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Police Shooting in Milwaukee Brings Protests & Violence to City Streets; Louisiana Struggling with Historic Flooding; Michael Phelps Wins 28th Olympic Medal. Aired 4-5a ET

Aired August 14, 2016 - 04:00   ET

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


GEORGE HOWELL, CNN ANCHOR: A city on edge. A police shooting in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, brings protests and violence to city streets. We're covering this story.

Dramatic rescues in state of Louisiana. Residents there struggling with historic flooding.

Plus, more history is made in Rio de Janeiro. British runner Mo Farah stumbles but yet wins the gold. And Michael Phelps earns his 28th Olympic medal.

Live from CNN World Headquarters in Atlanta, welcome to viewers here in the United States and around the world. I'm George Howell, CNN NEWSROOM starts right now.

A good day to you.

In Milwaukee, Wisconsin, things are calming down this hour after a night of violent protests sparked by a police shooting. Crowds there gathered just hours after police say an officer shot and killed an armed man during a foot chase.

During the protests, one officer was hit in the head by a brick thrown into a squad car. Police then moved in to clear the streets, as you see here, but they say protesters set four buildings on fire and threw rocks at the officers.

Milwaukee's mayor spoke earlier about the shooting, listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MAYOR TOM BARRETT, MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN: He was hit by two bullets, one in the chest and one in the arm. That individual, a 23-year-old man, has died. The officer was wearing a body camera. It is my understanding that the body camera was operating.

Because it involved the Milwaukee Police and because an individual was killed, the investigation is being led by the state of Wisconsin. So, the state of Wisconsin will be the one that will have access to that film from the body camera and is the one that is now undergoing the investigation.

As you all know from what happened from that point, things deteriorated. When I left the scene, which was probably a little after 5:00, there was still calm at that scene. Later in the evening, as we all now know, things got out of hand.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOWELL: Mayor Tom Barrett there of the city of Milwaukee, also saying three people have been arrested. We heard from a witness who says that she does not believe the unrest is over in Milwaukee.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Just basically awestruck and amazement. I never thought I would see my own city in a state of unrest to potential riot, you know, I just never thought I would see it. We're standing here, speaking with you, just heard gunshots maybe two to three block away.

I feel maybe the bulk of the large incidents are over for the evening. But I definitely do not feel that this is over.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOWARD: The officer involved in the shooting has been placed on administrative duties while authorities investigate. CNN has a crew en route and in place there in Milwaukee to cover this story.

Our national correspondent Ryan Young, of course, will stay on top of this and bring you any developments as we learn them here on CNN.

Moving on now to the state of Louisiana, under a state of emergency there for the next month due to heavy rains and deadly flooding there. Three people have died and one person is reported missing. Louisiana's governor calls the flooding a truly historic event and says that everyone needs to be in response mode.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GOV. JOHN BEL EDWARDS, LOUISIANA: We have record levels of flooding along rivers and creeks. And because these are record floods we don't know how wide the water is going to get in those areas.

We don't -- this is unprecedented. So, we don't have records that we can go back and see who all is going to be impact.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOWELL: So far more than a 1,000 people and roughly 100 pets have been rescued from these raging floodwaters. CNN national correspondent Boris Sanchez has more for us from the flood zone.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BORIS SANCHEZ, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Now that the floodwaters are starting to recede in some parts of Louisiana, we're getting a clearer picture as to the extent of the damage, just how bad the flooding this was, how strong these waters were.

I want you to take a look over the left of me, we're in an industrial yard here in Amite, Louisiana. And that's a body shop. And you see that pickup truck just crushed like a child's toy, flipped over.

That truck was actually on the other side of that building. There was a tractor in this are earlier that was helping people get across this flooded area to get to their homes and come back. The truck actually got stuck in the water and had to be pulled out itself.

You can also see pieces of asphalt, huge pieces of asphalt that have just been lifted off the ground and tossed about like pieces of paper onto the street.

And I want to point something out, you see it across the street here in that area just off the street, that white pickup truck, that was actually a man that was trying to cross the road while it was flooded out.

He clearly did not make it across. He had to be rescued by officials, one of the 1,000 rescues that firefighters, paramedics, and other emergency officials have had to make here in Louisiana because of this devastating flooding.

The last thing I want to point out, across the street, that trailer, I spoke to the guy that lived in that trailer. He kept it across the street here in the industrial park. Fortunately, he didn't spend the night here last night.

He says it ran more than 120 yards and got smashed, flattened against the trees over there. I asked him how he felt how his home flattened and his state in disarray. Here's what he said.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's terrible. The gentleman (INAUDIBLE) has that tractor right there, he lost his house in the flood back in March. He just a couple of weeks ago got his house back in order, and he has lost everything. He had six to eight feet of water in his house. That's terrible. I mean, there are people that just -- you know, it's a sad thing to see.

SANCHEZ: The major concern now are the cities and towns that are south of here, because all this water that was here has continued moving in that direction.

The other question is, when is the rain finally going to stop? It had settled down here a couple of hours ago, now it's falling yet again. Experts tell us that it will continue at least until Monday.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HOWELL: National correspondent Boris Sanchez there asking the question, when is the rain ever going to stop? Our Meteorologist Derek van Dam is here.

And, Derek, from what you've seen, it's a bad situation, is it going to get worse?

DEREK VAN DAM, CNN METEOROLIGIST: Well, it has been consistent since Thursday evening local time. There is some light at the end of the tunnel, fortunately, George. But before we get to the forecast, I've got to show you an absolutely remarkable video coming from a rescue effort in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

I'm going to let you listen to this. But this woman survived a near drowning in this floodwater, thanks to some very courageous men on boat who arrived on a boat just in time. The woman's convertible was two-thirds submerged. She can be heard asking for help.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We're breaking the window. We're breaking the window.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VAN DAM: The car keeps sinking. And one of the men jumps from the boat onto the car, starts to tear the convertible's fabric roof. Just moments he pulls the woman from the sinking vehicle, watch this.

Unbelievable. And, George, it actually is more incredible what he does now. She calls and pleads for him to go under water to look for her dog who is still trapped in the vehicle, and comes up successfully with the puppy.

HOWELL: Who is that man?

VAN DAM: Who is that man? I would love to interview that man. Thank goodness for the volunteers and the authorities out there doing these rescues. There has been over 1,000 swift water and high water rescue attempts already successful.

Unfortunately, there have been fatalities. But this is, again, showing you the kind-spirited nature of complete strangers helping the communities across southern Louisiana.

Here's the latest satellite loop. I want to show you the bulk of the precipitation. There's Louisiana. There's Mississippi. There's Texas. The good news is, as I mentioned a moment ago, that the bulk of the precipitation is moving away from the affected flood areas but not before considering -- or not before producing a considerable amount of rainfall, over 680 millimeters, that's roughly 26 inches of rain.

Here it is. The future radar going forward over the next 24 hours, you can see that more of the sporadic nature of the heavier rain showers indicated with the yellows and the reds. They become less and less prominent as we go forward in time, that's because this system is starting to break apart and pull away from the region.

I want to show you flash flooding that was captured by this river gauge. Notice the spike in the river levels there for the Comite (ph) River in central Louisiana. That rose 25 feet in 12 hours, breaking previous flood stage records -- excuse me, I'm getting my tongue twisted here.

It's flash flooding certainly occurring across this particular region. And not good when you see call centers like this, emergency call centers flooded as well. These individuals the authorities actually had to evacuate the 911 call center there because of rapidly rising waters.

George, what an amazing video, though, wasn't it? Just to see that woman pulled from the car just in the nick of time.

HOWELL: Thankfully he was there and thankfully they were able to do that. Derek, thank you.

Aiming for the gold, the Rio Olympics day eight wrapped up on Saturday and it was a good day for Michael Phelps, winning yet another gold medal, the most decorated Olympian ever. He won the men's 4x100-meter medley relay with his U.S. teammates. This makes for Phelps's 23rd Olympic gold medal.

On the track, British runner Mo Farah recovered from a fall to take the gold in the men's 10,000-meter race.

Let's go live to Rio for the very latest on day eight of competition and what to expect for day nine. Christina Macfarlane is live for us this hour.

Christina, good morning to you. Let's start with Mo Farah, what a performance, not only did he break out from the back of the pack, but he recovered from a fall to defend his 10,000-meter Olympic title.

CHRISTINA MACFARLANE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, that's absolutely right, George. It was not so much super Saturday, it was more fantastic Farah yesterday. Surely, only Mo Farah can fall during a race and still go on to win the 10,000-meter.

As you say, he was clipped mid-race by one of the runners and went down. In fact, it was his teammate, Galen Rupp, who he managed to collide with. But he then went on and he powered clear of the field in the final 100 meters to win it in a time of 27 minutes and 5 seconds, you know, amidst the Kenyans, the Ethiopians, many runners who are considered to be the best in the world.

And remember, he'll be back on Wednesday to defend his 5,000-meter title. And if he wins that, he'll become the first man since "The Flying Finn," Lasse Viren, in 1976, to retain his two Olympic discipline titles. It really was incredible to watch last night.

HOWELL: I'm an old track runner myself. Nothing like these guys. But, you know, I appreciate the craft. And to recover from a fall and to still win, that's just incredible.

Let's also talk about Michael Phelps in the pool, and the question, will this be his last Olympics?

MACFARLANE: That is a good question, George. We're expecting him to have a press conference later today where he may reveal all. He has hinted, of course, in the past few days that he thinks this will be it for him.

But remember, he said that at the end of London 2012, didn't he? And then he came back from it. And, well, on Saturday night, it couldn't have ended any other way. Gold number 23 for Phelps, 28 now in total after winning the 4x100-meter medley relay, and arguably cementing his legacy now as the greatest ever.

But, you know, perhaps we should have seen this one coming, because the USA have never failed to win this particular event in Olympic history, would you believe. And Phelps, of course, "The Baltimore Bullet," handed their anchorman Nathan Adrian the lead going into the fourth leg. And from there the United States, they never gave it up.

So we'll have to wait and see, fingers crossed that Phelps may still continue in the swimming pool. But as I say, the greatest Olympian, really, of our time, it's likely he may bow out later today.

HOWELL: Wow. And looking ahead now, let's talk about Usain Bolt and the challenge that he faces with rival Justin Gatlin. From what we've seen though so far in the qualifying heat, is Gatlin even considered a challenge?

MACFARLANE: Oh, absolutely he's considered a challenge, George, he's run the fastest time this year. And this is the showdown, really, that everyone is waiting for. And of course Sunday is all about Usain Bolt.

He's looking to do the triple-triple for the first time in history. Remember, that's the 100 meters, the 200 meters and the 4x100-meter relay. And today is going to be the first leg of that.

Now he runs later today around 7:00 p.m. local time tonight. And actually yesterday, on Saturday, I had a chance to see him and Gatlin run in the heat. Usain Bolt running the fourth fastest time in the heat at 10.7 seconds, while Justin Gatlin had the fastest time, 10.01 seconds.

So, as I say, this is going to be the showdown, it's going to be the head to head, it's good versus evil, as people keep calling it here. However, don't forget that Bolt does hold the world record but he has had a season of injuries. This is going to be psychological warfare out there in the 100 meters, very exciting.

HOWELL: Indeed, indeed. Christina Macfarlane, I have to admit, a little envious of your role there, watching history, a front-row seat there as these Olympic athletes take to the track, to the field, and to the pool. Thanks for your reporting. We'll stay in touch with you.

Let's talk medal count now. The USA won its 1,000th gold medal of all time on Saturday, the first country to do that. And Rio, alone, there they have 24. That nearly doubles the next-closest nation, China, with 13. Britain pulled away with third, in third place, with a total of 30 medals. And Japan still fourth in the overall count with 24, but they're one behind Germany in gold medals, pushing them to fifth in the standings.

Of course, for more action, for more highlights, for more stories, you can go right there, to cnn.com/olympics for everything.

You're watching CNN NEWSROOM. Still ahead, the Syrian city of Manbij, celebrations there and a chance to start life again after ISIS is pushed out. Why Manbij is crucial in the battle against this terrorist group.

Plus, thousands of Venezuelans cross into Colombia to buy food and other basic items, what might have led the Venezuelan president to change his mind after he closed the border last year.

This is CNN NEWSROOM.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HOWELL: Welcome back to NEWSROOM. New York Police are looking for whoever shot and killed an imam and his assistant outside of a mosque. Authorities say they do not believe the men's faith play a factor in the killings.

CNN's Sarah Ganim has more details from the scene.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SARA GANIM, CNN CORRESPONDENT: New York City police confirming that a Queens imam and his neighbor were both gunned down leaving a mosque on Saturday afternoon. Following prayers as they walked down the street towards home, a man approached from behind, shooting both in the head.

Investigators here at the scene still trying to figure out exactly what happened, say they are looking at surveillance video that shows a man with a gun running from the scene, no arrests have been made. But witnesses are also being interviewed.

Investigators say there's nothing that preliminarily indicates that these two men were targeted. But investigators are also looking to see if there was an earlier dispute at the mosque that may have led to a shooting. That's according to a law enforcement source.

And as this investigation begins you can see that the local community has gathered, news of the shooting garnered a significant reaction from the community here. Obviously, it's a very scary thing to think that a local religious leader could be gunned down in the middle of the street in broad daylight.

And there are many concerns from people in this community who have gathered calling for justice, and also remembering these men. Some people have told me that the local imam was beloved here. He had just eulogized someone else the other day.

And that he was a very nice guy, very well-known in the community. He had kids, frequented the local stores. And so obviously, the showing of support here in Queens as the investigation continues to try and figure out what happened.

Sara Ganim, CNN, Queens, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HOWELL: Sara, thank you.

More than a dozen children are dead after two separate Saudi-led air strikes hit schools in northern Yemen. According to the Yemen health ministry, the first strike hit a private school, killing at least 10 children, wounding 28 others. The students were all between the ages of 8 years old and 15 years old.

Another air strike struck a nearby school, killing four children there and three adults. U.N.-led peace talks came to a dead end last week resulting in fierce clashes throughout Yemen.

People in the Syrian city of Manbij now have a sliver of hope that their lives will recover. Rebel fighters backed by the United States have forced ISIS out of that city. The U.S. is hoping to acquire key intelligence left behind by that terror group. And Washington now wants want to use Manbij as a springboard to retake Raqqah, the de facto capital of ISIS.

Our senior international correspondent Ben Wedeman has this report for us.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BEN WEDEMAN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: With the fall of Manbij, ISIS has lost another important stronghold in Syria. The latest in a string of towns and cities in Iraq and Syria where ISIS's black banner has been torn down.

For the habitants of this Syrian town it was a relief to be liberated by the U.S.-supported Syrian Democratic Forces, a coalition of Kurdish and Arab fighters. The inhabitants of the town enjoying relief from ISIS's draconian regime, some men took the opportunity to shave off their once-mandatory beards, and men and also women had the opportunity to enjoy a smoke in public for the first time in years without fear of a lashing.

Some women took the opportunity to burn their head-to-toe niqabs, a stifling garment required by ISIS of all women who wanted to go out in public.

ISIS has now lost an important supply route between the Turkish border and its de facto capital of Raqqah. But this is just one battle won, the war against ISIS is still far from over. ISIS still controls Mosul, the second-largest city in Iraq, and it still controls large tracks of northern Syria.

Ben Wedeman, CNN, Istanbul.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HOWELL: Ben, thank you.

In just a few hours' time, the Nice, France, football team says it will pay tribute to the victims of the terrible Bastille Day attack in that city. A month ago, a man plowed a truck through the crowds celebrating the French national holiday.

On Sunday, in their match against Rennes, players of the OGC Nice will wear a special white jersey with the names of the 85 people killed in the shape of a heart. The team is also asking fans to wear white shirts.

Thousands of desperate Venezuelans crossed into Colombia on Saturday after the two countries agreed to at least temporarily reopen that border. Venezuelans are anxious to buy food and other basic supplies, items that they can't find or afford in their country.

Falling oil prices have contributed to a severe economic recession in Venezuela. The opposition wants to remove President Nicolas Maduro by a referendum vote this year.

CNN's Rafael Romo is covering this.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

RAFAEL ROMO, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Hours before sunrise people were already standing in line at the border, tens of thousands of Venezuelans desperate to cross into Colombia for the first time in almost a year.

"Colombia and Venezuela have always been sister nations," this woman says, "the border should always be open."

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro ordered the 2,200-kilometer border closed last August after a clash between Colombian paramilitary forces and Venezuelan troops.

He met with Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos Thursday in Venezuela to announce a reopening of the border.

"We will open the boarder in an orderly, controlled, and gradual way," President Santos said.

(on camera): Which means this is not yet a permanent reopening. For now the border will be open for up to 15 hours a day and only for pedestrians. According to Colombian officials, about 28,000 Venezuelans cross into their country on Saturday alone.

(voice-over): Authorities briefly opened portions of the border several times in the last few weeks. But this is the first time it reopens as part of the bi-national agreement.

For the Venezuelans it was mainly an opportunity to buy basic products and toiletries that had been scarce in Venezuela for years. Later in the day, they returned home carrying bags, packages and boxes full of food and other items.

Others flocked to pharmacies to get medicines that are nowhere to be found in Venezuela. Some even carried tires.

This woman said she felt like taking pictures of this Colombian supermarket where we found her. All she sees back home, she said, are empty shelves. After almost after a year of suffering shortages, the abundance of essential grocery store items in Colombia was overwhelming.

Rafael Romo, CNN. (END VIDEOTAPE)

HOWELL: You're watching CNN NEWSROOM. Still ahead, Donald Trump has his own idea of what to do with a prison that others want to close. Why experts doubt that would ever work.

And Michael Phelps is saying good-bye to swimming from the top of the medal podium. A look back at his legendary career. We are live in the United States and around the world this hour. You're watching CNN NEWSROOM.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HOWELL: Welcome back to our viewers here in the United States and around the world. You are watching CNN NEWSROOM. It is good to have you with us. I'm George Howell with the headlines we're following for you this hour.

Legendary swimmer Michael Phelps won gold in his final Olympic race on Saturday. He swam in the 4x100-meter medley relay, that makes gold medal number 23 for the American, by far, the all-time record.

Soaking rains have created massive flooding across parts of the United States and the state of Louisiana. Three people have died and one person is missing. Louisiana's governor declared a state of emergency on Friday, calling the flooding a truly historic event.

In northern Yemen two separate air strikes by Saudi-led coalitions have led to more than a dozen children killed. According to Yemen's health ministry, the first strike hit a private school in Saada province, killing at least 10 children, wounding 28 others. Another air strike struck a nearby school, killing four children and three adults.

New York Police are on the lookout for whoever shot and killed an imam and his assistant in broad daylight. They were both shot in the head outside of a mosque after prayers on Saturday afternoon. Authorities say nothing in their early investigation indicates that the men were targeted.

In the state of Wisconsin, Milwaukee Police say that they are restoring order to the streets after a night of violence over a police shooting. Crowds gathered on Saturday night on the streets hours after police shot and killed an armed man during a foot chase.

As officers tried to break up the protests they said things then turned violent. People set buildings on fire, threw bricks at police officers. According to police, one officer even hit in the head by a brick thrown into his windshield.

Earlier, Milwaukee's mayor spoke about the shooting and what led up to it, listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BARRETT: This stop took place because two officers who were there to make sure that there order in this neighborhood, and they felt there was suspicious activity going on. As it turned out, two individuals, the gun was a stolen gun, the officer didn't know it at the time but there were 23 rounds in that gun, 23 rounds in the gun that that officer was staring at.

And I want to make sure that we don't lose any police officers in this community, either. And that's something that has to be a concern as we stand here tonight.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOWELL: The mayor also said that police have arrested three people. We'll stay on top of this story.

"America's Choice 2016," Donald Trump lashing out now at The New York Times after their reporters wrote an article saying advisers believe it may be impossible to save Trump from his own mistakes.

The U.S. Republican presidential candidate fired back then on Twitter, calling The Times "a failing newspaper of fiction." But Trump's grievance is not just with The Times. He seems to even hold a lower view of the reporters than he does of his rival Hillary Clinton, listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I'll tell you, honestly, I'm not running against crooked Hillary Clinton, I'm running against the crooked media. That's what I'm running against.

(APPLAUSE)

TRUMP: I'm not running against crooked Hillary.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOWELL: U.S. President Barack Obama has long wanted to close the detention center at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, but Donald Trump has another idea entirely. Pentagon correspondent Barbara Starr has details on that for us.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Donald Trump has new thoughts on how, if elected, he might send U.S. citizens accused of terrorism to the military prison at Guantanamo Bay.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Would you try to get the military commissions, the trial court there to try U.S. citizens?

TRUMP: Well, I know that they want to try them in our regular court systems. And I don't like that at all. I don't like that at all. I would say they could be tried there, that would be fine.

STARR: The law that created military commissions specifically exempts U.S. citizens from being tried at Gitmo, military experts say. RACHEL VANLANDINGHAM, SOUTHWESTERN LAW SCHOOL: So Mr. Trump would

have to work with Congress to establish different laws.

STARR: Would that work?

VANLANDINGHAM: It would be constitutionally suspect, why? Why would it be suspect? It's because current U.S. courts are fully capable and open and available to provide the full panoply of U.S. constitutional guarantees.

STARR: Some of Trump's ideas, including the possibility of bringing back waterboarding, are raising critical questions about the authority of the president to order troops to carry out actions which violate U.S. law.

Simply put, the U.S. military has a duty to disobey illegal orders, even when they come from the president.

VANLANDINGHAM: The military adherence to civilian command and control is a bedrock principle of the U.S. military. However, the U.S. military swears to protect and defend the U.S. Constitution first and foremost.

STARR: But trump says he expects to be obeyed by the troops even on waterboarding.

TRUMP: They won't refuse. They're not going to refuse me. Believe me.

STARR: A former military lawyer says Trump should be refused.

VANLANDINGHAM: There's no moral dilemma of a military member to think, well, maybe this is actually lawful. No, it's illegal.

STARR: General Joseph Dunford, the chairman of the Joints Chief, has stayed out of the political fray, but even he has made clear some ideas are out of bounds.

GEN. JOSEPH DUNFORD, U.S. MARINES, CHAIRMAN, JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF: One of the things that makes me proud to wear this uniform is that we represent the values of the American people. That's what we have done historically. That's what we expect to do in the future. And, again, that's what makes me proud to wear this uniform.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HOWELL: That was CNN's Pentagon correspondent Barbara Starr reporting for us.

Donald Trump has been under fire for refusing to release his income taxes. But his running mate, Republican vice presidential candidate Mike Pence, is taking a different approach, Pence says he will release his own tax returns before Election Day in November. He promises they will be "a quick read."

Democrat Hillary Clinton has released tax returns going back years, so has her running mate Tim Kaine. The Virginia senator and Democratic vice presidential candidate hit trump hard Saturday for not disclosing his taxes.

Kaine said even a president who resigned in disgrace allowed voters to see how much he paid in income taxes.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. TIM KAINE (D-VA), VICE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Even Richard Nixon released his tax returns to the public when he was running for president because he said, as has every major party nominee of both parties since, the American public have a right to see the tax returns.

They should see what my financial status is. They should see who I have connections with. They should see if I am paying the taxes that support our veterans, that support our military.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOWELL: Donald Trump says that he will not disclose his taxes while they are being audited. But there's no law that is keeping Donald Trump from doing so.

Former Cuban leader Fidel Castro celebrated his 90th birthday on Saturday. He made a rare appearance at festivities in Havana, Cuba, sitting between Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his Cuban brother, President Raul Castro.

Cuban officials say he survived more than, get this, 600 assassination attempts. However, that number is impossible to confirm.

This is CNN NEWSROOM. Still ahead, almost 50 years ago, terror struck the Olympics and why this man will never forget a minute of that nightmare. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HOWELL: For nearly two decades now the name Michael Phelps has been synonymous with swimming. He appeared in his first Olympics 16 years ago and since then he has had one of the most prolific careers of all time. Now, he's saying good-bye from where we've seen him start and where he is now, the top of the podium.

Our Andy Scholes looks back at Phelps's career.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ANDY SCHOLES, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Michael Phelps entered the global swimming stage at the age of 15, qualifying for his first Olympic Games. Since that time he has been the most dominating force the world of swimming has ever seen, competing long enough to inspire a new generation of swimmers.

Look no further than American gold medalist Katie Ledecky. Here she posed with Phelps as a 9-year-old, 10 years later, they're winning gold together in Rio.

MICHAEL PHELPS, 23-TIME OLYMPIC GOLD MEDALIST: It's pretty incredible to have helped kids go after their dreams and their goals.

DEBBIE PHELPS, MOTHER OF MICHAEL PHELPS: I'm seeing him in a different capacity, one as an athlete, a fierce competitor, but also Michael Phelps the mentor.

CHRISTINE BRENNAN, CNN SPORTS ANALYST: He has just become a role model to so many people and taken swimming to a sport that used to be just, well, that's an Olympic sport, well, now it's cool.

SCHOLES: Sydney, Athens, Beijing, London, and then his first retirement. Phelps did not just come back for a farewell tour at these Rio games, he crushed it, winning five gold medals. He is now stood atop of an Olympic podium 23 times.

BRENNAN: This is young person's sport. This is a sport where teenagers are winning gold medals. He's 31. If -- in baseball years that's probably 55. And the thought that he can still be at the top of the world on this -- at this point, it's extraordinary.

SCHOLES: On top of the world in the water, Phelps sometimes struggled out of the pool. Controversy, two DUI arrests, rehab in 2014. But after all of it, he emerged with a new commitment to compete in his fifth and final Olympic Games. If this is it for Phelps, he couldn't have written a better ending.

He's now a father. His fiancee Nicole Johnson and his 3-month-old son Boomer watching and cheering him on at every race.

D. PHELPS: They've adjusted themselves so well. And I just think they have a very special loving bond between the three of them. I just think Michael is in a really good place right now.

SCHOLES: What's next for Phelps? He says he's looking forward to spending time with his family. We don't have to look far to find him pitching a number of products around the world. He will continue his work with the Michael Phelps Foundation which helps kids learn to swim and be safe around water.

Perhaps Phelps also uses his free time in retirement to encourage change in the sport of swimming.

BRENNAN: If Michael Phelps speaks out about doping, the IOC will listen in a way they're not going to listen to anyone else. And maybe at the end of the day, that's Michael's legacy, a combination of bringing children to the sport of swimming and then trying to clean up the sport of swimming in terms of doping and all the bad things that have happened over the years.

ALLISON SCHMITT, 11-TIME OLYMPIC GOLD MEDALIST: He has changed the sport and he will continue to change it even past his retirement.

M. PHELPS: It is finally setting in more and more that some of the things that I've been able to accomplish throughout my career is, it's -- you know, in wanting to change the sport I'm seeing it firsthand. And I think that's something that is really rewarding.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HOWELL: Sunday's biggest event is the men's 100 meters where superstar Usain Bolt will look to defend the first of three sprinting titles there. The men will also run the 400-meter while the women will compete in the marathon and the triple jump.

Then on the tennis court, Britain's Andy Murray will try to defend his Olympic title from the resurgent Argentinian Juan Martin del Potro. Women's and men's -- women's and mixed doubles teams will also compete. And golfers will play their final round in the men's tournament.

The president of track and field's governing body says Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt is an all-time athlete. Bolt is going after the first-ever triple treble -- the triple-peat of the 100-, 200-, and 400-meter sprints.

Sebastian Coe compares him to one of the greatest competitors ever. He spoke to CNN's Amanda Davies.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

AMANDA DAVIES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Have you tried to persuade Usain Bolt to change his mind about the suggestion of retirement?

SEBASTIAN COE, PRESIDENT, INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF ATHLETICS FEDERATIONS: No, I wouldn't begin to do that with an athlete. But I have had conversations with Usain about a role beyond his retirement, whenever that happens. I hope it's not for some time.

But, you know, no sport should allow or be comfortable about such an extraordinary athlete just walking away. You know, we need to keep him involved.

DAVIES: If he was to be able to pull it off the treble-treble, how big an achievement would that be?

COE: I think it's extraordinary. I think it is frankly extraordinary. And the great thing about Usain Bolt is that he has -- you know, we're very proud to have him in our sport. But he has actually gone almost beyond, you know, just the confines of track and friend.

When we first -- wearing my London hat for just a few moments, when we started bidding for the games in 2005 I spent a lot of time -- in 2003, spent a lot of time in schools, talking to young people, and I actually asked them what sports they did and who they wanted to be. They all wanted to be David Beckhams and Roger Federers.

Three years later, they wanted to be Usain Bolt. And that has been the difference. So I can't think of another athlete since Muhammad Ali that has so captured the public imagination and with such global depth of affection.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HOWELL: Very interesting comparison there.

Certainly, fair to say that everyone is thankful that Rio has been secure so far. But we look back almost half century ago to the most terrifying hours in Olympic history. That's ahead here on CNN NEWSROOM.

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HOWELL: Welcome back to NEWSROOM. These images from the Philippines, the capital Manila where heavy rains have called flooding and a lot of problems in several areas and more rains are expected in the coming hours. Our meteorologist, Derek Van Dam is following that story, from the International Weather Center.

Derek, what's the latest?

VAN DAM: George, this is called the Southwest Monsoon, an annual occurrence across this part of the world, doesn't make it any less a nuisance or dangerous, to say the least, take a look at these images. I mean, this is unbelievable stuff. It reminds me of what is happening in the southern sections of the United States in terms of the depth and the widespread nature of the flooding.

This is a suburb of Manila. And we talk about this being the wettest time of year for the northern Philippines, and specifically across Luzon Island. Manila's climatological average puts August right smack dab in the middle of its wettest part of the year.

This is the Southwest Monsoon. We're talking about rainfall totals on average per year this month, they're roughly about 486 millimeters, to be precise.

Well, take a look at what's happening with the satellite loop, and you can see just how active it has been. Here's the South China Sea. Here's Luzon. There's the Philippines. Manila in the northern sections of the country.

And you can see the cloud cover and the rain that continues to move about this area. In fact I calculated a few rainfall totals over the past two days, Manila has seen just under 200 millimeters.

But just to the north in a location called Iba (ph), Philippines, around 321 millimeters of rainfall. So what exactly is taking place with this additional rainfall that is forecast, behind the potential of more flooding?

But again, I mention the Southwest Monsoon, basically what happens is we get these southwest winds -- and by the way, monsoon is associated with a wind pattern. And that pulls in moisture from the South China Sea.

But what's interesting to note is often when we get a typhoon or a tropical system across the western Pacific, then we pull even more moisture across this are into the Philippines. And what's that on my computer graphics there? Well, indeed, Tropical

Storm Chanthu rotating about the southwest Pacific as we speak -- George.

HOWELL: Derek, thank you. We'll stay in touch.

I want to talk now about what could be the considered the darkest hour in Olympic history. It came 44 years ago when terrorists kidnapped and killed 11 Israeli athletes and officials.

Our Oren Liebermann looks back now at a man who will never forget the massacre at Munich.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

OREN LIEBERMANN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): These are the moments Gad Tzuberi wants to remember. The opening ceremonies of the 1972 Munich Olympics. Tzuberi recalls the pride he felt competing, recalls every moment of those games, even the moments he wishes he could forget.

The Munich massacre, on September 5th a Palestinian terror group called Black September took part of the Israeli team hostage in the Olympic Village, Tzuberi, a wrestler, was the only one to escape.

GAD TZUBERI, MUNICH MASSACRE SURVIVOR (through translator): I saw an opening, the AK rifle was here, I pushed it out of the way from my stomach and ran away. He never chased me, he only shot. I never looked left or right or behind, I just ran.

LIEBERMANN: The memory haunts him to this day. Now for the first time the International Olympic Committee has created a memorial site in the Olympic Village to remember all Olympians who have died during the games, including the 11 Israelis murdered in Munich. They will also be Tzuberi's teammates.

TZUBERI (through translator): I will remember every second until I die. It's not a dream. It's like I feel every second until this moment. Something like that is impossible to forget.

LIEBERMANN: Despite the painful memories, Tzuberi still reveres the Olympic Games for what he says they are, a chance to unite the world.

TZUBERI (through translator): They once asked me if they should have continued the games, and I said, yes, it's for the whole world, and it continued. It's a festival that gives a good feeling to the whole world.

LIEBERMANN: Before leaving for Rio, the Israeli Olympic team paid their respects at the Munich Memorial in Israel. This man laid a wreath at the site. His name is Shahar Tzuberi, Gad Tzuberi's nephew.

He will compete in windsurfing for the second time after winning a bronze medal in Beijing, perhaps that's the strongest way of remembering what happened, by carrying the name of a survivor to another Olympic Games. Oren Liebermann, CNN, Tel Aviv.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HOWELL: Certainly good to remember the past, to be thankful for the present.

Finally, nature is putting on quite a show in the Northern Hemisphere through the weekend with an annual meteor shower. And NASA astronomers say that it's even more spectacular than usually. Want to show you.

(VIDEO OF METEOR SHOWER)

HOWELL: Just beautiful. We leave you with -- this hour with that. Thanks for being with us. I'm George Howell at the CNN Center in Atlanta. I'll be back after the break with more news from around the world. Stay with us.

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