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Nepal-China Border Flashflood; Pakistan's Hospital Fire; Remembering Dolly Parton. Aired 10-11a ET

Aired August 26, 2026 - 10:00   ET

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

[10:00:10]

ANNOUNCER: Live from CNN Abu Dhabi. This is CONNECT THE WORLD with Becky Anderson.

BECKY ANDERSON, CNN ANCHOR: And welcome to the second hour of the show from our Middle East programming headquarters here in Abu Dhabi. I'm Becky

Anderson. Time is just after 6:00 in the evening.

Hundreds missing and many are feared dead after an enormous flashflood hit the Nepali-Chinese border. The very latest from the Red Cross in Kathmandu.

And we are following another unimaginable tragedy in Pakistan this time where a fire broke out in an Islamabad hospital's maternity ward killing at

least 14 newborn babies.

And the world remembering country music star and humanitarian hero, Dolly Parton, who died after a brief battle with cancer.

Well, the death toll rising from a massive flashflood on the border of Nepal and China with hundreds of people feared dead. You can see why so

many have perished. The video that is emerging from the disaster stricken area and areas is terrifying and disturbing, showing entire communities

being overwhelmed by powerful waves of water.

We now know this was unleashed by an earthquake and landslide which blocked the river running between Nepal and Tibet. CNN's Gage Goulding following

what is this breaking story for us. He is based from Hong Kong -- in Hong Kong. And, Gage, just get us up to speed if you will about what we know the

damage and the casualty figures so far.

GAGE GOULDING, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes. I want to preface this with the numbers that we have right now are likely outdated and are likely going to

increase by a significant proportion. That video there that you showed kind of illustrates the best of it. Currently right now we know that there are

at least 31 people confirmed deceased and hundreds more that are missing. And this is the reason right here.

You can only be describe this as a wall of water. I mean it overtook that building like it was nothing. And that building there was easily five, six

story building there on the Nepal-China border. And it just -- the people there running, I mean, they were running for their lives but it just simply

said that there was no shot.

I mean, it's -- you're in a gorge there, a valley, and this water is just sweeping through there taking everything in its way. There's another angle

here showing some tour buses that, you know, as you see the video progress, just pushes them around like little toy cars if you will. It just shows the

power of water.

But, you know, there isn't a lot of panic, right? There wasn't a lot of concern in those moments. I mean, look, this is a big parking structure

what looks maybe like a hotel or something there. People are starting, you know, to run around a little bit. They maybe you're hearing what's

happening, and then out of nowhere, there's just an insurvivable amount of water that comes rushing down this river from, you know, you said it there.

There was what we're understanding was a 4.4 magnitude earthquake, according to the USGS, that triggered a landslide and just forced all of

this water downriver. And just, I mean, wiped everything clean out of its path. You know, this is what will likely become a historically

proportionate event for this region.

Just the amount of water, the death toll that will come from this is, I mean, to be determined, but is, I mean, just you see the destruction there.

It looks like the earth is just somehow erased. But there is one perspective that I really want to show you right now, and I want you to

listen to it and observe, right?

Because this is a view from the back of a bus. And you can see how it looks like a beautiful day. It looks sunny, it looks nice. And then all of a

sudden, terror. Watch this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

(FOREIGN LANGUAGE)

GOULDING: And you can see people running there. But in the beginning of the video, they weren't necessarily running because there wasn't like, you

know, a heavenly amounts of rain that you would expect flooding. This was what looked like a beautiful day.

And if we have the other video, if we can show that now, you know, showing kind of from a different perspective in the same area, that wall of water

rushing down. And it's just -- it is incredible to see. What we know right now, according to Nepali leaders, there was roughly 100 people rescued in

local time there, is around 7:45 in the evening.

[10:05:09]

So those rescue operations, while they will continue throughout the night I'm sure, it becomes increasingly difficult to do that in the overnight

hours. So they will have to pick up tomorrow morning. And as we currently sit right now, 384, approximately 384 tourists are unaccounted for. And

that includes tourists from the United States and from a multitude of different nations.

In addition, if it just can't make the story any worse, there's roughly 60 construction workers that were working on a hydroelectric dam in that area,

a 20 megawatt hydroelectric dam that they were working on, and they have yet to be accounted for. There's roughly a dozen or so from South Korea

alone that were working there. And that's just another layer of this.

And you just have to wonder if anybody that was anywhere remotely close to kind of where the riverbed typically is, is there even a shot that somebody

could survive. And certainly, Becky, those visuals would probably indicate that the answer to that question would be no. But it's remarkable, the

visuals that are coming out of that region.

And of course, we are chasing additional details as we get them. But we are expecting those numbers to increase as the hours continue.

ANDERSON: And, Gage, you know, I hear you struggling to find the words to describe some of those images that we're getting into CNN. And rightfully

so, because it is shocking, it is scary. I mean, it's tragic.

And I know that you will -- I'll let you go so you can continue to get us more information on exactly what we understand to have happened. And you'll

get that to us as the hours go on. Thank you for the time being.

Well, let's get the view from China. I'm joined by Qianggong Zhang. He heads the Cryosphere and Water Risks Unit at the International Center for

Integrated Mountain Development. He was attending an annual meeting of experts in Chenggu when this flashflood struck.

And so, it's good to have you. Thank you very much indeed for joining us. I know these are tough times and the hours ahead will only reveal just how

disastrous this is. What can you tell us about what you've seen and heard from your perspective there in, Zhang?

QIANGGONG ZHANG, HEAD OF THE CLIMATE AND ENVIRONMENTAL RISKS, INTERNATIONAL CENTER FOR INTEGRATED MOUNTAIN DEVELOPMENT: OK. Yes, yes. So as you said,

actually I'm the Head of the Climate and Environmental Risks in the International Center for Integrated Mountain Development. We are based in

Katmandu, Nepal, but currently, actually we are having our annual assembly for this Hindu Kush Himalaya Cryosphere Hub, and also Disaster Risk

Reduction Hub in Chengdu in China.

And this morning we also heard some news from both China and Nepal side. And after that we know that this is a major disaster. And we are also

trying really hard to find some images to try to identify what happened in the border places. And later we, with the help of both sides actually in

the meeting room, we have gathered around also experts from China side and Nepal side, and also officer from Nepal Department of Hydrology and

Meteorology.

And then, we know that it's probably because the ice and rock avalanche from Nepal side glaciers just hit the border rivers between China and India

-- between China and Nepal. And these major ice avalanche just to bring a lot of debris flows and expect away the port between China --

ANDERSON: What do you predict will be the scope and scale of the impact of these flashfloods? I guess it's a very basic question. How bad do you

believe things are likely to be on the ground?

ZHANG: I think this is beyond everybody's image because we know that last year actually in the same place this disaster happened. But this year,

actually after one year, we've already monitored the glacial leak. And also we did set up some early warning system. But this time these ice and rock

avalanches from Nepal side which China cannot cover.

And this is also the very bottom place that I believe Nepal side has not been put much effort in really look after what is happening. So this is

totally beyond our image.

ANDERSON: And we've been talking to one of the ministers on the ground in Nepal, and some concerns about the fact that early warning systems were not

in place. We understand that the tourism board says at least 400 travelers are missing, at least hundreds of foreign nationals included in that

number.

[10:15:19]

What can you tell us about who would have been in that area?

ZHANG: So in that area, I know that it's a China Nepal border and is also a port. And there should be some officer and also business man, and also some

tourists, a person from China or Nepal because people always want to travel to the border to see what happened in the border places.

ANDERSON: It's good to have you, sir. Thank you very much indeed for joining us.

Well, summer is the wettest time in the region because of monsoon fueled storms, but recent weather conditions likely did not play a major role in

that deadly flashflood. Again, can you just fill us in on any further detail that you might have?

We have heard there was an earthquake in the region. How would that have contributed, do you believe, to this disaster?

DEREK VAN DAM, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Becky, look, that is very likely part of the cascading causes, the cascading hazards that has really brought this

into fruition. So what you're looking at right now is a Google Earth image of the impacted area. There are thousands of glaciers that line this part

of the Himalayas.

And we zoom in even a little bit closer and you can see how steep the topography. Remember, some of these mountains, they tower over 7,000ft.

There's very fragile rock ice that sits atop these mountains. And when we talk about the ice loss that has occurred because of climate change within

this part of the world, it has nearly doubled, putting about 2 million people at risk at what is known as glacial lake outbursts.

It's happened before, and this is likely what we're witnessing here that's made worse by several other cascading hazards, which I'll get to in just a

moment. But this is the river that eventually burst its bank because of the water that really piled up from melting glaciers over time. It is monsoon

season here, so we've had recent heavy rains across the area.

But remember, this part of the world, Asia as a continent as a whole, is warming at twice the speed as the global average as we work into our

warming planet. And we see a lot of these videos, the hydroelectric plants that were taken over by this raging torrent of water that came cascading

down the hillsides, the mountainsides, of course, getting funneled between these very narrow gorges.

And then, we go a little bit further downstream and you can see some of the communities that were so susceptible to this. You could see buildings right

within this location here. Even going a little bit further downstream, some of the geo targeted videos that we've been seeing on our TV screens and our

cell phones this morning, really putting this area at some of the hardest hit regions of Nepal.

And you can see why. The communities line the banks of this river that overflowed its banks because of the water that came from upstream in the

Himalayan mountains. Likely made worse by a earthquake that triggered a rock and ice landslide deep within the mountains. Perhaps that added to the

blockage of the river.

Eventually the water started to pile up behind this blockage area, and then eventually burst its banks and came down at one raging torrent all at the

same time. Look at the satellite loop. There's not a lot of rain within the past 72 hours, but this is monsoon season, so showers and thunderstorms

have blanketed this region.

Here's a look at the earthquake that occurred. That was a 4.4, so not a significant earthquake, but maybe that was just enough to destabilize the

ice and the rock that is located across some of those high elevation peaks here in the Himalayans. Becky?

ANDERSON: Derek, good to have you. Thank you very much indeed, Derek Van Dam in the CNN Weather Center.

Well, at least 14 babies have died in a newborn ward in Islamabad, one of Pakistan's deadliest hospital fires in recent decades. The blaze does

appear to have been triggered by an exploding air conditioning compressor. Pakistan's prime minister has called for an investigation into the fire and

has promised strict action against those found responsible.

Here's how one survivor described what happened.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MUNEEBA, RESCUED INFANT NEPHEW AND SISTER-IN-LAW FROM FIRE (through translation): At around 6:00am the fire erupted, but the staff and doctors

did not inform us about this. Rather they fled the scene and saved their own lives. There was a lady who screamed and informed us.

When I went upstairs, the fire was spread so much that it reached our room. Then I first rescued my nephew, then I evacuated my sister-in-law.

[10:15:10]

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: Deal between Iran and Oman to create a temporary new shipping route in the Strait of Hormuz is sending oil prices slightly lower. Prices

falling even after the US treasury secretary threatened an economic d-day to choke off Iran's global business ties. Well, the announcement of the

proposed new route comes after weeks of tense negotiations between Iran and Oman.

An Iranian official says it would lead to the closure of a United Nations' authorized southern channel in the strait that follows the coast of Oman.

Still to come on CONNECT THE WORLD, a look back at Dolly Parton's extraordinary career, her generosity, and the lasting legacy she leaves

behind.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ANDERSON: Music fans the world over are mourning the loss of Dolly Parton today, the country music legend who captivated generations with her music

while earning praise for her generosity and her humanitarian work. My publicist says that Parton passed away on Tuesday at the age of 80 after

facing what they describe as a brief battle with cancer.

She was surrounded by loved ones at a Nashville hospital. Born in East Tennessee, Parton rose from humble beginnings to become one of the world's

most iconic and beloved figures in music. My colleague, CNN's Elizabeth Wagmeister takes a look back now at Dolly's life and her legacy.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ELIZABETH WAGMEISTER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: A beloved country queen known for her vulnerable and poetic lyrics like in her classic hit "Jolene." Dolly

Parton's music was as popular as her bold style, composing and performing booming anthems like "9 to 5" that resonated with office workers

everywhere.

She ranks among the most successful country recording artists of all time with nearly 50 albums and more than 25 number one hits, a superstar who

often sang about her humble small town Tennessee roots. The fourth of 12 children, she started singing hymns in church. Dolly moved to Nashville

after high school graduation, aiming for work as a songwriter.

DALLY PARTON, COUNTRY MUSIC LEGEND: I was just trying to make a living, trying to find what I wanted to do to have my songs recorded.

WAGMEISTER: The petite singer modeled her signature style after a woman known for her promiscuity in her hometown.

PARTON: She was the prettiest thing I'd ever seen. I was very impressed by the big hair she had, the lipstick and the nails, and the high heel shoes.

WAGMEISTER: Dolly got noticed quickly, scoring a recording deal and a regular gig on the Porter Wagner Show. Their collaboration lasted seven

years. She wrote a song about parting ways with Wagner and it became a smash.

[10:20:10]

First in 1974, and again when Whitney Houston recorded it nearly two decades later.

PARTON: Her version of that was spectacular. I always think of it as being our song.

WAGMEISTER: Dolly said music made her a crossover success.

PARTON: It was a song that got me everywhere I've ever been.

WAGMEISTER: She wrote the theme to "9 to 5" and landed a lead role in the movie.

Some of her other films include "The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas," and "Steel Magnolias." Her many job titles included author, theme park owner,

and philanthropist, from setting up a literacy program for impoverished children to funding research for a COVID vaccine.

She stayed low key about her charity work, insisting she saw herself as a musician first.

PARTON: My music is everything to me and I just -- that is what I grew from.

WAGMEISTER: Dolly said her career was shaped by her family, faith and ambition.

PARTON: God first, me second. And I've been able to maneuver and live my life based on that and use my talent to the best of my ability.

WAGMEISTER: Indeed she did, writing an estimated 3,000 songs and earning countless awards and honors, including a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award

and enshrinement in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, an event Dolly dominated even out rocking the rock stars in 2022. She released her first

rock album at the age of 77 and often collaborated with younger singers.

It all helped make Dolly Parton one of America's most beloved artists, with fans and admirers that spanned generations.

Truly an incredible, just unbelievable life fill, and the celebrity tributes are pouring out with the news of Dolly's passing. Everyone from

Paul McCartney to her "9 to 5" co-star Lily Tomlin, and her "Steel Magnolias" co-star Sally Field and singers like Reba McEntire, Kelly

Clarkson and Kacey Musgraves, who I think sums it up the best that the world feels a little less sparkly today.

ANDERSON: Well, I want to bring in Chris Parton in Nashville. He's a Music Reporter for the Tennessean and writes extensively about country music news

related to Dolly Parton. Chris, it's good to have you. Thanks for joining us here on CNN.

And I know our international viewers around the world will want to know how you are remembering Dolly today. More importantly, I'm sure it's a question

that a lot of people watching are wondering, are you related?

CHRIS PARTON, MUSIC REPORTER, THE TENNESSEAN: Yes. It's funny you asked that. I'm sure everyone noticed that Dolly and I do share a last name.

Every day of my life, someone has asked me if I'm related to Dolly Parton. And, you know, early on, I didn't like that so much but as time goes on, I

see it for the blessing it is.

I will tell you what I told her. I interviewed Dolly in 2023, and the first words out of her mouth before I could even say hello, were, is your name

Chris Parton? And I said, yes, ma'am, it is. And every day someone asks me if we're related. And without skipping a beat, she just said, well, are we?

And I think that really speaks to the kind of person that she is. She's so down to earth and kind, and humble. And, yes, according to Grandma Parton,

we are related. The families are the same going back to England.

Dolly's family apparently came over earlier, and they went south into the Appalachian mountains of Tennessee, obviously. Mine went north into the

Allegheny mountains of Pennsylvania and wound up in Upstate New York, where I was born.

Dolly did eventually, I asked her, how should I answer this question? You know, can I say we're related? And she said, yes. So that's a gift that I

get to carry for the rest of my life.

ANDERSON: She got it. She got it. She got it. I mean, she would understand just how that would help you out in life, I'm sure, as well. Look, she, I

mean, she was really loved around the world, you know, and that is reflected today by the tributes that are pouring in from everywhere, from

Ireland to Japan.

Why did she mean so much to so many people, do you believe, around the world?

PARTON: Well, it's because she was maybe the most authentic person that we have had in a very long time. And she was known as a country artist, of

course, but I really think that's just kind of how she got her start and what allowed her to share what was so special about herself with the world.

[10:25:14]

She was also an actor, entrepreneur, a trailblazer for women's rights, and all around the world. She's a philanthropist who helped had a big impact on

childhood literacy with the Imagination Library, of course, and the vaccine development. But really, I think she'll be remembered for the way she

brought people together and made them feel seen.

I was at the Country Music Hall of Fame yesterday, checking out the scene and speaking with people. And I spoke to Allison Moore, who is also a

singer-songwriter, and was very influenced by Dolly. But she also curated a new exhibit that's at the Hall of Fame. And she said Dolly was the one

thing that we all agreed on.

And I think that that's really true. And it's because she was always herself, and no one was like Dolly. So to see her embrace herself like that

and to have success and be so kind. I think if you happen to feel a little different, too, it made you feel good about yourself, and that's all we

really want. So she was loved by anyone, no matter where you're from, no matter your politics.

You didn't even have to like country music. If you knew anything about Dolly Parton, you knew she was a real authentic person and you loved her.

So I think that's why the world is reacting this way.

ANDERSON: Yes. And tell us more about which artists have taken inspiration from Dolly and how she influenced not just the country music genre, but of

course, pop music, too, right?

PARTON: Yes. I mean, everyone from Miley Cyrus, who is Dolly's goddaughter, she took a huge impact from Dolly Parton. But really, I think any artist

you see today who embraces who they are and has a glamorous style, especially the female artists. When Dolly came up in country music, it was

not the done thing that female artists had their own headline tours.

They did not have TV shows. They were not expected to write their own songs. And Dolly changed all of that just by being herself and doing it

with grace. She wasn't forceful about anything. She just showed up and was herself and wrote all these amazing songs, had bands from all around the

world.

So if you look at, really any artist in today's country music, they will tell you that Dolly had a big impact. But especially, you know, folks like

Taylor Swift, who I know made a really touching tribute, Kacey Musgraves like was said in the previous segment. But really, any artist today can

trace some of what they do back to Dolly Parton.

ANDERSON: And we're just looking at live images from Sevierville in Tennessee, her hometown, as I understand it. We understand that Dolly has

an unreleased song due to be released on a 100th birthday, which of course would be 2046. What do you think that song would be like? And do you think

it will drop before that at this point?

PARTON: You know what, I have no idea. I can tell you this. I do know that when I spoke with Dolly, she said that she had a plan for releasing music

after she was gone. It was very sad to hear that, that she was thinking about it but I know that she does have more to come.

And I would expect it will be full of heart. It will probably speak to something deep inside of all of us that we all sort of know but can't

express because she was so good with doing that. And I'm sure that it will be a beautiful song. It may have something to do with her faith or just her

love of people, I would say, most likely.

ANDERSON: Listen, it's good to have you and I'm glad for you that you were given permission by Dolly Parton herself to live off, somewhat live off her

name or her association with your name. It's good to have you on, thank you so much.

Well, the duke and duchess of Sussex have arrived back from the United States to the United Kingdom. That is according to multiple British media

outlets. The Telegraph newspaper reports Prince Harry, Meghan and their two kids landed at Birmingham Airport a few hours ago. They had lived in the US

the past six years.

Their return home was revealed last week. Certainly the fact that they were scheduled to return home.

Anna Stewart is with us, and we are reporting this off the back of multiple reports that they are in fact home. I guess that is because we haven't

actually seen them yet, right?

[10:30:10]

ANNA STEWART, CNN CORRESPONDENT: We haven't seen them. We certainly didn't get any personal phone calls from Team Sussex. But apparently, according to

British media reports, they are back. The Telegraph saying that they landed around lunchtime at Birmingham Airport, which Becky will only feel further

speculation about where in the UK they will be living.

All we know is that they don't plan to be living in London. Lots of people have speculated about maybe the Cotswolds area, which is very trendy. Lots

of celebrities live around there, two hours from London. Who knows, we may never know.

This is a private family. They are not working members of the royal family. We don't expect we're going to see lots of them as a family. I don't think

we're going to, for instance, get to know where the kids will be going to school. I don't think there will be official photos on the first day at

school.

I don't think we'll see the school drop off. They are a private family, so in many ways I don't expect we're going to get much more information at

all. The question is, of course, what's changed in terms of security? What was the security situation when they landed today at the airport?

I'm curious to know that. As far as we are aware, there is no change to the fact that they don't have taxpayer funded security, although that is always

being reassessed case by case. So perhaps that will change in months to come but no update on that.

And the big question, of course, is when and where will we see them? Now, as I say, I don't think we'll see much of them as a family with the kids,

but of course we do expect to see Prince Harry and Meghan as they go about their working lives, just not working members of the royal family.

We probably will see them, for instance, at charitable initiatives. We'll see lots of Prince Harry, of course, at the Invictus Games next year in

Birmingham. And will that clash with what the royal family is up to? Will we see attention split as they both go about their different lives? It

remains to be seen, but plenty for the tabloids to get excited about today.

ANDERSON: Absolutely. Good to have you, Anna. Thank you, all right.

We will take a very short break at this point. Look, I do want to get us back to our breaking news this hour after that. A massive flashflood

devastating parts of Nepal and Tibet.

Rescuers are in the thick of a very difficult mission, hoping to save lives on the ground while hundreds are missing. We'll have the very latest from

Nepal up next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ANDERSON: Welcome back. I'm Becky Anderson in Abu Dhabi. You are watching CONNECT THE WORLD. These are your headlines this hour.

[10:35:01]

And the death toll rising in northern Nepal after an earthquake landslide unleashed a massive flashflood. Dozens of people are confirmed to have died

and many more are missing, including hundreds of foreign tourists. Chinese media warn there could also be significant casualties in Tibet where border

communities were overwhelmed.

Well, at least 14 babies have died in a newborn ward in Islamabad in one of Pakistan's deadliest hospital fires in recent decades. The blaze appears to

have been caused by an exploding air conditioning system. Hospital workers did manage to rescue one baby.

Iran and Oman reportedly nearing a deal to create a temporary shipping route through the Strait of Hormuz. That comes after weeks, of course, of

intense negotiations between the two countries. Oil prices lower today on talk of that possible new route.

Well, CNN's Hanako Montgomery has more now on the flooding disaster on the Nepal-China border. And I have to warn you, the images that you are about

to see from the area may be disturbing to some of you. We're joined --

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

HANAKO MONTGOMERY, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Dozens of people begin to run, what comes next in this surveillance video is hard to imagine. A

mountain of mud and water taller than the building crashes down, wiping out everything in its path like something from a disaster film. But this is a

border crossing between China and Nepal.

It's the result of a deadly flashflood that swept through Himalayan villages on the Nepal-China border on Wednesday. Its enormous force

destroying homes and buildings, including in Nepal's Rasuwa District. Aerial footage captured from a helicopter over the district shows the

immense barrage of water flooding the valley below.

It's a popular area for hiking holidays. Hundreds of tourists, including foreign nationals, have been reported missing, according to an initial

assessment by Nepal's tourism board. Nepalese army helicopters are helping rescue citizens from rooftops in the flood affected areas. The Red Cross is

also deploying an emergency team with relief supplies.

And in Tibet's Gyirong Port, China's President Xi Jinping has ordered all out search and rescue efforts to find those who are missing after a

mudslide caused major casualties, China's state news agency Xinhua reported. The mudslide has cut off the region's roads, communications and

power, Xinhua said.

Nepal's foreign minister said the deadly flashflood was caused by an earthquake triggering a large landslide and which blocked the Bhotekoshi

River. The full scale of the devastation is yet to become clear. Hanako Montgomery, CNN.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ANDERSON: We're joined now by Rishi Khanal who is Secretary General of the Nepal Red Cross. And firstly, sincere condolences. I mean, the images that

we've seen are absolutely devastating. And I know that you'll be working very hard on the ground. So what are you hearing from your teams there

about the scope and scale of the destruction?

RISHI KHANAL, SECRETARY GENERAL, NEPAL RED CROSS: Yes, this is really devastating. And about 10,000 people must be swept away from all the river

banks up to (inaudible) basically. And there are many bridges has been swept away. And then about 14 hydroelectric projects are devastated.

And then situation is very much terrible. And then government is also government already declared emergency for three districts. This is Nuwakot,

Dhading, and then Gorkha. And then people are terrifying with this devastating flood. And even the problem is that many of the drinking water

were washed away from the source. All the sources were devastated.

And then it is very terrible condition there. And Nepal Aircraft Society initiatives --

ANDERSON: And where do you start with the -- with a search and rescue effort like this.

KHANAL: As the search and rescue actually the Nepal army is doing and we are also our volunteer also sending to the people. But it is very difficult

area, and then it is very difficult to search the people and rescue the people from even the tunnels of the hydropower. Thousands missing,

thousands are in the tunnels. It is really terrible things now here. And actually we are very much --

[10:40:08]

ANDERSON: It sounds to me as if you're suggesting that they -- apologies, we have a slight delay. Let me just ask you, it does sound to me as if your

expectations are that the death toll will rise significantly at this point. Is that correct?

KHANAL: Yes. It is -- significant it will rise because our branches are collecting some dead bodies in Chitwan. In Chitwan, it is about 300

kilometer far from the Rasuwa, the origin of this river from the China border. And about 100 dead bodies are already collected this evening and

more are in the bank of the rivers.

It is about the -- people are rumored about 10,000 people (inaudible). Yes. It takes time to collect these dead bodies.

ANDERSON: I'm so sorry. What are you most worried about in the hours ahead?

KHANAL: Now, basically we are very much aware about the (inaudible) to the people who are they already lost their houses and everything. About more

than 20,000 houses were already swept away and these people do not have anything and to feed them for some time, some days. It is very serious

thing to us.

And then the shelter, because we are supplying some non food items with some tarpaulins, but it is very difficult to stay in this situation. The

shelter problem is there. Drinking water problem is there because the sanitation became the largest problem available -- make them available and

then food items could be very serious problem to them for some days.

ANDERSON: Sir, I'm going to let you go because I'm sure that you've got an enormous amount of work to do. I mean, we can only hope that your sort of

worst fears aren't realized in terms (inaudible). Sir, it seems as if you're feeling pretty hopeless about it at the moment. But please, you

know, do what you can.

Thank you very much indeed for joining us. And folks, you are watching CONNECT THE WORLD. And that is our breaking news this hour. Hundreds feared

dead and likely those numbers are going to increase significantly in the hours ahead after a massive flashflood on the Nepal-China border. More

coming up.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[10:45:11]

ANDERSON: Well, Meta agreeing to a close to $18 billion settlement to resolve claims brought by 29 US states. Now those states say that the

company knowingly designed addictive platforms. This comes as matter has been appearing in court for a trial where four of those states were seeking

more than $1 trillion in damages.

CNN's tech reporter Clare Duffy has been following this case closely and she joins us live now from New York. I mean, this is a significant

settlement at this page -- at this stage, clearly not anything like the sort of numbers that were originally being sought. What more do we know

about this settlement and break down for us why this case has been so unique?

CLARE DUFFY, CNN TECH REPORTER: Yes. Becky, look, this is certainly not $1 trillion as the states had initially potentially been seeking in the trial,

but $18 billion is a massive settlement agreement from that. I hear the North Carolina attorney general called this the largest settlement

agreement ever with a big tech company. And the money there which will go towards state initiatives to help with youth online safety is just part of

what they're agreeing to here.

The other very important piece of this is that Meta has agreed to make some pretty significant changes to how its platforms operate for teens. Things

like a two hour time limit on by default for users 13 to 17, a night mode that will make its apps blocked for teens from midnight to 6:00am. A school

mode that will reduce the amount of notifications that they get during the day, they will automatically hide likes on teens posts, they will reduce

the amount of makeup filters that teens have access to manipulate the way that their faces look.

And so, those changes to Meta's platforms are really what the AGs were seeking here with this multi state lawsuit. The North Carolina attorney

general said that they felt a settlement was the right move because these changes could be brought about faster and more comprehensively than if they

had let this all play out in litigation. And of course $18 billion is sort of a drop in the bucket for Meadow, which earned about $60 billion in

revenue in the last quarter.

But again, these changes to how its platforms operate could have a significant impact on the company's bottom line given that so much of its

ad based business is reliant on people spending as much time as possible on these platforms. Now, Becky, we should say that Meta has long denied the

claims that it intentionally created teen addiction. The company has not admitted wrongdoing as part of this settlement.

But still a really significant day in terms of how we think about our relationship and in particular young people's relationship with social

media potentially changing.

ANDERSON: You're absolutely right. I mean, this is precedent setting at this point. Meta has also been getting a lot of claims, of course from

families and from school districts. So, Clare, does this let them off the hook?

DUFFY: Yes. Becky, it's a really important question and the answer is no. Meta still faces hundreds of claims from families, from individuals, from

school districts. Of course, the company had already lost two cases earlier this year, one brought by a California teenager, another brought by a New

Mexico's attorney general. And so, we could still see more of these cases brought by individuals, by school districts play out.

Additional losses could mean additional financial penalties for the company. But the state AGs in this multi state case really had sort of a

unique power to force the company to make changes to its platform. So more penalties potentially on the line for the company, but this is a really

important, as you said, precedent setting moment in this legal battle for this company.

ANDERSON: Absolutely, all right. Well, Clare, thank you.

Let's take a look at the key tech stocks, the so-called Magnificent Seven then. And we've got Nvidia's earnings up after the bell of course. That is

the picture as things stand at present. Nvidia actually trading about a percent lower today.

Meta, the story that we've just been discussing there with Clare actually trading about 1.5 percent higher. Very mixed day out there actually ahead

of those Nvidia results today. We will be right back.

[10:49:37]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ANDERSON: The commander of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces, or SDF, has announced that the group will be dissolved. Mazloum Abdi also says

that the group will move to integrate into Syrian state institutions, including the army. He has hailed the move as an historic turning point for

Syria which is still reeling from years of civil war and a brutal dictatorship under the Assad regime.

The US-backed SDF controlled large parts of northeastern Syria and led the fight against ISIS in the region. That's significant news from this wider

Middle East region for you today.

Well, children in war ravaged Gaza are being urged to stop flying kites to protect their lives. This comes as Israel threatened targeted

assassinations over the activity comparing the kites to drones. In 2018, incendiary kites were sent from Gaza into Israel causing massive fire. So

Israelis sounded the alarm and they saw some drifting over in the past month, but those kites were not reported to have explosives.

Well, Hamas accusing Israel of creating "fake pretexts" to continue the war. Parents and residents in Gaza are viewing the action is depriving kids

from innocent child's play.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ABDULNABI DAWWAS, DISPLACED PALESTINIAN: They have been deprived of education which is the most essential pillar for children and for human

beings. Should they even be deprived of this simple toy, the simplest toy that we can provide for them at the lowest cost. The Israeli enemy has

banned them from and, of course, out of concern for the well-being of our children, we have prevented our children and our kids in the camps from

making them.

Tell us, what should we do? Tell us, how can we bring joy to these children who or bring joy to our kids?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: Well, CIA Director John Ratcliffe has made an unannounced visit to Moscow to meet there with Russian officials. That's according to a US

official who declined to detail what the meetings would discuss. Well ahead of his trip, Washington asked Ukraine to halt strikes in Moscow and other

Russian cities.

The visit marks Ratcliffe's first known visit to Russia since taking up his role under President Trump, and comes as peace negotiations between Russia

and Ukraine stall.

The Trump administration working to dramatically expand its immigration crackdown. CNN's Jennifer Hansler reports on the latest plans to target

visas for asylum seekers.

JENNIFER HANSLER, CNN REPORTER: The US State Department is moving to revoke the visas of potentially hundreds of thousands of foreigners who have

applied or are seeking asylum in the United States. The move would go after those who came to the US on temporary visas meant for things like tourism

or business, and then stayed and applied for asylum here.

The State Department spokesperson said that they are working with the Department of Homeland Security to identify those who would be subject to

those visa revocations, and he said that those who come here on a temporary visa and then apply for an asylum case are committing "visa fraud." A

source familiar with the matter said that these revocations would not be done in "one fell swoop," and they described the number as dynamic.

This all comes as part and parcel of the Trump administration's broader anti-immigration policies, as they've sought to crack down both on who is

coming to the US and those who are already in the country. An immigration attorney and a former consular official told CNN that the revocations would

not likely result in the immediate deportation of these individuals. The attorney explained that if there is an asylum case, at the very least they

would have to go before an immigration judge before they could be removed from the country.

[10:55:03]

They said that this is all part of the administration's efforts to claim that this is a visa system that has been abused, and that it is more

symbolic than anything else. Still, we have seen a large number of visa revocations under the Trump administration. Earlier this month, they said

they've revoked more than 170,000 visas.

We also saw them crack down on attempts to have people use that temporary visa to come into the US and apply for asylum. In order to apply for

asylum, you do have to be here in the country and fleeing persecution. Jennifer Hansler, CNN, the State Department.

ANDERSON: All right. That is it for CONNECT THE WORLD. I'm Becky Anderson from the team working with me here in Abu Dhabi. It is a very good evening.

Stay safe. ONE WORLD is up next here on CNN.

END