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Taliban Seized Control Of Kabul One Year Ago; U.S. Drone Strike In Kabul Killed al Qaeda's Leader; India And Pakistan Mark 75 Years Since End Of British Rule. Aired 10-10:45a ET

Aired August 15, 2022 - 10:00:00   ET

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

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[10:00:25]

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CLARISSA WARD, CNN CHIEF INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: The Taliban have won. They have taken, you know, an incredible amount of territory in a very

short time. And recently, we see them sweeping through major cities without even having to fire a single shot.

Going to be very difficult for women who have enjoyed a certain type of life for the last 20 years to assimilate into this new surreal normal.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We tell them we cannot stay here because everyday -- Joe Biden says we take these old Afghan workers there, help us take into

America.

WARD: Have you been in line? Have you tried to apply?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, yes, of course.

WARD: It is still a really, really, really tough situation.

Rush of desperate people and screaming children and women and babies. And yes, it's not often you really see desperation like that.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BECKY ANDERSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL ANCHOR: From London, it's a very warm welcome to CONNECT THE WORLD. I'm Becky Anderson. It's been exactly one

year since the Taliban takeover of Kabul, drastically changing the course of Afghanistan's future seemingly in an instance. Well, now a year on, the

people of Afghanistan no longer live in the midst of war. But for many, life under the Taliban has not improved.

Nearly 20 million people close to half of the country's population face acute hunger. Poverty is widespread. The Taliban also curtailing work and

educational opportunities for women and girls breaking promises they made after the U.S. withdrawal.

Well, let's start today with our chief international correspondent Clarissa Ward who was in Kabul one year ago and his back in the Afghan capital

today. And Clarissa, her just give us a sense, if you will, of how things have changed a year on.

WARD: Well, the changes are undoubtedly dramatic, Becky. The Taliban has declared today a national holiday, a day of victory to celebrate the

liberation of Afghanistan from American occupiers. But many people here in Kabul and around the country are not celebrating at all, quite the reverse.

They're facing a huge amount of challenges. You talked about the very real and dire humanitarian situation.

More than half the country and acute hunger, as you mentioned, prices of food have gone through the roof. People really are just focused on trying

to put some food on the table and to feed their families. Then, of course, you have the added component of the change in daily life here. The fact

that girls can no longer go to school anymore after sixth grade or the age of 12. This is something that Taliban says was a temporary suspension.

But it has been quite some time now. And there is no sense that it is about to change. You have minorities who have been repressed, you have women who

have been marginalized and pushed out of public life. And so, it is a very mixed picture. I would say importantly, that it is important for people to

understand that Afghanistan is much safer than it was. And so many Afghans are simply happy that the war is over.

The U.N. saying that three times fewer civilians have been killed in the last 10 months than were killed in the seven months leading up to the

Taliban takeover, Becky.

ANDERSON: Yes. That's a very important point. The United States recently carried out a strike in Kabul, where you are, taking out the leader of the

group al Qaeda Ayman al-Zawahiri. And this brings up a lot -- a lot of questions about how the leader could be in Kabul in the city, without the

Taliban being aware of him being there. You've spoken to the Taliban about this. What did they tell you?

WARD: Well, it's quite extraordinary, because they basically accused the U.S. of having contravened the Doha Agreements that were drawn up between

those two countries. And they won't even confirm or deny whether as a Zawahiri was here or not. They say there's an ongoing investigation, but

there's no sense of really taking any responsibility for this or of accepting the full magnitude of the impact that this is going to have on

the relationship between the U.S. and Afghanistan going forward and how that will ultimately impact funding.

Those funds that have been frozen, billions of dollars since the Taliban took over. Take a listen to what the Foreign Ministry spokesperson Abdul

Qahar Balkhi had to say.

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[10:05:04]

ABDUL QAHAR BALKHI, AFGHAN FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESPERSON: We've made it very clear that the government of Afghanistan was unaware of the arrival or

presence of Mr. Zawahiri in Kabul. So far, we have been unable to establish that -- as a fact, as a matter of fact, that Mr. Zawahiri was indeed

present in Kabul.

WARD: Isn't that almost more frightening, though? The idea that you're claiming, potentially the leader of al Qaeda was here in the center of the

city, and you didn't even know about it?

BALKHI: Again, we contend that notion that he was even present here. But even if he was these types of incidents happen everywhere in the world --

(CROSSTALK)

WARD: But they really don't. I mean, how can the U.S. possibly trust the Taliban leadership, though, to stay true to its promise that it will not

allow sanctuary to be granted to terrorist groups?

BALKHI: If we look at the Doha Agreement, the articles that are -- that define the commitments of the government of Afghanistan, all of them have

been fulfilled. And if we look at the commitments that the United States of America has made, sadly, they have not fulfilled a single article. But

we're hopeful and we continue to urge the United States to adhere to that agreement.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WARD: We spoke to a senior state department official, Becky, who said that, particularly in the light of the fact that Ayman al-Zawahiri was living

here in downtown Kabul. There is no sense at the moment that the U.S. is on the cusp of recapitalizing the Afghan liquidity or the Afghan Central Bank.

So, as long as the Taliban and the U.S. continue in this sort of standoff, if you like, and there is no sense of a sort of return or an attempt to

normalize relations, you are going to see protracted misery and suffering on the ground.

You have heard some aid workers and economists coming out and saying, listen, enough is enough. People are starving, you need to unfreeze those

funds. But as I just mentioned, there is absolutely no sense that the U.S. government has any intention of doing that, particularly in light of not

just al-Zawahiri but also the human rights abuses you see on the ground. And of course, the issue of girls education, Becky.

ANDERSON: Clarissa, but he also made the point that the U.S. has not fulfilled its own obligations under the Doha Agreement. I assume he's

speaking there mostly about those that relate to military commitments to contain the growth of terrorist groups. Does he have a point?

WARD: Well, I think that the idea that you look at a situation like the sheltering of Ayman al- Zawahiri here who was making audio tapes, calling

people to jihad while living in central Kabul, and you try to turn that around as the U.S. somehow being in contravention of those agreements. And

the real issue that they had was the use of these sort of over the horizon technologies, right?

The drone that killed Ayman al- Zawahiri managed to, you know, it did it in such a way that nobody else was killed. It took him out literally as he

stood outside on a balcony. And so of course, that is deeply concerning and troubling to the Taliban. And so, it's natural that they're going to use

this sort of nice bit of sophistry to try to turn it on its head. But the fundamental underpinning, Becky, of the Doha Agreement was really

predicated on this idea that the Taliban would never again allow for terrorist groups or terrorist leaders to take sanctuary or safe haven here

in Afghanistan.

And so, you can really only see the fact that Ayman al- Zawahiri was living here as a sort of egregious contravention of that agreement.

ANDERSON: Clarissa Ward on the ground. Clarissa, thank you. When you reflect on those fateful and chaotic days last year, Kabul airport, of

course, stands out. The total desperation of the Afghan people fleeing persecution was symbolized so vividly by family searching for loved ones

and people chasing down planes, hanging from planes on the runway. Well, that chaos is being harshly blamed on the United States.

And former president Hamid Karzai even branded the manner of the U.S. withdrawal. And I quote him here "as disgraceful." Well, I sat down with

him earlier today, a year on from the fall of the Capitol and in a wide- ranging conversation where we covered women's rights to Taliban's governance and the precarious economy that Clarissa was alluding to. I

began by asking whether he still stands by those comments. Have a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

HAMID KARZAI, FORMER PRESIDENT OF AFGHANISTAN: It was disgraceful, disgraceful to us, the Afghan people and also disgraceful to the great

American people who contributed so much to the well being of Afghanistan. And then to have an impression of that kind of misery left behind isn't

good for any of us. Afghan people or the American people.

[10:10:08]

ANDERSON: One year on what has changed on the ground?

KARZAI: The Afghan people are happier that there isn't the large scale conflict that there was before, the arrival of the Taliban. That we are not

losing as many lives, not having as many casualties as we had before, that the country is in terms of overall security for individuals for the

citizens better. And we are happy about that. But on the other hand, the country is suddenly, deeply poorer.

Millions of Afghans left the country and more are trying to leave the country. The exodus of people from their own country, the educated, the

professionals, the loss of the institutions, the loss of financial resources or reserves. All of that is unfortunate. And it's an on top of

all that, the continuing economic downfall that we -- that we observe and more poverty that we see in the country is deeply troubling.

We have spoken about the girl's education, repeatedly in the past year, our girls not going to school is one huge, huge shock to us which we hope will

be addressed rather sooner.

ANDERSON: You have three young girls yourself. Just explain what the impact is now and going forward for young girls denied an education?

KARZAI: This is -- this is a vitally important issue for Afghanistan. This is vitally important for our future. Afghanistan will not progress ever,

without the participation of its women, equally shoulder children with the men of the country. And that would not be possible ever without Afghan

girls continuing to go to school. My children, my three little girls, like little girls all over the country, like the daughters of this whole country

of all the Afghan families need to get educated.

Right now they're younger than the -- than the seventh grade to 12th grade age. They are in kindergarten and class one and class four, class two and

class four. But soon, ma'am, within three, four years, they will be reaching the age and the grades in class where they will be in need of

attending class seven, that is not possible. So, I as an Afghan citizen am worried greatly for the future of the daughters of this country.

ANDERSON: What is the extent of your communication with the Taliban? And are you making what you have just suggested very clear to them, what's

their response?

KARZAI: I personally know and we have heard from the Taliban leaders that they want girls to go to school and get educated. Some of them, I've said

this publicly as well, they've stood up and said publicly that they want girls to go to school, so and the clergy of the country and the religious

colors that exchange has been good. But what we now need is decisions on implementation from them. And we hope that that will happen soon. And we

want that to happen soon.

ANDERSON: So you are optimistic at this point, are you?

KARZAI: I am optimistic because I want something good for this country to come and something good. The first thing of the good things would be girls

going back to school. This is in the interest of Afghanistan. Not letting girls to go to school will be against the interest of Afghanistan.

ANDERSON: Hamid Karzai, the U.S. has accused the Taliban of sheltering former al Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri. Would you agree that such actions

have damaged Afghan's trust in the Taliban?

KARZAI: We definitely as a people do not want any terrorist organization or individual in our country. We also don't want to be the victims of the

fight against terrorism as we have been, as we have suffered both, at the hands of both. Now, with regard to the Zawahiri and the drone attack on

Zawahiri, the Americans claimed he was here. The Taliban issued a statement saying that that they were not aware of his presence or of his day in Kabul

and that they have launched an investigation.

[10:15:05]

KARZAI: I would give that statement time and investigation to give results. And for them to explain this to the rest of the world and to the United

States and to move forward towards a country that is safe from extremism, and better relations with the rest of the world, including the United

States of America.

ANDERSON: My colleague Clarissa Ward in a conversation with the Taliban spokesman made the point that if the Taliban didn't know he was there, that

is actually really more scary. How can the Taliban promise security if the leader of a terrorist organization was able to hide out in the capital?

KARZAI: This is exactly what the Taliban said in their statement. That they were not aware of his presence in that they will investigate and then show

that to the Afghan people and to the world. So let's wait for that investigation. Let's see what the result is. As for the fact of things as

for what Afghanistan feels, Afghanistan doesn't want --- Afghan people don't want any bad elements, any bad guys in our country.

This is exactly what the Taliban said in their statement that they were not aware of his presence in that they will investigate and then show that to

the African people into the woods. So let's wait for that investigation. Let's see what the result is. As for the fact of things as for what

Afghanistan feels, Afghanistan doesn't want, Afghan people don't want any bad elements, any bad guys in our country.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ANDERSON: And the second part of that interview where we discuss what needs to happen next.

Coming up, in the next hour of CONNECT THE WORLD, as Afghanistan marks one year since its seismic power shift more than a billion people across the

Indian subcontinent are marking their 75th anniversary. We are live in India and in Pakistan ahead.

And it's taken almost a week. And so why is Kenya taking so long to announce the winner of the country's presidential election? A live report

from Kenya is coming up. You're watching CONNECT WORLD TODAY live from London.

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ANDERSON: For almost a week, Kenyans have been waiting to find out who their next president will be. Results were supposed to be announced several

hours ago but we still do not know who has won the election. The two leading contenders are Deputy President William Ruto and the former Prime

Minister Raila Odinga. Whoever becomes Kenya's fifth president will face a myriad of serious issues including the high cost of living and an

unemployment rate that has left many young Kenyans with little hope for the future.

[10:20:05]

Well, CNN's Larry Madowo in Kisumu, Kenya. The town -- hometown of Odinga. Larry, is it clear why these results are taking so long?

LARRY MADOWO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It's not clear, Becky, because this was supposed to have happened about 2-1/2 hours ago. But the Electoral

Commission has not explained why there's a delay. In fact, the deputy president William Ruto has been one of the contenders for this presidential

race arrived more than 2-1/2 hours ago at the National talent center expecting that that announcement should have happened by then.

He's not been seen yet. The Electoral Commission has not told us why they're taking this long. And here in Kisumu which is the heartland of

Raila Odinga country, people here voted overwhelmingly for him in this election. In the last four elections he reigned for. There's been

celebrations were several hours here on the streets. You see people again, gathering, they're just kind of going around this roundabout hoping that

when that announcement is finally made, he will be the one who will have won this election.

There's many people who've been told -- who told us in the time we've been here that they really hope that Raila Odinga will finally after five tries

when the presidency of the country. The election has been very close. All the early results we've seen from the Independent Electoral and Boundaries

Commission, Becky, have William Ruto and Raila Odinga neck to neck. This is so close that there's a possibility that when that announcement is finally

made that could be run off in Kenya for the first time.

The winner of the Kenyan presidential election needs more than 50 percent of the votes. If neither of the candidate gets at least 50 percent of the

vote plus one, that two top candidates go into a runoff. We don't know if that's what's going to be but it is impossible to read the tea leaves based

on the announcement of the results have seen so far to tell if there's going to be an outright winner for Ruto, an outright winner for Raila or

there's going to be a runoff.

But if you look here, just get close. And we're going to show you some of the Raila supporters here on the street, Becky, celebrating, hoping that

when it's finally done, it'll be good news for them, Becky.

ANDERSON: Yes. How would you describe the atmosphere that these elections have been held in, Larry?

MADOWO: It has been a very peaceful election, Becky. This is probably the most peaceful election season we've ever seen in the country. In the seven

days that people have been waiting for the outcome. There were no major cases of violence. And it's also called the boring election. But a boring

election is exactly what Kenyans needed after many contested elections and lead to violence.

Now, just celebration and jubilation the streets of people just hope that their man will be the winner. I don't know how much energy, the electric

energy you see here after (INAUDIBLE) for so many hours for the outcome. And they're still celebrating hoping their man will be the winner of the

selection.

ANDERSON: That is yet to come. Result still anticipated as Larry said. 2- 1/2 hours ago is when those results were expected to be released and we will get them to you as soon as they are. Well, let's get you up to speed

on some of the other stories that are on our radar right now. In Egypt, at least 41 people are dead nearly half of them children after a fire broke

out during services at a Coptic Church.

Authorities traced the fire to an electrical failure in an air conditioning unit they believe most victims died from smoke in the church's classrooms.

Well, dramatic video from Shanghai shows shoppers scrambling to escape a local IKEA store after a close contact of a COVID-19 case was traced to the

location. They were trying to get out before authorities closed the store and sent everyone inside to quarantine as part of China's strict zero-COVID

policy.

Brittney Griner's legal team has filed an appeal against a Russian courts verdict. The WNBA star was sentenced to nine years in prison for smuggling

drugs into Russia which she says was an accident. Russia has confirmed Greiner was among the names being discussed in potential prisoner swap

talks with the United States.

Ukrainian officials say their forces have dealt a series of blows to Russia over the weekend. They had a base in the Luhansl region being used by the

Russian paramilitary group Wagner. That group has, of course, close ties to Vladimir Putin, and they are frustrating Russian efforts at resupplying. It

destroyed three key bridges including this one in the Kherson region.

We're joined live by David McKenzie from the Kyiv region with the very latest on the situation. How strategically important have these games been,

as it were over the weekend, David?

DAVID MCKENZIE, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, I think it's very strategically important. And the key importance of it is, as you described,

Becky, that this is a strike or a series of strikes in fact over several days according to Ukrainian officials of the supply lines that are behind

the Russian forces in that southern Kherson region.

[10:25:05]

Now what the Ukrainians have been openly stating is that they want to hit those bridges, those roads, those supply routes for both soldiers,

munitions and resupply with these longer range artillery. Now, according to the Ukrainians, they have successfully damaged a lot of that infrastructure

which potentially could him in the Russians that are on the northern and western side of the Dnipro River.

So it is significant. I must say, a key part of this conflict has been in the Far East. And you've seen very heavy fighting and shelling. Ukrainians

digging in villages to the west of Donetsk. And holding their positions for now but that is where some of the most active fighting has been going on in

the last few days.

ANDERSON: What else is going on on the ground? I mean, we do know there's been a strike as we understand it on the Wagner HQ. Who are they? And how

important is that?

MCKENZIE: I think it has a big psychological blow. You know, it's not in terms of numbers. Wagner doesn't make up a large amount of soldiers. These

are of course, mercenaries, compared to the overall Russian forces. But there have been significant in terms of operations at times. So the

Ukrainian say and as well as geo-located social media videos show what appears to have been the base.

I'm not sure if it's a headquarters, but certainly a base in Luhansk, in the eastern part of the country in Russian-controlled territory that was

struck. And it's unclear how many casualties there were but there certainly were. Wagner were first surfaced in 2014 in Crimea that -- and it is

closely tied as you say to the Kremlin, though the Kremlin often denies that. This group has had significant impact in various theatres of conflict

across the world, including parts of West Africa and East Africa, Becky.

It does have a fearsome reputation. So, it certainly will be significant if the Ukrainians were able to gather the intelligence to strike what was a

base of the -- of the mercenaries in the last 48 hours or so. Becky?

ANDERSON: David McKenzie is on the ground for you. David, thank you.

Well, still to come this hour. India and Pakistan marking a milestone, 75 years of independence conflict and of tensions. That after this.

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[10:30:01]

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ANDERSON: Well, it is part of a ceremony marking a milestone for both India and Pakistan. 75 years of independence from British rule. Indian Prime

Minister Modi hoisting the national flag of the Red Fort in Delhi today. He promised His nation of more than one billion people. They will be a

developed country by the time of its centennial. Well, our correspondents covering the anniversary from both nations.

Sophia Saifi is in Islamabad. Vedika Sud is in Delhi. Let's start with you, Vedika. This is for many a proud moment for India. But also a reminder of

some violent and dark times.

VEDIKA SUD, CNN REPORTER: Two contrasting emotions on there, Becky. On one hand, you have India celebrating its 75 years since it became an

independent nation, since obviously, the British rule ended in India which lasted almost 200 years. You've seen the Indian prime minister today

address the nation from the iconic red fort in Delhi where he's promised that India will progress into developed nation over the next 25 years.

You've seen people unfurl flags at their homes, outside, in government establishments. You've seen a lot of them even hoist flags in their homes

as well as the call of the Indian government, especially India's prime minister. But yes, it's a moment of pain. It's a moment of grief for all

those families who lost someone to the bloody partition that took place in 1947. About 500,000 to about two million people lost their lives in the

violent protests and clashes that took place 75 years ago. We believe about 15 million people were uprooted as well.

I spoke to one such person. Her name is Baljit Dhillon Vikram Singh. Becky, she was only five when one night she was woken up along with the brothers.

She lived near Lahore and her mom told her that she had to rush to the jeep along with the family. She says there's just one suitcase that they carried

because there's just no time to put things together. A lot of the jewelry was put behind bricks in the wall because the mother and the family thought

that we would come back someday to their home.

But that never happened. Here's how she remembers 1947. She's happy that India celebrating 75 years of independence but apart for heart is still

somewhere near Lahore.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BALJIT DHILLON VIKRAM SINGH, FIVE YEARS OLD DURING PARTITION: I'm glad India got its independence. But I wish it had never had partition. Not just

because of the material loss, but unnecessary, bloody butchering of human beings on both sides. And the scars that leaves I think are from generation

to generation. Because when I kind of put some of these things in words, even my grown up grandsons cried and they said Nani Maa, how come you never

told us all this before? And it was the same that the my parents didn't.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SUD: Nani Maa maternal grandmother in English. So, she's talking about the generations after her. You know, Becky, a lot of these families actually

don't talk about partition. It's the horrific images that keep coming back to them. And today is one raw moment for them. Because all those images are

coming back at a time when India and millions of its people are celebrating the 75th Independence Day, Becky.

ANDERSON: Fascinating. Thank you. Sophia, what's the perspective where you are?

SOPHIA SAIFI, CNN PRODUCER: Well, Becky, I went to bed last night on the 14th of August, which is when Pakistan celebrates to a lot of joy and

activity, out -- people were out in the streets, raising slogans of Pakistan forever with their flags up in the air. There is of course a lot

of celebration. And as we just heard in that soundbite there is obviously - - there are a lot of scars that Pakistanis and Indians have inherited.

Now both these countries have a very young population and the current obstacles that exist between the two borders of Pakistan and India,

Pakistan -- this border is the most militarized -- one of the most militarized borders in the world. But the youth of these countries have

found a way to circumvent it through social media. Have a listen to the song Pasoori which has over 300 million views in just six months on

YouTube. It's by Ali Sethi and Shae Gill. Both Pakistani musicians.

[10:35:05]

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SAIFI: So this song is basically, it reached -- this song reached the number one in the Indian charts. It's a Pakistani song. And while there is

absolutely no physical contact of students, meeting students, activists meeting activists, academics meeting academics, meeting academics, and

while we don't have a war with India at the moment, there is a lot of desire and need for Pakistanis.

These young populations of Indian Pakistan to talk to each other and they're just finding ways to do so. This song is hugely popular and it has

only become so because of the fact that Indians are listening to it across the border and reaching out to Pakistanis along with those in the diaspora

to make sure that this culture that existed before 75 years of independence from British rule, a culture that it goes back centuries of people who live

together in somewhat harmony is something that, you know, will shape the futures of these young Pakistanis and Indians. Becky?

ANDERSON: Fascinate perspective from both of you. Thank you very much indeed for joining us.

More visits, more drills in Asia. Taiwan says China sent 30 warplanes and five vessels to the Taiwan Strait during military drills earlier on Monday.

And that comes a day after another U.S. delegation of lawmakers arrived in Taipei. This one led by Senator Ed Markey met with the president during an

unannounced two-day visit. Last week both China and Taiwan held drills following House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taiwan.

I'm Becky Anderson. You're watching CONNECT THE WORLD today live from London. Coming up. One of the best golfers in the world accomplishes

something he's never done before.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ANDERSON: More than 200 cities and counties across China are under their highest heat alert ever with temperatures topping 40 degrees Celsius. Most

of the areas affected are in Eastern and Southwestern parts of the country. People are being advised to stay indoors and take precautions to prevent

heat stroke. Well, many parts of Europe continuing to battle scorching and relentless heat to the extreme weather and drought has already fueled

several wildfires including in the southwestern region of Gironde in France.

[10:40:

Thousands of residents who are forced to evacuate have just been told conditions have improved just enough for them to return home. But as

Melissa Bell tells us, the danger has not completely passed.

MELISSA BELL, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Becky, we're here to the south of Bordeaux in the latest wildfire to struck this region. The third

major one this summer to hit Gihonde. It began last Tuesday. And what you can see here is just how fast these flames spread. Much of the vegetation

still green at the top. These are the pine forests of southwestern France that run all the way to Spain and that have proven so vulnerable to this

particularly parched and hot summer.

And as you can see, even now, although this wildfire has been contained, it is far from extinguished. And that is because again, the ferocity of the

fire, the speed with which the flames cross this area, ticking out last Tuesday in a single night, 6000 hectares in one night alone, even now, you

can see how hot the soil remains. And so, these are Romanian firefighters who have come as have others from all over Europe to work alongside the

French firefighters.

So many of them saying that July and August have proven so hot and dangerous and difficult given these wildfires that they are exhausted,

their equipment is tired, and there will in need of a rest. These reinforcements have come from all over Europe. This European crisis

mechanism that has this year been called upon by nine different European countries. That gives you an idea of how hot and dangerous and full of

wildfires this summer has been for so many countries in Europe that simply we're not used to this.

And what one of the firefighters, the French ones here was just telling us is that very sadly, they believe that this is the way things are likely to

stay for some time, Becky.

ANDERSON: That's Melissa Bell reporting for you. Will Zalatoris is one of the top golfers in the world. He finished second this year, both the U.S.

Open and the PGA championship. But he'd never won on the PGA Tour. Not once. Until now that (INAUDIBLE) a very good time for his first victory.

World Sport's Alex Thomas is here to explain. Sir?

ALEX THOMAS, CNN SPORTS ANCHOR: Well, the first thing is him going, what are they going to say now? As he -- as he hold that part to get into a

playoff which he eventually won. That's because he loves the Golden State Warriors. The NBA team, Steph Curry said the same thing after they won the

NBA title. Now he's a winner. And the really cool thing is that he looks familiar because he's a bit like the caddy from the Happy Gilmore cult golf

movie.

And Adam Sandler, the actor's tweeted out congratulations himself. Congrats, Will, I'm happy for you. Happy's happy for you. Enjoy it all with

all the photos from the film. No harsh but I think we'll take it in good humor.

ANDERSON: Good stuff. More than that of course as we get to World Sport which is up after this short break. I'm back with the second hour of

CONNECT THE WORLD after that. Do stay with us.

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(WORLD SPORT)

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