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Conservatives Gather to Pay Respects to Charlie Kirk; High Level Security of Kirk Memorial; Trump's $100,000 New H-1B Visas Comes into Effect; IDF Troops Expanding Operations in Gaza City; European Airport Cyberattack Disruption; Trump Escalates Push to Retake Bagram Air Base; Russia and Ukraine's Roles in Next Week's UNGA; Great White Shark Nursery Off Coast of New York. Aired 4-5a ET

Aired September 21, 2025 - 04:00   ET

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

[04:00:00]

KIM BRUNHUBER, CNN ANCHOR: Welcome to all of you watching us here in the United States, Canada and around the world. I'm Kim Brunhuber. This is CNN Newsroom.

Conservatives gather to pay respects to slain activist Charlie Kirk. We'll take a look at the high level of security for his memorial. And we'll find out what next week's U.N. General Assembly could mean for peace in Ukraine and how Russia's airspace violations of NATO countries might play into discussions. And how scientists are learning more about one of the ocean's most dangerous predators thanks to a nursery off the coast of New York.

ANNOUNCER: Live from Atlanta, this is CNN Newsroom with Kim Brunhuber.

BRUNHUBER: Tens of thousands of people, including President Trump, are expected to honor Charlie Kirk at a memorial service in the hours ahead. It will be held at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona 11 days after Kirk was assassinated while speaking on a college campus. Americans are traveling from across the country to pay tribute to the conservative activist.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CHRISTOPHER ZIEGLER, RETIRED COLORADO BUSINESS OWNER: It's going to be an amazing event. You know, one of America's greatest heroes. They're going to pay our respects to. It's going to be some of the most other impressive Americans aside from myself here. It's going to be historic.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BRUNHUBER: Several high-profile guests are set to give remarks at the memorial, including Kirk's widow, Trump administration officials, and the president himself, who spoke about Kirk at an event on Saturday night. Here he is.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) DONALD TRUMP, U.S. PRESIDENT: He was unbelievable. He had just an army of young people that loved him so much. I mean, they're devastated right now. Everybody's devastated. So, we're going tomorrow and going to be flying in and say some little words, but there are no words to really describe what happened. It should never have happened to him. He's a good person. Nobody deserves that, but he really did deserve that.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BRUNHUBER: CNN's Betsy Klein has more from the White House.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BETSY KLEIN, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE REPORTER: Officials from the highest levels of the Trump administration and Republican Party set to converge in Arizona on Sunday to honor the late Charlie Kirk. Now, Kirk was a trusted adviser to President Trump. His Turning Point USA group absolutely critical to propelling the president back to the White House in 2024. But he was also a very close friend of President Trump and members of his family. He was instrumental in helping the president to select aides and members of his cabinet during the presidential transition. And so, there are so many here at the White House who are grieving the loss of a close personal friend.

Now, a senior White House official tells me that the president has been personally involved in preparations for this speech. He is expected to discuss Kirk's life as well as the impact that he had on the MAGA movement. These remarks, according to that official, will be more personal than the typical presidential speech.

But just remember that President Trump, when he was initially reacting to Kirk's death, really laid bare some of the deep political divisions in this country. He went after the radical left. He also vowed to crack down on political violence. It's really unclear at this point whether those themes are going to emerge in his speech on Sunday.

And among others speaking, including President Trump, there's going to be Vice President J.D. Vance, along with Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Chief of Staff Suzy Wiles, and many other top U.S. officials. And really underscoring the very close ties that Kirk built with many in Trump's orbit, the White House is sending two full planes filled with officials, staffers, as well as guests of the president, really underscoring how much Kirk meant to this administration.

This gathering is also setting up a major test for law enforcement, particularly the U.S. Secret Service, which is already under so much pressure and strain. And to help with some of that, this event has been given a special event assessment rating level 2 designation.

And what that does is really unlock some key federal resources to help bolster security. According to a senior Department of Homeland Security official, quote, "This designation is reserved for events of the highest national significance and enables the federal government to provide the full range of law enforcement and security resources necessary to support local officials in ensuring a safe and successful event."

[04:05:00]

This includes things like bomb detection canine teams, as well as air support, things like drones and helicopters hovering over this event, as well as cybersecurity risk assessments and enhanced screening. Attendees are told to expect TSA level screening procedures, and there is a strict no bag policy.

Betsy Klein, CNN, at the White House.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BRUNHUBER: So, as we've just heard, security at the memorial will be tight with the Secret Service taking the lead in this event. One expert tells CNN authorities are under a lot of pressure in an era of rising political violence.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CHARLES MARINO, FORMER SECRET SERVICE SUPERVISORY AGENT: Well, it takes a lot of expertise and a lot of support, especially from state and local law enforcement for the U.S. Secret Service, which will be the lead agency for this event, based on the fact that you're going to have the president, vice president and many of their other protectees in attendance. That doesn't even include the rest of dignitaries that will be in attendance.

So, the Secret Service is working very closely with state and local law enforcement, other federal partners. As you alluded to, this has been designated a special event by the Department of Homeland Security, receiving a special event rating of one, which is similar to the Super Bowl, which has been hosted in Glendale at State Farm Stadium previously. So, that's a good thing. Should make the job easier for the Secret Service.

But the Secret Service has been very busy this month. You had the September 11th attendance of the president at Yankee Stadium. You had his trip to London. You've got the United Nations General Assembly underway in New York, and now the memorial out in Arizona. So, a busy time for the Secret Service, but I have no doubt that they're up for the challenge.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BRUNHUBER: The clock is ticking for Congress to avoid a government shutdown, with funding running out on October 1st. Democratic House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer have requested a meeting with President Trump to discuss how to prevent a shutdown. But Trump tempered expectations when asked about a potential meeting. Here he is.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Will you meet with Democratic leaders to talk about how to avert a shutdown? TRUMP: Well, I will, but they don't care about crime. They want to keep men in women sports. They want all this stuff. They don't change. They haven't learned from the biggest beating they've ever taken just about. I'd love to meet with them, but I don't think it's going to have any impact.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BRUNHUBER: So, with Democrats locked out of power, they're expected to seize on the shutdown as a high-stakes political gamble to take key concessions from Trump. Schumer and Jeffries warned the president that if talks fail, Republicans would be responsible for the shutdown.

The Trump administration is now charging H-1B visa applicants a $100,000 fee to enter the United States. The new policy took effect just a few hours ago. President Trump claims employers have abused the skilled work program. He says they offer relatively low wages to foreign workers while denying jobs to American workers. The White House says the $100,000 is a one-time fee and only applies to new visa applicants.

H-1Bs are most commonly associated with tech companies. The largest sponsor of the visa is Amazon. Google, Meta, Microsoft, and Apple employ thousands of foreign-born workers each year, and many of them come from India, where some say they hope Trump's new policy will actually benefit the workforce at home.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SUNIL RAO, MUMBAL RESIDENT: It's a big hit for the tech talent. But also, on the other side, I think it will be good for India because it could be a reverse brain drain in the likes where people can work here and do something better.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BRUNHUBER: The White House is releasing new details about the deal with China to take control of TikTok in the U.S. The U.S. would have control over the app's algorithm with the data and privacy aspects in the hands of tech giant Oracle.

Speaking on Fox News on Saturday, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said President Trump is working with the app's Chinese team. Here's what she said about what the deal might look like.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

KAROLINE LEAVITT, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: This deal means that TikTok will be majority-owned by Americans in the United States. There will be seven seats on the board that controls the app in the United States, and six of those seats will be Americans.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BRUNHUBER: The press secretary said she expects the deal to be finalized in the coming days. NATO is flexing its military muscle as tensions with Russia grow along the alliance's eastern flank. British warplanes patrol over Poland Friday night as the alliance tries to draw the line over repeated Russian violations of NATO airspace.

Meanwhile, Ukraine's president is headed to the U.N. General Assembly this week, where he says he'll meet with his U.S. counterpart as the U.S. push for peace is stalled.

For more, Claire Sebastian joins us from London. So, Claire, obviously lots at stake for Ukraine in that meeting between Zelenskyy and Trump. Walk us through what we're expecting.

[04:10:00]

CLARE SEBASTIAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, good morning, Kim. This will be the second meeting between Zelenskyy and Trump since that Alaska summit between Trump and Putin in mid-August. And I think, look, obviously this comes at a moment where we are likely to see Zelenskyy emphasize the clear and present danger that Russia poses to European and NATO security.

The backdrop to this meeting on the sidelines of the UNGA will be, number one, NATO members holding consultations after we saw those Russian flights. fighter jets move into Estonian airspace. On Friday, we'll also see the European Defense Commissioner convene a meeting of defense ministers in Europe on the creation of a so-called drone wall along the E.U.'s eastern flank with Russia.

So, all of that forms the backdrop. This is not a new argument for Zelenskyy. He has spent the last three and a half years trying to emphasize that if Russia is able to succeed in Ukraine, it will not stop there. So, take a listen to what he had to say as part of his address to the Ukrainian people last night.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY, UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT (through translator): Everyone can now see Russian interference against Poland and against Estonia. These are not accidental things. Russia will continue trying to spread its aggression, destabilization and interference. This is their system. This must be countered systematically and together. I thank everyone who is helping.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SEBASTIAN: So, look, you see it there. The reason why it's so critical that he emphasizes this is because Ukraine has spent the past weeks and months trying to push for the U.S. to get tougher on Russia, and I think we will continue to see him to do that because, you know, the E.U. has proposed its 19th package of sanctions. This is a selection of measures, including bringing forward the deadline to ban the import of liquefied natural gas from Russia into Europe by a year. They're promising to sanction Chinese companies involved in the purchase of Russian oil. It's perhaps not quite as far as the U.S. president wanted them to go, but it's still a nod, and it still stands in stark contrast to what the United States is doing, which has so far only been additional tariffs on India. So, certainly we'll see a push for that from President Zelenskyy. Whether or not he will get it is unclear, but President Trump is certainly facing not only pressure from outside, but from inside as well. Senators pushing for this bill that has been -- it's a bipartisan bill designed to allow secondary sanctions on the customers of Russian oil to be increased to up to 500 percent. They are pushing for that to be passed. So, this will be another opportunity for Zelenskyy to make this argument. Kim.

BRUNHUBER: All right. Appreciate it. CNN's Clare Sebastian in London. Thanks so much.

Gaza health officials say more than 30 Palestinians were killed overnight in Israeli strikes. The majority of those casualties were in Gaza City.

The overnight attacks come just one day after the Israeli military announced it's expanding its operations in Gaza City. The IDF said on Saturday it had struck more than 120, quote, "terrorist targets" since the start of its ground incursion a few days ago. The IDF says it eliminated more than 30 terrorists, discovered tunnel shafts, underground passages, and surveillance cameras, and that it was creating a corridor to enable the movement of the civilian population to move away for their safety.

Officials in Gaza say at least 90 people were killed in the Israeli attacks on Gaza City on Saturday. Israeli officials have said the objectives of the incursion are to eliminate Hamas' rule in Gaza, prevent future attacks, and secure the release of the remaining hostages.

Thousands of people across Israel called for an end to the war in Gaza and the return of the hostages demonstrators on Saturday made large signs imploring U.S. President Donald Trump to intervene. One banner in Tel Aviv's hostage square read, President Trump, end the war, save them. Many families of the hostages blamed the Israeli prime minister for putting their loved ones at risk, as Israel escalates its military operation in Gaza, 48 hostages remain in the enclave, and around 20 are thought to be alive.

Iran is warning that it'll stop cooperating with the United Nations' nuclear watchdog if sanctions are reinstated against the country. Comments come after the U.N. Security Council didn't adopt a draft resolution on Friday to permanently lift the sanctions. The U.K., France, and Germany triggered what's called the snapback mechanism last month to reimpose sanctions. They accused Iran of failing to comply with the 2015 nuclear deal. Tehran and key European powers still have a week to agree to the delay.

Police say a shooting at a New Hampshire country club Saturday night has left one person dead and several others injured. Officials say some of the injuries were gunshot wounds and other injuries were sustained in the chaos. One person of interest has been detained, and police say there's no further danger to the public. It happened in Nashua, about 45 minutes away from Boston. There was a wedding taking place in the club at the time.

[04:15:00]

A witness says the gunman appears to have targeted a specific person, adding that the suspect yelled, quote, "the children are safe and free Palestine."

Several major European airports were the target of a cyberattack. I'll speak to an expert about the details of the situation after the break.

Plus, as the U.S. navigates a polarized climate, we take a closer look at Italy's history of political violence and the warning it offers. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BRUNHUBER: Operations are back to normal at Dallas area airports after a telecom outage caused air traffic controllers to lose radar and some communications on Friday afternoon. Now, the break led to flights being stopped at Dallas Love Field and the major hub of Dallas Fort Worth. Two cut fiber optic cables caused the problems. The Federal Aviation Administration said the disruption came because of outdated infrastructure and multiple failures by a local telecom company.

[04:20:00]

In Europe, meanwhile, officials expect disruptions to continue well into Sunday, a day after a cyberattack caused turmoil at several major airports. The hack is affecting automated check-in and boarding systems. An investigation into the source is ongoing, and passengers are coping with delays and cancellations as best they can. CNN's Polo Sandoval has this report.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

POLO SANDOVAL, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): It's one of the scenarios travelers dread, long snaking lines at the airports and flights that have been delayed or canceled. Cyberattack disrupted check-in and boarding systems at several major European airports on Saturday, including London's Heathrow, where passengers were warned of delays. Collins Aerospace set its systems, which help passengers check themselves in electronically and drop off baggages in kiosks, that they were affected forcing airport workers to manually check in people at some airports.

The cyberattack also caused disruption in Brussels International Airport.

AGNES KNAPEN, BELGIAN TRAVELER: I already knew there would be some -- probably some delays. We were not informed yet about how much delay it will be. But in the meantime, I've now heard that it will be about three hours.

SANDOVAL (voice-over): And the issue upended travel plans at Berlin Brandenburg Airport. KIM REISEN, GERMAN TRAVELER (through translator): We haven't been told anything except that there was a technical fault. Of course, online you can read that it was properly a cyberattack, and now we're waiting to see what happens here.

SANDOVAL (voice-over): Affected airports say the software provider is working to quickly resolve the problem. And so, far, the travel nightmare hasn't affected all airports. Delta Airlines said it's implemented a workaround and expects minimal impact to its flights. While EasyJet, one of Europe's biggest carrier says, it's operating normally.

Polo Sandoval, CNN.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BRUNHUBER: And for more on this, I'm joined now by Travel and Transportation Analyst Paul Charles, founder and CEO of the PC Agency. Thanks so much for being here with us. So, we saw the cyberattack hit some of Europe's biggest airports all at once. How unusual is it to see this kind of disruption across multiple countries?

PAUL CHARLES, FOUNDER AND CEO, THE PC AGENCY: It's very unusual, and I think this shows the cleverness, the intelligence of this particular cyberattack. It wasn't targeted at one particular airport or one particular airline, but it was focused on causing as much disruption as possible across multiple sites, multiple airports in Europe, such as Brussels, Berlin, Dublin, and Heathrow, and also affecting so many airlines, well over 80 airlines affected across Europe. And will be continuing to be affected today.

BRUNHUBER: Yes. Do we know anything about who's behind it or what the motive might be?

CHARLES: There's no indication yet. Obviously, the initial suspicions are there may be some country involved, a state actor of some kind. Interesting timing after President Trump's visit this week to U.K., that maybe this could be another Russian-based cyberattack of some kind, sending a message that America could one day potentially face this sort of action.

And I think it's a wake-up call. This sort of intelligent attack that affects so many airports and airlines at the same time shows that third-party systems which dominate our airport infrastructure need to be stress-tested on a very regular basis. Otherwise, an airport anywhere in the world could be affected.

BRUNHUBER: Yes, on that point, I mean, the hackers targeted a company that provides check-in systems to airports around the world. And as you say, what's striking is that the single company has so much control over our travel. I mean, we've seen, you know, high-profile cyberattacks on US air travel systems as well. So, what does all of this say about cyber security in the travel industry right now?

CHARLES: Well, Collins Aerospace, who've been the victim of this attack. And one of the most entrenched suppliers in the aviation industry. They have a very good track record, normally. They're one of the world's biggest aerospace and defense companies. They employ over 80,000 people. They're part of RTX, which, of course, is the world's biggest aerospace and defense maker. And it's very surprising. Their systems are normally fail-safe. And I think this is what investigators and regulators will need to be looking at now.

Why is somebody like Collins Aerospace able to be infiltrated in this way? How are their systems, which are some of the most secure and protected in the world, vulnerable to this sort of attack? Because if Collins is vulnerable, anybody is vulnerable. And I think that's where the investigators will be looking at. The national cyber security centers around the world will all be assessing this attack over the weekend and saying, how do we issue guidance that any supplier needs to take notice of? Because it won't be the last attack affecting airport infrastructure.

[04:25:00]

BRUNHUBER: No, absolutely. And that's the problem. We are so dependent on digital systems these days. So, you know, when you see these -- you know, having to do these manual check-ins, they cause three-hour waits at the airports. I mean, what advice do you have for people who are traveling? I mean, presumably, you know, travel light, print everything you can. What advice do you have?

CHARLES: Yes, it's very frustrating for passengers, of course. And today is going to be potentially a tougher day for the airports in Europe. There are over 120,000 passengers due to depart London Heathrow, for example. That's many more than were due to depart yesterday.

It's very frustrating. It's stressful when you're a passenger caught up in this situation. The best advice is to obviously check via your airline app, if possible, or online what the advice is from your airline and whether your flight is operating. Personally, I think the best advice is always try not to check in luggage or baggage if you can. Try to keep to hand luggage if possible, especially on those short-haul flights and those short hops, so that your bags aren't caught up in the baggage system.

But it's very difficult. You can only take the advice of your airline. And at the moment, many of them are saying they're getting back to normal today, but there will still be delays of several hours for some passengers, I'm afraid.

BRUNHUBER: Yes, unfortunately. Great advice there. We appreciate that. Paul Charles, thank you so much.

CHARLES: Thank you.

BRUNHUBER: Now, internet searches for Jimmy Kimmel are soaring after he was pulled from the air. We'll get a closer look at the growing public interest when we come back. And New York is gearing up for the United Nations General Assembly. We'll look at how security agencies are collaborating to ensure world leaders are safe. Those stories and more when we come back. Stay with us. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[04:30:00]

BRUNHUBER: Welcome back to all of you watching us here in the United States, Canada and around the world. I'm Kim Brunhuber. This is CNN Newsroom.

We're learning new details about the suspension of "Jimmy Kimmel Live!". Sources are telling CNN that the show's crew will be paid through next week, while the future of the show remains in limbo. Disney pulled Kimmel from the air following his comments about reaction to Charlie Kirk's murder. CNN Chief Data Analyst Harry Enten takes a look at how Americans are reacting to the fallout.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

HARRY ENTEN, CNN CHIEF DATA ANALYST: Hey there. Interest in the Jimmy Kimmel suspension by ABC and Disney is sky high. Indeed, we can see this well through Google searches, all-time highs in Google searches for Jimmy Kimmel. Oh, my goodness gracious. We're talking about up 10,000, about 10,000 percent versus the baseline, as well as for free speech up about 200 percent versus the baseline. And we're talking about records going all the way back since 2004. Of course, Jimmy Kimmel has been famous for a long period of time, but never has search interest in him been so high.

Now, of course, this is being driven by the comments that Jimmy Kimmel made surrounding the Charlie Kirk assassination and the aftermath. And of course, a lot of pressure from Republicans. And I'll tell you this much. Republicans are getting exactly what they want because we can see it in this poll question here. The media is biased and should be punished. That is the mainstream media.

Now, this is amongst Republicans. This poll was taken before Jimmy Kimmel's comments. But you can see how it plays out very well. Get this, 71 percent of Republicans believe that the media is biased. That is the mainstream media is biased and should be punished. So, they are absolutely loving the idea that Jimmy Kimmel is, in fact, getting punished for the comments that he made on his show.

Now, of course, there is the whole question about government interference and government influence. If there was, in fact, government influence and interference, Republicans, they're perfectly OK with it. Why? Because they already think that it's happening. Get this. U.S. media, that is U.S. news organizations, influenced by government interests and political interests, get this, amongst Republicans, and again, this is before the Kimmel news., 64 percent of Republicans already believe that there's a great deal of influence put on U.S. news organizations, U.S. media organizations by government interests.

And then you get an additional 26 percent who say, you know what? U.S. media organizations are actually at least somewhat influenced by government and or political interests. So, the bottom line here is pretty simple, that is, there's a lot of interest in this story, but Republicans are absolutely happy to see Jimmy Kimmel going adios, amigos, at least momentarily off the airways. And they don't care the way it happened. If there was, in fact, government influence, they are OK with it because the bottom line is they already thought that the government was in fact influencing U.S. media organizations. Back to you.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BRUNHUBER: The assassination of Charlie Kirk has brought strong reactions from both sides of the political aisle, leading some to fear that it could deepen political divisions in the U.S. Many people in Italy still remember the nation's so-called Years of Lead when extreme political violence scarred communities there for nearly two decades. As CNN's Ben Wedeman explains, this painful history now serves as a warning to Americans.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MARK LEFF, FORMER CNN CORRESPONDENT: And so, far, there have been anonymous telephone calls claiming responsibility by both the far-left Red Brigades and the far-right Armed Revolutionary Nuclei.

BEN WEDEMAN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): They were known as the Anni di Piombo, Italy's Years of Lead. From the late 1960s until the 1980s, the country was convulsed by bombings, assassinations, kidnappings and street clashes, as extremist factions at opposite ends of the political spectrum replaced ballots with bullets.

WEDEMAN: In the aftermath of the assassination of right-wing activist Charlie Kirk, Italy's Years of Lead offer a cautionary tale to a United States increasingly torn apart by political differences.

WEDEMAN (voice-over): Victor Simpson spent four decades covering Italy for the Associated Press.

VICTOR SIMPSON, FORMER ROME CORRESPONDENT, ASSOCIATED PRESS: Yes, there was a very serious rivalry going on between leftist and rightist terrorists and who could cause the most damage. But, you know, Italians are actually a very wise people, I always thought, and they kept their heads, the politicians kept their heads.

WEDEMAN (voice-over): In 1978, the far-left Red Brigades kidnaped then murdered five- time former prime minister Aldo Moro. Two years later, far-right extremists with the Revolutionary Armed Nuclei planted a bomb in Bologna's train station, killing more than 80 people.

Yet through it all, the leaders of the mainstream parties rejected violence. The center held, says Loyola University's Claudio Lodici, speaking next to the spot where Aldo Moro's body was found in the trunk of a car.

[04:35:00]

CLAUDIO LODICI, LOYOLA UNIVERSITY: The center or the parties that were in office, including the Communist Party, stood their ground. There was an across-the-board consensus that terrorism had to be defeated. It was across the board.

WEDEMAN (voice-over): A consensus that saved Italy from chaos. The politicians knew united we stand, divided we all fall.

Ben Wedeman, CNN, Rome.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BRUNHUBER: President Trump is escalating his push to retake Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan from the Taliban. He's now warning that, quote, "bad things are going to happen if it isn't returned to U.S. control." He was asked Saturday if he's willing to put American troops on the ground if necessary. Here he is.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TRUMP: We won't talk about that, but we're talking now to Afghanistan, and we want it back, and we want it back soon, right away. And if they don't do it, you're going to find out what I'm going to do.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BRUNHUBER: The Taliban took over the base following the collapse of the Afghan government and the U.S. military withdrawal in 2021. The group released a statement welcoming good diplomatic ties, but warned the U.S. to look at the humiliations foreign invaders have suffered in Afghanistan's past.

Venezuela is flexing its military muscle amid rising tensions with the United States. Military forces in Caracas conducted civilian weapons training on Saturday in response to the U.S.'s military buildup in the Caribbean and its recent attacks on Venezuelan vessels. At the event, officials slammed the U.S. for launching strikes on boats.

President Donald Trump claimed the boats were carrying drug traffickers. Venezuela has condemned the U.S. actions as pretext for intervention. In a letter to Trump, President Nicolas Maduro offered to engage in direct talks with his government and rejected the U.S. claims about drug trafficking.

Pacific islands are under threat because of climate change, and European companies are coming under pressure to do something about it. Now, another industry is in activist sights. We'll have details when we come back. Please stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[04:40:00]

BRUNHUBER: Hundreds of world leaders and foreign dignitaries will converge on New York City for the U.N. General Assembly. It starts on Tuesday and security officials are bracing for a busy week. CNN's John Miller has a behind-the-scenes look at the security challenges ahead. (BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JOHN MILLER, CNN CHIEF LAW ENFORCEMENT AND INTELLIGENCE ANALYST: Well, we got off the X. I thought we're going to die. Have you tried that in Manhattan traffic yet?

MATT MCCOOL, SPECIAL AGENT IN CHARGE, SECRET SERVICE NY FIELD OFFICE: You want to do it again?

MILLER: Yes, let's do it again.

MILLER (voice-over): On a remote former airfield in the far reaches of Brooklyn, Matt McCool, special agent in charge of the Secret Service in New York, is training for a busy week.

MILLER: And we end up facing the opposite direction.

MCCOOL: Takeoff.

MILLER: And escape the threat.

MCCOOL: Yes.

MILLER (voice-over): When protecting any world leader, the most vulnerable point is the move, going from point A to point B.

MILLER: Well, that was exhilarating, or accelerating, or something rating.

MILLER (voice-over): So, as the NYPD and the Secret Service plan the motorcade for the United Nations General Assembly, it's a security challenge like no other.

MILLER: So, what are we looking at in terms of numbers?

MCCOOL: So, for this year, we're looking at over 150 heads of state and then approximately 75 spouses.

MILLER (voice-over): But in the congested streets of Manhattan, spinning a car around may not be an option.

MCCOOL: The best way to survive an ambush is don't get ambushed. But if it does occur, we have a coordinated plan. And what I can tell you is if that were to happen in New York City, it's going to be met with a violent counterattack.

MILLER (voice-over): At the Secret Service Training Center in Maryland, an attack can come at any moment.

MILLER: What's the mindset going into each day?

MCCOOL: The bad guy's here, he's ready to go, and it's our job to stop them and stay ahead of them.

MILLER (voice-over): In New York City traffic, the motorcycles are more than just ceremonial. ANTHONY LACORAZZA, SECRET SERVICE AGENT: Far from lead, merge right.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Copy, merge right.

LACORAZZA: Merge on the left, posted.

MILLER (voice-over): Secret Service agent Anthony Lacorazza explains how they're critical to the operation.

LACORAZZA: On the motorcade route. Pedestrians riding the motorcade route.

MILLER: If something suddenly occurs, there are a set of synapses that fire, reactions that happen, and it can happen very quickly, and it can come out of nowhere.

LACORAZZA: There's always a plan. There's always multiple plans to get from one point to the other. And we run those consistently, we brief them consistently, and before we even leave that site, everybody knows what each contingency plan is.

MILLER (voice-over): But for the Secret Service, the secret weapon for New York City traffic is NYPD's Highway Patrol motorcycles.

MILLER: You want to be fluid all the time. How do the motorcycles and the outriders play into all that?

LACORAZZA: So, if you notice on the left-hand lane, they keep going ahead. What they're doing is shutting down as many streets as possible so we can keep going. So, to your point, we never want to be still, we never want to stop.

MILLER (voice-over): The outriders are led by Lieutenant Joseph Bell.

LT. JOSEPH BELL, NYPD HIGHWAY PATROL: The individuals that are picked are picked because not only can they operate a motorcycle very efficiently, but they have a lot of experience doing high-profile escorts. With them, we can address anything -- any compromise on that route.

MILLER: And who will you be escorting?

BELL: I will be on the POTUS escort.

MILLER (voice-over): And protecting the president is no detail for rookies.

MILLER: How many presidents have you escorted in motorcades?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Eight.

MILLER: Eight. And how many U.N. General Assemblies have you been a part of?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Thirty-eight. MCCOOL: Nobody does it like we do it, nobody prepares for it like we do it, and I can say with all certainty that we are the best in the business at what we do.

MILLER (voice-over): John Miller, CNN, New York.

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MICHAEL WALTHER, EXTREME ATHLETE: So, here we go now. I'm starting my trip across the Atlantic Ocean with this small offshore stand-up paddling board. It's quite small, but it's an offshore board and I trust in it. And I'm looking forward to the upcoming 6,000 kilometers across the Atlantic Ocean. So, now I'm starting. Behind me is the harbor of Lagos. And, yes, I will start into the first night now. Thanks a lot.

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BRUNHUBER: So, that is German athlete and environmental activist Michael Walter setting off on an epic journey across the Atlantic. He's the first European to attempt the crossing on a stand-up paddle board aiming to travel from Portugal to French Guiana. Now, he's not trying to break any record, but to raise awareness for climate protection and to collect scientific data along the way for marine research. Walter hopes to complete the 3,700-mile trip in just 90 days.

[04:45:00]

While the hardships caused by climate change spread, the people most affected are finding new ways to fight back. CNN Meteorologist Allison Chinchar reports on this effort from Indonesia.

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ALLISON CHINCHAR, CNN METEOROLOGIST (voice-over): Locals from a small island in Indonesia are taking their action against climate change all the way to Europe. Four residents from Pari Island have filed a complaint against Swiss cement company Holcim, arguing its carbon emissions are partly to blame for rising sea levels that are threatening to submerge the island.

IBU ASMANIA, PARI ISLAND RESIDENT AND PLAINTIFF (through translator): I'm definitely worried because the situation now has worsened for our island after it was predicted that by 2050 Pari Island would be underwater. We would want a better livelihood if the company that's producing these emissions can do something about it. And we hope that the future is better for us.

CHINCHAR (voice-over): The initial court hearing took place on September 3rd in Zug, Switzerland. But the Swiss court has not yet decided whether it will consider the complaint, a decision which could now take weeks or months. ARIF PUJIANTO, PARI ISLAND RESIDENT AND PLAINTIFF (through translator): I'm here to seek climate justice because the climate crisis has impacted our island, Pari Island.

CHINCHAR (voice-over): If accepted, the case would be the first of its kind in Switzerland to address whether Swiss companies can be held responsible for their contribution to climate change, according to non-profit Swiss Church Aid.

Cement production accounts for about 7 percent of global CO2 emissions, according to the Global Cement and Concrete Association, which is supporting the islander's case. A recent study found that Holcim accounted for 0.18 percent of all carbon emissions since 1854.

Holcim says it is awaiting the court's decision, stating that regardless of the outcome, they are fully committed to reaching net zero by 2050, with sustainability at the core of their strategy, and that they believe that this is a question for the legislature, not a civil court.

And this isn't the first-time individuals have sought damages from major carbon emitters. Earlier this year, a Peruvian man sued German energy firm RWE, claiming that their carbon emissions contributed to the melting of glaciers that threatened his hometown. That case, filed in 2015, ended in May when a German state court dismissed the specific case, saying the adverse effects were not big enough.

But the court did say that German companies could be held liable for climate change damages under German civil law.

SAUL LUCIANO LLIUYA, SUED GERMAN FIRM RWE (through translator): From the beginning, we wanted to set a precedent so that we could hold the companies responsible. Of course, in this case, my request that the company has to take responsibility was rejected. Well, it was not completely achieved. But a big step was taken for the other lawsuits.

CHINCHAR (voice-over): Now, the residents of Pari Island await their own decision, hoping to build on that precedent.

Allison Chinchar, CNN.

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BRUNHUBER: Sightings of great white sharks are increasing off the U.S. northeastern coast. Next, we'll hear from researchers trying to understand the surge. Please stay with us.

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BRUNHUBER: Well, a few creatures inspire more fear and fascination than great white sharks. Beach goers may dread them. But for the scientists trying to unlock their secrets, every sighting is a chance to learn. CNN's Leigh Waldman has more.

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LEIGH WALDMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Researchers on board this boat only have a matter of minutes after catching a juvenile great white shark to tag it with a satellite tracker and gather data from it.

FRANK QUEVEDO, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, SOUTH FORK NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM: Everybody that's on this boat have been trained to do the duties that they need to do to get this shark, get the data and get it back swimming in the water.

WALDMAN (voice-over): The practice of tagging juvenile sharks is relatively new. Frank Quevedo's team with South Fork Shark Research and Education Program is the first to do it in the Atlantic.

QUEVEDO: We saw that that shark was able to swim from the south shore of long island, all the way off the coast of Maryland, and it popped off, and then we kind of opened up the doors to all this, this research that we're doing.

WALDMAN (voice-over): Research borne from a very rare 2016 discovery, a great white shark nursery, the only one to be scientifically verified in the North Atlantic, and only the third like it in the world.

QUEVEDO: Extremely special. We are so fortunate that there's a nursery like this here right in our backyard.

WALDMAN (voice-over): Scientists still have many unanswered questions about one of the ocean's apex predators, including where they mate and where they give birth. But discoveries like this nursery in New York waters provide important clues.

In May, Joanna Steidle, a marine wildlife drone photographer in Southampton, captured video of what appeared to be a large, pregnant great white shark swimming in the waters off Montauk.

JOANNA STEIDLE, OWNER, HAMPTONS DRONE ART LLC: Usually just before Fourth of July is when I start seeing them. So, this was in May. I was totally shocked.

WALDMAN (voice-over): It was the start of what Steidle describes as an abundance of sharks in northeast waters this summer. Data from the Maine Department of Marine Resources backs that up. Since 2020, trackers have spotted 93 great white sharks off the coast of Maine, 19 unique white sharks were recorded in 2024 alone.

STEIDLE: And a very small school of menhaden and I say like this, but that's what it looks like on my screen, small school, would draw in maybe eight to 10 sharks.

WALDMAN (voice-over): Quevedo says the appearance of more sharks in the water is twofold. Videos and pictures being shared on social media and successful conservation efforts of great whites and their food sources.

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QUEVEDO: Because of these conservation efforts in these management plans to protect the species, we're seeing the populations either being sustained or are actually improving over the years, but they're not even close to being what they were 50 years ago.

WALDMAN (voice-over): Leigh Waldman, CNN, New York.

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BRUNHUBER: Oktoberfest has begun. Munich's mayor kicked off the annual festivities with a ceremonial tapping of the keg. Organizers expect millions to attend. Last year, more than 6.5 million people took part in the world's biggest beer festival. This is the 190th Oktoberfest. Now, it dates back to the early 1800s when a royal wedding grew into a folk festival that we know today. And while Munich remains the heart of Oktoberfest, the celebration has spread worldwide.

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BRUNHUBER: The musical festival Farm Aid held its latest edition in Minneapolis on Saturday. It was created 40 years ago to raise money for U.S. farmers struggling with everything from foreclosures to climate change. Now, CNN was the exclusive television broadcaster. We asked performer Dave Matthews about the importance of the benefit concert series. Here he is.

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DAVE MATTHEWS, PERFORMING ARTIST, FARM AID PARTICIPANT: If everything turns around and farmers are taken care of in the next year and we learn how to -- you know, how to treat our people in this country, then we won't need to have a 41st Farm Aid. But it doesn't seem that likely, you know.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Right.

MATTHEWS: And so, we have to fight for the rights of working people. And a good many of those are working farmers. And know that we're all in this together except for a select few. And we need to get them out of the train.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Thank you all very much and welcome to Farm Aid, the concert for America.

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BRUNHUBER: Well, since it began in 1985, Farm Aid, which was co- organized by country legend Willie Nelson, has raised more than $85 million to support programs for farmers.

All right. That wraps this hour of CNN Newsroom. I'm Kim Brunhuber. I'll be back with more news in just a moment.

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