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Six Killed, 15 Wounded in a School Shooting in Northern Thailand; Venezuela's Transition Talks Ongoing, First Day Wrapped Up. Aired 3-3:45a ET

Aired August 07, 2026 - 03:00   ET

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

[03:00:00]

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UNKNOWN (voice-over): This is CNN Breaking News.

BEN HUNTE, CNN ANCHOR: Welcome to the "CNN Newsroom," I'm Ben Hunte in Atlanta.

We begin with breaking news of a deadly school shooting just north of Bangkok, Thailand.

Thai police say six people were killed, three teachers and three students. Fifteen people were wounded, at least two of them critically. We'll bring you live pictures there as we're getting them.

Authorities say a student opened fire at a secondary school.

(VIDEO PLAYING)

Well, that is the moment students inside the school were taking shelter under their desks while gunshots can be heard in the background. Police say the suspect's grandparents were found dead at the home where he also lived. They believe that the suspect shot them before going to the school.

Thailand's Central Investigation Bureau told CNN the situation is now under control.

Let's go live now to Karla Cripps, CNN Travel Senior Digital Producer, who is live at a scene for us north of Bangkok. Karla, thank you for being with us.

What is the latest that you're hearing on the ground there?

KARLA CRIPPS, CNN TRAVEL SENIOR DIGITAL PRODUCER: Yes, it's just after 2 p.m. local time here. Reportedly, the shots started to break out at 10 a.m. this morning.

As you said, six dead, including three teachers and three students, more than a dozen wounded. It's been a steady stream of ambulances coming out since after things broke earlier this morning. And now I'm standing here at the school, it's called Debsirin

Nonthaburi. It's about 10 minutes north of Bangkok, it's about 3000 students over junior and senior high school students.

HUNTE: And you do have a personal connection to the school. Can you just tell us a bit more about that? And also, when did you first hear about the shooting?

CRIPPS: Yes, I apologize. I'm quite shaken up at the moment.

My son actually attends this school, and he's in Japan, fortunately, competing this week. So he wasn't here today, but he called me shortly after 10 a.m., saying he'd heard that students were locked down in the classrooms. In the line that the chat group were in, there's reports of kids, you know, videos coming out of kids hiding under the tables.

Obviously, the parents are just distraught. You're seeing these messages come out from your kids, and you're wondering what's the latest, what's the status. It's just been heartbreaking.

You never really expect that you're going to be this close to a situation like that. Even now, we're seeing police cars around students, parents, everyone. It looks like everyone's just in a state of shock, it's not common for this area, that's for sure.

HUNTE: And what can you tell us about the police response to this incident? What are parents saying about how quickly police responded to what was happening at the school?

CRIPPS: It's still a little bit too early to tell what the parents are feeling. It's just been in the early moments after the news broke that this was happening, it's just that urgency.

Can somebody update us? Somebody please give us some information? We'd heard that the police headed over quite quickly, but when these situations happen, you know, there's so many rumors coming from so many different places. It's just a lot of confusion, and only now we're finally starting to hear what really happened in that classroom.

HUNTE: Okay, well, Karla, please do bring us the latest as you get it, and we're so sorry that you and your family are going through that. Karla Cripps, CNN Travel Senior Digital Producer. Thank you.

Onwards now.

President Trump is complaining behind closed doors about public disclosures that U.S. munitions are dwindling after months of war with Iran. He says it makes the U.S. look weak as he seeks to project strength.

CNN reported this week the military has burned through nearly 80 percent of its FAD missile inventory compared to pre-war numbers, and roughly half of its Patriot interceptors since the start of the war. And on Thursday, President Trump acknowledged that certain types of munitions are in tighter supply, though he says he's not worried. Washington and Tehran are giving sharply conflicting accounts of

whether talks to reopen the Strait of Hormuz are actually taking place. And amid all of that uncertainty, Iran's top negotiator is now criticizing President Trump.

[03:05:06]

Iran's parliament speaker on social media says, quote, "Massive attack coming -- wait, never mind, they want to negotiate. That's theater diplomacy on loop," he writes, referring to Mr. Trump's statements in recent weeks.

Meanwhile, Iran-backed groups are reportedly ramping up efforts to target U.S. partners in the Gulf region. Saudi Arabia is bracing for attacks by Houthis in Yemen and Iraqi militias too, under the guidance of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

Let's speak to CNN's Leila Gharagozlou, live for us in London. Can you tell us what the latest is on the Strait of Hormuz? What's going on now?

LEILA GHARAGOZLOU, CNN PRODUCER: Yes, so as you mentioned, we have had some progress in these diplomatic negotiations that we've seen all week between Iran and Oman. Now, the U.S. has said over the course of the last week that they're also involved in these negotiations. Iran has refuted that, saying that this is strictly a bilateral agreement.

Now, Iran's foreign, deputy foreign minister yesterday said that there had been progress. We should potentially see something today, although a Gulf source told CNN that that could be a 50-50 chance, which, given, you know, this current conflict, is not the best of odds. But we are looking to see something today about whether they can find another pathway through the Strait of Hormuz to get some of that shipping and some of those vessels stuck in the Strait moving.

Now, there are a number of contingencies on this plan if the U.S. also wants to get involved. The deputy foreign minister did say that for the U.S. to also be a part of this agreement, they would have to end the naval blockade on Iranian ports, they'd have to address sanctions, and also restart negotiations, all of which was part of that MOU that has since collapsed, and they also have to address the failure in Lebanon. So it does look like they've not really moved very much on those key points that they want from the U.S.

In the meantime, they said, we're going to try to open this up, but just between us and our neighbor. Part of this also, Ben, is really about sovereignty. Iran has established its sovereignty over the Strait throughout this conflict, they want to really codify that, Oman also has some sovereignty over the state.

So this is an agreement really looking to do that. So we're going to have to see what happens over the next couple of days, but it does look like there's some sort of progress, potential de-escalation. Now, obviously, the Saudi element of this and the potential attacks on Saudi Arabia throw a bit of a wrench into that, but the Saudi officials that spoke to CNN also said that they are still very focused on helping the region de-escalate, despite the concerns over potential Houthi attacks.

HUNTE: Well, I was going to ask you about it, but you got that first. So for now, well, thank you so much, I appreciate it. Leila Gharagozlou in London.

The U.S. State Department says a third round of peace talks between Israel and Lebanon was productive. The U.S. says the two sides are a lot closer on next steps to expand the so-called pilot zone process, which calls for Israeli forces to withdraw from southern Lebanon and give control of the area to Lebanon's military.

The talks come as the Israeli military has ramped up strikes on Iran- backed Hezbollah in Lebanon over the past few days, including new airstrikes on Thursday. Israel has accused Hezbollah of violating a ceasefire deal. Lebanon's Prime Minister also held parallel talks with the British government on efforts to stop the fighting in the region.

CNN's Nada Bashir reports on how the renewed hostilities are now affecting civilians as they try to rebuild their lives amid all of this ongoing conflict.

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NADA BASHIR, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Clearing the debris of a home now turned to rubble, the result of a months-long Israeli military assault on southern Lebanon.

When the shelling started, my family fled, Abu Ali says. And when I returned, everything was destroyed.

His family fled the village of Zolta, which overlooks the Litani River, in February, and have only now been able to return following the withdrawal of Israeli forces. Inside what remains of their home, the remnants of this war are reportedly scattered.

Israeli bullets, he tells us. Walls completely blown out. Bullet holes above where his grandchildren once slept.

We want calm, we want security, we want a state, he says. We want to be protected by the military, we don't want to fight. But if Israel attacks us, we will attack them.

Abu Ali is far from alone. Among the more than a million people displaced from their homes by the war in Lebanon.

Hesam Hashem says he and his family of four returned to their village as soon as the military gave them the all-clear, after months spent sheltering in a school in Beirut.

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Take a look at this scene, the destruction. The Israelis were sleeping here in this room, Hesam says. They even left behind their food and water.

Through shattered glass and concrete, Hesam takes us to what was his children's bedroom. Out in the distance, he says, Israeli tanks are still positioned.

You can see them right in front of us, just a few hundred meters away, he says.

Across Zawtar, the scars of this deadly conflict remain. Homes left crumbling, neighborhoods deserted. This monastery, now bullet-ridden and desecrated.

The scale of the destruction here is reflected across southern Lebanon, and the recovery process could take years. While members of this community work to rebuild homes and restore critical infrastructure, some wounds are more difficult to heal. Many have lost their livelihoods.

Most of the residents here depend on agriculture. There was a harvest season right before the war started. People fled and left it behind, Abed Adzeddine, the mayor of West Zawtar, says.

I believe there is a big percentage of farms that are not fit for farming anymore, due to shelling and airstrikes.

For many, this is not the first time they've been forced to flee their homes, nor the first time they have returned to find utter destruction. Locals here know just how fragile a ceasefire can be, and how quickly everything can change.

And while some say they are putting their trust in the Lebanese army to protect them, others say they remain faithful in their support for another military force, Hezbollah. The Iran-backed political and military group has long dominated in the south.

I'm proud that my husband, a fighter who defended his land, was martyred in his village, Israr Soor, a mother and now widow, tells us. She and her children fled the border village of Tair Harfa in October 2023, their community coming under intense Israeli bombardment after Hezbollah launched a series of attacks on Israel in solidarity with the people of Gaza.

War with Israel, she says, has impacted generations of her family, no stranger to Israeli occupations of the past. They killed my grandfather, my father was a prisoner of war, she says. All my uncles were tortured, my entire village suffered.

Now, Israr says, she is determined to carry on the struggle.

Eventually, we will return to our village and if we don't, then our children will return and if they don't, our grandchildren will.

Nada Bashir, CNN, in London.

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HUNTE: In a rare move, prosecutors have charged an Israeli settler with reckless manslaughter. It was for the killing of a Palestinian activist last year. Odeh Hafelein was a prominent voice speaking out against settler

violence and was involved in the Oscar winning film "No Other Land." He was also a father of three.

This is video from his altercation with Israeli settler Enon Levy, who is later seen firing a single shot. According to an Israeli human rights group, this marks the first time since the October 7th terror attacks that an Israeli has been indicted for killing a Palestinian in the West Bank.

There is so much more to come on CNN, including a look at the Trump administration's latest effort to curtail birthright citizenship in the U.S. That story, and of course, so much more, straight ahead. See you in a moment.

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HUNTE: A group say resources are running out in Ceuta, following a massive flood of migrants from Morocco. Officials say up to 5,000 of them are still in the Spanish enclave, out of about 72,000 who stormed across the border last week. The city's mayor now says the death toll from that migrant rush has reached 100 people.

Hundreds of those still in Ceuta are unaccompanied minors who cannot be quickly deported back to Morocco. And local leaders say the city is trying to transfer them to mainland Spain.

In the last hour, I spoke with Toni Perez, a director at Save the Children Catalonia, and I asked him what the situation is like on the ground right now, and what are the most urgent needs.

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TONI PEREZ, DIRECTOR, SAVE THE CHILDREN CATALONIA: The situation is bad, and we are listening to the government authorities, you know, but we as Save the Children are mostly focused on the children, because the children, around 1000 some sources, 5000 other sources, cannot be returned to the original country. They must be identified by authorities, and given special protection given to children.

HUNTE: Many of these children crossed, believing that Europe would offer them safety or opportunity. What are they telling you now about why they decided to leave Morocco? And how much do they actually understand the risks?

PEREZ: Well, the situation of the youth in Morocco has been reflected during the past days, because of the unemployment, because of the lack of education, and so on, but we don't enter into the political analysis of that.

[03:20:05] The most urgent thing for us is that many thousands of children cross the border, and they deserve -- they need this special protection. They cannot be threatened as adults, and Spanish government, as Moroccan government, has to be attached to international legislation.

Then, what we claim from Save the Children is to identify and protect the most vulnerable, especially, because some of them could be exposed to trauma, to exploitation, or abuse. And at this point, we would like to focus on the special protection for girls.

We heard that about 110 girls are already into educational facilities. That's very positive, but we should pay special attention to girls, because in this kind of emergencies, they are at maximum risk of trafficking and sexual exploitation, for example.

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HUNTE: President Trump is taking another swing at birthright citizenship, less than six weeks after the nation's highest court struck down a previous attempt. The President revealed a pair of executive orders on Thursday, tightening laws already in place, and narrowing recognized exceptions.

They appear to be more limited than last year's order, which the Supreme Court rejected, citing the 14th Amendment that guarantees citizenship to anyone born on U.S. soil. Mr. Trump criticized that ruling during an Oval Office event, and White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller described the administration's goals.

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STEPHEN MILLER, WHITE HOUSE DEPUTY CHIEF OF STAFF FOR POLICY: The President is using his authority as commander-in-chief to sign first an executive order using the new rule the Supreme Court issued to expand the definitions of people who are ineligible for birthright citizenship. That includes, for example, alien enemies of the United States, members of foreign terrorist organizations, and large categories of people who lobby and act on behalf of foreign governments.

And so, with taking this action, it ensures that large numbers of people who wrongly would be getting birthright citizenship will no longer be eligible for those benefits.

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HUNTE: A Republican-led Senate committee has recommended Dr. Anthony Fauci be charged with contempt of Congress.

During a very fiery hearing last week, he infuriated Republican lawmakers by refusing to answer questions about the government's response to the COVID pandemic. The former head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases invoked his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination more than 100 times.

Senator Rand Paul then held a committee vote on contempt charges, which was not brought before the full Senate. And it passed, 8-7, along party lines. Had the full Senate had their say, the effort to punish Dr. Fauci, who many public health workers and Americans do hold in high esteem, would likely be dead in the water.

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SEN. RAND PAUL (R-KY): This is outside of the ordinary bill-making process, so it doesn't have to go to the House, doesn't have to be signed by the President, and really doesn't have to go before the Senate. There is some precedent for doing it that way, and it still may be done that way, but for now, we will hand-carry this over to the Attorney General, we will hand-carry this to the District Court here in Columbia, and we will as a committee, we have voted the majority to refer this, so that will be accomplished today.

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HUNTE: Republicans have long accused Dr. Fauci of lying and misrepresenting data during the pandemic. However, they have not provided clear evidence of a cover-up yet. Former President Joe Biden gave him a preemptive pardon, while Donald Trump awarded him a special commendation before leaving office.

Alright, Venezuela's government tries to mend fences with the opposition after years of persecuting political opponents. Still ahead, new negotiations that some hope will lead the country back to democracy. See you in a moment.

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HUNTE: Welcome back, I'm Ben Hunte. Let's take a look at today's top stories.

Iran's top negotiator is criticizing President Trump, as Tehran and Washington give conflicting accounts of talks to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Iran's parliament speaker says on social media, quote, "Massive attack coming -- wait, never mind, they want to negotiate. That's theater diplomacy on loop," he writes, referring to President Trump's conflicting statements in recent weeks.

The U.S. says a third round of peace talks between Israel and Lebanon was quote, "productive." The State Department says the two sides are a lot closer on the next steps to expand the so-called pilot zone process, which calls for Israeli forces to withdraw from southern Lebanon and give control of the area to Lebanon's military.

President Trump unveiled a pair of executive orders on Thursday, taking aim at birthright citizenship. They appear to be more limited than last year's order, which the Supreme Court rejected, citing the 14th Amendment that guarantees citizenship to anyone born on U.S. soil.

[03:30:01]

Colombia is tightening security in one of the country's most violent cities ahead of today's Presidential inauguration. Officials say thousands of military and police officers will be deployed across Cali as President-elect Abelardo de la Espriella prepares to take the oath of office. De la Espriella says he expects some 6000 guests to attend that ceremony.

After many years of being an undemocratic state, Venezuela is kicking off talks that some hope will lead to a democratic transition. Mary Triny Mena has a story for us from Caracas.

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MARY TRINY MENA, REPORTER: The Venezuelan government and a faction of the opposition have officially started in-person talks in Caracas. The first round of talks will last until August 12th, next Wednesday, and it will be ongoing, according to a statement released by the parties.

Photographs mark the beginning of the conversations showing six representatives from each side, separated only by a Venezuelan flag. On one side, Jorge Rodriguez, brother of acting President Delcy Rodriguez, leads the government delegation. Linaura Figuera heads the opposition delegation from the 2015 National Assembly, which Washington recognizes as Venezuela's last democratically elected institution.

A notable absentee is one of the main opposition figures in Venezuela, Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Maria Corina Machado, who has confirmed she's not participating in the process, although Machado has said she will be following closely the outcome of the talks.

Delegations have committed to several ground rules and principles, including the respect of the sovereignty, search for peaceful resolutions, and also keeping track of the results. So far, among the goals are providing humanitarian support and aid for the victims of the twin earthquakes that struck Venezuela last June, and carrying out institutional reforms to overhaul major government branches, such as the Supreme Court and the Electoral Board. But perhaps one of the most controversial topics to be included in the agenda is establishing a timeline for new Presidential elections.

On Thursday, the U.S. State Department welcomed the Caracas talks as a unique opportunity to address key issues for Venezuela. According to the State Department, this process plays a key role in the Trump's administration's three-phase plan to conquer stabilization, economic recovery, political stabilization, and also reconciliation, and eventually a transition in Venezuela.

For CNN, Mary Triny Mena, Caracas.

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HUNTE: Police fired rubber bullets and tear gas during protests in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on Thursday. They also used water cannons against demonstrators, who are angry over controversial land and property reforms. Critics include unions, social organizations, and war veterans, too.

They say the legislation allows foreign entities to purchase too much Argentine property, and will allow the government to sell off national sovereignty, and that they intend to resist.

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UNKNOWN (through translator): They won't be able to go any further.

Argentina defends itself. Argentina is not for sale, and we as Argentines are present here in the rain to fight a sold government, a government that wants to sell our homeland to the highest bidder, not to whoever has the best money, not to whoever has the most money. Our homeland should not be handed over to any foreign power.

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HUNTE: Relentless heat and drought are punishing Europe's most vital rivers. The Danube has fallen to record lows, and that's causing an energy crisis in Hungary.

It's forcing a nuclear power plant that supplies nearly half the country with electricity to operate at roughly 10 percent of capacity. The Rhine River is also at a critical low. This is a key artery for everything from food and minerals to coal and oil.

Ships have reduced their loads by up to 80 percent to avoid running aground. That is disrupting supply chains and raising shipping costs.

Puerto Rico is preparing to ration water amid a severe drought. Starting on Friday, major cities will begin rotating water access. That now means that more than 180,000 people will be without water for 48 hours.

Drought conditions cover just over two-thirds of the country. Water levels continue to decline at two of the island's main reservoirs.

Alright, oil prices are rising and oil companies are raking in record profits. When we come back, how the crisis in the Strait of Hormuz is creating a big windfall for big oil. Stay with us, see you in a moment.

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HUNTE: Welcome back. Here are your business headlines.

Mexico has deployed more than 1500 troops to Michoacan in an attempt to resume U.S. inspections of its avocados. The troops were sent to protect packing facilities, transportation routes, and inspection points from organized crime extortion. The U.S. suspended inspections on Wednesday, citing safety concerns.

[03:40:01]

The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration is ordering inspections of hundreds of Boeing 737 MAX jets for possible cracks. The FAA warns that undetected damage could reduce the plane's structural integrity. The order comes after cracks were discovered around the forward service doors of some aircraft.

Oil prices are rising as uncertainty grows over plans to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Brent Crude is above $83 a barrel while the WTI, that is the U.S. benchmark, is near $78. Iran says it's close to finalizing a transit deal with Oman but warns the agreement would not automatically reopen that critical waterway.

Speaking about it, even with the rising cost of fuel and traffic through the Strait of Hormuz slowing, oil companies are still posting massive profits. Anna Cooban explains why oil producers are continuing to make a fortune.

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ANNA COOBAN, CNN BUSINESS AND ECONOMICS REPORTER: And that's really because oil prices have risen because of the fear and the scarcity of oil in the global market. And the volatility of these price moves over the past few months. Many oil traders have been able to take advantage of that, basically.

But it's not a good look. Trump is looking down the barrel towards the midterms in November. Democrats are across many polls out ahead of Republicans.

And let's remember, this is a President that's regularly touted his ability to try and bring prices down for Americans. We heard a lot about the cost of eggs over the past couple of years. And his war has really sent prices through the roof, global oil prices, and then also, just to take one example, the average price of a gallon of gas across the U.S. is now up over 36 percent from before the war.

And so that's happening, this long-running affordability crisis, at the same time as you've got these bumper results.

ExxonMobil, up over 50 percent in the second quarter to $15 billion in profit. Chevron, $12 billion. Shell, a U.K. oil company, posted its second highest quarterly profit in history during the second quarter.

So, these are the kind of results we're seeing from them. And it makes sense that Trump would express his ire towards this. And it's also familiar territory.

Rewind four years, President Biden, at the time, was also criticizing oil companies for what he called war profiteering. He touted the idea of bringing in a windfall tax on these profits.

So, Trump is finding himself in a familiar holding pattern during these times of war. But, of course, that is cold comfort. That really means nothing to the average Americans who are still dealing with this long-running crisis. (END VIDEOTAPE)

HUNTE: All right, that's all I've got for you. Thanks for joining me and the team. I'm Ben Hunte, in Atlanta, I will see you at the same time tomorrow.

"World Sport" is up next. See you then.

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