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Hala Gorani Tonight
Kurdish Fighters Near Raqqa; Immigrants Use Chunnel to Reach Britain; WalMart to End Sales of Confederate Flag Merchandise; Greek Debt Crisis Continues; Queen Elizabeth Visits Germany. Aired 10-11a ET
Aired June 23, 2015 - 10:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[15:00:10] HALA GORANI, HOST: Tonight Kurdish fighters one step closer to the ISIS stronghold of Raqqa.
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GORANI: As CNN explores another place just free from the groups terrifuying rule. We will show you the cage of shame in this Syrian town.
Also this hour desperate migrants try to jump on moving trucks as a ferry strike leaves travellers stranded and traffic backed up on both sides of
the English Channel.
Then, as the largest retailer in the U.S. stops selling this controversial symbol, we will hear from a surprising supporter of the Confederate flag.
Plus CNN is in Germany where the Queen is on official state visit. We'll tell you why this trip could be historic.
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GORANI: Hello everyone, I'm Hala Gorani, we are live at CNN, London and this is The World Right Now.
Kurdish fighters are claiming a significant victory over ISIS in Syria.
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GORANI: The seized the town on the doorstep of Raqqa which of course is the self proclaimed capital of ISIS. YPG fighters swept into (Ain Issa)
with the help of U.S. led airstrikes. You see it there on the map and how close it is to Raqqa.
The push deep into ISIS territory was made possible by last weeks capture of Tal Abyad a strategic town and key supply route near the Turkish border.
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GORANI: Now the stars from two years of ISIS rule are everywhere in the town of Tal Abyad.
CNN's Arwa Damon was one of the first journalists to visit the town after ISIS was driven out by the Kurdish fighters. And in today's exclusive
report she explains why the reality of life under ISIS was worse than what many could have even imagined.
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ARWA DAMON, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: We travelled to the town of Tal Abyad with the YPG, the Kurdish fighting force that is currently in
control of the town and in just the brief few hours that we were there we were still able to get a bit of an insight into just how chilling life
under ISIS really was.
No-one is around to tell us who was held here or what horrors transpired at the Tal Abyad prison. There is a stench of sewage. On one solitary
confinement cells floor splotches of red.
A scrap of paper, an idea about what is considered a crime under ISIS. In this case taking God's name in vain. Among the many draconian directors of
ISIS rule another forbidden act, smoking.
This is the first time in two years that cigarettes are being sold in the streets of Tal Abyad this man was just saying, and this is first shipment
that he's brought in.
He's saying that there's a cage at the roundabout down the street that they would put people in for punishment for doing things like selling
cigarettes.
We're taken to see it and told the story of a man who spent three days here for playing cards, also banned.
The streets of Tal Abyad oddly very clean. ISIS also ordered perpetrators of crimes to pick up trash. At one of the ISIS security offices the
ominous black flag dominates every wall lest anyone forget who is in control here.
And we find a handful of blank pads, of official forms on an office shelf. Shuttered storefront after storefront is spray painted red with the word
(inaudible). Meaning it was claimed as property of the Islamic state.
There's a group of men back there, they don't want to appear on camera because they still have relatives living in the ISIS stronghold of Raqqa
but they were talking about how wretched life under their rule was. How they didn't date stand up to them, how no-one dared to speak out. But they
say they chose to continue living here because what they have here that was everything that they possess in life and trying to survive as a refugee
would be just too difficult. And all of them who we were speaking to then pointed to this roundabout. This was called the roundabout of death
because it was here that ISIS carried out its executions.
The remnants of life under ISIS plaque this town where it seems that reality was worse than what most could ever imagine.
ISIS may have been driven out of Tal Abyad for now but the fighting across Syria is still far from over and the future of so many still remain
uncertain.
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HALA GORANI: Well so that was a look at life under ISIS in that particular town but don't think with the militants largely gone a return to some sense
of normalcy will be quick.
Arwa spoke with residents about life after ISIS.
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[15:05:16] GORANI: And learned that the impact of those two years is still very much felt physically in the form of explosive traps left behind
as well as psychologically.
DAMON: A certain unease eminates from the adults. Anger evident in their voices. Their answers short and sharp.
(Inaudible) says ISIS forced him to purchase from them black clothing for his little girls. The three say they were sometimes scared, now they are
just enjoying being outside without head scarves and they want to go back to school.
GORANI: Well Arwa's exclusive view inside the city of Tal Abyad concludes tomorrow right here on The World Right Now.
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GORANI: Now we want to give you some perspective on the Kurdish gains against ISIS in Northern Syria.
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GORANI: This map shows towns recently recaptured from the group indicated in red. Raqqa shown in black is of course still firmly in ISIS hands. The
Kurdish fighters, the YPG first teamed up with the American led coalition to take back Kobani in January. That was a victory for them. They've
deepened their coordination ever since.
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GORANI: Let's get more now on how significant this might be. Senior International Correspondent Ben Wedeman is in Baghdad. He's following the
fight against ISIS in both Syria and Iraq.
So when you see these YPG gains Ben, are they significant? I mean does this threaten the ISIS hold on Raqqa?
BEN WEDEMAN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: They certainly are significant Hala if you consider that gradually as you mentioned since the
fall of Kobani in January, the YPG, the Kurdish fighting force in North Eastern Syria has been able to gain more and more territory but strategic
territory.
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WEDEMAN: They're gradually gutting off the access of ISIS to the Turkish border and of course it's over the Turkish border that a hundred, perhaps
thousands of foreign fighters have crossed, much of the food and other supplies that they depend on come from Turkey.
Now there is still a small corridor going to the North West of Raqqa toward the Turkish border that ISIS is still able to use but certainly they've
lost their crossing at Tal Abyad which really was their most important crossing so they're definitely finding their area of maneuver much smaller.
Now it's - has yet to be seen whether this offensive is going to try to cut off the border or actually approach Raqqi the defacto capital of the
Islamic state. Now Ain Issa is only about 55 km or 30 miles to the North of Raqqa but the worry is that the closer you get to Raqqa the more that
ISIS feels it's got its back against the wall the resisitence could become very stiff in deed. So we have to see how this offensive plays out but it
definitely certainly compared to the stiaution in Iraq, ISIS does seem to be losing quite a lot of territory and quite dramatically, Hala.
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GORANI: And speaking - and Ben, speaking of ISIS, the spokesperson for the group released some sort of audio message today. What did it - what did it
say?
WEDEMAN: Yes that's from Abu Mohammed al-Adnani who is sort of the most senior spokesman for ISIS. He released an audio message to the faithful so
to speak. And it contained a number of things. He addressed President Barack Obama and he said "we promise you a future of setback after setback,
surprise after surprise." He also called on Sunni's in Iraq to return to their homes. The only condition to being pardoned is to give up their
weapons. He said it's much better doing that than staying under the rule of the Shia led Baghdad government.
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WEDEMAN: He also warned that Hadef which is a town on the Euphrates River Northwest of Ramadi is now surrounded by ISIS and he warned that the
inhabitants of that city should give themselves up to avoid a massacre.
He also called on the people of Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Lebonon, and elsewhere to rise up against their corrupt leaders. Hala?
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GORANI: All right, quite a statement there, thanks very much Ben Wedeman, our senior international correspondent is in Baghdad.
One of Europe's most important ports is still in chaos tonight after a day long strike that ended just a couple of hours ago.
Some of these images are astonishing. Hundreds of desperate migrants sought to capitalize on the disarray.
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GORANI: And for much of the day a strike essentially shut down the port of Calais, you can see there it's a link between France and the U.K. across
the channel. Traffic was backed up for miles.
As Erin McLaughlin reports many migrants saw it as an opportunity. Take a look.
[15:10:16] ERIN MCLAUGHLIN, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: A line of traffic sneaking its way through France. In most places this is a travel
nightmare commuters try to avoid but in Calais, France it's seen as an opportunity. Aerial footage showed migrants as they scrambled to board
trucks to England. Police tried to control the situation. It scenes like this are all too familiar in the beleaguered port of Calais where an
estimated 3,000 migrants live in tents waiting for a chance to cross the English Channel. Many say the problem is getting worse.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It is catastrophy, there is no other word for it. I mean you can see around you you know there's trash everywhere, there's
broken tents, you know they were burning buildings a couple of weeks ago. There's 3,000 people living in conditions like that and don't perhaps -
they don't have enough of anything.
McLAUGHLIN: On Tuesday came an opportunity to escape the squaler. Disgruntled ferry employees protesting ship sails with the company created
a barricade of burning tires and rubble outside the Eurotunnel. Eventually shutting down the tunnel, Eurostar rail and all ferry traffic sparking
travel chaos as far out as London.
Police use tier gas and force, protestors were pushed to the side of the road the whole scene creating an 8km line of vehicles, a magnet for
desperate migrants.
Erin McLaughlin, CNN London.
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GORANI: Well while the strike has now ended travellers are still facing massive delays on both sides of the English Channel.
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GORANI: If you're planning a Eurostar trip for instance you might want to listen up. These were the scenes a short time ago at London St. Pancras
Station, the city's main hub for trains to Paris, Brussels, and other European cities.
Here's how things stand this hour. Ferry services are resuming to the port of Calais but train services are still very much disrupted, Eurostar is
suspended. It says it might not resume service until Wednesday morning and it will likely take hours to clear the backlog of vehicle traffic as well
if you are thinking of going down that route.
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GORANI: Still to come tonight could there finally be a Greek debt deal this week?
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GORANI: I'll be speaking to one high level EU official who is convinced that there will be an agreement.
Also ahead America's largest retailer takes Confederate Flag merchandise off the shelves. We'll have more on the growing controversy over a
historic symbol.
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GORANI: Welcome back. Less than a week after the murderous attack on a black church the American state of South Carolina remains a focal point for
mourning but also controversy.
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GORANI: The American President, Barack Obama will travel to the state on Friday to deliver the eulogy for Clementa Pinckney, the pastor and state
senator was among the victims.
Meantime crowds at rallies such as this one are calling for the Confederate Flag to be removed from public buildings in the state. The shooter, Dylan
Roof was pictured posing with the flag in an online manifesto.
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GORANI: Businesses are chiming in. Clearly they're not - they're seeing this as potentially a good PR move in this environment.
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[15:15:25] America's largest retailer for instance Wal-Mart says it will no longer carry Confederate Flag merchandise in its store or online. And just
a short time ago Amazon announced that it is doing the same.
The flag has been a controversial symbol in the U.S. since the Civil War. Some see it as an emblem of southern history and heritage but many, many,
many others say it's a racist symbol and a leftover from the era of slavery.
Let's go to South Carolina's capital of Columbia now where CNN's Ana Cabrera is live.
Ana, I've got to ask you I mean for our viewers around the world when Wal- mart makes an announcement such as this one is this - are we seeing a shift in the culture there surrounding this symbol, this Confederate Flag?
ANA CABRERA, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: A major momentum shift absolutely. There's been a ticking point where you saw in the last couple
of days here regarding what the flag means. It does mean different things to different people but now what is predominately thought of as this symbol
being connected to racism, being connected to slavery, segregation and fuelling hatred and that is why we're seeing so many business leaders like
Wal-Mart, Amazon, Ebay, Sears, along with national and state leaders calling for the flag to be removed.
There's the sign of solidarity here that the flag just no longer represents current day values nor should it here in the United States. And so we've
heard a lot of rhetoric over the last few days that it is a symbol of the past. It does represent some time here in the U.S. but it's just not
something that still - that should stand today particularly in a location as high profile as on state grounds.
Some people have compared this symbol to the symbol of Nazi, Germany, and of course we all know how abhorred that symbol is viewed by the rest of the
world as well, Hala.
GORANI: And as our viewers know we heard from the Governor of South Carolina calling for the flag to come down. Other prominent republicans
and across the political spectrum voices now more and more calling for the removal. So what is the latest in South Carolina in the government to take
the flag down?
CABRERA: So there have actually bene several developments that happened just in the last couple of hours. The state law makers have come in return
to a session today, they were supposed to take up budget issues but instead this flag issue has taken center stage. What they had to do, and it just
happened, was both the house and the senate had to file an amendment and pass an amendment in order to bring the issue into this year's session
because it's almost over and so they didn't kick the can down the road, they will take up this issue before they all leave for the summer.
Now exactly when they're going to vote on whether to actually remove the flag that is still unclear but we do know they're in the process right now
of introducing a new bill calling for the removal of the flag and we'll have to wait and see how the votes turn out in the next days, or possibly
even weeks depending on how this process goes, Hala.
GORANI: Ana Cabrera, thanks very much, she is live in Columbia, South Carolina.
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GORANI: Now, let's stay in the U.S. Authorities believe they have a significant new break in the hunt for those two escaped prisoners in New
York State.
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GORANI: Investigators say DNA belonging to convicted killers, Richard Matt and David Sweat was found inside a burglarized cabin. Now among the items
found; boots suggesting at least one of the convicts could be bare foot in heavily forested terrain. The cabin (or) found another pair of boots. The
cabin isn't far from the prison that Matt and Sweat escaped from. They've been on the loose now for more than two weeks.
Meanwhile the husband of the prison seamstress charged with helping the men escape is speaking out.
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GORANI: Joyce Mitchell is accused of giving the men tools and police believe she was going to be their getaway driver until she got cold feet.
Her husband Lyle Mitchell says the convicts threatened her in order to get to comply.
Speaking to NBC news he says the men had plans to deal with him as well.
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LYLE MITCHELL: She told me that Matt wanted her to pick him up and she said well I never leave (inaudible) without Lyle, never. And he said well
I'll give you some pills to give him to knock him out and then you come pick us up. She said I am not doing that. She said I love my husband I am
not hurting him and she said then I knew I was in over my head, she said I can't do this.
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GORANI: There you have it.
GORANI: Coming up.
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GORANI: Will the Greek Prime Minister be smiling at the end of the week? There is cautious optimism in Europe over the possibility of a Greek debt
deal. Actually one high level European official tells me he is confident there will be an agreement, we'll be right back.
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GORANI: Well you can see it there the markets been optimistic is that a deal is nearing on the Greek debt crisis and among politicians there is a
similar feeling. While there is no agreement yet that we've seen Greece's late reform package on Monday was welcomed by other leaders.
GORANI: Now one man at the center of all the discussions who is really in on the crucial talks happening right now is European Unions Commissioner
for Economic Affairs, Pierre Moscovici. I spoke to him earlier and I began by asking him why he was so convinced.
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PIERRE MOSCOVICI, EUROPEAN UNION COMMISSIONER FOR ECONOMIC AFFAIRS: Yes I'm convinced that there will be a deal because first there must be a deal,
it's necessary for the Greek people, it's necessary for the Eurozone, I think it's necessary for stability of the world economy. It's a very
important moment we're in.
I'm also convinced because I think that now the deal's possible because after months of difficult negotaitions the Greek Government, the Greek
Authorities delivered a set of reforms which is comprehensive, which is I would say near to what the parties of Greece, the IMF, the ECB, the
European Commission expect - (inaudible) there is work ongoing here in the Commission with the members of the Greek government but I'm confident that
if there is political will there is a way for the deal by I would say tomorrow night or Thursday at latest.
GORANI: And what did the Greek's bring to the table because you're saying you're closer now to an agreement. What did they bring to the table that
have brought the parties closer to a deal?
MOSCOVICI: First we are now agreeing on fiscal targets, on the primary (ianduible) that Greece needs to do to create in order to have a finance
economy, a sustainable economy, sustainable public finances. There were a gap there and there is no gap so that is a very positive sign.
Then they proposed reforms on VAT and pensions, we're not yet there. But one thing I want to be very clear on is we are not advocating for
austerity, the commission and the institutions are not pro austerity.
GORANI: But you have those questioning the process altogether as you well know. Some very prominent economists, I spoke to one yesterday, Hans
Werner Sinn for instance who's the head of the IFO Institute. He says essentially this approach hasn't worked, something else needs to be found
and perhaps it's even better to just let Greece exit the Eurozone. Why work so hard to keep Greece inside the Eurozone?
MOSCOVICI: One must understand what the Euro is about. The Euro is not a fixed rate between currencies, there is - there are no more national
currencies in the Eurozone, there is no Franc, no Drachma, no Lira, no Duetschmark there is the Euro, and it has two capacities. First it's
irreversible, we cannot move backwards. The second is (inaudible) integrity. We are 19, we are not 18 or 17 and if a country would have left
the Eurozone the question would have been who's next and for that there'd be no food for the (inaudible) I don't want that.
[15:25:11] GORANI: You're saying the creditors do not want austerity but this is how it's interpreted from the 25+ percent unemployed, those suicide
rates in Greece that are at record highs, the feeling that the country's being humiliated. So when you say one thing it's being heard differently
by some Greeks.
MOSCOVICI: No, no I share that, I myself I'm a social democrat and I feel that, and the commission feels, and the partners feel that there must be
room for social, for humanitarian programs in Greece, for changes in the economy policy. That is very important and we are ready to deliver a
credible package of resources in order to sustain growth in the future. We know that the key is investment. We know that the key's development in
Greece. We know that we need to re-create real economy.
You know what when you talk about those people we think of them - we think about them this 25 percent unemployed, 55 percent of the youngsters. But
the situation is not that austerity created that, there was a need for adjustment because in the beginning there was a lie on public finances and
there was an economy which was not built on solid ground, we need to build that. The Greek people need to build that.
GORANI: Commissioner if I could ask you, I'm going - I'm going to challenge you now. I'm going to ask you to describe the talks in Brussels
with one word, if you had to choose one word what would it be?
MOSCOVICI: Creative.
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GORANI: Creative is the adjective that Commissioner chose to describe talks in Brussels, we'll see if as he said in the coming 24/48 hours we
have some sort of deal between Greece and its creditors.
The latest world news headlines are just ahead.
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GORANI: They've lost almost everything except hope. We'll bring you the stories of some families fleeing ISIS in Iraq.
The death toll is soaring in a brutal heatwave in Pakistan. Why some people say authorities are making the situation worse not better.
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GORANI: A look at your top stories now.
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GORANI: Kurdish forces in Syria have seized a town on the doorstep of Raqqa, the self proclaimed capital of ISIS.
YPG fighters swept into Ain Issa with the help of U.S. lead airstrikes, we see it indicated there on the map. The push comes after the capture of Tal
Abyad from ISIS last week.
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GORANI: Travel services between France and the U.K. are very much disrupted even hours after a day long ferry strike ended.
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[15:15:30] GORANI: Desperate migrants in Calais, in France took advantage of the traffic jams that were created by the strike and basically jumped on
board trucks idling on the roadways trying to make an illegal crossing to England.
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GORANI: A big discovery in the search for two escaped killers in the Northeastern U.S.
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GORANI: Authorities say boots and other items belonging to the men were found in a cabin in a remote area.
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GORANI: Also among the headlines harsh sentences were handed down in North Korea.
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GORANI: Two South Korean men accused of espionage have been sentenced to hard labor for life. South Korea denied that the charges against the men
hold.
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GORANI: Returning now to the fight against ISIS according to the International Organization for Migration more than 3 million Iraqis have
fled their homes in just the past 18 months.
Internally Displaced People, IDPs that's the official term for them, our Ben Wedeman met some of the families desperate to reach safer ground.
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BEN WEDEMAN, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: It's Iraq's bridge of sorrows, a rickety crossing over the Euphrates River for those who have
lost their homes their livelihoods, lost almost everything but for a glimmer of hope.
On the bridge known as (Zaybis) soldiers check papers on the lookout for ISIS infiltrators. But most, like (Mohaman Hussain) and her family are
simply seeking a semblance of peace.
There was an airstrike she says, our house was destroyed and I was hurt. We left because of the fear and terror, we couldn't sleep at night.
(Inaudible Ali) recently suffered a stroke; he was pushed over the bridge on a cart. Clearly in pain he's unaware of where he'll end up.
I don't know he says, I have nothing.
Going the opposite way food and other goods, there's a war on but business never stops.
This bridge represents the only way for civilians to go in and out of the remaining 20 percent of Anbar province that's still under government
control.
And even in that remaining 20 percent of Anbar ISIS is present. Iraqi security forces recently rounded up more than 20 men suspected of being
members of the extremist group.
Civilian cars sit idle on the far side of the river, cars from Anbar aren't allowed over the bridge for fear they may be full of explosives. The only
solace here, for boys only however, is a dip in the river welcomed relief from the scorching summer heat.
Those without the means to go any further or someone to vouch for them to security forces end up in tents on the side of the road. They complain of
lack of basic services, food and clean water.
We have nothing (Inaudible) tells me, if you get sick here either you recover of you die. A lot of the children are sick but most of us don't
have the money to send them to a doctor. And so they must sit and wait in the heat and dust with their sorrows.
Ben Wedeman, CNN, Anbar Province, Iraq.
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GORANI: But how do you stop those people who want to join ISIS and travel from Europe to ISIS held territory? Authorities in Europe are trying it
with a new unit. They're trying to crack down on Jihadist social media posts and Europol will spearhead an effort to track down ring leaders of
ISIS propaganda online. The unit was called for in March, it will start monitoring social media websites in about a weeks' time.
I spoke earlier with Europol Director, Rob Wainwright about it, listen.
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ROB WAINWRIGHT, EUROPOL DIRECTOR: We're very concerned about the nature of the terrorist threat and the way in which it has involved in recent years.
And clearly ISIS in particular are making a special use of the internet and social media platforms in particular as a recruitment as a propaganda
instrument. And so a part of the concerted response now that European governments are taking against the problem is to focus on that aspect of
the terrorist threat and that's why we're establishing at Europol this new European wide police unit to monitor terrorist activity on line and to work
with the social media companies in particular so that we can quickly identify and remove the terrorist content attached to the most dangerous
users.
GORANI: So this is interesting then you are really relying the cooperation of the social media sites in this case because ultimately it's their
decision to close an account or not.
[15:35:02] WAINWRIGHT: Absolutely and they already encourage citizens to report suspicious content to them and they're already removing content on -
in response to that. So in a way we will be acting in no different capacity, of course in a more systematic larger scale way, and we will work
on a day to day basis with the social media companies to understand better how their platforms operate and how we can take a more targeted strategic
response to the problem.
GORANI: I understand Europol has on its database 6,000 names across Europe of suspected ISIS sympathizes, suspected individuals who might travel to
ISIS controlled territory as foreign fighters. Are you equipped to respond to these numbers?
WAINWRIGHT: The numbers are high and they're a pretty accurate reflection I think of the scale of the problem in Europe. We are working to support
the national counter-terrorist authorities of course in particular cases. And we're also providing a mechanism to exchange intelligence in leading
investigations and therefore we have effective models at Europol to follow the terrorist financing trail for example to help the counter-terrorist
authorities target the principle volunteers and the principle organizers of the travel.
GORANI: What is your biggest concern right now?
WAINWRIGHT: Well my biggest concern is the way in which the threat has evolved quite markedly in the last year in particular. Those numbers of
foreign fighters of European citizens that have travelled to and from Syria and Iraq are quite alarming. The way in which that community of
sympathizes and foreign fighters work is also quite difficult for the police because it's not operating under a clear command and control
network, it's much more diffuse than that.
That makes it harder for us to identify the individuals and how it operates. And finally of course on the internet which is the whole point
of the unit that we're launching next week, that the terrorist groups have learned how to use the internet in a highly effective way and so we must
also therefore take our response measures to the internet to win back also the freedoms of the internet to prevent these people from abusing that
part, that important part of our lives.
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GORANI: Well there you have it, this new unit is due to be launched next week to try to monitor social media websites and try to pick out those that
could be designed to recruit ISIS fighters to travel to ISIS controlled territory. We will see if it is successful.
A deadly and unrelenting heat wave is scorching parts of Pakistan. Hundreds of people have died during the past few days alone and as our Chad
Myers reports hospitals and morgues are actually struggling to keep up.
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CHAD MYERS, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: No break in Karachi's devastating heat wave. Ambulance after ambulance arrives with a steady
stream of victims; both young and old suffering from these intense temperatures.
A state of emergency has been declared in local hospitals. Doctors say hundreds have died in recent days, thousands more are being treated for
dehydration and heat exhaustion. Temperatures topping 45 degree Celsius that's 113 degrees Fahrenheit along with fasting for the Muslim holy month
of Ramadan are taking the toll on local residents.
I saw a dead body and when I asked the family what had happened they told me that the father had died because there was no ambulance available.
These are the conditions under which we are living.
Local morgues say they're overwhelmed now with bodies piling up.
The headlines in Tuesday mornings newspaper read more than 400 dead, by the afternoon health officials said hundreds more had also died.
I'm really worried that I have no water, no power at my home, I've been searching everywhere for ice.
Dozens seeking a break from the crowded heat surrounding a street vendor here selling ice.
Power outages already a regular occurrence in the city of almost 20 million have gotten worse in recent days leaving many without air conditioning or
running water and tempers running high.
The government is responsible for this whole crisis, the houses are without power, there's no ice available, the heat is unbearable. People,
especially the elderly are dying from the intense heat.
Pakistani troops are now setting up emergency medical camps in the street providing water and salt tablets to those suffering from the heat.
Some relief could be coming with rain and possibly cooler temperatures expected later this week.
Chad Myers, CNN.
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GORANI: Well as we were - as we just heard there from Chad Myers there may be a little bit of relief in sight. Tom Sater joins me now from the World
Weather Center with more. What does the forecast look like?
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TOM SATER, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Well Hala, there is a chance of rain and we're hoping in maybe a week but these temperatures are going to remain
higher than they should for the next several days. The monsoon rains really do not arrive on average for two more weeks and we think that maybe
right.
[15:40:04] I want to show the current temperatures, its 12:40 in the morning. It is 32 degrees this is the first time Karachi have seen a
temperature drop below 33 since 8:00 a.m. on Saturday morning and that's when the temperatures really started to kick in but let's talk about the
monsoons. Remember three weeks ago deadly heat wave in India, in fact in the state of Andhra Pradesh and Odisha down to the south, 2300 people died,
they were waiting on the monsoon rains.
This is the current position on the monsoon, this is seven to ten days behind schedule. Typically in two weeks we find it in Pakistan, we're
still hoping for that. They are oh so close to rainfall to give them some relief, take a look at this.
This was very close to becoming a cyclone which would have been the second one for the Arabian Sea, I had a high chance of development, you can see
where Karachi is. Unfortunately the circulation center is now on land so it looks like there may be rain around there but they've only reported a
trace of rain and that was Sunday. Nothing many days before that or since then. Most of it stays in India in the State of Gujarat which is good
news, they don't need this much rainfall but they've been dealing with a drought.
Now, let's talk about Karachi, the average high is 33. So on Saturday without the rainfall you were 45 degrees, 42.5, 41 on Tuesday, that doesn't
include the humidity which makes it feel 10 degrees hotter. So that's one issue.
And then of course nighttime temperatures for three straight nights not dropping below 33. The other problem as mentioned in Chad Myer's piece
there is electricity.
Now this is a mosque and you can see trying to stay indoors but let me point out the fans, they're all turned off. K Electric is the main
electric power company and people are furious. Now keep in mind now as well yes everyone's trying if they have air conditioning or fans trying to
use them the other problem however is they are fasting and everyone breaks their fast at dusk so everyone's starting to cook, everyone's trying to get
the power back and it's just not occurring.
This is what it feels like with the humidity, this is just amazing, in (inaudible) that's a 136 degrees Fahrenheit scale.
And then you talk about what is happening to the bodies. One hospital in Karachi's reporting even though patients are arriving they still have lost
255 in the last couple of days. We believe in Karachi we have had over 400 fatalities and we're working to confirm the other possibly 700. But Hala
it's a problem when the temperature of the core body which are usually 37 or 38 degree Celsius, when they get up to 40 the brain stops to function
and so you lose - you lose your energy, you get fatigued. But when it reaches 42 and 43 its organ failure and unfortunately we're seeing that and
the temperatures should continue to be unseasonably high for parts of Karachi even though they're cooling down in parts of India.
We need the rainfall. Hopefully in a week. I know it sounds like a long time but there is some relief coming.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: Thanks very much Tom Satar. This is the World Right Now.
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GORANI: Still ahead the debate over the Confederate Flag dominates headlines in the United States. So is it a symbol of history or hate? We
speak to a supporter of the flag after the break.
Plus Queen Elizabeth II has arrived in Germany for a state visit. Just ahead why this trip is being so closely watched. We'll be right back.
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[15:45:19] GORANI: Let's bring you more about that heated debate over the Confederate Flag in the wake of last weeks' shootings in Charleston.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: South Carolina is the only state that still flies the Confederate Flag on the grounds of its state capital. But references to the
confederacy are clearly displayed in other Southern states. Flags, the seven flags you see here incorporate elements of confederate imagery or
illusions to the states confederate past that date back to the civil war of course.
This was the battle flag of the confederate states of America which fought against the north during the American Civil War. One reason the state
(inaudible) was to preserve their right to keep slaves. Some southerners see the flag as a symbol of their heritage. But to many Americans it
represents hatred, racism and even treason after all the south los.
My next guest as an unexpected perspective on the Confederate Flag debate.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
Byron Thomas is a student at the University of South Carolina. He's also a supporter of the Confederate Flag and also African American, which I know
you don't like to be called you'll explain that to me in a moment and he joins me now live from Columbia, South Carolina.
Byron, first of all let me ask you why you support this imagery displayed on the Confederate Flag. Can you explain that?
BYRON THOMAS: Yes, ma'am. Well I have an ancestor that was a cook for a South Carolina Regimen his name was Benjamin Thomas and he's from North
Augusta, South Carolina, and I refuse to turn my back to what he did for the south. And after the south lost the civil war, South Carolina gave its
black troops (inaudible) which was the right thing to do. And so you know I'm proud of my state for giving black troops money, have it for fighting
for the south and I'm just proud of my ancestor for you know fighting for the south and I'm not going to turn my back towards that.
GORANI: But the Confederate Army fought for among other things the right to keep slave labor. And many African Americans suffered and it is as even
President Obama said, ingrained in the DNA of the country, this painful legacy. You don't see the flag as a visual representation of that theme
(inaudible) past?
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THOMAS: Well I do understand people's right to hate the flag and feel oppressed by it, but me personally I do not feel offended by the flag
because I refuse to allow a symbol or word have power over me to make me feel offended. So I'm just one in a minority that chooses to see the flag
for different reasons. But I do understand why people hate the Confederate Flag I do.
GORANI: But I understand why you wouldn't want a symbol to have power over you, that makes total sense to me but from when I was reading up on you
several years ago already you were displaying the flag - you were displaying the flag outside your dorm room and in fact the University got
complaints from parents and students. So you were - it seems like you were displaying it proudly rather than just not allowing it to have any power
over you.
THOMAS: Can you repeat that? I'm so sorry about that.
GORANI: It seems like you were doing more than just not allowing it to have power over you that you were proud of displaying it. Is that fair to
say?
THOMAS: Do I still have it in my room?
GORANI: Yes.
THOMAS: Yes, Ma'am I still have a Confederate Flag in my room but I'm at an apartment now I'm not on campus so it's in my room but it's not in my
window, yes Ma'am.
GORANI: What reaction do you get Byron from other - from your friends, from other African Americans, from other friends you have when they see
that flag in your - in your apartment?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
THOMAS: Well they know how I feel about it and they know I'm not racist but I also know how they feel. But at the end of the day I'm not going to
hide how I feel about a symbol that I don't feel is racist towards me. Now I'm not going to push my beliefs on them, they can continue to not like my
flag, but at the end of the day they know my heart, and they know that I love everyone even though I do carry a symbol that makes them feel
uncomfortable.
GORANI: I get it. One last one Byron. Given what happened in Charleston, that hasn't changed your perspective on it because the killer was seen
posing with a flag et cetera, that hasn't changed your opinion?
[15:50:08] THOMAS: Well I refuse to allow his evilness to make me feel a different way about my flag. Because Dylan decided to use his confederate
flag for racism. My confederate flag that I own I do not use for racism, I don't. So he's an American, he's entitled to his beliefs and how he uses
a symbol and I'm entitled to my beliefs and how I choose to use a symbol. So I refuse to allow his evilness to trump how I see my symbol.
GORANI: An interesting perspective Byron Thomas joining us from Columbia, South Carolina. Thanks very much for being on CNN today.
THOMAS: Thank you, yes ma'am.
GORANI: Coming up Queen Elizabeth II is in Germany.
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GORANI: Why royal watchers say the state visit could be a sad milestone for the British Monarch and a historic event.
We'll be right back.
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GORANI: Well a sad note from Hollywood where a veteran filmed composer is believed dead in a plane crash.
A small aircraft belonging to James Horner went down Monday in California. He was an Oscar winning composer who wrote the scores for some of the
biggest films of the past few decades. Let's take a look and a listen.
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GORANI: Horner's titanic score became a multi-platinum selling hit in its own right. Not his only blockbuster though. In 2009 as movie goers
experienced Avatar's Planet Pandora in ground breaking 3D it was Horner's music that they were listening to.
Well the London Symphony Orchestra played James Horner's score to Mel Gibson's 1995 hit, Braveheart. That same year as astronauts battled an
onboard explosion in Apollo 13 Horner's nail biting soundtrack had tensions high.
And 13 years before that it was James Horner's first major film score. Star Trek 2 The Wrath Khan. He'd also composed the music for the third
Star Trek film the Search for Spock. A prolific musician sadly killed in a plane crash.
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GORANI: Britain's Queen Elizabeth has arrived in Germany on what some are saying could be her last major trip abroad. The queen's visit to Germany
comes at a critical time in British German relations with a U.K. referendum on the cards to determine whether or not Britain will stay inside the EU.
Max Foster has more from Berlin.
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MAX FOSTER, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: There's been speculation that this is the Queen's last big foreign state tour but Buckingham Palace have
dismissed those suggestions. But it is a crucial one for the U.K. There's the gun salute happening here on the runway.
It's crucial because Britain is trying to renegotiate its position within the European Union. It needs Germany's support so for that reason the
British Prime Minister will be joining the Queen later on on this tour to have direct talks with Chancellor Angela Merkel. The Queen doesn't get
involved in politics herself, she stays above politics but she's a constant. But the British Prime Minister does have a useful tool and so
called soft diplomacy in this woman who's now 89 years old but still a hugely popular figure around the world including here in Germany.
[15:55:27] FOSTER: While she's here she wants to meet as many Germans as possible so there will be lots of walkabouts with German people in Berlin
but also in Frankfurt. And a poignant visit also to the Bergen Belsen Concentration Camp, the only camp that was liberated by the British.
An important tour for Britain and for Germany. Max Foster, CNN, Berlin.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: Finally tonight it's been exactly one year to the day - to the day since The World Right Now made its debut here on CNN, take a look.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: Welcome to our new nightly program we start on this day with a busy show and important news all over the world we'll get it all covered
for you, thanks for being with us on CNN.
And as you can see I have not cut my hair since. Since then we became the very first show to broadcast live from Western Europe's tallest building
The Shard in London. You'll remember of course we've covered a lot of news outside the including the massacre at the satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo
in Paris and the subsequent days long manhunt that terrorized the city back in January.
And we covered as well the U.K. election to the wee hours and look there's a live look inside our control room. Our crews hard work has made this
first year possible. Thank you to you all. Inside the crew room thanks for all of you for watching and we hope you'll stay tuned, this has been
The World Right Now.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
Thanks for watching, I'm Hala Gorani, Quest Means Business is next.
END
