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CNN NEWSROOM

UK PM Self-Isolates as England Opens Up; COVID Cases Rise Ahead of Tokyo Games; Merkel Sees the Devastation; Indonesia Plans for Eid Al-Adha as COVID Cases Surge; War in Afghanistan; First Lady Returns Home Ahead of Husband's Funeral; Solidarity Demonstration Held in Support of Cuban Protests; Hong Kong Government Condemns U.S. Sanctions on China Liaison Officials; Collin Morikawa Wins Open in His First Time at Tournament. Aired 1-2a ET

Aired July 19, 2021 - 01:00   ET

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


[01:00:22]

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BORIS JOHNSON, BRITISH PRIME MINISTER: I've been pinged. I've been asked to self isolate by the test, trace and isolate system.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MICHAEL HOLMES, CNN ANCHOR: The U.K. prime minister in isolation as the rest of England fully opens up despite rising COVID numbers.

Six athletes from team GB self isolate in Tokyo after possible exposure to the virus.

And a high ranking American tennis player drops out of the games just days before the opening ceremonies.

And, a climate crisis nightmare. Germany's chancellor tours the flood damage, and says there are no words for this kind of devastation.

Hello and welcome to our viewers all around the world. Appreciate your company. I'm Michael Holmes. This is CNN NEWSROOM.

(MUSIC)

HOLMES: Today is England's long-awaited Freedom Day, the day the country lists nearly all of its remaining social distancing restrictions. But the so-called freedom comes at a risk, coronavirus cases are surging in the U.K.

In England, though, mask requirements, they have gone now, shops, bars sports venues can let in as many people as they want. Now, there are a few exceptions. London's mayor says face coverings will still be required on public transport.

But all of this is happening with the U.K. seeing about 50,000 new COVID cases a day. Critics say it is way too risky to be dropping restrictions right now. And newspapers, well, they are hammering the prime minister's office. Boris Johnson as we said in isolation after coming in contact with the country's health secretary, who tested positive for the virus.

Now, regionally, Downing Street said that they wouldn't isolate, but later reversed course after public backlash.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOHNSON: Hi, folks. Like so many hundreds of thousands of young people across the country, I have been paying and, I have been asked to self isolate by the test, trace and isolate system after I'd been in contact with somebody who has COVID, in this case, of course, the health secretary, Sajid Javid. And we did look briefly at the idea of us taking part in the pilot scheme which allowed people to test daily.

But I think it is far more important that everybody sticks to the same rules, and that's why I'm going to be self-isolating until the 26th of July, Monday the 26th of July.

And I really -- I know how frustrating it all is, but I really do urge everybody to stick with the program, and take the appropriate course of action when you are asked to do so by NHS test and trace.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOLMES: Here's CNN's Phil Black with more.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

PHIL BLACK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: One of England's few remaining pandemic rules is the need to isolate if you've had a close contact recently with someone who tests positive. And that is why three of the government's most senior ministers are not free on this so-called Freedom Day. The Prime Minister Boris Johnson, the Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak. And both are isolating because they recently spent time with the health secretary, Sajid Javid, who confirmed a positive test over the weekend.

Initially, Johnson and Sunak tried to wriggle out of it, saying that they would instead take part in a pilot program that replaces isolation with daily tests. But the political blow back was fierce and damning. Along the lines, of one rule for them another for everyone else.

And so, a high speed u-turn quickly followed.

If you put all of this political theater to the one side, it is still an understatement to say that this day is not unfolding the way Boris Johnson had hoped. The surging delta variant means that this is not a triumphant return to normal life in England. It is an unprecedented, highly uncertain experiment with consequences that could impact efforts to fight the pandemic all over the world.

(voice-over): The U.K.'s prime minister has long promised a vaccine- fueled irreversible journey to an inevitable destination.

JOHNSON: When I'm traveling on the one-way road to freedom.

BLACK: Newspapers enthusiastic gave that journey's end an obvious name -- Freedom Day. Now, it's here but it doesn't feel very free.

JOHNSON: This pandemic is not over.

[01:05:00]

This disease, coronavirus continues to carry risks for you and your family.

BLACK: The Delta variant changed everything. After months of steeply declining cases, this highly transmissible mutation is now swamping the U.K. with an accelerating wave of infections. The government is lifting restrictions anyway.

DR. CHRIS WHITTY, ENGLAND'S CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER: There is quite a strong view that -- by many people, including myself actually, that going in the summer has some advantages.

BLACK: Advantages like reduced seasonal pressure on hospitals and with schools out, reduce spread among students. But the plan has many expert critics who use words like reckless and unethical.

DR. DEEPTI GUARDASANI, CLINICAL EPIDEMIOLOGIST: All the models show that there will be millions of cases over the summer, and that there will be 1,000 to 2,000 daily hospitalizations, over the summer.

BLACK: The government is also aware of another ominous warning from its own scientific advisers that points to the possibility of dire consequences for the whole world.

The combination of high prevalence and high levels of vaccination creates the conditions in which an immune escape variant is most likely to emerge. The likelihood of this happening is unknown. They are talking about a variant that's better at beating vaccines.

RAVI GUPTA, PROFESSOR, UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE: Concerning high level infections, are only drivers against further mutation of the virus, and potential further problems down the line. In other words, even less vaccine efficacy against mutated versions of the virus. We know that there is a significant risk of this happening from what we've seen in the last 6 months.

BLACK: The government hopes that most people will follow its new message. Yes, the rules are going away, but please don't change your behavior. One of its own advisers on behavioral sciences says that's messy, and inconsistent.

SUSAN MICHIE, DIRECTOR, CENTER FOR BEHAVIOUR CHANGE, UNIVERSITY COLLE LONDON: This kind of mixed messaging is really damning. We have had it previously in the pandemic. And people want clear guidance, they want leadership. And they want clear, concise, coherent messages.

BLACK: This is an unprecedented experiment, a desperate bid for freedom. Its success or failure will be measured in lives and suffering.

From isolation, the prime minister's country retreat, Boris Johnson has again justified all of this with the question if not now, then when. He says vaccines have weakened the link between infections, serious illness, and death, and the numbers clearly support that.

But he also knows, that link has not been broken. And there are still millions of people who have a limited, or no immunity. And that's why he's also pleading with people to continue acting cautiously, even though there are no longer any rules enforcing that behavior.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HOLMES: Now, earlier I spoke with CNN European affairs commentator, Dominic Thomas, about the British prime minister having to self isolate in the middle of England's so-called, Freedom Day. He said the mixed messages from the government could prove detrimental to the fight against the virus.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DOMINIC THOMAS, CNN EUROPEAN AFFAIRS COMMENTATOR: Throughout this process, it's as if the government has had rules and regulations in place, but those rules and regulations have been there for other people. We saw this during travel lockdown measures, and now, we can see it with this sort of two-track mechanism that Boris Johnson was trying to -- was trying to invoke. And, of course, the last thing you want beyond, you know, the much required and much-needed consistency, and trust, in order to get the British people to follow the rules and regulations and to continue to be cautious, is consistency. And he should not be backtracking, and he should not be making U-turns at this particular moment.

What's interesting, though, of course, is that the political cost to him of these U-turns has not been that great. But as everybody pointed out in the lead-up to our discussion here, part of this is really mitigated by the relative success of the vaccine rollout. But invariably, you can't help but think that the high expectations of the British people were, once again, be dashed once the reality of the COVID spread sets in again.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOLMES: Now, the delta variant isn't just driving up new infection numbers in the U.K., of course. Europe, and the Americas, also watching case counts climb. And you can see that red on the map there, which tells the story.

Last week, the WHO said global COVID deaths have gone up after declining for 9 consecutive weeks.

Now, Dr. Eric Topol is a cardiologist and professor of molecular medicine at Scripps Research. I spoke with him last hour, and asked him what he thought of the lifting of COVID restrictions in England, despite an ongoing case surge.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DR. ERIC TOPOL, PROFESSOR OF MOLECULAR MEDICINE, SCRIPPS RESEARCH: It's important to underscore, there is some 30 million people there, who are still, without vaccination, or only partially vaccinated.

[01:10:01]

So, they are all potential dangers for this delta variant, which is such a super spreader variant. So, you know, I think what we saw in the Netherlands, in the past week, when they reopened. And with the delta variant, I hope, that doesn't replicate in the U.K. because that would be a very unfortunate situation, to see so much spread.

Even though, Michael, as you well know, it is much less tied to deaths and hospitalizations, there is still a lot of cases, long COVID, and also, some hospitalizations and death. So, nothing that we'd want to see.

HOLMES: Yeah, exactly. You and I have discussed long COVID before.

In the U.S., when you look at some areas like L.A. County, reinstituting mask mandates, as cases there rise again, do you think doing away with those sorts of precautions was premature, particularly because there are still so many unvaccinated people?

TOPOL: Absolutely. I think L.A. County was wise with a market case increase right now. In spite of being above the average in the United States for vaccination, which is still not as good as the U.K., and Israel, and some other countries.

So, the problem here is that weirdo appreciated the, finally, how big an issue of the delta variant is. How fast it can spread in its exponential rise. So, masks should be used widely, among vaccinated, and unvaccinated individuals. You know, this is something that it's a protection that will aid. It can't hurt.

And so, you know, unfortunately, we have states that are refusing, that are outlawing mask mandates, can you believe that?

HOLMES: Yeah.

TOPOL: So, this is a problem, is we know it would help, but we have a resistance and we have unfortunately, like around the world, this pandemic fatigue.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOLMES: Now, with just days to go until the opening ceremony. The number of COVID-19 Olympic Games has now risen to 58. Coronavirus cases rising in Japan, raising fears of the games, which start Friday, could turn into a global super-spreader event.

CNN's Blake Essig joins me now live from Tokyo.

And as we say, literally, days until the opening ceremony, and the case numbers just keep going up. BLAKE ESSIG, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yeah, Michael, just last week,

International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach said that the risk of COVID-19 spreading, because of the, Olympics is zero. But, a growing number of cases are increasingly testing Olympic organizers promise that they'll be able to keep these games safe and secure.

So far, 58 people involved with the games have tested positive for COVID-19, after arriving in Japan, with the first cases being reported over the weekend, from inside of the Olympic Village. That included two players and a video analyst from South Africa's football team.

Now, there's also a growing list of athletes and Olympic-related personnel who have been forced into isolation, after being considered close contacts with people who tested positive. The most recent, including 21 people who were in close contact with members of the South African football team, and six athletes and two staff members from the British Olympic team who came into contact with someone who tested positive on their flight into Japan. Now, positive cases have come from athletes, coaches, contractors, delegation members, from various countries.

It's important to remember that even though Olympic organizers maintained that an estimated 80 percent of people who have been living in the Olympic Village will be vaccinated, only about 20 percent of Japan's population has been fully vaccinated, which means a lot of the people living here will be vulnerable if the Olympics do turn into a super-spreader event.

There is no question that these are difficult times in Tokyo. Cases are related to the Olympics, are starting to pile up, and generally speaking, they continue to surge among the Japanese population here in the capital. Daily cases have exceeded the 1,000 mark for five straight days, and on Sunday, reached its highest daily total in six months. And the increase in cases across the board continues to negatively impact support for the games. Many people here feel that Olympic organizers are holding these games against the will of the people, and when all is done, it's the people of Japan who will be left to deal with the consequences.

Now, over the weekend, IOC president Thomas Bach addressed the media and said that he's aware of the skepticism surrounding the Olympics, but hopes that the mood will change once the start -- once the game start in just a few days -- Michael.

HOLMES: Yeah, just checking, you can hear me, Blake?

No, he is touching his ear, that's a good signal that he does not have comms with me. I had a good question for him, but it will have to wait.

Blake Essig in Tokyo for us.

Now, the Netherlands may have been spared the worst of Europe's deadly flooding.

[01:15:04] Coming up, I speak to their water ambassador about what countries can learn from Dutch flooding expertise. We'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HOLMES: A place of horror and destruction, that is how one German official describes the Rhineland after historic flooding in northwestern Europe. Hundreds of people are still missing. At least 189 are confirmed dead. Germany accounts for most of those killed, German chancellor Angela Merkel touring one of her countries were hit areas on Thursday, and said that she almost didn't have words to describe what you've seen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ANGELA MERKEL, GERMAN CHANCELLOR (through translator): I've come here today, especially to assure, together with the state premier, in order to make clear that we, from the government, want to have proper assessment of this. I have to say that this is a real situation. It's horrendous. A German language doesn't really have words for this devastation.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOLMES: Now, so far, Germany accounts for most of those killed in the floods, lives, livelihoods swept away in an instant. But in the wake of the disaster, communities are banding together to help their neighbors.

CNN's Sam Kiley reports from North Rhine-Westphalia.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SAM KILEY, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): A business ruined, slung away almost as quickly as it was washed away.

Flash flooding engulfed this Vietnamese restaurant, Pho '68.

Her father filmed the rising waters in Euskirchen. It's one of many towns engulfed by floods that have killed at least 158 people across western Germany.

TUI, OWNER, PHO '68 RESTAURANT: A lot of friends, they have restaurants, houses, they're completely destroyed. I have a lot of friends there, which near the water, the house is not standing.

KILEY: Tui's restaurant had only opened two weeks, since the most recent COVID-19 restrictions were lifted. Now, she's dependent on friends and former diners to help clean up.

The violence of the flood is visible everywhere.

The disaster that engulfed this town was not the result of a swollen river bursting its banks, it was the result of flash flooding in a massive amount of rainfall coming in at an incredibly short period of time, and created torrents that swept through the streets, often this high. Swollen rivers drained the floods, eventually.

But looming over the area has been the future of the Steinbachtal Dam, parts of it collapsed. And several villages below evacuated. Engineers were rushed into bring its levels down before it burst.

Scenes like this and much worst are being repeated across western Germany and in neighboring Belgium.

[01:20:05]

Unseasonal rainfall has also hit the Netherlands and Austria and the Czech Republic. While many are grieving, there is an energetic sense of community, as cleaning up starts.

STEFAN, LOCAL VOLUNTEER: I don't know from where the generators come from, where all the pumps come from, I don't know -- the people around here, everybody is helping each other.

KILEY: The cost of this disaster are almost incalculable. But there will be a reckoning when the history of what happened here comes to be written amid the climate change crisis.

It's likely to say, this was a warning.

Sam Kiley, CNN, Euskirchen.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HOLMES: Now, in neighboring Belgium, the death toll has reached 31, and the national crisis center says that 163 people are still missing there. Officials say impacted areas are out of imminent danger, and now the focus is on search and cleanup operations.

Chris Burns has more from Verviers.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CHRIS BURNS, JOURNALIST: Cleanup efforts going on here in Verviers over my shoulder. You can see some of the people here who are helping to empty some of the basements that were filled with water and mud. They're bringing things out here on the streets. And if we can pan over here towards the bridge, you can see more of that destruction, more of the wreckage, there are a couple of cars underneath there. You could see refrigerator.

And up above, you can see two electric trucks. There are work crews that are feverishly working here in Verviers. That's one of the cities that only has about 40 percent of electric power right now. The problem is because of all the flooding damage, they have to check and make sure the circuits are okay before they turn on the switch.

There's also question of gas, gas leaks. And we just got back from a town nearby, very hard hit as well, where they had to stop some of the digging in the searches because of a gas leak. There's also a question of water as well. A lot of people, perhaps have some water back, they have water here. But it's a question of as to whether it is safe, still.

The government is saying, please, check with your local water distributor to make sure that it is safe. It is not. Don't even boil the water. Just use bottled water.

Also, an appeal to people if they do want to continue helping, as you can see over my shoulder. If they want to come into the disaster area, the police contact the Red Cross, because we saw lots of traffic jams that are holding up the efforts to try to restore this region after such a devastating flood.

Chris Burns, CNN, Verviers.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HOLMES: Now, the Netherlands saw major evacuations due to the floods, but the Dutch have so far avoided the death tolls of their neighbors in Germany and Belgium. Despite much of the Netherlands being under sea level, it seems that the country's dikes have done their job and held back much of the water.

That's an interesting issue because the Dutch are world leaders in dredging and managing water which became a major growth industry, in fact, in the climate change. And to talk about this, I'm joined by Hank Ovink. He's the Netherlands special envoy for international water affairs and an expert in all of this.

It's great to have you one sir. As these recent events unfolded, what did the Netherlands do in terms of managing water that other countries could potentially learn from to mitigate the impact of these sorts of events?

HENK OVINK, DUTCH SPECIAL ENVOY FOR INTERNATIONAL WATER AFFAIRS: Yes, thank you for having me, Michael, on your show.

And, of course, first of all with such climate disasters as we see now with extremes becoming more extreme, we have to be cautious in what we could've done. With these extremes, prevention is, of course, of critical importance, being prepared for these disasters. But you can't always prevent everything. But we know a couple of things are important. To protect against future shots and stretches, you have to prepare for that future, and not prepare for last disasters.

This is a little bit of what we've been trying to do after disasters hit Netherlands, is if we look ahead, we build the scenarios, we work on climate data, and reincorporate it in our models. Second, we have to go back to the systems. Our rivers in the Netherlands are delta. Our rivers are most to less determining how much water they can hold. And if we close them off with urbanization, with roads, with dams, dikes, levees, the water will only rise.

So, after are almost floods in 1993 and 1995, we came up with a program that was cold room for the river, making more room for the water like it used to have to ensure that with too much water, there was enough capacity in our reverend system, in our delta, to hold that water. [01:25:02]

And, of course, protection, days off, there is a benefit to that. There's also a lot of effort put into higher protection norms, really looking at future scenarios, IPCC scenarios from the U.N. to make sure that everything that you put in place is ready for the future, and not ready for the past.

HOLMES: There are some extraordinary things that are being done in the Netherlands where water, if there is excess water it can go into underground parking garages. And a whole lot of other things that we don't have time to get into now. But it is worth people looking at. We're already hearing some of these displaced people being called climate refugees.

To the point of what you are saying, will we need to change how and where we live as we face more and more climate extremes? I mean, the cycle of disaster, rebuild, repeat, it's not sustainable, is it?

HOLMES: No, if we look at the world and not only in Europe, we see climate disasters happening every day around the world with heat events like in the U.S., floods, and now in the Netherlands but also in Oman and Guatemala at the same time. So, it's -- these are not one- off events. They are happening and occurring more often.

And climate change makes them -- the occurrence not more often than not, but it makes the impact they become more extreme. So, the impact on our man-made systems is more extreme too.

So, a couple of things. We have to prepare and one of the ways of preparing is moving people and our likelihoods out of harm's way. And this -- going back to the natural system where we were used to live more in line with nature, now we have to build with nature, find a better way forward to protect ourselves, our livelihoods and prepare ourselves future events.

HOLMES: Yeah. And you literally co-wrote a book on preparing for climate change. It's called "Too Big: Rebuild by Design a Transformative Approach to Climate Change.".

And what if some of the things that the world needs to do as the impact of climate change grows? Sort of working with water, you know, as sea levels rise and stuff like that, isn't it?

OVINK: Yeah, that's true. The book actually showcases the experience that I had and was working for the Obama administration after Hurricane Sandy hit New York.

HOLMES: Uh-huh.

OVINK: And a couple of lessons came from that. One is that we often ignore these climate changes. We tried to say, hey, this is a natural disaster. Well, climate change is predominantly manmade. So, it's also on us to actually reverse that.

So the best way to adapt and the best way to prepare is to mitigate climate change. One-point-five degrees is the Paris agreement threshold. This is what we have to stick to.

At the same time, we know the impacts of climate change will be more extreme. So, we have to prepare and build resiliency. So the first lesson is, don't ignore it, embrace it. It's is the biggest challenge ever.

The second, it is complex. And we are often afraid of complex issues. We tend to focus on simple solutions.

But climate change is connected to environmental issues, economic issues, social issues but also cultural issues. So, complex challenge, you have to take on a holistic approach.

Third, you really have to be innovative. I think innovation is critical importance. Build with nature, look at the future, drive data, focus on finance. And do this innovatively, and in close collaboration with all stakeholders. And that might be that partnership approach, all the way to a governance approach, a systems partnership approach is of critical importance.

And then, as a collective we're able to face that because climate change does not care about the board as we put in place, we have to step over our borders, step over our silos and find novel ways forward.

HOLMES: I know that you had some pushback in dealing with the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy. I mean, there's got to be a mindset change by those who are planning and running cities. But really quickly, we're almost out of time, but one thing that struck me and reading up about the work that you do, in many ways a lot of the changes seen in that the lens have enhanced life, not taken away or disadvantage to people.

Is it fair to say that investment in climate adaptation can bring stronger communities as well as defending them, it's not a negative, right?

[01:29:45]

OVINK: You are so right, Michael. Investing in climate preparedness really adds value for your livelihood, for your economies, and for social well-being.

And a program like room for the river, added quality of life, quality for the economy, and more safety. So, it always takes more (INAUDIBLE). And as we see climate impacts increasing, the losses we will see on the economies on, agriculture, and support will only increase.

But investing in climate resilience and adaptation will give us added value. We prevent losses, we also add value to our economies and our society. And I think that is of critical importance to really understand moving forward.

HOLMES: And as somebody who's advised the U.N. and literally dozens of countries on this subject. Hank Ovink, you know what you are talking about. People should Google and read up about it because it's important stuff and it is our future.

Thanks so much, I wish we had more time.

OVINK: Thanks, Michael. Have a good day.

HOLMES: I appreciate it.

All right. Now, news agencies report least 30 people have been killed by flooding and landslides in Mumbai. Heavy monsoon rains are expected to continue making rescue and recovery efforts even more difficult.

Some rescue workers have been digging through mud and debris with their hands. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced aid for the victims.

Still to come here on the program, Indonesia now the COVID epicenter in Southeast Asia. What is behind the devastating surge that's leaving hundreds dead each day.

We'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HOLMES: Welcome back to our viewers all around the world. I'm Michael Holmes, you are watching CNN NEWSROOM.

Now, tens of thousands of Muslim pilgrims gathered in Mecca this weekend for the second Hajj of the pandemic era. Only 60,000 Saudi residents are allowed to take part in this year's pilgrimage and they must all be vaccinated against COVID-19.

Before the pandemic, more than two million Muslims from around the world would attend each year. The annual pilgrimage is one of Islam's most important traditions. It concludes with Eid al-Adha -- celebrations which start on Tuesday.

Now, pandemic precautions around the holiday are particularly a big concern in Indonesia, which is now the COVID epicenter in Southeast Asia. The country averaging more than 40,000 cases a day, more than 800 people dying every day.

The surge is straining Indonesian hospitals and causing widespread oxygen shortages, just under 6 percent of Indonesia's population fully vaccinated.

[01:34:51]

HOLMES: For more, we are joined by CNN's Kristie Lu Stout in Hong Kong. And talk about the level of concern about Indonesia as the new regional epicenter.

KRISTIE LU STOUT, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes. The level of concern is so high right now as Indonesia battles this devastating wave of COVID-19. And the peak is likely yet to come as Eid al-Adha celebrations are due to begin later this week.

Look, for weeks now, Indonesia, the world's fourth most populous country has been reporting thousands of daily new cases of the coronavirus, hundreds of daily deaths from the coronavirus as it struggles with a highly contagious Delta variant.

And now the country's reporting a record number of doctors dying from COVID-19. In the first two weeks of July, 114 doctors have died from the virus. This, despite the fact that 95 percent of health care workers in Indonesia have been inoculated.

As a result Indonesian authorities have announced that they would use the Moderna messenger-RNA vaccine as a booster to China's Sinovac.

But Indonesia's health care system is in crisis. Indonesia has overtaken India as the pandemic epicenter here in Asia. And Indonesian families are struggling. Here is Dina Satria of Save the Children in Indonesia.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DINA SATRIA, SAVE THE CHILDREN INDONESIA: We are getting overwhelmed with how the system is on the verge of collapse. And also the government is putting more movement restrictions right now.

Of course, it helps with trying to control the infection, but also pushes more families into poverty.

I am worried that we're not seeing the peak yet. So it will take longer. And the crisis will take longer than anyone can anticipate it.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

STOUT: You know, for most of last year, Indonesia had managed to keep the virus largely under control, but we heard from the health minister earlier this month who conceded that there was quote, "a dramatic uptick" in cases after a recent holiday season.

And now the concerns are very high that there could be another explosion of COVID-19 cases in Indonesia, as Eid al-Adha celebrations begin Tuesday in Indonesia.

Pandemic restrictions are in place throughout the country. Shopping malls have been closed, work from home orders are in place. But officials right now are weighing whether or not to extend those measures that are due to expire tomorrow, Michael.

HOLMES: Give us more of a summary about elsewhere in Southeast Asia. What are the concerns in a more regional sense?

STOUT: Yes, we are seeing peak number of COVID-19 cases being reported not just in Indonesia but in neighboring Malaysia, in Myanmar, in Thailand as well. Over the weekend on Sunday, Thai authorities announced further lockdown measures in Bangkok, as well as in high risk provincial areas. They also announced a suspension in domestic travel, namely with air flights throughout the country, and expansion of curfews as well. This as the Delta variant continues to sweep across the region, Michael?

HOLMES: It's extremely concerning. Kristie Lu Stout in Hong Kong, appreciate the update. Thanks for that.

We're going to take a quick break.

When we come back on CNN NEWSROOM, the wife of Haiti's assassinated president arrives home ahead of his funeral. Why she could play a key role in answering the questions that surround his murder.

Also, the White House warns on doing business in Hong Kong. What it could mean for the future of the city's vibrant economy.

We'll be right back.

[01:38:34]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HOLMES: Now, the acting U.S. Ambassador in Kabul is calling for an investigation into the Taliban murder of 22 surrendering Afghan commandoes. Ross Wilson met with the Afghan defense minister in Kabul on Sunday, and tweeted quote, "The Taliban committed possible war crimes by murdering surrendering Afghan troops in Faryab. The savage crime must be investigated, and those responsible held accountable."

CNN was the first to report on those killings. Here's a portion of Anna Coren's report from a few days ago. A warning, it does contains graphic images.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ANNA COREN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): After over two hours of heavy fighting, all ammunition spent, Afghan commandoes walk out with hands in the air.

"Surrender commando, surrender," yells a Taliban member.

But the rules of war don't exist on his battlefield.

Seconds later, more than a dozen member of the elite special forces have been executed.

Sources confirmed the bodies of 22 commandoes were retrieved.

A villager pleads with the Taliban to stop shooting, asking, how are you Pashtun and you're killing Afghans.

CNN has spoken to five eyewitnesses to this massacre, which occurred last month in (INAUDIBLE) a district of Faryab Province in Northern Afghanistan. All confirm these events took place.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOLMES: The Taliban denied the alleged execution saying the video was fake and the accusation fictitious. Well, the wife of Haiti's assassinated president has returned home as

the country prepares for the funeral of her husband, Jovenel Moise.

Now first lady Martine Moise survived the attack that killed her husband making her one of the only witnesses to his murder. And with questions still swirling around the attack, investigators are, of course, eager to speak with her.

CNN's Matt Rivers is in Port-Au-Prince with more.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MATT RIVERS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, the first lady of Haiti is now back here on the island. She came back over the weekend, remember, she was critically injured during the assassination that took the life of her husband, President Jovenel Moise.

They were -- he was assassinated in the presidential residence more than one week ago. During that attack, she was critically injured. She was taken to the airport here in Port-Au-Prince. There she was flown to Miami where she recovered in a hospital in Miami for more than one week. Obviously, now feeling well enough to have returned here to the island.

She's a surviving witness of this attack. Investigators obviously want to hear what she has to say. And so to do members of the public because so many questions still surround the investigation into the assassination of President Moise.

Unclear at this point if or when she plans to speak out publicly. We do know she will be attending funeral events that will take place this week for President Moise. There will be some of those events that take place here in Port-Au-Prince.

Also there will be his official funeral on Friday in Cap-Haitien. It is a town on the northern part of this island. That is where Moise is from and that is where his official funeral will take place on Friday.

But again -- when, if the first lady plans to speak out publicly, remains an open question.

Matt Rivers, CNN -- Port-Au-Prince, Haiti.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HOLMES: Cubans living outside the island nation are showing solidarity with protesters at home with some uniquely Cuban flare.

Now, this demonstration took place Sunday in the Dominican Republic. Cuba has recently seen the most significant unrest in decades. Thousands taking to the streets to protest shortages of basic goods, curbs on civil liberties and the government's handling of COVID-19.

Cuban-American songwriter and singer, Gloria Estefan spoke with CNN about the mood in the island nation.

[01:44:57]

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GLORIA ESTEFAN, CUBAN-AMERICAN SINGER: The young people of Cuba have had enough. They do not have any romantic ties to the revolution, or anything that may have happened 62 years ago.

They're hungry. They feel hopeless. They are being jailed. They're being tortured and it's being hidden. People are dying in the streets and in the hospitals, it is dire.

And things are not going to go backwards. If the government of Cuba think that this is going to go away, they're sadly mistaken.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOLMES: The advocacy group, Human Rights Watch says hundreds of Cuban demonstrators have been detained by authorities in the past week. CNN has not been able to confirm actual numbers.

Cuban officials said that some protesters who were arrested are being released which CNN has been able to independently verify.

Brazil's president out of the hospital after being treated for an intestinal obstruction. Jair Bolsonaro hospitalized in Sao Paulo since Wednesday for complications he said were related to a 2018 stabbing.

The president had complained of chronic hiccups and abdominal pain before they brought him in but he did not require surgery.

Hong Kong's government has been firing back at the U.S. over sanctions imposed on seven officials in the Hong Kong's China liaison office over Beijing's crackdown on democracy.

On Friday, U.S. officials also issued an advisory to U.S. companies doing business in the city. The Hong Kong government responding calling the measures quote, "ridiculous, and unfounded fearmongering".

U.S. Secretary of state Antony Blinken though referred to the liaison officers China's quote, "main platform for projecting its influence in Hong Kong". Saying it has "repeatedly undermined the high degree of autonomy promised for Hong Kong".

Tara Joseph is the president of the American Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong. She joins me now.

Good to see you. So, the Biden administration is calling Beijing's tightening control on Hong Kong an extraordinary threat to American security and economic interest. Is he right that there is an extraordinary threat to how businesses connected (ph) in Hong Kong?

TARA JOSEPH, PRESIDENT, AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE-HONG KONG: Well, extraordinary is a very large word for businesses that are operating here. Obviously, we are facing a new normal.

Quite a few events have taken place in Hong Kong over the last few years. The 2019 protests, a change in the electoral system. The national security law and U.S. sanctions on officials based around Hong Kong.

That has added to a layer of complexities and concerns. But as far as operating here, there are still aspects of Hong Kong that are still very open, and extraordinarily important for businesses.

HOLMES: What then are the concerns of the business community in Hong Kong? How might China's moves against the democracy movement impact the traditional way that business and investment and so on is done in Hong Kong?

JOSEPH: Well, there are few ways. First of all, rule of law is absolutely essential for business people operating in Hong Kong. The rule of law here is an internationally-recognized system of rule of law which is different from on the mainland.

That makes commercial contracts very important to be completed in Hong Kong. And that gives people a sense of safety. And if there's any chipping away of that, then that is of great concern.

Now we have seen some signs of chipping away of rule of law when it comes to the democracy movement. But as far as business goes, right now things seem relatively comfortable. There's also, free flow of information.

Now in terms of the press, there are concerns about free flow of information. The concerns here are that data around what markets can say, and people involved in the financial markets can say.

There's also concern about self-censorship. They're not something that impedes a free flow, and a feeling of being able to conduct business.

HOLMES: Yes. They were issues raised by the secretary of state as well, indeed. I'm curious, I mean if U.S. businesses, other businesses as well pulled out of Hong Kong, or say reduced their footprint because of these sorts of concerns, what would be the impact on Hong Kong financially? What would happen to its economy, the importance of it in the sense of being a financial hub?

JOSEPH: Well right now, there is no sign that major American firms, especially the financial services firms are about to pull out in any major way. But it would have a tremendous impact on the economy of Hong Kong.

[01:49:55]

JOSEPH: This is an area, a city that is based on connectivity activity. It is a gateway services center in and out of China. While we have some economy to support other types of sectors, it is really that that makes Hong Kong special.

HOLMES: I want to go to that something you touch on because it's important one of the U.S. concerns. China's ability to access data, stored by companies in Hong Kong as well as the risk of being targeted by the new Chinese law that can punish firms for complying with sanctions by foreign governments. Those sorts of things, are they making the people you are interacting within the business community nervous?

JOSEPH: Well there's no question that these are talking points. And that every company needs to look at what is happening within their firms. Discuss with headquarters what the risks are, think of types of plans to make sure these things aren't happening.

Compliance when it comes to sanctions for financial services firms becomes ultra important to make sure that they are not getting in the way of U.S. law, or Chinese law.

So of course, it is a major talking point, and it has created a new normal in Hong Kong. But there is no question that this city is seen as a crucial business center. So the question is, risk versus reward. How do you mitigate that risk?

HOLMES: And it is a golden goose in many ways for China, and the Mainland as well.

We're out of time. So, real quick if you can. Do you feel that one country-two systems is dead? Or at least on life support?

JOSEH: One country-two systems can be viewed in two ways. It can be viewed as one country (small letters), two systems. Or one country, two systems in the same size.

And I think that's the question mark, right now. Which way is it? And is the one country going to overwhelm the two systems? Right now, we still have both.

HOLMES: Fascinating insight. Tara Joseph there in Hong Kong. Thanks so much.

And we are going to take a quick break. When we come back on CNN NEWSROOM, making history at golf's open championship, Collin Morikawa speaks with CNN about putting his name in the record books of one of England's most prestigious courses. That's coming up next.

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HOLMES: The American golfer, Collin Morikawa has won the 149th Open championship. And he's done it in historic fashion too. The 24-year- old won the Open in his first time playing in the prestigious tournament. That doesn't happen very often. He is now the first golfer to win two different majors in his first attempt.

He also won last year's PGA championship. And now he has the claret jug. Morikawa's strung together a stretch of 31 consecutive holes without a bogey to finish a 15 under par two shots ahead of the American runner-up, Jordan Spieth.

Next up for Morikawa, a trip to Tokyo where he will represent the United States in the Olympic Games beginning later this week. Terrific golfer, Morikawa is now the third ranked in the world.

He spoke with our Alex Thomas shortly after making history at Royal St. George's Golf Club about the success.

[01:54:53]

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

COLLIN MORIKAWA, GOLFER: Every little piece of advice that anyone gets, any kid, any person trying to take up the game, embrace it. Look around -- and that's what I do, I observe. Then I try to take as much as I can.

I feel like it is unnecessary to put it out, but you can learn from a lot, and not just from people like me or people that are the best in the world about this. But you know, maybe your next door neighbor, maybe someone you play with every day.

But I enjoy it so much. This is what I love to do and I think that's why I just embrace the moment that we are in.

It is just so much fun. And hopefully, I'm glad I look calm. But there's nerves. And the nerves are channeled into excitement. And using that positive kind of, you know, feeling, we're able to play some good golf.

ALEX THOMAS, CNN WORLD SPORT: You singled out the fans and your family for thanks in your victory speech. Why was that?

MORIKAWA: Because I owe it to everyone. I owe it to you. I owe it to the media, my family obviously, my coaches, my trainers, my caddie, agents, sponsors.

But the fans. The fans meets so much. We've obviously -- everyone's been going through tough times over the past year and a half, two years almost, you know, year and a half.

That same people just have the joy for the game of golf. I owe it to them. You know, I owe them a thank you, because they took time out of their day, out of their work to come out here and enjoy golf. Enjoy what we do. Enjoy what they do and hopefully we put on a show.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOLMES: Certainly did.

Tadej Pogacar has won the Tour De France for the second time in a row. The 22-year-old Slovenian powerhouse winning by 5 minutes and 20 seconds. Last year he became the youngest winner of the famous three week race since 1904 and the first Slovenian to win a yellow jersey, cycling's most coveted prize.

On Tuesday, the Amazon founder Jeff Bezos is hoping to join the ranks of billionaire astronauts. He is scheduled to rocket to the edge of space, and back with his company Blue Origin. Also on board will be his brother, Mark Bezos, as well as 18-year old Oliver Daemen, and 82 year old aviator Wally Funk. They will be the youngest and oldest people ever to travel into space. The Dutch teen added after the seats original owner took a rain check due to a scheduling conflict. It did cost him $28 million, I think. The trip comes just nine days after Richard Branson became the first billionaire to travel to space in his own company's spacecraft. Lift off targeted for 9:00 a.m. U.S. Eastern time.

On that note, thanks for spending part of your day with me. I'm Michael Holmes.

My colleague Kim Brunhuber has more CNN NEWSROOM after this short break.

[01:57:40]

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