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Isa Soares Tonight

Trump Faces Backlash Over Fuel Agreement with Russia; Ukraine Waiting for Details on Trump's Energy Ceasefire; At Least 139 Dead After Boat Capsizes Off Coast of Djibouti; Fears of Possible Serial Killer After Deaths of Five Men; Pope Leo to Have Surgery to Remove Growth On His Lung. Aired 2-3p ET

Aired October 12, 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: A very warm welcome to the show, everyone, I'm Max Foster in for Isa Soares. Tonight, a sharp escalation

between Yemen's Iran-backed Houthis and Saudi Arabia as airstrikes target Riyadh's airport. We'll have the very latest for you.

Then, Ukraine is accusing Russia of violating the surprise energy ceasefire announced by U.S. President Donald Trump. We'll have reaction from Kyiv

this hour. Plus, "I will not be silenced." Those words from U.S. Congresswoman Ilhan Omar after federal agents searched her home and much

more just ahead.

Now, the major international airport in Saudi Arabia's capital remains closed today after repeated attacks from Houthi factions in Yemen. We have

video of a strike on Saturday that left at least 13 people dead and hundreds injured. A warning what you're about to see is graphic.

So, it's believed that a Houthi cruise missile was responsible. Officials say King Khalid Airport in Riyadh will remain closed until at least

Saturday. Air traffic has been disrupted all over the Saudi Kingdom. The Iran-backed Houthis are threatening more airport strikes in retaliation for

Saudi attacks in Yemen.

U.S. President Donald Trump says he's considering joining the Saudis in attacking the Houthis, that move would be a significant expansion of his

war with Iran. Our Nic Robertson has been tracking this story for us. The Saudis are under real pressure now. Nic.

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMATIC EDITOR: Yes, and not least because of that big strike on Saturday at King Khalid International Airport

in Riyadh. The following day, another person was killed in another strike.

And if you go back to last week, one person killed in a similar strike, same airport on Wednesday. On Thursday, three people killed. So, it's

really begging the question. The Houthis have said they're going to attack the airport.

The Saudis have the defense systems. So, how were they not able to defend the airport? Well, they have a lot of other infrastructure in the country

that's important to defend. But it also perhaps suggests that the Houthis have got some new way of evading Saudi air detection -- air defense

systems.

And we know that Saudis have French and other countries in Saudi Arabia helping them with their air defenses. Be that as it may, how those strikes

got through the destruction is clear. And I think for a lot of people in the region, they'll really notice that those people caught up in that

horrible impact that you were showing the pictures of there.

Many of them were pilgrims on their way to Mecca. And that really sends a very negative signal about the Houthis. The airport is now closed to the

end of the week. This is a week where there is a big global energy conference going on in Saudi Arabia.

You have also, in a couple of weeks' time, a huge investment conference going on in Saudi Arabia. So, stability of the country is a very important

thing for them, project -- to project so that they can get that international investment coming.

And it was sort of to that point that we heard from the Saudi Energy Minister today speaking about the Iranian and the Houthi attacks. This is

what he said.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ABDULAZIZ BIN SALMAN AL SAUD, ENERGY MINISTER, SAUDI ARABIA: We value our commitment. We make sure that whatever happens, our resilience, our plans,

our commitment to the world will be adhered to. There is no way that somebody will break our back. We are like a phoenix. We come out of the

ashes all the time and every time.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROBERTSON: So, the Saudi -- the Saudis will really be hoping that there are no more ashes, that they're done with high impact strikes like that.

But the reality is that the Crown Prince and the Saudi leadership are in a position now where they have to be able to not only project this aura of

strength, but they really have to be able to reach and strike the Houthis in a decisive way.

[14:05:00]

Diplomacy is something that they'll work towards, the Saudis always do that. But the reality before that is if they were to back away and find a

diplomatic solution now, it wouldn't reflect very well on their leadership and their standing in the region. Max.

FOSTER: OK, Nic, thank you so much. Let's bring in Colin Clarke now; he's an expert on Terrorism and International Security, and the author of "After

the Caliphate, the Islamic State and the Future of the Terrorist Diaspora". Thank you so much for joining us. Why do you think the Houthis are

attacking in this way right now?

COLIN CLARKE, RESEARCHER, TERRORISM & INTERNATIONAL SECURITY: Thanks for having me, Max. Look, I think the -- you know, the first imperative of the

Houthis is to take the fight to the Saudis. They are framing this as revenge for the Saudi blockade on ports controlled by the Houthis, and for

retaliation in response to what happened in mid-July, when the Saudi-backed Yemeni government attacked the airport in Sanaa.

It's also obviously quite embarrassing to Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman who is taking a real reputational hit here, not to mention the economic

pain that the Saudis are feeling right now. And the signal this sends to individuals interested in tourism or foreign direct investment.

FOSTER: What are his options then, Bin Salman's?

CLARKE: His options aren't great. You know, one would be to de-escalate, but containment and capitulation have not worked well in the past. That's

only likely to embolden the Houthis and their Iranian sponsor. The reporting from the "Wall Street Journal" that MBS is moving between palaces

with bunkers in them makes the Saudi leader appear weak.

And that could again, you know, signal blood in the water. The other is to escalate, which is the more likely path. But the Saudis, need help. They

need friends and allies, and they've reached out to the U.S., the U.K., France, Turkey, Pakistan, but still, you know, are still waiting for more

muscle, so-to-speak.

FOSTER: Well, the Europeans have obviously got Ukraine to worry about. The U.S. has got Iran to worry about. How much resource is there to send to

Saudi Arabia? Obviously, they are a key player there, an ally of the U.S. and Europe.

CLARKE: You know, there's some -- you know, there's some murmurings and rumors within the United States and the Beltway and complaints from the

Trump administration that the U.S. sent cells, all this hardware to the Saudis.

Should we also have to be pulling the trigger? There's a lot of questioning about Saudi resolve and morale within the Saudi military. So, I wouldn't

expect the cavalry to arrive any time soon. The President's got his hands full with the conflict with Iran.

And don't forget, the Midterm elections looming in less than a month in what's already an unpopular region-wide conflagration. So, you know,

dipping his toe further into this for Trump could be, you know, a real political liability that he's unwilling to risk.

FOSTER: And what are the theories about how the Houthis, I mean, they're obviously very organized, but in terms of their weaponry, is that all

coming from Iran? Because surely Iran is struggling to defend itself at the moment as well.

CLARKE: Well, certainly, some of the more sophisticated weaponry, the cruise and ballistic missiles, we've seen external support from the

Russians in terms of targeting Intelligence, and from China, from some of these dual use industrial and electronic components that have come from

Chinese factories.

But the Houthis, for small arms and light weapons, have developed something of an indigenous capacity to produce these weapons, which is dangerous.

They've also been networking and cooperating with other violent non-state actors in the region to include Al-Shabaab, the al Qaeda-linked Al-Shabaab

in Somalia.

So, this is something that is the result of, you know, the past decade, not something that's just manifested over the last several weeks or months.

FOSTER: OK, Colin Clarke, appreciate it, thank you so much for bringing us your analysis on the situation in that region right now. Well, we mentioned

Ukraine is accusing Russia of violating the surprise energy ceasefire announced by the U.S. President on Sunday.

As energy prices soar ahead of the Midterm elections, President Trump announced the two sides had agreed to immediately pause attacks on energy

infrastructure. Ukrainian President Zelenskyy says he had only heard about the deal through the media, but would abide by it if Russia did.

He also said that Russia, shortly after the U.S. President's announcement, launched a strike on a power plant in Kharkiv. Ukrainian officials say

several people were killed and six energy facilities were hit in a new wave of attacks overnight into Monday. CNN's Matthew Chance has more on the

Kremlin's response to this ceasefire.

[14:10:00]

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN GLOBAL AFFAIRS CORRESPONDENT (on camera): It's being actually very tight-lipped, and you get the impression that the Kremlin was

also sort of taken by surprise, by this announcement by President Trump, that an energy ceasefire had been agreed by both sides.

There's been a conference call, a daily conference call by the Kremlin spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, over the course of the past several hours, he was

obviously repeatedly asked about this, and he just said that contacts are ongoing and that he had nothing further to add.

That's not exactly a ringing endorsement, is it, of that energy ceasefire announced so prominently by President Trump at the weekend? There have been

ceasefires like this energy ceasefires, you know, undertaken in the past.

There were a couple last year, it didn't amount to much. There was one earlier this year that lasted for just a few days. What's different this

time, though, it seems, is that President Trump has so much more at stake. He's facing the Midterms in, what is it? Three weeks.

High prices at the pumps in the United States really wants to show he's doing everything he can to U.S. voters, to try and bring that down. And

that's why there's all this enormous pressure being placed right now on Ukraine, on the leadership in Kyiv to stop their attacks on Russian oil

refineries, to try and allow Russian diesel and other fuel products to continue to flow and to pick up.

If they don't, it also potentially provides President Trump with a scapegoat in the form of President Zelenskyy in Ukraine. He can blame them

for the fact it didn't happen. All of this, of course, you know, music to the ears of the Kremlin.

Absolutely rubbing their hands with glee that they are once again on the same page when it comes to Ukraine with the White House.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

FOSTER: Matthew Chance there. Now, imagine living through a conflict the world has largely forgotten. Remains of the dead still scattered on the

streets, concealed by crushed buildings and rubble too heavy to clear away by hand.

That is the situation in Gaza. It's been a year since a ceasefire was declared between Israel and Hamas, yet Israel still carries out near-daily

airstrikes. Thousands of people are still missing, and with each passing day, the chance of families being able to find alone, identify loved ones

grows dimmer as crucial evidence is lost. Jomana Karadsheh has more. And we warn you, her report is disturbing.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: (SPEAKING IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (SPEAKING IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE)

JOMANA KARADSHEH, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Through the stench of decomposing remains, Uhn Talib(ph) is identifying the dead by

the clothes they wore that day three years ago.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: (SPEAKING IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (SPEAKING IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: (SPEAKING IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE)

KARADSHEH: This is what it's come to in Gaza. Those who survived trying to identify those who did not. Three years in the smallest detail carries the

most weight. A scrap of clothing, enough to bring a family its answers, and the deceased, their dignity.

The search is painstaking. Today sped up by Gaza city's only excavator, finally here to remove the rubble from the 2023 Israeli bombing that killed

dozens of Uhn Talib's(ph) family. Israel's banned the entry of heavy machinery into Gaza until it says Hamas is disarmed.

But that means leaving the whole devastated strip with only two excavators, according to local officials. It's been a year since the ceasefire

agreement, and so many are still searching for what's left of their loved ones.

The Palestinian Civil Defense says more than 8,000 are missing, believed to be buried beneath the sea of rubble Gaza has become. But even trying to

locate their remains seems impossible. Over 60 percent of Gaza is under Israeli control and off limits for Palestinians.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: (SPEAKING IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE)

KARADSHEH: For three long years, Suha(ph) has been searching among the dead, looking for her boy. She says her son, Jihad(ph), was shot and killed

in front of her in November 2023 during the Israeli military's forced evacuation of Gaza city.

She had to leave his body behind at the hospital and flee. She's been searching for him ever since.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: (SPEAKING IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE)

KARADSHEH: Our cameraman met Suha(ph) last year as she and other families gathered to dig out the makeshift graveyard at Shifa Hospital.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: (SPEAKING IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE)

[14:15:00]

KARADSHEH: She spotted this blanket. She's certain it's the one he was carrying that day. A year on, we found her still looking for her son.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: (SPEAKING IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE)

KARADSHEH: But in this place, it seems there's no peace. Not for the living, not even for the dead. Jomana Karadsheh, CNN.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

FOSTER: Now, to a deadly explosion near the Israel-Lebanon border, Israeli authorities say one teenager has been killed and at least 20 others

injured. Israeli students and staff were on a school trip when it happened.

According to the police, the initial suspicion is that the explosion was a result of an unexploded Hezbollah munition. It's unclear when that

projectile was fired. Bomb disposal experts are investigating at the scene.

So, let's come tonight, federal agents searched the home of U.S. Representative Ilhan Omar as the Minnesota congresswoman claims she's being

targeted by the Trump administration and vow she will not be silenced. Details next.

Also ahead, the polls may not be on their side, but Republicans have a huge cash advantage heading into the final stretch of the Midterm campaigns.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

FOSTER: U.S. Congresswoman Ilhan Omar says she will not be silenced after federal officers executed a search warrant at her home. Taking to social

media, the Minnesota representative said, quote, "make no mistake, this is an attempt to target political enemies and weaponize federal law

enforcement.

For ten years, Trump has targeted me with baseless lies and smear campaigns. This is just the latest escalation in his campaign of political

intimidation." As CNN's Katelyn Polantz details the search just weeks before the Midterm elections, the details of which are pretty scarce.

[14:20:00]

KATELYN POLANTZ, CNN CRIME & JUSTICE CORRESPONDENT: A clear step in an immigration criminal investigation. Here's what we know exactly so far. Not

a lot of details on what is being investigated here related to Representative Ilhan Omar, but the Justice Department has said in a

statement today that the -- in the Washington, D.C. area, Homeland Security investigations executed a judicially-authorized search warrant, so approved

by a federal judge, and that it was secured by the Department of Justice.

So, that would be prosecutors going to that judge for approval for this search today. The Justice Department also says that this enforcement action

is part of an ongoing federal criminal investigation.

The White House border czar Tom Homan this morning deflected questions about what this search was saying, that he would leave additional

commentary to the Attorney General or to the Secretary of the Homeland Security Department.

But in the past, Tom Homan has commented about Representative Omar, saying that there is some level of immigration enforcement that is being

investigated with her. Now, she is a Somali immigrant to the United States, having fled that country as a child.

She's a U.S. citizen, and she's been a member of Congress since 2018. So, for some time now, there have -- she has been a target of President Donald

Trump for some time. He's said that she is a disgrace, and he has heavily criticized her and other members of what's known as the Squad, also of much

note right now is that we are in the period of the Midterm elections.

Representative Omar is running for re-election in Minnesota as a sitting member of Congress. Typically, the Justice Department pumps the brakes on

any sort of overt investigative activity or criminal charges in the 60-day period before an election.

At this point in time, a source tells me that top Justice Department leadership did deliberate over whether this search could take place right

now, and that it was signed off on by the top leadership of the Justice Department. Back to you.

FOSTER: Katelyn Polantz there. Now, with just three weeks until Midterm elections, decide which party controls the U.S. Congress, Republicans are

racing to counter-sagging poll numbers by focusing on voter turnout or, as one White House official puts it, they want to jazz up the base.

President Donald Trump is leading that effort. He is heading back to Ohio today, where Democrats are leading in several key races. Some Republicans

worry he's grown so unpopular that his rallies could do more harm than good.

But the GOP has one big advantage that could still sway votes, a massive pile of cash fueled in part by pro-Trump super PACs. Republicans also have

the world's richest man on their side. In fact, no one has been a bigger GOP donor this campaign season than Elon Musk.

He's poured at least $276 million into the Midterms since the Summer, most of that money going to help Republican candidates for Senate. Let's get

more from CNN political reporter Patrick Svitek, who is in Washington. Patrick, I mean, it's a lot of money.

How is it going to be used? What difference do you think it could make if you look back on previous races?

PATRICK SVITEK, CNN POLITICAL REPORTER: Yes, this Elon Musk money in particular, I think is going to be geared toward and is being geared toward

turning out Republican voters, which is just a huge issue that the party has right now, is trying to motivate their base.

They're not necessarily trying to change a lot of minds in these races. They're just trying to talk to their voters who have voted for President

Trump two or three times in the past, and trying to illustrate the stakes of these races to those voters, trying to get them to turn out.

And so, that's why if you look at where President Trump is traveling in the coming days and last week as well, yes, he's going to some traditionally,

you know, competitive counties, places that are evenly divided between Democrats and Republicans.

But he's also going to very heavily Republican counties. He's going to be in a county in Arizona later this week that voted for him in 2024, with

nearly three quarters of the vote. And so, he is really trying to turn out Republican voters, motivate them to get off the couch, so-to-speak, and to

go vote for their local candidates in these elections. And I think that the Elon Musk operation is also heavily geared toward that goal as well

FOSTER: This idea of, you know, jazzing up the base, I mean, they've done it before, haven't they? Pollsters have been wrong about some elections.

Trump does have this unique power to bring out a hard-core turnout. But is there -- you know, is there a feeling that might not be the case this time?

SVITEK: Look, I mean, if you're a Republican right now trying to see some slivers of hope, you know, the number one thing that you point to is this

overwhelming financial advantage that we've already discussed.

[14:25:00]

And then, number two, you hope that some of these public polls are not counting these low propensity Trump voters who tend to only show up in

presidential elections. And so, you know, that may be a source of optimism for Republicans right now, that the polls are simply overlooking some of

these voters who are harder to reach, who don't, you know, pick up the phone when a pollster calls or don't respond to a text, when someone

reaches out to them asking to do a poll.

And so, that certainly is, you know, kind of a sliver of hope that I think some Republicans are hanging on to right now. But make no mistake about it,

this is a very tough political environment for Republicans at the moment.

FOSTER: I keep hearing that a low turnout of Republicans is good for the Democrats. But doesn't that also depend on the Democrats managing to

mobilize their base as well, which they haven't been great at in recent years?

SVITEK: You know, the Democrats, if you look at the polling right now, their voters are much more enthusiastic about turning out in this election.

So, I don't think Democrats are necessarily worried about turnout.

What we've seen in the era of Donald Trump is that Democrats have become the more reliable voters in some ways in these off-year elections. You

know, we've seen that become the case as they've just become more energized year-round against Donald Trump, given the fact that he's always in the

headlines, his policy decisions are always in the headlines.

There's always kind of a way for Democrats to rally. And so, right now, I would say, based on that recent history and based on what the polls are

telling us right now, don't think Democrats necessarily have the same kind of enthusiasm problem.

FOSTER: OK, appreciate it. Patrick Svitek, thank you so much. Now, a federal judge is ordering the Trump administration to cancel any future

airings of taxpayer funded ads that promote the U.S. President's agenda. The ruling came on Sunday.

The New York judge responding to a nonprofit watchdog group's request by granting a temporary restraining order and stopping the ads from running.

The government said in a court filing, it had already spent $19 million in taxpayer money on the ads.

White House officials say President Trump does not plan to reimburse the government for money already spent on the ad buys. This comes as the U.S.

Justice Department is investigating the five major U.S. networks for possible antitrust violations.

It's tied to their temporary suspension of White House press pool coverage last month. The investigation concerns the TV pool, which has a

longstanding arrangement that was disrupted last month when President Trump banned CNN, "MS Now" and "Politico" from White House grounds.

There was no pooled coverage of the President's events for several days, until a federal judge issued an order halting the ban. The TV pool is a

small, rotating group of journalists that provides coverage of the President and represents the larger press corps as well.

Still to come tonight on the show, global condemnation for President Trump's diesel deal with Russia. I'll speak with the chair of Ukraine's

Foreign Affairs Committee. Plus, more than 130 migrants dead in the search for a better life as a boat capsizes off the coast of Djibouti. Details

next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[14:30:00]

MAX FOSTER, CNN ANCHOR: U.S. President Donald Trump's diesel deal with Russian leader Vladimir Putin is receiving widespread backlash. U.S.

lawmakers from both major parties have warned the Trump administration is defying a federal law meant to crack down on Russia after the invasion of

Ukraine. And on the international stage, it's prompted calls in Europe to maintain strong sanctions on Moscow.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

FRIEDRICH MERZ, GERMAN CHANCELLOR (through translator): We take note of the agreement between the United States and Russia regarding diesel

exports. For Germany and for Europe, such a decision is out of the question. Russia will only negotiate in good faith under pressure. And that

is why we are maintaining our sanctions against Russia.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

FOSTER: I'm joined now by Ukraine's chair of the Parliamentary Committee on Foreign Policy, Oleksandr Merezhko. Thank you so much for joining us.

Just what was your reaction initially when you heard about this diesel deal? This is obviously part of the Ukrainian military strategy to be

targeting some of these refineries.

OLEKSANDR MEREZHKO, CHAIR, UKRAINIAN PARLIAMENT FOREIGN AFFAIRS COMMITTEE: Thank you for having me. In the beginning, I couldn't believe that it's

happening, that it's true. Because against the background of Russian genocidal attacks and war against civilian population, when each day we're

losing dozens of civilians, including children, to have such a deal with the pure evil, with Putin, for me, it's tantamount to enhancing Russian

military capabilities, supporting Russian war machine, which is killing U.S., and giving money for Putin to continue the war against Ukrainians.

And for me, it's something beyond understanding and beyond comprehension.

FOSTER: He then said, President Trump, that there would be a ceasefire on energy interests, I think was the terminology, wasn't it, between Ukraine

and Russia. What was your response to that when you heard?

MEREZHKO: When I heard about this so-called energy ceasefire or energy truce, I was in my apartment without power, without water, just a few hours

before the so-called energy ceasefire. I heard loud explosions, and I heard it from the downtown, from the central part of Kyiv.

So, there is no energy ceasefire. Unfortunately, it exists only in the mind of President Trump, but I don't see it, I don't feel it. Russia continues

to pound, to destroy our critical infrastructure, to kill Ukrainians, and unfortunately, Putin is not going to stop. And I don't -- also, I don't

hear from the President Trump what he used to say before, Vladimir, stop, or something like that. I just don't hear it. And I don't see and hear any

protests from President Trump against atrocities committed by Putin. I don't know how to interpret this, how to understand this.

FOSTER: There's some reporting that President Zelenskyy only heard about the ceasefire through the media. I mean, was it negotiated with you before

it was announced?

MEREZHKO: From what I know, it was not negotiated. It came as a surprise to President Zelenskyy and to people in Ukraine, to the members of

parliament. We haven't heard anything like that. It came as a total surprise, and we see that there is no ceasefire, and Russia continues,

continues to kill us.

FOSTER: What do you think his thinking is, then, to force you into a ceasefire, which clearly hasn't worked, obviously?

MEREZHKO: My guess is that it might be somehow related to internal politics in the United States on the eve of the midterm elections.

[14:35:00]

I don't know why these statements are made, why these actions are made, but we don't want to be hostage. Ukraine and Ukrainian people, we don't want to

be hostage to American internal politics. We know that American people are firmly on our side. We know that the Congress, majority of both Democrats

and Republicans are on our side, but we want to see adequate steps on the part of American president.

FOSTER: So, what's the plan now? If Russia is targeting Ukrainian energy infrastructure, do you respond? Because I think Zelenskyy actually said he

welcomed this ceasefire, so is currently sticking to it.

MEREZHKO: The idea about so-called energy ceasefire as it was proposed by President Trump is not about energy ceasefire. It's not about Russia

stopping to destroy our critical civilian infrastructure, our power grid. It's about preventing, attempt to prevent Ukraine from destroying Russian

war machine, in particular oil refineries on which Russian war machine depends.

So, we would agree to a real genuine ceasefire, energy ceasefire, which would allow to protect our power grid, but we don't see any attempts.

Russia has rejected such idea, and unfortunately President Trump is not doing anything to stop Russia, and he's not trying to put pressure on

Russia using the leverage which he has under Lindsey Graham law.

He has all the tools to stop Russia and to make Putin to negotiate in earnest seriously, but

unfortunately, he doesn't do -- he's not doing anything in this regard.

FOSTER: Oleksandr Merezhko, appreciate your time. Thank you so much for joining us from Kyiv tonight.

Now, in the U.S., the price of diesel is down slightly from its recent peak last month, but it's still 65 percent higher than it was last year.

California has been hit especially hard. CNN's Natasha Chen rode along with two brothers who own a trucking company to see how the rising price of

diesel could impact consumers nationwide.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We are going to need reinforcements.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: OK.

NATASHA CHEN, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Angel and Jorge Diaz can tell the price of groceries around the country are about to go up.

Like potentially --

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.

CHEN: -- frozen chicken or frozen turkey.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.

CHEN (voice-over): The brothers co-own JD and L.A. Trucking near the ports of Long beach and Los Angeles. They took over the family business when

their father passed away. They've got 20 trucks hauling goods from the two largest and busiest ports in the U.S., a lot of it is perishable and

needing refrigeration, which takes more diesel.

ANGEL DIAZ, CO-OWNER JD AND L.A. TRUCKING: Earlier this year it was $5.15. Today I checked it here locally it's at around $8.30.

CHEN (voice-over): Diaz took me along to fill up one of their trucks as the price of diesel hit a new record.

DIAZ: We're only at 18 gallons and we're already 150 bucks.

CHEN: I mean, it's not necessarily double what you're paying last year, or is it?

DIAZ: It's close to. Som if we would have topped off, we would have spent about sixteen hundred dollars.

CHEN: What?

DIAZ: Yes.

CHEN (voice-over): Sixteen hundred to fill up one truck. Each truck needs to fill up once or twice a week. And if their whole fleet runs at capacity,

that's up to a quarter million dollars a month.

DONALD TRUMP, U.S. PRESIDENT: The typical trucker will save over $100 every time they fill up.

CHEN (voice-over): And President Trump's recent executive order aimed at lowering diesel prices likely isn't going to help them. The order

temporarily lets a type of cheaper diesel called red dye diesel on highways instead of just off road. But each state makes its own rules about where

red dye diesel can be used and how it's taxed. And California still has restrictions on it.

DIAZ: Unfortunately, it looks like we're in it for the long run. And that's the scary part.

CHEN (voice-over): There's still a crude oil supply problem, but more recently a diesel production bottleneck because major refineries in the

Middle East and Russia have been damaged by wars involving Iran and Ukraine. Trucking companies have to decide how much of the increase to pass

along to their clients, who then decide how much to pass along to their consumers, like Lydia Sanchez.

LIDIA SANCHEZ, SHOPPER: We're the ones who are going to pay, you know, if we want to eat, whatever we want to eat, we have to pay come out of our

pocket.

CHEN (voice-over): Sanchez has already cut down how much beef she buys and Angelica Vasquez has taken on a second job.

ANGELICA VASQUEZ, SHOPPER: We just tried to survive and it's really hard, especially for the gas. I hope the president get more smart.

TRUMP: The gas will go down as soon as the war is over. It'll drop like a rock.

CHEN (voice-over): The Food Industry association says it takes 30 to 45 days for a spike in diesel prices to trickle down to prices in grocery

stores. But Rolando Pozos is trying hard not to raise prices at all. He's the CEO of Amapola Market, a small chain of Mexican grocery stores in

Southern California.

[14:40:00]

RONALDO POZOS, CEO, LA AMAPOLA DELL AND MARKET: We can see how our suppliers start adjusting prices and they put you that surcharge that we

all love to see, the fuel surcharge. And it's definitely hard to swallow.

CHEN (voice-over): Both Amapola and JD and LA Trucking are family-owned businesses who have served their communities for decades.

DIAZ: It's going to get to the point where is this even worth, is it worth operating?

CHEN: What would your dad say?

DIAZ: He would say that we've made it through worse and that we're going to make it through this one.

CHEN (voice-over): Natasha Chen, CNN, Los Angeles.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

FOSTER: Now, at least 139 people have died after a boat carrying migrants capsized off the coast of Djibouti. The International Organization for

Migration says the boat was carrying more than 300 people, including children. It sunk soon after taking off from the shore of the East African

nation, likely due to overcrowding. As CNN's Larry Madowo reports, aid agencies are struggling to get a full grasp of just how many lost their

lives.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

LARRY MADOWO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: This is one of the deadliest shipwrecks involving migrants from the Horn of Africa trying to make it to Yemen,

eventually to well-paying jobs, they hope, in the Arabian Peninsula.

According to the U.N. Migration Agency, they set out on a boat Thursday evening, but shortly after they left, that boat capsized, killing at least

139, including more than a dozen children. And that number is just the number of bodies that have been buried by authorities. Some who were buried

by the migrants themselves are not part of that count, so that death toll will likely increase.

There are at least 80 who are unaccounted for, who are missing, who could have been lost at sea or could be part of that death toll that is expected

to increase. Some of the survivors, all 80 survivors were Ethiopian nationals who were received at the U.N. Migration Agency Center.

In Djibouti, they were receiving medical support after consuming seawater, but also psychological support after going through this traumatic event.

Listen to one official explaining this devastating accident.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (through translator): The death toll could rise as search operations are still underway. The IOM is working alongside local

authorities, particularly the Obok Prefecture, which is coordinating operations on the ground. The first survivors located have been taken care

of and assisted by the IOM.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MADOWO: Every year, tens of thousands of migrants attempt this popular but perilous journey across the Bab el-Mandeb Strait from Djibouti to Yemen and

eventually hoping to get into parts of the Gulf for jobs. In 2025, more than half a million people attempted this journey and 900 people were

either killed or remain missing according to the U.N.'s migration agency.

And since September 10, they've seen at least 20,000 migrants attempt to make this journey. The attraction is simple. At its narrowest point, it's

just 20 kilometers or so, so it seems like a quick journey, but it's not so simple.

On Sunday, the African Union Commission chair mourned the 139 lives that were lost in this shipwreck off the coast of Djibouti. He said there was a

need for strengthened regional and international cooperation to address the root causes of irregular migration, combat migrant smuggling and

trafficking in persons, and to promote safe, orderly, and regular migration because some of these people pay money to people smugglers to get them

across, even though they get on these boats that often are not worthy of being in the sea.

This tragedy is even more heartbreaking considering the recent escalation in fighting between Saudi-backed government forces and the Iranian-backed

Houthis, which has led to at least 2,000 Yemenis crossing into Djibouti, the opposite direction, and being received by the U.N. Migration Agency.

But these desperate migrants from the Horn of Africa are willing to risk it to go to a war zone, hoping for a better life on the other side.

Larry Madowo, CNN, Nairobi.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

FOSTER: Still to come tonight, police in Michigan are looking into a possible serial killer. We'll tell you what we know so far about the

investigation.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[14:45:00]

FOSTER: The U.S. Midwest Michigan police are investigating a possible serial killer after several deaths connected to a popular river trail. At

least five men have died since last October after injuries on or near the Lansing River Trail. Now, police believe at least some were murdered and

they're worried this could be a pattern.

Let's bring in CNN's Randi Kaye who's been following this investigation very closely. Randy, just take us through what we know about this.

RANDI KAYE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Max, five men found dead as you said and this is all happening along this really popular trail in Lansing,

Michigan where a lot of people go to bike and hike and take a walk.

And the victims all have one thing in common, Max, they were all unhoused so they didn't have anywhere else to live and they were spending the night

overnight on this trail. Investigators believe that they are seeing a pattern of somebody targeting white unhoused men. They are not ruling out

the possibility that this could be a serial killer. They are looking at that possibility. They were all found along this river trail. It's about a

20 mile stretch of paved trail and it connects a lot of the city's parks together.

One victim, just to give you an idea of the injuries that were caused, one victim was found unconscious with head trauma and a collapsed skull. Others

had broken bones, broken ribs, facial lacerations and the authorities are saying that three out of five of these cases were homicides. The police

chief says that he believes the attacks occurred overnight when the victims were either lying down or possibly even asleep. Here's a little bit more of

what he had to say about the idea that this could be a serial killer.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ROB BACKUS, CHIEF OF POLICE: Outside of these five events, we have no other assaultive related deaths on the river trail. One question that we

are being asked is do we have a serial killer in Lansing? What we need the public to know is that we are investigating all of these cases. They are

all active investigations and we are looking at the idea or the possibility that these may be related cases.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KAYE: Now, the mayor is telling the general public that the area is safe, that they can go there and walk their dogs or do whatever that these men

were specifically targeted. The deaths though, I should note, date back to October of last year, so a year ago. And the men range in age from 22 years

old, which was the fourth victim, to 70 years old. Most of them though were in their 50s.

And it's also worth noting that there weren't any witnesses or cameras in the area that captured anything that might be useful to police. So, now,

they are stepping up their patrols in that area. They're adding more cameras as well. They do have one suspect in custody that they believe

could be connected to the fourth killing in this case.

But they're not sure if he's connected to any of the others. They're looking into that possibility, but that investigation is still underway.

But again, one man in custody being evaluated for possibly being connected to just one of these, Max.

[14:50:00]

FOSTER: I'm just thinking about the families involved here and learning all of this after the event. How are they doing?

KAYE: Well, one of the family members did speak to CNN. This is the uncle of the very first victim from October last year. And he was pretty clear in

what he thinks is going on here. He told CNN, there's a serial killer on the loose, in my estimation. It's either a serial killer or a copycat. Now,

we of course know that either one of those scenarios would be very difficult for police. Max.

FOSTER: OK. Randi, appreciate it. Thank you so much.

Still to come tonight on the show, Pope Leo reveals he will undergo surgery soon. We'll tell you what he says his doctors have discovered.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

FOSTER: Pope Leo heading to hospital on Tuesday for surgery. The Vatican says he'll have a small growth on his lung removed. The 71-year-old

Catholic leader made the announcement during a prayer service on Sunday. The Pope says the growth is quote, "at a very early stage and is well

defined." Here's Vatican correspondent Christopher Lamb with more.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CHRISTOPHER LAMB, CNN VATICAN CORRESPONDENT: A lot of anxiety here in the Vatican as Pope Leo prepares to undergo surgery to remove a growth on his

lung. The Pope is expected to be admitted into hospital at Gemelli in Rome late Tuesday morning and the surgery to happen sometime after that.

The Pope making the announcement that he needs this operation to the crowd in St. Peter's Square. The news coming as a surprise to many particularly

in the Vatican where Pope Leo is seen as someone generally in good health. He stays active. He swims. He plays tennis. So, this news something of a

shock for people.

Now, Leo is preparing for a major trip to Latin America in early November. It's a trip he's very excited about because it means he goes back to Peru a

country he served as a missionary and a bishop in for many years. But there is a question mark about his future engagements given this surgery that is

due to take place on Tuesday.

Christopher Lamb CNN Rome.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

[14:55:00]

FOSTER: A NASA rover may have discovered proof of life on Mars but there is a catch. The Perseverance rover grabbed a leopard spotted rock from a

valley that was sculpted by rivers more than 3 billion years ago but the sample might not make it to our planet any time soon. The Mars sample

return program was cancelled due to high costs. NASA says the samples are safe on the rover whilst the agency considers potential return options.

And finally, tonight two Renoir paintings have been found after they were stolen from a museum in the south of France last month. Local authorities

say six people have been arrested after a national search. These are the recovered paintings. During the heist thieves cut through a fence and

climbed through a window initially stealing four works of art but they dropped two as they fled. The incident sparked calls for better security

and funding for France's many cultural heritage sites.

Thank you for watching. Stay with CNN I'll be back after a short break with "What We Know."

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[15:00:00]

END