORTENSEN: In 1970 Brazil won the World Cup for a third time and under the original rules they were allowed to keep the original trophy. FIFA needed a new trophy and Gazzaniga's design won the competition.

GAZZANIGA (through translator): So, he started drawing, drawing, drawing and had found two directions. One of a very beautiful, very modern but abstract object. But when he did that, he realized that the Cup had to make an immediate impact in every country in the world, be immediately understood and show that inside this object was the entire tradition and history of victory.

MORTENSEN: Since then, it has become one of the most iconic symbols in sport, recognized around the world.

GAZZANIGA (through translator): He made the prototype in three dimensions then created a box to take it to Zurich and put it directly on the table. But until 1974 when Beckenbauer lifted it, it was still just a beautiful object. When he raised it to the sky the stadium exploded, and that was when he realized he had created an icon.

MORTENSEN: The actual trophy is 18 carat gold and has been lifted up at every World Cup since 1974. Designed and made in Italy, even if Italy didn't make it to the World Cup this time.

Antonia Mortensen, CNN, Milan.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ABDELAZIZ: Americans will celebrate the nation's 250th birthday next Saturday July 4th but the party has already started in Washington DC. Just ahead we'll take you to the National Mall for the Great American State Fair. And we'll take a look at key races in Georgia and what they mean for the midterm elections later this year.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[04:30:00]

ABDELAZIZ: Welcome back to CNN Newsroom. I'm Salma Abdelaziz in London.

People are preparing to celebrate America's 250th anniversary next Saturday. Crowds are gathering at the National Mall in Washington, D.C., for the Trump administration's Great American State Fair. This 16-day festival will feature pavilions showcasing all U.S. states and territories. It will have military flyovers and a giant Ferris wheel. But a time to celebrate America has been divisive for many. CNN's Gabe Cohen visited the fair and has this report for us.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) GABE COHEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, the Great American State Fair kicked off its first weekend here on the National Mall. But on Saturday, just about a mile down the road, there was a counter program organized by several mostly progressive organizations who said they wanted to hold their own event marking this country's 250th birthday.

And it speaks to how divided many Americans have been over these events, with some of them arguing that the Trump administration has turned them into partisan spectacles. This state fair has been controversial partly because it was organized by a Trump-aligned nonprofit, Freedom 250, as opposed to the bipartisan organization that Congress had established in recent years. And the president has put his stamp on it. Not only did he kick off this state fair with a rally, but in the middle of it, you'll find this scaled-down replica of the Triumphal arch that he's hoping to build here in the nation's capital.

In recent weeks, we've seen musical artists cancel their performances they had scheduled for the state fair, arguing it was becoming a partisan event. We've also seen Democratic states say they would refuse to participate in the state fair.

So, we spoke to some of the people who came here, really from all over the country, some of them Trump supporters, about why they wanted to be a part of this. And we spoke to one of the organizers of that event across town, who said she and others don't feel welcome here.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SARU JAYARAMAN, CO-FOUNDER OF NEXT 250 INITIATIVE: The people who are putting on that fair are attacking who we are, and we are saying we all belong here. You're welcome to come to our event. We don't feel welcome at your event, but everybody is welcome at ours.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COHEN: And this is just the beginning of the celebration events expected here in Washington, including on the 4th of July, when President Trump is expected to hold a rally here on the National Mall, followed by a massive fireworks display.

Gabe Cohen, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ABDELAZIZ: The race to this November's midterm elections is heating up in Georgia. Incumbent Democratic Senator Jon Ossoff held what was billed as his first major reelection rally in Savannah on Saturday. He will be facing off with Trump-endorsed Representative Mike Collins. The winner of this race could determine the balance of power in the Senate.

Ossoff was joined at Saturday's rally by former Atlanta mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms. She is the Democratic nominee for Georgia governor. Her Republican opponent is billionaire Rick Jackson. Jackson beat Trump ally Burt Jones for the Republican nomination, although he has looked to portray himself as aligned with the president's policies and background as an outsider from the business world.

Joining me now for a breakdown on all of this is Riley Bunch. She is live from Atlanta, and she is a public policy reporter for Georgia Public Broadcasting. Thank you so much for coming to us in the middle of the night, first of all. We're really glad to have you on.

RILEY BUNCH, PUBLIC POLICY REPORTER, GEORGIA PUBLIC BROADCASTING: Thank you for having me.

ABDELAZIZ: I want to start with that rally that was held yesterday in Savannah, of course, the first major event of the re-election campaign for Senator Jon Ossoff. What was the atmosphere like there? What was the message? What was the sentiment?

BUNCH: Yes, absolutely. It was energetic. Democrats have really presented a united front early in this campaign when Republican voters just decided who their opponents were going to be just a little over two weeks ago in runoff elections. So, they're hoping that coming together, both the top of the ticket candidates can give them a little bit of an edge in November.

[04:35:00]

Some of the major themes are, of course, affordability is truly the word of this campaign cycle is really hard out here in Georgia and just America in general. With the cost of living, particularly along health care, is an issue for sure. And then, of course, Jon Ossoff is known for his bruising attacks against the president, which were on full display at the rally.

ABDELAZIZ: And I can see him there, signature style, rolled up sleeves. But I want to take a step back because this is a crucial race. Is it clear to the Democratic Party that he's going to take control of the Senate? Do they see this as safe at this point or is it still competitive?

BUNCH: You know, they're pretty cautiously optimistic from the primary numbers. Democrats outvoted Republicans in Georgia significantly, about 500,000 more Democratic voters cast ballots in the primary runoffs. There is some historical data that the party not in power does come out a little bit stronger during midterm elections. But Jon Ossoff, one of his strengths is his ability to reach across the aisle and appeal to independent and moderate and swing voters, not just the Democratic base.

ABDELAZIZ: And, you know, there's this growing split in the party between progressives and moderates. And I think that was highlighted when the New York mayor, Mamdani, was dubbed kingmaker after three Democratic socialist candidates won after he backed them in their primaries for House races. But we're not seeing that play out in Georgia. Why is that not the case? Why are we not seeing this sort of socialist moderate split in this race?

BUNCH: It's just not a strategy that's going to work in Georgia in such a swing state where the margins are so slim, right. We have Republicans and Democrats jockeying for power. And if you see Democrats push that far to the left, they risk alienating some of the more independent, moderate voters that they really need to win statewide, not just in this crucial Senate race, but also in the governor's race that they're hoping to flip for the first time in nearly a little bit over two decades, actually.

ABDELAZIZ: And I think that's one of the key points, of course, is that Georgia is a swing state. And Ossoff is one of the few Democratic incumbents who are defending a Senate seat in a state that voted for Donald Trump in the 2024 election. If he wins, what does that tell us about President Trump's popularity? If he loses, what would that tell us about President Trump's popularity? How does this relate or give us an understanding of where President Trump stands right now?

BUNCH: Yes, the Georgia races are always extremely interesting because they really are a litmus test on the Trump endorsement and President Trump's sway over voters. Jon Ossoff is a really popular incumbent, and he's done that by being one of President Trump's most vocal critics, right, of the Democratic Party. It seems like from the rally that you would think that he was taking on President Trump as his opponent. And he's really closely tying his Republican opponent, Mike Collins, who is Trump-endorsed, directly to the president.

So, he sees that as an inroad, is still being able to come out and push back against the president and win his seat back.

ABDELAZIZ: Riley Bunch there on a very critical race that is kicking off in Georgia. Thank you so much.

Former President Joe Biden appeared at a fundraiser for Maryland Democrats on Saturday night and delivered one of his most pointed critiques of President Trump since leaving office. Biden called Trump a loser, painting him as vain and corrupt.

The former president also characterized changes to Capitol buildings and monuments as Trump's vanity projects. But Biden did focus on party business, urging Democrats to stay hopeful and fight for what they believe in.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOE BIDEN, FORMER U.S. PRESIDENT: We have faced dark, difficult times before. If there's one thing I know about the American people, they never give up and we can't give up now. This is not about -- there's no quitting this country. There's no quitting you.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ABDELAZIZ: A recent poll that was conducted by SSRS found only 30 percent of those surveyed held a favorable view of Biden.

More than 350,000 people living legally in the United States could be forced to leave after a landmark Supreme Court decision. On Thursday, the court cleared the way to end temporary protected status known as TPS for Haitian and Syrian people who have come to America fleeing war or instability. CNN's Gloria Pazmino has more on the potential ripple effects of this ruling. (BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

GLORIA PAZMINO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's right. I think we can sum it up by describing the incredible amount of uncertainty that these communities are feeling now. Communities that are wondering how this is going to affect them, when and if, how this is going to be enforced and how it's going to be enforced, and what it's going to mean for communities that, frankly, have been here in New York and throughout the United States for many years.

[04:40:00]

Here in New York City, there's an estimated 160,000 Haitians who live and work in the city. And overall, 350,000 Haitians and 6,000 Syrians who are currently under TPS could be affected by this decision, which means that the shockwaves of this are going to be felt throughout those communities and the industries that these people work in.

Now, TPS is given to nationals from certain countries that are experiencing either humanitarian or natural crises. The protection allows people to stay and work in the United States legally, but it's only valid while their TPS status is valid. And many of the Haitians who we spoke to here in New York City told us that it would just be incredibly difficult to return home.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JEAN BAPTISTE, MOVED TO THE U.S. 42 YEARS AGO: Haiti is not good right now. It's not good to let the people go send them to Haiti, you know, they know exactly what it is, you know? So, I don't know why they took that decision to send them to Haiti.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PAZMINO: The attorney who argued the Syrian TPS case before the Supreme Court said that this would be, quote, "the largest de- documentization event of people in U.S. history." And we've talked about the economic impact that this could have.

You know, these are people who live, work and pay taxes here. There is so much data about the millions of dollars that they contribute to local and the national economies. And we are told by employers that removing Haitian TPS holders from the workforce would have a major impact on their employers, on their industries and the economy as a whole. Haitians already make up a significant share of the service industry, as well as the elder care industry, particularly here in New York City, where there is already a significant staffing shortage.

Gloria Pazmino, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ABDELAZIZ: Ukraine is ramping up pressure on Russia to try to force an end to the war. Still ahead, an update on Crimea's state of emergency as Kyiv targets the Kremlin's infrastructure.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[04:45:00]

ABDELAZIZ: Life along the Russia-Ukraine border has again turned deadly. Both nations reported civilian casualties on Saturday after trading a series of drone in artillery strikes. Russian media reports the Kremlin downed more than 120 Ukrainian drones over just a 12-hour period. Ukraine's attacks on Russian infrastructure are quickly isolating occupied Crimea.

On Friday, Russian-installed authorities on the peninsula announced a state of emergency amid widespread power outages and growing fuel shortages. Droves of Russian tourists are reportedly fleeing the annexed region as the situation there worsens.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has confirmed he approved a 40-day operation aimed at pressuring Moscow to end the war. He has yet to offer any additional details about how this operation would unfold. But earlier, we spoke with CNN contributor and former Moscow bureau chief Jill Dougherty. She's also an affiliated scholar for Georgetown University's Center for Eurasian, Russian and Eastern European Studies. Take a listen to her thoughts on why Crimea is being so heavily targeted.

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JILL DOUGHERTY, CNN CONTRIBUTOR, AFFILIATED SCHOLAR, GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY AND FORMER CNN MOSCOW BUREAU CHIEF: Well, I think there are a couple of reasons. The one -- first of all, would be military, because that is kind of a base for Russia in the war against Ukraine. It makes it -- if they were, the Ukrainians were able to cut off Crimea from Russia, because actually it is not technically connected except by a bridge, that would be very significant for the war- fighting ability of the Russians. And then symbolically, I have to tell you, I was in Moscow at the time back in 2014 that Russia illegally annexed Crimea.

And it is an emotional feeling. I mean, Putin made this a big part of, you know, his ideology and the purpose of his government to take back Crimea, et cetera. So, symbolically and militarily, it's very important.

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ABDELAZIZ: Demonstrators take to the streets in Albania for yet another night of protests calling out what they see as corruption within the government. The wave of nightly protests first took hold in late May, when people started demonstrating against plans for a luxury resort linked to Donald Trump's son-in-law. Environmentalists warned that the development could threaten flamingo and turtle habitats in the area.

Since then, the protests have been dubbed the Flamingo Revolution, and it's evolved into this wider movement against alleged corruption in the government, with some now calling for the prime minister to step down. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The best thing is the resign of our prime minister. This is our main goal. Our main goal. So, this would stop it, I think. But I think that Albania entered into a new era, so people now started to learn how to protest, because we never had the culture of protesting that maybe comes also from the regime that we had before, from a dictatorship that we had. So, we never wear these clothes together.

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ABDELAZIZ: Prime Minister Edi Rama has rejected the allegations of government corruption, telling the Financial Times that Albania is actually, quote, "far less corrupt under his leadership."

The president of Serbia says he will resign. That's following 18 months of anti-government protests. On Saturday, President Aleksandar Vucic announced he will step down within weeks. The country will then hold early presidential and parliamentary elections. Mr. Vucic has been in power as president or prime minister for 12 years. His announcement comes after consistent student-led anti-corruption demonstrations. They began in November of 2024, after the collapse of a train station oning (ph) killed 16 people.

A new mission for the space shuttle Endeavour. Still to come, a preview of where you'll soon be able to see the Endeavour, and when.

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ABDELAZIZ: Italy's Mount Etna is erupting and lava is flowing down its slopes. Smoke and ash are billowing from the mountain. Italian officials say there's also been an increase in volcanic tremors there. The lava is on Etna's eastern side at an altitude of about 10,000 feet. Officials have raised the threat level and say more volcanic activity is possible. Mount Etna is also on Sicily's eastern coast and is Europe's largest and most active volcano.

More than three decades after its first mission, NASA's space shuttle Endeavour will soon have a new home. It will be on display for the public at a science center in California. As CNN's Rafael Romo explains, the center hopes the shuttle will inspire a new generation.

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UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Three, two, one, booster ignition and liftoff of the maiden voyage of Endeavour on a satellite rescue mission.

RAFAEL ROMO, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Endeavour set off for its first mission in 1992, the fifth and final shuttle NASA sent to space. Constructed to replace the Challenger, Endeavour helped build the International Space Station, spent 299 days in space, carried 173 flyers, orbited Earth more than 4,600 times, and after 25 missions to space, it landed for the final time at the Kennedy Space Center in 2011. Now, 34 years after its first launch, the historic shuttle is on a new mission in its permanent home.

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Endeavour has been unveiled at the California Science Center in Los Angeles. The grand opening has been in the works for years. In 2012, it was flown atop a Boeing 747 and paraded through the streets of L.A. on its way to the center. Now, the public will finally have the chance to see it up close in the center's new Air and Space Center.

JEFFREY N. RUDOLPH, PRESIDENT AND CEO, CALIFORNIA SCIENCE CENTER: It's really exciting and emotional. This is a dream that we've had for over three decades, putting a space shuttle in launch position, exhibiting it, and it's so rewarding to see the reaction every time that anyone sees it.

ROMO (voice-over): The $450 million expansion at the center features a gallery where two rocket boosters and an external fuel tank are displayed with the orbiter, putting it in a complete upright launch position. It will be the only place in the world where visitors can see a complete shuttle stack.

DR. JOHN "DANNY" OLIVAS, FORMER NASA ASTRONAUT: Children come here and get inspired. They can see what can be when human beings work together, set the differences aside, and try to accomplish something really hard. And just because it's hard doesn't mean it's impossible. And if you dream it, you can make it happen. The space shuttle is a perfect example of that.

ROMO (voice-over): The Air and Space Center will open to the public in November.

Rafael Romo, CNN.

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ABDELAZIZ: The Vespa is celebrating its 80th birthday in its home city. Rome is hosting a four-day event centered on the very iconic scooter. Part of the city was turned into a Vespa village of exhibitions, races, parades, and club events. The Vespa launched in 1946 and became a symbol of Italy's rebirth after World War II, appearing in films such as Roman Holiday.

Thank you so much for watching. I'm Salma Abdelaziz. I'll be back with more news right after a quick break.

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