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Ceasefire Holding Between Israel And Islamic Jihad; U.N. Chief: Shelling Around Nuclear Plant "Suicidal"; China Extends Military Drills Around Taiwan Into 58th Day. Aired 10-10:45a ET

Aired August 08, 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)

[10:00:29]

PAULA NEWTON, CNN INTERNATIONAL ANCHOR: Crowds in Gaza celebrate a ceasefire after 50 hours of cross border violence. We're live in Israel and

Gaza.

And artillery shells fall dangerously close to Europe's largest nuclear plant in Ukraine. U.N. Secretary General calling it suicidal.

I'm Paula Newton in New York. Hello and a very warm welcome to CONNECT THE WORLD, This hour a ceasefire between Israel and Islamic Jihad is holding

after a deadly escalation of violence. Now Israel hit Islamic Jihad targets in Gaza and what it says started as preemptive airstrikes. Palestinians say

the Israeli strikes killed dozens of people and in fact that includes children.

Militants in Gaza, meantime launched hundreds of rockets towards Israel seen here on your right. This latest conflict erupted after Israel arrested

in Islamic Jihad political leader in the West Bank. The truce -- the truce, meantime brokered by Egypt means of course that desperately needed aid

supplies like these fuel trucks here can now finally enter Gaza. Hadas Gold is connecting us from the Israeli city Sderot where rockets fell there just

over the weekend.

But we want to go first to our Ben Wedeman who is live for us now in Gaza. Ben, immediate concern, of course, the humanitarian reprieve that this

ceasefire hopefully provides. But it's also complicated, right? The political picture. Hamas chose not to intervene here. Why not?

BEN WEDEMAN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, let me first talk about the humanitarian situation, Paula. The situation here, life was

disrupted as a result of this three- day violent encounter between Islamic Jihad in Israel. But really, the problems that exist in Gaza now existed

before the war. I mean, for instance, 80 percent of the water is not fit for human consumption. Youth unemployment is more than 60 percent.

So the situation was disrupted, for instance, the electricity which was down to two hours a day, while the fighting intensified is now back to four

hours a day. Before the fighting, it was 16 hours a day of power available to the residents of this city. But I just came back from area where a house

was destroyed by an Israeli airstrike. And I watched as people from a humanitarian organization where they're bringing boxes of food.

And the owner of the house told me look, you know, this is all very good boxes of food appreciated, but how am I going to rebuild my house? How am I

going to rebuild my life? And really, that's the problem for those who have suffered directly as a result of this fighting. Now, as far as Hamas goes,

it stayed on the sidelines. Hamas keep in mind is the democratically elected or at least the last democratic -- last elections here were back in

2006.

And they won democratically in that election. They're responsible for running the Gaza Strip, and certainly after last May or May 2021's 11-day

war between Gaza and Israel which was much more destructive and deadly than this round of fighting. They're anxious not to have to rebuild Gaza again.

And therefore, for instance, you know, before the fighting began on Friday of 14,000, Palestinian workers were given permits by Israel to go work in

Israel.

And that is the sort of thing that Hamas wants to resume. And so we understand, for instance, that Karem Abu Salem, the main commercial

crossing into Gaza will be open for normal business tomorrow. And so, Hamas is eager really to put all of this behind and try to stabilize the

situation because even though it's been a long time, since they've had an election, they do have a population of two million people who, in one form

or another, they need to provide the basic to. Paula?

[10:05:02]

NEWTON: Yes, absolutely. And unfortunately of course for those families who have lost loved ones, their suffering will go on even if this political

conflict is seems to have a ceasefire that holds. Ben, thanks for that. We also go to Hadas Gold who is with us at this hour in Sderot. And Hadas, you

just heard Ben there, a lot of relief that this ceasefire at the moment appears to be holding. Give us a sense on how this is playing out

politically in Israel especially given that once again in Israel, we are very close to elections.

HADAS GOLD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, I'm in Sderot. This is a city in southern Israel not far from the border with Gaza which up until last night

was under regular rocket fire. This is a city that is used to this. Everywhere you walk around in the city of Sderot, in this area, there are

bomb shelters set up. Just in the parking lot in the shopping center, we are here. There's at least four separate outdoor bomb shelters because

people here need to be able to reach shelter within something like 15 seconds when they hear an alarm go off.

But as you can see after the ceasefire was declared last night, life is getting a little bit back to normal now. Carefully though it's getting back

to normal. There's a sense of relief that this is back, that they are being able to go back to normal but also a sense that nothing has really changed

that this sort of conflict could just -- could just erupt once again.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

GOLD (voice over): For nearly two and a half days, Israeli airstrikes and Islamic Jihad rockets shattered the calm in Gaza in southern Israel. The

conflict starting Friday when Israel preemptively struck Islamic Jihad targets attacking what it said were concrete threats for militants. Shortly

after the sirens began to wail in Israel and the Iron Dome aerial defense system began a tour.

Intercepting all the incoming rocket fire. In Gaza though there are no sirens, the Ministry of Health there saying 44 people were killed and more

than 300 injured in the weekend violence. 15 of them children, including five-year-old Alaa Qaddoum killed in one of Israel's opening salvos. Israel

insists nearly all those killed in their airstrikes were militants, and released video with said showed that an explosion In Jabaliya, in which

four children were among seven killed was caused by a failed rocket launch by militants.

By Sunday night, Islamic Jihad launched more than 1000 rockets and Israel had struck more than 140 targets in Gaza. As (INAUDIBLE) mediators managed

to broker a ceasefire, but not before a final volley of airstrikes and rockets. Both sides as usual, declaring victory. Israel highlighting the

deaths of two militant commanders saying it had wiped out the top security brass of the Islamic Jihad while the militant group said they confronted

the Israeli aggression with strength.

ZIYAD AL-NAKHALAH, ISLAMIC JIHAD IN PALESTINE (through translator): Today after the clashes stopped and fire stopped, we saw a clear scene, the

Islamic Jihad movement is still strong and stable and even more powerful.

GOLD: The ceasefire coming just in time, the already precarious humanitarian situation in Gaza, reaching a near breaking point of border

closures meant the enclaves only power station had run out of fuel causing massive electricity shortages. But by Monday, the trucks were rolling into

Gaza again. The fragile normalcy or what passes for it returning.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

GOLD: And Paula, in terms of the political situation, this was the first major military security test for caretaker Prime Minister Yair Lapid who

just took over from Naftali Bennett after the government failed last month. And it's an important image for Yair Lapid similar to how he wanted to have

the image of him welcoming us Joe Biden during his visit last month. The image of him as leading the country through a security operation that is

mainly being covered positively in terms of reaching its goals of wiping out the top -- the Israeli military believes they've wiped out the top

security brass of Palestinian Islamic Jihad.

Those are images that Yair Lapid likely wants to keep ahead of Israelis going to the elections in November when he will be trying to convince them

to keep him in the job as prime minister. Paula?

NEWTON: Yes. Certainly important for him and as you noted, Hadas, we can see behind you life returning to normal there at least in Sderot for now.

Hadas Gold for us. Appreciate it.

Now to Ukraine where safety fears are growing around Europe's largest nuclear power plant controlled of course since March by Russian forces. Now

the U.N. chief describing recent rocket fire around the Zaporizhzhia facility as quote, in his words, "suicidal." The plants in southeastern

Ukraine occupies an extensive site on the river Dnipro. Kyiv says Russian shelling over the weekend damage some radiation monitoring sensors.

And the U.N.'s nuclear watchdog is tweeting that it needs to see for itself what's going on around the plant.

[10:10:01]

So a lot of people are of course you can imagine very anxious over the events over the weekend. CNN's David McKenzie is standing by for us -- live

now from the capital Kyiv. And David, obviously this is concerning not just for those who are in the immediate frontlines of this but around the world.

It has been difficult to parse two things, though, like what is the actual threat to the nuclear power plant? And is it true that both sides have

taken steps that have been putting nuclear safety at risk?

DAVID MCKENZIE, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, both sides certainly, Paula, blaming the other for putting nuclear safety at risk. The

nuclear reactors at this vast complex are very heavily fortified. And so, there have been some downplaying the overall risk unless it was say a

direct hit. But it is very worrying and the U.N. watchdog, the IAEA, saying that this could potentially lead to a nuclear disaster.

Just a short time ago, the head of the nuclear company here in Ukraine, saying that the strikes, artillery or rocket strikes went very near to a

spent fuel depot which could certainly have put that entire site at risk. The Russians, for their part have occupied the site since March when they

invaded that part of the Dnipro River and that vast complex and have placed assets, military assets near and inside that complex.

The head of that agency saying that they need to move out of there, and they need to create a demilitarized zone to ensure the safety of Europe's

largest nuclear reactors for commercial use. And the problem here is that this is right on a very active front line on either side of the Dnipro

River. Both sides accusing the other of causing this. But the bottom line is it makes those watching the situation extremely nervous because of the

threat of a possible nuclear fallout.

NEWTON: Yes. David, you know, going right back to March, they had promised in fact that these areas would be safe havens. I'm not exactly sure how the

U.N. intends to guarantee the safety of anyone trying to go there to inspect it. Before I let go, I do want to speak about the offensive in

Kherson. There are rumors, of course, Russian control. There are rumors that Ukraine was on the cusp of some kind of counter offensive there. What

more are you learning?

MCKENZIE: Well, there have been, I should say -- saying that there may be an offensive in the -- for several weeks now. There have been a movement of

Russian troops to that area potentially to defend a major offensive. The issue here is when and if it will happen whether Ukrainian forces are ready

to make that push. But it does speak to the possible vulnerability of Russian forces in this combat.

On this very long run frontlines sweeping through both the north east and into the south. The next few months, many security analysts are saying are

critical in this conflict, this war of attrition now has been going on in this kind of way since the Russians evacuated from where I am standing or

close to where I'm standing in Kyiv. You do get a sense of normalcy here. But even today, there's been several sirens, air raid sirens in the

position where I'm standing, which indicate that there are strikes or potential strikes around the country. This is very much a deep breath

waiting to see whether any offensive actually happens.

NEWTON: All right. We'll leave it there for now. David McKenzie for us live from Kyiv. Appreciate it.

Now Taiwan says dozens of Chinese warplanes and ships have been operating around the Taiwan Strait today. And that several of the Jets crossed the

median line separating the island from the mainland. Now this is one day past one China's live fire military exercises were supposed to end, I

emphasize supposed to end the massive show of force comes as a U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has controversial visit to Taipei last week.

And as CNN's Will Ripley reports Taiwan sees China's reaction as a warning sign not just to China and Taiwan, but for the entire world. Listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)

WILL RIPLEY, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice over): As Taiwan was lighting up landmarks for U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, China was

lighting up the skies and seas around the self governing democracy. A democracy in danger of a Chinese takeover if Beijing's communist rulers get

their way. Pelosi was in Taiwan less than 24 hours leaving behind a crisis. Some say she helped create.

RIPLEY (on camera): Was there any concern here in Taipei about the timing of this and whether it might provoke some sort of reaction from China?

JOSEPH WU, TAIWANS FOREIGN MINISTER: We knew that China always reacted badly. Whenever we have good friends coming to visit us the Chinese

government cannot dictate who can come and who cannot come and they cannot dictate Taiwan who can be our friends or who we should make friends with.

[10:15:08]

RIPLEY: But what if China goes further as a result of this visit or using this visit as an excuse. Do the benefits outweigh the risks for Taiwan?

WU: One is what China is doing is unwarranted. And what it is doing is upsetting the peace and stability in the Western Pacific. And it's

something that should not be welcomed by the international community.

RIPLEY (voice over): Taiwan's Foreign Minister Joseph Wu tells CNN, China's war games are aimed at isolating this island. Pelosi, the most powerful

politician to visit in 25 years.

RIPLEY (on camera): Is Taiwan in more danger today than it was before Nancy Pelosi's visit?

WU: China has always been attacking Taiwan for years. And it's getting more serious in the last few years. And it's always been that way. Whether

Speaker Pelosi visit Taiwan or not, the Chinese military threat against Taiwan has always been there.

RIPLEY: What do you believe China's motivation is and do you think that their timeline has changed?

WU: China's motivation as I said a little bit earlier, it's not going to end in Taiwan. They claim East China Sea, the claim South China Sea, they

work very hard to go into the Pacific. Their influence in South Asia and Africa, even in Latin America is unprecedented these days, and therefore it

has a global ambition.

RIPLEY (voice over): Ambition driven by China's most powerful leader since Mao. Xi Jinping on track to become president for life with a burning desire

to unify with Taiwan by force, if necessary.

RIPLEY (on camera): Has Taiwan's democratic system ever been in more danger than it is today?

WU: I can tell you that Taiwan is more resilient than before. Look at Taiwan these days. You know, China is trying to impose trade sanctions

against Taiwan, trying to attack Taiwan from monetary or non-monetary aspect. But the way go -- the life goes on here in Taiwan.

RIPLEY: Should people in Taiwan be more worried?

WU: If you ask me. I worry a little bit.

RIPLEY: What do you worry about?

WU: I worried that China may really launch a war against Taiwan. But what it's doing right now is trying to scare us in the best way to deal with it

to show to China that we are not scared.

RIPLEY (voice over): He calls China's military threat more serious than ever. Taiwan's warning to the world, the danger does not stop here.

Will Ripley, CNN, Taipei.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

NEWTON: Up next for us. The U.S. president's domestic agenda gets new life as Senate Democrats pass a historic bill that dedicates more money than

ever to help combat the climate crisis.

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NEWTON: So a major win for the White House. The U.S. Senate passing the massive Inflation Reduction Act Sunday.

[10:20:02]

Yes, despite its title, the landmark bill includes spending of about 370 billion to reduce carbon emissions and that's the largest investment to

combat the climate crisis in American history. It includes tax incentives to help spur more Americans to switch to electricity to power their homes

and cars.

Next up, the legislation heads to the U.S. House where it is in fact expected to pass. So we have team coverage on this. Our chief climate

correspondent Bill Weir is standing by. But first we want to get the latest from CNN's Jeremy Diamond who is at the White House for us. So Jeremy,

quite a piece of legislation here, especially given all that you, I and everyone else is living through. I mean, I'm in the middle of a heat

advisory as are you.

The president later today really visits Kentucky, the scene of 1000-year floods. There is drought throughout the country. So, what is the White

House saying about the impact of this in the years to come?

JEREMY DIAMOND, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Paula. And you mentioned that visit that President Biden is making today to Eastern

Kentucky where those floods have killed at least 37 people. The president typically doesn't shy away from talking about the fact that these worsening

natural disasters are caused in part by climate change. And today, I certainly expect him to make that point.

But now of course, he also is able to tout the fact that Democrats in the Senate have moved forward with this new proposal that will amount to the

largest ever investments to fight climate change in American history. It includes nearly $400 billion of clean energy and electric vehicle tax

credits and other tax incentives. So you have the electric vehicle tax credit in that, you have clean energy investments for solar, for wind

production, for clean energy manufacturing.

And all of this, according to experts is expected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the United States by 40 percent by 2030, compared to 2005

levels. That gets President Biden very close to that 50 percent target that he had set for 2030 at the beginning of his term in office. And beyond the

climate provisions, of course, this is a bill that achieves several other substantive democratic policy agenda items.

Including allowing Medicare to begin negotiating the price of prescription drugs, a $2,000 out of pocket price cap for people on Medicaid as it

relates to prescription drugs. 15 percent corporate tax. And we heard President Biden just earlier today as he was leaving for Kentucky, talking

about some of this and saying that he does believe that this will help Democrats in the midterm elections, which of course, are just a couple

months away.

NEWTON: Yes. Certainly an open question. But on this day, specifically, he likely has reason to be confident. Jeremy Diamond, thanks for that update

from the White House. Bill Weir joins us now. And Bill, you know exactly what my next question is going to be. Does this move the needle on the

climate crisis? And I really want to highlight the mechanisms that are in this bill, because despite what other countries have done, right? This

isn't really punitive, this is more prescriptive, right? It's saying these are your financial incentives to get this done.

BILL WEIR, CNN CHIEF CLIMATE CORRESPONDENT: Yes. A lot more carrots than sticks is enticements here, but there's enough carrots and they're juicy

enough that optimistic Democrats hope that it will just change market forces. That it will bring in a lot of private investments in green

hydrogen, and next generation nuclear or battery technology. And all of those prices will come down.

You know, the price of solar has dropped 90 percent in the last decade. A lot of it had to do with investments that are made under Obama during the

sort of stimulus bill back then. Well, this is four times the money there. And so from everything from carbon capture technology, which is going to

get some 15 times more funding, and is just at the beginning stages of that, to the consumer side of it, which is there's a three-year waiting

list for electric vehicles.

This will give seven -- $500 to a family that qualifies to buy one of those next year. This is some of the video I'm showing you here. I've been

looking at the biggest, boldest ideas. This is a little company that turns farm waste into bio oil that they then inject back into old oil wells. This

is a machine, a little startup next door to where Elon Musk built the first Tesla that pulls carbon out of seawater.

Over in Iceland, they're taking it out of geothermal plants and then pumping it back into rock. Basically, we have this trillion ton monster in

the sea in the sky that humanity has sort of created by accident. And the idea is to create a fossil fuel industry in reverse, where those

smokestacks are putting all of that heat trapping pollution back into the earth. It's going to be trillion-dollar industry that we haven't really

even started talking about in the United States.But a lot of optimists see this bill as the starting gun on the race to that future.

NEWTON: You know, Bill, there is, of course, lots of skepticism I guess these kinds of climate initiatives that they need to scale up, right? When

we take the view from 35,000 feet, let's say, when you pull out will it make a difference on those climate goals? Understanding America's

leadership or what should be leadership in this area? What it opposes to be leadership and if it does help move the needle for everyone around the

globe.

[10:25:05]

WEIR: Yes. Well, you know, the -- it's all there in terms of if you believe that capitalism can help solve this and that market forces will drive us to

a cleaner future. There are plenty of reasons for heartburn for those who look at the provisions that say, before you can put a solar panel on a

piece of federal land anywhere you have to lease millions of acres to oil and gas companies. First, the Joe Manchin, the senator from a coal state

who won a state, you know, that Trump won by 40 points had to get these provisions put in there.

There is actually a cap on methane where companies that leak natural gas that heats up much faster and carbon dioxide finally have to start paying a

price for that. But yes, to put it in perspective to the scope of the problem, Paula, I mean, this will -- this will spend less than $40 billion

a year. That's what the top three oil companies made in profits last quarter in three months.

So it's not really a fair fight between the new energy coming up, but it is a start. And again, it's signifies to the rest of the world that the United

States is somewhat serious about this problem after so many years of really shirking our responsibility.

NEWTON: Yes. Such good points, Bill, especially help us put it in perspective. And again, the Democrats were not expected perhaps to even get

this. So at this point, I'm sure later today in Kentucky, the president will take it as a win. Bill, we're always get great to have you on.

Appreciate it.

WEIR: Thanks, Paula. You bet.

NEWTON: Now, we want to get you up to speed on some other stories that are on our radar right now. The E.U.'s climate monitor, Copernicus says last

month was one of the Earth's three hottest July's on record. Prolonged heat waves contributed to wildfires and a drop in food production right across

Europe. Elsewhere, high temperatures caused more sea ice to melt in the Arctic and in Antarctica.

A London museum says it will return its famous bronze -- pardon me, brass plaques known as the Benin Bronzes to Nigeria along with dozens of other

artifacts. The Horniman Museum says the items were forcibly removed from Nigeria, Benin City -- Nigeria's Benin City during Britain's military

incursion in the late Victorian era. Museum officials in Nigeria say they welcome the decision.

Chad's transitional military government has signed a peace deal with rebel groups. That's according to Qatar which hosted the negotiations. The main

rebel group, the Front for Change and Concord also known as FACT, rejected the agreement. Qatar says Chad's broader reconciliation talks are expected

to take place later this month.

And Kenyans head to the polls Tuesday for general elections. Ahead on CONNECT THE WORLD. We'll look at the front runners for president and why

Kenyans may not be getting the big changes that so many had hoped for.

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[10:30:19]

NEWTON: And a warm welcome back. I'm Paula Newton in New York and you are watching CONNECT THE WORLD. A ceasefire between Israel and Islamic Jihad in

Gaza is holding after a deadly escalation of violence. Egypt brokered the truce, which is allowing desperately needed fuel and other supplies to

finally enter Gaza. This latest conflict started after the arrest of Islamic Jihad political leader in the West Bank.

Now Palestinians say Israeli airstrikes killed 44 people in Gaza, and that includes 15 children and injured hundreds more. Israel says militants fired

more than 1100 rockets towards Israel, most of them in fact were intercepted by Israel's Iron Dome defense system. No one was killed there.

Kenyans are getting ready to head to the polls for highly anticipated general elections. Here you see election officials making final

preparations for Tuesday's vote. And that includes of course gathering solar powered lights to use and polar stations -- and polling stations,

pardon me, that don't have any electricity. Now Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta will be stepping aside after serving the 10 years he is allowed

under the constitution.

Voters say they want change in Kenya. But both of this year's front runners to replace Mr. Kenyatta have ties to him. Our Larry Madowo joins me now

live from Eldoret, Kenya. And it is really good to have you there on the scene for us, Larry. Set the stage for us here, especially since these are

veteran politicians trying to appeal of course to younger voters. What's at stake, especially when you consider Kenya's pivotal role in Africa?

LARRY MADOWO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: There's a lot at stake in this election, Paula. And starting where you left off that both front contenders in this

election have ties to President Uhuru Kenyatta who's term limited. The deputy president of the country, William Ruto, essentially in the

opposition because the official Leader of the Opposition Raila Odinga isn't government, he's been working with President Uhuru Kenyatta's government

since 2018.

They are the two men most likely to become the next president of Kenya when Kenyans vote tomorrow. It is a hotly contested election, but not just on

the issues but also a lot in political and ethnic affiliations. Where we are in Eldoret, the Rift Valley of the country is the hometown of Deputy

President William Ruto. Most of the people you see here will likely vote for him. So this is one of those strongholds that he can expect a lot of

support.

Both men have wide national support, but they have a core ethnic base that supports them regardless of what party they're in, regardless of the issues

that are important in that specific election. But the youth have been a little apathetic in this election. Many of them feel like they're much more

important issues on top of their minds and the election, cost of living, high unemployment and other issues around the economy had been top of the

minds. We spoke to here in Eldoret, this is what they told us.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I don't see any chance at all. Maybe, if maybe or God help us, we can get a better leader. Yes.

MADOWO: You don't feel that the people were currently running for presidents are the leaders Kenya needs?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I don't feel any chance at all. They're the same, giving us different manifestos. But if you read it and internalize well,

it's all the same thing.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: A lot of people are complaining, a lot of people in problems like this street we are on, you see, these are small businesses,

all this street way down, these are small businesses and they rely upon these businesses for their livelihoods. So, if we can get a government that

has these people in mind, then this country will be headed to the -- to the higher heights.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MADOWO (on camera): And Deputy President William Ruto has promised to take this country those higher highs that gentleman was just talking about. He's

got what he calls a bottom up economic approach to make sure that the vast majority of people in this country who are in the lower income segments can

get a leg up. On the other hand, Raila Odinga who's running for the fifth time says he's the one who's got experience and he's the one who knows how

to turn the economy around.

It's a huge logistical undertaking something like 22.1 million registered voters 22,000 polling stations and it all happening tomorrow across the

nation. In a few days we'll know who will be the next president of Kenya, Paula.

NEWTON: Yes. And we certainly hope that whatever kind of use apathy that they actually do get out to the polls obviously having a stake in this more

than most. We'll will continue to watch your reporting, Larry. Appreciate it. Thanks so much.

Now the new kid on the block is striking fear and his opponents. We'll take a Man City's new striker and how he did in his debut.

Plus a travel nightmare for tens of thousands of tourists in China. You will want to hear this why local authorities on this tropical island and

post a sudden COVID lockdown.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[10:35:11]

NEWTON: Tens of thousands of tourists in China are in the middle of a nightmare. It is a travel lockdown. Now since August 1st, the city of Sanya

on the tropical island has seen an outbreak of a highly infectious Omicron sub variant. Get this. There are more than 1200 cases. And I don't have to

remind you. That's a huge outbreak by the standards of the country's zero- COVID policy.

Now on Saturday, the local government locked down the entire city of a million people and that includes, yes, 80,000 tourists. Our Selina Wang

joins me now live from Beijing. I mean, this is obviously comes as a shock for those living through it. But does it also shake confidence that China

can finally bring its COVID outbreaks under control?

SELINA WANG, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, we've been seeing this over and over again now for more than two years. It just adds to people's

frustrations because there's so much uncertainty living here in zero COVID China. And now for people just trying to take their hard-earned summer

vacation well, that can become a complete nightmare. You've got 80,000 tourists now trapped in a sudden locked down in the city of Sanya.

This is a popular vacation destination on China's tropical Hainan Island. This is often called the Hawaii of China. And this outbreak is driven by

the highly infectious Omicron sub variant. It's infected more than 1200 people in Sanya since August 1st. And to your point that counts as a major

outbreak by the standards of China's zero-COVID policy where even one or handful of cases can send entire communities or cities into hard lockdown.

So, you've got Sanya's entire city of a million people under lockdown on Saturday, public transportation has been suspended people can only move

around now for emergency services. Also, more than 80 percent of flights leaving the city were canceled. That is left complete chaos at the airport

with some videos showing crowds of people chanting that they just want to go home. Authorities are telling people that tourists can leave after seven

days.

But there's a lot of skepticism if that will be the case because that could be extended if cases don't come down. The government has said that people

with canceled flights can book discounted hotel rooms. But for some families, it's still not affordable. A viral state news Web site reported

that a family of 13 said that they'd have to pay more than $26,000 U.S. for just an extra week at their hotel and tack that on with the uncertainty

that it might last more than seven days.

Well, that's a whole lot of stress. And Sanya was supposed to be this long awaited escape for people who are finally willing to travel during COVID.

Many of the tourists stuck in Sanya are actually also people from Shanghai who were going there to rest and recharge after surviving that brutal two-

month lockdown in Shanghai earlier this year. And Paula, we actually spoke to one tourist who stuck in Sanya who was from Shanghai and said that it

feels like Russian roulette when you're traveling in China.

[10:40:09]

Because you're always taking a gamble that your destination city might just get locked down.

NEWTON: Yes. You really have painted a picture there of an absolute nightmare, especially for those families. Before I let you go, what more

can you tell us about the COVID situation and other parts of China?

WANG: Yes. Well, it's not just Sanya, it's not just these resort towns. There are more than a dozen cities across China that are under some form of

lockdown with 10 of them under hard lockdown. And just last month, there were more than 2000 tourists in Beihai. This is a different resort town

that also got trapped in a snap locked down. So, we are seeing these lockdowns continue to put major pressure on the Chinese economy, especially

in the tourism industry that has just been hammered by these unending travel restrictions.

And still across most major cities in China, you've got to show a recent COVID tests in order to enter any public place. That's including here in

Beijing. Our lives are still very much dictated by the health codes on our phones. We've got to scan to scan a code on our phones in order to enter

any public area that allows authorities not only to contact trace but also to surveil in a very detailed way where virtually all 1.4 billion people

are going each day, Paula.

NEWTON: Yes. And of course, Selina, it's obviously humans there that are suffering through it. Obviously, you talk about the -- all the stress and

anxiety with families. And of course, you've pointed out to us many times there are great risks to the Chinese economy as these outbreaks continue.

Selina Wang for us in Hong Kong. Really appreciate it.

Now Meantime, a significant piece of news on this from Hong Kong. The government is reducing the COVID quarantine period for international

travelers from seven days to just three days. Remember how long it used to be which was several weeks. Now chief executive John Lee saying "We need

the balance between people's livelihood and the competitiveness of Hong Kong." No doubt this will come as great relief not just to Hong Kong

residents but families and others wanting to visit Hong Kong.

OK. He is one of the most feared strikers in all of football and what a debut. Erling Haaland gave Manchester City fans. Manager Pep Guardiola said

the 22-year-old Norwegian is -- Norwegian is -- get this, in his words, born to score. Amanda Davies is here with all the hype around the star. And

Amanda, this is not hype, right? We go back to what Pep just said, right? This is about his pedigree. Explain.

AMANDA DAVIES, CNN SPORTS ANCHOR: Yes. Erling Haaland. 22 years of age, Paula, has broken goal scoring records throughout his career. He is the one

that everybody wanted to sign from Borussia Dortmund. Manchester City got their man because of his family links, because his dad had prayed for them

as a club. The naysayers had started sharpening their knives after he had failed to score in the Community Shield last weekend.

But his opening game in the Premier League for defending champions Manchester City found the back of the net twice, was left frustrated, he

didn't manage to grab a hat trick in his opener, he gave a very funny post match interview which we've got coming up in just a couple of minutes in

World Sport. But certainly an ominous sign for the rest after the opening day of the season.

NEWTON: Yes. It was interesting, my Man City friends who are obviously supporters directed me to an interview that said that he is determined to

be much better than his father. He is certainly well on his way. Amanda, we'll hear so much more in the next few minutes. And we will be right back

with more sports and news right after a break.

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