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Isa Soares Tonight

Meta Back In Court Today As The Company Faces Its Biggest Social Media Addiction Trial To Date; Ebola Outbreak In The Democratic Republic Of Congo Officially Becomes The Deadliest In The Country's History; Man In Taiwan Hoping To Bring Answers To Families Who Have Lost Loved Ones In Taiwanese Mountains; Israeli Defense Min. Calls For Expanded Police Role In West Bank; Gaza Health Officials: New Israeli Strike Kills Six People; DRC Ebola Outbreak Becomes Deadliest In Country's History; Prosecution Continues Its Case In Tupac Shakur Murder Trial. Aired 2-3p ET

Aired August 18, 2026 - 14:00   ET

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

[14:00:00]

MAX FOSTER, HOST, ISA SOARES TONIGHT: Welcome to the show, everyone, I'm Max Foster in for Isa Soares. Tonight, Meta is back in court today as the

company faces its biggest social media addiction trial to date. A loss could force a major shake-up in how they operate.

Then the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo officially becomes the deadliest in the country's history, with the U.N. warning the

epidemic is killing someone every 30 minutes. Plus, finding Taiwan's lost hikers. We have a unique report from the mountains where one man is hoping

to bring answers to families losing hope, that and much more just ahead.

We begin, though, with two major developments that could lead to dramatic changes for millions of social media users worldwide. First, a landmark

case going on right now in a California courtroom, Meta, the owner of Instagram and Facebook facing a major legal challenge.

A group of U.S. states argues that Meta deliberately designs its social media platforms to be addictive to children. They could seek as much as

$1.4 trillion in damages. The company has long rejected the claims. One activist outside court accused Meta and its competitors of exploiting young

people.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DAWSON KELLY, UNIVERSITY STUDENT: Holding these companies accountable will not bring back the time or the people we have all lost. But this justice

brings us closer to a world where addiction is no longer our predetermined destiny.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

FOSTER: Also facing a string of lawsuits over child safety is Open AI, which is rolling out ChatGPT for teens. The company says the version safety

features will better protect young users. OpenAI has faced lawsuits from multiple families who claim ChatGPT contributed to their child's decision

to harm themselves.

CNN tech reporter Clare Duffy, also the host of the "Terms of Service" podcast, is with us. Clare, first of all, I was struck by this figure, one

or not -- you know, $1.4 trillion in damages potentially, but the company is only worth 1.5 trillion. So, is that realistic?

CLARE DUFFY, CNN TECHNOLOGY REPORTER: Well, Max, I think that is what really sets this case apart. We've seen thousands of these cases against

Meta and other social media platforms with similar allegations that the companies have designed their platforms to addict children and harm their

mental health.

Meta has already lost two of those cases, but the scale of the potential consequences in this case, brought by a group of state attorneys general,

is just so much bigger. As you said, the damages that they could seek as much as $1.4 trillion is essentially what the company is worth on Wall

Street.

But, Max, even if they don't get that big of a number, they're also seeking changes to how the platforms operate. And that could mean that we could see

really significant changes to the experience that everybody, but especially young people, have on social media if Meta were to lose this case.

Now, opening statements kicked off just a few hours ago, and an attorney for the states outlined their claims that Meta's business model relied on

having young people on the platform. Having young people spend a lot of time on the platform, and it therefore captured their data and built

addictive features intentionally to get them to spend as much time as possible on this platform.

They also claim that Meta was well aware of the risks to young people, but misled the public about those risks. And they're claiming that Meta

illegally gathered data from young people under the age of 13. Now, Meta is pushing back strongly.

We are waiting to hear from their attorney, their side for the opening statement. But Meta has previously called these claims unsubstantiated and

called the idea of that $1.4 trillion payout an outlandish one. Max, so, certainly, a lot for the jury to digest on this first day of this very

important trial.

[14:05:00]

FOSTER: And they're arguing, as you say, deliberately designing these social media platforms to be addictive. Is this going to be the central

argument then, the intent, trying to prove that intent as opposed to this addiction being a side product for a product that Meta thought was actually

useful for people?

DUFFY: Yes, that's going to be really crucial to this case is the states trying to prove their claim that Meta knew what it was doing here, that it

attracted children, tried to hold their attention as long as possible with features like the endlessly scrolling feed and the recommendation

algorithm, because that was central to their business model.

The deputy Attorney General of California, Megan O'Neill, who gave that opening statement, talked about the fact that Meta really needed kids and

therefore built its platform intentionally to be addictive to them.

And so, that is going to be, I think, very central to this. I do imagine that we'll be looking at internal documents from Meta that the plaintiffs

have gathered. We are also expected to hear from Meta executives, including Mark Zuckerberg, the CEO, Adam Mosseri, who is the head of Instagram,

Antigone Davis, who is the Global Head of Safety.

And so, they will be facing tough questions, I think about what they knew and when about the risks to children on these platforms.

FOSTER: Clare Duffy, appreciate it. Thank you so much. Well, joining us also, Dr. Nicholas Kardaras; he's an addiction psychologist and expert on

the impact of digital technology on children. He's also the author of "Glow Kids: How Screen Addiction Is Hijacking Our Kids".

Thank you so much for joining us, doctor. I mean, we'll talk about the addictive effects --

NICHOLAS KARDARAS, ADDICTION PSYCHOLOGIST & EXPERT ON THE IMPACT OF DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY ON CHILDREN: Thank you for having me --

FOSTER: Because we have spoken a lot of that on the program over recent months. But you know, what's your feeling about this intent argument that

Meta intended for their platform to be addictive?

KARDARAS: Because it's absolutely addiction by design. This is not an accidental of issue of habituation. We have internal e-mails that Frances

Haugen, the quote, unquote, "Facebook whistleblower" had exposed, that they had their own research that showed that young adolescent females on

Instagram had a 12 percent higher suicidality rates.

They were in these internal e-mails that had suggested that they tweaked the algorithm to make it less predatory and less harmful. And the response

essentially was no, to make the algorithm, well, less predatory or less harmful would be to decrease engagement.

So, it's this idea that harmful or toxic content is more habituating to vulnerable clients. So, I want to see these algorithms as heat-seeking

missiles that really attack young people's psychological vulnerabilities.

So, in other words, if I'm depressed and I start receiving algorithms that are sending me content that is go-kill-yourself content or depression

enhancing content, if I have body image issues and the algorithm sends me a hashtag, skin and bones or anorexia content, it exacerbates the mental

health harms.

And they do this knowingly. They do this by design because of the increased engagement and full disclosure. I'm one of the expert witnesses and

consultants on the $1.4 trillion class action lawsuits that are currently happening.

FOSTER: Yes, $1.4 trillion if they do face that as a fine, that is the full value of their company. They would close. Would that be a good thing, or do

you think the purpose here --

KARDARAS: Well --

FOSTER: Is to try to improve the platform?

KARDARAS: Well, it's both, and the class action lawsuit, it's over 200,000 plaintiff families. And so, that $1.4 trillion, it's essentially each

family and the class action lawsuit that is alleging harm is suing for $7 million, which, you know, the Los Angeles bellwether case where the young

woman sued for $6 million in one, essentially saying that there was a causal connection to the social media platform and the psychiatric harms

that she had gotten.

So, they're seeking compensation for the families that have been harmed, but they're also looking for regulatory changes, warning labels, changes on

the platform. They're also seeking monies to go towards treatment funds.

So, if you have been harmed, you can seek out treatment and get mental health support. Similarly, that was done to Oxycontin and Purdue

Pharmaceuticals when they -- the opioid epidemic exploded and there was some liability with Oxycontin for creating the opioid epidemic that they

needed to create a treatment fund to help people that were struggling with that addiction get some help.

FOSTER: Arguably, you know, a bigger immediate concern is ChatGPT, isn't it? Because kids are relying on it more, asking questions and they go very

deep and they keep going until they get the answers they want, don't they?

And they're asking for very -- they're asking very sensitive questions and they're getting answers. GPT coming out with a version for teens. I mean,

it's going to be pretty tough to regulate any of their platforms.

[14:10:00]

But would you argue that, that is a growing concern away from social media?

KARDARAS: AI is going to be kerosene to this fire. It's creating more frictionless engagement, and it's curating content, and the relationship

with the platform in ways that are much more engaging and powerful and harmful.

AI knows the weaknesses, the interests, the profile of each particular user, and curates content ostensibly towards what the user wants. But to

increase engagement -- it's always at the -- always increase engagement.

But we know that negative emotions increase engagement more than positive emotions. And AI is going to curate an experience, it's going to be really

challenging for young, vulnerable people to not be seduced by.

So, I'm really concerned about the AI piece of the equation that's going to be exacerbating this whole problem. They've got the blood on their hands.

This is -- you know, I've been treating tech addiction in my clinics for over ten years.

The intersection of mental health, you know, the so-called adolescent and young adult mental health crisis is absolutely a byproduct of our tech-love

affair. As we've become mad for our devices, our devices have been increasingly driving us mad.

And many have driven themselves to suicide, anorexia, fatalities, suicide rates are through the roof. We're having record rates of anxiety,

depression and self-harm in our adolescents and young adults. And this is absolutely a byproduct of our immersion in the digital age.

FOSTER: Yes, much more personalized, isn't it? Than social media, which is the worry here. Dr. Nicholas Kardaras, really appreciate your time on the

program tonight.

KARDARAS: Thank you.

FOSTER: Now, as global oil prices climb to their highest level since July, U.S. President Donald Trump says there are no talks underway or scheduled

with Iran. But he did have a message for the region. Mr. Trump posted an image on social media showing the Strait of Hormuz labeled as "new U.S.

territory".

The President has had -- has said repeatedly that he wants to make the Strait of Hormuz part of the U.S. One of Iran's deputy Foreign Ministers is

dismissing the U.S. President's latest Strait of Hormuz declaration and warns Tehran will, quote, "correct the delusions of this deluded man." Here

are some of Iran's latest demands for reopening the strait.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MOHAMMAD BAGHER GHALIBAF, SPEAKER, PARLIAMENT OF IRAN (through translator): And let me make it clear, until America implements its commitments under

the Memorandum of Understanding, including lifting the blockade on the release of frozen assets, lifting the oil sanctions, ending threats and

military operations on all fronts and other conditions that America has agreed to under the understanding the strait will not be reopened.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

FOSTER: Kevin Liptak with us now from the White House. What do you think the intention was here from the President? Because taking over the Strait

of Hormuz, making it American would require a massive military operation, which is something that obviously the American public wouldn't be keen on,

presumably.

KEVIN LIPTAK, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE REPORTER: Right, yes, massive and sustained. And when you think about the toll that this war has already

taken on the U.S. military, whether it's the stockpile of munitions or whether it's on these aircraft carriers who have been on these record

deployments and are seeing the wear and tear both in the morale of the people aboard, but also on the ships.

It does raise some questions about just how long the President is thinking that the U.S. military will be involved in patrolling the Strait of Hormuz

and enforcing this blockade of Iranian ports.

Now, last week, the Defense Secretary, Pete Hegseth, said that the U.S. would be able to enforce that blockade essentially in perpetuity, which

does sort of carry echoes of a forever war of the type that the President said that the U.S. would never get involved in if he was going to be

elected president.

So, a lot of questions about what exactly the President foresees in the -- both the near term and the Strait of Hormuz, but also in the long-term in

terms of how that waterway will be patrolled. Now, when the President said today that there were no talks or conversations underway with Iran, that's

very different than what we heard yesterday from Jared Kushner, who is the President's envoy in these conversations.

He told "Fox News" that the talks between the U.S. and all areas of the Iranian government were, quote, "more robust than ever before". He said

that they were engaging in a very strong way, and that they were, quote, "very positive and active conversations".

Now, today, the President saying something completely different, which is that there are no negotiations underway. And I'm told by officials that the

President had, in fact, gone to his team to say -- to halt the conversations, to halt any discussions with Iran until he felt that the

Iranians were signaling publicly that they were making -- that they were willing to make a deal that he would be able to accept.

[14:15:00]

And so, I do think what you're seeing here is a shift in strategy on the part of the President. You know, for so long, he had been saying that the

talks were underway, that a deal to reopen the strait was only a day or two away.

Now, he seems to be backing away from all of this and trying to put the war essentially at arm's length. He's low keying it, which is the way he

described it last week. The question, I think, is whether that will be enough to get the strait opened, whether the economic pressure that the

U.S. is trying to inflict on Iran will be enough to get them to cave to all of the President's demands. At least, until now, there's no indication that

the Iranians are showing any signs of budging yet.

FOSTER: Kevin Liptak at the White House, thank you. South Korea's President calling for stronger independent defense capabilities, saying the country

must plan for the, quote, "worst case scenarios". The remarks come after President Donald Trump ordered the Pentagon to substantially reduce joint

U.S.-South Korean military drills now underway.

Mr. Trump said the -- inappropriate and hostile signal to North Korea, one of the most repressive dictatorships in the world. South Korean President

Lee Jae Myung today said the drills are defensive in nature, stressing the importance of his country's long-time alliance with the United States.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LEE JAE MYUNG, PRESIDENT, SOUTH KOREA (through translator): A solid South Korea-U.S. alliance and independent defense capability are mutually

necessary conditions. Meaning an alliance needs to be firm for the foundation of security to be even stronger. And we need to grow our own

strength to enhance our value and necessity as an ally.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

FOSTER: Defense Ministry says it intercepted and destroyed nearly 800 Ukrainian drones overnight in another major assault launched by Kyiv. This

video, geolocated by CNN, shows the moment a drone exploded over Pavlovsky Posad; a city located 50 kilometers from Moscow, causing this fireball over

a building.

Meanwhile, Ukraine faced another barrage of Russian strikes, killing ten people in the Kharkiv region. Ukraine, facing a chronic shortage of Patriot

interceptor missiles, hindering its ability to defend itself. Still to come tonight on the show, what's in a name?

A lot when the same name appears twice on one ballot. We'll explain the confusing choice for voters in one U.S. state when we return.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[14:20:00]

FOSTER: The U.S. Midterm elections getting closer. Today is another day of significant primaries in several states. Today's closest watched races are

probably in Florida, where the Republican governors contest features Congressman Byron Donalds, an outspoken supporter of Donald Trump, who has

got the President's endorsement.

There are also several interesting congressional primaries in Florida, including a crowded field of Republicans vying to replace Byron Donalds.

Political analysts have labeled that race a clown show with several candidates from other states now trying to win a seat in Florida and

multiple candidates with criminal records.

One of the other big contests today in Florida features one of the most powerful Democrats in Congress, but she is running in a new district. Our

Randi Kaye tracking all of this, trying to make sense of it. A lot of moving parts, Randi.

RANDI KAYE, CNN U.S. NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Certainly, a lot. We can talk about the governors' race first. That's also very interesting here. That is

the fact that Byron Donalds, who has been endorsed by President Donald Trump, is running. He is running against Jay Collins, who is Florida's

lieutenant governor, and he was endorsed by Governor Ron DeSantis.

So, that gives a little bit of a Trump-DeSantis dynamic there. And whoever wins that is likely going to be running against David Jolly in the

Democratic side, he's a former Republican congressman. So, we'll see how much Donald Trump's endorsement means, since he did endorse Byron Donalds

and he elevated Governor Ron DeSantis in 2018.

So, we'll see how much that plays into today's primary. But on the congressional District 20, where we are today here in Lauderhill, Florida,

we're talking about Debbie Wasserman Schultz. She used to be -- she's running for the 12th time, but she was running always in the 25th District.

And now, because Florida did some redistricting and rework the congressional maps here in Florida, in many people's eyes, to favor

Republicans, she has now moved over to District 20 to run. The thing about that, though, is that this is a historically black district, and it has

been a black lawmaker in the seat here for more than 30 years.

Debbie Wasserman Schultz is the only white candidate running in this primary. The black candidates who she's running against did try to

consolidate the vote, come together to try and just back one of them to run against her, but that effort failed.

So, they are all still in the race, but they have accused her of district shopping, looking for a safer district to run in instead of the one that

she was in, which now leans Republican. Her opponents include Luther Campbell, you may recognize that name.

He is the former head of -- former member of 2 Live Crew. He's a rapper- turned activist. Dale Holness; he was a Democrat here and former mayor of Broward County. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick; she was a congresswoman who

resigned her seat because she's facing an ethics investigation.

She says she did nothing wrong, but she has been accused of funneling millions of dollars in federal money into her campaign. And then finally,

Elijah Manley, he's 27 years old. He's a Democrat. He says that he is a democratic socialist running now.

He has been very critical of Debbie Wasserman Schultz, saying that she doesn't represent this community, that she previously only represented

about 2 percent of the voters here, and she's just looking for an easy win.

We also talked with some voters, I believe we have some of that sound for you, so we can take a listen to what they had to say.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm really not biased. And so, whoever is -- you know, has the community's best interests at hand. So, whoever is the best person

for the job is who I would recommend or, you know, cast my vote towards.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: She's there for the people and she shows up. Any difficulties or issues that people have, she always presents herself. She

doesn't hide. It doesn't matter whether we're in a black community or Hispanic community. I'm predominantly Hispanic, I mean, so she does show

up.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KAYE: And that woman, we should note, did work with Wasserman Schultz at one point. But we talked to several voters here, and one of them even told

me that she voted for Dale Holness, one of the candidates, and then she went to the person handling the votes and said, wait, I want to change my

vote to Debbie Wasserman Schultz.

And he said, well, it's already been scanned. So, a lot of last-minute decision-making here. We'll have to see what happens when the polls close

at 7:00 p.m. Eastern time tonight. The count usually takes place pretty quickly here in Florida, so, we should have results pretty soon after that.

Back to you.

FOSTER: OK, I look forward to hearing back from you, Randi, thank you for joining us from Florida. Now, voters in Alaska face a pretty confusing

choice today in their Senate primary. They have to decide between Dan Sullivan and Dan Sullivan.

One of the Sullivan's is the sitting Republican senator, the other is a retired school teacher who happens to have the same name. They do have

different middle initials, which will be listed on the ballot. So, hoping that will stop the confusion.

President Trump urging Republicans to be careful which Sullivan they pick. He and other Republicans claim the other Dan Sullivan is a dirty trick by

Democrats to try to gum-up the race.

[14:25:00]

Now, the White House is engaging in an escalating feud with the Democratic senator, who is both running for re-election in the Midterms and also being

talked about as a 2028 presidential contender.

Georgia Senator Jon Ossoff has been the subject of fierce attacks, including profanity from the White House officials who are angry about a

speech that he gave over the weekend. In it, Ossoff questioned whether Donald Trump really wants the job of commander-in-chief.

He noted that the President sometimes seems to fall asleep in meetings, and he said Mr. Trump seems most engaged when flying around in his new Air

Force One with close aide Natalie Harp. Harp is known for handling the President's social media posts.

Still to come tonight on the show, the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo, now the country's deadliest. We'll speak to a doctor

from the World Health Organization about what's being done to help.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

FOSTER: Welcome back, I am Max Foster. Now, Israel's National Security Minister says, quote, "we are making history", touting the construction of

a dedicated death row prison wing and hanging facility for Palestinians sentenced under a new terrorism law.

Itamar Ben-Gvir says the facility will have viewing cells where crime victims can watch the hangings. Israel's controversial death penalty law

effectively applies only to Palestinians convicted of terrorism.

It calls for executions within 90 days of sentencing, with no right to appeal. Ben-Gvir himself, previously convicted of supporting terrorism

against Palestinians, is also calling for more death in Gaza. He says Israel should kill 30 to 40 people per night, including those who don't

pose an immediate threat but who are, quote, "not fit to live".

All this happening as Israel's Defense Minister calls for the Israeli police headed by Ben-Gvir, to have an expanded role in law enforcement in

the West Bank amid a surge in settler attacks. Our Jeremy Diamond recently accompanied a Palestinian-American to his home in Qusra, which has been

under siege by settlers for more than a week.

[14:30:18]

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JEREMY DIAMOND, CNN JERUSALEM CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): With a military escort leading the way and armed Israeli soldiers manning a checkpoint, the

journey to Loui Ridi's home in the occupied West Bank feels more like entering a restricted military area. That's because it is. The Israeli

military declared it a closed zone to non-residents last week after radical Israeli settlers made Ridi's home their latest target of conquest,

establishing an illegal outpost outside his gates and preventing anyone from coming in or out.

And yet, despite all the extra security, this is what Ridi found within an hour of arriving. Four Israeli settlers squatting right outside his home.

LOUI RIDI: That's terrifying. That's truly terrifying that they're able to sit there, not fearing that anyone will be arresting them. They are

trespassing. They are illegal here under the international law, under the Israeli law, and the Israeli military are here to move them. But they're

still there.

DIAMOND (voice-over): For over a week, Ridi, a Palestinian American, has watched from Ohio via security cameras as Israeli settlers besieged his

West Bank home.

DIAMOND: You made it.

RIDI: I made it.

DIAMOND (voice-over): Now, he's finally joined his brother who's been trapped here under siege.

RIDI: It's a lot of emotion because I've been talking with him 24/7, watching him on the cameras, fearing for his life.

DIAMOND (voice-over): Ridi is now in the same boat with an American flag draped over his shoulder. He's hoping that his presence and this flag will

protect him.

RIDI: This flag is the most powerful flag in the world. My fear, the settlers taking this house, the first thing they do, they raise their own

flag. So, they have to take this flag down so they can raise the settler's flag. That's why I'm asking the U.S. officials and the embassy to protect

me and protect that flag.

DIAMOND: So, the Israeli military now has a regular presence outside of Loui's house. You can see one of those Israeli military vehicles right down

there. And in fact, two Israeli soldiers are currently patrolling right outside the gate to this home.

DIAMOND (voice-over): But that presence alone isn't enough to stop these settlers from trying to take this hilltop. They are clearly undeterred.

DIAMOND: Do you feel like if the military wanted to, they could get rid of the settlers?

RIDI: Absolutely. Absolutely. If they really want it and they give the OK from top of head, they could have done it probably within the first hour.

DIAMOND (voice-over): The next morning, Ridi comes face to face with this new reality, an Israeli settler trespassing in the restricted area.

RIDI: He's a terrorist. He needs to be removed from here. That's my house.

DIAMOND (voice-over): Rather than detaining him, Israeli soldiers prefer to negotiate until the settler walks away.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Did you bring food and water, Baba?

DIAMOND (voice-over): Ridi's 10-year-old daughter, Yasmin, is keeping tabs from Ohio.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Why couldn't you just say, I live, this is basically my house, so I don't need to know this stuff?

RIDI: Exactly. That's exactly what I've been telling everybody.

DIAMOND (voice-over): But there's only so much Ridi can promise his daughter.

DIAMOND: Were you able to tell your daughter that you're going to be safe?

RIDI: Maybe if I tell them that, just to ease their mind, but truly, I'm not feeling safe.

DIAMOND (voice-over): Jeremy Diamond, CNN, Qusra, the West Bank.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

FOSTER: And we're just getting word about a new deadly Israeli strike in Gaza. Medical officials say a 13-year-old boy and his father are amongst

those killed in the attack at a seaside cafe in Gaza City. Israel's military says it struck several Hamas commanders. The attack comes just a

day after U.S. envoy Jared Kushner pressed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in person to restrain the near daily strikes in Gaza.

The 17th Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo has reached some devastating new milestones. The outbreak was declared on May the 15th.

It's now only dwarfed in size by West Africa's 2014 through to 2016 outbreak. Now, the outbreak in the DRC has killed 2,325 people, surpassing

the number of deaths in the country's 2018-2020 outbreak. The number of confirmed cases has risen to almost 5,000.

Dr. Thiemo Balde joins me now. He's the WHO's Africa Health Emergencies Lead. Thank you for joining us. I mean, how would you compare it to those

other crises that we've seen in the region?

[14:35:00]

DR. THIEMO BALDE, WHO AFRICA HEALTH EMERGENCIES LEAD: Thank you so much. Thank you for having me. I think this is one of the fastest really ever-

growing outbreak that I have seen in my career.

What we have seen here, I'm based in Punia, it's really a kind of extremely growing transmission of the outbreak and the major extension in different

health zones. As you have mentioned, it's been three months since this outbreak has been officially declared. But at the same time, we know also

that this outbreak has been ongoing for some months before the official declaration, before the kind of, you know, confirmation of the Ebola

situation here in the DRC.

And today, we are having some really key challenges, which are mostly related to the movement of the population. Just to give you an idea, today

we are having almost six provinces which has been affected. And these provinces are extremely big. It's like a kind of small country here in

Africa. So, we are handling this situation in almost in all those different provinces.

And clearly, as I was saying, one of the major factors is the movement of population, you know, the movement of patients, the movement sometime of

dead bodies, which are going to infect some of the different localities. The latest province which has been affected was the Bas-Uele province and

where a patient came from enabling affected locality, which went there and died in that place. So, this is the type of dynamic that we've been seeing

currently in the DRC. However, actions are ongoing for trying really to control this situation.

FOSTER: But it feels like it's impossible to control at this point because of the scale and the scale of the infection, but also the challenges you're

facing to contain it without that local support from, you know, official agencies that you'd normally get.

DR. BALDE: Well, I will not say that it's impossible to control it because I can confidently tell you that today in the areas where the outbreak

started, notably in Mongbwalu or Nyankunde, today we are seeing really a stable trend. And that stable trend, we are also seeing it in some of the

other health facilities where about seven weeks ago, you know, it was extremely challenging. That's a health facility like called Nizi close to

Bunia here.

So -- and in all of these different places, we implemented strongly and really aggressively, you know, some response measures around all of the

different cases, but at the same time also for trying to have safe and dignified barriers with the support of some of our partners, mostly the Red

Cross and other partners, you know, because that's the event where people got really infected. And we are seeing those results.

So, today we are seeing a kind of stable trend in those different localities. Obviously, they are not out of the wood at the moment because

the neighboring areas are still getting this high level of transmission. But just to say that, yes, with the necessary, with the required

operational capacities and with the different support that we can have as WHO, but also all the partners for supporting the Ministry of Health, this

outbreak can be put under control.

FOSTER: Do you think other countries realize how serious this outbreak is and how if it doesn't get under control, it, you know, could spread

internationally?

DR. BALDE: Yes, the risk is extremely important because the province of Ituri here borders many other African countries, notably South Sudan. But

at the same time, also the new affected province also borders with Central African Republic. So, clearly, the risk of extension of the outbreak is

quite important. So, far, it's been three months. The outbreak has been quite contained in the DRC apart of some cases in Uganda and also some

cases in other cases, sporadic cases in other countries.

But clearly, if you don't put all of the necessary means, I mean, having more response capacities everywhere in all of the different affected

localities and also the one which are at risk, the risk of spreading in other countries in the region and even outside the region remain extremely

important. WHO consider really the transmission, the risk of transmission to the other African region as the risk is quite very high.

So, I think it's extremely important that we get all of the necessary support, you know, for really trying to make all of the necessary action

for containing the outbreak.

FOSTER: OK. Dr. Thiemo Balde, really appreciate you joining us today. Thank you so much. And we're going to come back to you in a moment with more of

the day's news after this very short break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[14:40:00]

FOSTER: Known as Beast Runner, Petr Novotny, he searches Taiwan's dangerous mountains for hikers who've gone missing. CNN's Will Ripley joins him as he

follows the smallest clues, hoping to bring answers to families after everyone else has given up.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

WILL RIPLEY, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Every year, hikers vanish in Taiwan's mountains.

PETR NOVOTNY, "BEAST RUNNER": Now, I can feel it. There is another piece of something. This is the worst that I ever saw.

RIPLEY (voice-over): Pter Novotny is the man they call when nobody else can find them.

RIPLEY: What's the percentage of finding them alive versus finding them dead?

NOVOTNY: Now, it's mostly dead.

RIPLEY (voice-over): They call him Beast Runner. He moves fast, searching for clues.

NOVOTNY: His hat. There is the shoe. I see second shoe.

RIPLEY (voice-over): He says lost hikers seem to vanish like ghosts.

NOVOTNY: OK. You are helping. You are helping, OK?

RIPLEY (voice-over): But they always leave something behind.

NOVOTNY: Oh, my God.

Let's go. Enter to Wujie Shan. Wujie mountain.

RIPLEY (voice-over): For many heading into Taiwan's high mountains, Puli is the last stop before rugged, remote wilderness.

RIPLEY: So, you'll sleep in the van?

NOVOTNY: And that's the thing, sometimes I can sleep in the car.

RIPLEY: And you're cooking in here, too?

NOVOTNY: Yes, we can cook. That's very easy.

RIPLEY (voice-over): Pter knows these trails better than most.

RIPLEY: How did you come up with the name Beast Runner, by the way?

NOVOTNY: Because we always meet some beasts, you know, spiders, snakes, bees.

RIPLEY (voice-over): Born in the Czech Republic, he came to Taiwan as an exchange student and fell in love with the mountains.

RIPLEY: When you're trail running, do you just -- you're that more graceful than me.

RIPLEY (voice-over): A former competitive trail runner, he and his wife Eva organize international mountain races.

NOVOTNY: Nice.

RIPLEY (voice-over): It clearly runs in the family. Years of trail running came in handy when Pter joined his first search for a missing hiker a

decade ago, realizing he had a knack for search and rescue.

NOVOTNY: Once you go hiking and you don't have the skills or knowledge, it can turn to disaster.

RIPLEY (voice-over): With hiking getting more popular in Taiwan, the number of people missing or needing rescue tripled in the last seven years, more

than 4,300 total cases. Most are rescued, but since 2019, hundreds have died. Dozens have never been found.

[14:45:00]

Pter made headlines in Taiwan in 2022. He found the body of a missing technology executive. The family offered a reward of around $35,000.

RIPLEY: And I'm sure most families are very grateful to pay you because you found their loved one.

NOVOTNY: Hey, of course, somebody doesn't have the money, right? And if they don't pay me, it's OK. But some family has the wealth and they know

the urgency.

RIPLEY (voice-over): Families started calling, offering to hire Pter to find other missing hikers.

NOVOTNY: It's hard for family emotionally, but also legally it's terrible because they cannot get that certificate and they cannot reach insurance.

RIPLEY: Everything's in limbo if they don't find the body.

NOVOTNY: You need death certificate.

There are two ladies alive, I say. Last March, the mountain over there, we found one guy. Everywhere I see, disasters.

RIPLEY: So, you look and you know where you found people?

NOVOTNY: There was some case.

RIPLEY: It's really beautiful here, but obviously it's very dangerous as well. Why is it so dangerous in the mountains of Taiwan?

NOVOTNY: Well, I think the terrain. You know, like the weather and combined with the terrain would be dangerous. But the most dangerous is actually the

people themselves because they are not prepared. They don't follow common sense.

RIPLEY (voice-over): Pter says the first 72 hours are the best chance of rescue.

NOVOTNY: Should be over there somewhere?

RIPLEY (voice-over): But most hikers who lose the trail panic. Instead of hiking up to find a cell signal, they hike down into Taiwan's jagged and

dangerous river valleys where accidents like falls are often deadly.

RIPLEY: So, if your phone's dying and you have a signal and you told someone, here's mine, I've dropped a pin. Here's where I am. Just stay

there.

NOVOTNY: Yes, but you can't imagine how many cases the rescuers arrived in a couple hours and the person nowhere.

RIPLEY (voice-over): Last year, Huang Zhonghong went to the mountains alone. The cancer survivor in his 50s told nobody his hiking plan,

disappearing for seven weeks. Pter scoured Huang's social media to understand his hiking habits. Spending days scouring rugged terrain deep in

the mountains until this.

NOVOTNY: Hat, shoe. He must be over there. Here is obvious slide. Oh, so deep. OK. I have him. Over there is orange. Sorry. But you are back. You

will go to family, OK?

RIPLEY (voice-over): After 47 days, the body was mostly bones. Pter says Huang missed a turn falling from a sharp ridge. He found another missing

hiker here beneath a waterfall. His body surrounded by hundreds of butterflies. A moment seared in Pter's mind.

Despite his popularity for search and rescue, Pter says he hates the job and hopes nobody else gets lost. He sometimes faces the gruesome task of

securing bodies so helicopters or rescuers can carry them out.

RIPLEY: Talk more about that feeling when you know you're getting close to a body.

NOVOTNY: Yes, sometimes like you smell it, right? Because you're searching for corpse, right? So, basically, I have to like convince myself be brave

and keep going. And yes, then I maybe spot the person or the missing one.

RIPLEY: Do you feel scared sometimes?

NOVOTNY: Always. Of course I get scared. But I have to always repeat myself, I'm helping.

I got him.

You know, I'm really helping. So, actually the scare and shock in few seconds, just like few seconds turn to the relief. Huge relief, right? The

adrenaline is still there, but I'm like, oh, it's solved. And then in half minute more, my brain switched to survival mode, how to actually get out.

RIPLEY (voice-over): Scouring Taiwan's mountains sometimes leads Pter to more than missing hikers.

NOVOTNY: I found like a crash airplane. I somehow figure out where is the location. And actually Taiwan has many places where airplane crash.

RIPLEY (voice-over): Pter posts his search and rescue videos promoting hiking safety.

NOVOTNY: Start hike early, have some basic gear, don't go in bad weather.

RIPLEY (voice-over): Beast Runner is a household name in Taiwan. People ask for photos everywhere he goes.

NOVOTNY: Give me the phone. Selfie. One, two, three.

[14:50:00]

Sometimes Pter's cases take him away from his family for days.

NOVOTNY: A big one.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: That one is very sharp.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I caught one at school.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Really?

It's so beautiful.

NOVOTNY: See you tomorrow.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: See you tomorrow.

RIPLEY (voice-over): Despite the dangers, he has this advice.

NOVOTNY: Enjoy outdoor. Go out when you can. And don't wait till your 50s. Here you have a huge scorpion. The most dangerous one in Taiwan.

RIPLEY: Really?

NOVOTNY: No, I'm joking.

RIPLEY: Another life saved.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

FOSTER: Still to come tonight on the show the prosecution continues in this case in the Tupac Shakur murder trial. We'll be live in Las Vegas for an

update for you.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

FOSTER: Prosecutors in Las Vegas are spending a second day laying out their case in the murder trial of hip-hop icon Tupac Shakur. Duane Davis is

accused of organizing the deadly hit against Shakur in 1996 near the Las Vegas Strip. On Monday prosecutors said the ambush on Shakur was a quote

act of revenge. Davis is the first and only person ever charged in the nearly 30-year-old murder case.

Josh Campbell joins me now and you saw some pretty graphic evidence and heard some very powerful testimony today Josh.

JOSH CAMPBELL, CNN SENIOR CORRESPONDENT: That's right. Jurors were actually shown photos of Tupac Shakur's body as the prosecution and defense were

questioning the medical examiner here in this area who was essentially laying the foundation about the cause of death, the manner of death for

Tupac Shakur. Again, that hasn't been in question. We've known now for three decades that he was shot and killed, but it's a critical part. It's

something that the jury needs to hear and that exact that is exactly what happened here.

The pathologists had testified that they found two bullets still inside the body of Tupac Shakur. They said that they believe that the manner of death

here was a gunshot wound to his chest as well as to his abdomen. And then the big question about who fired the shots is exactly why Duane Davis is

now on trial for murder. He's been charged with orchestrating this entire hit job.

[14:55:00]

Now, right now as we speak behind us inside court the jury is hearing from a series of law enforcement officer witnesses who responded that day here

near the Las Vegas Strip after those shots rang out and they're essentially taking jurors back to that place in time just before the shooting there was

this fight that occurred at one of the major hotels here following a boxing match by world champion Mike Tyson and it was in at that event that Duane

Davis, who's now on trial, his nephew was part of a fight and essentially was beaten up by Tupac Shakur's entourage.

In fact, one of the officers testified that he met with Orlando, is his name, after the fight and said hey do you want to tell us who beat you up,

do you want to file any charges? Orlando allegedly said no, no, which really tracks with later on what Tupac Shakur told police after he was shot

and that was he didn't want to identify the perpetrator, which really gives a lot of the gang culture that law enforcement finds difficult when they --

when people don't want to tell them exactly what happened they have to verify through other means. And so, that's what's transpiring today as the

court continues.

FOSTER: Yes. A tough day. Thank you so much Josh Campbell for joining us from Las Vegas. Thank you for watching tonight. I'll be back after the

break with "What We Know."

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[15:00:00]

END