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Trump Says Iran War Will End and Gas Prices Will Fall After Midterms; Five Killed, 80 Missing in a Passenger Ferry Fire in the Philippine Province of Palawan; Apple Drops First-Ever Foldable iPhone. Aired 3-4a ET

Aired September 10, 2026 - 03:00   ET

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

[03:00:00]

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POLO SANDOVAL, CNN ANCHOR AND CORRESPONDENT: Hi everybody, welcome to our viewers around the world. I'm Polo Sandoval, live in New York, and this is coming your way on "CNN Newsroom."

Vote for the GOP, get $5000, that's President Trump's latest pitch. This is a campaign to keep Congress in Republican hands. But will that promise sway voters? I'll ask an expert.

And our Nic Robertson, with an exclusive look at a dangerous new front in the war with Iran that could drive oil prices up even higher. A little later, he'll be showing us what's happening right now in the Strait of Hormuz.

And the future of the iPhone is here, and you're looking at it. Apple unveiling this first ever foldable smartphone, hoping to reinvent the company's most important product. Wait till you hear what you have to pay for.

UNKNOWN (voice-over): Live from New York, this is "CNN Newsroom" with Polo Sandoval.

SANDOVAL: All right, let's begin with the war in Iran, which President Trump says will end after the midterm elections. But he concedes that gas prices probably won't fall before then. He claims that Tehran is trying to drag out the conflict to hurt him politically.

And this has oil prices top $100 a barrel recently, and fuel costs become a growing issue for American voters. Here are some of the President's latest remarks on that.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: I think the war is going to end immediately after the election. I think the war will end immediately after the election, because they can't hold out any longer. They're desperate to try and affect the election so that we can get a nice, weak group of people in there and leave them alone and let them have their nuclear weapon. All they want is a nuclear weapon. And if they had a nuclear weapon,

the whole world is in deep trouble.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SANDOVAL: And all of this comes as at least seven oil tankers have been hit in and beyond the Persian Gulf since Tuesday. And this is the U.S. and Iran step up their attacks.

Let's get a live update now and over to CNN's Paula Hancocks, who joins me live from Abu Dhabi. So, Paula, what else are you hearing about this latest round of tit-for-tat strikes?

PAULA HANCOCKS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Polo, we certainly have this week seen an increase in the number of vessels that the U.S. military has been targeting on the Iranian side. Saying that it is in response to Iran trying to attack U.S. Navy warships. So this is really where the focus is at this point in the Persian Gulf, the Strait of Hormuz, all the way down to the Gulf of Oman.

Now, we have heard from the U.S. Presidents just on Wednesday also saying that they believe within the Trump administration that there is some activity near Pickaxe Mountain in Iran.

Now, this is an area that's believed to be housing some nuclear facility. And it is close to the Natanz nuclear complex. It's one that President Trump has threatened to hit in the past and he did once again on Wednesday, suggesting that could be a target going forward.

He also talked about the fact that the strikes against Iran, in fact, starting this war was not something that the Treasury Secretary, Scott Bessent, wanted at the beginning. He had warned him. He said that there would be an economic penalty and cost for striking Iran.

What we have heard as well is on the nuclear side of events. This is from the IAEA, the U.N. nuclear watchdog. They have said that they have referred Iran to the U.N. Security Council for not having kept its part of the deal when it comes to not having a nuclear weapon.

For example, they have disabled monitoring cameras, according to some diplomats, officials and documents seen by CNN. There's also a lack of information, a lack of access.

And so the IAEA has referred this to the U.N. Security Council. It was something that Tehran had asked them not to do. They have condemned the decision.

It's unlikely, though, to lead to any sanctions given the fact that Russia and China have veto powers.

[03:05:06]

We did hear from the IAEA that Tehran had been complying with the previous JCPOA deal, the Iran deal, which Trump pulled out of in 2018, something the U.S. President still stands by. Listen to this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TRUMP: If I didn't cancel the JCPOA and if we didn't hit them with our beautiful, the wing, our beautiful B-2 bombers, they would have a nuclear weapon right now and I would be addressing them as Supreme Leader, Mr. Supreme Leader, sir, how are you? But now I don't have to do that.

If they had a nuclear weapon, I'd be calling the Supreme Leader and I'd be saying, Mr. Supreme Leader, how are you, sir? Is there anything we can do for you? As opposed to bombing the crap out of them.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HANCOCKS: Trump also said that he believes Iran will abandon the war after the midterm elections. Polo.

SANDOVAL: Once again, oil hit at least $100 a barrel, of course, because of all that uncertainty in the turmoil that you lay out. Where do some of those numbers, where does oil trading stand as of this hour?

HANCOCKS: Well, what we have been seeing is that the Brent crude futures did hit or Brent crude did hit $100 on Wednesday. That's the first time we've seen that since July.

And you can see those figures there. It's still over $100 a barrel. These are the futures at this point.

And we're seeing that reflected in gas prices in the United States, which, of course, is an issue for the U.S. President ahead of those key midterm elections. We have seen that the gas price is around $4.22 a gallon.

This as the Trump administration has consistently over recent months said that as soon as the fighting ended, as soon as the war was over, that the gas prices and the oil price would come down very swiftly. Now, clearly, that hasn't happened, despite the fact the Trump administration is no longer calling this a war. J.D. Vance, the U.S. Vice President, saying that there isn't active combat at this point, although there are skirmishes.

But clearly what we're seeing here is this continuing pressure on the price of oil and the fact that even though the U.S. Navy is escorting some ships through the Strait of Hormuz, many are not willing to risk the projectiles and the missiles being fired by Iran. Polo?

SANDOVAL: Crude costs up 40 percent since the start of the war, that conflict that was supposed to end in weeks. Well, now, apparently, after the election.

Paula Hancocks, as always, thank you for all your reporting.

And President Trump is promising a big reward for Americans. That's if Republicans can hold on to control of the House and Senate in November's midterm election. It certainly won't be an easy feat. He spoke for nearly two hours at the party's midterm convention in

Dallas, Texas, on Wednesday night. President Trump bragged about his economic success, even though the rate of inflation is actually higher now than when he took office.

He pledged to campaign tirelessly for GOP candidates. The President also promised a financial windfall if his party keeps its hold on the House and Senate come November.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TRUMP: So if the Republicans win, you win with us and you get $5,000, it will be called the Trump dividend. We'll call it the Trump dividend.

Congratulations. Now, all we have to do is win.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SANDOVAL; The convention featured a parade of cabinet members and GOP lawmakers, but some of the party are hesitant to even appear with the President, whose approval rating has consistently been in the mid 30s. But there was also a surprise video message from Democratic Senator John Fetterman of Pennsylvania. Here it is.

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SEN. JOHN FETTERMAN (D-PA): Yes, I'm a Democrat. Why am I here talking to you today?

Because, well, I'm a common sense Democrat. I'm always going to stand with America. I'm always going to reject the extremes and socialism and that anti-American way of life.

Dave McCormick is the kind of senator that gets the job done. And he's going to fight for Pennsylvania.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SANDOVAL: I'll be speaking live with a Republican strategist about the President's message in a moment, but first, more on the Republican midterm convention from CNN's Maddie Gannon, who reports from Dallas.

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REP. STEVE SCALISE (R-LA), U.S. HOUSE MAJORITY LEADER: It is an honor to be with so many great Americans who love this country and are fighting for this future.

MADDIE GANNON, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Night one of the GOP's first midterm convention brings major figures in the Republican Party to the podium, and several GOP candidates in competitive races.

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SEN. JON HUSTED (R-OH): This election this fall comes down to some clear questions for working families. Do you want to keep more of what you earn, or do you want to see more of your hard-earned money go to Washington for failures and fraud?

GANNON (voice-over): Republicans are hoping to use stories from everyday Americans to hammer home their message on issues like immigration and Trump's signature tax and spending legislation. At the same time, they'll have to fend off concerns from voters over things like the cost of living and the war with Iran, something Democrats are making clear they don't believe will be easy.

GOV. J.B. PRITZKER (D-IL): Nothing Republicans say over the next two days is going to change how clinically deranged and out of touch the GOP has become.

GANNON (voice-over): Some experts say this could be a gamble for candidates in this year's tightest races. President Trump brushed that aside in his keynote address.

TRUMP: We will make our voices heard, perhaps like never before. That's the beautiful challenge, that the midterms are not supposed to be won by the sitting President, and we're going to change that.

GANNON (voice-over): In Dallas, I'm Maddie Gannon.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SANDOVAL; Joining me now is Republican strategist Katie Frost. She's a former executive director of the Georgia Freedom Caucus and current Georgia GOP third district chair. She joins me from Dallas.

Katie, it's always great to see you. Good morning.

KATIE FROST, REPUBLICAN STRATEGIST, CHAIRMAN, GEORGIA GOP THIRD DISTRICT, AND FORMER EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, GEORGIA FREEDOM CACUS: Good morning. Thanks for having me back, Polo.

SANDOVAL: So let's start on where you are there in Dallas. On Tuesday, did you see a clear or hear a clear strategy and message during day one of the RNC's midterm convention?

FROST: Definitely. It was all about contrast, which is ultimately what elections come down to. And it is about explaining what the Republican Party is going to do for the American people by reminding them what they've already accomplished and what it was like under four years of the Biden-Harris administration.

One of the best things the Republicans have going for them right now is they are running against the Democratic Party, which has completely lost touch with what real everyday Americans need to see for their lives to be successful.

This is the same party that has candidates running talking about not just defunding the police. That was woke one. Now we're on woke two, which wants to abolish prisons.

And that is completely out of touch with what real Americans need. That was the message you saw time and time again from a variety of voices, elected leaders, candidates and people who were just people want to come forward and say, this is how this administration has helped improve my life. Please help them continue this work by getting out and voting in the midterms.

SANOVAL: Without a doubt, Democrats certainly also have their own set of challenges, even though they do appear to have a pretty strong advantage come the midterms or certainly the rise of Democratic socialists that they're dealing with. There's certainly trying to broaden their appeal to voters.

But let's go to Republicans here. President Trump is asking voters to pretend he's on the ballot. But Katie, for a President with a 35 percent approval, do you think that's wise with the stakes so high for some Republicans in the midterms?

FROST: It's all about turnout when you think about these midterm elections. And one of the key demographics that the Republicans need to have turnout in order to be successful are those voters who show up when President Trump is on the ballot, but they don't show up otherwise.

You need the people that showed up in '16, '20 and '24, but were absent in '18 and '22. And that is why President Trump is campaigning on this message.

Another key group that we need to see showing up are families. When married voters with children show up and vote, Republicans win. And that is why the Republican Party, you see a lot of their messaging is targeting families, helping the family thrive, because when we have strong families, we have a strong country and we have a strong country, good things happen.

So why is President Trump saying, pretend like I'm on the ballot? Because for a lot of voters, that is the thing that will drive them out there in these midterms. Those are the people we need.

SANDOVAL: If you were consulting some of these Republican candidates, especially those on the ballots, Katie, what would be your recommendation, though, in terms of areas that do need improvement to try to connect with American voters who want to hear perhaps less about the previous Biden administration and more about when this war will end or the issues that affect them at home?

FROST: I would focus on saying how we are going to have our priorities in the right place. As a Republican Party, we are the party that wants to help you and your family thrive.

We want to stop waste, fraud, and abuse in all these government programs and make sure that money goes back to you. We want to secure the border so the crime would be at record lows in this country to protect you and your family. We want you to be able to live in a safe community, send your children to schools.

We don't have to worry if your daughter is sharing a locker room with a biological male. We want your family to be protected, and we want a strong nation. We have the record to show we will actually do that, and our priorities are in the right place because we're going to put you first, rather than the Democratic Party, that has had to completely lost the plot, and they're out there trying to start all of these different programs and trying to figure out just how far to the left can they get with the DSA, and will people still be willing to go along with it?

[03:15:10]

I believe that answer is no.

The Republican Party has the message. We have an incredibly talented team. If you watch all the different speeches, we've got a deep bench.

Watch Congressman Brandon Gill, by the way. I think we may have seen a future President tonight.

SANDOVAL: They may have a deep bench, but they certainly also have some challenges, especially the question of how much that message will resonate, especially with some increased pessimism, even among some of the MAGA base.

But like I said, it is still early, and it's now all about November, so we'll watch it together. Katie, as always, I really appreciate you staying up with all this insight. Appreciate your time.

FROST: Thank you.

SANDOVAL: All right, search and rescue operations are currently underway in the Western Philippines. After a fire on a passenger ferry left at least five people dead and more than 80 people missing, the Philippine Coast Guard says that 43 people were rescued after the ship caught fire on Wednesday night, and the ferry's manifest listed 117 passengers and 17 crew members who were on board.

Some of this video that was released by the Coast Guard shows flames engulfing the vessel. You see it off in the distance, and also the efforts to pull people out of the water in the middle of the night. Officials say that the search teams are using modeling tools to try to identify areas where survivors may have drifted to.

New drone video from the Coast Guard showing the aftermath of the incident with the vessel completely gutted by the flames. The cause of this fire is still under investigation.

Still ahead on "CNN Newsroom" exclusive reporting, this small island off the coast of Yemen is now a strategic prize in the Middle East. Our Nic Robertson goes there to find out how this island could possibly influence the war with Iran. That's coming up.

Plus, why officials in Moldova say that a Russian drone incursion during a brief stopover by Ukraine's President was no coincidence.

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SANDOVAL: Moldova's ambassador to the U.S. says that it's still too early to say if Russia targeted Ukraine's President before a flight out of his country on Tuesday. Two Russian drones entered Moldovan airspace just as President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was about to take off from Norway. His flight was delayed as a result, and the ambassador told CNN that the timing was probably not a coincidence.

Norway's Prime Minister claims that a drone almost hit the Ukrainian Presidential plane.

Meanwhile, Donald Trump says that his Russian counterpart is eager to make a deal to end the war in Ukraine. The U.S. President released some details Wednesday about his recent phone call with President Vladimir Putin, which was just a day earlier. The White House renewing its efforts to reach a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine last weekend, but Mr. Trump says there's one big obstacle in the way.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TRUMP: We had a great conversation, he is wanting to make a deal, and if Zelenskyy is wanting to make a deal, that'd be very nice.

REPORTER: He wanted to hold up.

TRUMP: The hold up is two people that hate each other.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SANDOVAL: And despite those peace efforts, we are getting word of new Russian strikes across Ukraine. Officials are saying that at least 13 people were killed, and that more than 90 others were injured just in the last 24 hours. And the targets included the port of Mykolaiv, where Russian drones and guided bombs hit overnight, and also the northern region of Sumy, where a shopping mall was struck.

CNN crews on the ground there say that a new air raid alert just was reported in Kyiv a short time ago, where it's about 10:30 in the morning, and also that air defenses seem to be working.

Regional sources telling CNN that the Houthis are making a major push to capture the town of Boko, which is a crucial location along Yemen's coast.

Joining me now out of London is CNN's Nic Robertson. Nic, you recently visited some of those areas in Yemen, essentially brought our viewers there on the ground with some very rare images. Tell us more.

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMATIC EDITOR: Yes, look, the Houthi push to try to get control of the Red Sea is an extension of a sort of a simmering on and off civil war in Yemen for over a decade. But right now it has massive international political consequences because it's being used as a bypass to the Strait of Hormuz. Iran is blocking the Strait of Hormuz. Iran's proxy, the Houthis, are pushing to take control of this bypass now, although they say they're just doing it because they want to get control of the whole of Yemen. But it adds up to a picture of significant global concern.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ROBERTSON (voice-over): Yemen's navy is taking us to Perin Island, the heart of a little known local war that's getting pulled into America's war with Iran.

ROBERTSON: So what happens here next could affect us more than the Iran war already has. These islands, this vital waterway, the price of oil, it is all vulnerable right now. And what happens here could impact President Trump's political fortunes.

[03:25:00]

ROBERTSON (voice-over): In recent weeks, Iran-backed Houthis have hit several Saudi oil tankers on these waters. They're a bypass to the Strait of Hormuz. As we find out, Houthis are a constant threat here.

ROBERTSON: Suddenly, we just had to turn around. We're told it's because drones have been reported in the air. This is a hot war, and this is one of the epicenters of that war.

ROBERTSON (voice-over): Our second attempt, getting closer.

ROBERTSON: This here that you're looking at out across the Red Sea, the Bab al-Mandab Strait, the narrowest point on that Red Sea, those ships out there, that's what this is all about.

ROBERTSON (voice-over): Commercial shipping, critical for the global economy. Eventually we make it, greeted by Yemeni government forces, keeping the vital waterway open.

Not many outsiders make it here. We're the first international journalists they've seen in years. But we're not going to have long, the Houthi drone is still a threat.

ROBERTSON: And it looks for all the world like the place that time forgot. It is really stuck out here in the middle of the ocean. Look at that across the ocean this way, yes, Bab al-Mandab.

And look at across out there. You can see Africa across there, Djibouti literally just across the sea there.

ROBERTSON (voice-over): Perim is at the strait's narrowest point, just 12 miles from Africa. Since Iran blocked shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, Saudi diverted its oil exports through the Red Sea, helping keep global oil prices down. Ten percent of global oil used to flow through here.

ROBERTSON: It's down to about less than half of that, or about half of that now, and if the Houthis get control of the Red Sea, if the Iranian proxies or Houthis get control of the Red Sea, they can shut the oil flows here down, down to almost nothing.

ROBERTSON (voice-over): What we don't see on our short visit is a military force that measures up to the scale of what's at stake for the rest of the world. For the commander in charge of this region, that's a worry.

ROBERTSON: Because the Houthis would try to kill you, right? The Iranians would love to have you dead.

TARIK SALEH, VICE PRESIDENT, YEMEN PRESIDENTIAL COUNCIL: So many times.

ROBERTSON: So many times, I know.

ROBERTSON (voice-over): Vice President Tarik Saleh is a rarity at the moment, a political leader still in Yemen and still fighting the Houthis.

SALEH (through translator): We told the world that this is an Iranian plan, but no one listened to Yemenis back then, that this is a battle that would not only affect Yemenis, but the region and international community.

ROBERTSON: This is Iran trying to put pressure on President Trump?

SALEH: Exactly.

ROBERTSON: Are you getting any support from the United States?

SALEH: Just talk.

ROBERTSON: Just talk? How do you feel about that?

ROBERTSON (voice-over): Disappointed, he says.

Even so, Saleh is bullish about his troops, claiming gains on the battlefield with new equipment and new tactics, hitting Houthi hideouts with quadcopter drone attacks, similar to those used in Ukraine.

But it won't be easy. After years of fighting, the Houthis are well dug in, control the capital, the northwest of Yemen, including much of the Red Sea coast. The government has the east and the south, with the Houthi attacks pressing towards the last stretch of Red Sea coast under government control.

What Saleh's troops organize for us next is a hard reality check about what they're up against.

ROBERTSON: So right now, we've just got into a big armored vehicle. Interestingly, it's all blacked out. The windows are blacked out, so we don't know where we're going.

ROBERTSON (voice-over): It's here. To a highly secret and secure stash of Iranian-made Houthi weapons, snatched, the Yemeni military says, from smugglers at sea. This sophisticated anti-ship missile capable of hitting tankers from hundreds of miles away. Cutting-edge anti-aircraft missiles, ultra- high-spec optic radar. They readily admit, more gets through to the Houthis than they can catch.

ROBERTSON: What's Iran's strategy with the Houthis?

ABDEL NASSER EL-MAMLOUH, DIRECTOR, NRF MEDIA (through translator): The U.S. siege on Iran in the Strait of Hormuz has made Iran look at its options and activate the strongest one, the Houthis, to close Bab al- Mandab. They're saying if our economy collapses in Iran, so will the world economy.

ROBERTSON (voice-over): In recent weeks, the Houthis have been stepping up attacks on Saleh's forces. In Makkah, it's a vital trade port, a regular Houthi target hit multiple times.

[03:30:08]

So much so, the harbor walls are littered with sunk and sinking ships.

ROBERTSON: And here, this is a piece, the tail fin, from one of those Houthi missiles. See it, heavy, ripped into the ground, splattered across here in the port, all across this boat here. So many missiles landed, the port authorities had to shut the whole port down.

ROBERTSON (voice-over): Sixteen people lost their lives, the port director tells me. And 1500 employees are now without work. The Houthis, he says, are trying to kill their economy as well as the people.

More than 10 years of civil war have all but broken Yemen. Humanitarian groups say more than half the population need their help. But now Iran's war with the U.S. threatens to push Yemen over the edge.

Saleh has a salutary warning for Trump. Yemen's losses could be his economic pain.

SALEH (through translator): We see the high cost paid by international community to secure the passages of few ships through the Strait of Hormuz. If the Yemeni forces were supported right now, they will make more achievements with a much lower cost than the Strait of Hormuz.

ROBERTSON (voice-over): Trump's Iran legacy is getting more complicated.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ROBERTSON: Yes, and that complication is what's playing out on the ground there right now. The Houthis appear to be using some really sophisticated tactics as well as sophisticated weapons, psychological operations; it appears overnight, sending text messages to some of the Vice President's forces in and around Makkah, telling them to dump their arms and flee the town. So it's really contested territory right now. And what the Houthis would do if they controlled the Red Sea, really, that's open to question. They say they're not going to try to extort money out of it the same way Iran wants to on the Strait of Hormuz.

But if they do get down the Red Sea, that will, of course, be an option for them.

SANDOVAL: And in the face of all that, as Yemeni forces told you, Nic, they're only getting talk from the United States at this point. Just an absolutely extraordinary reporting from you and your team.

Thank you so much for that. Nic Robertson reporting live from London.

Let's go now to the U.N. nuclear watchdog that says North Korea has built a new uranium enrichment facility. And that's according to a new report from the International Atomic Energy Agency.

The nuclear watchdog is saying that it used satellite imagery and photos published by North Korean state media to track its progress. The IAEA identified a new two-story building at North Korea's Yongbyon nuclear complex.

It estimates that the building could house up to 28 centrifuge cascades. And the report says that other new sites may be operating there as well.

And still to come on "CNN Newsroom," it was the hottest summer ever recorded here in the U.S., but also across the entire globe. I'll be speaking with a climate expert about this extreme heat. Stay with us.

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[03:35:00]

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SANDOVAL: Welcome back, I'm Polo Sandoval. These are today's top stories.

Search and rescue operations are currently underway in the Philippines after a ferry fire left at least five people dead and dozens missing, 43 people were rescued after the ship caught fire on Wednesday night. The Philippine Coast Guard says that multiple assets have joined the search for survivors and the teams are using modeling tools to try to identify areas where people may have drifted to. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

And a federal judge in Miami denying bail for online influencers Andrew and Tristan Tate, the judge called the pair quintessential flight risks. The brothers will remain in jail until a judge rules on a request to extradite them to the U.K. on rape and human trafficking charges.

The late conservative activist and Turning Point USA co-founder Charlie Kirk is set to be honored at President Trump's GOP midterm convention in Dallas today, Kirk was fatally shot at Utah Valley University one year ago today. But now the organization that he helped build to mobilize young conservatives is working to secure its own future and perhaps a political future for Vice President J.D. Vance.

The U.S. just experienced its hottest summer in 132 years of record keeping. That's telling. The National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration reporting that the average temperatures across the lower 48 states this year topped the previous record set in the 1930s Dust Bowl era.

The summer of 1936 was long the benchmark for the hottest summer in American history. It was tied by the summer of 2021 for hottest on record before this year's readings.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BILL WEIR, CNN CHIEF CLIMATE CORRESPONDENT: So this is not some small hundredth of a degree new record. This is leaping up on the charts and it does not include the El Nino that's just now starting to cook up in the Pacific. And you're seeing the dramatic effects of that along the California coastline.

And it feels like Miami, it's more humid there and hotter than actually in Miami. Globally of course this is happening as well in Europe and what we saw in Asia and the Himalayas. But yes it is here and it is as we've tasted it.

It's like usually it's so localized that not everybody feels something. But you can think about the summer '26 as varying between annoying and costly or deadly in some extremes.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SANDOVAL: Our thanks to Bill Weir.

Let's continue the conversation and bring in Henna Hundal. This is a five-time delegate to the U.N. climate change conference. And welcome back to CNN, it's good to see you.

HENNA HUNDAL, FIVE-TIME DELEGATE TO THE UNITED NATIONS CLIMATE CHANGE CONFERENCE: Thank you for having me. I appreciate it.

SANDOVAL: Of course. So this conference is taking place as the U.S. registered its hottest summer in over a century of record keeping as we mentioned. What does that tell you about the state of the climate crisis and the intensity but also the frequency of these extreme summers around the world?

HUNDAL: Yes, you know the effects of extreme heat are becoming increasingly tangible in everyday life. Climate change is contributing to the greater frequency, intensity and duration of these heat waves and I think a quick look at the numbers tells us a lot.

So last year 2025 was one of the three warmest years on record. The year before that 2024 was the hottest year on record and actually included the hottest day on record in terms of daily global average temperature. And so the U.S. experiencing its hottest summer on record unfortunately is just part of this larger trend.

And you know extreme heat isn't really just a temperature problem. It's also putting enormous pressure on power systems, health systems, infrastructure workers communities. And so the real take home message here is that it's a test of these systems that are supposed to keep people safe.

SANDOVAL: And of course desperate times do come do call for desperate measures. So I'm wondering if we can get into how some countries and cities have been at least attempting to mitigate the impacts of this extreme heat. I mean we saw it this summer especially in parts of Europe where even homes are not designed to stay cool in the summer.

So how have we seen sort of people adapt?

HUNDAL: Yes, you know in my conversations at the U.N. climate change conferences one thing theme that comes up over and over again is this idea that adaptation and mitigation are two sides of the same coin. And I think extreme heat is a particularly salient example of why both of these matter.

So while we try to address the mitigation portion which is you know the underlying drivers of climate change. We also need to think about the fact that communities need to prepare and adapt to the heat that they're experiencing right now.

I think the good news is that we don't have to sort of invent, reinvent the wheel. There are several cities that have had great success in demonstrating ways to adequately prepare for this heat.

For example we have cities like Medellin, Colombia that in 2016 implemented a program for green quarters. They now establish more than 30 green quarters that essentially form kind of an interconnected network of green spaces that have a dual effect providing a natural cooling mechanism and improving air quality.

We also see cities from Santiago, Chile to Miami to Los Angeles to Athens actually appointing chief heat officers whose whole job is local heat preparedness. And so I think the real message here is that there are great examples of things that we can implement proactively right now to help cities deal with the heat that is certainly coming in full force because of these trends that we're seeing in terms of global climate change and the extreme heat patterns as a result.

SANDOVAL: We know all too well that extreme heat kills as we saw tens of thousands of people lose their lives just during these back to back heat waves in Europe.

Henna Hundal, best of luck getting this message out. We know it's a crucial one. Thank you so much for your time.

HUNDAL: Thank you.

SANDOVAL: Oceanographic Magazine has crowned a new ocean photographer of the year for 2026. I want to show you a look at the photo that sealed the deal. Underwater photographer Julian Anton took this photo of seahorses in French Polynesia. He says that he worked with local residents and also searched for hours to find the subjects. Although it's not really possible to know if the seahorses are related, the photo appears to show two babies looking back at their father before swimming away.

Still ahead, Apple making big changes to its flagship product and enters the foldable smartphone market. Details on the new iPhone duo will return.

Plus, reigning NFL champs the Seattle Seahawks starting their title defense, and it was a Super Bowl rematch against the New England Patriots. We're going to have some of the highlights coming up in this hour. Stay with us.

[03:45:09]

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Those are the Asian markets and these are your business headlines.

[03:50:01]

The U.S. Treasury Department says that it will buy back up to $6 billion of government bonds today. And that means that it'll be roughly triple the size of the standard operation amount. The buyback is an effort to tame surging treasury bond yields. Those basically make borrowing money more expensive and can aggregate concerns about, I should say, they aggravate concerns about the cost of living.

And Meta rolling out a new artificial intelligence agent called Muse, the company says that it can serve as a personal digital assistant using apps and websites on a user's behalf. Users can ask it to do things like send emails, book travel and make online purchases. Meta acknowledges that it can also make mistakes, but says that it has been designed to be as safe and secure as possible.

And two major debuts for Apple, the tech giant announcing its first ever foldable smartphone, the iPhone Duo. And this was also the first Apple product launch that was hosted by the company's new CEO, John Ternus, just days after he succeeded longtime CEO Tim Cook. At the event, the company unveiled its latest lineup of devices and features.

And with the new folding ability, Apple is making the biggest change yet to its most important product, the iPhone. Apple hardly blazing a new path, though, as rivals Samsung and Motorola have been selling foldable smartphones for years now. Apple CEO says that the company wanted to craft a foldable phone that is user friendly.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOHN TERNUS, APPLE CEO (voice-over): We started with the experience that we wanted for ourselves. A larger display that feels as natural and intuitive as iPad. Then we brought together thoughtful design with breakthrough engineering in a way only Apple can.

And the result is a series of remarkable innovations that we believe will redefine the experience of using a foldable phone.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SANDOVAL: User friendly, but is it budget friendly? Apple announced a number of new products and features at their showcase in California. But it was the iPhone duo that generated the most buzz.

CNN's Lisa Eadicicco got a first look at the device.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

LISA EADICICCO, CNN BUSINESS TECH EDITOR: This is the biggest change to the iPhone that we've seen in its nearly 20 year history. I also had a few moments to try out the iPhone Duo after today's keynote.

And what we've learned so far based on what was said in the keynote and my brief time using it is that Apple is really trying to emphasize. In addition to the hardware and that foldable design, how the software works on this device.

When you open and close the phone, the software shifts seamlessly from the front screen to the interior screen. And that was true whether you were watching Netflix or using the photos app. When the phone is open, you can also use apps in split screen mode on the big screen inside the device.

And a lot of these use cases are a little bit similar to what we've seen with other foldable phones from Android phones over the years. But I think what's a little bit different here in terms of Apple's approach is the way it's kind of positioning this device is also being an A.I. hub. This phone starts at nearly $2,000, so it is very expensive.

And while the hardware does seem to be impressive and the software does work very fluidly. I don't know if the question has been answered yet as to why consumers need a foldable phone in the first place.

I think a lot of people are looking to Apple to answer that question. So we'll have to see if the iPhone Duo lives up to that. Back to you.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SANDOVAL: Thank you, Lisa.

The British rock band Duran Duran, it has been immortalized on stamps you see there. Britain's Royal Mail unveiled a new collection that actually marks 45 years since the band's debut album.

They feature artwork from some of the band's most celebrated album covers, they include "Rio" and "Future Past." Duran Duran has won two Grammy Awards and sold more than 100 million records around the world. Time to sell some stamps.

And with that, we'll be right back with more.

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SANDOVAL: All right, everybody. Welcome back to Seattle.

Seahawks kicking off their defense of their title on Wednesday. As you see there, they were rallying to defeat the New England Patriots. Final score 13-10 in the season opener.

We also know that all of this was despite the Seahawks losing quarterback Sam Darnold. Let's now go to Seattle for the latest from Coy Wire.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

COY WIRE, CNN WORLD SPORT: Here in Seattle, we have the first season opening Super Bowl rematch in a decade. The defending champion Seahawks raising a banner. The Patriots that they beat having to watch.

But on the very first drive, Seattle's fans saw their star quarterback Sam Darnold sacked. Taken off the field with a hip injury, missing the rest of the game. The Seahawks defense, though, stepping up.

Fourth quarter interception allows backup Drew Lock to connect with last year's Offensive Player of the Year Jaxon Smith-Njigba for the 45-yard T.D. Tie in the game at 10.

From there, that vaunted Seahawks defense picked off May two more times. One leading to a field goal, the other in the final seconds sealing the win, 13-10, and the defending champs start their repeat attempt with a backup Q.B., stellar D, and a win.

UNKNOWN: It was game on the line, you know, fourth quarter, you know, it was up three points and we got to take the ball away and we did.

UNKNOWN: This is a new season, we did the banner thing. It's time to find out who the 2026 Seahawks are going to be.

WIRE: So there we have it, football is back and apparently so are the Seattle Seahawks starting off their season with a win.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SANDOVAL: Coy Wire, thank you.

And thank you so much for watching the last hour of news, I'm Polo Sandoval in New York. I'll be right back with you in a few moments with more.

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