Return to Transcripts main page
Connect the World
Ukraine Defiant After It Withdraws From Key Eastern City; Putin Congratulates Troops For Victory In Luhansk; Report: Russian Cargo Ship Detained. Aired 10-10:45a ET
Aired July 04, 2022 - 10:00:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY, UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT (through translator): And when someone over there in Moscow reports something about the Luhansk region,
let them remember their reports and promises before February 24.
ELENI GIOKOS, CNN INTERNATIONAL ANCHOR (voice over): Ukraine withdraws from a key city in the east and setbacks are mounting but Zelenskyy remains
defiant.
Running for their lives. A deadly shooting at a shopping mall in Copenhagen shocks Denmark.
And it's deja vu for Australia. Torrential downpours lead to deadly floods along the east coast for the second time this year.
I'm Eleni Giokos. Hello and welcome to CONNECT THE WORLD. Ukraine is vowing to fight back as Russia wins a key prize and may be gearing up for the next
phase of the war. The city of Lysychansk is now in Russia's hands. Ukrainian forces withdrew over the weekend. It's full effectively gives
Russia the Eastern Luhansk region. Now Russian President Vladimir Putin met with his defense chief and congratulated the Russian forces.
Now Ukraine's military says Moscow is planning and offensive in the Donetsk region. Winning Donetsk would give Russia a land bridge straight to Crimea.
The Ukrainian president, however, remains defiant.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ZELENSKYY: Ukraine does not give anything up. And when someone over there in Moscow report something about the Luhansk region, let them remember
their reports and promises before February 24. In the first days of this invasion in the spring and now, let them really evaluate what they got over
this time. And how much they paid for it. Because their current reports will turn into dust as the previous ones.
We are gradually moving forward in the Kharkiv region, in the Kherson region and at seas, Zmiinyi is a good example of this. There will be a day
when we will say the same about Donbas.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GIOKOS: All right. CNN's Scott McLean is following the developments on the battlefield from the Ukrainian capital Kyiv. Scott, we heard Zelenskyy
there sounding defiant, sounding like he wants to fight back. But here's the fact, Ukrainian losing Lysychansk mean - means that the Luhansk region
is now Russian controlled. How significant is this for Russia achieving its targets in the east?
SCOTT MCLEAN, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes. Russian controlled perhaps with the exception of a few small toeholds that the Ukrainians are
still fighting for. But you're right. Your broader point is correct that the Russians are essentially in control. And this is absolutely a very
important part of the Russian strategy from the outset of this war. Remember, this is a region that they've had their eye on for quite some
time.
Back in 2014, they managed to take a third of it before the fighting stopped or paused. And now they've managed to take the rest of it after
capturing Lysychansk. Both sides said that the battle was extremely bloody, extremely deadly. And for the Ukrainians, it illustrated a couple of
fundamental points. One being that the troops who are fighting on that from the Russian side, they say were some of the most prepared along the entire
front line.
They knew the area well, they had been fighting there on and off for the last eight years. And also the fact that regardless of how good the troops
were or were not, they lacked a very basic ingredient here which was the artillery firepower to even come close to matching Russians. And so that
went into the decision making as to when to pull back. The local governor in that area says that look, the Ukrainians could have stayed to fight.
They could have fought for probably another two weeks or so. But they would have taken some serious pretty serious losses. They also would have risked
being encircled by the Russians and who knows what could have happened after that. And so, that went into the decision making to pull back. At
some point as well, the area had been so badly flattened. There had been shelling that was so intense that there wasn't all that much to hold on to.
[10:05:01]
MCLEAN: So that gave the Ukrainians more incentive to preserve the lives of the troops on the front line and live to fight another day once they have
more weaponry. Here's what the Russian president though, Vladimir Putin said about the win.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
VLADIMIR PUTIN, PRESIDENT OF RUSSIA (through translator): The units that took part in the active military operation and achieved success and victory
on the Luhansk direction will decidedly have to rest, grow their combat capabilities. Other units, including the east and west formations will have
to continue their mission according to the previously suggested plan, according to one purpose and I hope all will continue to succeed just as
Luhansk units have been successful.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MCLEAN: Now of course, the Ukrainians have been calling for more help with heavy weapons, more help with artillery and missile and air defense systems
since the outset of the war even long before that. They have of course gotten plenty of weapons are ready, but the Ukrainian president Volodymyr
Zelenskyy says that they haven't been reaching the frontlines quickly enough.
He says that his side will go back to try to reclaim their land, but only when they have the weapons in place to actually put up a decent fight,
Eleni.
GIOKOS: And look, it's really striking to hear Putin talk about, you know, taking risks and basically regrouping to carry on the fight. So, give me a
sense of what's going on in other parts, specifically in the East, because we've been also hearing about bad strikes coming through in Sloviansk.
MCLEAN: Yes. That is absolutely correct. So look, the Ukrainian say that the Russians will need to kind of take a beat, take a pause to get some
fresh bodies in at least the ones who are in Lysychansk. So they agree with the Russians on that point, because, again, they say that the Russians took
heavy losses. But as for the rest of the Russian troops who were not involved, they seem to be marching on.
As you mentioned, we're already seeing plenty of evidence of shelling in the city of Sloviansk, one of the major cities in that northern part of the
Donetsk region. Six people have been killed. Local authorities say at least 15 injured at last word. 15 buildings, 15 fires were set in the city as of
the weekend time. So some pretty heavy shelling happening there. There have also been at least three missile strikes in the Kramatorsk region nearby.
And now the expectation is that the Russians will start to move from the north down south on the ground to start -- to try to actually capture some
of the villages and towns on route to Sloviansk and on route to Kramatorsk and then from there beyond.
GIOKOS: All right. Scott McLean, thank you so much. Now, world leaders and leaders from the private sector are gathering in Switzerland right now to
discuss what happens after the fighting stops. The two-day Ukrainian rebuilding conference officially opened earlier. Ukraine's prime minister
says the country will need about $750 billion for a recovery plan. Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy joined the conference by video and
said rebuilding is the common task of the Democratic world.
And here's a look at some of what they need to rebuild. Scott mentioned Russia pounded the Kharkiv region over the weekend. They struck a secondary
school infrastructure damaged, people brought up their brooms and shovels to help clean up. But you can see the strike left a huge crater. Many more
scenes like this around Ukraine. Now one resident described his wife's narrowness in a strike. Take a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
OLEKSI MHULIN, KHARKIV, UKRAINE RESIDENT (through translator): There was just a cherry tree and a fence. Now the fence is destroyed and there is no
cherry tree. More than half of the house has no glass intact. The roof was damaged. Again. The wife was lucky that she woke up early in the morning
because the roof fell exactly where she had been sleeping. If she hadn't woke up, she would have gotten stuck under the roof.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GIOKOS: All right. And that woman very lucky. But there is the human cost of this war. Countless innocent people killed and wounded. Pope Francis
Sunday again called on leaders to end the conflict.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
POPE FRANCIS, BISHOP OF ROME (through translator): I appeal to the leaders of nations and international organizations to take action against the
tendency to accentuate conflict and confrontation. The world needs peace, not at peace based on the balance of arms or mutual fear. No, that does not
work. That just going back in time by 70 years. The crisis in Ukraine should have been but if you want it could still become a challenge for why
statesmen capable of building through dialogue a better world for new generations.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GIOKOS: All right. And we just saw neighbors in Kharkiv cleaning up war damage. Ukrainians are finding all kinds of ways to pitch in. CNN's Ben
Wedeman road long as volunteers passed out supplies to villagers and troops on the front lines. And along the way, they got to help man's best friend.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
[10:10:05]
BEN WEDEMAN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yulia (ph) and her friends are loading up their armored van, food, medicine, water for
frontline villages.
That and protective gear for the troops. Before the war, Yulia was a model and worked in local government. She's a volunteer.
I didn't consider leaving as an option she says. Of course, I'm staying in my country to help as much as possible.
During the drive back from the front in May, Yulia was badly injured when her truck crashed under shelling. She spent two restless months in
hospital.
They were holding me in hospital and I told them I have work to do she recalls. I was coordinating deliveries on the phone. I had no right to sit
on my hands.
First stop on this day, a military position by the road. All of this has been donated by people in Ukraine. Here, the troops offer a quick appraisal
of world leaders.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Boris Johnson.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Boris Johnson.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What about Biden?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Joe Biden.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Joe Biden. Yes.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Joe Biden.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Olaf Scholz.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Scholz.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Scholz.
WEDEMAN: The next stop, a village perilously close to the fighting.
WEDEMAN (on camera): They have to hand out the aid as quickly as possible because they don't want people to get together because we're just a few
kilometers from Russian lines.
WEDEMAN (voice over): Spirits here still buoyant.
I stayed because of the animals, Natasha (ph) tells me. I'm responsible for all the abandoned animals on this street. More than 50 cats and around 20
dogs.
At our final stop, they drop off more supplies for the soldiers and feed stray dogs. They'd planned to evacuate a family fleeing from behind Russian
lines, but they didn't show up. The soldiers here say overnight, there was heavy shelling. Russian drones often on the prowl, overhead.
My mind tells me I shouldn't be afraid, says Yulia, but we can't leave them behind. Then is a dog and two litters of puppies born in the trenches. One
of the mother dogs was killed by Russian artillery, the little ones orphans. Once loaded, we're off to the city of Zaporizhzhya.
WEDEMAN (on camera): We're out of the danger zone. Once we get to this city, they'll take the mother who has been injured in a blast to a vet.
They found homes for some of these puppies. But not all.
Ben Wedeman, CNN, Zaporizhzhya, Southern Ukraine.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
GIOKOS: All right. We have brand new information from the investigation into the killing of Palestinian-American journalist in the West Bank. The
U.S. has examined that bullet that killed Shireen Abu Akleh in May and the results are back. We've got CNN's Hadas Gold following the story for us
from Jerusalem. She joins me now. Hadas, what have you learned? What are the findings?
HADAS GOLD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Eleni, the State Department just releasing a statement in the last half hour or so saying that the ballistic
tests performed on the bullet removed from Shireen Abu Akleh were inconclusive in terms of the origin of where it was fired from. However,
and I think this is potentially even more important is that the State Department says that based off of the U.S. security coordinators
investigation to both the Israeli and the Palestinian investigations into the circumstances surrounding her death, they do believe that it is most
likely it was Israeli gunfire from IDF positions that caused her death.
So, this is the U.S. State Department saying that they believe that it is mostly it was Israeli gunfire that killed U.S. security coroner's Shireen
Abu Akleh. This is the same conclusion that multiple media organizations including CNN, as well as the U.N. Human Rights Office have also come to
that conclusion that it was most likely it was Israeli gunfire that killed Shireen Abu Akleh in May while she was covering that Israeli military raid
in the West Bank in Jenin.
In a blink the statement in response to this, the IDF repeated its previous statement saying that it is -- they are saying it's also still inconclusive
as to who fired the fatal shot. Although they do say that no idea if soldier deliberately fired at Miss Abu Akleh. They say that they are going
to continue to examine and investigate the incident. They also said that the decision of the military advocate general regarding whether to launch a
criminal investigation will be made following the conclusion of the IDF's operational examination.
[10:15:02]
GOLD: They give no indication of when that operational examination will be concluded but I do think it's notable that they're saying that the
possibility to launch a criminal investigation will be made following that conclusion of that examination. We're still awaiting official response from
the Palestinian authority, as well as from Shireen Abu Akleh's family. However, before the State Department statement came out, Abu Akleh's family
released a statement expressing anger at how this investigation was undertaken because the bullet was transferred from the Palestinian
authority to the Americans for the investigation and then return to the Palestinians.
And we also understand that the Israelis were involved in this ballistics investigation as well. And her family said that the lack of transparency is
positively alarming. They said that they were not notified by any party official or otherwise that this transfer, this investigation was going on.
That they have serious doubts about this process will lead to accountability for the killing of Shireen. Eleni?
GIOKOS: All right. Hadas Gold, thank you very much for that analysis and breaking down the latest news on the killing of Shireen Abu Akleh.
All right. And just ahead on CONNECT THE WORLD. A Russian cargo ship was reportedly in detention just outside port in Turkey. What Ukraine says is
on board that ship and why it wants the cargo confiscated.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
GIOKOS: Welcome back. Now Danish Police investigating a deadly shooting at a shopping mall, say the suspect they have in custody was known to
psychiatric professionals. Eyewitness video has emerged on social media of the moments shots rang out. A warning. The video you're about to see was
taken inside the mall and you may find it disturbing.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GIOKOS (voice over): So these three people are dead and several others are wounded. This kind of incident is rare in Denmark. Sam Kiley is there in
the Danish Capitol with more.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GIOKOS: Sam, what do we know about the identity of the attacker and the motive?
SAM KILEY, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, he is known to be a 22-year -old Dane. The police are saying that they don't believe that
this was a hate crime or a terrorist attack. So, it had no gender or racial or ideological basis to it. Indeed, the alleged gunman is now being -- has
been charged with three counts of homicide and at least three counts of attempted homicide.
That's because the three dead and three or four injured and they -- the injured are not believed to be in a critical condition, so the death toll
is not expected to rise. He has been committed now by a court here in Copenhagen to 24 days of psychiatric observation at a psychiatric unit in
Denmark.
[10:20:11]
KILEY: And that clearly indicates the police earlier statements that he thought -- that they thought that he'd been in contact with psychiatric
specialists prior to this incident, obviously indicates that their main line of inquiry will be to look into his mental health. But I think the
other issue here is how did he get the hunting weapon that he used in this mass shooting. Gun control here is very, very strict.
In order to own a hunting rifle, you have to be inspected, you have to be tested, and you have to be above all license. Now he did not have a
firearms license. And so clearly, he was able to obtain or steal this weapon by some other route. He was caught with a weapon in a remarkable
scenes film by bystanders. He was actually pinned to the ground and disarmed and ammunition found on him.
Stark contrast to some of the sorts of incidents where people have been shot in much less difficult circumstances elsewhere in the world, Eleni.
But I think clearly, from the Danish perspective, this has been a significant body blow to the whole culture of the country. This is not a
country that is familiar with this kind of mass shooting event. They have had shooting exchanges of fire in the past in some gang warfare
periodically, most recently, a few years ago between biker gangs but never these random acts of violence that have characterized life are so many in
the United States, for example, Eleni.
GIOKOS: Yes. Shocking indeed. Sam Kiley, thank you so much. Let's get you up to speed on other stories that are on our radar right now. Officials in
Pakistan are investigating the cause of a bus crash that killed at least 19 people on Sunday. 12 others were injured when the bus veered off the road
and plunged into a ravine. The bus was traveling from Rawalpindi to Quetta in southwestern Pakistan when it crashed.
Egyptian officials are looking into the circumstances of two deadly shark attacks in the Red Sea. The separate incidents happened along the Egyptian
Coast within 600 meters of each other. The victims were two women reportedly from Austria and Romania.
Inflation is hitting hard around the world. And in Turkey, it jumped to a 24-year high of nearly 79 percent in June. That's been caused in part by
the impact of Russia's war in Ukraine, soaring prices of basic goods and materials and a slide in the value of the Turkish Lira.
Now a brutal attack on a group of women in China last month caught on video. Has set off a severe reaction from local police. Some are saying
this isn't the way to solve the problem. CNN's Selina Wang has our report, but we want to warn you it does contain some disturbing images.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SELINA WANG, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: This brutal attack on women at a restaurant in northern China last month triggered nationwide rage and
despair. And this is how the government is reacting to the incident in Tangshan City. Amassing an army of police to crack down on crime. Sending
brigades of armed police to patrol the streets at night. Going into bars, restaurants, outdoor food markets.
Interrupting groups eating outside with loudspeakers telling men, no fighting, no beating especially of women. SWAT teams hovering over women
without male companions. Women on Chinese social media mocked the excessive show of force. One wrote, this is just for show. It doesn't solve any real
problems. Another said, we don't need men's protection, what we need is a safer and fairer society.
The graphic surveillance video from last month shows a man making an unwanted advance towards a woman after she pushes him away, the assault
escalates into shocking brutality, with multiple men taking and beating the women with bottles and chairs. This is believed to be an image of one of
the two women who was hospitalized after the attack. Authorities claimed the two women are still in the hospital recovering from "minor injuries,"
denying rumors that some of the women died.
Police arrested all nine people involved in the attack. Several of them had criminal histories. Victims of criminal activity and Tangshan seize the
moment to flood the local police station. This man says he's 86 years old and has been waiting in line for hours. This man says it's been seven years
since he reported his case, but still no progress. They hope the national attention will pressure police to solve their long-ignored cases.
[10:25:05]
WANG: Online, people rushed to do the same. Holding up their ID cards to prove the authenticity of their claim and call out their perpetrators
names.
This man says friends on the internet, please uphold justice for me.
Another woman shared footage of her boyfriend violently attacking her when she was seven months pregnant, pinning her down and an attempt she says to
kill her baby.
Another says gang members broke into his bakery a year ago. He shows surveillance footage of them destroying his shop. He says the criminals
have been harassing him and his family ever since.
This woman, a bar singer says in May. Gang members beat her and her colleagues and locked them in a cage for 16 hours. Police say they are
investigating all three of those cases.
State media says gangsters and drunken men are to blame for the restaurant attack. While reports linking the case to sexism or systemic violence
against women have been swiftly censored.
LIANG XIAOWEN, CHINESE FEMINIST ACTIVIST: By framing this incident as a single incident, that's merely gang violence. The government avoided the
problems within their system. This is the tip of the iceberg. There are so many other incidents that are happening every day. The Chinese women are
actually demanding a systemic change.
WANG: In recent years, authorities have tried to stamp out feminist voices, seeing the less threats to social stability. As police parade across the
country to show they're taking crime seriously, the government squashes outrage over sexual harassment and gender-based violence.
Selina Wang, CNN, Beijing.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
GIOKOS: All right. You're watching CONNECT THE WORLD. And coming up, Russian cargo ships stationary outside the Turkish ports. Why Ukraine is
pressing Turkey to confiscate the cargo aboard that ship.
Plus, as fireworks light up the sky for America's Independence Day weekend. Travel chaos leaves thousands of air passengers stuck on the ground.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
GIOKOS: Welcome back. I'm Eleni Giokos. And you're watching CONNECT THE WORLD. Ukraine's ambassador to Turkey says Turkish officials have detained
a Russian cargo ship carrying stolen Ukrainian grain. Reuters reported the ship's detention on Sunday. Now CNN is still waiting for official
confirmation from Turkey. The Ukrainian envoy says his country wants Turkey to confiscate the grain.
[10:30:05]
GIOKOS: Ukraine has repeatedly accused Russia of stealing grains since the start of the war. Russia, meanwhile, has denied it. CNNs Clare Sebastian is
tracking developments for us from London. Clare, tell us about this interception of Ukrainian grain on a Russian ship. We are still waiting to
hear from Turkey at this point. But what do we know about the content?
CLARE SEBASTIAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, as you say, we have not heard any independent confirmation yet from the Turkish authorities that they have
detained this ship. What we know comes from the Ukrainian ambassador to Turkey who has told CNN that the ship has been detained by Turkish
authorities. He wants the grain on board to be confiscated and for the Turkish authorities to take action.
So clearly, this is some kind of escalation in these grain wars that we've been seeing. It's been months now that Ukraine has been accusing Russia of
stealing its grain and trying to export it for its own gain. Clearly, they're not willing to let Russia get away with it. As for the Russian
response, the Kremlin has referred the question on this. They didn't comment to the foreign ministry and the transport ministry.
The Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said, you know they're looking into this. He believes the cargo or on the ship was being transported between a
Estonia and Turkey and he continues to blame Ukraine for the blockade of the Black Sea port saying that they have refused to demine the sea. So, the
impasse on that continues. But there is also some mystery surrounding what has actually happened to this ship.
We know from marine traffic, which is a sort of maritime tracking Web site that it left the Russian port on the Black Sea of Novorossiysk around June
the 22nd. It then appears to spend some time at sea between Russia and Ukraine. At some point just about when it left the Sea of Azov, it turned
it striker back on, we can see it back on the tracking maps and it arrived close to the port of Karasu in Turkey on July 1st last Friday.
So we don't know exactly what happened at the point in which we can't see it on the tracking maps. But the Ukrainian ambassador to Turkey said that
it loaded up with grain in the port of Berdyansk. Just west of variable. That is a Russian-occupied port (INAUDIBLE) it loaded up with grain there.
The grain is stolen and headed to Turkey. And the other point to make about this is that it puts Turkey in a bit of a delicate spot.
They are the ones trying to broker the talks to unblock a the Black Sea and get Ukrainian grain back onto the global markets and they are now having to
deal with a ship, with allegedly stolen grain docking at one of their own ports. So, we await to hear, hopefully comment on this from the Turkish
authorities, Eleni.
GIOKOS: Yes, yes. It really interesting. And it has to be said as well that the Russians have said, look, we're not against Ukrainian grain exported.
But, you know, the issue of mines around ports and around specific routes are the big hindrance. This basically goes against that argument. Could you
take us through sort of the tit for tat kind of conversation messaging that we've been hearing from the Ukrainians and the Russians while this grain
sits idle and waiting to be exported?
SEBASTIAN: Yes. There are a number of issues at stake here. The Russians continue, as you say, to claim that Ukraine is refusing to de mined the
seas around its ports. Now, Ukraine doesn't deny that there are mines in the seas, but they are worried about demining because they believe that
sort of creating safe maritime corridors which is what the U.N. is trying to broker along with Turkey would provide an opening for Russia to attack
from the sea.
That is, of course, the original reason why those seats are mined. So, that is the main reason why we have this impasse around those ports. You know,
Russia also continues to blame sanctions for this, but there are no sanctions that have -- that would prevent them from unblocking the ports in
the Black Sea. They say that sanctions are getting in the way also of Russian exports of grain because of problems with logistics and all that.
But meanwhile, time is running out, Eleni, because there are millions of tons of Ukrainian grain stuck in silos. The next harvest is due to start
soon. So they need to move that grain out in order that it doesn't impact the next harvest as well.
GIOKOS: All right. Clare Sebastian, always good to see you. Thank you so much.
Now for the latest on Russia's advanced in Ukraine, you can head to cnn.com. CNN's full black speaks to a group of Ukrainian volunteers as
Russia's military creeps closer. And you can read this and more at cnn.com/Ukraine.
Now warmer temperatures are causing more frequent dangerous weather along Australia's east coast. Just south of Sydney, a cargo ship with 21 crew on
board was stranded in heavy seas after storms knocked out its power. Authorities say tugboats have towed the ship to deeper waters to do repairs
and mission to rescue the crew by helicopter was abandoned due to stormy weather conditions.
Meanwhile, at least one person has died and thousand are being urged to evacuate in New South Wales from those heavy rains. Michael Holmes has
more.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
[10:35:09]
MICHAEL HOLMES, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice over): A life threatening emergency. That's how one official in New South Wales describes
the rising floodwaters in parts of Australia's biggest city.
STEPH COOKE, NEW SOUTH WALES EMERGENCY SERVICES MINISTER: We are now facing dangers on multiple fronts, flash flooding, riverine flooding and coastal
erosion.
HOLMES: Thousands of residents were ordered to evacuate parts of Sydney where heavy rain is already hitting, with more expected to come in the next
few days. Authorities say the situation is rapidly evolving and urge people to stay off the roads. The State Emergency Service says it has responded to
more than 3000 emergency requests already. And dozens of rescue squads have been dispatched.
CARLENE YORK, NEW SOUTH WALES EMERGENCY SERVICE COMMISSIONER: The level of the dams there's no room for the water to remain in the dams, they are
starting to spill. The rivers are flowing very fast and very dangerous.
HOLMES: New South Wales gearing up for the deteriorating conditions. The state asking the federal government to send helicopters and troops to help
with rescue efforts and sandbagging, Weather experts warn landslides could happen. The landscape already vulnerable because of previous floods in the
region. In some areas, emergency crews or even fairing livestock to dry grounds, the bigger animals like these ponies, and additional challenge for
rescue workers.
CHRIS NELSON, DEPUTY UNIT COMMANDER, CANTERBURY SEES: It feels really good to be able to achieve a rescue and bring everyone back to land safely.
HOLMES: With some parts of Sydney experiencing downpours of more than 200 millimeters with some places up to 350 millimeters. Missions like this for
animals and humans alike could become more critical in the hours ahead. Michael Holmes, CNN.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
GIOKOS: All right. And coming up. America's independence day weekend is uniting these airline passengers and thousands more like them in
frustration. The travel chaos across the U.S. is next.
Plus, a Formula One driver walks away from the spectacular crash that sent him skidding upside down into a fence. What saved his life coming up.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
GIOKOS: Welcome back. Now, the U.S. is celebrating Independence Day but hundreds of thousands of air travelers are spending the holiday weekend
frustrated by flight delays and cancellations. CNN's Nadia Romero is live at the world's busiest airport in Atlanta. Nadia, it's always a busy
holiday weekend. But just -- I have to ask, just how bad is it right now?
NADIA ROMERO, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes. It's not so bad today, Eleni, but this weekend as a total it has been terrible for travelers, a
1000s of flights that had been canceled and delayed. If you talk about Just today, we're at almost 800 flights that have been delayed.
[10:40:04]
And that's just a domino effect, right? If your flights delayed 20 minutes and then you can't get to your connecting flight, then you're stuck.
And I spoke with some travelers who said that after missing one of their flights, they couldn't find another flight until the next day because all
of these flights are oversold because that many people are traveling during this holiday weekend. Take a look behind me. This is a TSA main security
checkpoint, and it's pretty empty right now. It is the morning of the actual holiday. So you wouldn't expect too many people to be coming out.
But this is the quietest we've seen it all weekend long. The height of the TSA security checkpoint this weekend was on Friday with 2-1/2 million
people going through these lines at the airport. Of course, that was at the beginning of the holiday weekend. And that was the highest number that
we've seen since February 2020. And then we saw really busy lines on Saturday as well.
Things started to taper off Sunday and ended today. And I spoke with one woman who was traveling from London and she had a really terrible time
trying to get back to Cincinnati. And she still didn't make it. Take a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I was lucky I got to the airport in London three hours earlier or else I wouldn't have even made my flight. So, I had no idea. I
flight pretty frequently. And I've never seen it so crazy.
It was pretty frustrating. I was trying to be understanding but at the same time, it's like I just want to get home.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROMERO: She just wants to get home. She spent 22 hours in the airport because of two delayed flights. She had to spend the night here in Atlanta
hoping to get back to Cincinnati to have some -- a little bit of a weekend left with her family. But she said that she's taking it all in stride. You
saw her smiling there because she spent 10 wonderful days in London.
So, if she had to go through the travel delays, at least it's happening on the back end of her trip. One more thing, Eleni, I want to show you that
we've talked to TSA about on Friday before the holiday weekend, they were warning people not to bring their guns, especially their loaded guns in
their carry-on bags. Take a look at the signs here. All over the airport. No weapons allowed. Don't bring your firearms.
It's almost amazing that you have to remind people to do this. But last July 4 weekend, TSA says they confiscated some 70 guns. So that's still an
issue here. Eleni?
GIOKOS: And just to convey, you said 800 flight delays today alone.
ROMERO: Yes. And that's a really big number that we've seen. Only go up because a lot of people think that if your flight wasn't just canceled,
that you're not going to have that big of an issue, but it's that ripple effect for delayed flights that really matter.
GIOKOS: It's crazy. Yes. It's big number. Nadia Romero, thank you so much. All right. We head two sports now. And the quest for glory on the courts of
Wimbledon is heating up. Top seed Novak Djokovic emerged victorious to keep his title defense hopes alive. He is seeking a fourth straight Wimbledon
championship and seventh overall at the All England Club. He will now face Jannik Sinner in the quarterfinals after the 20-year-old Italian beats
Carlos Alvarez in a thrilling fourth round match.
Sinner is the youngest men's player left in the tournament. Meanwhile, Rafael Nadal made quick work of his match on Saturday winning three
straight sets in two hours.
Now a dramatic beginning to the British Grand Prix Sunday. A collision during the first lap sent drivers (INAUDIBLE) skidding upside down across
the track and into offense. Amazingly, he was unharmed. Now World Sports Alex Thomas joins us with more on the crash. These images are difficult to
look at. Really happy that he came out unscathed.
ALEX THOMAS, CNN WORLD SPORT ANCHOR: Yes. And it's all down to a safety device. It's only been in Formula One, Eleni since 2016. The halo device
and we'll tell you more about that in World Sport in just a moment.
GIOKOS: Yes. Looking forward to that. Thank you so much. Alex, we'll see you right after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(WORLD SPORT)
END
