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Early Voting Surges in U.S.; Manu Raju Interviews Hakeem Jeffries; Zelenskyy Reacts to Starlink Saga; Ebola Spread in Africa; Brazil to Choose Next President; Brazil To Choose Next President In Sunday's Runoff Election; Environment At Risk As Persian Gulf Polluted By Conflict; Trump Accelerates Plans To Build Triumphal Arch; Boston College Women's Lacrosse Team Prioritizes Mental Health. Aired 2-3a ET

Aired October 23, 2026 - 02:00   ET

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

[02:00:00]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

IVAN WATSON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Hello and welcome to our viewers joining us from all around the world. I'm Ivan Watson in Hong Kong.

Ahead on "CNN Newsroom," with less than two weeks until Election Day, tens of millions of Americans have already cast their votes in the midterms. Why President Trump is traveling to deep red states, hoping to inspire his base. Plus, President Trump says Starlink access has been restored in Ukraine, but he won't say if he asked Elon Musk to switch it back on. Hear how President Zelenskyy is reacting to the disruption. And later, the fallout from the war in Iran is spreading far beyond the battlefield. Researchers say surface oil in the Strait of Hormuz has now doubled, putting ecosystems and communities at risk.

UNKNOWN (voice-over): Live from Hong Kong, this is "CNN Newsroom with Ivan Watson."

WATSON: All right, listen, two weeks before the U.S. midterm elections, new data shows more than 20 million Americans have already voted, that may include me, and that's only going to ramp up as early in-person voting begins or expands in four big states this weekend: Florida, Michigan, New Jersey, and New York.

Meanwhile, backlash to that incendiary campaign ad in Ohio is now spreading far beyond the state's borders, but that did not stop President Trump from once again defending the spot during a campaign stop in Iowa and depicting it as a gift, even though the ad deals with a troubling family dynamic and discussions of child sexual abuse.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: It's like a big story about he must take that ad down immediately, he must -- no. The mother is calling the daughter a terrible person and a liar. Everybody should be so lucky. Why would you shield somebody from that? Why would -- why would we do that? So, I told him, leave it up and look upstairs and say, thank you, God, very much, I appreciate it.

(APPLAUSE)

But that's a hot story today. They want him to take down an ad. I only wish I could have had an ad like that against somebody. But, as it turned out, we didn't need it.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WATSON: CNN's Lauren Fox takes a closer look at the salacious ad and how it's going over with voters in Ohio.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JAMIE MARTINEZ, DEMOCRATIC OHIO VOTER: Like, why, why? And I don't know what his angle was, like did -- who -- is that speaking to anyone?

DONNA ARTHUR, MOTHER OF AMY ACTON: She is a liar.

LAUREN FOX, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): A brutal political ad from gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy is dividing the Republican Party and voters in Ohio.

UNKNOWN: At this point, with what I know, I would probably lean toward Acton.

MARTINEZ: Do you think that that ad might backfire for Ramaswamy?

UNKNOWN: I think the ad is definitely going to backfire, particularly with women. I think there are going to be some problems for Vivek and also, potentially, the Republican Party across the board.

FOX (voice-over): Even in an era of hyper-partisanship, the ad featuring Acton's estranged mother calling her a liar has struck a nerve.

BILL HAWAL, DEMOCRATIC OHIO VOTER: I couldn't believe it. And the fact that he hasn't disowned it is beyond my comprehension. Really is. It's the ugliest thing I've seen in pretty much my lifetime.

KARI FREUDENBERGER, SUBSTITUTE TEACHER, SOCIAL WORKER, UNDECIDED OHIO VOTER: It's heinous and horrible. And I just -- I think -- I don't care if Ramaswamy's policies are the best. That shows just a judgment of character that I don't want to see anymore.

FOX (voice-over): Acton's mother lost custody of her and her brother when she was just 12 years old, and her stepfather was indicted by a grand jury of sexually abusing her.

AMY ACTON, OHIO GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATE: I had a childhood of extreme physical abuse and sexual abuse as a kid, my brother and I have. Frequent flyers in children's services finally removed after a grand jury saw evidence that was so, so shocking that we were removed from my mother's custody.

FOX (voice-over): The ad comes as voters here say they want their leaders more focused on the economy and less on personal attacks.

KATHY BROWN, INDEPENDENT OHIO VOTER: Talk about the plans you have to make grocery costs go down, to make gas prices go down, to do something about the tariffs and how they're charging us more money at the grocery store.

[02:05:00]

Don't talk about people's parents.

FOX (voice-over): One Republican operative told CNN that Republican officials in the state are furious at Ramaswamy for airing it at a moment when the party is trying desperately to guard against a Democratic comeback in November.

GOV. MIKE DEWINE (R), OHIO: The ad on his face is deeply, deeply troubling. But when you know the rest of the story, when you know the back story, it makes it just more wrong.

FOX (voice-over): Governor DeWine is a Republican who is sticking with Ramaswamy despite hating the ad. Acton holds a six-point lead over her Republican rival, according to the CNN Poll of Polls in Ohio. Republicans in the state probably couldn't be more pissed at him, the source told CNN. President Trump sees it differently.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TRUMP: I don't know what it is, but I guess the mother said very bad things about the one who's running for governor, and I think you have to take that seriously.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

FOX (voice-over): That message may be resonating with some Republican voters.

SHERI VORHERR, REPUBLICAN OHIO VOTER: I don't think it reflects well on Amy Acton, but I also don't think it reflects well on her mother. It's a messy situation.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WATSON: The battle for control of Congress is in full swing, and Democratic House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries is out on the front lines. He has been out stumping for several Democrats in tight races in California. CNN's Manu Raju caught up with him and has this report.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MANU RAJU, CNN CHIEF CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Hakeem Jeffries is extremely bullish right now. He sees a Democratic majority well within his reach. And they're spending money not just in traditional battleground districts, but also deep into Trump country, places where Donald Trump won by more than 10 points. He thinks they can flip a number of those districts. And he also thinks he can flip a district like this one. I'm in San Diego, the area and district that had been occupied by Darrell Issa, a retiring Republican. But that has been gerrymandered and Democrats have changed their lines to add five Democratic seats. He thinks they will add all five Democratic seats. He does not think Republicans will do as well when it comes to all the gerrymandering that we saw over the past year.

Now, I asked him to put a number about the percentage chance of a Democratic victory come November. He didn't want to go that far, but he made very clear that he thinks Democrats will take the House.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. HAKEEM JEFFRIES (D-NY), MINORITY LEADER OF THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES: We're on the verge of taking back control of the House of Representatives. I don't want to attach any particular percentage point other than making it clear. It's very likely we're going to get this done. We have extraordinary candidates. The issue environment is clearly on our side. We've made clear, as Democrats, we're going to fight for an affordable America.

RAJU: So, there must be something in the back of your mind that says that something could still go wrong on election night. Would you acknowledge that?

JEFFRIES: Well, you have to assume, as we've done from the very beginning, that Republicans are going to try to come up with any diabolical scheme to prevent November 3rd from being a free and fair election.

We've been planning from the very beginning to push back against all of the voter suppression efforts that they've tried to jam down the throat to the American people. Now, up until this point, we've successfully stopped their scheming.

RAJU: But are you saying that's the only way they can hold on to power?

JEFFRIES: I've said that from the very beginning.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

RAJU: Now, Jeffries did not want to put a number on how big of a majority he may ultimately have if they do, in fact, win. But it's very likely if they were to win, it would be a narrow majority, meaning those Democrats winning in Trump districts could be butting heads against those more progressive Democrats, ones backed by the Democratic Socialists of America.

I asked him about all those divisions that could happen if he were to become speaker of the House. He downplayed all of that. But, very clearly, that's an issue that he's going to have to deal with if he does become speaker. At the moment, he's focusing on November 3rd because he sees the majority within reach, and he believes they will get there. (END VIDEOTAPE)

WATSON: Billionaire Elon Musk has donated at least $445 million in the current election cycle. Most of the contributions have been focused on helping Republicans keep control of the U.S. Senate. The Federal Election Commission's final snapshot of political donations before Election Day show Musk put an additional $76 million into his super PAC in the first two weeks of this month alone.

All right, to France now, because in the coming hours, the French government is expected to announce security measures for major protests planned for Saturday. President Emmanuel Macron is set to meet with defense officials shortly as authorities brace for more unrest. Authorities have temporarily banned some protests in major cities following some of the worst rioting in years. Lawmakers are pressing the government to address the social and economic issues at the heart of the protests. Parts of Paris and other cities are under curfew.

[02:10:00]

France's interior minister says more than twenty-seven hundred people have been detained since last Saturday, and French courts have convicted and sentenced 217 people to prison.

Meanwhile, a student-led protest group marched peacefully through Paris Thursday after a court suspended police ban on their demonstration. France's main student union is calling for more protests on Saturday, and one of the country's largest trade union says it plans to join. After meeting with his security council on Thursday, President Macron announced that only protests affiliated with a trade union would be allowed to proceed.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

EMMANUEL MACRON, PRESIDENT OF FRANCE (through translator): Any requests to demonstrate or gather, especially those made by individuals or groups lacking the legitimacy to do so, will be prohibited by the prefects. Now is not the time. Our priority is a return to calm. Everywhere, trade unions may submit requests to hold demonstrations. These will be reviewed by the prefects in accordance with the law. However, alternative routes will be proposed to protect our city centers, specifically our businesses and public buildings.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WATSON: And in Serbia, student-led protests have evolved into a political movement ahead of Sunday's parliamentary elections. Tens of thousands of supporters gathered in Belgrade Thursday for a final campaign rally. The movement emerged after a deadly canopy collapsed at a train station in 2024. Now, the group is backing a list of 250 candidates, including actors, farmers, professors, and even a rapper. The election could pose the greatest challenge to former President Aleksandar Vucic and his Serbian Progressive Party.

All right, there is much more to come here on "CNN Newsroom." A deadly earthquake strikes the Tibet region of China with hundreds of homes collapsed and rescuers searching through the night. We'll have more on that when we come back from this break.

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[02:15:00]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WATSON: President Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy are offering conflicting accounts of the status of a critical satellite service in Ukraine.

Last week, Zelenskyy said the Starshield service had been throttled, disrupting Ukrainian military operations. In an interview with CNN's Christiane Amanpour on Thursday, he said the service is still not fully operational. His interview aired after President Donald Trump said that Elon Musk had restored the service.

Starshield is a military-grade version of Musk's Starlink satellite network. And here is how Trump responded when asked whether he had urged Musk to restore the service.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TRUMP: You know, whether I called or whether somebody else called doesn't make any difference. I guess the bottom line, he put it back.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

J.D. VANCE, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: I think that, fundamentally, Elon Musk runs a private corporation. And I think it is completely understandable that he doesn't want to get in the middle of what is a war between two state actors with the United States government effectively directing him on what to do. So, I don't think this is about Elon. I think it's fundamentally what is America's policy in Ukraine and Russia going to be.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WATSON: In his interview with CNN, Zelenskyy said his disagreements with Trump are not personal. This is what he said when Christiane asked him who is responsible for slowing down Starshield.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CHRISTIANE AMANPOUR, CNN CHIEF INTERNATIONAL ANCHOR: Who do you think did it?

VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY, PRESIDENT OF UKRAINE: I don't know. It can be -- I mean, technically, it can do -- I think SpaceX. But the decision comes by themselves or from some institutions. I don't know. It's not clear for me. But, technically --

AMANPOUR: OK. Is it --

ZELENSKYY: -- it can be only one company.

AMANPOUR: Is it up to speed? I don't understand. Is it up to -- is it back up to speed or not?

ZELENSKYY: No. We had enough speed to destroy Iran 400, 500 kilometers per hour. Yes, it's more than 300 miles. Now, we had maximum 100 miles.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WATSON: To Asia now where security camera footage captured the moments an earthquake struck Southwest China with people running to evacuate. The U.S. Geological Survey says the magnitude seven quake struck the Tibet region at around 10:30 p.m. local time. State media reports 16 people are dead and 46 people injured. A rescue team has been dispatched to the quake's epicenter. More than 300 homes have collapsed and the extent of the damage is still being assessed.

All right, take a look. These are live pictures right now out of Taiwan. Look at those waves as a powerful typhoon approach. Those are big breakers, huh. Typhoon Champi is bearing down on Taiwan and has shut down much of the island. While the storm is not expected to make a direct landfall, it's still causing all sorts of disruptions. More than 600 flights have been canceled for the coming day. Businesses and schools are shut across Taiwan. Forecast models indicate the former super typhoon will skirt the northern part of the island before heading towards China and then southern Japan.

And now to a new warning from the World Health Organization.

[02:19:59]

The agency is calling for vigilance as the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo is spreading. New cases have been reported in Kenya and Nigeria.

More now from CNN's Victoria Rubadiri.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

VICTORIA RUBADIRI, CNN CONNECTING AFRICA CORRESPONDENT: Of the main issues that came out in this briefing with the WHO was the fact that most of the cases that have been confirmed are people who are dying from Ebola without ever reaching a treatment center in the Democratic Republic of Congo where the outbreak began back in May.

The WHO says around six in every 10 recent deaths have happened outside treatment facilities, and that really points to the challenge of identifying infections early enough and getting people the medical care that they need.

As far as the numbers, as you said, more than 9,000 people have been infected in the DRC alone with over 4,000 deaths.

And what's making this particularly difficult to contain is the strain involved, known as Bundibugyo, there is currently no vaccine specifically targeting it.

Now, one of the key things that the WHO clarified today was the issue of community transmission, whether the virus is spreading beyond people already identified as contacts of infected patients. Now, in the DRC, community transmission is already established.

But here in Kenya, the WHO says that's not the case. Nine people have been infected, including the first patient who traveled from the DRC through Uganda before arriving in Nairobi where he later died. The other eight cases are all linked to that first patient. And according to the WHO, they were already in quarantine when they tested positive. So, at this stage, there's no evidence of wider community transmission in Kenya.

As for Nigeria, which is the latest country to confirm a case, the WHO says a patient remains in hospital and is stable. But authorities are still trying to establish just how she contracted Ebola and where. That's important because it will help determine whether this was simply an imported infection or whether there's any evidence of transmission within Nigeria itself.

And here's what some Nigerians actually had to say about the possible spread.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SHAPHIRA ANGER, CORPS MEMBER: I'm not seeing anybody here wear nose masks at the moment, and people are making fun of me for wearing it. And I'm just trying to take safety precautions. So, if there are safety measures to be taken, people should take them and take them seriously.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

KINGSLEY OZONOCHIE, REALTOR: I'm scared of (INAUDIBLE) because the last time it happened, there was lockdown. So, I'm afraid that this case might make the government to call for lockdown, which would drastically affect our business. It will (INAUDIBLE) of movement. Our movement will be restricted. So, I'm scared. I'm really scared. I wish the government should do something about it so that the case does not spread.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

RUBADIRI: And hearing them, that really brings us back to one of the biggest challenges facing health authorities across the region, and that's detecting infections before people cross borders. The WHO says though there is screening, it can miss cases, particularly when travelers haven't developed symptoms or don't disclose their exposure history.

So, for now, the focus remains on getting people into treatment early and strengthening contact tracing as well as preventing the virus from spreading into the wider community. (END VIDEOTAPE)

WATSON: All right. Well, a man in France has died from the Shamonda virus, which experts say is common in livestock, but poses little risk to humans. Shamonda is not classified as a disease under the E.U. animal health law and not subject to official surveillance or control measures. Authorities suspect the man was bitten by a small insect carrying the virus before he died in early October.

Now, still ahead, Brazil's presidential race grows increasingly bitter ahead of Sunday's runoff with legal disputes and personal attacks. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[02:25:00]

WATSON: Welcome back. I'm Ivan Watson broadcasting live from Hong Kong. Brazil's presidential candidates will face off Friday in their final televised debate before Sunday's runoff election. Right-wing Senator Flavio Bolsonaro led the first round by nearly two-percentage points. But polls now show him in a virtual tie with left-wing president, Lula da Silva.

CNN's Julia Vargas Jones has more.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

(MUSIC PLAYING)

JULIA VARGAS JONES, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): This is one of the most popular campaign ads in Brazil's presidential election. This one, too. Both are A.I.-generated videos that have added to the cacophony of A.I. content in this presidential race. IRL, it has also spilled over beyond Brazil's borders.

ZOHRAN MAMDANI, MAYOR OF NEW YORK CITY: Such a pleasure to meet with President Lula.

VARGAS JONES (voice-over): Both candidates making campaign stops on American soil, one boasting closeness, the other, sovereignty.

[02:30:00]

LULA DA SILVA, PRESIDENT OF BRAZIL (through translator): Brazilian democracy belongs to Brazilians.

VARGAS JONES, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The incumbent, Luiz Inacio Lula Da Silva, rose from the factory floor to become the defining figure of Brazil's modern left. At 80 years old, he's seeking his fourth term.

His opponent is almost half his age. Senator Flavio Bolsonaro is campaigning as the political heir to his father, former President Jair Bolsonaro, now serving a 27-year sentence for plotting to overturn his 2022 election loss, when his supporters rioted in Brazil's capital, much like Trump supporters on January 6th.

This election is also a test of whether Trump-style politics can return to power in Latin America's largest democracy.

JONES: The United States are looming so large in these elections, with supporters of Flavio Bolsonaro waving American flags in the streets. Some are even asking for a U.S. military intervention. And it was in defense of Jair Bolsonaro that Trump announced those 50 percent tariffs on Brazil.

So why not endorse Flavio?

JAMES GREEN, PROFESSOR EMERITUS, BRAZILIAN STUDIES, BROWN UNIVERSITY: I think that they understand that this could backfire, because when they announced the original 50 percent tariffs, it gave a huge boost to his support. There's a very strong nationalist sentiment in the country that goes beyond the left, beyond the center. It's across the board.

Now, Flavio is using this to say, well, I have good relations with Trump and therefore I can negotiate the end of these high tariffs.

JONES (voice-over): And it's not just Trump drawing attention from Brazil. Lula's campaign is also taking on Meta, accusing the U.S. tech giant of tilting its platform toward Bolsonaro, a claim the company denies. The dispute has now reached Brazil's electoral court, and the streets.

(CHANTING)

JONES (voice-over): All of this with the race already extraordinarily close.

In 2022, Lula won the first round by just over 5 percent. The runoff became the closest presidential election in Brazilian history. This time, Flavio won the first round by less than 2 percent, or just 2.2 million votes, setting up an even tighter runoff.

And while security cost of living and corruption are top of mind for voters, attacks have become quite personal.

FLAVIO BOLSONARO, BRAZILIAN PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE (translated): Lula, with you, crime has exploded in Brazil. In fact, can you explain why 73 percent of inmates voted for you?

LULA (translated): I wish it were 100 percent, including your father. Your father can vote for me.

JONES (voice-over): A Flavio win could pull Brazil politically closer to Washington. But ironically, Trump's tariffs have made it more complicated than that.

GREEN: Flavio will carry out a very close relationship with the United States, encouraging, collaboration and the subservient role that Trump seems to want to have in all of Latin America. But he has a big problem because exports, Brazilian exports depend heavily now on China. It will be a complex foreign policy, but it will basically revolve around Trump.

JONES (voice-over): Julia Vargas Jones, CNN, Los Angeles.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

IVAN WATSON, CNN ANCHOR: Okay. It was a rough day on Wall Street as rising oil prices and worries about the longevity of the A.I. boom rattle investors. The S&P 500 snapped a three day winning streak to close down 1.2 percent. The Nasdaq posted its worst day in four months, dropping 2.6 percent. Meta shares lost 7 percent on an earnings report, forecasting hundreds of billions of dollars in A.I. spending and an increasingly challenging environment for raising capital.

The issue of managing A.I. risks came up at the recent meeting of APEC finance ministers here in Hong Kong. I spoke earlier this week with the regions finance secretary about what impacts A.I. could have on the global economy.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PAUL M.P. CHAN, FINANCIAL SECRETARY, HONG KONG SPECIAL ADMIN. REGION: In terms of artificial intelligence, this is the most important technological innovation we need to embrace, but also at the same time, use this carefully and responsibly.

WATSON: The former head of the Chinese central bank issued a warning from shanghai about the fear of overinvestment in A.I. and what kind of impact that could have on the global economy. Is that a concern of yours, as we just see floods of money going into A.I. investment?

CHAN: I think globally, globally, there are tremendous investment in A.I. and in some cases, the valuation may not be too reasonable. So I won't be surprised if there is certain adjustments, the corrections. But at the same time, that is only temporary. And it is part of the development path. My --

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WATSON: Chan says the global economy has shown a good bit of resilience, but rising international tensions threaten to cloud the future outlook, with rising energy prices and further inflation.

[02:35:03]

The war with Iran is taking a toll on the environment and on marine life in the Persian Gulf. A report with the details. That'll be coming up after the break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WATSON: Welcome back to the show.

Pakistan and Afghanistan are fighting a deadly conflict.

[02:40:02] In the past week, firefights on the shared border have caused casualties on both sides, while Pakistan appears to have no plans to stop its sporadic strikes on the Taliban inside Afghanistan. And that's what the topic of this week's edition of "Meanwhile in Asia" focused on.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

WATSON: You know, the cliche about Afghanistan is its the graveyard of empires, right? Going back to the British empire and so on.

And when I first traveled to Afghanistan in 2001, the countryside was littered with former Soviet tanks and armored personnel carriers, and the debris from the decade-long Soviet occupation. And now we're seeing a different kind of version of that, that Sophia and I have reported on here within Pakistan.

The weapons that the TTP, the Pakistani Taliban militants are being caught with when they clash with the Pakistani security forces, quite literally have the stamp on them, property of U.S. government. And we've researched this, we've investigated this in a report, that we've traced individual rifles that were provided by the U.S. government to the then Afghan government, backed by the U.S. over 20 years, that are now being used in attacks by militants, terror attacks inside Pakistan.

SOPHIA SAIFI, CNN SENIOR PRODUCER: A lot of Pakistanis have the same ethnicity as Afghans, speak the same language. They're the same people in many, many ways, same culture, same religion. Nobody here, whether it's Delhi, Islamabad or Kabul, they can't go anywhere. They have to get along. They have to figure it out.

And of course, there is the legacy of empires that have left. But there has to be a way to move forward from this for the benefit of the entire region.

WATSON: And break this cycle of violence.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WATSON: You can catch "Meanwhile in Asia" on CNN's streaming platform, all access, or on YouTube. Do not miss the conversation.

Now to the war with Iran. "The New York Times" reports U.S. and Israeli officials have drawn up plans for new strikes after the midterm elections. Iranian officials tell "The Times", quote, the fighting will neither be quick nor limited. Some officials say President Trump will avoid targeting refineries in the region in order to avoid even higher gas prices back home.

From contaminated waters in the Persian Gulf, to toxic acid rain, the war in Iran has impacted marine life and Gulf residents alike. Some researchers say that surface oil in the Strait of Hormuz has doubled.

CNN's Paula Hancocks reports on how the environment is in the firing line. (BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

PAULA HANCOCKS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The Persian Gulf is one of the most unique ecosystems on earth. Offshore islands and mangrove forests provide critical breeding zones for sea turtles, hundreds of species of fish and dugongs, cousin to the manatee. Only the hardiest of marine life survives in these waters, with sharp temperature changes from hot summers to cool winters. But even that, life is increasingly at threat from the U.S. and Israel's war in Iran.

The first two weeks of war created more carbon pollution than Iceland does in a year, according to the climate and community institute. One group of satellite oceanographers has been studying the effects of this war from afar, specifically the targeting of vessels in and around the Strait of Hormuz, the key waterway at the heart of this conflict.

BRIAN BARNES, COLLEGE OF MARINE SCIENCE, UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA: Here's a ship that you can see smoke coming out of, and then a, you know, a plume of presumed oil here.

HANCOCKS: Brian Barnes says satellite imagery can only show them what is on the surface. But even that limited information from March 2026 is worrying.

BARNES: Very roughly, based on our observations, what were seeing is at least twice the amount of surface oil that in the Persian Gulf area, relative to what we would expect in the absence of a major conflict.

HANCOCKS: The gulf is shallow. It is small, and there's only one entry and exit point connecting it to the wider ocean. So what happens in the Gulf stays in the Gulf.

BERNHARD RIEGL, PROFESSOR, NOVA SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY, FLORIDA: If we take a drop of oil and we put it into the water in on the Iranian side of the inflow into the gulf, a year later, it will be in Kuwait. Two years later, it will be on the Omani side of the -- of the Gulf and float out there.

HANCOCKS: Widespread contamination in the Persian Gulf would also have a devastating impact on millions of Gulf residents. Desalinated water accounts for almost all of the drinking water in both Bahrain and in Qatar. In the other Gulf nations, it accounts for the vast majority.

The desalination plants did become a target during this war, threatening to trigger humanitarian and economic shocks.

HANCOCKS (voice-over): Oil facilities were hit in and around Tehran early March, exposing millions of residents to thick black smoke, with reports of toxic acid rain, reminiscent of the 1991 Gulf War, as retreating Iraqi forces set fire to hundreds of oil wells in Kuwait.

[02:45:16]

That impact was felt throughout the gulf.

RIEGL: The shorelines were devastatingly affected. There was massive mortality of intertidal biota of mangroves. In fact, in many areas in Saudi, if you go and you dig into the sand, there are still old oil in there.

HANCOCKS (voice-over): Experts worry this war could also undermine our understanding of climate change. Warmer waters in the Persian Gulf are considered a natural laboratory, to see how marine life in oceans elsewhere might adapt as they warm. Another war with a toxic legacy, the environment, once again, the conflict's silent victim.

Paula Hancocks, CNN, Dubai.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WATSON: In other environmental news, the intense heat wave that gripped Europe this summer led to the deaths of more than 50,000 people. And that's according to a new analysis making this years heat the regions deadliest on record. The findings show that two thirds of those fatalities are directly attributed to climate change, driven by fossil fuel pollution. This all comes just days after a U.N. report warned the world's chance of limiting global warming to 1.5 Celsius is no longer achievable.

The New York City Council has voted to ban horse drawn carriages in Central Park, and that ends a 150-year old tradition that's popular with tourists but has long faced opposition from animal welfare activists. The latest push to end carriage rides began after a tourist died during a ride last spring. Mayor Mamdani's office has until next April to develop a plan to help the drivers find new jobs.

President Trump is speeding up plans to build his towering triumphal arch in D.C. despite opposition. The Justice Department says construction could begin in just two weeks.

CNN's Sunlen Serfaty has more from Washington.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I think the arc is going to be incredible.

SUNLEN SERFATY, CNN WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Despite legal challenges and fierce resistance, President Trump is expediting plans to get his long-desired 250-foot Triumphal Arch built while he's still in the White House.

TRUMP: And I want to see if I can get it built before we leave.

SERFATY (voice-over): In a new court filing, the Trump administration is now announcing they will commence construction in just two weeks, as early as November 5th. November 5th is when the arch will likely pass the final regulatory hurdle at the National Capital Planning Commission.

After the administration streamlined the process by abruptly cutting off a historical preservation review that's required under law.

CROWD: No arch! No arch! No arch!

SERFATY (voice-over): The immediacy of breaking ground, potentially on that very same day, is despite the legal limbo that the project remains in.

CROWD: Veterans over vanity.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Stop arch insanity.

SERFATY (voice-over): With two separate lawsuits, including a high- profile one brought by a group of preservationists and veterans.

JOHN GUNDERSON, U.S. ARMY VIETNAM WAR VETERAN, PLAINTIFF IN LAWSUIT: It's a little ironic that a man who gets out of service for foreign altars should build a gargantuan arch, blocking the view of all these iconic memorials.

SERFATY (voice-over): Today, the plaintiffs in that case responded to the building plans, filing a preliminary injunction to stop the administration from taking any steps to construct or to direct or facilitate construction of any structure in Memorial Circle while the lawsuit plays out.

TRUMP: I think it's going to be fantastic --

SERFATY (voice-over): The arch has become a key part of the president's quest to remake Washington in his name and style as part of his legacy in office.

TRUMP: A totally magnificent, triumphal arch to honor the 250-year triumph of the American spirit, American military, and, frankly, American competence.

SERFATY (voice-over): Intended to be the tallest arch in the world.

TRUMP: The most beautiful one is the one in Paris, the Arc de Triomphe. It's beautiful, big. Ours is going to be bigger and more beautiful.

SERFATY (voice-over): Last month, the President debuted a new justification for building the arch.

TRUMP: It's going to be great. And it's got a military component. Everything has a military component nowadays.

SERFATY (voice-over): Claiming it will become a top-grade military complex for drones, snipers, and ammunition storage. However, the plans revealed this month did not include any military infrastructure at all.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SERFATY: And time really played into this, sources tell me. Last month, there was a private call of the advisory council on historic preservation. On that call, the agency revealed that any plans for a military complex would be separate and reviewed, separate entirely from the plans for the arch, because this dual track would provide them the opportunity to not have to go and re-review and re-approve plans for the arch as it has slowly been making its way through the approval process for the better part of this year.

[02:50:20]

A look at the arch as a military complex, sources tell me that would have to come straight from the Pentagon. And as of last month, nothing had been submitted yet.

Sunlen Serfaty, CNN, Washington.

WATSON: Still ahead, how. Boston college women's lacrosse team is tackling the mental health crisis in collegiate sports. We'll hear more after this break.

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WATSON: Welcome back.

The Milwaukee Brewers are set to face off against the Tampa Bay Rays in the baseball World Series Friday night. Neither team has ever won a World Series title, so whoever prevails will be making history. The teams will play the best of seven games to determine the winner of this year's Fall Classic. The first game is set for Milwaukee Friday night at 8:00 p.m. Eastern.

And now to Boston College. That's where the women's lacrosse team prioritizes a vital yet often overlooked part of sports mental health. Athletes of all levels can crack under pressure, but this team is actively working to prevent that.

CNN's Brynn Gingras reports.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BRYNN GINGRAS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Boston College women's lacrosse team is a powerhouse in the sport.

ACACIA WALKER, HEAD COACH, BOSTON COLLEGE WOMEN'S LACROSSE: If she overplays, then you roll back.

GINGRAS (voice-over): Led by Acacia Walker, who has adopted a critical new approach to coaching, prioritizing her players' mental health.

GINGRAS: You told me one time you're a therapist and a coach. What did you mean?

WALKER: There's so much of my job that is not X's and O's. It's managing a group of 40 young women. I've just learned over time that if I don't have a pulse on what's going on in their life outside of lacrosse, then I can't properly coach them any more. GINGRAS: So then that translates into performance?

WALKER: Oh my gosh. Yeah. I think the pressure on these young women because there's more eyes on them. We used to say, suck it up. You're going to be okay.

GINGRAS: Yeah.

WALKER: Right? Well, that's not working anymore.

GINGRAS (voice-over): A recent study by the NCAA reports female student athletes experience mental health concerns, stress, and feeling overwhelmed at more than twice the rate of their male peers, which could lead to burnout. Athletes quitting health issues, and in a few cases, even suicide.

[02:55:05]

COCO GAUFF, PRO-TENNIS PALYER: Today, I was feeling rough.

GINGRAS (voice-over): Professional athletes like Coco Gauff, Naomi Osaka and Simone Biles have all openly challenged the stigma of staying quiet about their own mental health struggles.

WALKER: I think people are finally starting to buy into this is not -- this is not fake. This is -- this is real. And people understand that it's for the happiness of these student athletes.

GINGRAS (voice-over): And that's where sisters Erin Connor and Katie Wood, both former collegiate athletes, come in.

KATIE WOOD, FORMER COLLEGIATE ATHLETE: If you're not training the mind, you will fall behind. It is the difference between good and great.

ERIN CONNOR, FORMER COLLEGIATE ATHLETE: Athletes that I work with, especially, is that they overthink. They hesitate, they doubt themselves. They crumble. If a coach is saying giving them feedback with the wrong tone, sometimes it's taken the wrong way.

WOOD: So, if you can train them, number one, to have the awareness that it's very normal to have these thoughts, but how do you get past that?

GINGRAS (voice-over): BC's women's lacrosse team devotes hours of practice time to Connor and Wood Bet on You program.

WOOD: We're teaching about the mind. We're teaching the power of visualization and the voice in your head. We're teaching the power of gratitude, which is not talked a lot about in sports.

CONNOR: We start with 1 percent better. How can I get a little bit better than I was yesterday?

GINGRAS (voice-over): One unique component of their training is a specialized journal.

LYDIA COLASANTE, BOSTON COLLEGE WOMEN'S LACROSSE PLAYER: It's literally the first thing that I do in the morning. I wake up, I practice, I brush my teeth, I walk downstairs, I turn on the coffee pot, I write the journal. It takes me three minutes to do.

GINGRAS (voice-over): Junior defender Lydia Colasante tore her ACL two seasons ago and largely credits the intense mental work for her comeback.

COLASANTE: And it dug me out of a big hole. Your sport is such a huge part of like, what you identify with, and I think this kind of helped me figure out like, I'm so much more than just a lacrosse player.

GINGRAS (voice-over): And that's the goal, work on the whole athlete.

WALKER: And we hang our national championship banners and --

GINGRAS (voice-over): The wins will follow.

WALKER: And there's little girls looking up to them every game. I think it's a good reminder for our girls -- be strong enough to get through all of the hurdles and try to, you know, be the best.

GINGRAS (voice-over): Brynn Gingras, CNN, Chestnut Hill.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WATSON: And finally, check out this incredible cliff dive. Wow. Right off of an iceberg. That's Canadian Molly Carlson. She made history by becoming the first woman to do it.

Carlson faced some tough challenges, but with the help of climber Will Gadd, she was able to make it up the iceberg before executing a backwards dive into what was probably very cold water.

Well, thanks for your company. I'm Ivan Watson. I'll leave you with some live images of the afternoon sun over Victoria Harbor here in Hong Kong. And I will be back with more news after this quick break.

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