WEBVTT 00:00:11.200 --> 00:00:13.110 Good morning, good afternoon, or good 00:00:13.120 --> 00:00:14.870 evening wherever you are in the world. 00:00:14.880 --> 00:00:17.269 I'm Mina Derson in for Koi Wire and I'm 00:00:17.279 --> 00:00:18.790 so glad to be back with you on this 00:00:18.800 --> 00:00:21.830 Wednesday, May 27th. It is also your 00:00:21.840 --> 00:00:23.990 word Wednesday. So listen closely and 00:00:24.000 --> 00:00:25.830 see if the word you submitted helped us 00:00:25.840 --> 00:00:27.830 write today's show. We begin with some 00:00:27.840 --> 00:00:30.070 big news out of the US Federal Reserve. 00:00:30.080 --> 00:00:31.990 The Federal Reserve or Fed is the 00:00:32.000 --> 00:00:33.830 country's central banking system and one 00:00:33.840 --> 00:00:35.190 of the most powerful economic 00:00:35.200 --> 00:00:37.670 institutions in the world. And now it 00:00:37.680 --> 00:00:39.830 has a new leader. Kevin Worsh has been 00:00:39.840 --> 00:00:42.310 sworn in as the 17th Fed chairman. He 00:00:42.320 --> 00:00:43.990 was nominated by President Donald Trump 00:00:44.000 --> 00:00:46.229 in January to succeed Jerome Powell, who 00:00:46.239 --> 00:00:48.709 had been in the role since 2018, serving 00:00:48.719 --> 00:00:50.389 two consecutive terms under both 00:00:50.399 --> 00:00:52.709 President Trump and President Biden. So 00:00:52.719 --> 00:00:55.430 what exactly does the Fed chair do? In 00:00:55.440 --> 00:00:57.189 short, they are the voice of the US 00:00:57.199 --> 00:00:59.349 economy. They act as the central bank's 00:00:59.359 --> 00:01:01.270 chief executive and oversee the Federal 00:01:01.280 --> 00:01:03.110 Open Market Committee, which decides 00:01:03.120 --> 00:01:05.590 what interest rates will be. And those 00:01:05.600 --> 00:01:07.670 impact everything from credit cards to 00:01:07.680 --> 00:01:09.670 mortgages. And although the Fed is an 00:01:09.680 --> 00:01:11.670 independent institution, the chair is 00:01:11.680 --> 00:01:13.670 responsible for fostering a sense of 00:01:13.680 --> 00:01:15.590 synergy with the Treasury Department and 00:01:15.600 --> 00:01:17.590 many other key parts of the government. 00:01:17.600 --> 00:01:19.270 Wars is stepping into the role at a 00:01:19.280 --> 00:01:21.109 critical time amid uncertainty over 00:01:21.119 --> 00:01:23.350 inflation, geopolitical conflicts, and 00:01:23.360 --> 00:01:25.429 volatile financial markets. But at 00:01:25.439 --> 00:01:27.190 Friday's swearing in ceremony, he made 00:01:27.200 --> 00:01:29.510 it clear that he's up for the challenge. 00:01:29.520 --> 00:01:31.749 >> I will lead a reform oriented Federal 00:01:31.759 --> 00:01:34.710 Reserve, learning from past successes 00:01:34.720 --> 00:01:37.910 and mistakes, both escaping static 00:01:37.920 --> 00:01:40.870 frameworks and models, and upholding 00:01:40.880 --> 00:01:43.270 clear standards of integrity and 00:01:43.280 --> 00:01:45.190 performance. 00:01:45.200 --> 00:01:47.590 Today marks a return to an institution 00:01:47.600 --> 00:01:49.910 that I do in fact cherish. 00:01:49.920 --> 00:01:51.830 >> An urgent effort is underway to reach 00:01:51.840 --> 00:01:53.749 seven villagers trapped underground in a 00:01:53.759 --> 00:01:55.749 cave in Laos. They've now been there for 00:01:55.759 --> 00:01:57.749 nearly a week after flash flooding from 00:01:57.759 --> 00:02:00.230 heavy rain reportedly blocked the exit. 00:02:00.240 --> 00:02:01.910 One group coordinating the rescue says 00:02:01.920 --> 00:02:03.670 teams will have to navigate a more than 00:02:03.680 --> 00:02:05.749 1,000 ft long tunnel to reach the 00:02:05.759 --> 00:02:08.469 villagers. CNN's Mike Valerio filed this 00:02:08.479 --> 00:02:14.150 report from Beijing. 00:02:14.160 --> 00:02:16.070 Rescue teams squeeze through narrow 00:02:16.080 --> 00:02:18.790 flooded tunnels in rural Lao. Their goal 00:02:18.800 --> 00:02:20.390 reaching seven people trapped 00:02:20.400 --> 00:02:22.550 underground for almost a week. We're 00:02:22.560 --> 00:02:24.150 told local villagers often visit the 00:02:24.160 --> 00:02:26.550 site to search for gold deposits. Videos 00:02:26.560 --> 00:02:28.550 recorded by rescue divers from Thailand 00:02:28.560 --> 00:02:30.869 show them navigating a more than 1000 ft 00:02:30.879 --> 00:02:33.589 long tunnel. For most of the way, they 00:02:33.599 --> 00:02:37.030 have to crawl. 00:02:37.040 --> 00:02:38.869 >> In some places, they have to submerge 00:02:38.879 --> 00:02:41.509 completely to find a way through. One of 00:02:41.519 --> 00:02:43.270 the groups coordinating the rescue says 00:02:43.280 --> 00:02:45.430 that at its narrowest point, the tunnel 00:02:45.440 --> 00:02:49.030 measures just 23 in. Outside, other team 00:02:49.040 --> 00:02:50.790 members run cables through a gap between 00:02:50.800 --> 00:02:52.949 the rocks to guide rescuers to its lower 00:02:52.959 --> 00:02:55.430 reaches. Three divers from the crew were 00:02:55.440 --> 00:02:57.430 involved in the dramatic 2018 cave 00:02:57.440 --> 00:02:59.830 rescue of 12 Thai boys and their 00:02:59.840 --> 00:03:01.830 football coach. 00:03:01.840 --> 00:03:03.350 >> No word on this latest incident from 00:03:03.360 --> 00:03:05.190 Lao's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The 00:03:05.200 --> 00:03:07.350 Southeast Asian nation is a one party 00:03:07.360 --> 00:03:09.430 communist state that often closely 00:03:09.440 --> 00:03:12.470 regulates the release of information. 00:03:12.480 --> 00:03:15.830 >> And it's time for 10 trivia. What is the 00:03:15.840 --> 00:03:18.630 lowest point on Earth on dry land? Is it 00:03:18.640 --> 00:03:21.910 Death Valley, the Grand Canyon, the Dead 00:03:21.920 --> 00:03:26.470 Sea, or Lake Assaul? 00:03:26.480 --> 00:03:28.710 If you said the Dead Sea, your knowledge 00:03:28.720 --> 00:03:31.430 is deep. The Dead Sea's shoreline lies 00:03:31.440 --> 00:03:35.509 more than 1,400 ft below sea level. The 00:03:35.519 --> 00:03:37.270 Dead Sea isn't just the lowest point on 00:03:37.280 --> 00:03:39.110 Earth. It's also one of the planet's 00:03:39.120 --> 00:03:41.430 biggest natural wonders. It gets its 00:03:41.440 --> 00:03:43.270 name from its extremely high salt 00:03:43.280 --> 00:03:45.589 content, nearly 10 times that of the 00:03:45.599 --> 00:03:47.589 ocean, which makes it impossible for 00:03:47.599 --> 00:03:49.750 fish, plants, and other aquatic life to 00:03:49.760 --> 00:03:51.910 survive. The sea's unique waters and 00:03:51.920 --> 00:03:53.750 mineral resources have been cherished by 00:03:53.760 --> 00:03:55.750 civilizations throughout history. But 00:03:55.760 --> 00:03:57.670 scientists are sounding the alarm over a 00:03:57.680 --> 00:04:00.149 troubling trend. They say the Dead Sea 00:04:00.159 --> 00:04:03.030 is dying. Our Jeremy Diamond got a rare 00:04:03.040 --> 00:04:04.789 firstirhand look at the fight to save 00:04:04.799 --> 00:04:07.030 this storied sea. 00:04:07.040 --> 00:04:09.190 >> Jake Benzaken is one of the only people 00:04:09.200 --> 00:04:11.350 licensed to operate a boat on the Dead 00:04:11.360 --> 00:04:13.990 Sea. And for the last 12 years, that's 00:04:14.000 --> 00:04:15.030 what he's done. 00:04:15.040 --> 00:04:16.310 >> So, you know it well. 00:04:16.320 --> 00:04:19.990 >> Yeah. I got to see all the faces. giving 00:04:20.000 --> 00:04:22.150 him an unparalleled view of one of 00:04:22.160 --> 00:04:24.230 Earth's natural wonders and the 00:04:24.240 --> 00:04:26.550 fastmoving environmental disaster 00:04:26.560 --> 00:04:28.790 threatening its existence. 00:04:28.800 --> 00:04:32.790 >> So every year we get about new 7 and 1/2 00:04:32.800 --> 00:04:37.110 m of new shoreline because the seas 00:04:37.120 --> 00:04:37.990 dropping. 00:04:38.000 --> 00:04:41.590 >> The Dead Sea is dying. Its surface area 00:04:41.600 --> 00:04:43.990 has shrunk by about onethird in the last 00:04:44.000 --> 00:04:47.030 50 years. And its salt encrusted shores 00:04:47.040 --> 00:04:49.749 now stand as a testament to the rapid 00:04:49.759 --> 00:04:51.510 pace of change. 00:04:51.520 --> 00:04:54.550 >> This is last year, two years ago. Every 00:04:54.560 --> 00:04:55.749 step, it's a year. 00:04:55.759 --> 00:04:58.469 >> Each step shows how much the sea level 00:04:58.479 --> 00:05:00.870 has dropped from one year to the next at 00:05:00.880 --> 00:05:03.990 a rate of about 4 feet per year like 00:05:04.000 --> 00:05:07.909 nothing else in the world. Dr. Yael Kiro 00:05:07.919 --> 00:05:10.150 has been studying the Dead Sea for over 00:05:10.160 --> 00:05:11.189 a decade. 00:05:11.199 --> 00:05:13.270 >> There's no other place on earth like the 00:05:13.280 --> 00:05:15.670 Dead Sea to understand why it is 00:05:15.680 --> 00:05:18.469 shrinking and what can be done about it. 00:05:18.479 --> 00:05:19.830 >> The main reason is because of the 00:05:19.840 --> 00:05:22.629 utilization of the water resources 00:05:22.639 --> 00:05:24.390 around the Dead Sea. This contributes 00:05:24.400 --> 00:05:27.110 around 60% of the drop. And then there 00:05:27.120 --> 00:05:29.909 is uh the Dead Sea factories both the 00:05:29.919 --> 00:05:32.469 Jordanian and the Israelis that pump 00:05:32.479 --> 00:05:35.189 directly the brine and evaporate it in 00:05:35.199 --> 00:05:37.270 order to extract minerals and they 00:05:37.280 --> 00:05:39.430 contribute about 40% for from from for 00:05:39.440 --> 00:05:41.909 the late level drops. Israel's Dead Sea 00:05:41.919 --> 00:05:44.390 Works and Jordan's Arab Potach Company 00:05:44.400 --> 00:05:47.029 pump tens of billions of gallons of 00:05:47.039 --> 00:05:49.670 water out of the Dead Sea each year, 00:05:49.680 --> 00:05:51.670 evaporating much of that water to 00:05:51.680 --> 00:05:54.469 extract potach and magnesium, key 00:05:54.479 --> 00:05:57.510 fertilizer ingredients. Some who want to 00:05:57.520 --> 00:05:59.510 save the Dead Sea have proposed building 00:05:59.520 --> 00:06:01.830 a pipeline and pumping water in from the 00:06:01.840 --> 00:06:04.070 Red Sea. Others advocate for 00:06:04.080 --> 00:06:06.309 replenishing the Jordan River, allowing 00:06:06.319 --> 00:06:08.550 the water to flow naturally into the 00:06:08.560 --> 00:06:11.749 Dead Sea. But while ideas abound, 00:06:11.759 --> 00:06:14.550 government action is still missing. The 00:06:14.560 --> 00:06:17.270 impact isn't just environmental. It's 00:06:17.280 --> 00:06:19.270 also financial. 00:06:19.280 --> 00:06:21.510 This graveyard of palm trees and 00:06:21.520 --> 00:06:24.230 graffiti buildings was once a thriving 00:06:24.240 --> 00:06:27.029 beach resort. The road leading to it 00:06:27.039 --> 00:06:29.749 explains why it's been abandoned. 00:06:29.759 --> 00:06:31.270 Tourists used to take this road all the 00:06:31.280 --> 00:06:33.189 time to get to the Dead Sea, but now 00:06:33.199 --> 00:06:36.150 sinkholes like this one line its path, 00:06:36.160 --> 00:06:38.309 and the whole area has been abandoned. 00:06:38.319 --> 00:06:40.390 And the concern is that more sink holes 00:06:40.400 --> 00:06:42.309 will continue to happen as the Dead Sea 00:06:42.319 --> 00:06:44.469 drops and tourism will be severely 00:06:44.479 --> 00:06:45.510 impacted. 00:06:45.520 --> 00:06:47.990 >> Since the lake level started to drop, 00:06:48.000 --> 00:06:52.150 this salt layer instead of being exposed 00:06:52.160 --> 00:06:55.029 to the uh Dead Sea brine, it is exposed 00:06:55.039 --> 00:06:57.270 to more fresh water and then eventually 00:06:57.280 --> 00:06:58.950 you get collapse. 00:06:58.960 --> 00:07:01.670 >> Aboard his boat, Ben Zaken says he sees 00:07:01.680 --> 00:07:04.390 new evidence of the Dead Sea's man-made 00:07:04.400 --> 00:07:07.670 decay every day. the uncertainty it 00:07:07.680 --> 00:07:11.189 spells for its future and his own. 00:07:11.199 --> 00:07:12.790 >> Tis the season for celebrity 00:07:12.800 --> 00:07:14.710 commencement speakers. You can expect us 00:07:14.720 --> 00:07:16.390 to bring you the most inspirational 00:07:16.400 --> 00:07:18.230 moments from college coliseums and 00:07:18.240 --> 00:07:20.150 stadiums across the nation in the next 00:07:20.160 --> 00:07:21.749 several weeks. And today we're 00:07:21.759 --> 00:07:23.589 highlighting some words of wisdom from 00:07:23.599 --> 00:07:26.230 one of our favorites, CNN chief medical 00:07:26.240 --> 00:07:28.950 correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta. He spoke 00:07:28.960 --> 00:07:30.629 to the University of Michigan Medical 00:07:30.639 --> 00:07:33.029 School graduates. Dr. Gupta stood in 00:07:33.039 --> 00:07:35.830 their same spot 33 years ago before 00:07:35.840 --> 00:07:37.670 becoming a neurosurgeon, performing 00:07:37.680 --> 00:07:39.670 life-changing operations, traveling the 00:07:39.680 --> 00:07:41.909 world, and reporting medical news. With 00:07:41.919 --> 00:07:43.670 all his experience, he shared some great 00:07:43.680 --> 00:07:45.510 advice to his fellow Wolverines that 00:07:45.520 --> 00:07:47.749 many of us can learn from, too. 00:07:47.759 --> 00:07:49.350 >> Spend your time asking the right 00:07:49.360 --> 00:07:52.390 questions, even if they seem dumb, 00:07:52.400 --> 00:07:53.749 because those are often the questions 00:07:53.759 --> 00:07:55.990 everyone else is too afraid to ask. And 00:07:56.000 --> 00:07:57.990 along the way, you may find that you are 00:07:58.000 --> 00:07:59.510 no longer someone who is just 00:07:59.520 --> 00:08:02.150 continuously memorizing the past, but 00:08:02.160 --> 00:08:04.390 instead you start to become someone who 00:08:04.400 --> 00:08:07.350 is changing the future. Make a pledge to 00:08:07.360 --> 00:08:10.550 yourself and to each other. Over the 00:08:10.560 --> 00:08:12.790 last four years, you have made some of 00:08:12.800 --> 00:08:14.550 the best friends you'll ever have in 00:08:14.560 --> 00:08:16.550 your life. That was certainly the case 00:08:16.560 --> 00:08:20.469 for me. Always answer their calls. Be 00:08:20.479 --> 00:08:24.070 there in their times of need. Fly around 00:08:24.080 --> 00:08:26.469 the world graduates for their weddings 00:08:26.479 --> 00:08:28.790 and the births of their children. Always 00:08:28.800 --> 00:08:30.869 be there for one another. And I promise 00:08:30.879 --> 00:08:32.230 you, it will become one of the most 00:08:32.240 --> 00:08:34.469 precious touchstones you ever have in 00:08:34.479 --> 00:08:36.709 your life. Don't forget graduates, the 00:08:36.719 --> 00:08:38.790 path that you've chosen is one that will 00:08:38.800 --> 00:08:40.230 always require not artificial 00:08:40.240 --> 00:08:42.230 intelligence, but authentic 00:08:42.240 --> 00:08:50.790 intelligence, that uniquely human touch. 00:08:50.800 --> 00:08:52.949 Today's story getting a 10 out of 10. A 00:08:52.959 --> 00:08:55.350 unique celebration for the Catalan 00:08:55.360 --> 00:08:57.750 culture in Spain. The world's largest 00:08:57.760 --> 00:09:00.310 snail eating festival, a three-day event 00:09:00.320 --> 00:09:03.269 attracted 200,000 people to Yada, a 00:09:03.279 --> 00:09:04.949 Spanish city that has been hosting this 00:09:04.959 --> 00:09:07.590 local tradition for decades. The taste 00:09:07.600 --> 00:09:09.750 described by one person as a protein 00:09:09.760 --> 00:09:11.750 candy. This was definitely not a 00:09:11.760 --> 00:09:14.949 sluggish affair. Over 30,000 pounds of 00:09:14.959 --> 00:09:16.949 snails were eaten. It's loved by many, 00:09:16.959 --> 00:09:18.630 and this festival is said to continue 00:09:18.640 --> 00:09:21.190 growing every year. I guess my invite is 00:09:21.200 --> 00:09:23.590 still in snail mail. Congratulations to 00:09:23.600 --> 00:09:25.829 today's Your Word Wednesday winner, Mr. 00:09:25.839 --> 00:09:28.150 Wolverine at Los Molino Middle School in 00:09:28.160 --> 00:09:30.710 California, who submitted synergy, a 00:09:30.720 --> 00:09:32.389 noun which means the interaction of 00:09:32.399 --> 00:09:34.470 elements that when combined produce a 00:09:34.480 --> 00:09:36.230 total effect that is greater than the 00:09:36.240 --> 00:09:38.470 sum of the individual contributions. All 00:09:38.480 --> 00:09:40.630 right, superstars, I've got time for one 00:09:40.640 --> 00:09:43.110 shout out today. Mr. Josh at the Pine 00:09:43.120 --> 00:09:45.670 School in Lo Lakes, Minnesota. Thank you 00:09:45.680 --> 00:09:47.750 for making us a part of your day and we 00:09:47.760 --> 00:09:50.070 are so glad we can be your window to the 00:09:50.080 --> 00:09:52.870 world. We are rooting for you and we are 00:09:52.880 --> 00:09:54.710 rooting for all of you who are winding 00:09:54.720 --> 00:09:56.470 down the school year. Hope you have an 00:09:56.480 --> 00:09:58.550 awesome day. Coy will be back tomorrow. 00:09:58.560 --> 00:10:03.959 I'm Mina Derson and this is CNN 10.