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Houthis Target Saudi Aramco after Refueling Station Hit in Yemen; Navi Pillay Responds to U.S. Sanctions on International Criminal Court; Republican Voter Says His Party Has Been "Hijacked" by Trump; Greenland Contradicts Trump over Oil and Gas Drilling; OpenAI Employee Arrested after Recording Device Found at Work. Aired 10-11a ET

Aired October 14, 2026 - 10:00   ET

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

NAVI PILLAY, 2026 NOBEL PEACE PRIZE LAUREATE: [10:00:00]

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UNIDENTIFIED MALE (voice-over): Live from CNN Abu Dhabi, this is CONNECT THE WORLD with Becky Anderson.

BECKY ANDERSON, CNN HOST (voice-over): Welcome to the second hour of the show from our Middle East programming headquarters. I'm Becky Anderson in

Abu Dhabi, where the time is just after 6:00 in the evening.

Your headlines this hour: Saudi Arabia trading new strikes with the Houthis. This the latest scene out of Yemen, where the country's petroleum

company says that a vehicle refueling station was attacked on Tuesday.

Since then, we understand that Saudi Aramco headquarters has been targeted, though we do not yet have pictures of that. Houthi rebels claimed

responsibility and are vowing to press on with strikes on Saudis airports and oil facilities.

And we are keeping a close eye on the hospital in Rome, where Pope Leo is recovering after having part of his lung, his right lung removed. A Vatican

spokesperson has just updated CNN on the fact that the pope's post- operation recovery is proceeding as expected. An update from Rome momentarily for you.

And as Republicans battle to maintain control of the House and Senate in the upcoming midterm elections. Tuesday's Senate debates in Maine, Georgia

and Iowa show how Republican candidates are approaching races that polls show are tighter than they would like in traditional red states.

We will discuss the key moments with CNN chief U.S. national affairs correspondent Jeff Zeleny about 15 minutes from now.

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ANDERSON: We are following what marks the latest escalation between Saudi Arabia and Houthi rebels as they trade fresh strikes. In an exchange on

Tuesday, Saudi Arabia attacked a key fuel depot in Yemen. Just hours later, the Houthis struck the Saudi headquarters of Aramco, the world's largest

crude oil producer.

And now the Iran-backed and allied group vows they aren't stopping. Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

YAHYA SAREE, HOUTHI MILITARY SPOKESPERSON (through translator): The Yemeni armed forces, carried out, with God's help, a major military operation

targeting Aramco in Dhahran in the eastern area, King Khalid International Airport and Aramco refinery in Riyadh using a large number of ballistic and

cruise missiles as well as drones.

The strikes were accurate, by God's grace, causing destruction and fires at the targeted sites.

The Yemeni armed forces confirmed that their operations deep inside Saudi territory will continue in the coming days by targeting the Saudi enemy's

airports and oil facilities and its consequences on it will be severe, God willing.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: Well, Abbas Dahouk is a former senior military adviser for Middle East affairs at the U.S. Department of State.

Abbas, it's good to have you. Thank you very much indeed for joining us today.

Can I ask you this?

You've got some, you know, decent understanding of this Houthi group.

What do they have in terms of missiles and drones?

Where are they getting them from?

And is the fact that they are getting through with what seems like pinpoint accuracy. What does that say about the weapons or the fact that Saudi

simply doesn't have sufficient interceptors at this point?

What are your thoughts?

ABBAS DAHOUK, FORMER MILITARY ADVISOR, U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT: Well, good evening, Becky, and thank you for having me on your program.

I mean, definitely the Houthis does not have any manufacturing capability, any kind of research programs in country. Everything they show on the

battlefield, all that's being smuggled from the outside.

Mainly you can see most of the technology. It's Iranian technology and it's, technology that is used against U.S. assets and against regional

allies. So everything Iran and the Houthis have is coming from the outside.

And on the gap with the -- for the Saudis, I mean, I think the Saudis have very, very powerful friends, obviously -- the United States, France, U.K.

and also recently have -- Turkiye and Pakistan have a defense agreement. So they have the power of friends. They have a very sophisticated air defense

systems and also air force.

But at this point, it's very hard to defend against an asymmetric threat that is willing to target civilian infrastructure and also airports and the

like.

[10:05:00]

You remember also Saudi Arabia is a large country to be able to protect against this asymmetric target. Saudi Arabia is 100 times bigger than

Israel geographically.

ANDERSON: Yes, that asymmetric threat is very real at this point.

I want to just get our viewers and you some of what I have had from a senior official, very familiar with Saudi government thinking, quote, "We

won't back down until it's over because enough is enough."

I've been told in the past, you know, 24 hours, quote, "The kingdom is resilient and determined that this reign of terror cannot continue."

These are fighting words from Riyadh.

But given the death and destruction wrought by the Houthis on the kingdom this past couple of weeks, what are Saudi Arabia's options at this point?

DAHOUK: Well, definitely those are fighting words. And technically, you can say Saudi Arabia is at war with the Houthis. I mean, there is -- but

the way to do it at this point, we all know that airstrikes are not sufficient.

I mean, we saw that against the Iranians and we -- against the Houthis multiple times, not only by the Saudi-led coalition or the Saudi

government, also by United States and Israel simultaneously.

So at this point, I think you have to take the fight into the Houthis themselves, into their territories. And the only way to stop such attacks

is to target the -- those launchers before they strike, even before that.

They have to actually have a human intelligence mainly to find the planning, to hit them during the planning phase. I mean, that's the only

one way to do it. Hit them through the planning phase or to fight those launchers right before they launch.

And obviously, you have to also intercept those logistical lines, all the smuggling routes that improve on their capabilities, day by day.

ANDERSON: And that means a significant uptick in airpower, mobilization of airpower. The U.S., at present, providing limited assistance to Saudi.

Donald Trump seems reluctant to get involved in direct military support.

That same Saudi source telling me that they need more -- and that more very specifically being airpower, not boots on the ground.

That's not what they're asking for from Washington, it's air engagement to support the government troops that are on the ground, the Yemeni government

troops on the ground and to support them in having a more direct path to where they need to go in this fight against the Houthis.

Donald Trump has said he is -- and I quote him here -- "going to look at potential involvement."

But so far, he hasn't pulled the trigger on that.

Why do you believe the U.S. president is so reluctant to weigh in in support of a key regional ally?

DAHOUK: And that's -- I mean, at this point, is timing. There is a will. I'm sure there is a will within the administration, at least perhaps within

the department of war, Department of States (sic), the CIA. There is a will to support the partner, like Saudi Arabia.

We have -- we have supported them extensively back in 2015 and '16, providing them intelligence to support their territorial integrity against

the Houthis. But at this point, it's the timing. I think the president is unwilling to open another front, you know, against the Houthis and also

war.

You know, war is messy. And any miscalculation while the United States is dropping bombs in Yemen, that cause -- that cause civilian -- total

civilian death or bystanders, casualties, that will be disadvantageous for the president politically.

ANDERSON: Yes.

DAHOUK: So I think it's -- the will is there but the timing is not right. At this point, you need to perhaps support the Yemenis on the ground more

than just from the air, airpower. They need support on the ground to fight the Houthis face to face and bring hurt on them that way until the

elections is over.

And then you reassess how much we can --

(CROSSTALK)

ANDERSON: And you're talking about the elections, which are the U.S. midterms three weeks from now. It is clear, whether Donald Trump admits it

or not, that he sees the political risk of another front opening for the U.S. military in a regional conflict that is landing really badly with U.S.

voters.

More than 70 percent disagree with his foreign policies and his handling of Iran by myriad polls. Now the kingdom knows that the bottom line here is

politics. But Riyadh's point is the following, you know -- and I paraphrase from what I've been told.

"Mr. President, you don't have a choice."

[10:10:00]

This is now a global issue. This is not a Saudi issue. And it's going to get worse before it gets better. And the only way to shorten the getting-

better, they are telling Donald Trump, is the U.S. coming in.

Do you believe that the U.S. will up its involvement and, if not, what happens?

DAHOUK: Well, definitely. I mean, at the end to -- you have to get involved because the Houthis at this point -- and by extension, the

Iranians -- are playing it correctly. They're not declaring that the Bab- el-Mandeb is totally closed. They're just putting more pressure on the Saudi government.

And I think that's one of the reasons where perhaps the president Trump thinks he has some time. And so once the Houthis totally declare, what the

Iranians, that Bab-el-Mandeb is as close as the -- as the Strait of Hormuz, that will definitely force the president. He has to interfere.

But, at this point, the Iranians and the Houthis are not giving him that option to put more pressure on the Saudi government. So I think it's -- the

politics is driving the war. It's not it's not the other way around.

ANDERSON: And I know, from speaking to numerous people around the region and in Saudi, I mean, the worries, concerns, you know, in the leadup to the

U.S. midterms have been that this regional conflict becomes very much a domestic political issue.

And, you know, this massive voter switch-off from this war has become a bipartisan issue, of course. Both Democrats and Republicans, you know, in

their own defense of their own jobs in these midterms, you know, not wanting to be seen to be supporting what's going on.

And that has been a real concern for this region where I am, because the idea that, you know, the U.S. lawmakers are switching off, you know, their

verbal and physical support for this region is very, very, very painful in what is a, you know, a hugely contested area at this point.

Abbas, good to have you. Thank you very much indeed for joining us.

All right. I want to turn to a very special conversation now. We're joined live from The Hague by this year's Nobel Peace Prize winner.

Navi Pillay, recognized for her integral role in the anti-apartheid movement, her work as a judge on the international criminal tribunal for

Rwanda and for her leadership of the U.N. commission that said, Israel committed genocide against Palestinians in Gaza, findings that Israel

strongly rejects.

Navi Pillay, thank you for joining us. It is a real pleasure to have you on. Hours after your win, the Trump administration imposed new sanctions on

the International Criminal Court.

Secretary of state Marco Rubio said these new sanctions are part of the U.S. efforts to -- and I quote him here -- "dismantle the ICC," quote,

"brick by brick."

What's your response to this?

NAVI PILLAY, U.N. HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS: Firstly, it's a great pleasure to see you again. You have interviewed me before and you're

looking great.

ANDERSON: Thank you.

PILLAY: I've been asked this question by the media and civil society. Everybody is so alarmed by these sanctions against the court.

So when I returned from Nuremberg to here, the first thing I did was to visit the court, to express my solidarity with the colleagues, the judges

and the prosecutor. And, of course, they worried mainly for the interference in the independence of the court.

Judges must be left and they must be respected for the impartial decisions, the judicial decisions they make. They apparently have been sanctioned so

that some of the electronic communications is at risk.

Sorry about this. Yes.

But mainly, the staff are very alarmed about day-to-day issues.

Will they get their salaries?

Which bank it will go to?

I -- you know, I'm not sure of the details. I left before they started the discussions on strategies to cope. But because of my experience, I'm

convinced that they will overcome these hurdles.

And the ICC will continue to do its important work in the area of prosecution these four terrible crimes for which the states have said there

must be no impunity. And people have remarked that it came just hours after my award was announced.

ANDERSON: I've got to ask you this question. Donald Trump has made absolutely no secret of his desire to win the Nobel Peace Prize.

[10:15:00]

Shortly after you won, he said this. Have a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TRUMP: The United States of America, represented by me as your president, should have received the Nobel Peace Prize but didn't. This is an indelible

stain on the country of Norway and those people that made such a disgraceful and embarrassing decision.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: Navi, there are going to be people watching this who agree with him.

Does he have a point?

PILLAY: So unfortunately, I didn't hear the clip but I think you're referring to the ones that we all saw, where he thinks the prize should

have come to him and that he succeeded in establishing peace in about eight areas.

So firstly, none of that is true. The people watching this program must realize that. So it's just fictional that he's resolved these conflicts.

Conflicts particularly in Africa been raging for some time. The U.N. has been involved there. And now, of course, Ukraine and Russia is -- the

conflict there is continuing unabated. So that's not true at all.

Nevertheless, you know, I didn't ask, I didn't apply for this. I was nominated and the reasons were given. For me, the reasons are so important.

It was for my work in promoting the human rights of people, protecting and advancing human rights and mainly for the judicial decisions I gave.

And right now I serve as ad hoc judge in the International Court of Justice. So I'm continuing with my work. And obviously, this award will

advance the power I have to continue with the -- with the work I have been doing.

ANDERSON: And you chaired the U.N. commission which concluded that Israel has committed genocide against Palestinians in Gaza.

We are almost a year to the date of the Gaza peace summit in Sharm el- Sheikh. I was there at the time, where world leaders gathered to create a road map for Palestinians.

One year after, do you believe there's been any accountability for what happened?

PILLAY: There has been no accountability. That's why, as long as I led the commission of inquiry, we applied our minds, obviously, very seriously. Let

me say, Becky, it took us two years to verify, finalize the facts.

So it's a fact-based report, which also records the statements made by the leaders -- the president, prime minister and the former defense minister --

that we feel amounts to incitement to genocide.

So you know, I have tried genocide before. I was one of the first judges in the first judgment on genocide ever. And we know how to be impartial and to

examine the evidence carefully.

What I'm saying here is I'm doing what I can in my area of work because all the people I know support justice. They support the rule of law and they

support international law. This, the court, the International Court of Justice and the International Criminal Court, are there for victims.

Our focus then is for the people who suffer these crimes. The bottom line is these crimes must be investigated and prosecuted. If they are not

investigated by Israel or any other state, the court will step in and do so. It cannot be blocked from doing so.

ANDERSON: So Navi, I do want to just read you the following. because Israel strongly rejects the commission's findings.

The country's ambassador to the United Nations called it -- and I want to be clear here and this is why I'm reading this.

The country's ambassador to the United Nations called it a, quote, "political blood libel disguised as a U.N. document."

Briefly, what do you say to the denial and to that accusation?

PILLAY: Well, as a longtime judge, I'm not surprised when defendants deny the charges against them. I point to the work we did. It's a two-year

examination of evidence. We received the support of organs inside the United Nations, including satellite footage.

We had our own team. And refreshingly, the evidence came from inside Israel, where NGOs have been blocked by the government from cooperating

with us and with the International Court.

[10:20:00]

So first, I can really tell you that we verified the facts and we stand by this finding that genocide has occurred and is occurring. And until a court

of law -- that's the International Court of Justice -- pronounces on this matter, ours is the most authoritative statement on this.

So compared to that work, any state that's named there should immediately investigate these charges. Of course, they didn't let anyone in to examine,

to investigate. They didn't let us in. They didn't let international journalists.

But now they have a comprehensive report. They should now look toward carrying out investigations and prosecutions themselves.

ANDERSON: Navi, I'm old enough to remember the work you did and so many others did on anti-apartheid some 40 years ago now.

Given where we are today, how much optimism do you have that the new world order that we see today still respects the rule of international law?

And is that international law still fit for purpose?

Or does the system need to change to address today's challenges?

PILLAY: Let me first begin to point out that it's not member states who stood up in these great halls and said we now have to do more for human

rights or to stop conflicts. All these advances have been made, in my view, because of the push and pressure of civil society, actors of NGOs and the

media that exposes violations.

And we've made huge advances. There was no action for 50 years since Nuremberg. And now for the past 30 years, we have very many ad hoc

tribunals. We have commissions investigating. And they're all holding trials.

The ICC is, of course, the most important development, just like we ended apartheid because of the cooperative cooperation and the joint action by

people all over the world. Apartheid has come to an end.

So I don't think it's impossible for change to happen. We have all these measures taken by the international community, rules that everyone should

be obeying. It's only a few states, Becky, that are almost defying international law.

And I have lived long enough to see that they haven't lasted too long. What lasts is eventually the power of the rule of law.

ANDERSON: Navi Pillay, it's good to speak to you again. Thank you very much indeed for joining us. And congratulations on the prize.

Navi Pillay for you folks. You are watching CONNECT THE WORLD. There is a lot more news ahead. Stay with us.

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[10:25:00]

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ANDERSON: Pope Leo is recovering after surgery to remove part of his right lung. We've just got a new update from the Vatican. CNN's Christopher Lamb

joining us now from Rome.

What are we learning, Chris?

CHRISTOPHER LAMB, CNN VATICAN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Becky, we just heard from the doctors treating Pope Leo that his recovery after the operation on

Tuesday is going as planned, that he's been walking himself around in his room, that he has been having a normal diet -- breakfast, lunch. So that's

all a positive development.

The Vatican spokesman also saying that the doctors are confident that they removed the cancer during the operation on Tuesday afternoon to remove part

of the pope's right lung. But there are further tests that need to be done to, you know, establish the next steps for the pope.

I think the bigger picture here is that this news of Pope Leo having this diagnosis of cancer has caused a lot of shock and surprise and anxiety in

the Vatican, because Pope Leo was elected less than 18 months ago at the age of 69, a relatively young pope.

It was thought that he had a long papacy in front of him, he had a lot of time to reform and to be the pope. But obviously, this news about him

having lung cancer does raise a lot of questions about the long term of his papacy but also the near term with the pope having a trip to Latin America,

planned early in November.

He's due to go back to Peru, a country that he knows very well, having served there for many years. Now the Vatican say that trip is still on

schedule but, obviously, given the operation and the time he will need to recover at the Gemelli Hospital and beyond, it's not clear how he's going

to fulfill all the commitments.

So a lot of uncertainty here but some good news just out from the doctors.

ANDERSON: Good to have you, Christopher. Thank you very much indeed.

That is the very latest out of Rome for you.

Well, with control of the U.S. Senate at stake, Tuesday's Senate debates in Maine, Georgia and Iowa are offering a revealing look at how Republican

candidates are navigating what is a very difficult political environment in the closing weeks before the midterm elections.

In the state of Maine, incumbent Republican senator Susan Collins sought to distance herself from president Donald Trump as she clashed with Democratic

challenger Troy Jackson over the Iran war, health care cuts and tariffs. Have a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TROY JACKSON (D-ME), SENATORIAL CANDIDATE: Donald Trump wanted to play war games. And when Susan Collins had the chance to stop him, because she's

chair of Appropriations, she would not do that.

SEN. SUSAN COLLINS (R-ME): I agree that the president did not have a good plan. He should have anticipated the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: Texas Democrat James Talarico is making a final push in his bid for the U.S. Senate. He'll join CNN's Erin Burnett for a town hall with

Jubilee later today. His race against Republican Ken Paxton is shaping up to be one of the key battles in this year's midterm elections.

Well, my colleague Jeff Zeleny, just outside Ft. Worth, Texas, when the CNN town hall -- where the CNN town hall is taking place.

And you've been speaking to voters there.

And what are they hoping to hear from the candidates tonight?

JEFF ZELENY, CNN CHIEF NATIONAL AFFAIRS CORRESPONDENT: Well, Becky, the fact that Texas is competitive at all in the Senate race at this stage of

the campaign really speaks to this entire election cycle, how Republicans are on defense, trying to defend places that they normally easily win, like

here in Texas.

But as we talk to voters across the board, yes, there is frustration at the economy, at the price of gas, diesel, groceries, other matters.

And there's also some disappointment in the Republican nominee who's running against James Talarico. He's the Texas attorney general, who has a

long list of controversies. Ken Paxton is his name. But we met several lifelong Republicans, who are also weighing their choices, some of whom are

voting for James Talarico. Here's one explaining why.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PETE NODECKER, TEXAS REPUBLICAN: The Republican Party has been hijacked. They're not the Republican Party that I was a member of for all my life.

ZELENY: Hijacked by who?

NODECKER: Trump. Everything revolves around him and his ego.

ZELENY: Is this a vote for Talarico or against Ken Paxton?

NODECKER: It's a vote for Talarico in this case. He just -- he presents himself in a very positive manner.

[10:30:00]

He is clearly a legitimate Christian. He doesn't just talk the talk, he walks the walk and you can tell the difference from a mile away.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ZELENY: And that was a lifelong Republican, a two-time Trump voter, Pete Nodecker from Ft. Worth.

And interestingly, he departed from Trump after the attacks on the Capitol back on January 6th, 2021. He said he was done with the president and the

party at that point.

But look, there are many Republicans who are weighing their options here. For some, it is a bridge too far to vote for a Democratic candidate that

could lead to a Democratic Senate majority.

So Democrats have long dreamed big here in Texas about the prospect of winning a U.S. Senate seat. It hasn't happened since 1988. That's when

Lloyd Bentsen was reelected to the Senate a year before James Talarico, the candidate, was even born, Becky.

So that just shows you that history is lining up against him.

ANDERSON: Right.

ZELENY: But the political mood may not be.

ANDERSON: Well, yes, absolutely. While I got you, I do want to ask you about a cultural moment that happened this week with Talarico and country

singer Kacey Musgraves. Just tell us more about that.

ZELENY: It's quite interesting. I mean, that's one of the ways that James Talarico is campaigning, trying to reach a younger new audience, if you

will.

He attended a Kacey Musgraves concert in Dallas on Saturday evening. He appeared with her. He gave her a Talarico cowboy hat.

It kind of went on from there because Kristi Noem, the former Homeland Security secretary who was sacked by the president a few months back, she

weighed in saying that, you know, she would rather support Ken Paxton.

Well, that got the attention of Kacey Musgraves herself, the country singer; again, a native of Texas here. And she fired back at the former

Homeland Security secretary and brought up an old controversy of her own about how she once shot her dog.

So that is -- also just gives you a glimpse here of this midterm election campaign, now less than three weeks away, is playing out on many levels,

including the country music stage, Becky.

ANDERSON: Always good to have you, Jeff, providing the nuance and the layers on whatever you are reporting on. That is absolutely fascinating.

Fascinating. Thank you mate.

Jeff's in the house for you tonight here on CONNECT THE WORLD.

Still to come, Donald Trump says massive oil and gas exploration is about to begin in Greenland. Greenland, however, says that's not quite the case.

More on the contradicting claims up next.

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[10:35:00]

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

And Houthi rebels and Saudi Arabia trading fresh attacks as the Iran-backed group vowed earlier today to continue its strikes. The Houthis say two

civilians were killed and two others injured after the kingdom struck a key fuel depot in Yemen.

And just hours later, a Houthi rebels targeted a Saudi oil giant's headquarters. No injuries were reported there.

Well, the Vatican says Pope Leo is recovering as expected from surgery to remove a cancerous growth from his right lung. The Vatican says blood tests

and a chest X-ray showed normal results for this stage of recovery. The pope also up and walking around his room, undergoing respiratory therapy

and eating meals.

We're told Ukraine's president is in the United Kingdom today for talks with the British prime minister. Volodymyr Zelenskyy is urging greater

cooperation among allies. He says there was no advance warning from Ukraine's partners about a massive Russian aerial assault on Kyiv.

The British prime minister pledging to facilitate greater support for the country.

ANDERSON: Well, Donald Trump has announced that oil, natural gas and mineral exploration is set to begin in Greenland. The island's government,

however, says that is actually rather optimistic and that the reality is that it's very far from happening. Anna Stewart here to break down -- we

are -- this down for us.

And we're getting conflicting claims. Both can't be right.

So what's going on here?

ANNA STEWART, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, it wouldn't be the first time that the two sides have disagreed when it comes to Greenland. And actually

there's probably quite a lot that Greenland disagrees with when we look at president Trump's very lengthy Truth Social post on this.

Rather diplomatically, the -- Greenland's deputy mining minister has dealt with just the immediacy of the exploration plan, saying to CNN, "There are

activities by U.S. companies but we are very far away from massive exploration," essentially saying there is a grain of truth here to

president Trump's claim.

The issue, of course, with Greenland is, quite aside from licenses and all of that, around 80 percent of the -- of the island is covered in ice. And

on average, it's about a mile thick, incredibly difficult environment to drill in, much of it very remote, some of it offshore, Becky. You can only

reach in the summer.

Major oil companies -- BP, Shell, many others -- have all tried to drill commercial oil from Greenland and have failed in the past. So that is the

challenge. There is potential there. There is potential oil.

And, of course, with temperatures rising with global warming, perhaps there is more potential going forward.

There's another part in this Truth Social post where president Trump says the oil is far greater than that of almost any land. That also really isn't

true. The U.S. Geological Survey has estimated that, in the east of Greenland, in the basin where the majority of oil is expected to be, it

could be around $31 billion.

That is an estimate. It's not proven and that is less than a 10th of Venezuela, which has reserves of 303 billion barrels of oil. Also, there's

one moment where president Trump starts this post, saying that exploration will begin in "our new and beautiful Greenland."

That probably refers to a deal recently done between the U.S., Greenland and Denmark. It expands the U.S.' military access in the island. But it

also acknowledges Denmark's sovereignty and Greenlanders' right to self- determination. So I imagine there'll be some upset about that as well, Becky.

ANDERSON: Always good to have you. Thank you.

You're watching CONNECT THE WORLD. Lot more ahead.

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[10:40:00]

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ANDERSON: OpenAI is talking about a now-former employee allegedly involved in bugging the company. He was fired and arrested after allegedly hiding

what's been described as a, quote, "sophisticated recording device" in an OpenAI conference room. He remains in federal custody.

A top executive at OpenAI says AI agents are exposing internet vulnerabilities at an unprecedented scale. Kiran Mani runs OpenAI's Asia

Pacific division. He says the company is committed to ensuring AI is used safely.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

KIRAN MANI, MANAGING DIRECTOR, ASIA PACIFIC REGION, OPENAI: There is a sense of urgency than ever before in having the conversation about safety

and security.

As here and today, I think, both in the case of Hugging Face and usflesh (ph) in Australia, we have publicly acknowledged that we have had models

which were in development, which behaved in ways that they shouldn't.

We absolutely believe that, as a company, developing frontier AI is as much about furthering the technology as it is about ensuring that it is used

safely and in ways in which it is under control.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: And that part of the CNN Global Perspectives event today in Bangkok.

Well, the 2026 Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition has announced its winner after a record 65,000 entries. And this powerful image of a

female elephant carrying her dead calf took the top prize.

Titled "The Aftermath," Italian photographer Federico Veronesi captured the image while following a grieving herd in Namibia. And I've just posted that

and the other key images on my Instagram, that's @beckycnn, and on X.

That's it for CONNECT THE WORLD. Stay with CNN. "MARKETPLACE MIDDLE EAST" tonight, up next.

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