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Connect the World
Texas Man Survived Floods by Hanging on to Meter Box; Trump Pushes "Reciprocal" Tariff Deadline to August 1; Cairo Telecom Building Blaze Kills 4, Disrupts Internet; Trump Announces New Tariffs of up to 40 Percent on 14 Countries; Ben Shelton Roars into Quarterfinals to Face World Number 1 Sinner. Aired 9-10a ET
Aired July 08, 2025 - 09:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[09:00:00]
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BECKY ANDERSON, CNN HOST, CONNECT THE WORLD: Well stories of heartbreak and survival in Texas as the death toll from the devastating floods there rises
now questions about whether more lives could have been spared. It is 08:00 a.m. in Kerrville in Texas. It's 05:00 p.m. here in Abu Dhabi. I'm Becky
Anderson. You are watching "Connect the World".
Also coming up, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is in Washington as mediators in Doha try to keep Gaza ceasefire talks on track. A way of
hope for Ukraine, as President Trump says he plans to send additional defensive weapons to the beleaguered country.
And a royal welcome for President Macron, the king welcomes the leader of France on the first day of his state visit to the UK. And the stock market
in New York opens about 30 minutes from now, and it does look as though indices are looking for direction.
That's the state of affairs on the futures markets, a day after President Trump approved a new tariff delay, on that is coming up. Well, rescue teams
and volunteers are out in force in Central Texas. Search efforts there now in their fifth day to find nearly two dozen people who are still missing in
the wake of last week's devastating floods.
The death toll continues to rise. It is now at 105 help is pouring in from other states, sending water rescue equipment, K-9 teams and manpower.
Hanging over all of this, questions over emergency warning systems and whether better planning could have saved lives. Almost half the people
still missing are children who were attending a Christian summer camp when the floods hit.
Today, we're learning more details about how the disaster unfolded at the camp, eventually taking at least 27 lives. CNN's Pamela Brown, following
that from Kerrville in Texas.
PAMELA BROWN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: We're learning more about what happened in those hours following that deadly flooding at Camp Mystic and that the fact
that some counselors and campers didn't even know the reality of what had happened in those overnight hours until around lunchtime, because those
counselors didn't even have a phone with them in the cabin.
They weren't allowed to have a phone unless they were in their off hours, the public alert system was offline because there was no power in there is
no signal system here in Kerrville if there is flooding. So, while some counselors on the sprawling campus, more than 700 acres, had to jump into
action in those early morning hours and really showed heroism saving their campers, others didn't have any idea until hours later. Here's what one
counselor told our Anderson Cooper.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CAROLINE CUTRONA, CAMP MYSTIC COUNSELOR: Throughout the day, slowly, kind of figured every little bit of information I continued to get, I continued
to think it was more and more severe, when everyone had finished lunch, the Director of Cypress Lake came by to the girls and the counselors that were
at my cabin, and she said she pulled all the counselors out and informed us that 27 girls were unaccounted for, and that Dick Eastland was missing too,
and that's when we found out.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Well, Christian Fell knows exactly how powerful those floods were. He tells CNN he survived for three hours by hanging on to the meter
box on the side of his house so the current wouldn't pull him away. Fell says he is simply grateful to be alive. Here's how he described his
experience.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CHRISTIAN FELL, HUNT, TEXAS RESIDENT: I woke up to the sound of thunder, and I didn't think anything of it. I thought it was just like any other
storm, and until I heard some odd noises coming from deeper in the house. And so, I get up to investigate, and when I swing my feet over the side of
the bed, I realized I was standing in water.
And you know, that's not never a normal circumstance to be in. And so, I go to investigate, and I realize that the whole portion of the house is ripped
up and there's water flooding through the floor. It definitely is a, I think, a blessing that the meter box was there, because I don't even think
I remembered that was on that side of the building.
So, as I started to climb, I just realized I needed to get out of the water as quickly as I could, and just find something to hold on to so the water
can take me away.
[09:05:00]
And I mean, I just saw cars getting carried away with their hazard lights flashing on and off, and industrial sized propane tanks just floating down
through a park that used to be there, standing there with nothing else to hold on to but a metal pipe, you know, screwed into a wall.
It's not like an ideal situation. Just -- I just have to be thankful that the rest of the house stayed in place because I saw everything else that
happened afterwards. And you know, I'm just, I'm really thankful to be here. I'm quite blessed, to be honest.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: And more from Texas is coming up this hour. Well, Israeli airstrikes have killed more than 40 people today in Gaza, according to
local emergency responders and hospital reports there, the uptick in aerial attacks across the enclave comes amid ceasefire talks in Qatar.
Meanwhile, at the White House yesterday, the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said a quote very broad, peace was possible in the
Middle East through U.S. President Trump, presented Mr. Trump with a letter nominating him for a Nobel Peace Prize.
Well CNN Jerusalem Correspondent Jeremy Diamond joining us now live. And Jeremy, we are just getting some new reporting in from the Qatari Foreign
Ministry on these ceasefire talks. Let me just get that to our viewers. The spokesperson said mediators are working on a framework document to bridge
the gaps.
The spokesperson tells us the framework is a document that preludes the start of negotiations. It is very early to provide impressions on the
negotiations. We are attempting to provide the talks with a better chance to succeed through having a framework where both sides agree on the
principles of a possible agreement.
We do know that there have been demands from Hamas, and we know that those demands have been deemed unacceptable as far as the Israelis are concerned.
What do you understand to be the current sort of status of these sort of pre talks as it were, before we actually get to these proximity talks as it
were.
JEREMY DIAMOND, CNN JERUSALEM CORRESPONDENT: Yeah. I mean, my sense of things is that they are very much already in the proximity talks. I mean,
there's different ways of characterizing when the real talks really begin, and clearly the Qataris are making some kind of a distinction there.
My understanding is that we are now in the third day of these proximity talks between Israel and Hamas to try and bridge the remaining gaps. And
that is why the Israeli Prime Minister, despite saying over the weekend that those changes that Hamas was seeking were unacceptable, nonetheless
sent that delegation to Doha.
We also know that Steve Witkoff, President Trump's Special Envoy, is set to arrive in the region, you know, in as much as a matter of days, but
certainly he will be there this week. And I also just spoke with an Israeli official who said that there is progress being made in these negotiations,
and there has been, over the course of the last three days.
There's been progress made, I'm told, on the issue of humanitarian aid getting into Gaza, as well as the hostage for prisoner swaps that will take
place over the course of those 60 days, there are, however, still sticking points. And so even as we hear these reports of progress, it is also clear
that there are still major issues that need to be resolved, and there is no guarantee that those issues will be resolved.
One of those issues pertains, I'm told, to the withdrawal of Israeli forces from two key corridors, the Philadelphia Corridor, which is along the Gaza-
Egypt border, which we know in the past, has been the subject of significant disagreement between Israel and Hamas, and also led the prime
minister last September to effectively collapse negotiations at that time.
And then the Morag axis, which separates the Rafah governorate from the area of the City of Khan Yunis as well, which the Israelis have used as a
way to wedge between Hamas' Rafah battalions and its Khan Yunis battalions. And clearly, they are still trying to hold on to that as well, and so that
will still be a major issue for these negotiations going forward in the coming days.
What's clear, though, and we heard this from President Trump last night, his optimism that a deal can be reached this week, and also his clear push
for that ceasefire deal to be achieved, that is the differentiating factor this time compared to previous rounds of negotiations between these two
sides.
And so, will that be enough to get these two sides across the finish line is going to be the key question. That could get answered this week or
perhaps the following week, Becky.
ANDERSON: Good to have you. Thank you, sir. And next hour, I will speak to the Former Israeli Prime Minister, Ehud Olmert, who argues that the
government prolonging of the war in Gaza is an attempt to conceal the public from Israel's real enemy from within.
[09:10:00]
Stay tuned for that conversation and who he believes that real enemy within is. Well, residents of San Antonio and Texas held a vigil for the victims
of this weekend's flash floods. Mourners gathered on Monday evening to light candles and to pray for those who lost their lives.
In the Dallas area, families with ties to Camp Mystic plan to meet at the George W. Bush Presidential center to pay, pray and honor. The 27 campers
and councilors who were killed in that flooding. Let's get you live to CNN's Isabel Rosales she's in Center Point, Texas. Research operations are
ongoing.
Sun has been up there for a couple of hours. What do you understand to be going on at present?
ISABEL ROSALES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Becky, good morning. It's incredible the moment that the first rays of sunlight come in. You just start seeing all
of these people come out of the blue here. These are firefighters, EMT, police, regular folks that are volunteering their time.
And we just saw them finish a briefing where they're organizing their saw teams or work hands there having machine operators, as you can see them
rolling by right here, getting ready to move this debris and continue their search for the missing. Now we've shown you the important work of these
volunteers and first responders.
But I want to show you something else, the people behind the scenes that are also donating their time and food too to keep them hydrated and fed as
they do this important work back here Ms. Melissa Machado, a principal who was at Disney when she decided to come here and help out.
Right in front of her is Daniela Quintero, whose best friend's family is part of the missing that they are still looking for out there, including an
infant, she told me, very sad. I want to now introduce you to Larry Machado (ph). Larry, tell me the moment that you realized you had to come out here
and help.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It was pretty immediate after seeing the devastation. You know, we knew that we're very close to community here in South Central
Texas, so we knew we had to come out and help. Just a lot of empathy seeing all the children that were affected, all the families. We knew we had to do
something to come out and help them all.
ROSALES: You're out here with your children as well, right?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, absolutely, with Jordan (ph) and Larissa Rose (ph) are back there helping us out.
ROSALES: What have you seen that has touched your heart?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Just the resilience, the hard work, the never quit, never die attitude of all of our volunteers out here. Everybody is so
gracious. You don't know how many times people have turned down food, have turned on drinks, and told us, you know what?
Just go down to the next person as exhausted as they look, you know, you can tell they've been out there working really hard and they're just all
about helping and giving to the next person.
ROSALES: Thank you, Larry. I want to now move over here to the Chef Philippa Hernandez (ph). And Felipe, you were telling me you actually gave
the shirt off your back to a first responder. What happened?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: So, we had some officers from LaVernia come down, and they had been doing some water work over there, trying to recover whatever
was in the water, and they were pungent and odor. So, they asked, they came over here asking for clothes, because they were -- they couldn't handle the
odor of them in the vehicle anymore.
So, they were like, you know, already up to their tolerance level. So I went to my truck, and I had extra spare clothes, and I gave it to them so
that they could change so that way they could continue on with their work so.
ROSALES: And did you say that the odor was from finding missing people?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That's what they were saying. Was that the water was really pungent, and it smelled like death in the water. So, with, you know,
them being out there. I mean, that's the least I could do, is offer the shirt that I had available and just give it to them so that they can --
ROSALES: Shirt off your back.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yeah.
ROSALES: Thank you, guys so much. The work you're doing is incredible, too, as you help these first responders and volunteers, Becky.
ANDERSON: It's good to have you. It's good to see the big community spirit there, if you'd like to help folks, there are so many affected by this
flooding. Of course, in Texas, you can go to cnn.com/impact, there. You can find resources for donations, and you'll be connected to charities that are
on the ground helping out as we speak.
Well, it's his Oval Office version of the art of the deal. Donald Trump cranking up the pressure on America's trading partners. U.S. President
sending a wave of letters to the heads of 14 countries on Monday, informing them of new reciprocal tariff rates of up to 40 percent unless a deal is
reached, and warning against retaliation.
Is Trump also taking some of the edge off, extending the deadline for those punishing tariffs for another month or so. Well, they were originally due
to kick in Wednesday, but that has now been extended to August the first and the president called the tariffs quote, firm, but not 100 percent
indicating it is not too late to negotiate.
[09:15:00]
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: All I say to the other countries is, you know, some of them wanted to make a deal and want
to be fair. Others perhaps got a little bit spoiled. They were a little bit spoiled because for 30, 40, years, 50 years, they were taking advantage of
the country. So, we're going to, I would say final but if they call with a different offer, and if I like it, we'll do it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: All right. CNN'S Senior Reporter Matt Egan is live in New York with the very latest now, do you just want to bring up the futures market,
if you can? I'm going to ask my producer to do that. So, I think it's really indicative of this sense of, like, what is going on here.
Investors certainly not convinced that there is a kind of, you know, a route through it seems at present. These are very mixed markets after, you
know, some real nerves across Wall Street yesterday. You know, a real sense here of what is going on. Can you help us out?
MATT EGAN, CNN SENIOR REPORTER: Well, Becky, this is just the latest confusing twist in the president's trade wars. And obviously, the tariff
situation has already confused investors and small business owners and Federal Reserve officials for months. And you know, in this latest chapter,
really, you could argue it a few different ways, right?
On the one hand, it could be viewed as an escalation, because the president did send out these letters to 14 different countries, threatening to
increase tariffs. On the other hand, though, you could also chalk this up as another delay, another example of kicking the can down the road, because
as you noted, these tariffs were supposed to take effect tomorrow.
Now that deadline has been pushed back to August 1, which does allow for additional time to negotiate. And as you can see on your screen, a lot of
these new tariff rates, they're very close to what the president had announced on Liberation Day in early April. Those levels have really
unnerved investors.
These are, for the most part, right in line, just shy, or in the case of Japan, slightly higher than those Liberation Day tariffs. Now, as far as
the market reaction, we did see a retreat in U.S. markets yesterday, but it wasn't a dramatic sell off, right? And it did come after U.S. stocks had
spiked to all-time highs.
Now you see U.S. futures, the S&P 500 set to open slightly higher, the NASDAQ as well. The DOW little change. I do think that there's some
skepticism, understandably among investors, that these tariffs are actually going to kick in. Goldman Sachs put out a note to its clients today, where
they said they do not think that ultimately these tariff rates that have been proposed are going to take effect.
And we do know that there is the TACO trade on Wall Street, right, that investors believe that Trump always chickens out. Bob Elliott, a veteran
investor, he said on social media, he said TACO is consensus and already fully priced in at these levels. On the other hand, though, he also noted
that the trouble is without the pain of falling markets, he won't chicken out.
So, there's an interesting dynamic there where it feels like a lot of investors are not overreacting here, because they do think that Trump will
back down. But ultimately, if the market is not holding Trump's feet to the fire, then he may not have a reason to back down, Becky.
ANDERSON: It's fascinating, isn't it? It's good to have you. Thank you. Still to come. We've got a live report after President Trump announces
plans to ship new -- to send a new shipment of defensive weaponry to Ukraine. Plus, the UK's royal family rolls out the red carpet for the
French president Emmanuel Macron as he arrives for a three-day state visit. A look at the significance of that trip is up next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[09:20:00]
ANDERSON: Ukraine getting hit very hard, according to President Trump, before Monday's dinner with the Israeli Prime Minister. Donald Trump told
reporters he now plans to send additional defensive weapons to Ukraine.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: We're going to send some more weapons. We have to -- they have to be able to defend themselves. They're getting hit very hard now. They're
getting hit very hard. We're going to have to send more weapons, your defensive weapons, primarily, but they're getting hit very, very hard -- So
many people are dying in that mess.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Well, that's despite his administration, of course, announcing last week that it would be pausing certain weapons shipments following a
review of military spending. Well let's get you CNN's Clare Sebastian keeping us minute by minute eye on what is going on the ground in Ukraine,
and also what is happening, you know, when it comes to the sort of rhetoric around the conflict there.
So, let's start with Donald Trump, which feels like an apparent change of heart. Why? If so, if that is what, this is why, and what's caused this?
CLARE SEBASTIAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well Becky, I think this does seem to be linked to a growing frustration with the Russian President Vladimir
Putin. We heard last week, President Trump describing his latest phone call with Putin as disappointing. And it's interesting to note that the pause in
weapons that was announced by the Pentagon, Trump has somewhat distanced himself from that.
He said, apparently in a call with President Zelenskyy last week that he sorts of downplayed it. This is coming from someone familiar with the
matter, so it seems that the frustration with Putin is mounting. We know from various comments that Trump has made that he's offended by the level
of violence and escalation that we've seen in Ukraine.
So, I think that's really what's sort of behind this. But it is a really big shift from a president that has not announced any new shipments for
Ukraine throughout his presidency has called this Biden's war has threatened to walk away from the whole thing to see a statement coming out
overnight, European time from the Pentagon saying that there will be new, a new aid shipment to Ukraine.
And we understand the conversations among the Trump team are happening on what exact weapons that will include today, that is somewhat striking, even
though it's not clear at this point whether that signals a permanent shift in the president's attitude that we know has somewhat flip flopped when it
comes to sort of Ukraine, and his feelings towards President Putin.
And I think, of course, for Ukraine, they will be hoping that this is a permanent shift. This is a very delicate moment in this war. We see the air
war escalating an alarming rate. We see Russia pushing ahead on the front line, particularly in the east, where efforts to encircle the strategic
town of Pokrovsk are moving so any new shipments they can get will be most welcome.
But we haven't seen a huge amount of reaction from Ukraine today, and I think that speaks to the level of uncertainty around you know how much of a
shift this really is, Becky.
ANDERSON: Thank you, Clare. Let's get you up to speed folks on some of the other stories that are on our radar right now. And more antigovernment
protests have turned deadly in Kenya. Anger boiling over in Nairobi on Monday, where human rights officials say at least 11 people were killed and
many more were injured.
News clash with demonstrators used tear gas and water cannons is happening on the 35th anniversary of a major pro-democracy rally. Internet
disruptions and halted phone calls in the Egyptian capital Cairo, after a blaze broke out at a key data center in downtown on Monday.
Four workers there were killed and at least 22 were injured in the fire, according to the Egyptian Health Ministry.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: -- home, bring Kilmar home. Bring Kilmar home.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
[09:25:00]
ANDERSON: The supporters of Kilmar Abrego Garcia rallied outside court on Monday, a judge deciding if he can return to Maryland. Garcia is now in ICE
custody in Tennessee, facing criminal charges after being incorrectly deported to El Salvador. His lawyers call the charges baseless.
The White House says it intends to deport Garcia if he is released from criminal custody. Well, you are watching "Connect the World". I'm Becky
Anderson for you. 25 past 5 here from our Middle East Broadcasting headquarters in Abu Dhabi. Coming up new tariff announcements and new
uncertainty about the U.S. President's strategy, what it means to the financial markets and ongoing trade negotiations is more after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: Welcome back. I'm Becky Anderson in Abu Dhabi. You are watching "Connect the World". These are your headlines this hour, the death toll
rising from flash flooding in Texas, the search operations there enter a fifth day. 105 people are now confirmed to have been killed in the
disaster, with 23 still missing.
The rain is easing there today, and the risk of additional floods is now minimal. Emergency responders and local hospitals report more than 40
people have been killed by Israeli air strikes across Gaza today. Meantime, the Qatari Foreign Ministry tells CNN that mediators are working to quote,
bridge the gap with a framework prior to formal negotiations between Israel and Hamas.
President Trump says he plans to send additional defensive weapons to Ukraine. Despite the administration announcing last week, that the U.S.
would be pausing certain weapon shipments. The Kremlin says it will take time to clarify what the U.S. is still prepared to send Ukraine's way.
A short time ago, UK's royal family welcomed the French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte to Windsor Castle. Mr. Macron is in the UK for
a three-day state visit aimed at improving relations between these two European countries, Post Brexit, of course, the point at which the UK left
the European Union.
[09:30:00]
Well, we are waiting on the bell on Wall Street. Let's listen in. That is, it for you. And investors, it seems still somewhat digesting the U.S.
President's tariff turbulence that sent stocks lower on Monday. Donald Trump sent letters to 14 countries, he says, informing them of new tariff
rates while extending his pause on so called reciprocal tariffs that were set to take effect on Wednesday, that pause now until August the first.
The new tariff rates range from 25 percent on Japan and South Korea to say 40 percent on some of the U.S. is smaller trading partners. Should take a
look at those numbers and see how they are settling down. It's a very mixed picture at the start of the trading day this Tuesday, writing about the
tariffs on X.
My next guest says, the actual outcome remains uncertain given ongoing trade talks and lingering concerns in Washington about empty shelves.
Additionally, watch the Federal Reserve's FOMC minutes, comments from Fed officials and the latest budget data.
Always important to have Mohamed El-Erian joining me today from Connecticut. He is, of course, the Chief Economic Advisor at Allianz and
president of Queens College at Cambridge University, which must be lovely at this time of the year with the weather that the UK has had. But you are
not there today.
Thank you for joining us from the U.S. And a good perspective from there, I think Mohamed, a month or so ago, you said tariffs have put American
exceptionalism on pause, and you warned about the further negative effect of a prolonged trade war. Is that still your view, sir, explain?
MOHAMED EL-ERIAN, CHIEF ECONOMIC ADVISER AT ALLIANZ: So, if you look at what's happening from the eyes of corporate America. And remember, it is
the corporate side that has led this exceptionalism, there is frustration because it's not clear to them how these tariffs will settle, and until
they have some notion of how the tariffs will settle, they cannot make long term investment decisions about supply chains, about where to locate
factories.
So, there is frustration there. The financial markets are rather calm. The reaction compared to April is very muted, because there's a mix of views in
the marketplace, Becky. One says we get extension after extension, so don't worry. Another one said we have trade deals, and a third one says we're
going to get used to it.
So, let's not worry. So, there's this contrast between corporate America frustration that we don't have clarity, and the financial markets, where
they are happy to live with this lack of clarity.
ANDERSON: Isn't that fascinating? That was just as I was coming to going through my mind. I mean, this the sort of chaos in the stock, bond and
currency markets back in at the beginning of April, is not being reflected as we move through this period of time, and it's almost as if either people
have said, look, it's going to be all right.
You know, it's the art of the deal. He'll get this done. It will be all right. All people, frankly, are blindsided at this point and simply don't
know what to do. You write about data from the fed and comments from fed officials potentially impacting tariff outcomes. Can you just explain what
our viewers might be watching for here, and how closely Donald Trump is watching all of this?
EL-ERIAN: Very closely. So, we spoke about the market view, we spoke about the corporate view, then there's a third view, the economists. And the
economists are basically saying, don't focus too much on the tariffs, because there's two other things happening that may be more important.
One is, let's not forget the big, beautiful bill that was passed last week, because that is a significant fiscal stimulus. So that means deficits in
the 6 to 7 percent range, as far as you can see into the future, Becky, we've never had this situation before. But it is a significant stimulus,
and that's also what's happening on the fed.
The fed is getting increasingly politicized ahead of the change in the chair, and there's this notion that there's slow fiscal dominance. That's a
word you don't hear in developed countries. You hear in developing countries, this notion that the fed will have to start worrying about the
debt and what its interest rates that due to debt payments.
[09:35:00]
So, the economists are saying, yes, tariffs are important, but there's these other things going on that may prove to be more important of the
longer term.
ANDERSON: Yeah, and if anybody's been keeping a good eye on Donald Trump and his sort of regular news conferences of late. He was very specific
about what a 1 percent cut does for U.S. repayments, of course, on its debt. This is before the big, beautiful bill, which is going to add so much
more to that debt going forward.
But he's very focused, isn't he? On getting the fed to reduce those rates. Because as far as he is concerned, that is money in the bank, as it were,
that would otherwise have to be spent on debt repayments short term. It's good to have you, sir. Thank you very much indeed.
French President Emmanuel Macron is in the UK right now for a three-day state visit aimed at improving relations between these two nations. The
Prince and Princess of Wales welcomed Mr. Macron and his wife to the UK earlier today, during what was a short ceremony at a military airport in
London.
The French President's visit includes a mix of royal pageantry as you would expect, and political meetings with top UK leaders. In the coming hours, he
is expected to address the UK Parliament and a stand attend a state dinner at Windsor Castle. We'll see, CNN's Salma Abdelaziz is following the story
for us from London. And Salma, it's good to have you with us.
SALMA ABDELAZIZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Thank you.
ANDERSON: Is it clear what both nations hope to accomplish during this state visit?
ABDELAZIZ: When you look at those very carefully choreographed images that you just played out, Becky, of that greeting on the tarmac of the horse
drawn carriage procession through the picturesque streets of Windsor. It is very clear that the objective here is to foster warmer, closer
relationships between the UK and France.
That relationship has been battered and bruised by various political machinations in recent years, and here is an opportunity to reset it. And
the man very much at the center of that today will be King Charles. It is King Charles and his wife, Queen Camilla, of course, who are hosting French
President Emmanuel Macron and his wife at Windsor Castle.
And right now, they are there having that light lunch before, as you mentioned, French President Emmanuel Macron addresses MPs in Parliament.
But the big event will be later tonight, a state banquet where King Charles is expected to, of course, address the audience, and he's going to tell
that audience that these two countries have deep cultural and historical ties.
He's going to remind them of that history, and he's going to urge them to face the complex threats that they face together. This is already a
historical visit in many ways. It is the first time a French President has come for a state visit in 15 years. It is the first state visit by European
leaders since the UK's Brexit.
So already, when you're looking at that pomp and circumstance, there is a great deal of symbolism that is being set against the backdrop of what will
be political discussions to come in the next couple of days, Becky.
ANDERSON: Good to have you. Thank you very much indeed. More on that as we get it, of course. We are getting near the business end of play at
Wimbledon. Ben Shelton, quarter finals, going one further -- dad. More on that is up next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[09:40:00]
ANDERSON: All right, American Tennis Star Ben Shelton through to the Wimbledon quarter finals. And the 22-year-old is now one step closer to a
big deal. Coy Wire is in the house. This is a really big deal. I saw his dad play at Wimbledon. Was it 1994. I want to say I was in my school
uniform, but that would actually probably not be the truth. But this is a really big deal. Tell us what's going on.
COY WIRE, CNN SPORTS ANCHOR AND CORRESPONDENT: It really is. And he credited his dad for his inspiration on the grass courts, Becky, that maybe
you were there when he was playing 31 years ago.
ANDERSON: Yeah.
WIRE: Incredible story. Just 22 years old, he plays with this vibrance, with this passion that is really palpable anytime you watch him, even play
on TV. So, here he is into the quarter finals, his first ever quarterfinals, there at Wimbledon, and he has the opportunity to make a
little piece of American history.
It is a fun moment. His sister, she's been his luck -- good luck charm, and she was supposed to go back to work Morgan Stanley last week, but on court,
after one of his wins, he said, hey, I need her to stay here.
ANDERSON: Yeah.
WIRE: They allowed her to be there. She was there for it. So that's fun. We have that. We have something else that's fun. Iga Swiatek, also through the
quarterfinals, world number four, but she revealed that, you know, strawberries there, as you know, are a big deal.
The whipped cream and champagne usually, but she eats her strawberries with pasta. She posted this picture, and, yeah, it's kind of baffled.
ANDERSON: What?
WIRE: Right. Yeah, that's what I said. So, lots of fun moments.
ANDERSON: I'm --
WIRE: It has been really fun.
ANDERSON: That looks like strawberries pasta. Is that tomato ketchup --
WIRE: -- No, those are the strawberries.
ANDERSON: This is so --
WIRE: She said she sprinkles a little yogurt in there. That's a little yogurt.
ANDERSON: -- yogurt --
WIRE: So, I'm kind of torn. I do I like this? Do I loathe it? I don't know. Do I want to try it? Probably not. We'll see. I'll report back if I do.
ANDERSON: No.
WIRE: -- do not do it. Thanks for looking out for your boy, Becky.
ANDERSON: Good to have you. Well, "World Sport" more coming up after this. I'll be back 15 minutes time for you.
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