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One World with Zain Asher
Man Pulled From The Rubble Alive In Venezuela In A Miraculous Rescue; Russia Unleashes Fierce Assault On Kyiv, At Least 21 Killed; U.S. Economy Added 57K Jobs In June, Below Expectations; Scorching Heat Across U.S. As July 4th Celebrations Nears; Birds Weave Fiber Optic Nests In War- Torn Ukraine; Madison Square Garden Abuzz Ahead Of Reported Wedding; Aired 12-1p ET
Aired July 02, 2026 - 12:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[12:00:40]
BIANNA GOLODRYGA, CNN ANCHOR: A flash of hope for desperate families. More than a week after the devastating earthquakes. "One World" starts right
now.
We're live in Venezuela after a remarkable rescue.
And Russia launches a massive bombardment of Ukraine's capital.
Plus, Swifties eagerly await to what some are calling the American royal wedding.
Hello, everyone. Live from New York, I'm Bianna Golodryga. You are watching the second hour of "One World."
And we start with a much needed celebration in Venezuela where a remarkable rescue has taken place.
Earlier, crews pulled a man alive from the rubble of a shopping mall parking garage eight days after two devastating earthquakes.
The 44-year-old man who worked as a security guard at the mall had been trapped beneath nine meters or nearly 30 feet of concrete. Emergency crews
have been giving him food water and medication in the delicate days-long operation.
The miraculous rescue comes as the death toll sadly continues to climb to nearly 2,300 people.
Our other top story today. After months of intensified Ukrainian airstrikes targeting energy infrastructure deep inside Russia, Moscow unleashed its
largest attack on Kyiv since the war began, in what the mayor described as a night of horror.
Loud explosions shook the capital for hours as waves of Russian missiles and drones simultaneously pummeled the city from all directions killing at
least 21 people and injuring scores more.
Nick Paton Walsh explains how Ukraine's unprecedented drone campaign is ramping up pressure on Russian president Vladimir Putin.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
NICK PATON WALSH, CNN CHIEF INTERNATIONAL SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: A lot of the war does appear now to be about long-range damage caused by each side.
But remember, these large attacks by Russia, horrific as they are for Ukrainian civilians, come once every 10 to 15 days or so.
They might suggest a limitation on the amount of munitions they have or targets they can find. Ukraine, though, more persistent, more targeted it
seems, often nightly hitting specific parts of Russian infrastructure with their longer-range drone capability here.
That's important because it suggests a difference really in approach. And often, Russia suggests these larger attacks are some kind of vengeance they
say for the attacks against their often military infrastructure by Ukraine.
On the front line though, Ukraine has claimed that they have taken quite a bit of land back. At the same time though, there are some independent
indications that Russia is still inching forwards, but it isn't really the same kind of pace we saw during previous summer offenses.
Even the key town of Kostyantynivka, which has been really the next focal point for Russian advances, is seeing Russia edge around it, but it hasn't
fallen. And it may take months more for that to happen.
It will leave Russia in a better place than the Donbas, but with yet more reports suggesting they've lost over a million, dead and wounded, recently
suggesting half a million dead.
Russia is really struggling to replenish its forces and not taking the amount of land that could potentially justify that kind of cost.
At the same time, Ukraine is making Crimea exceptionally hard for Russia continued to occupy through its mid-range strikes.
So, the character of this war changing, I think, particularly fast. And the key take-away from it all is that Ukraine's mid-range, longer-range strikes
are really putting pressure on Russian president Vladimir Putin in a way he hasn't felt before in this war.
Black and skylines in the capital, making the questions as to exactly how much longer Russia can sustain this war effort louder indeed.
No comfort though given the horrific scenes we've seen yet again in Ukraine.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
GOLODRYGA: My next guest has served as both U.S. ambassador to NATO and as the U.S. special representative for Ukraine negotiations, Volker -- Kurt
Volker, excuse me, joins me live from Washington.
Kurt, it's good to have you back on. So, these strikes are happening even as the Trump brokered talks are taking place, supposedly still alive.
[12:05:59]
You've been in these types of negotiations. On the one hand, President Zelenskyy is saying that these long-range sanctions, as he's calling these
strikes deep inside Russian territory launched by Ukrainian drones are the best way to get Vladimir Putin to the negotiating table?
This is how Vladimir Putin has responded to these strikes. So, do you think he is anywhere closer to the negotiating table?
KURT VOLKER, FORMER U.S. SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE FOR UKRAINE NEGOTIATIONS: Not yet. And to be clear, I don't think Vladimir Putin is ever going to
negotiate an end to the war. He has these dreams of restoring the Russian Empire of eliminating Ukraine as a people, country, a national identity.
So, he's not going to give up on that.
But what I can see, and this is where I agree with President Zelenskyy, I can see Putin needing a ceasefire. If the strikes that Ukraine is doing on
Ukraine are hard enough that they're hitting their fuel supplies, they're hitting their logistics, they're hitting their ability to make money by
selling oil and gas, Putin may need to have a pause.
And frankly, that's the best we can hope for. He'll never agree to peace, but he might agree to stop. And if that happens, then Ukraine can continue
to strengthen itself, and we can get a more stable situation going forward.
GOLODRYGA: Ukraine says that they can continue to knock down these drones, and they've been quite successful at doing it, but the ballistic missiles
are a different story. And we know that these Western-supplied interceptors are now running short.
Putin, it seems, has long thought that time was on his side from a manpower standpoint and a weapons standpoint. Is he wrong?
VOLKER: Well, it's changed. I -- I think, four years ago, he certainly had a massive advantage in personnel and weapons. But now, Ukraine is able to
take more Russian soldiers off the battlefield than Russia can put on, on a monthly basis.
So, the manpower advantage is really not there. The war has changed where drones are now everything. So, they're unmanned, meaning, that you don't
need the same number of personnel on the front line as you would otherwise have needed.
In terms of equipment, they've lost so much of their modern equipment. They're really digging down deep into World War II reserves of equipment.
So, it's not as capable as it had been.
And when it comes to the drone technology, and Ukraine has seized a distinct advantage, so Russia did start out this war with a lot of
advantages. But right now, I'd have to say that Ukraine is in a much more sustainable position.
GOLODRYGA: How do you think Washington, namely the White House and President Trump, are viewing all of this?
It is notable that over the past few weeks, President Trump has been praising some of these longer-range drone strikes inside of Russia. He
typically does that when he sees a winning side or at least a side winning at any given point in a battle. Do you think that that is permanent?
VOLKER: Well, with President Trump, you never know what's permanent and what's going to change. But I think in terms of Russia, they are in a
weaker position, and that is visible. And so I think President Trump sees that and is reacting to that.
And he has called on President Putin to end the war. Apparently, President Xi and China has called on him to end the war as well.
So, I think the optics of this are very different. Ukraine is looking like it can survive this and -- and maybe even keep pushing back Russian forces.
It looks like Russia has no way to win.
GOLODRYGA: As Vladimir Putin is forced to respond to fuel shortages, something you wouldn't have imagined that country, of all countries, having
to deal with, given the strikes targeting oil infrastructure and fuel depots inside of Russia now, as well as this chokehold that Ukraine has
created around Vladimir Putin's crown jewel, and that is Crimea.
From everything that you are hearing, though he does have a tight grip and remains have a tight grip over the country, is his presidency, at all, in
danger at this point? Vladimir Putin's.
VOLKER: Not yet. Yes. It is not in danger yet. It can get there. And it really depends on Putin, how hard he pushes the country.
The -- the key thing for the Russian elite is the sanctity, the safety of the Russian state. If the state begins to teeter because they don't have
any money, they -- they are spending it all on the war effort.
Or if the military forces are so weakened that they start to be really routed, I think that would really put Putin's presidency in danger.
And what I think, you know, Ukraine is trying to do is to push and push to get closer to that point so that Putin finally calls a stop to it.
GOLODRYGA: What many, though, that have followed Vladimir Putin for a long period of time, would argue and are most concerned about is that if
Vladimir Putin views that the war with Ukraine is not going according to plan, that he will look for another target and perhaps is something more
vulnerable. And that could be even NATO allies, given the consistent reporting we've had as of late, that NATO countries as a whole are not
prepared for this new drone warfare that Ukraine has really now been experiencing and leading over the past four years.
[12:10:19]
How worried are you about the state of NATO's preparedness?
VOLKER: So -- so let's be clear. What you just articulated as a concern that Russia may now turn to NATO or something like that. That's exactly
what Vladimir Putin wants the West to think.
He wants us to believe that he's capable of doing that, so we should be afraid, so we should be putting pressure on Ukraine not to go too far so
that we try to find a solution to the war that's favorable to Russia. That's what he wants.
The reality is that he is losing the war in Ukraine. The last thing he can afford to do is open another front against NATO, which has not been
fighting this war at all and is even more capable than what Ukraine is able to do now with a whole variety of other weapons that Putin has not seen
used against Russian forces to date.
So, I think it would be very, very unlikely that Putin would open any kind of major war against NATO.
GOLODRYGA: Well, my point and -- and then the question was less about this being a -- a fear factor that Vladimir Putin is trying to -- trying to --
to focus on and put pressure on European allies to tell Ukraine to stand down, but -- but more so about Ukraine's level of preparedness, regardless
of what Vladimir Putin will or won't do.
I'm consistently hearing there is concern that there is not enough investment in drone technology overall in some of these countries.
VOLKER: Well, yes, from -- from NATO allies --
GOLODRYGA: Yes.
VOLKER: -- you're absolutely right. They've underspent on defense for decades, and they have not switched to pick up some of this new technology
and new techniques that the Ukrainians have really developed on the battlefield, so they are slow doing that.
But we have a lot of other things. We have Tomahawk missiles. We have cruise missiles. We have a very, very capable infantry and air defenses and
fighter aircraft.
So, if Russia were to try something against any NATO member, if we wanted to defeat those Russian forces, we could easily do so. And I think Vladimir
Putin knows that, which is why I think he's unlikely to do that.
And if I could just have one point. I think -- I think the -- the real worry in what NATO should be talking about next week at their summit is a
very, very limited land grab by Russia. They fight for a day and stop and just take something.
And then they're -- they're challenging us to say, OK, are you really going to escalate to try to take this back? And we have to be signaling that not,
you know, we will do whatever it takes. We will not lose a single inch of NATO territory.
GOLODRYGA: Yes. Does that meet the threshold of invoking Article Five is what you're saying that Russia may be trying to, maybe trying to -- to
really test here and where the United States stands in all of this? Really important summit next week. You're right to point that out.
Kurt Volker, great to see you. Happy Fourth of July to you. Thank you.
We turn back to Venezuela where just hours ago, we saw a miraculous rescue eight days after those devastating earthquakes.
CNN's Stefano Pozzebon was there when the rescue happened and joins me from La Guaira with more.
Stefano, I know that we've had some difficulty with --
STEFANO POZZEBON, CNN CONTRIBUTOR: Well, Bianna --
GOLODRYGA: -- audio connection. You can hear me?
Yes. But -- but tell us. Tell us what that moment was like.
POZZEBON: I hear you fine. I hear you fine.
Well, Bianna, I mean, it's -- I think that moment was the glimmer of hope that everyone in this country was hoping for.
I'm coming to you up with a bit of delay because we're in La Guaira. You can see the situation after that devastating earthquake. And we can't
really move too much because we need to stay close to the car with our connection.
But the place where Hernan Gil was taken, literally taken out of the ground after more than seven days trapped in a parking lot underneath a department
store is about 500 meters to my left, to -- to the right of your screen.
And like I said, like it's -- it's a story that has captivated the -- the international -- the international community that is wrapping their arms on
Venezuela.
But most importantly, everyone in this country we heard that -- that Hernan Gil was still alive late on Tuesday night and early on Wednesday morning.
And we learned that the rescue workers that are operating the machinery and attempting to get down to get to him managed to make contact with him. And
with the hose, they were able to feed him water and supplements, electrolytes, and other supplements. And -- and that kept him alive.
[12:15:00]
Hernan Gil is a mid-40 security guard at a department store here in La Guaira called Galerias, Centro Commercial Galerias.
In this part of La Guaira, which is called -- which is called Playa Grande. Playa Grande, big beach. The sea is just behind these massive blocks that
are now completely broken and almost derelict.
And he had been staying there since Wednesday the 24th of June when those twin earthquakes hit just minutes one from each other and just passed 6:00
P.M. in the afternoon, Bianna.
And we were able also to speak with his wife just before the rescue operation succeeded. And his wife talked of the relief and the sheer sense
of joy of seeing him. She described it having a weight taken out of her shoulder, of course, and her children, their children, being ready to hug
daddy as soon as possible. Hernan Gil has now been taken to Caracas to receive medical attention.
But one thing that will stay with me, Bianna, and we talked about it in the last hour, is, you know that saying that it takes a village? Well, to say
to Hernan Gil, it took the whole world.
We could see units from the United States, of course, but also from Costa Rica, from Chile, from Portugal. The Portuguese were in charge of the
operation. They were the ones telling us that Hernan Gil had been successfully rescued and he was coming out of that underground parking lot.
And, of course, hundreds of Venezuelans. It was really -- it was really a complex operation because he was two, three floors underground with ten of
tons of concrete layered in different slacks of -- of metal, one on top of each other and on top of him. He managed to stay alive by sort of like
caving a position to -- to be safe and had some water with him from -- from his -- from his days as a security guard.
So, he had water. He could drink. He was able to drink. And then when the rescue workers were able to find contact, it was only a matter of time. And
we were there to bring it live and -- and experience the moment when he really came out of the ground.
A story that perhaps and hopefully will fuel the reconstruction of this country. Venezuela is currently on its knees. The -- the situation is
beyond tragic with 22 and plus hundred people killed by this -- by this earthquake.
But, of course, the story of Hernan Gil and the sense of hope and the sense of hope resurfacing from underground perhaps can be the phoenix that lift
Venezuela up after such a tragic and horrible week. Bianna.
GOLODRYGA: One can only hope. It is quite something seeing all those rescue workers as you noted from around the world just celebrating together,
hugging each other, congratulating each other after all of the hard work that they've been doing the past week.
POZZEBON: Yes.
GOLODRYGA: The best of humanity on display.
Stefano Pozzebon, thank you for your reporting.
Well, the U.S. labor market is cooling down a bit posting far fewer jobs than economists expected last month. The Bureau of Labor Statistics
reported just 57,000 jobs were added to the economy in June, while the unemployment rate did tick down a tenth of a point to 4.2 percent.
Now, experts point to several reasons for the results including A.I. adoption and a spike in gas prices.
CNN's senior business reporter David Goldman joins us now to put the numbers into perspective.
And, David, it's important or at least worth remembering that the May jobs report actually came in much higher than expected. So one month is
something not necessarily worth reading too much into, but economists had been pointing that this could be the direction we would be headed in for a
number of factors. Just walk us through some of them.
DAVID GOLDMAN, CNN BUSINESS SENIOR REPORTER: It's such a good point. One month is not a trend decidedly, but this is not the number that economists
were hoping for. Fifty-seven thousand jobs is significantly less than the hundred thousand jobs that most economists had thought that we would
achieve in the past month. And it's way under the 120 or so thousand jobs that we had been creating in the several months before that.
I also want to talk about this 4.2 percent, that's lower. It was 4.3 percent, remember, in the previous month. So, you'd think, oh, well that's
good news. Well, it's because about 700,000 people just left the labor force. They said, goodbye. We don't want to participate in this at all. And
that is why that number fell a little bit.
I have some worst news for you, healthcare, although this sounds like a good number, 22,000 jobs. Well, that's about half of what that sector had
been creating in the United States in the previous 12 months.
[12:20:02]
We need this sector because people are getting older in this country and they need taking care of. This is important, but it has been the -- the
biggest sector, the most important sector for job growth. And if that's going to continue to come down, watch out a little bit.
This is the thing that I think has surprised most economists, 61,000 jobs lost, lost in the leisure and hospitality industries. That was a huge
surprise because the World Cup is going on. And we can see with our own eyes there are all of these temporary jobs that are being created across
the entire country, hotels, hospital -- hotels and restaurants.
And all of the folks that need to drive all of the people all around, those are the jobs that are getting created. So, this was a shock. And one of the
reasons why there might be a revision higher in the months to come.
Now, speaking of revisions, 74,000 fewer jobs were created in April and May than we believed. This suggests that, OK, well, maybe May and April weren't
quite as hot as we thought that they were, but that's another reason why this past month might actually be a little bit higher than we thought it
was. These things tend to even out.
Last thing, this is really, really important. And this is some good news, 3.5 percent wage growth. That is higher than the 3.4 percent that we had in
the previous two months.
But, remember, inflation is 4.2 percent. That's the number to beat. We expect that to come down a little bit in the next few months. So 3.5
percent makes the -- that gap a little bit smaller, Bianna.
GOLODRYGA: One-tenth of a percentage point qualifies as good news for us now. So we'll take it. We'll take it.
GOLDMAN: Hey, you know what? We'll take it.
GOLODRYGA: David, get to see. We'll talk next month when the revisions for June come out. That seems to be the new normal.
GOLDMAN: Sounds good. You got it.
GOLODRYGA: All right. Thank you.
Still ahead for us, the dangerous heat wave in the U.S. continues just ahead of America's 250th birthday celebration. We'll have a weather update
when we return.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
GOLODRYGA: All right. Team USA are moving on to the Round of 16. Woo-hoo. And soccer fans across the country are celebrating, myself included.
[12:25:02]
The team have even more momentum after last night's two-zero victory over Bosnia & Herzegovina. One team USA superfan even predicted the score right
here on "One World" yesterday.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BRIAN HEXSEL, PRESIDENT, AMERICAN OUTLAWS FAN GROUP: Tonight, we're going to win two-zero. U.S. is going to make it to Seattle, you know, to that
Round of 16 game. I'm super excited about it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GOLODRYGA: Well, we'll have to bring Brian back on Monday to see his prediction for that game when USA takes on Belgium Sunday night in Seattle.
All right. A brutal heat wave is scorching cities and towns across the U.S. during one of the busiest travel and outdoor celebration periods of the
year. Nearly half of all Americans, some 160 million people are under heat alerts this week, according to the National Weather Service. And the
timing, well, it couldn't be worse. People are gearing up to celebrate July 4th and America's 250th birthday.
Allison Chinchar is out and about in Atlanta, where temperatures are hovering around 33 degrees Celsius or over 90 degrees Fahrenheit.
Allison, I'm not going to ask you if that factors in. The humidity or not, but it is going to be a scorcher. Tell us what we can expect.
ALLISON CHINCHAR, CNN METEOROLOGIST: It does actually factor in. You can see the humidity kind of resting, giving me that nice lovely glow on my
face right now. Yes, it does, but it's just very hot for a lot of places. Atlanta is one of them, but it really is the Southeast, the mid Atlantic,
the Midwest, the Northeast, so many areas of the U.S. are dealing with this extreme heat.
That's why you have those alerts in place so that people can stay safe over the next few days. Because that's the other thing, this isn't just going to
be one day for several days. We are talking some spots could break records to or even three days in a row. So again, it's not even just a couple of
degrees above average. You're talking record breaking.
Now, we've got this device out here. This is a Wet Bulb Globe Thermometer. This is used by a lot of athletic departments, high schools, colleges, and
even organizers of events. For example, this Saturday, July 4th, there are a lot of races going on across the country. Atlanta being one of those
locations.
There's five case, 10 case, half marathons going around and they'll use a device like this to determine whether or not to add more water stations,
add more water breaks, maybe perhaps lower the time that people are outdoors at some events.
Essentially what this does is it tracks not only the temperature, but it also tracks humidity, the sun angle and even wind. Now, you can hear it
beeping because it's telling us we've already met that threshold for us to be able to take extra water breaks and have more time in the shade.
Right now, it says the air temperature here is 96 degrees Fahrenheit, where they feels like temperature of 107. And there are so many places in the
eastern half of the U.S. that are looking at similar numbers. Some spots even expected to have that feels like temperature even hotter, reaching
110, 112 in some of these locations.
The big concern really for some of these areas isn't just the afternoon temperature, although that is its own concern, but also the overnight lows.
Some of these locations like Washington, D.C., New York are looking at that overnight low, not to drop below 80 degrees. That's a concern because it
doesn't allow your body to cool down enough to really regroup before you get to the next part of the day when those temperatures go right back up.
So, it is a health concern for people. A lot of officials asking people, please try to stay indoors as much as you can, especially in those
afternoon hours when the peak of that heat is really hitting a lot of these cities.
Also, if you have to be outside, where light colors, loose fitting clothing, drink lots of fluids, and those are going to be the key things as
people head into this weekend that they have to remember if they have any holiday celebrations.
GOLODRYGA: Yes. Drink more water than you think you need and apply and reapply sunscreen.
Allison Chinchar, I have to say, you look great. You may not be feeling great in that heat, but you look fantastic. Stay cool. And Happy Fourth.
Well, when we come back, the miraculous rescue of a man trapped under 29 feet of rubble for over a week. We'll bring you those details, next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[12:30:10]
GOLODRYGA: All right. Welcome back to "One World." I'm Bianna Golodryga.
Turning it back to Venezuela. Amid the tragic loss of life, a near- miraculous story of survival and rescue.
In the last few hours, emergency crews managed to free a man who had been stuck under the rubble of a parking garage since twin earthquakes struck
more than a week ago.
The effort to free 44-year-old Hernan Gil took more than two and a half days. That rescue operation, a rare glimpse of light in a country reeling
from disaster. Nearly 2,300 people were killed in the quakes. Tens of thousands of others are still unaccounted for.
All right time now for The Exchange. John Morrison is the spokesperson for the Fairfax County Urban Search and Rescue and he joins us live from La
Guaira, Venezuela.
John, first of all, thank you and all of your colleagues for the amazing herculean work that you continue to do in every disaster around the world.
We -- we continue to hear about all of these heroes who devote so many hours to looking for survivors. And every once in a while, we have a
miracle, like we saw earlier today.
I know that you said Chile really led this recovery effort and rescue effort, but what part did you and your organization play?
JOHN MORRISON, SPOKESPERSON, FAIRFAX COUNTY URBAN SEARCH AND RESCUE: Yes. Part of the (TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES) four rescue teams. Our team from
Fairfax County, Virginia, our -- our partner team from Los Angeles County as well as two from Florida.
So, Chileans really led the effort for that particular rescue that just occurred with support from both L.A. and one of the Florida teams. And then
our -- we provided some technical support. So, it really is (TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES) all of the most difficult rescues have been made.
And so these people that are now deeply in tune in these structures, these rescues are incredibly technically complex with the way these buildings
have collapsed. So, it is just very difficult and it's really all hands on deck as we get into a week beyond the earthquake.
GOLODRYGA: Just remind our viewers because we know that golden window for survivors after quakes or tragedies like this is usually 72 hours. This was
a different circumstance some eight days later, because, A, he had some water on him and contact had been made to where he was able to get some of
the vital food and -- and other urgent --urgent medicines that he would need to stay alive right now.
But talk about how that worked and -- and the complications that that involved, especially as you're dealing with this when tremors are still
happening.
MORRISON: Yes. It is, like you said, very complex. We -- our team initially made five rescues within that first several days after arriving. We arrived
Friday after the earthquake happened on Wednesday and then we made those five rescue Saturday and Sunday. And -- and since then, we've -- we've
really been hitting the ground as if it was the first day.
[12:35:09]
We are not giving up. You know, there -- there are still the potential as this particular rescue had shown. And so our teams are still out there,
with our dog teams still out there, with our technical search teams really looking for those, you know, miracles still available, hopefully, as well
as the other teams the United States and the other response teams from around the world that are here in Venezuela.
GOLODRYGA: Yes. The State Department says your team stayed with one survivor, I believe, for more than 12 hours before you were able to safely
free them. Just walk us through that what makes an extrication that long? I mean, 12 hours is nothing relative to what we saw with this man who was
rescued today.
But talk us through that process and -- and what you say to that person who is there just waiting to be freed.
MORRISON: Yes. It's -- you know, at first, you know, we'll use our dogs to hopefully sniff out, make a big pile of rubble into a small area that we
can search. If we can get deep enough and through -- through breaching and breaking concrete, we can get into these deeper in tuned (ph) parts of the
rubble, we can hopefully make voice contact. And you can listen and hone in exactly with the devices and eventually technical search cameras to find
exactly how this person is in this picture.
Once we (TECHNICAL DISCUSSION) reassuring and -- and these people are going through what I can only imagine is one of the most terrifying things a
person can go through is, you know, being trapped in a building after an earthquake.
So, we may contact with them, reassure them that we're there. It is just because the buildings are unstable, cutting them and moving around
structural members that are now load-bearing that may not have been load- bearing presents an engineering challenge.
So, we have structural engineers that we bring with us to make sure the building is as safe as it possibly can be. And we will make access and then
keep tunneling in from whatever way is most appropriate and quickly to get access.
And in -- in the case of some of the victims that we rescued early on, it did take eight to nine hours to even get physical contact with the victim,
even though we were able to make voice contact.
And in one instance, we were able to then get access to just that patient's foot to start an IV, to start giving medication as we enlarge the hole that
we access the foot through, then we can potentially remove them while treating them for some of the -- the medical symptoms they may have that
they come along with crush syndrome and being in tuned (ph) for a long period of time.
Then give them over to the ambulance service paramedics and give them to definitive care here in the hospital system.
GOLODRYGA: Listening to all of this, I mean, so much of staying alive is willpower and just the -- the -- the knowledge that somebody is out there
helping you. So I can only imagine how reassuring it may be for those who may have to wait for five, six, 10 hours more. But to know that rescuers
like yourself are there and are doing everything you can to get to them.
I do want to ask you finally, John, just about the camaraderie and the humanity that we see with so many of these rescue teams from around the
world total strangers until you come together and work on a joint mission as important as this. I can't imagine anything more important than saving a
human life.
Talk about the bond that is developed when incidents like this happen.
MORRISON: Yes. It's -- it's -- it's amazing. It's one of the most emotional experiences you can -- you can feel. We are all working together for the
victim, regardless of nationality, regardless of language. And it really is amazing.
And we've been working hand in hand with some of the local first responders (TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES) or the paramedics. And(TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES) as
we need to move, as we need a tool, particular tool, it is handed to us right as we need it.
And some of the equipment that we're using is several hundred pounds. It is a crowd of people that are willing to assist because everybody wants to
chip in. And when that rescue is made, there -- it is -- it is elation. It is celebratory. Everybody is a -- is so happy that we -- that we've
accomplished this task and then it's right back to -- to work again.
You know, you -- you sort of hug it out for a few minutes, give some high fives, and then we're right back to trying to go to the next victim.
Because there is only a limited amount of time and we want to give as much as we can to rescue as many people as we can.
GOLODRYGA: Well, you are all truly heroes. I know you have a team of some 80 people, six dogs as well. I have to say personally just knowing heroes
like yourself they're wearing that American flag badge, just makes us all so proud. Thank you. Thank you for showing the best of this country --
MORRISON: Yes. Thank you.
GOLODRYGA: -- and the humanity. Really appreciate everything you're doing. I don't want to take too much time for you go back to doing the important
work you've been doing now for a week.
John Morrison in La Guaira, Venezuela.
MORRISON: I appreciate it.
GOLODRYGA: And for more information about how you can help the earthquake victims, please go to cnn.com/impact or scan the QR code that you see there
on the screen.
[12:40:09]
Well, for more than four years, Russia's full-scale invasion has forced Ukraine's military to adapt to changing times. We've been reporting a lot
on this. And new research suggests this conflict is also reshaping Ukraine's natural environment.
Sebastian Shukla explains.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SEBASTIAN SHUKLA, CNN PRODUCER (voice-over): Along Ukraine's frontline, soldiers are finding unexpected creations, bird's nests, made up of fiber
optic cables.
These cables are used by both Ukrainian and Russian troops to guide their aerial attack drones. Using fiber optic cables to fly them allows fighters
to bypass electronic jamming by the opposing side.
Vast areas along the nearly 1,200 kilometer front line are covered in these discarded cables. Each one stretching for up to 20 kilometers across
streets and rooftops.
And now, birds are using them, along with grass to make nests.
AUKE-FLORIAN HIEMSTRA, BIOLOGIST: These nests are -- are very unique. I've never seen nests like this before and I've seen many, many, many bird
nests. So, this is something truly unique and something very special and also something which is really telling a story.
And so it's not just interesting bird-wise, but it's even like history-wise really documenting a certain moment in time. And by documenting this nest,
we're also documenting the impact of war on nature in Ukraine.
SHUKLA (voice-over): As for how the cable nest affect the birds, a biologist says the impact is mixed. The cables could harm the birds if they
become entangled, but they could also help the birds make a stronger nest.
Researchers say it's still unknown which species of birds actually build them in the first place.
HIEMSTRA: Ukraine has a very high biodiversity, and so there are actually many birds that could be the one who -- who build it. So, we're still
looking for the architects of -- of these nests.
And so for that, we want to use DNA barcoding so we are going to look for DNA traces still in the nest to determine who actually made the nest.
SHUKLA (voice-over): One of the nests found will remain in Kyiv in the war museum. Another will be sent to the Netherlands for further study,
researchers said.
Sebastian Shukla, CNN Berlin.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[12:45:03]
GOLODRYGA: Well, many in Africa believe that their story has too often been told from the outside.
Well, this week, we're looking at the people changing that. Storytellers and campaigners putting African voices front and center.
Today, we're in Kenya where the youth media platform, Shujaaz, is turning young audiences into collaborators, helping them shape the stories that
speak to their own lives.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
OTIS OTAS, FOUNDER, CREATIVE THESPIANS AFRIKANAS AND SHUJAAZ SUPERFAN: The biggest challenges facing young people in the community, I think it's
empowerment.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Before Nairobi fully wakes up, Otis Otas is already preparing for the day ahead. But today, he's not just attending a community
meeting, he's helping shape the stories thousands of young Kenyans will eventually see, hear, and read.
OTAS: The stories are connected to my own life experiences because it's our daily life experience.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Otis is one of thousands of Shujaaz superfans. People who don't simply consume media, they help create it.
Today's vibe session brings local young people together to discuss gender, opportunity, and the challenges they face.
OTAS: You guys (INAUDIBLE) in a circle.
JORAM KIOKO, SENIOR MANAGER, SHUJAAZ SUERFARNS COMMUNITY: Young people have struggled with information coming from what is perceived as a conventional
and traditional authorities like government and institutions. And young people find themselves trusting more what is coming from their peers
because they've seen them, they're -- they're -- they're interacting with them every day.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: For Shujaaz, these conversations aren't the finished product, they're the starting point.
At its Nairobi headquarters, writers and artists turn those discussions into comics, social media campaigns, and digital content.
SHAWN STEVEN, ART LEAD SHUJAAZ: We take really issues affecting young people and turn them into character stories by fast listening and
understanding like what challenges do they actually face.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: That means the audience isn't afraid to challenge the work either. If something doesn't sound authentic, Shujaaz changes it.
JOY MWANIKI, SENIOR MANAGER PROGRAMS, SHUJAAZ: So, if we're running a campaign and a superfan says, this campaign wouldn't really land because
people in my hood don't really talk like this, then we listen.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's an approach built around one simple idea, young people understand their own lives better than anyone else.
KIOKO: It is very important that young Africans are involved in shaping the story of Africa and -- and their story.
The first place we begin with is to assume that we know nothing and that young people are the owners of (INAUDIBLE).
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And for many here, having a space to speak openly, matters just as much as being heard.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: In this forum, I have learned that I have my own life to live and I have my own decision to make to be strong and to be aware of
myself.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I feel like this is one of the best platforms where people can be encouraged and can be -- can have the motivation to continue
and pursue their God-given talents.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I feel like my voice is heard. This is because when I give my point of view, when I'm discussing, it is taken positively and
nobody is mocked or judged.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[12:50:05]
GOLODRYGA: All right. Swifties are singing their teeth into every detail they can get surrounding the expected wedding between Taylor Swift and
Travis Kelce. Sources tell us a rehearsal dinner is planned for tonight at New York's Madison Square Garden. And then, the main event will reportedly
be tomorrow, when about a thousand people will watch the couple say I do. The event has been shrouded in secrecy and high security.
Joining me now, Olivia Levin, the creator of the Swifties for Eternity account on Instagram and Threads and the author of the best-selling book,
"The Story of Us."
Olivia, great to have you on the show. So, give us your take. I would imagine that you actually do think this is going to be the wedding
tomorrow, and not some decoy, that all of this hasn't just been a huge waste of time in us covering, and this is New York City spending a lot of
money trying to shroud in secrecy.
So, are you surprised then, if in fact it is at the Madison Square Garden that this is the venue she'd choose?
OLIVIA LEVIN, CREATOR, SWIFTIES FOR ETERNITY: So, first of all, thanks for having me. It's a very exciting week for all the Swifties.
I -- I can't say I'm very surprised by anything Taylor does anymore. She always does what people don't expect her to do, and she just blows it out
of the water.
So, it actually makes a lot of sense the more you think about it because of how secure the venue is. They'll get all the privacy they want. There's
underground tunnels that lead to Madison Square Garden, so no paparazzi, no fans. Nobody will get any photos until, you know, Taylor chooses whether
she wants to release photos of it.
It does seem like there is an event happening at MSG. Do I think it's the ceremony, per se? I -- I'm not sure about that. I would be more inclined to
say it's probably just a big rager celebration, maybe partially a concert, but I think it's going to be a very exciting week.
GOLODRYGA: And while, of course, the couple, no matter how famous they are, deserve their privacy. She also is a huge supporter of all of her fans,
perhaps even more so than other celebrities around the world.
What do you think she would want her fans to be doing this weekend while these two get married?
LEVIN: Yes. I mean, I think -- I think she would want her fans to just be enjoying the 4th of July and do their own thing. I don't think any -- she
would want any fans to, you know, stock MSG and stand outside.
First of all, there's no point you're not going to see anything. And second of all, I think she deserves privacy. You know, I saw a post earlier that
said, she doesn't want this to be a secret, but she wants it to be private and there's -- there's a difference.
And I think most of the fans from what I've seen seem very respectful of that. And yes, of course, we want to see all the details and -- and hear
all about it. And hopefully we'll get a look inside MSG at some point and see what -- what she built there, but I think it'll be on Taylor's terms.
GOLODRYGA: Do you think this is going to be a traditional wedding? I mean, there's nothing traditional about their celebrity status and even having an
event at Madison Square Garden. But do you think she will be in a traditional wedding gown?
LEVIN: Like I said, I'm not really sure if this is even going to be a ceremony or just a big party celebration. So I'm not sure. I really don't
know.
But I know that the Swifties are just -- I think it's -- it's very fun to see her have her happy ending after two decades of, you know, rooting for
her.
GOLODRYGA: Yes. I was just going to ask you, how long have you been a Taylor Swift fan, Olivia?
LEVIN: I've been a Taylor Swift fan since I was about 13 years old. I'm 26 now. I wrote a whole book about the Taylor Swift fandom called "The Story
of Us," as you mentioned, which just is all about why we became the most influential fandom in the world and why it brings so much joy and
connection for people all around the world.
GOLODRYGA: Do you think that -- that Travis is -- is the man who she's been waiting for, as you've known, followed through her music and relationships?
Do you think that he's her, for lack of a better word, as cliche as it sounds, prince charming?
[12:55:09]
LEVIN: Oh, a hundred percent. And I mean, she couldn't have had a more rom- com-esque love story unfold right before our eyes the last three years, you know. Shooting his shot on his podcast with the friendship bracelet wanting
to give a friendship bracelet with his number on it.
I mean, it's just straight out of a rom-com movie. And I -- I think it's -- it's exactly what Taylor has always written about wanting in all of her
songs.
So, it's been very fun that she's given us a -- a look inside of it going to Chiefs' games and even, you know, choosing to share the engagement
photos with us.
GOLODRYGA: Yes. And the last time she was in Madison Square Garden is at the courtside watching the Knicks win. So that's something too. That was
exciting.
Well, she has loyal and amazing fans like you, Olivia. Thank you so much. And I hope you have a great Fourth. And we'll see what happens this
weekend.
LEVIN: Yes. Thanks for having me.
GOLODRYGA: All right. We'll stay with CNN. "Amanpour" is up next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
END
