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CNN NEWSROOM

Rio Counts Down; Syrian Rebels Launch Assault to Break Aleppo Siege; Muslims Attend Mass to Mourn Slain Priest in France; Trump under Fire for Comments on Khan Family; Trump: Debate Night Schedule "Unacceptable"; Yuriko Koike is Tokyo's First Female Governor; Pope Francis Wraps Up World Youth Day Celebration. Aired 12-1a ET

Aired August 1, 2016 - 00:00   ET

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

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[00:00:29] NATALIE ALLEN, CNN ANCHOR: Just four days to go until the curtain is raised on the Rio Olympics. We'll take you live to the city to find out if it's finally ready for one of the greatest shows on earth.

A show of religious unity in France after a string of attacks by Muslim extremists threaten to divide the nation.

And a lack of unity in the Republican Party as senior figures turn on Donald Trump following his controversial comments on the family of a fallen Muslim U.S. soldier.

It's all ahead here on CNN NEWSROOM. Thank you for joining us. We're live in Atlanta. I'm Natalie Allen.

It is only another four days until the Rio Olympics. There have been wide ranging concerns about the city's readiness for the games for months now. And many of those worries still have not really been addressed.

Critics have raised issues with the infrastructure, security, and even the health of the athletes. Rio hopes its mostly successful World Cup two years ago set a good enough example of its ability to pull it all together.

Our Christina MacFarlane joins us now from Rio. She is one of our many team members covering the Olympics for us.

Christina -- hello there, you've been on the ground for a week. What have your impressions been so far of Rio and whether it's ready to go?

CHRISTINA MACFARLANE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, first of all, Natalie, welcome to our first ever live report from the Copacabana and the first Olympics of course from South America.

Take a look at the scene behind me. This is one of the Olympic clusters that will host the volleyball, the marathon and the triathlon among many others.

But as you've been saying Natalie, I think unlike any other games there have been so many problems in the buildup to Rio 2016 -- the impeachment of the President, Dilma Rousseff; growing concerns over the Zika virus, and of course deep economic recession.

But I've been here on the ground for a week. And I can tell you there really is quite a different mood from the one I was expecting, a mood of anticipation, of excitement and that has been growing with every day that the athletes have been arriving here in Rio.

Just three days ago we had the fastest man on the planet, Usain Bolt arrive at the airport to some fanfare. Yesterday we saw the U.S. gymnasts out shopping here on the Copacabana. And today some of the Rugby sevens athletes have been arriving for what is their first ever Olympic games. Remember, Rugby sevens and golf being for the first time those sports will be played here in Rio.

But there is one big problem still looming over these games, Natalie. With just four days to go until kickoff at Americana, the status of the Russian athletes and whether or not they'll be able to compete here in Rio is yet unknown. Now the IOC had been facing growing criticism that they haven't been strong enough in issuing a blanket ban over these Russian athletes since the findings of (inaudible) report a few weeks ago, the McLaren report of state sponsored doping.

Today the IOC president Thomas Bach faced the media here at the Olympics for the first time. And he faced many challenging questions from the press as to whether this doping scandal has in fact ruined the credibility of the games. And if in fact the IOC themselves have been too slow to respond to this. Remember, we've just got four days now until the opening ceremony.

He was very much on the defensive and said they had done everything they could do to get to this point. And that he urged people to be patient. Here is what he had to say.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

THOMAS BACH, INTERNATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEE: I trust the people that they realize they're the difficulties we are in. They realize that, again, it was not an easy decision to take, and that they realize that we did our best to address this situation in a way which allows to protect all clean athletes all over the world.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MACFARLANE: So the IOC has set up a panel here to try and come to a conclusion for these Russian athletes. It's been a very strange set of affairs though, Natalie. We've seen the Russian athletes here in Rio out on the Copacabana. They could still be going home. It's a very uncertain picture.

One of the other big challenges that Rio has faced, of course, logistical challenges is that of transport, and whether the infrastructure will be ready in time. Well, today I had the pleasure of managing to get to all four of the Olympic clusters here in Rio de Janeiro. And we were traveling on one of the especially -- the especially arranged Olympic lanes. Now these have been put on for the media and for the athletes themselves so that they can get to the venues in time. And it took us less than half an hour to move between each of the four venues.

[00:05:02] But the bigger more crucial problem of course -- question, of course, will be whether or not the half a million visitors who are set to arrive here in the next few days will be able to get around the city in time and whether or not the transport system will be in place.

Now that's something my colleague Shasta Darlington has been having a look at today. Here is what she found. Have a look.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SHASTA DARLINGTON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It's a beautiful day. So we're going to head to some Olympic stadiums and test out the public transportation system, which is coming together at the very last minute.

Olympic transport tickets cost about $49 for a week, or $8 for a one- day card. So for the first leg we're taking this journey underground on the metro. And here we go. So we're going to head up to the escalator and up to the train that will be our next leg of this journey.

So there are no signs yet for the Olympic parks. A tourist is going to be pretty lost. They would probably head over here to the information booth. So we'll head over here. So let's ask security if they know. Excuse me, Olympic park? Olympic Park?

Part two, getting on the train.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Will depart from platform 8.

DARLINGTON: So this used to be the can of sardines train. Obviously it's looking better now. They've put more cars on the tracks, especially as we get close to the Olympics, and more security.

So if you're coming to see track and field, this is your stop. And let's see if, if you calculate the time to switch trains, it's about 50 minutes from your hotel door to right here at the stadium.

If you continue on to the Deodoro Park for BMX or Rugby, give yourself a good hour and 15 minutes from the hotel. You have just seen an equestrian even or maybe a canoe slalom, and you want to get to the main Olympic Park, you're going to take this dedicated bus line.

Right now it's empty. In fact, it looks like they're still finishing it. But once the Olympics starts, this is going to be a really important trajectory. It's going to connect the Olympic Park right there -- the main one to all of the hotels on Rio's south side.

The good news is this has its own exclusive lane. So hopefully we won't be sitting in traffic. That was fast, comfortable, and air conditioned. I'd be getting on the metro now, but the new line won't be open until four days before the Olympics start. For now -- stuck in traffic. Shasta Darlington -- CNN, Rio de Janeiro.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

MACFARLANE: So things seemed to be running smoothly for Shasta -- Natalie. But if you're anything like me, you'll want to stay right here on the Copacabana. It is one of the best backdrops I think we've seen to any Olympic games. And in a few days' time, it's going to be absolutely packed full of fans.

ALLEN: Yes, that's a pretty beautiful backdrop there, Christina. Nice, nice going for you and your crew. And thanks for rubbing it in -- just kidding. Thanks so much, Christina.

All right. We look at other news now.

Syrian rebels are battling to regain ground they lost in Aleppo last week. A major offensive is under way as the fighting heats up. Witnesses say people inside the city are setting fires, hoping the smoke will keep government warplanes from hitting their targets.

For more now, here is Ian Lee from Beirut.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

IAN LEE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: A major military operation is under way to break the siege on Aleppo, this according to the military spokesman of the rebel group Ahrar al-Sham.

Aleppo has been under siege by Syrian government forces, although there have been at least three humanitarian corridors according to the Syrian government for civilians and rebel fighters who want to lay down their arms and be granted amnesty to leave the besieged city. But talking to people inside of Aleppo, they are skeptical the Syrians will live up to their promise.

Meanwhile, the situation grows more dire inside the besieged parts of the city. Food is running short -- going to a market you can't find fruits, vegetables, any sort of food products. Doctors are saying there is a lack of medical supplies and medicine. One-time use items like syringes are being sterilized and used over and over again.

There's a lack of petroleum, gasoline for cars and ambulances to ferry passengers to hospitals, also a lack of diesel fuel for the generators at the hospitals. The U.N. has called for a 48-hour ceasefire so humanitarian assistance can get inside the besieged part, and people who want to leave can leave. No word from either the Syrian regime or the rebels if they're going to go through with any sort of ceasefire.

Ian Lee -- CNN, Beirut.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

[00:09:57] ALLEN: Turkey's military is now facing tighter government control after a series of new decrees following the failed coup attempt two weeks ago. Hundreds of soldiers detained in the fallout have now been freed according to Turkish state media. They had provided testimony on their involvement in the plot. A judge called the soldiers' detention unnecessary.

The cleric accused by Turkey's president of masterminding the failed uprising is speaking to CNN. Fethullah Gulen lives in self-imposed exile in the U.S. He told CNN's Fareed Zakaria some supporters may have been involved, but he again denied any direct connection. He's calling for an investigation to look into the Turkish government's claims.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

FETHULLAH GULEN, HIZMEL MOVEMENT IN TURKEY (through translator): Let an international organization investigate this matter in depth. If there is anything I told anyone about this verbally, if there is any phone conversation, if one-tenth of this accusation is correct in fact, I will bend my neck and will say they are telling the truth. Let them take me away. Let them hang me.

But I am talking with certainty. I have neither talked to anyone nor did I say anything to anyone on the phone.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ALLEN: Following Gulen's comments CNN asked for a response from the office of the president though we have not received a reply.

Thousands of Turkish nationals living in Germany turned out in the city of Cologne to show support for the Turkish president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, coming just over two weeks after the failed coup. Some in the crowd at Sunday's rally chanted yes to democracy, no to the coup.

In Munich, German Chancellor Angela Merkel attended a memorial service for the victims killed in that shooting rampage at a mall. A German Iranian teenager gunned down nine people July 22nd before killing himself. Police say he had no connection to Islamic militant groups.

The death of a Catholic priest is bringing people together in solidarity in France. This weekend in Paris, Muslims attended mass at Catholic churches in a show of support. Alexandra Field reports from Paris.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ALEXANDRA FIELD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: An iconic cathedral, a powerful symbol -- Catholic and Muslim leaders coming together at Notre Dame in Paris, appealing for peace, calling for unity, while the nation reels from another terror attack.

Mourners are holding vigils to honor the life of Jacques Hamel, the 86-year-old priest slaughtered earlier this week in his own church in northern France. Officials say the assailants who stormed Saint Etienne du Rouvray taking several hostages acted in the name of ISIS.

On the first Sunday since the killing a cathedral nearby in Rouen opened its doors to everyone, one of many Catholic churches across the country working this week with Muslim leaders to invite Muslims everywhere to join them at mass.

DALIL BOUBAKEUR, PARIS GRAND MOSQUE DIRECTOR (through translator): We received this message of love, this message of fraternity, which has reached far into our hearts.

MONSIGNOR JACQUES, NOTRE DAME CATHEDRAL DIRECTOR (through translator): We have been touched, it is true by the attitude of our Muslim brothers, who have as of last night come to participate in our services or simply to say hello and show their sympathy.

FIELD: Security is high during the services at Notre Dame. France has remained under a constant state of emergency since the deadly attacks of November 13th. The leaders from both faiths now say it's the responsibility of all clergy to teach lessons about peace to counter mounting threats.

BOUBAKEUR: We feel that we Muslims must make a final effort to reach out to our brothers and to our sisters, and those who have not heard us yet, to Muslims throughout France so as to combat terrorism, combat disrespect for religion, and combat barbarism.

FIELD: Earlier this week Pope Francis responded to the death of the Catholic priest with his own sobering message. "The world is at war because it has lost peace. A war for religion it is not. All religions want peace. Others want war."

Since January 2015, France has been the target of repeated attacks carried out by Islamist militants. Following yet another killing, French Catholics and Muslims hope by standing together they'll send a message to those trying to tear their country apart.

Alexandra Field -- CNN, Paris.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ALLEN: Pope Francis is now back at the Vatican after spending the weekend in Poland. He was there for World Youth Day, among other things. We'll let you know what he said to all of the young people gathered there to hear from him.

That's coming next.

Plus, Donald Trump's latest war of words is not directed at his political rival but the parents of a fallen soldier. How the Republican leadership is responding to a new bitter feud.

That's coming up ahead here as CNN newsroom continues.

[00:14:51] (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ALLEN: And welcome back.

Donald Trump's bitter feud with the parents of a fallen U.S. Muslim soldier is sparking widespread outrage from the leadership of his own party. The war of words began Khizr Khan whose son died in Iraq spoke at last week's Democratic convention. He denounced the Republican presidential candidate for proposing a ban on Muslims and said Trump has sacrificed nothing. Trump later criticized Khan's wife for remaining silent on stage.

U.S. House Speaker Paul Ryan spoke out in defense of the Khan family saying "Many Muslim Americans have served valiantly in our military and made the ultimate sacrifice. Captain Khan was one such brave example. His sacrifice and that of Khizr and Ghazala Khan should always be honored -- period."

Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell offered similar sentiment saying "Captain Khan was an American hero, and like all Americans, I'm grateful for the sacrifices that selfless young men like Captain Khan and their families have made in the war on terror."

Now Khan's father is calling on those Republican leaders to withdraw their support for Trump. He addressed them Sunday on CNN saying they have a moral obligation to repudiate their presidential nominee. And that history will not forgive them if they don't.

[00:20:05] Khan also had some stinging remarks for Trump's criticism of his wife.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

KHIZR KHAN, FATHER OF AMERICAN MUSLIM SOLDIER: This person is totally incapable of empathy. I want his family to counsel him, teach him some empathy. He will be a better person if he could become, but he is a black soul. And this is totally unfit for the leadership of this beautiful country.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ALLEN: Khan's wife also addressed Trump's accusation of silence in a "Washington Post" article saying, quote, "Walking on to the convention stage with a huge picture of my son behind me, I could hardly control myself. What mother could?"

Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton is weighing in on the feud between Donald Trump and Khizr Khan.

Senior political correspondent Brianna Keilar is on the campaign trail.

BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT: Hillary Clinton's approach to the Khizr Khan/Donald Trump controversy really seemed to evolve here over the last day. During her first stop yesterday in Pennsylvania, there was a line in her teleprompter about it and she skipped over it. It wasn't until her last stop last night at about 11:00 p.m. where she even mentioned it. And even then it was just a passing reference.

Well, fast forward to this morning, she went to church. She talked about it when she talked to reporters, and she had some pretty sharp words. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

HILLARY CLINTON (D), PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE: He called Mexicans rapists and criminals. He said a federal judge was unqualified because he had Mexican heritage, someone born in the neighboring state of Indiana. He has called women pigs. He has mocked a reporter with a disability.

SEN. TIM KAINE (D-VA), VICE PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE: Ridiculed a POW.

CLINTON: That's right. And I mean -- any one of those things is so offensive.

And then to launch an attack as he did on Captain Khan's mother, a gold star mother who stood there on that stage with her husband, honoring the sacrifice of their son, and who has in the days since spoken out about the overwhelming emotion that any mother would feel as her son was being honored. And then to have Trump do what he did, I don't know where the bottoms are. I don't know where the bottom is.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KEILAR: There seemed to be a reticence yesterday for Clinton to wade in and perhaps make this even more political than it's become. But what may have changed the calculus between last night and today were a couple things. Donald Trump's reaction that the campaign views, that statement that was put out, the campaign viewing it as Donald Trump sort of continuing to dig a hole on this issue.

And then Ohio Governor John Kasich condemning these things that Donald Trump has said -- the Clinton campaign actually re-tweeting what Kasich had said, hoping that it will play well for those that she is hoping to court here in Ohio.

ALLEN: Brianna Keilar there for us.

The Commission on U.S. Presidential Debates says they will not change the schedule for the televised events despite complaints from Donald Trump's campaign that it's unacceptable.

Brian Stelter is following that for us.

BRIAN STELTER, CNN SENIOR MEDIA CORRESPONDENT: Hey there.

Yes, the debate about the debates is under way. Almost two months remain before Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump are scheduled to meet on stage for the first of three highly-anticipated presidential debates.

But this weekend, Donald Trump started to challenge the debate schedule saying he is willing to debate three times, but he does not like the dates that have been selected.

So let me tell you what is going on here. The debates in the United States are organized by a nonpartisan group called the Commission on Presidential Debates. It's been around for about three decades. And actually, its model has been borrowed by other countries as well. This commission made up of Democrats and Republicans sets the dates for the debates about a year beforehand. And it also selects the moderators, the formats, and the locations. So the commission chose four days, three for the Presidential debates, one for the vice presidential debates last September and two of them conflict with NFL football games. And that is the thrust of Donald Trump's complaint. He says it's unfair to have the debates up against football because it will take away viewership from the debates.

Now initially Trump told ABC News that he received a letter from the NFL complaining about the schedule. Well, that turns out not to be true. The NFL says there was no letter sent. And today Trump's campaign backtracked and said actually it was a source close to the league that told him about this overlapping.

As for the scheduling issue, well, it is a real issue. Two of the games are scheduled on the days of the debates. But the commission says it had no other choice. This happens all the time, including in 2012 when Mitt Romney and Barack Obama debated.

[00:25:01] Let me show you part of the commission's statement. And an unusual statement they issued about this subject. They said "It is impossible to avoid all sporting events, and there have been nights on which debates and games occurred in most election cycles. A debate has never been rescheduled as a result." Now the indication from the commission is we're not going to go ahead and change the dates this year either.

But what is really happening here is the beginning of a negotiation, the beginning of seven long weeks perhaps of haggling between the campaigns and the commission that organizes the debates. Normally these negotiations happen in private. The campaigns argue over everything, even the temperature of the air conditioning in the debate hall. But as with everything about this election in the U.S., Donald Trump is doing it differently. Donald Trump is starting the negotiating in public.

Back to you.

ALLEN: Brian Stelter for us. We'll keep you posted on the debate gate.

Coming up here, Tokyo's new governor has just added to her track record of firsts -- details on her historic election, next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ALLEN: And welcome back to our viewers around the world. You're watching CNN NEWSROOM live from Atlanta. I'm Natalie Allen.

Here again our top stories.

Syrian rebels are trying to break a government siege of Aleppo. They launched a major assault on the southwestern parts of the city. Syrian forces have the flash point city surrounded. Witnesses say people are setting fires to fill the skies with smoke so Syrian warplanes can't see their targets. The fight for Aleppo goes on.

The Taliban has claimed responsibility for a suicide truck explosion targeting a hotel in Kabul, Afghanistan. The militants say the truck exploded at a gate to the hotel.

[00:30:03] Afghan security forces have closed off streets around the site. No word on casualties or damage.

With the Olympics starting on Friday, people in Rio de Janeiro are demonstrating in favor of making suspended President Dilma Rousseff's removal from office permanent. The country's political turmoil has long been a point of concern for the Rio games.

South Korea is taking extra precautions to protect its athletes in Rio. They have designed special uniforms with built-in mosquito repellent. The idea to resist the Zika virus.

CNN's Paula Hancocks went inside the factory in Seoul where the uniforms are made.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

PAULA HANCOCKS, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The national flag, the team logo, and encouraging messages from people sewn into the lining. This is South Korea's Olympic uniform.

600 are being made here just outside of Seoul for athletes and officials to wear in Rio this August. And there is something else that makes this outfit unique. It is apparently Zika-resistant.

But aside from the long sleeves and the long trousers keeping skin off-limits to mosquitoes, the rest remains a bit of a mystery.

(on-camera): The Zika-resistant part of this uniform is apparently top secret. All we've been told is that once the uniforms are finished, they're then shipped off to an unnamed company, and there they coat the uniforms with an insect repellent chemical.

We're not allowed to film that part.

(voice-over): We're told it has been tested to repel mosquitoes and it works. No lab results or footage available, though.

Designer Kim Su Chong says she was going for protection and comfort, and something truly Korean.

"I wanted our athletes to look classy and stylish" she says, "as they're on a global stage."

Next I wanted it to be in the unique Korean style. Lastly, it has to be functional and comfortable. South Korea's Olympic committee says so far no athlete has dropped out through fears of the Zika virus. But medicine, insect repellent and mosquito nets are being prepared as well as a uniform that leaves little exposed for the mosquitoes to bite.

Paula Hancocks, CNN, Seoul.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ALLEN: Voters in Japan's capital Tokyo have made history, electing the city's first female governor.

Former Defense Minister Yuriko Koike defeated her closest rival by more than one million votes.

Anna Fifield joins me now. She's the Tokyo bureau chief for "The Washington Post."

Anna, thank you for being with me. And how big of a deal is this, the first female elected. And she won by a wide margin.

ANNA FIFIELD, TOKYO BUREAU CHIEF, WASHINGTON POST: That's right. I mean, it is a really big deal. And Yuriko Koike was leading in the polls in the run-up to this. But nobody expected the kind of landslide victory that she won.

There were 21 candidates running, and Koike alone got 49 percent of the vote. So obviously it's a big deal that she is a woman, the first woman governor of Tokyo.

But I think more of the support came to her not because she is a woman so much, because she presented herself as something of an outside candidate. Even though she has been around for a long time, she was an MP, she was briefly defense minister, she did not have the backing of the ruling liberal Democratic Party, and she beat the candidate who did.

So she offered to mix things up a little bit after a series of scandals involving the previous governors.

ALLEN: Right. I was going to talk to you about that. The scandals were related to the Olympics, correct, which Tokyo hosts in 2020.

FIFIELD: Well, that's right. It was two previous governors had various financial scandals that they became embroiled in. But the Olympics themselves have just been one misstep after the other.

There have been allegations of plagiarism, allegations of corruption, stadium designed by Zaha Hadid had the plans torn up and they started over again.

So the first order of business for Yuriko Koike is to try and get the Olympic planning back on track, to instil some confidence in the people again about this. Because a lot of hopes are riding on the Olympic Games to inject some momentum back into the Tokyo and the broader Japanese economy.

ALLEN: And is she going to Rio to spy on how Rio pulled it off?

FIFIELD: Yes. She will be visiting Rio later this month, together with the prime minister. She will be representing Tokyo there, of course. So she will be getting straight on to that. But she also has a very busy agenda.

She had pledged to try to create more day care facilities for children, more nursing care facilities for elderly people. So she has a big inbox to deal with.

ALLEN: All right. We'll wait and see how she does.

Anna Fifield from Tokyo for us with "The Washington Post." Thank you, Anna.

A typhoon is headed for Hong Kong, but its track could prove crucial in terms of its impact on the city.

Our meteorologist Karen McGuiness has been following this storm for about two or three days now.

Hello, Karen.

[00:35:10] KAREN MCGUINESS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Hey, Natalie, yes.

There are some critical things, critical aspects to this typhoon. Aside from the fact that there is a typhoon that is bearing down on Hong Kong. But depending on where it makes landfall will significantly change what kind of storm surge, what kind of wind damage, what kind of rainfall amounts that you can expect.

We were watching this as it was moving across the Northern Philippines. Staggering rainfall totals, but that's a tropical storm intensity. Now this is at typhoon intensity, supporting winds of 120 kilometers per hour. Looking better and better, at least as far as the typhoon is concerned.

When it has a ragged eye, that tells us it's not very well-organized. But when you start to see that eye looking a little more symmetrical, that tells us it's winding up more and more.

All right. Just generally speaking, here we have this cone of possibility of where this could be making landfall. And right now the computer models are saying right over Hong Kong. But maybe it will go a little bit further towards the east, maybe a little bit further towards the west.

If it makes that more westerly landfall, that means there will be enhanced moisture, enhanced storm surge. That's going to present greater danger. Just because of where the winds are going to be rotating around Hong Kong.

A little bit further towards the east, and we've got an offshore flow. A little further towards the west, and those winds will bring that moisture and pushes that wall of water into some of those beautiful bay areas. Maybe Victoria Harbor a little bit protected. Not entirely, though.

So if you haven't battened down the hatches and there is a tropical cyclone, wind signal number three, which means some of the schools are not going to open for tomorrow, if some of the shipping vessels and the small craft have not taken shelter yet, that's what you need to do.

Because fairly soon, there is going to be a signal 8 that's going to be issued for this region. How much precipitation Hong Kong is looking at the potential for, up and over 200 millimeters.

So Natalie, we'll stay on top of it. And we'll bring you some updates.

Back to you.

ALLEN: Karen, thanks very much.

More than one million young people listened to Pope Francis deliver a message just for them. How he told them to live their lives in a troubled world. We'll share that with you in a moment.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ALLEN: Pope Francis is back at the Vatican after a five-day trip to Poland. He spent the week meeting with young people who came from all over the world to celebrate World Youth Day.

CNN Vatican correspondent Delia Gallagher has the highlights for us.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

(CHILDREN SINGING)

DELIA GALLAGHER, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): A light in the darkness. More than 1.5 million lights held by kids for nearly 200 countries who came to see the pope and hear his message.

"Strap on your boots" he said, get off the couch, get away from your computer screens. Go out and leave your mark on the world.

POPE FRANCIS (through translator): Would you like other people to decide for your own future? Would you like to be free? Would you like to be awake and with it? Would you like to fight for your own future?

Yes, you don't seem that convinced. Would you like to fight for your own future?

Yes.

GALLAGHER: Urging them to unite in the face of terror, a response to what he called a world at war. Some of them shared the realities of living in a country at war, like Rand Mitri from Aleppo, Syria.

RAND MITRI, SYRIAN PILGRIM: Others who died, including my friends, Noah, Antoine, William, and many other young men and women who could only be faulted for daring to have faith in humanity. They are all murders in this bloody war of no reason that has destroyed our souls, dreams, and hopes.

GALLAGHER: World Youth Day is not just an opportunity for young people to see their Pope, but also a chance for the Pope to simply be a priest again and do what he loves best, meet the homeless, the poor, and the disabled.

That same simplicity was seen in his choice not to speak at Auschwitz- Birkenau, the former German-Nazi concentration camp. A gesture of humility in the face of unfathomable evil.

He met survivors and poles who risked their lives during the holocaust to save Jews.

At his final mass in Poland, the Pope called for a new humanity in the face of evil.

POPE FRANCIS (through translator): Our father, may his sun shine on the good and the bad and invites you to true courage and is stronger than evil. He loves all of us, even enemies.

GALLAGHER: And announced that Panama had been chosen as the site for the next World Youth Day in 2019. This gathering which in itself is a response to terrorism. More than a million youth choosing to celebrate their world, pray, and party with their pope.

Delia Gallagher, CNN, Krakow.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ALLEN: And thank you for watching CNN NEWSROOM. I'm Natalie Allen. "World Sport" is next. I'll see you at the top of the hour.

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(WORLD SPORT)