Return to Transcripts main page

Isa Soares Tonight

Investigation Underway After Deadly Amazon Cargo Plane Crash; Primaries Today in New Hampshire Senate Race; New York Releases Scathing 9/11 Air Quality Report; Jamaica Takes Campaign for Reparations to King Charles. Aired 2:00-3p ET

Aired September 08, 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]

ISA SOARES, HOST, ISA SOARES TONIGHT: A very warm welcome to the show, everyone, I'm Isa Soares. Tonight, the U.K. unveils sanctions on illegal

Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank. Israel says it will close the British Consulate in Jerusalem in response.

I'll speak with a former British ambassador to Israel who was cautioned against sanctions. Then Canada strikes back with $20 billion worth of

retaliatory tariffs against American goods. What are the trade war, and what it means for consumers.

And damage needs to be repaired. Why Jamaica is asking Britain's King Charles for slavery reparations. I'll ask Jamaican Culture Minister what

happens next? That, and much more ahead for you.

But first, tonight, calling the fate of the Palestinian people a moral emergency. The U.K. has announced new sanctions against settlements in the

occupied West Bank, using stark language not often heard by Israeli allies on the world stage.

It released a statement cosigned by 11 other western governments, announcing plans to restrict trade in goods from Israeli settlements,

noting they are illegal under international law. The U.K. went even further, calling the entire Israeli occupation of Palestinian land

unlawful.

The countries condemned the unprecedented surge in Israeli settler violence and settlement expansion in the West Bank. Many Palestinians there live in

fear for their lives and their property, amid attacks by settlers who are often under the protection of Israeli military forces.

British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband talked about his own Jewish background today. He said it's no longer enough to merely condemn the

injustice and the suffering. Have a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ED MILIBAND, FOREIGN SECRETARY, BRITAIN: The British government agrees that there is ethnic cleansing of Palestinians in areas of the West Bank,

perpetrated by settler terrorists, and all too often, the Israeli government has turned a blind eye to this.

And worse, members of it have made statements and taken actions to support the forced displacement of Palestinians. For a long time, the British

government has rightly said settlements are illegal, but we have remained silent on the question of the legality of the occupation as a whole, which

in 2024, the International Court of Justice concluded was unlawful.

Today, I announced that the official view of the British government is that the occupation is unlawful.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SOARES: Well, Israel's Foreign Minister says Britain's accusations are outrageous lies and hostile actions. Gideon Sa'ar announced retaliatory

measures, including the closure of Britain's Consulate in East Jerusalem. Israel will also bar some British officials from entering the country. Have

a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GIDEON SA'AR, FOREIGN MINISTER, ISRAEL: This is a blatant and completely unacceptable attempt by a foreign government to exert external influence in

the midst of an election campaign. However, the Israeli public overwhelmingly supports the communities in Judea and Samaria, and

overwhelmingly opposes the establishment of a Palestinian terror state in the heart of our land.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SOARES: Well, let's get more on this. Let's bring in CNN's Jerusalem Bureau Chief Oren Liebermann. Oren, good to see you. Look, Israel had

warned earlier on today that it would act. And it has, as we were saying there, by closing -- saying it would close the British Consulate in East

Jerusalem.

How are Israeli authorities reacting to this decision by the U.K. and pressure potentially from other countries also.

[14:05:00]

OREN LIEBERMANN, CNN JERUSALEM BUREAU CHIEF: There seems to be agreement, frankly, across the political spectrum, and we see it from Israel's Head of

State, President Isaac Herzog, as well as some of the key opposition leaders condemning this move by the U.K.

And therefore, you probably see support behind the actions taken by the Israeli government in response. It's not just the closing of the U.K.'s

Embassy in Jerusalem, which largely faced and worked for the Palestinians.

It's also the shuttering of the U.K.'s training of Palestinian authority forces and security teams in the West Bank, as well as the -- essentially,

the kicking out of the U.K. from the International Gaza Support Center in Kiryat Gat.

That was the setup by the United States to help effectively run and govern Gaza in the short-term here. So, that's part of the steps here. As you

point out, there are also 12 British MKs who will not be allowed to come to Israel, although it looks like these are politicians like Jeremy Corbyn.

So, I'm not sure they had plans to visit Israel. There is therefore this agreement across the Israeli political spectrum against the U.K. steps. The

U.K. almost certainly knew that was coming. And yet, because of what we're seeing unfold in the occupied West Bank, very much felt that these steps

were necessary.

SOARES: Yes, and look, this move by the U.K., Oren, to sanction these Israeli settlements in the West Bank. I mean, just explain to our viewers,

how significant is it and does it critically -- does it shift anything both economically or politically here?

LIEBERMANN: Economically, it shifts very little. According to the U.K.'s Trade Office, the U.K. and Israel do about $8 billion a year in annual

trade, very likely only a tiny fraction of that comes from Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank.

The bigger part here is much more symbolic and political. It's the U.K. stating clearly, unequivocally, that it's not just settlements that are

illegal, it's the entire occupation that is illegal.

And in making the statement, Ed Miliband; the Foreign Secretary said that it's not -- that it didn't come out of nowhere. Repeated UN Security

Council Resolutions, UN General Assembly Resolutions, statements and condemnations have been -- have done little to slow the expansion of

settlements, especially under this government, which has openly stated that part of its goal in expanding settlements, in authorizing outposts is the

destruction of the possibility of a two-state solution.

And that's why the U.K. felt the need to act here. And then we'll see what the other countries here, the 11 other countries in the joint statement do.

Some of them have made clear that they will follow suit and sanction goods and services from the settlements in the occupied West Bank, while others

have said they'll push for it at the European level. So, that Israel very much knows is coming.

SOARES: And separately, and while I have you here, I do want to pick your brain on this because it's something that caught my attention earlier this

morning here. And this is -- this exclusive report, Oren, by the Israeli newspaper "Haaretz", which basically they say reveals that Prime Minister

Netanyahu received an explicit warning days before October the 7th.

And of course, putting it into context for our viewers, this revelation coming just weeks, of course, before national elections. How is this

landing politically? What kind of response are we getting from Prime Minister Netanyahu?

LIEBERMANN: Well, this is no doubt very much a bombshell across the Israeli political landscape. In terms of Israeli news, it's making far

bigger waves, frankly, than U.K.'s sanctions. Part of that, because we've known in advance that the sanctions were coming.

But this is a bombshell of a report that some ten days or so before October 7th, the ruler of the UAE, Mohammed bin Zayed, called Prime Minister

Benjamin Netanyahu initiating that call and warned him that Hamas was planning what was described to him as an earthquake.

It wasn't details of October 7th. The call didn't go that far, and there is no suggestion that Mohammed bin Zayed had details to that extent. But it

was the warning that he gave. And according to August's report, Netanyahu felt he had it under control and felt that the far bigger threat of

destabilization was in the West Bank.

Now, Netanyahu's office has called the report an absolute lie, and both Netanyahu's office and the UAE Foreign Ministry, which declined to comment

on the call itself, have said that there were and continue to be communications between the Intelligence channels.

Crucially, the UAE didn't deny that the call had happened in the statement they put out just a short time ago. Now, in terms of the reaction, we are

seeing in a rare joint statement, Israel's opposition leaders coming together and call for, quote, "an immediate and thorough investigation"

into what they describe as Netanyahu's, quote, "failures and malfunctioning".

So, this is clearly becoming a major political issue as you point out just a couple of months before the elections here. Now, we'll see where this

goes from here. It is also very obvious that Israelis have had a long time to make up their minds, so it's not clear that it will sway voters here.

[14:10:00]

But it is an enormous revelation here, one that, of course, Netanyahu denies with us just weeks away from elections. And Isa, I'll make one last

quick point here. What would answer this definitively is a State Commission of Inquiry that's able to look into all of -- all of the events leading up

to October 7th and following that, that is something Netanyahu has obstinately refused to bring about. That is a State Commission of Inquiry

that is independent for the past three years now.

SOARES: Important context in the story, I'm sure you'll stay on for us. A busy day for you there in Jerusalem. Thanks very much, Oren, great to see

you. Oren Liebermann there for us in Jerusalem. I want to get perspective now from Matthew Gould; a former British Ambassador to Israel.

Ambassador, I'm hoping that you were able to hear our correspondent there, Oren Liebermann, is bringing up-to-date with the very --

MATTHEW GOULD, FORMER BRITISH AMBASSADOR TO ISRAEL: Yes --

SOARES: Latest. Let me start, first of all, with your reaction, ambassador, to this decision by the U.K. government to sanction Israeli

settlements in the West Bank. Was this the right move in your view?

GOULD: So, the first thing to say is the things that the U.K. government are objecting to. I strongly agree are objectionable. So, there were really

two main causes behind this. One was the Israeli government's decision to tender for a contract to build 1,200 homes on the patch of land that's

known as E1.

That patch of land is incredibly important for the possibility of a future viable, contiguous Palestinian state. So, if you believe in a two-state

solution, I think the prospect of seeing that land built on with Israeli developments is really problematic.

So, that's really important. Secondly, the level of settler violence against Palestinians on the West Bank has been shooting up. These are

horrific, painful incidents to watch and to hear about, and it's absolutely right that we should be responding to them.

I think where I have a concern is twofold. Firstly, the Foreign Secretary, Ed Miliband, said in the House of Commons today that this was very much

sanctions against settlement building and settlements, not an attempt to try and dismantle the U.K.-Israel relationship more widely, which is an

important one for both countries.

My worry is that unless there is a very tight line drawn around the sanctions that are going to be implemented, one will leach into the other.

So, for example, he talked about sanctioning people involved, companies involved in financing the settlements.

Does that include Israeli banks which are active, which have branches in the main settlement towns, for example. It'd be very hard to maintain a

full economic relationship if we're sanctioning Israel's banks.

The other concern I have is this comes as Oven(ph) -- as Oren said, just a few weeks before the Israeli election, and it's been striking the response

that Israeli politicians and leaders have made to the U.K. announcement.

You've had President Herzog, who's normally a figure above politics, making a very strong statement, giving a very clear idea, therefore, of where the

center of Israeli -- of gravity for Israeli opinion sits.

And then if you look at those politicians who have been making -- running with this story, you've seen Ben Gvir, you've seen Prime Minister

Netanyahu, Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar, making hay out of it, which I think has to make you think that the -- in terms of a political advantage

from this, those who are trying to eke it out of the U.K. announcement are those on the right, precisely those people who are behind the settlement

project.

SOARES: Yes, so you're saying you think they potentially could make hay of this, right? And it could strengthen their position or their cause when it

comes to elections, we're not very far away from. But you mentioned a two- state solution because we thought -- we had a joint statement, ambassador, from France, Canada, U.K., what in the last what? Two hours or so.

And they said this, I'm going to take a part of it. They said "the time has come to take further action to uphold our commitment to protect the two-

state solution, our interests, and stand up for our values before it is too late."

But as we heard from our correspondent, the language has also been quite strong from the U.K., something we haven't heard before from this

government -- ethnic cleansing, talk -- taking about -- talking about settlers as terrorists.

What does that signal to you? Kind of the shift we're seeing in terms of the language in this statement.

[14:15:00]

GOULD: So, there's definitely been a toughening of the language. The talk of ethnic cleansing, the declaration that not just the settlements, but the

occupation was illegal. The talk about not settle all settlers as terrorists, but rather those who are committing such heinous violence

against -- and that actually is the same language that Mike Huckabee used very recently.

But I mean, it is for sure a toughening of a language. It's a ramping up of rhetoric, it's bringing the U.K.'s position more into alignment with

judgment, advisory judgment of the International Court of Justice from 2024.

And it's of a piece with a set of steps today, a set of introductions of sanctions, which, as your correspondent rightly said, will have probably

fairly minimal economic effect, but potentially quite significant political and diplomatic effect.

SOARES: Yes, the symbolism is incredibly strong here, ambassador, really appreciate it, thank you very much for taking time to speak to us there.

Now, we are following a major escalation in Middle East after Iran-backed Houthi rebels launched a wave of attacks on Saudi Arabia.

At least, 73 people are wounded, including women as well as children. Saudi officials say the strikes targeted oil as well as infrastructure, and that

Saudi-led forces would retaliate. This is just the latest development in the conflict between the two, which flared up again in July after a fragile

four-year ceasefire. Nic Robertson explains where that ceasefire stands right now.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMATIC EDITOR (on camera): Look, it does appear to be that the ceasefire, as you say, that held for four years,

it's in a very fragile and precarious place. And it looks for all intents and purposes as if it's realistically falling apart.

The Houthis would blame it on the Saudis for enforcing air traffic restrictions over their sort of northern part of Yemen, blocking the return

from the funeral of the supreme leader in Iran of a Houthi delegation to the capital, Sanaa, which the Houthis control.

The Saudis bombed the runway. They believe that there was senior Iranian officials, complex communications equipment that the Houthis would use in

the war on board that aircraft that the Houthis would point to was the -- was the trigger point or seemed to be the trigger point where they returned

to threats and hostilities.

But where we are, in terms of what actually happened over the past 24 hours here, the Houthis are saying this is a retaliation strike. They're

retaliating for something. We don't know what they're retaliating for. They don't say specifically what they're retaliating for.

We're not aware that Saudi has been involved in airstrikes against Houthi positions. However, I think we can be very carefully and significantly

informed by what's happened in Yemen over the weekend. In very simple terms, the Houthis went on the offensive at the beginning of the weekend.

They were then beaten back quite significantly in most cases by the Yemeni government forces. That seems to have been backed by airstrikes, which were

attributed to the Yemeni Air Force. But I think, you know, what the Houthis are clearly signaling here is that they don't believe that this was a

Yemenis striking back at them.

They believe that the Saudis were involved in striking them, and this is their retaliation. So, I think, yes, a retaliatory cycle, realistically,

potentially, yes. If both sides don't stop, then that four-year pause is it's dead.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SOARES: Our Nic Robertson there. Well, Canada has slapped new tariffs on a wide range of U.S. goods as a trade war grows more intense. The tariffs

cover $20 billion worth of U.S. products, including steel, aluminum and paper.

And it comes after trade talks between the two sides broke down last month. U.S. President Donald Trump is firing back. He says he will block American

companies from buying planes from Canadian manufacturer Bombardier.

Bombardier points out its supply chain covers 47 U.S. states, and its planes are made with U.S. parts, including engines. Our Paula Newton is

tracking this story for us. Paula, good to see you. Look, the fear is for anyone watching is that this turns right into a much longer trade war. Just

speak to the potential impact of this tit-for-tat.

PAULA NEWTON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I mean, I think the fear now is the escalation. And what is happening here is that perhaps in large measure,

whether it's the American economy or the Canadian economy, in large measure, they may not be impacted all that much.

When you talk about in terms of GDP, let's say. But when it comes to individual businesses, individual states, individual sectors, individual

towns, the damage could be severe. We are definitely getting into that territory.

[14:20:00]

And Isa, that is why Prime Minister Mark Carney, as well as having the statement yesterday, came out with a new statement just a few hours ago

saying that, look, he didn't really have an interest in escalation, but that they had to do this.

But also had a warning for Canadians that, look, there will be losses and this will hurt individual consumers and businesses. Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MARK CARNEY, PRIME MINISTER, CANADA: I don't believe in escalating the conflict. That's not constructive. But our tariffs are necessary to protect

our workers, protect our companies and our communities. We can't let American goods into Canada tariff free.

Well, they charge our companies to export them. Second, we're supporting Canadians because up here, we take care of each other. The harsh reality is

that the American tariffs will hurt some Canadians more than others, and that was by design.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

NEWTON: Yes, and what's sobering here is, again, the way this could escalate. You referenced the fact that Donald Trump himself put on Truth

Social the fact that in some measure, perhaps Bombardier planes will no longer be able to be sold in the United States, which again, makes no

sense, especially when you talk about Republican states like Texas and Kansas, where Bombardier actually has operations and where there are, in

fact, American jobs at risk.

Now, in a statement from Bombardier to CNN, they made this very clear, saying that, look, we employ people on both sides of the border. And at

this point in time, the American aerospace industry is, in their words, a clear winner on trade and exports.

Bombardier is a strong contributor, they say, to the sector, creating tens of thousands of jobs across the United States. I mean, look, Isa, this

makes no good sense for either country. And yet, what we have not heard really is corporate America or Congress doing anything to stop this, even

though the reality of how much this could hurt the American economy is really quite stark and quite obvious to anybody who is paying attention.

SOARES: Paula, as always, great to see you, thanks very much. Our Paula Newton there for us in New York. Well, just one day after U.S. envoys held

talks in Kyiv in an effort to jumpstart peace talks, Russian missiles and drones rained down on the Ukrainian capital in a deadly, brazen attack.

Ukrainian officials say at least five people were killed, a civilian market, an apartment building were among the structures hit. Moscow says

Russian forces launched a massive strike on a military industrial complex in the midst of the ongoing bloodshed.

The Kremlin spokesperson told reporters today, Russia welcomes all efforts toward a peaceful resolution in Ukraine. And still to come on the show

tonight, Lindsay Clancy's attorney speaking out about a potential plea deal.

We hear from Kevin Reddington in his first interview since the judge declared a mistrial in the case. That is next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[14:25:00]

SOARES: Well, the attorney for Lindsay Clancy says he's willing to consider plea deal for his client. Kevin Reddington gave an interview for

the first time since Lindsay Clancy's nearly six-week trial ended in a hung jury on Friday, if you remember.

There's been much speculation over the district attorney's next actions after prosecutors argued she would be held criminally responsible for

fatally strangling her three children. Reddington spoke to "ABC" about some of the options to put this case to rest. Have a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS, JOURNALIST: They could seek a re-trial. They could seek a plea agreement. What are you expecting? What are you willing to do?

KEVIN REDDINGTON, LINDSAY CLANCY'S DEFENSE ATTORNEY: I'm willing to listen to Tim. I've known Tim for about 30 years. He's a very hard charging

prosecutor. Conservative gentleman. I hope, however, after sitting through this trial and seeing the evidence that was presented from the government

as well as from the defense, that he would revisit that issue and hopefully would be able to work something out that would be acceptable to both sides.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SOARES: Well, Jean Casarez is across this and she joins me now. So, Jean, just talk us through what stood out to you from that interview there with

Kevin Reddington?

JEAN CASAREZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, it's a big turnaround because a few days ago he was saying when I was in Massachusetts that he's ready to re-

try this case next week. Let's go. Let's do it. And now, backtracking a little bit.

Well, if he's interested in talking with the prosecution to work out a deal, as the question was asked, a plea deal, that means, number one, he's

not that ready to have a complete re-trial of this -- of this case.

And then secondly, that would be a compromise situation. The prosecution holds all the cards. When you have a plea deal in your negotiation of that,

they hold the cards. But it's a compromise in the end. So, it's not pleading guilty to first degree murder.

I do not think the prosecutors would agree to any not guilty in any form or fashion. So, that would be a conviction of possibly a lesser charge. But

here's the key word. That's a conviction. That would be her pleading guilty.

That would be her admitting that she knew right from wrong at the time she killed her children. And she has already admitted she killed her children.

But the defense has been all along that it was postpartum psychosis.

A voice was telling her to do this, that she was like a puppet on a string, and just had to follow the lead of this voice. So, that would be a huge

turnaround. You know, the next hearing is September 29th. We got to listen because that status hearing right there could reveal what talks, if they

have talks have produced.

SOARES: And Jean, look, I had seen that Kevin had also mentioned -- Kevin Reddington, the attorney had also asked President Trump for pardon. What's

the likelihood of that? Have we had any reaction at all from the U.S. President to this?

CASAREZ: Well, that's interesting because the President did mention it last week near the end of the week. And he really didn't give a side. He

said that it's a tragedy that, you know, a price is paid. And of course, a price is paid because she is now a paraplegic.

She is paralyzed. Three children are gone. But he asked very strongly for the President to consider a pardon. But here's the problem. This is a state

case. This isn't a federal case and federal jurisdiction lies with the President, not state, not a state case. And secondly, there's been no

conviction at this point.

SOARES: Jean Casarez laying it all out for us. Thanks very much, Jean, good to see you.

CASAREZ: Thank you.

SOARES: Now to an update on the deadly Amazon cargo plane crash in Miami on Sunday. The Miami-Dade Sheriff's Office is releasing the names of those

killed and injured. The Boeing 767 was landing when it overran the runway, slammed into two vehicles and then burst into flames.

All five people killed were in a cleaning crew van. Five others were injured, including the plane's two pilots. The National Transportation

Safety Board hopes to share data from flight recorders at a news conference in a few hours' time, I believe. The NTSB Chairwoman spoke to CNN earlier.

Have a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JENNIFER HOMENDY, CHAIRMAN, NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION SAFETY BOARD: Today is really our first full day on scene. I stated yesterday that we needed to

make sure that the scene was safe for our investigators and for all those involved in the investigation as the debris field is pretty large.

[14:30:00]

Also, they were removing -- there's fuel on the ground and removing fuel from the aircraft. And there were still recovery operations continuing.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ISA SOARES, CNN INTERNATIONAL HOST: We'll stay across that story for you. Well, one of the final primaries of the U.S. midterm election season

happens today.

Voters in New Hampshire will pick the Democrat and Republican who will vie for the state's hotly contested Senate seat. On the Democratic side,

Congressman Chris Pappas is going against progressive challenger Karishma Manzur. A recent poll shows Pappas with a lead, but Manzur does appear to

be surging. The Democratic winner is expected to face former Senator John Sununu who is trying to regain his old seat. Early polls show Sununu

appears to be doing better than many other Republicans in this cycle.

And still to come on the show tonight, nearly a quarter of a century after the 9/11 attacks, New York's current mayor is leveling bombshell

accusations against former city officials. What he says those officials kept hidden from the public. That's next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

SOARES: Well, New York City's mayor with a stunning, really stunning announcement today, just days before the 25th anniversary of the 9/11

attacks. Mayor Zohran Mamdani says there's evidence city officials knew the air around Ground Zero wasn't safe to breathe, yet insisted publicly that

it was. The city today released 170,000 pages of previously undisclosed records. The mayor says more people have died from 9/11-related illnesses

than those who perished in the attack. Have a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MAYOR ZOHRAN MAMDANI (D-NY): People got sick because the leaders they trusted lied and told them they were safe to breathe in toxic air. And then

when they began to contend with the symptoms of the illnesses that followed, the government that had not hesitated to send them into harm's

way was nowhere to be found.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

[14:35:00]

SOARES: Let's get more on this story. Our Gloria Pazmino covering this for us from New York. So, Gloria, what -- talk us through the evidence in this

170-page book or so, 1,000 pages of evidence.

GLORIA PAZMINO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's right, Isa. You know, it is, frankly, a remarkable set of documents released by the City of New York

today. And what it shows is that as early as October, right, so almost a month after the September 11 attacks, the city was looking at data, testing

that showed that the air quality down near Ground Zero was not safe. There was data and testing done that showed that there were chemicals in the air

that were likely harmful to human beings. There were carcinogens in the air. And there were studies done at the time to gather that data.

And what today's documents show is not only that the city knew that at the time, but as we know today, city officials at the time insisted over and

over that the air was safe and that it was safe to be down near Ground Zero following the attacks. As you remember, there was a massive rush to reopen

the area of Lower Manhattan following the attacks, this, of course, being the financial center of the city and, frankly, the country. And part of the

recovery was to reopen this area, but officials today saying that it simply was not safe to do so.

Now, I want to go over a little bit of what is in the documents because there are critical internal memos that are laid out in these documents,

including a memo that's become known as the Harding Memo, and it's named that way after a deputy mayor who received it. And what that memo showed

was that officials were having discussions at the time about what potential legislative or legal action they could take in response to potential

litigation that might come as a result of people's exposure to the toxic air and the lack of adequate protective equipment.

So, it shows you that not only did the city know they were trying to also come up with ways to protect the city's potential legal exposure. Now, we

have known that there were illnesses related to 9/11 for years now, as you said in the beginning. Thousands of people have become ill, thousands of

them have died, more than those who were killed on that day. And there's been a lot of advocacy and pressure to have these documents released.

I want you to listen to Jon Stewart. He's a comedian here, but he has also been advocating for first responders and survivors for years. Take a

listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JON STEWART, HOST, "THE DAILY SHOW": What we all knew who live in downtown Manhattan is that there was poison in the air and on the ground and in the

windowsills and in your air conditioners and covering your pets and your clothes, and it stayed there for months. Everyone knew.

And now, it's very clear that the city knew as well. And rather than take the steps to ameliorate the damage that that would cause to its citizens

and to the people that were down there, they instead covered it up to get back to business as usual.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PAZMINO: So, Isa, you know, I think the question coming out of this today is, of course, the sort of, so what? You know, 25 years later after the

fact, here we are. The city is finally admitting to this. But very importantly, the city officials and the mayor said today that they believe

the release of these documents will allow people who perhaps have not come forward to apply to the federal resources and the victim compensation funds

that do exist so that they can get the proper resources and the medical attention that they may have been entitled to long ago had this information

been public before today. Isa.

SOARES: Gloria, thank you very much indeed for laying it all out for us. Gloria Pazmino for us there in New York.

And still to come tonight on the show, the Jamaican government is reigniting the debate over slavery reparations. Here, why one minister is

encouraged by the engagement she has seen so far with Buckingham Palace. That's next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[14:40:00]

SOARES: Welcome back, everyone. The debate over slavery reparations is back in the spotlight. This time, the Jamaican government is formally

asking King Charles to seek legal advice.

My next guest is leading a Jamaican delegation, which filed a petition Monday. They want the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council to consider

whether Britain is legally obliged to provide reparations. In previous statements, King Charles had expressed deep sorrow over Britain's history

with transatlantic slavery.

I want to discuss this with Olivia Grange, who serves as Jamaican Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport. And she joins me now.

Minister, wonderful to have you on the show. From what I understand, and do correct me if I'm wrong, you have been building this case for some five

years, and you are looking to meet with the Privy Council. What do you want to get out of this meeting, Minister?

OLIVIA GRANGE, JAMAICAN MINISTER OF CULTURE, GENDER, ENTERTAINMENT AND SPORT: Yes. Well, yes, we have been working over many years, and we have

gotten to this point where we have completed a petition, which has been filed, inviting the king to refer to the Privy Council three specific

questions for which we are seeking answers.

And those questions are, whether the seizure of Africans, their forced transportation to Jamaica, and enslavement there as chattel was ever lawful

under English law. The second question, whether the seizure of Africans, their forced transportation to Jamaica, and enslavement there as chattel

was and is a breach of international law. And whether there is a legal obligation the part of the United Kingdom to provide a reparatory remedy to

the people of Jamaica. Essentially, those are the three questions we're asking. And we are using this legal approach --

SOARES: Right. So, we -- go ahead, Minister.

GRANGE: Yes. We're using this legal approach as appealing to the king to refer these questions to the Privy Council as he's King of Jamaica, just as

he's king of the United Kingdom.

SOARES: Well, we have a statement, Minister, from the palace that I'm just going to read it out. We understand the Jamaican government is seeking,

petition to be heard before the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council.

[14:45:00]

The process for seeking a petition is to lodge it with the judicial committee to that referral in the Section 4 of the 1833 Act can be

considered. We also understand that Jamaican representatives will be received by the Foreign Commonwealth Development Office for Bilateral

Discretions.

Just clarify for us, Minister, are you pushing for an admission from the king? I mean, what exactly are you looking to get out of this? An

admission, an apology, financial reparations? What is the end goal?

GRANGE: Specifically, we would like these three questions answered. Once they're answered, then we will determine what are the next steps.

SOARES: And why are those questions so important to being answered now?

GRANGE: Well, because, you know, there's a whole global push in relation to reparatory justice. And if those questions are answered in the

affirmative, then we would determine, based on the instructions of our lawyers, what would be the next steps we take. It's important. Was it

lawful under English law? Was it, you know, a breach of international law? And if so, what would be the reparatory remedy recommended?

SOARES: And I understand, Minister, from my team, that --

GRANGE: So, we are --

SOARES: Yes. I understand the legality of it and wanting the clarity of those answers before you proceed further on that. But let me ask you this,

because I also understand that you're meeting with the British Museum this week. Are you seeking repatriations on those key cultural artifacts? And

how likely is that to happen?

GRANGE: Right. So, as part of our reparations program, we are also looking at repatriation. There are artifacts that were taken from Jamaica in the

early days, and specifically, a lot of these artifacts were artifacts of the Tainos. And they were the original inhabitants of Jamaica.

And we are -- you know, in fact, we got replicas of three specific artifacts that we attempted to have returned or to borrow for an

exhibition. And we were asked to ensure those artifacts before we could get them. Eventually, we got replicas. But we want to get the original

artifacts. And in fact, we'll make some inroads in that recent -- pardon?

SOARES: You think you would? You'll get them back?

GRANGE: No, no. But we have been invited now to send three experts from Jamaica to go through the inventory of all the artifacts that they have in

their possession that were taken from Jamaica. And in the past, we got resistance to that because we had made that request and we got a negative

response. Now, we have had a positive response. Our experts have been to the museum and discussions are continuing. And so, we're hopeful that

eventually we would have been in a position where we will have those artifacts returned.

SOARES: Minister, do keep us posted on how you get on. Let my team know. Wonderful to have you on the show. Really appreciate it. Minister there,

Olivia Grange, the Jamaican Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport. Thank you very much, Minister. Appreciate it.

GRANGE: Thank you.

SOARES: I want to turn now to France where -- you're very welcome. Turn to France, where thieves have once again stolen priceless items from an art

museum. It happened today at the Renoir Museum in the south of France. The thieves stole four paintings but abandoned two of them as they fled.

Officials say the thieves were well prepared. Melissa Bell has more.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MELISSA BELL, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: It was less than a year ago that that brazen heist was carried out here at the Louvre Museum.

Once again, a French museum targeted this Tuesday morning and it involved the theft of four Renoir paintings from a museum in the south of France.

Two of them dropped by the thieves as they fled, but two of these Renoir paintings still out there. The search continues for the thieves involved.

We're going to be getting more details about the heist itself. It was in the early hours of the morning that they cut through the fence to the

museum through the garden of this Renoir Museum in a small town not very far from Nice, made off with the paintings in less than five minutes after

the alarm sounded, losing a couple on their way.

[14:50:00]

It is, of course, once again for French authorities, a hugely worrying development with more calls for greater security at French museums. And

given what happened here at the Louvre, those jewels that were stolen less than a year ago still haven't been found. Fears that the Renoirs might not

be either.

But beyond the clear security lapses that there are currently at French museums, there's also been this report by Europol that explains that there

is a new kind of criminal activity targeting precious artifacts in museums, with criminals recruiting the people to carry them out on social media, and

criminals now targeting a different kind of precious artefact and in a much more organized and often violent way.

Melissa Bell, CNN, Paris.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

SOARES: Welcome back. Now, to a school day fit for a future king. Britain's Prince George is having his first day at one of the country's

most prestigious schools, Eton College. The 13-year-old is following in his family's footsteps. Prince William and his brother Prince Harry also went

there as children, along with a number of British prime ministers and well- known actors. But a space at this famous school doesn't come cheap. Just one year's tuition costs more than $80,000.

Anna Stewart's here with me in London. I mean, Anna, look at this footage. He looks so dapper. But also, how much he has grown. He's almost as tall as

his mother there. A really important milestone for him, no doubt, right, following in on his father's and his uncle's footsteps.

ANNA STEWART, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I know. We all feel so old because we all remember, it feels vividly, that nine years ago he started at primary

school. And he looked really shy and, you know, quite awkward in front of the cameras. And he looks so calm and confident today, all dressed up.

And then I think we got some photos of him when he got into school uniform, which was called school dress at Eton, which involves a tailcoat and tunic

and pinstripe trousers. And it all looks very archaic. And that is the thing about Eton College. Not much changes. They're big for tradition. You

can see him there.

And he follows in the footsteps, of course, of his father and his uncle, who both went to Eton. Starting, really, the royal tradition, because this

is a school more commonly associated, I would say, with British prime ministers. Of which, particularly from the Conservative Party, there have

been many who have gone to this school.

[14:55:00]

Tonight, he'll be settling in for his first night of boarding at Eton. We know, actually, from an interview with Prince William, that he has tried

boarding before at his last school, Lambrook. But now he is a full-time boarder. So, he will be there throughout the term. He will have his own

room. He'll be in F Block, which is where all the new boys start.

Lucky for Prince George, his parents, of course, aren't that far away. They live about 15 minutes' drive away. And he can see Windsor Castle from, you

know, most of the school. It's not far at all. So, he could always pop over there as well for a cup of tea.

What else can we tell you? The one thing that's possibly a bit different, of course, for him starting school now, versus Prince William and Prince

Harry, social media. Now, interestingly, at Eton, they actually ban smartphones for the first year. So, he won't have a smartphone at this

point. But, of course, growing up in social media for any child is difficult, let alone if you're a prince. So, I'm sure Prince William would

be wishing that that rule could continue long beyond the first year. But let's hope he has a good first night and settles into school well.

SOARES: And it's lovely. Eton High Street is wonderful. Like you said, he can walk to see his grandparents, right? So, that's easy for him. Anna,

thank you very much. Good to see you, Anna Stewart.

And that does it for us for this hour. Do stay right here. Max Forster is up next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[15:00:00]

END