The latest news from around the world. Newsroom starts right now. Our top story, u. S. President donald trump fighting back against the latest accusations from lhis former Attorney Michael Cohen. The president again denied having prior knowledge of a 2016 meeting at trump tower between his top Campaign Advisers and russians. According to our sources, cohen says the president knew about it. If cohen is telling the truth, it could be problematic for the white house. There are at least 20 instances over the past year in which mr. Trump and his advisers have said mr. Trump was not aware of the meeting. Here are just a few examples. Did you tell your father anything about this . It was such a nothing. There was nothing to tell. Donald trump jr. Put it all out today. Did you he know the time that they had the meeting . No, i didnt know anything about the meeting. Lets focus on what the president was aware. Nothing. It must have been a very unborn meeting because i never heard about it. I wouldnt even have remembered it. It was a wasted 20 minutes, which is a shame. This meeting took place almost two years ago. It is easy to forget how the whole story unfolded and also how the trump camp has repeatedly changed its story about what happened that day. For more, here is our randi kaye. Reporter on june 3, 2016, in an email from publicist rob goldstone, donald trump jr. Is promised incriminating information about hillary clinton. His response, if it is what you say, i love it, especially later in the summer. Six days later, don junior met with the russian lawyer at trump tower. Joining him, Paul Manafort and his soninlaw jared kushner. When the New York Times broke the story last year about the secret meeting, don jr. Didnt initially disclose the intended purpose of the meeting. Instead he said the purpose was to discuss the adoption of russian children. But the very next day when the times broke the news that the president s son was promised damaging information about hillary clinton, don jr. Issued a statement saying the woman stated that she had information that individuals connected to russia were supporting mrs. L clinton. He also said the lawyer changed the subject to adoption. Two days after the story broke, White House Press secretary Sarah Sanders denied the president had any prior knowledge of the meeting. When did the president learn that meeting had taken place . I believe in the last couple of days is my understanding. Reporter the next day on fox new, don jr. Said his father was unaware of the meeting. Did you tell your father anything about this . First of all, these two leaders seem keen on building their relationship, but perhaps it couldnt come at a worse time. Reporter well, in many ways it suits the russians perfectly to have this sort of inconsistency in washington on the one hand of course youve got the president s people under investigation for alleged collusion with russian hacking attempts and the indictments of 12 russian agents. And then on the other, youve got something approaching a bromance between the two president s with Vladimir Putin repeatedly coming to the aid in terms of Public Relations of his rival or alleged supposed rival donald trump. So yesterday at the bric conference in johannesburg, for example, the russian president went out of his way to say that the interesting thing about donald trump is that he makes good on his campaign promises, that that was an unusual
characteristic of a modern politician. And was praising him. And then went on to say that of course he would be delighted to visit washington and had at some earlier stage the implication being, although we have no evidence of it, maybe helsinki, could have been an earlier meetings when they met, there had been this informal invitation to donald trump to come to moscow. Now, that would be a huge coup in atmosphere or dispensation in which Robert Muellers investigation is still ongoing or may have just been concluded. Who knows. But that would be a per risk could y terrific coup for the russians. But there is a sense also among russian commentators that this has gone a bit too far. There are people now, tv hosts and political programs, saying openly that donald trump behaves as though he smells like a kgb agent. Right. One has to wonder about the optics of donald trump there visiting the kremlin. Well wait and see when that day
comes if it indeed does. Sam kiley, thanks so much. Well, lets talk more about these developments with leslie vinjamuri, she is head of the u. S. And Americas Program at chatham house. Good to see you. Always appreciate you coming on. Thank you. At this point can you imagine a scenario for a trump Putin Followup Summit in the new future . What benefit would that serve . Well, i think it would raise a lot of he questions right now. Of course the reaction to this summit was certainly not favorable in washington. It is even not clear that it did much good for the president more generally, although the republicans are obviously staying with him. I think that there is when he gets too close to putin, i think there is a bit of a question and certainly americans even republicans i think were skeptical and not pleased to see him seemingly siding with putin overtelligence
it that President Trump so fiercely has said that he was not aware of that meeting until long after the fact and that he wasnt that he certainly didnt sanction it going forward, why has he held to that line, why is he trying to cover up. And it obviously raises a very serious question about collusion. But i think the other perhaps even more significant question surrounding this is the one of politics. Were heading up to a Midterm Election and there is a question of at what point will or whether it will ever really shift how trumps base feel about this, how republicans more broadly feel about the president. At the moment, the investigation and much that surrounds it is being seen outside of washington as something that is a distraction, that is taking up too much energy and too much time. We arent seeing a lot of attitudes shift amongst the public with respect to whether they do or Dont Support The President , at least not advisably. If this comes out, it might
begin to increase peoples reluctance who have been on the fence a bit more as to whether to support those republicans who continue to support the president as we approach those Midterm Elections. The Midterm Elections just seems like a complete tossup when you consider all the things that are on the plate or next to the plate or that may come on the plate, does it not. But you mentioned something about the president and he is really owning the narrative, though, hasnt he. Say what you want, he sticks to his pr campaign. And he has really been relentless in blaming others and saying this is a hoax and dont believe anything you see or hear, listen to me. And for the most part, his supporters march on with him because he just continues to hammer that point. He owns the narrative within a particular segment of theRussia Investigation . How closely is it being watched . Oh, i think if you if youre sitting in london as i am in europe and beyond, people are watching this. I think there is a confusion, sort of a lack of understanding as to why it is that americans dont universally take this more seriously. I think a lot of people see this as clearly below the standard that you would expect of an american president. But on any number of dimensions. You raise the question of tariffs. Obviously juncker was in washington last week and that meeting turned out at least in the short term more favorably than many expected. So there are a number of dimensions on which around the world were not seeing coming out of the white house from the president , from people around him, what one would expect. So the Russia Investigations are yet another dimension. And certainly i think that
helsinki summit was a moment when many people thought that it was beyond the pale of what you would expect from an american president to really challenge the authority of his own Intelligence Agencies when sitting next to putin. But there are so many dimensions right now that i think the Russia Investigation is one that has been the primary focus has been within the United States. We always appreciate your incites, leslie vinjamuri, thank you. Thank you. One final note before we move on to other news. And you can file this in the small world category. Look who shared a gate friday at washingtons Reagan National airport. Seated on the left, yes, that is special counsel robert mueller. On the right a short distance away in a teal shirt, donald trump jr. No indication the two men were aware of each other or that they did interacted, but came close. Ahead here, a deadly inferno
engulfing homes, this one in Northern California. But it is just one of dozens of devastating fires across the world right now. Well have more about it coming up here. Youre watching cnn newsroom. Listerine® total care protects better than brushing alone. With 6 benefits in one, from Cavity Prevention to strengthening teeth. So instead of protection like this, you get protection like this. Listerine® total care. Bring out the bold. ™ theres also a lot to know. The most important thing . Medicare doesnt pay for everything. Yep. Youre on the hook for the rest. So consider an aarp Medicare Supplement insurance plan, insured by Unitedhealthcare Insurance Company. A plan like this helps pay some of what medicare doesnt. So you could end up paying less. And these are the only plans of their kind endorsed by aarp. Selected for meeting their high standards of quality and service. Call Unitedhealthcare Insurance Company now to request this free Decision Guide, and learn more. Like, Medicare Supplement plan, give you the freedom to go with any doctor who accepts medicare patients. Its nice to have a choice. And your coverage goes with you, anywhere you travel in the country. We have grandkids out of state. They love our long visits. Not sure about their parents, though. Call unitedhealthcare and ask for your free Decision Guide today. Devastating news for many a places, more than 80 massive wildfires are burning across the United States. 80. One of the biggest is the carr fire in Northern California. Two people have died and two children and their great grandmother are missing after their home went up in flames. Paul hats os other story. Reporter high winds and high temperatures wreaking havoc. The carr fire has ravaged the region since monday, doubling in size over the course of the week and it is still growing. Deadly and out of control, it has charred some 45,000 acres and dozens of structures as firefighters try to contain it. Neighborhoods scorched as smoke and fire climb through hills fueled by the dried landscape. No idea what well do
tomorrow. Reporter dominic and his wife sylvia never imagined they would see their house like this. We didnt think the fire was going to come here, so we didnt really take things out. Like Everybody Else that was scrambling at the last minute to get out when we saw the fire on the ridge. Reporter Officials Say more extreme temperatures are in the forecast and it will only continue to make this fire all the more worrisome. It is one of several major pleases burning across the state and one of some 89 across the country. This is that new normal, that unpredictability, the large explosive growth fires. Reporter leaving firefighters working to control the flames and limit the damage as residents race against the clock to evacuate their homes. Paul vercammen, cnn, redding, california. California over and over again we see this every year. Difficult visuals to see and difficult to hear about the grandmother and two children that are missing. But the carr fire is one that
were focusing on. The California National guard has 800 troops that will help battle the blaze. Look at some of the night visuals out of that region. Just unbelievable to see. This could be your home, my home. Youre he seeing cars burn. There is a Basketball Hoop in the front driveway. There is a 30,000foot shadow from a plume of smoke from this fire that is blanketing much of Northern California at the moment. The fire has also led to evacuations of nearly 40,000 residents. And you know, what latest numbers, we have had over 500 structures destroyed. Nearly 75 structures damaged from this particular fire. And another fire this is just south and east of los angeles, the cranston fire, look at how it is approaching some of these homes. Can you believe it . Authorities believe that this series of fires was the cause of arson. Let talk about the details. But what i dont like to see on 24 particul
this particular map is how were noticing the drought filling back into southern and central california. The three fires we focus on even though there are several more across the state, there is the carr fire just about 50,000 acres burned, only 5 containment. Better news for the cranston and ferguson fires, it looks like firefighters are starting to get a handle on that, those numbers bumping up. Redding, california just a little south of the oregon border, temperatures look hot. Were talking Triple Digit Heat for the day today. And this fire, the carr fire, is massive. But just to put it in p perspecti perspective, it didnt top the ten largest. If you recall back in december of 2017, the thomas fire in ventura. As paul mentioned in the package before me, we had over 80 fires active over the western u. S. The actual number is 89 as we speak. This is all amidst an extreme heat wave that continues to boil over the western parts of the country. It has started to relax along
the coastal areas, but innd la xh inland community, we have watches and warnings in effect. Look at the treniple digit heat. This hot weather has no signs of going anywhere. Extreme heat continues. And therefore im sure well be talk about wildfires for several days if not weeks to come. And we have heat in europe as well. Euro tunnel says extreme heat in southeast england is causing very long delays for people traveling under the channel to france. This is just another way the brutal heat wave there is making life miserable for people in Western Europe and it is not letting up. It is also increasing the spread of wildfires in sweden just like it contributed to the deadly fires in greece last week. Erin mclaughlin takes a closer look. Reporter the fires are gone, but the devastation remained. An eerie silence has fallen on
this virlage where houses once stood, now just charred remains. Nothing was spared. Authorities believe arson was to blame. This is the first time in 38 years of my service seeing so much catastrophe from a fire. Reporter as the blaze tore through the coastal village, many sought refuge in the water, but dozens died, almost 200 injured. Translator i feel a pain in my heart, a very heavy load. A very big burden. Reporter greece is not alone. Across europe, tinder dry conditions combined with a scorching heat wave are stretching Emergency Services to the element. In sweden, a fire front continues to burn out of control. Even the countrys air force has been deployed to help, dropping a bomb to try to starve a nearby
fire of oxygen. Translator it is not something weve done before, so weve been working closely with the Rescue Leader and we have done meticulous calculations. Reporter germany too is dealing with its own fires, including one which forced the closure of a major motorway. But its Emergency Services are also being deployed in other ways. Amid sweltering temperatures, firefighters are being used to water the trees, while in berlin, the water cannon usually reserved for riot control has been brought out, this time low to keep the heat at bay. Erin mclaughlin, cnn, london. We have good news for you. The u. S. Economy is skyrocketing, but however the economists warn what goes up must come down. They have a new warning on the numbers. Well share that with you ahead here. Also china has its eyes set on africa, what more free trade
could mean for its ambitions there. Youre watching cnn newsroom. We let calls from any of your devices come from your business number. Them, not so much. We let you keep an eye on your business from anywhere. The others . Nope get internet on our gigspeed network and add voice and tv for 34. 90 more per month. Call or go online today. Welcome back to our viewers in the u. S. And around the world, youre watching cnn newsroom. Im natalie allen. Here are our top stories. Firefighters are working against hot and windy conditions to try to control the carr fire in Northern California. Two people have been killed since the fire started monday. It is only 5 contained and has already coupled nearly 50,000 acres or almost 20,000 hectares. U. S. President trump says there is no truth to the accusation he knew in advance of a 2016 meeting with russians at trump tower. Mr. Trump suggested his former Attorney Michael Cohen made up the claim because cohen is under criminal investigation. Russian president Vladimir Putin says he is ready to visit washington. However, that invitation has been pushed to next year by the white house. Mr. Putin also invi