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Israel Refusing to Grant Permits for Palestinians to Go to Jerusalem for Ramadan; Sharapova Banned from Tennis for two Years; Olympians and Zika Virus; UK Brexit Vote Two Weeks Away. Aired 3-4a ET

Aired June 9, 2016 - 03:00   ET

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


(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[03:00:00] AMARA WALKER, CNN NEWSROOM SHOW HOST: Israel is taking action against Palestinians after a terrorist attack in Tel Aviv.

Also, one of the highest paid women in sports is suspended from playing tennis. How Maria Sharapova plans to fight back.

And later, some Olympians are taking drastic measures in response to Zika.

Hello, everyone, and welcome to our viewers from around the world. I'm Amara Walker. And this is CNN Newsroom.

A warm welcome, everyone.

Israel is taking action in response to the terror attack in Tel Aviv that left four people dead. The government says the two suspects are from a village in the West Bank. The military is now searching that area.

And Israel is suspending Ramadan entry permits for 83,000 Palestinians. You're looking at video of the chaos that ensued as the gunman fired.

In the meantime, a Hamas spokesperson is praising the attack.

You can see that's video of police shooting and wounding one of the gunmen. He is in the hospital. A second suspect was arrested at the scene.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BENJAMIN NETANYAHU, ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER: This is a savage crime, murder, and terrorism in the heart of Tel Aviv. It's done by criminal terrorists who don't value human life.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WALKER: CNN's Oren Liebermann following the story now from Tel Aviv. Oren, let's start with, you know, what's happening there now, the scene at the Sarona Market, the morning after the attack. OREN LIEBERMANN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Amara, quite stunning what's

happening here now at this point. It looks like a normal day here at the Sarona market, this is 12.5 hours after a terror attack in the market that left four Israelis dead and the number of other injured.

Take a look right behind me. The attack started in this restaurant right here, this is Max Brenner. A truck is about to come in the way, but that's where the attack started. The restaurant now open for business. There are customers there. What looks like a normal morning here in Tel Aviv.

In a sense, a very Israeli response, to commemorate and memorialize, but also to move on. This restaurant here, on my other side, this is where the attack continued, this restaurant has been open even longer, since quite a few hours ago this morning.

Of course the attack on everyone's minds. Some those security concerns also on everyone's minds. And we've seen a number of extra security guards here at the Sarona Market this morning. We'll see what steps they take as they move forward to keep this area secure. Amara?

WALKER: Yes. In the meantime, Oren, we're getting new information about the suspects, where they're from and also some information about these travel restrictions that are being -- that are being put in place. Tell us more about that.

LIEBERMANN: We'll start with the latest information on the suspects. We have learned from the mayor of Yatta, a town in the southern West Bank near Hebron, that the suspects are a 22-year-old Khaled Makhamra and 21-year-old Muhammad Makhamra, two cousins from this town to Yatta.

According to the mayor, they told their families they were going out to get iPads or have their iPads repaired and never returned. We've seen from the horrifying surveillance video of what happened. They came here to this Sarona Market and opened fire, killing four, again, wounding a number of others.

After this attack, COGA, the Coordinator of Government Activities in the territories has taken a number of steps, a number of security steps as a way of -- or in response to this terror attack. They've frozen 83,000 Palestinian permits to enter Israel. They've also frozen 204 permits for relatives of the suspects here.

They have canceled or frozen visits from Gaza to Jerusalem and they've canceled other visits because of Ramadan. Normally during this time of year during Ramadan we'd see an easing of restrictions on Palestinians. That easing of restrictions has been frozen in response to this terror attack. Amara?

WALKER: You were mentioning security concerns that were raised in the past. Tell us a little bit more about that, Oren, and what security has typically been like around in and around the Sarona Market.

LIEBERMANN: Well, this is an open-air market, a very popular open-air market, and it is because it is open that it is so popular, especially on a nice night, a beautiful night like it was last night.

But there have been for a few months now security concerns about this market. If we take a look down, right down this aisle here, you can see the market is open at the end. It's open at the other end as well. And in just about any direction, it's easy to come to this market as oppose to some of us around here.

Where the ministry of defense has of course very tight security and there's a big shopping mall connected to the ministry of defense, that also has tight security. You simply don't see that here.

[03:05:00] So, that's one of the security concerns that will be looked at, one of the security concerns that will be questioned, but that's not the only security concern here.

Now we known, we have it confirmed that the two suspects of Palestinians from the West Bank, they will have to find out how is it that two Palestinians without entry permits into Israel brought in automatic weapons through an Israeli military checkpoint. Another security question that has to be answered. Amara.

WALKER: Absolutely. Oren Liebermann, with the very latest outside the market there in Tel Aviv. I appreciate that, Oren.

Michael Oren is a member of the Israeli Knesset and the former Israeli ambassador to the U.S. He is joining us now from Tel Aviv.

Ambassador, good to have you on the program. You know, Oren Liebermann was just talking about the security questions that are now being raised, especially about the suspects.

Police say they are from the West Bank and of course the question now, as Oren Liebermann said, how in the world were they able to get automatic weapons through the Israeli military checkpoints from the West Bank into Israel.

MICHAEL OREN, KNESSET MEMBER: Good to be with you, Amara. Of course these are questions which the Israeli security forces are going to be examining very closely. It's not the first time that Palestinians have succeeded in smuggling in weapons. We have a very long border with the West Bank. It cannot be hermetically sealed, but we do, our security forces usually do an outstanding job in preventing such attacks.

Where I'm interviewing for you now is about a 20-minute walk from the Sarona site. But not beyond -- far beyond that, there was another terrorist attack at a bar several months before. So, again, not hermetically sealed. We have to draw lessons from what occurred.

WALKER: Do you expect changes in security in and around Sarona Market there? As Oren was reporting, there had been also questions raised about security there around the marketplace. Tel Aviv police in the past tried to close Sarona down, according to the Jerusalem Post, because of, quote, unquote, "security flaws."

Can you talk a little bit about that, and do you think changes will now be implemented thereafter? OREN: Well, I frequent the Sarona site. I live up the block from the

Sarona site. It is quite beautiful. It's an upscale restaurants, great shopping, open air, it's based on houses that were built about a century and a half ago by German missionaries to this country. And they've all been renovated in a very beautiful way, and it is open.

Curiously, it is, the Sarona site is directly across the street from what is Israel's equivalent to the Pentagon.

WALKER: Right.

OREN: And there tends to be a strong military presence in the area. Perhaps the onerous of Sarona concluded that the presence of the Pentagon across the street was sufficient to provide security. I think that's going to have to be reexamined.

Much of the focus here, I must tell you, there is none of the security Sarona but the way the incident is being covered by the international media, Amara, including, I must say, by CNN.

There was a lot of anger in Israel today about in a CNN headline that had the word terrorist who carried out this attack put in quotes last night, as if somehow the people who carried out this attack last night were different than the terrorists who killed Parisians or people in Brussels or Americans in San Bernardino. They're exactly the same terrorists.

WALKER: Fair point that you raise. Ambassador, you know, it looks like when we're hearing the details of what happened, that there were some level of planning that had to take place here with the two gunmen. We understand reportedly, they were dressed at Hassidic Jews, they actually sat down and ate at one of the restaurants there before opening fire. Are you concerned that this is the beginning of something more, of possibly an escalation?

OREN: It's possible. We've had a wave of terrorist attacks going back to last October. But the overwhelming majority of those attacks were spontaneous, what you would call lone wolf attacks, young Palestinians woke up in the morning, took a knife and tried to stab Israelis, and some 32 people have been killed, including an American, a graduate of West Point was killed in one of those attacks, Taylor Force.

This is a different attack. This was clearly planned. Sarona was targeted. The terrorists had automatic weapons. They were dressed -- it's not clear whether they were dressed as orthodox Jews, but they were dressed in what could pass as a hip Tel Aviv garb.

And Hamas in the Gaza strip has claimed these two terrorists as its own, which means, which suggests that this was centrally planned and directed and thought out, which will pose a challenge for Israel's new defense minister, Avigdor Lieberman who came into office last week, promising to adopt a stronger policy against terror, particularly against Hamas.

WALKER: Yes. And Hamas, as you said praising these attacks and warning of more, quote, unquote, surprises to come. We're going to have to leave it there.

[03:10:00] Michael Oren, I appreciate your time, coming to us from Tel Aviv. Thank you very much.

Well, after making history as the first woman to become the presumptive presidential nominee for a major party, Hillary Clinton now must unite democrats behind her.

Michelle Kosinski reports her campaign will get help from the White House soon.

BARACK OBAMA, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA PRESIDENT: Hello, everybody!

MICHELLE KOSINSKI, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: President Obama keeps waiting to dive into this race and throw his support behind Hillary Clinton. He needs, though, to unify the party. To not only avoid alienating Bernie Sanders' supporters, but win them over. Today, Vice President Biden described this delicate dance.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOE BIDEN, U.S. VICE PRESIDENT: It's clear we know who the nominee is going to be, but I think we should be a little graceful and give him the opportunity to decide on his own.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KOSINSKI: And the meeting between the president and Sanders at the White House is expected to be long, hashing out the plan forward.

But if Sanders wants to stay in much longer, don't expect the president to wait. He could do a sort of build-up of an endorsement for Clinton, possibly for something softer, maybe on social media. Before we see a big campaign-style event with her.

The president knows his power. That near 90 percent approval rating among dems. His potential to motivate voters, even the far-less-than reliable young ones who rally around Sanders.

But remember, Obama's own primary battle with Clinton in '08, was even more contentious than this one.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

HILLARY CLINTON, (D) U.S. PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Shame on you, Barack Obama!

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KOSINSKI: Still she endorsed him. She became his Secretary of State. Now it's his turn to be a force for her campaign. Her backers can't wait.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PAUL BEGALA, DEMOCRATIC STRATEGIST: He will speak to those young people in a powerful way. He also does something better than anybody, and that is carve up Donald Trump. He uses wit and humor and ridicule to belittle Trump.

OBAMA: This is a really serious job. This is not entertainment. This is not a reality show.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KOSINSKI: Hitting Trump and making it stick, though, is a challenge. The president tried last month to make the point that Trump has world leaders worried.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

OBAMA: They're rattled by him and for good reason. Because a lot of the proposals that he's made display either ignorance of world affairs or a cavalier attitude, or an interest in getting tweets and headlines.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KOSINSKI: Which Trump quickly turned to his advantage.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP, (R) U.S. PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: When you rattle someone, that's good.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KOSINSKI: Expect much more. And democrats realize even if the president can't change the minds of Trump voters, he may convince more young people to vote.

WALKER: Joining me now, Larry Sabato, he is the director of the Center for Politics at the University of Virginia. Larry, it's good to see you and have you. Thanks.

LARRY SABATO, VIRGINIA UNIVERSITY CENTER FOR POLITICS DIRECTOR: Thank you.

WALKER: We know the pressure is obviously building on Bernie Sanders to drop out and to concede and put his support behind Clinton. So, why is he saying, you know, the struggle continues. Why is he holding on, when we know that it's very unlikely the super delegates are going to overturn the will of the people and back him.

SABATO: It takes a while for candidates to adjust to reality. It's perfectly obvious and has been for a long time, that Sanders would not be the nominee, but candidates are in a bubble, and they're surrounded by strong supporters. They love the roar of the crowd, and it's going to take Sanders a little while to decompress.

Democrats, smartly, are giving him that time. And that's what's going to make the difference. I think he will do the right thing for his party and for Clinton, once given a few days or maybe even a week or two.

WALKER: Yes, I mean, he has to accept the fact that Hillary Clinton has won, what, 10 more states and way more popular votes, I think about four million popular votes than Sanders.

But we know we are hearing that an endorsement from President Obama is quite imminent of Hillary Clinton. Where do you think Sanders -- Bernie Sanders' supporters are going to go? You know, I actually spoke with a Bernie Sanders supporter recently and he told me he was going to vote Trump if Hillary Clinton becomes the democratic nominee.

SABATO: One thing I've learned over the decades is that what people say they're going to do in June and what they actually do in November are often very different things.

Right now, about a quarter of Bernie Sanders supporters say they will either vote for Trump or vote for a third-party candidate, or will refuse to come to the polls.

[03:15:00] That's going to be down to 10 percent or even fewer by November. And we have loads of data and plenty of examples in history to show why that's true.

WALKER: Let's talk more about Trump and his victory speech. You know, we saw him change his tone, sound a bit more presidential. Obviously this was part of his teleprompter-assisted speech.

I guess the question is, for how long will we see Trump behave in this more disciplined way? Are we going to see Trump evolve into more of a presidential kind of candidate, or are we, you know, only seeing one version of Trump for the time being, which is off the cuff and quite brash?

SABATO: Well, you never know for sure, but given Trump's past, I would place the heavy bet on this not holding. Trump is going to be Trump. And if somehow he were to shift to a different kind of personality, it wouldn't be long before his base of supporters were demanding, let Trump be Trump.

As a matter of fact, he's already contradicted his pledge three times, that he not discuss Trump University, or the, quote, "Mexican judge," who's causing him so much trouble.

WALKER: You mentioned Donald Trump's comments about Judge Gonzalo Curiel, the federal judge that will be presiding over Trump's fraud case. Speaker Paul Ryan he called Donald Trump's comments textbook -- textbook racism.

But the bottom line is that Paul Ryan still supports Trump, even though he is condemning him. I mean, isn't supporting Trump supporting what he says?

And let me just show you quickly the cover of The Daily News, it has this headline that Says "I'm with racist" and you see there Paul Ryan pointing at Donald Trump. So, again, how does one condemn someone, yet continue to support him? And why? Is this about keeping the Republican Party together?

SABATO: You do it with difficulty. That's how you do it. They're all uncomfortable. There's hypocrisy involved. But, again, when you talk to them privately, they say, I'm stuck. I'm a senior official in the party, the voters of the party, contrary to my views, have chosen Donald Trump. So, what am I to do?

Am I to repudiate the base of my own party and condemn the nominee? Or can I find a middle ground and condemn what he says while at least technically supporting him?

Most of the leaders, like Paul Ryan and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell have decided on that middle ground, condemning what he says, technically supporting it.

WALKER: Larry Sabato, it's good to have you on the program. Thanks so much for your time. Director for the Center for Politics at the University of Virginia. Thanks.

SABATO: Thank you.

WALKER: This just in to CNN Newsroom. We're getting word that a suicide car bomb went off in eastern Baghdad, killing at least eight people. It also wounded at least 30 others. The explosion targeted a commercial street near a cinema.

And in another incident, a suicide bomber killed two Iraqi soldiers at the main gate of Taji military camp in northern Baghdad.

We're going to take a short break here. Next on CNN, why Nike says it's standing by tennis star Maria Sharapova, even though she's suspended from the sport for using a banned drug. We'll explain, next.

[03:20:00] (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WALKER: Welcome back, everyone.

Maria Sharapova says she will appeal a two-year suspension from tennis competition for testing positive for a banned substance.

Now the Grand Slam winner admits she had been Meldonium since 2006 for medical reasons but did not realize it was banned from the sport on January 1st of this year.

Now one of her biggest sponsors, Nike says it will now stand by her, since she didn't intentionally break any rules. Nike had earlier suspended its deal with Sharapova.

So, what are the medical reasons for taking a drug like Meldonium and why is it banned from tennis?

Senior medical correspondent, Elizabeth Cohen explains.

ELIZABETH COHEN, CNN SENIOR MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: The world anti- doping agency says athletes are using a drug called Meldonium to enhance their athletic performance. According to a study in the British medical journal, there's an

alarmingly high use of Meldonium by athletes. The study looked at last year's European Games and found that in 15 out of the 21 games played, athletes were found to be using Meldonium.

The company that makes Meldonium, Grindeks Pharmaceuticals says the drug is widely used for the treatment of different heart and vascular diseases. There's some evidence the drug can improve blood flow to the heart, potentially giving athletes a boost in performance and shortening how long it takes athletes to get their energy back.

The drug was invented at the Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis by this man, Ivars Kalvins.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

IVARS KALVINS, MELDONIUM INVENTOR: Everybody should use from these top athletes, this substance.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COHEN: Kalvins says that the drug protects athletes' hearts. But Dr. Paul Thompson, a spokesperson from the American College of Cardiology says there's no reputable evidence to show that.

The drug has not been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Meldonium only came to the attention of the world anti-doping agency last year, and they banned it outright at the beginning of 2016.

WALKER: Millions of football fans will be traveling to France Friday for the Euro 2016 Tournament and the French government has ramped up security. It has also launched an app to warn people about terror attacks.

It sends users a red alert to let them know if an attack is happening close to their location. Or if there's a suspicion of an imminent strike. It also gives users information on what to do if an attack happens in either French or English.

Football fans are fired up for the action on the pitch. Former England Midfielder and CNN football analyst Owen Hargreaves has a look at the one to watch.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

OWEN HARGREAVES, FORMER ENGLAND MIDFIELDER: The star is Christian Ronaldo, one of the greatest players we've ever seen. Had an incredible season with Real Madrid and the Champions League that lead him for 16 goals in 11 games, almost broke his own record in the competition winning its Champions League going to decisive penalty.

But I think he'll be confident going into the tournament. He's the best individual player. Zlatan Ibrahimovi? seen incredible season in the history, and excited with to qualify with Sweden and obviously being a free agent, it's great for him to show his abilities. I think Gareth Bale with Wales is obviously he's not one of the

favorites, but having him at their disposal. I think Gareth Bale will be one of the players at the tournament. And I think Anton Grisman, I think he carries a lot of expectation for France. Had an incredible season for Atletico Madrid. He'll lead the line for France.

And it's going to be a ton of stars on display also important at their supporting cast and, you know, provide the service for some of these top players to score their goals.

I think Germany are going to be, you know, favorites in terms of coming off winning the World Cup.

[03:25:00] And I think (Inaudible) it's going to be important to find the balance in that team. They have some defensive issues at the moment. But I think Germany are the ultimate team. They don't have the star players that some of the other countries like France and maybe Belgium, but their team is their greatest asset.

I think Spain, you know, in tournament football, they've changed the game and winning in tournaments. And then there's France, the whole nation behind them. I think the support behind them emotionally. I think they're fortunate to have a great manager (Inaudible) who has captained France and understands the expectation of dealing with the occasion.

I think he'll be able to find the right blend. And having that home support and other star players, I think France are the team, that if they can get some of the players at the back healthy, they will be favored.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WALKER: Anyone who thought the Cleveland Cavaliers would be swept by Golden State in the NBA finals can think again. LeBron James scored 32 points, leading his team to a decisive 120 to 90 win. The Warriors now lead the best of seven series, two game -- two game to one. Game four is Friday night in Cleveland.

Also, a quick programming note. CNN will have special live coverage of the memorial service for boxing great Muhammad Ali. It starts Friday at 6.45 p.m. London time.

Well, Brits who enjoy a Mediterranean holiday may face some issues in the -- if the U.K. leaves the E.U., the possible impact on debt- stricken Greece just ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[03:29:59] And welcome back to our viewers from all around the world. This is CNN Newsroom. I'm Amara Walker. Time now to check in with the headlines that we are following.

Israel is retaliating for the terror attack in Tel Aviv that left four people dead. New video shows the suspects identified as cousins from the West Bank. The government is suspending Ramadan entry permits for 83,000

Palestinians. Both were arrested, one was shot and injured by police.

Pakistani police say they have arrested a woman for burning her daughter alive over a marriage dispute. Authorities say her daughter had eloped. The woman's brother and mother tied her to a bed and then set her on fire. She died there on the spot.

Well, they say the mother turned herself in without expressing any sorrow. Her son is now on the run.

Thailand is celebrating 70 years since King Bhumibol ascended to the throne. The 88-year-old is the world's longest monarch. In addition to festivities marking the anniversary, Thais are being encouraged to wear yellow, a traditional royal color.

We are two weeks away from the U.K. voting on whether to leave the European Union. Thursday night, London's former mayor and the first minister of Scotland will go head to head over the so-called Brexit.

Boris Johnson is campaigning for the leave team, while Nicola Sturgeon wants the U.K. to remain in the E.U. Now people who want to vote on the E.U. referendum will now have until midnight Thursday to register. The deadline was supposed to be on Tuesday, but the British government said the web site crashed when it was flooded with applications.

Well, Greece, along with much of the world will be closely watching the referendum, British tourists pack the country every summer, and that could change if Britain leaves the E.U., and it's worrying some people who live and work in an already ailing Greece.

Here's senior international correspondent Frederik Pleitgen.

FREDERIK PLEITGEN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Those lovely vacation selfie snapshots, affordable for ever more Brits thanks to cheap flights and virtually no border controls, the result of European integration.

Annie Papapavlos is from Britain and runs a glass bottom boat with her Greek husband. She's seen the number of British tourists steadily rise as the borders in Europe have all but fallen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ANNIE PAPAPAVLOS, BOAT OPERATOR: We do get a lot more British now. We have a boat full of British today. And it's higher now. It's maybe about 60 percent.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PLEITGEN: Tens of thousands of Brits visit the Greek island of Crete every year, but what if Britain leaves the E.U.? The Association of British travel agents warns European holidays could become more expensive and less convenient for Brits with the possible return of visa restrictions and the loss of European consumer protection rights.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MARK TANZER, ABTA CHIEF EXECUTIVE: For instance, we have free medical cover in the E.U., would we have that if we were to leave? We don't know. Again, we've got a cap on roaming fees for your mobile phones.

People few years ago were coming back from holiday and finding a nasty shock when they open their phone bill. That's been capped with of the E.U. law. Would we be able to benefit from that if we came out?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PLEITGEN: And it could be a lose-lose situation both for British travelers and for Greek business owners. At this point in time, it's impossible to tell what the implications of a possible Brexit would be for Greece, but there are some who fear that fewer British tourists would further strain this economy that's already dealing with a debt crisis and a massive influx of refugees.

While the British tourists on the glass bottom boat want to relax and have fun together, they like much of Britain remain divided on the issue.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I don't -- I don't doubt that it will affect, you know, the tourism in Greece and for my trips, but it's time for the U.K. to have a change. I think this is a good opportunity.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I don't think anyone knows what's going to happen. I think that's one of the dangers that actually is coming up in the European Union, because no one actually knows what's going to happen to the economy.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PLEITGEN: Equally divided the British Greek entrepreneurs couple, Annie Papapavlos and her husband Nick. Where is your heart on Brexit?

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PAPAPAVLOS: Out, yes, definitely out. Only because I think I've lived in Greece and I've seen how disastrous it's been for them.

PLEITGEN: What would your advice to Britain be, stay in or get out?

NICK PAPAPAVLOS, BOAT OPERATOR: I think stay in.

PLEITGEN: Why?

N. PAPAPAVLOS: Because I think Europe is, when you get out, you get more self -- these countries help other countries. I think it's better.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PLEITGEN: Brexit is a big issue in Greece, as this country that so depends on foreign tourists waits to see if the Brits will decide to sail away from the E.U.

Fred Pleitgen, CNN, Chania, Greece.

WALKER: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has arrived in Mexico City. He is expected to discuss trade and investment during talks with the Mexican president. The visit follows the prime minister's address to the U.S. Congress.

[03:35:01] Sumnina Udas has more on Modi's trip to Washington.

SUMNIMA UDAS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: He was once banned from entering the United States for allegedly not doing enough to stop deadly anti- Muslim rise in the Indian State of Gujarat back in 2002 when he was chief minister.

U.S. lawmakers had lobbied to revoke his U.S. visa at the time, but then he became the prime minister of India and everything changed. And today, he was welcomed by U.S. lawmakers with a standing ovation.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Mr. Speaker, the prime minister of the Republic of India!

(CROWD CHEERING)

NARENDRA MODI, INDIAN PRIME MINISTER: In granting me this opportunity, you have honored the world's largest democracy and its 1.25 billion people.

(APPLAUSE)

As a representative of world's largest democracy, it is indeed our privilege to speak to the leaders of its old days.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

UDAS: It was a wide-ranging speech. He talked about terrorism, the cooperation, India's growth rate, even yoga. But the emphasis was on the shared values of the two biggest democracies.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MODI: No wonder that the shared ideals and common philosophy of freedom shaped the bedrock of our times. No wonder then that President Obama has called our ties the defining partnership of the 21st century.

(APPLAUSE)

(END VIDEO CLIP)

UDAS: That hesitation of history he's talking about is the policy of non-alignment that India has always followed. The country has long shied away from developing an alliance with any one nation. But as Modi completes his fourth visit to the U.S. in two years,

analysts say there's a marked shift in how India is embracing its relationship with the U.S. and vice versa.

Sumnima Udas, CNN, New Delhi.

WALKER: Meantime, people in India wanted relief from the record- breaking heat. And guess what? They've got it. Monsoon season has started a week later than usual. Heavy rain fell on Wednesday, causing flooding as you see there, but this rain is extremely crucial to the country's farmers.

Meteorologist Pedram Javaheri is here following that monsoon. I mean, it's good for them because it was extremely hot in India.

PEDRAM JAVAHERI, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Yes, absolutely. Seeing that video, you know, if you're from outside of India, looking in it, looks like bad news because roads are flooded, people are traversing over those waters. That is as good as it gets when it comes to this time of year.

WALKER: Absolutely.

JAVAHERI: And, you know, Amara, when you think about the Indian population, about 250 million folks in India are formers, that's roughly the size of the U.S. population in its entirety, just to put it in perspective of how many people rely on farming. And two thirds of water comes from rainfall for the agriculture industry.

WALKER: So, they are welcoming this for sure. Yes.

JAVAHERI: Very welcoming. Absolutely. So, we'll show you exactly what's transpired in the last couple of days. India's images look something like this. The monsoon is under way, the thunderstorms are blossoming across portion of the Bay of Bengal.

The Arabian Sea and what's happening here, the land mass warming up at a far rapid rate, of course, compared to the water here.

So that difference in heat that's taking place, that's causing some of the air currents to begin to traverse over this region, thunderstorms begin to brew and that's precisely what's happened with the monsoon.

Now the latest start to the monsoon season in about a decade's time. The average progression would be some 800 kilometers to the north near Mumbai by the time we get to 9th of June. So certainly not this far south as it is of this point.

So, certainly we'll take anything and you notice the progression takes them away towards the beginning of July, gradually retreats as we work away toward September over the next several months.

But again, we'll take the late start, even if it comes in a week later at this point. And if you take a look, the State of Kerala, that's the region where the onset of monsoon is officially begin. And notice in recent years, they've actually come in right around June 1st. That's the average onset period.

This again, coming in at the latest point so far in the last decade. And you see the rainfall totals they're not tremendous by any means. You get about 60 to 70 millimeters, plenty here and the good news is we're getting a little rain at a time across this region.

And the forecast from Indian meteorological department actually says this is going to be a very good year, we're going to be above normal in the rainfall department. Now you compare it to recent years, you know 2014 and 2015, they were very dismal when it comes to -- when accumulated this far as rainfall is concerned for the months of June through September.

So, we'll take this forecast here. And notice the thunderstorms still prevalent the next couple of days. Could still see some 150 to 250 millimeters. Some areas could see higher amounts. There are now warnings in place for some of the heavy rainfall and warnings in place still for heat in the northern portion of India.

But look at this forecast. What a wonderful forecast when it comes to getting those temperatures below normal for the first time in weeks, if not months across parts of India.

[03:40:03] WALKER: What a relief.

JAVAHERI: So, this is just such a relief. You can see what's going on in the southern part of the country and you know it's coming your way, it's everyone starts to get happy.

WALKER: It's such a pleasure being with you.

JAVAHERI: Likewise, Amara.

WALKER: Pedram was my first meteorologist that I worked with here at CNN.

JAVAHERI: Yes. You're welcome back any time.

WALKER: Thank you. Good to have you, Pedram. I appreciate it.

JAVAHERI: Yes.

WALKER: OK. We have a programming note for you, by the way. Make sure to join Fareed Zakaria as he speaks with some of India's key figures from the country's richest man to Bollywood's number one star. That's India's big chance, Saturday, 2.30 p.m. in London, 9.30 p.m. in Hong Kong.

Rio de Janeiro is racing against the clock, trying to get everything ready before the Olympic Games, but time is really running out. What's left to be done? We'll explain, next.

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WALKER: The Olympics in Rio de Janeiro are less than two months away. But a very important part of the promised infrastructure is still missing.

And as Nick Paton Walsh shows us, it won't be completed until just before the opening ceremony.

NICK PATON WALSH, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Rio has a big question without an answer ready just yet. How do Olympic tourists get from their hotels here, to the games across town? Without spending hours in this. Some of the worst traffic in south America.

Well, this was meant to be the answer. An extension to the subway from the beaches, almost to the Olympic park, but there's just one snag. They just announced a new updated opening time. And that's only four days before the games begin.

It's always going to be some sort of last minute rush, but it's the sheer amount of political and economic upheaval that's Brazil's experiencing that's got many concerned that leaving such a vital path to the infrastructure like this down to last-minute preparations is simply cutting it too fine.

It was meant to be open in July. And without it, guests may spend a lot of the day in jams. That's not going to happen, says the government.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

RODRIGO VIEIRA, TRANSPORTATION SECRETARY: We were completely sure that everything will be done in 1st of august. No problem for us. Of course, the schedule is tight but we have 8,000 people working during the day and during the night. No problem at all.

[03:45:06] WALSH: You have problem speaking, sir, the sound of building is so loud that it's drowning you out, so we still have quite a bit more time to go, right, until this is ready?

VIEIRA: Everything is in our schedule.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WALSH: They said the same thing about the Olympic park itself, but when we visited when there were 66 days to go, it didn't feel that ready.

It is strange to be able to walk straight in from there, right into the edge of the Olympic park here. What's supposed to be a pretty secure zone in just a matter of weeks from now. We're just going to walk down this way to the site of where previously there was one man holding out with his home.

Deeper and deeper we went, security standing by to find the home now demolished, the owner taking a pay-out and moving. An odd feeling walking so freely around.

This worker told us sometimes security are there, and sometimes they're not. Living just alongside and refusing to be moved are Sandra and Maria. They call themselves the resistance and they force authorities to accept they can stay on the land.

Sandra says she'll soon have all this packed away, ready for the new home the city's building her just next door. That's also on a tight schedule, supposed to be ready, she says, 12 days before the games begin. What does Maria think about security?

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (TRANSLATED): It should be like that in every country. We were born to walk freely. I don't know why they came up with so much security. A man doesn't make another one safe. Security comes from God.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WALSH: You have to hope they won't be leaving it just up to him, however, to get Rio ready in time.

Nick Paton Walsh, CNN, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

WALKER: And another big concern for Olympians and fans is the Zika virus, of course. On Tuesday, Olympic organizers went on the offensive. They say Zika cases in Brazil are going down since the country is entering the colder months.

Rio's 2016's chief medical expert cites a study saying it's likely that Zika will impact fewer than two people per one million tourists.

Joining me now from Dallas, Texas, is CNN medical analyst, Dr. Seema Yasmin, she's also worked at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Good to have you on the program.

So, Dr. Yasmin, I men, there's been so much conflicting and confusing information out there about the threat of Zika in places like Brazil and other countries that have reported the virus and whether or not people should go to the Olympics or to these parts of the world with the virus. How do we make sense of all this information? What is your recommendation?

SEEMA YASMIN, CNN MEDICAL ANALYST: It's such a struggle to understand this, Amara. And I just wrote a story about is it safe to go to the Olympics because of Zika. And just in interviewing scientists and public health experts for the story, I heard curse words, I heard people get really angry and annoyed at the opposing side.

So, there are strong, valid arguments on both sides, and this is really conflicting to people who just want to know, should I go, or should I not?

We can start in the easiest place which is for somebody who is pregnant already, or for any one man or woman who hopes to start a family sometime soon. If you're already pregnant, don't go to the Olympics. Don't go anywhere, whether the Zika epidemic happening right now.

And for anyone who wants to start having a family, the advice is, if you go somewhere where there's an outbreak right now, you must wait two months if you're a woman and six months if you're a man before you attempt to start the family.

So, that's why it's a bit more clear cut, for everyone else it's a little bit hazy, still a bit gray, because even the experts can't agree.

WALKER: Yes. And let's talk a little more about that, but first I wanted to bring this up to you, the British long jumper, Greg Rutherford is attending the game, but he will be freezing a sample of his sperm before heading to Rio. Do you think that's a good idea, of perhaps women of, you know, child bearing age, freeze their eggs just in case is a precaution if they're going to head out if they have the resources to do so?

YASMIN: I mean, resources is a good point to bring up. And I think it's understandable that a male athlete would want to freeze a sperm sample. Because as we learn more and more about the Zika virus we're discovering things that we didn't know before.

That even that guidance about how long to wait before you try to start a family, it's changed in the last few months. It used to be that you would wait a little bit short for amount of time or that you'd have to have symptoms before you worry about those things.

So, given the number of unknown, given the number of variables, that we just can't predict both, it makes sense for somebody to do that. And besides that, we're also hearing about athletes and observers and even journalists who are deciding to not go to Rio because there are so many questions that we can't answer for them.

WALKER: Well, Dr. Seema Yasmin, I appreciate your time. Thank you for that.

[03:50:00] YASMIN: Thank you. Thanks, Amara.

WALKER: All right. Still ahead, Harry Potter headlines a London stage and muggles are happier than a critic's champion, despite a controversial casting.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

DEREK VAN DAM, CNN METEOROLOGIST: It's not even officially summer just yet in the United States and these temperatures are feeling like the middle of July and into August. Heat starting to build across the central and southeastern United States.

The exception, the New England coastline. We have the potential to see several day run of temperatures over 32 degrees Celsius for the central U.S., stretching towards Atlanta, Georgia.

Let's talk about those daytime highs, where just today, it will reach 32 in Denver, 34 for Dallas, a hot and steamy 32 in Atlanta. You can see how slightly cooler to the north and east. New York City, a comfortable 23, with sunshine and wind. Taking you through the next four days, that's right through the

weekend, for major cities along the southeastern areas, Atlanta to Charlotte and Washington, easily reaching the middle 30s as we go forward in time. Not much rainfall over the East Coast.

We do have a few thunderstorms around the Chicago region later this afternoon, few thunderstorms across the Rockies and a storm moving into the Pacific Northwest that will actually break the heat across that part of the U.S.

Moving into Central America and the Caribbean, we have a shower and thunderstorm activity forecast from Nassau into Havana, thanks to a cold front pressing southward. You can see the thunderstorms popping up on our forecast radar. Temperatures across north and south America, in the lower 20s.

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WALKER: Welcome back, everyone. Harry Potter fans are spell bound by the new stage play in London. In true J.K. Rolling style, there are twists and secrets. The play is broken up into two parts, and part two debuts Thursday night.

Here's Jonathan Mann.

JONATHAN MANN, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: The magic is back. Harry Potter has moved from the page to the big screen, and now to the stage. Hundreds of lucky fans lined up in London to see the first showing of "Harry Potter and the Cursed Child" Tuesday.

The new play is based on an original story from Potter's creator, J.K. Rowling, set 19 years after her last book. In the play, a grown-up Harry is now a husband and father and working at the ministry of magic. Further details of the story which is split into two parts are being kept under wraps and Rowling has even recorded a special message requesting that audiences not spoil the story for others.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: To keep the secrets and let audiences enjoy the "Curse Child" with lots of surprise that we built into the story.

MANN: No spoilers here, but the preview reportedly got a standing ovation.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's just incredible.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Forget the films, I mean, this is -- this is about dusty. I would definitely come to watch this.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

[03:55:02] MANN: The play has attracted controversy for casting an actress of color as Hermione. In the movies, Emma Watson who is white played the same role. Rowling has hit back in critics saying he never specified the characters ethnicity in the book and audience members give the cast rave reviews.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Hermione literally as a woman of color is ground-breaking and its main thing as she speak the role so, so well.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I like that they brought in a woman of color to play Hermione. But I think that's her color and people follow first book (Inaudible).

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MANN: The show officially opens on July 30th and will also be published as a book July 31st, which also happens to be Rowling's and harry potter's birthday.

Jonathan Mann, CNN.

WALKER: So what do you think it would take to knock out an entire country's power grid? A terror attack? A natural disaster? Nope. How about one tiny little monkey. Yes. All of Kenya lost power, listen to this, for 15 minutes, Tuesday, when a monkey got into a power station and fell onto a transformer.

And guess what, yes, the monkey survived. Kenya power says it's historic. Quote, "this is the first such destruction we've had by a monkey." Call that monkeying around. Ha!

You're watching CNN. I'm Amara Walker. The news continues in just a minute with Max Foster in London.

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