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COY WIRE: Good morning, everyone terrific Tuesday to you.
I'm Coy Wire, this is CNN 10, and we have a rendezvous
with the news, so let's go.
First up today, we're heading to Ukraine.
It's been almost one year since Russia's war in Ukraine
began and there is no end in sight for the conflict.
This month, the United States and some of its NATO allies
sent tanks to help aid the front line in Ukraine.
The US pledged 31 of its Abrams tanks.
Poland said it will provide 60 tanks.
The UK committed 16.
Germany sent 14.
In the United States politicians in both parties
called this move a turning point in the war
and said that the tanks will enhance Ukraine's capacity
to defend its territory and achieve
its strategic objectives.
50 additional nations around the world
are making other military contributions as well.
The gesture was seen as a major sign of support,
but some have criticized the decision,
saying it could make these NATO allies
too involved in the war itself.
And some critics are asking if this
means NATO is now directly involved
in the conflict with Russia.
We're joined now by CNN International
correspondent Fred Pleitgen with the latest on the conflict.
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FREDERIK PLEITGEN: Revving like a dragster, the crew
from the 28th mechanized brigade warm up their Soviet-era T-64
for battle.
- [NON-ENGLISH SPEECH]
FREDERIK PLEITGEN: "We have problems with ammunition,
we're running low," the commander tells me.
"And that's the only problem we have.
We get enough spare parts.
Our commanders work all the time to sustain the tank
and repair it."
That commander, who goes by the call sign David,
races the 40-year-old beast towards the front line
like a steam engine train.
A lot of Ukraine's main battle tanks are as old as this one.
That's why the military says they urgently
need those new Western main battle
tanks-- they say around 300 to 400
to try and turn the tide in this war.
The problem, Ukraine is running out of Soviet-era tanks
and is having increasing trouble replacing those lost in battle
or needing repair.
The 28th helped liberate Kherson in the south
and then was sent here.
It's already been a long war for this unit.
Ukrainian soldiers on the front around Bakhmut
are elated Western nations are sending modern battle
tanks and M1A2 Abrams from the US,
German made Leopard 2s, and British Challenger tanks.
[EXPLOSION]
But the Ukrainians are also masters
at using the old Soviet tanks they have now to best effect--
firing, reloading, taking aim, and quickly--
- [NON-ENGLISH SPEECH]
FREDERIK PLEITGEN: --shooting again.
The tank engineer, who only gave his name as Maxim,
says the soldiers from the 28th could operate
these vehicles blindfolded.
- [NON-ENGLISH SPEECH]
FREDERIK PLEITGEN: "If we fire from a covered position,
we use this device," he says.
"It's old and analog, but pretty efficient, very precise."
[EXPLOSION]
Ukraine's forces say their tanks have
been extremely important and effective here in Bakhmut.
The tank commander says they're constantly working
to stop Wagner's advances here.
- [NON-ENGLISH SPEECH]
FREDERIK PLEITGEN: "We just fight against them.
If we stop, they will come closer
and we will lose our houses and families.
We stand here to allow people to peacefully
live in their homes."
But Ukraine's army is under growing pressure
around Bakhmut as the Russians pour more armor into this area.
The promised Western tanks probably
won't arrive fast enough to make a difference in this battle,
but these soldiers hope they will turn the tide of the war.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
- 10-second trivia.
Which of these is the largest contiguous
sand desert in the world?
Gobi, Empty Quarter, Namib, or Great Victoria.
[BEEPING]
At about 250,000 square miles, the Empty Quarter desert
covers parts of Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Oman,
and the United Arab Emirates.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
COY WIRE: Up next, we're headed to that desert in the Middle
East to talk about dust storms.
Our journey begins all the way in the United Arab Emirates.
We'll meet Diana Francis, an atmospheric scientist
in Abu Dhabi and an expert on dust storms.
Now, when dust storms hit, they can be dangerous,
driving thousands of people to hospitals, shutting
down businesses and schools.
These storms know no borders and wreak
havoc across the Middle East.
And the phenomenon cost the region's economies
an estimated $13 billion a year.
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- Diana Frances is an atmospheric scientist
at Khalifa University in Abu Dhabi
and an expert on a natural phenomenon--
dust storms.
DIANA FRANCIS: Dust storms are weather phenomena that
are caused by high wind speed that
are occurring near the surface over desert terrain.
They will lift small particles of sand,
and these particles will be able to travel thousands
of kilometers around the globe.
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- In June 2020, a colossal dust storm, nicknamed Godzilla,
crossed the Atlantic from the Sahara desert.
Darkening skies across the Caribbean,
it was the biggest dust storm worldwide in 20 years,
according to NASA, and one of a number recently wreaking
havoc across the globe.
In 2022, thousands of people were hospitalized
across the Middle East with respiratory problems
due to a wave of deadly dust storms.
DIANA FRANCIS: In some cases, we have visibility
that drops to 10 meters.
And then people will feel difficulty to breathe
and we can't do, for example, outside activities
whenever dust storm occur.
- In 2016, the UN estimated this extreme weather cost the Middle
East and North Africa regions economy $13 billion a year
in damage to the environment, agriculture,
transport, and infrastructure.
It's a problem made worse by increasing heatwaves
and droughts due to climate change and alterations
in land use, which create more sources of dust.
DIANA FRANCIS: I really wanted to know
what's special about the Empty Quarter desert--
what's happening in the atmosphere
on the sand and the land?
- The Empty Quarter desert--
250,000 square miles-- stretching
across the Arabian Peninsula, it's the world's largest sand
desert.
Francis and Khalifa University are
conducting what she says is first of its kind
research in the region--
to measure dust storms coming from the Empty Quarter.
DIANA FRANCIS: So here we have a meteorological tower on which
we have several sensors at different levels
so it allows us to have the vertical structure
of the atmosphere.
- That data helps predict dust storms in the region
and further afield.
Her work on dust is even more important in a region
where solar power is emerging as a green energy source.
DIANA FRANCIS: We know that solar energy efficiency
is impacted by dust storm.
And if we want to understand how much we can rely
on these energy sources, we need to be able to predict
dust storms and their activity.
The story about studying the weather
is a no end story because there is always something new,
something novel to discover.
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COY WIRE: And for today's 10 out of 10, we've
definitely heard of a neighborhood
cat getting caught in the tree.
Well, now we have a dog.
Meet Izzy, who is probably feeling dizzy when he realized
he was high up in a tree.
Oh, what a tizzy.
He was lost in his own little world,
just trying to have some fun as he was chasing after squirrels.
But then he got stuck.
But Izzy was in luck, first responders came to save him
with their little fire truck.
And they even brought Izzy some snacks.
Shoutout time now-- high five and a high 10
to Morgan City High School in Morgan City, Louisiana.
Go Tigers.
Hope you have a happy day.
And remember happiness isn't some ideal
we have to chase or create.
Happiness is right here right now whenever
we choose to embrace it.
Much love, many blessings.
I'm Coy and this is CNN.
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