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Nor'easter Brings Rain, Wind, & Flooding to Northeast Coast; Manhunts Underway After Dozens Killed in South Africa Shootings; Trump Rejects Iran's Proposal to Reopen Strait of Hormuz; Pope Leo's Visit is First Papal Trip to France in 18 Years. Aired 5-6a ET

Aired September 27, 2026 - 05:00   ET

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

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[05:00:25]

SALMA ABDELAZIZ, CNN ANCHOR: Hello and a very warm welcome to our viewers all around the world. I'm Salma Abdelaziz in London. Let's go to our headlines.

It's a weekend of wind, heavy rain and massive waves for the Northeast U.S. We'll look at the impacts of this strong Nor'easter and what still lies ahead.

President Trump responds to Iran's proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, but Tehran says it wants a definitive answer. We'll have the latest.

Plus, panda diplomacy is coming to America. We'll have a live report from Beijing on China's newest panda diplomats on their way to Atlanta, Georgia.

ANNOUNCER: Live from London, this is "CNN NEWSROOM" with Salma Abdelaziz.

ABDELAZIZ: All eyes are on the northeast coast of the U.S. this hour as a rare early Nor'easter brings rain, strong winds and flooding to multiple states. And the worst may still be ahead. Officials say the storm will likely make itself felt for days because it will linger over these coastal areas rather than quickly drifting back to sea as Nor'easters usually do.

Heavy downpours caused flooding in several states on Saturday and high winds knocked down trees and power lines. More than a hundred and thousand customers from Virginia to Maine are currently without electricity. This is according to poweroutage.us.

A 56-year-old man was -- was killed when a tree fell in New York City's Brooklyn Borough. This is another falling tree in a nearby playground that injured four people, including two children. All four were hospitalized and are now in stable condition.

In New Jersey, police say they rescued nine people and a dog from flooded motels. The Nor'easter is driving coastal flooding by pushing water towards the shore. The effect is at its worst in the hours around high tide.

Our Danny Freeman is in Atlantic City, New Jersey and he shows us the dangerous coastal conditions on Saturday.

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DANNY FREEMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Conditions along the Jersey Shore all day Saturday were pretty intense. There were cycles though where it was very interesting according to the governor and we saw it here firsthand. There were lulls in the day but the flooding and the rain and the wind when it was at its peak it really did pack a punch.

So, we're here in Atlantic City right now. This is the part of the Atlantic City boardwalk and we've seen a lot of intense water coming in from this inlet and from the ocean really battering the seawall and I can tell you that is what the main risk has been over the course of this storm and this Nor'easter.

The challenge is not even so much rain, the challenge really has been the tidal patterns and the tidal and coastal flooding because as we saw on Saturday when high tide came in that was when many, many streets in Atlantic City began to flood.

Now the good news was that city officials here and other officials all throughout the Jersey Shore even though they acknowledged that the floodwaters were very intense, they said that they were expecting certain streets to flood and a lot of the areas at least in Atlantic City that did flood are places that normally flood and the amazing thing about this cycle that I'm talking about is that once the tide did go out the floodwaters did in fact recede. But this continuous pattern of tides coming up and then going out is still what is alarming so many people as this Nor'easter continues.

Officials from the state level and also in these shore communities are still warning folks to keep a close eye on the tides as they come in because that is where there is a risk of flooding and when these lulls come around that's when they say move your car, get into your homes so you can stay safe because once the tides come in that's when the dangerous flooding comes back.

So, we're going to keep an eye on this storm as it continues throughout the weekend but again the flooding from the tide patterns that's the biggest risk that we've seen certainly on Saturday.

Danny Freeman, CNN Atlantic City.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ABDELAZIZ: CNN Meteorologist Allison Chinchar is also tracking the system across the northeast and brings us an update on the forecast ahead.

ALLISON CHINCHAR, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Yeah, heavy rain and strong winds are set to continue through most of the day Sunday. Thanks to that low pressure system just not moving all that much. So, this is the area that we anticipate the excessive rainfalls is going to be your greatest chance for flooding for the day Sunday and you can see it stretches from Delaware all the way into the southern tip of Maine.

[05:05:01]

When we fast forward into Monday, it does begin to shift a little bit farther to the north. But take Boston for example, they were under this flood risk on Saturday, they will be there again today and it will continue into early Monday.

One of the reasons for this is again the amount of rain that is expected in these areas, widespread totals of four to six inches. Some of these areas though, it's not out of the question to perhaps get seven or even eight inches of rain for some of these locations. That is a month's worth of rain in just two to three days.

So, you're talking a tremendous amount of water that's coming in there, but also you have all of the water from the ocean. The wind is pushing that in and that could lead to coastal erosion and also some coastal flooding too.

Here's a look at those rain bands by about Sunday morning. You're looking at Boston, looking at very heavy rain showers, Newport and Providence, Rhode Island, even around New York and New York specifically could be looking at some very gusty winds and heavy rain bands at time.

Some areas will get a little bit of breaks throughout the day and then heavier rain will move through and it's going to continue to be this on and off pattern throughout the day today as well as going into Monday. You can see even by Monday morning, a very soggy commute for a lot of folks into the northeast.

Now, we talked about some of that water being pushed in along the ocean. Thanks to the winds. What's making this situation even worse is the full moon. It was Saturday and what that essentially does is that on its own would cause astronomically high tides. Now we bring in the nor'easter and you're dealing with water levels that are even higher than they were expected to be.

Now the full moon was technically Saturday with both high moon cycles, but even Sunday we've got one at 8:19 a.m. local and then again at 8:40 local for a lot of the east coast. So, you're going to have to go through both of those tide cycles dealing with those water levels being extremely high, which likely in turn, especially the low-lying areas along the coast could lead to some flooding.

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ABDELAZIZ: Now this severe weather is also taking a toll on travelers. While not all airline disruptions are necessarily tied to the storm. Saturday saw more than 3200 delays and more than 450 cancellations throughout the U.S. And so far today there have been at least 250 delays and nearly the same number of cancellations. This is all according to FlightAware.

Meanwhile, in the pacific hurricane Nolo is expected to narrowly miss the storm battered Hawaiian islands. The U.S. National Hurricane Center says the storm is moving away from the big island with watches and warnings now discontinued.

Nolo is expected to remain south of the island chain, but projections show it could still strengthen into a major hurricane as it tracks further west.

This is Hawaii's third brush with a hurricane in just six weeks, bringing high surf, gusty winds and pockets of heavy rain to areas that are still working to recover from previous storm damage. While some locals are optimistic about Nolo's new path, many are also advising caution.

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RAVYN ANDRIAN, HAWAII RESIDENT: High winds. The winds are really big. Stay away from the water.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: So far, this is not bad at all, and I hope it stays that way. We wish for the best. I understand that the storm took a hooky to the left as they say, right? So, we might be out of the danger zone yet, but we still have to be aware of what could happen.

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ABDELAZIZ: I want to turn now to Nepal, where at least six people are missing after an avalanche hit base camp at a remote mountain. Organizers say climbers from the UAE and support staff were preparing for an expedition when a torrent of snow and rocks swept down the mountainside. The company organizing the expedition says it is now working with Nepal's tourism board to confirm the exact number of people that are missing and is working to send a rescue helicopter to that base camp.

We're following breaking news out of South Africa. This hour, two separate manhunts are now underway after dozens were killed in overnight shootings. I want to bring in our Stefano Pozzebon, and he's -- he's following the latest developments on this for us. What are you learning so far about these twin manhunts?

STEFANO POZZEBON, CNN CONTRIBUTOR: Yes, Salma. Well, unfortunately, our focus goes back to South Africa with the most gruesome of news. We're reporting two separate massacres, one that took place in the province of Gauteng, so that is the area of Johannesburg, to the northwest of the country, where 17 people have been killed, where unknown gunmen arrived at a bar in the early hours of today, Sunday, and opened fire using, according to the police, pistols, but also AK- 47, and putting, setting two vehicles on fire separately, but also in the early hours of today, Sunday, at 1:46 a.m., a group of murderers arrived to another bar in the Cape Town area, so to the southeast of South Africa, and opened fire, killing at least 10 people.

[05:10:10]

And this is, of course, just the tip of the iceberg of a murder crisis that is really grappling the African nation. According to police figures, of course, just the tip of the iceberg of a murder crisis that is really grappling the African nation. According to police figures, approximately 58 murders are committed every single day in South Africa, and the situation is so dire that back in March, on March 13, 2026, earlier this year, the government deployed 2,200 soldiers, and according to the statement back then, this deployment is targeted and meaningful in areas where illegal mining and gang crime are ripe, especially the province of Gauteng and the township of Wedela, where the 17 people have been killed in the most gruesome of these two incidents we are following, are very famous and known for the extensive gold mining exploitation that is happening there. So, perhaps that is a first hint, a first tip to what lines the police will be following.

In both cases, detectives are at work trying to pierce out what happened in these hours, whether these crimes are related to gang violence. But unfortunately, like we said, 27 people, at least 27 people killed in South Africa. This Sunday alone, 11 more were killed yesterday in a similar but separate incident on Saturday.

Salma?

ABDELAZIZ: Dozens of people killed in violence in South Africa. Stefano Pozzebon, they're following the manhunt and the latest on those violent incidences. Thank you so much for bringing that to us from Rome.

We're also following breaking news out of here in England, where police say several men have been arrested on suspicion of explosives offenses. This is near a Royal Air Force base that is often used by U.S. forces.

A number of properties have been evacuated in the Welford area of Gloucestershire following the declaration of a major incident. Officials say the Army's Specialist Explosive Ordnance Disposal Team are currently examining several vehicles.

U.S. President Donald Trump says Iran's latest proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and resume talks is, quote, "unacceptable." Tehran's top diplomat says he's seen President Trump's public reaction to the proposal but is waiting for an official U.S. response to be delivered by mediators before making any decision. He could be waiting for a while, though. A White House official tells CNN, quote, "The U.S. is in a very strong position with control of the Strait of Hormuz, so we are not in a rush."

CNN's Julia Benbrook is following this for us from the White House.

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JULIA BENBROOK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: President Donald Trump says he has rejected Iran's latest proposal, calling it unacceptable. Now, the details of what is in the proposal are scarce, but Iran's foreign minister said that it did nothing more than what was in the Memorandum of Understanding, the agreement signed by both the United States and Iran back in June, but that was scrapped shortly thereafter. This recent proposal, Iran says, would have led to the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz in exchange for some of its longstanding demands of the United States.

The Strait of Hormuz, that critical waterway, has been a key area of focus for this now months-long conflict, and there are conflicting messages on it. Trump has remained adamant that the United States is in full control of it and watching every inch of it. He spoke on that part specifically at the White House on Saturday.

Take a listen.

DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: He said, let's close it and cause a problem for the world. And then I came along and we put up the greatest blockade ever in military history. It's a wall of steel. I would put it up.

And guess what? They don't have any money now because they wanted to close the strait. And I said, that's fine. We're going to close it on you. But everybody else is able to use it.

BENBROOK: These comments come not long after Trump spoke at the United Nations General Assembly, and he said that he was in deciding mode when it comes to Iran. He said that he believed there could be some sort of an agreement to end the conflict shortly after the midterms, suggesting that Tehran is trying to put some political pressure there.

But as he said, that there could be an agreement in the coming weeks, he also said that he could annihilate Iran. He added that he could drive Iran into, quote, "hell with no chance of survival." It's important to note that following those first joint U.S.-Israel strikes against Iran, Trump said that this could last a number of weeks. It is now nearing that seventh month mark.

[05:15:05]

And as those midterms are quickly approaching, poll after poll shows that the majority of Americans do not approve of the way that Trump has handled this. In fact, a recent CNN poll found that just 26 percent said that they approve of the way that Trump has handled this conflict so far.

Julia Benbrook, CNN, the White House.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ABDELAZIZ: We have so much more to come here on "CNN Newsroom." China said this week it would loan the United States two more of its giant pandas, and the plan is already in motion. Details on their arrival just ahead.

Plus, Pope Leo is greeting huge crowds of people in southwestern France on the first official papal trip to the country in nearly two decades.

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ABDELAZIZ: This morning, two giant pandas will officially touchdown in Atlanta after a long journey from China. Beijing is loaning Ping Ping and Fu Shuang to the U.S. for 10 years as part of China's long- standing practice of panda diplomacy. The arrangement comes just days after President Trump extended a trade truce with Chinese leader Xi Jinping during his state visit to Washington. Mr. Xi described the giant panda as an envoy of friendship between the Chinese and Americans.

[05:20:15]

With us now from Beijing is CNN's Mike Valerio. I want to know every single detail that you have this morning for us Mike. How are the pandas making their way there? Please spare nothing.

MIKE VALERIO, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: I think they're doing well Salma. They have about an hour and a half more and I'm not sure if we're going to get panda visuals because they're in those pretty secure sturdy crates that they've been training to get used to for the past month. So, we may not have that many visuals which is customary when pandas go to the National Zoo or San Diego Zoo in California.

Let's roll the video that we do have. This is the panda motorcade that you're looking at in Chengdu, China, southwestern China, Sichuan province. This is where about 240 pandas live with a total population of just 2,650.

So, if you think about it the -- the video that you're seeing right now like one in ten of the world's pandas come from this breeding center where Ping Ping and Fu Shuang have been nurtured and trained and fed all the best snacks.

Now they're going to make this move to Atlanta, right? So, it's the transition period. Some of their Chinese keepers have to join them for about a month just to make sure that the transition is okay before they make their grand entrance to see the good people of Georgia.

But, you know, we didn't talk about it last hour. It's been very moving to read the journalism, the interviews that Ping Ping and Fu Shuang's keepers have done. One of them said that after caring for them so long it's, quote, "like raising your own children" and it's going to be very sad for this keeper to leave these pandas to let them go for this long period of ten years and I mean truth. Like if I were this panda keeper I would certainly agree. So, it's a ten-year loaning period.

This tradition of gifting pandas and then moving into the loaning where they're only brought to America for ten years and then brought back really started with Mao Zedong in 1972 when President Nixon visited China for that historic moment. So, again we got about an hour and a half. They were trained to like their crates, to not be afraid of the crates, and also to be accustomed to the noise that they would encounter on the planes.

But we're going to be waiting to see what kind of welcome they get in Georgia. Who is getting up at the crack of dawn in Atlanta to welcome these fuzzy friends to America. It should be some interesting and uplifting images that we're going to start to see in about two hours' time, maybe three, as they make their way towards Zoo Atlanta. Salma?

ABDELAZIZ: Ping Ping and Fu Shuang, Atlanta's very own panda diplomats, set to arrive very shortly. And Mike Valerio will follow that arrival for us from Beijing. Thank you so much. It's great to have you on.

Pope Leo XIV is in Lourdes, France celebrating mass with thousands of people. It is his first trip to the country as pontiff and the first official trip by a Pope in nearly two decades. We do have live pictures now for you of Pope Leo who has received a very warm welcome in a country with a growing Catholic population. You can see him there.

Later, he will meet with bishops, people with illnesses, and survivors of abuse by clergy members. The pontiff's trip to France is in part to help repair the Catholic Church's standing after a massive abuse scandal was revealed several years ago.

CNN Vatican Analyst Katie Prejean McGrady joins me now as we look at these live images from Lourdes, France, a pilgrimage site. And I want to start there really if I -- if I can. We have just seen these extraordinary scenes play out over the last couple of days, you know, crowds that stretch the length of the Champs-Elysees in Paris and an outdoor mass with hundreds of thousands of people.

And again, these live images we have playing out right now at this pilgrimage site. Why has he been met with such enthusiasm in a country that is very secular?

KATIE PREJEAN MCGRADY, CNN VATICAN ANALYST: I think Leo fever has swept France. I've been saying it since he was elected in May of 2025. Pope Leo is captivating the world and a triumphant return.

It's been nearly two decades since the pope has visited secular France, as you rightly called it. And Leo can speak French to a point. He can speak English very clearly in Spanish and Italian. And the world is listening to our -- our polyglot pope who can speak these many languages, but can also speak straight to the heart.

I think France is hungry for a witness. And Leo is able to kind of cut through a lot of the noise, a lot of the hemming and hawing.

[05:25:07]

We saw in France these triumphant greetings. And I love that the Arc de Triomphe, as he's passing by it, you've got close to a million people just spread through the streets. This beautiful moment that seemed to kind of be the solidifying. All right, Notre Dame is now reopened.

His very pointed speech in front of Emmanuel Macron, essentially saying secular life and religious life do not need to be separated in the sense of we don't have to over-religiousize everything, so to speak. We also don't have to over- secularize everything. And so, I think people are hearing a message of truth and are encouraged by that.

ABDELAZIZ: And let's talk about that message, because he has discussed such a wide range of topics, from anti-materialism to conflict resolution to A.I. What is it that he is most trying to convey when he gets back on that papal plane in a short time? What is it that he is hoping that the people of France take away from his visit?

PREJEAN MCGRADY: Well, at some point we might get that papal press conference on the plane. We're all kind of fingers crossed hoping for that trip back to Rome. We'll get some Q&A and some off-the-cuff answers.

It's always important to remember on an apostolic trip of whatever length. So, so far Leo's gone to Africa, to Spain, a couple of day trips to some other places, but now France. He's speaking to the room he's in, so the whole world can listen, but when he's speaking to the people of France, he's speaking to a France that has become very secularized. And I think he wants to translate, at least from what he said so far in France, he wants to translate like the modern world is changing, and the teachings of the Church are something that can keep you anchored.

He also is very much pointing out that human dignity is not something that we as a world should consider is optional, but that the Church and secular powers, that the average lay person sitting in the pews, all the way to the person with no faith, is actually called to protect and to defend human dignity.

France right now of course is dealing with euthanasia and -- and is certainly, abortion legalized a couple of years ago I believe. And -- and Leo is speaking to this secularization as this is harming human dignity. That's not the Pope being political, that's the Pope saying this is a human issue, and he speaks with moral authority.

And so, I think when he's back on that plane and he's headed to the last stop, he's going to certainly remember each encounter with the individual people that he's had the moment to bless, or the conversation with clerical sexual abuse survivors, but he's also probably weighing the weight of these words to all of France who have been so encouraged by his visit, and the whole world that's listening.

But first and foremost, I always want to remind us, he's speaking to the room he's in. These are messages to France, an apostolic journey is a trip of hope, is a pilgrimage to a specific land and culture that we can then all watch together.

ABDELAZIZ: So, let's talk about the specifics of France, because I actually was able as a reporter to cover his first trip, and it was -- it was to Turkey and then to Lebanon, and I remember that there was so much intention behind choosing Turkey as the first place to visit. So, my question to you is, why now? Why France? Why the first state visit in 18 years to that country?

PREJEAN MCGRADY: Well, I would be remiss if I did not point out Leo's French roots, Robert Prevost. So, he has some French roots, so those of us with some French heritage as a Prejean, I'm very excited to see him return to a bit of a native land.

I also think, you know, it's been a while, and -- and Popes can signal very clearly, I want the people of this country, where there is certainly revival, some of the highest numbers of baptisms and converts coming into the church that France has seen in a very long time, that this is a trip of encouragement.

I'm glad you reminded me of Turkey and Lebanon, and I'm sorry I forgot it's very early, but that was a trip on his calendar, that was that was a Francis trip that Leo maintained. We are now in the era of these are choices Leo is making for Leo. So Turkey-Lebanon was huge because it was a conclusion of a Francis agenda.

Now Africa, Spain, and France, these are places Leo pulled out the world map and chose, I want to go there. And I think it is a stark contrast to the secular leadership. I think it is a distinct encouragement, especially to young people.

There was a moment in the stadium event where you've got hundreds of thousands of people outside and in this stadium, where these actors and actresses came forward, dressed as the saints from the history of France. So you've got 1,700 actors through the long history of France, the eldest daughter of the church, as she's often called. And you could see Leo kind of getting choked up as he looks at this history.

S, there is a reference to the long-standing history of France, as well as, so what's next, France? What's next as this revival comes? I think that's absolutely a pastoral consideration.

[05:30:08]

I also think Leo knows his words are going to circle the globe, that they're going to go far. And what he's saying right now, of course, giving his homily in Lourdes, one of the most popular pilgrimage destinations, he's -- he's going to challenge the French people, I imagine, and it's embargoed, so I haven't read it all the way just yet, but that he's going to challenge the French people to remember what was a young French girl, Bernadette of Lourdes, uneducated, that Our Lady appeared to. And he -- the Lord chose someone simple to work through.

So, maybe he could choose you, somebody in France who's discovering their faith, to go share. So, it's evangelistic. It's also very pointed in moral contrast to some of the leadership in France. And again, I'm going to keep saying this encouragement to a people who are certainly experiencing some revival.

ABDELAZIZ: A France that is experiencing Pope fever, according to CNN Vatican Analyst Katie Prejean McGrady, Prejean also French roots there. Thank you so much for joining us and for that analysis.

Still to come here on "CNN NEWSROOM," the Nor'easter slams New York City with more flooding, how officials and residents navigate the chaos and the drainage problems, coming up next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK) ABDELAZIZ: Welcome back. I'm Salma Abdelaziz in London. Let's take a look at today's top stories.

President Trump rejects Iran's latest proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, calling it unacceptable. Iran's foreign minister says the proposal included nothing more than what was in that short-lived memorandum of understanding that was signed by the two countries back in June. Tehran says it's seen Trump's public reactions but is still waiting on an official U.S. response to be delivered by mediators.

[05:35:16]

In South Africa, two separate manhunts are underway after dozens were killed in overnight shootings. Outside Johannesburg, police say eight men allegedly armed with pistols and AK-47 rifles opened fire on people drinking outside a tavern before entering and continuing to shoot inside. At least 17 were killed and 15 wounded. And in the Western Cape, 10 people were fatally shot at an entertainment venue.

A rare storm is bringing rain, strong winds and flooding to coastal areas in the U.S. Northeast. Flooding and high winds have been reported in multiple states. Falling trees killed one person and injured four others in New York City. More than 100,000 customers from Virginia to Maine are currently without electricity. So, the Big Apple, one of the regions, is flooded again this year.

New York authorities say issues linked to climate change and a century old drainage system make the impact of the storm even worse. CNN's Gloria Pazmino has more from New York.

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GLORIA PAZMINO, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: It's become a common sight in New York City. Stranded cars, waterfalls inside train stations and pedestrians wading through flooded streets. The Big Apple was soaked by more than eight inches of rain in August, a record for the past five years.

PAZMINO: Why is that happening?

LISA F. GARCIA, NYC ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION COMMISSIONER: Yeah, it has been a bit of a crazy summer. We had to kind of activate our emergency flash flood plan almost like 30 percent more this summer than any other year. And what we believe is happening is it's climate change, the intensity of the rainstorm.

PAZMINO (voice-over): A massive amount of rain in a short amount of time and America's largest city can barely keep up. The city's sewer system is designed to handle up to 1.75 inches of rain per hour.

GARCIA: If you think about New York City's system built over 100 years ago, we're seeing storms that are at two inches, two and a half inches, three inches. So, it's really overwhelming the system. It's crazy.

PAZMINO (voice-over): That means water is going up into the streets and down into the subways. New York City's annual precipitation has increased about 20 percent since 1960. And as the planet warms, the atmosphere holds more moisture, fueling heavier, more frequent downpours.

Five years after the remnants of Hurricane Ida dropped a record amount of rain flooding basements and killing more than a dozen people, some New Yorkers are still dealing with constant flooding.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I thought, oh, this is just a great city, you know, a concrete jungle. We don't have flooding here.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We've been trying to make sure we have everything we need off the floor, but also all the supplies to make sure we can barricade the doors.

PAZMINO (voice-over): Since Ida, the city has invested billions in flood protection, upgraded sewers, expanded storm water systems, and improved emergency alerts.

But officials say fully addressing the city's flood risk could take decades.

NICK NYHAN, FOUNDER, THE CITY SPONGE: You're doing good work.

PAZMINO: In the meantime, New Yorkers are taking action. Nick Nyhan launched the City Sponge, a website to help neighborhoods deal with flooding.

NYHAN: We have to absorb more water as a city. We have to figure out ways to do that, but also to help people absorb the information, because it's confusing.

PAZMINO: In a race against the clock, the city continues to upgrade storm water infrastructure and protections against coastal flooding.

MAYOR ZOHRAN MAMDANI (D-NEW YORK CITY, NY): New York, we're readying our coastlines.

PAZMINO: This $43 million investment will help oversight of more than 100 flood gates along South Street in lower Manhattan.

MAMDANI: When a major storm is on the way, flood gates will flip up into place, creating one continuous barrier that helps keep water out.

PAZMINO: And there's green infrastructure, thousands of rain gardens to collect storm water runoff, and massive underground tanks to capture millions of gallons of storm water and sewage during heavy rains.

GARCIA: This is helping to capture the waters.

PAZMINO: As the city tries to make progress, more extreme weather is likely on its way.

NYHAN: No matter if you believe in climate change or not, you don't want water in your place. It's undeniable. PAZMINO: Gloria Pazmino, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ABDELAZIZ: Coming up next on "CNN Newsroom," a potential first for the United Nations, why female candidates have a better chance than ever to claim the top spot in the organization.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[05:42:55]

ABDELAZIZ: The Trump administration is now moving to cancel $810 million in Congress-approved funding for immigrant services, calling it unnecessary. The proposed cuts across various departments include funds intended for refugees, immigrant detainees, and other services, including minority businesses. The White House says that money is for, quote, "unconstitutional race-based purposes."

Now, normally funding is paused while Congress has 45 days to act. But the fiscal year ends on September 30th, and Congress is in recess, which means it's likely the funds will be canceled.

As the U.N. General Assembly winds down in New York, the organization is set to elect a new secretary general. The next leader's five-year term will begin on January 1st. The outgoing secretary general is, of course, Antonio Guterres. He is a Portuguese politician and diplomat who has led the United Nations since 2017. Guterres served as the prime minister of Portugal from 1995 to 2002.

Now, there is a strong chance that a woman may take the helm as five of the eight candidates in the running are female. To discuss this new leadership is Daniel Safran-Hon. He's held several positions in the secretary general's executive offices and now writes independently on U.N. affairs.

Thank you so much for joining us on the program. Could you start by breaking down for me who are the key contenders here for the position of 10th U.N. secretary general, how do their platforms differ? And if I could ask you about this possibility that we may see the first-ever woman leader of the U.N.?

DANIEL SAFRAN-HON, NON-RESIDENT SENIOR ADVISOR, INTERNATIONAL PEACE INSTITUTE: Yes, so good morning and thanks for having me. This is a special race for the job of secretary general, and it's special first because it's competitive for the first time in 30 years.

In the past, the same candidates led the race from the first straw poll. It's a series of votes, informal votes in the Security Council. And now we have a real race between several leading candidates.

[05:45:12]

And right now, the two leading candidates in the race are the Costa Rican Rebeca Grynspan. And in second place, the ambassador of Guyana to the U.N., Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett. And this is also unprecedented in the organization's history. There have never been two women leading in the race for secretary general, and there has never been a woman secretary general in 80 years.

So, we're facing a new situation here where there is a certain chance that one of them might get the job, but they're not there yet. So, the race is competitive, and all eyes will be on the next straw poll ballot that will take place this coming Tuesday. And we'll see where that ballot leads us and what the result is.

ABDELAZIZ: So, a competitive race, and the job starts on January 1. But I think the first and most obvious challenge here is, of course, that the influence of the United Nations is waning significantly. How can a new secretary general meet that challenge? How are the candidates saying that they could meet that challenge? And how could they potentially revive the standing of the U.N. globally?

DANIEL SAFRAN-HON: Yeah, so that's really the major issue that was discussed here in New York on the sidelines of the General Assembly. The big challenge of the organization is making itself irrelevant again, and overcoming its -- both political but financial crisis. And a new secretary general would have to bring new energy to the organization, travel more, be on the ground, illustrate to the member states, but also to the global public, that the organization can -- is willing and can play a more major role in engaging on peacemaking in particular, which is the core raison d'etre of the organization.

It won't be easy, but even trying harder would make a difference. The challenges are major because the world is much more polarized than it's been in a long time, and that has a major effect on how the Security Council operates and how much space the secretary general has to engage on major political issues. But at the same time, an energetic person who engages intensively on peacemaking could bring new momentum to the organization.

One person cannot fix the organization, and one person cannot bring world peace. That's just not possible. But there are hopes for renewal, and I think that is -- is possible to do, but it's an uphill battle.

ABDELAZIZ: A race for U.N. secretary general that is competitive for the first time in nearly 30 years in two women at the very top of that running. Thank you so much, Daniel Safran-Hon, breaking down that all- important election for leadership of the UN.

SAFRAN-HON: Thanks for having me.

ABDELAZIZ: Thank you.

SAFRAN-HON: Thanks a lot.

ABDELAZIZ: Backlash this weekend after a town in eastern Germany banned the installation of a new Holocaust memorial plaque commemorating victims of Nazi persecution. The decision comes as the far-right AfD party tops national polls. Proposed by the AFD and the center-right CDU parties, the ban was approved by a small town in Saxony on Thursday. They argued that people walked on the name, suggesting the plaques be kept at the cemetery memorial instead. Opponents say the point of the small brass plaques is the subtle intrusion into daily life as a reminder of Nazi atrocities.

Two years of student-led protests against the Serbian government's corruption and media control ramped up on Saturday with a massive rally. Student cyclists, you can see them there, had just finished a 10-day tour across the country. The student movement has registered a new candidate list ahead of snap elections that were called for October 25th. Serbia's president called for the election after saying he would resign in response to the protests in June.

Still to come this hour, legendary musicians gather on stage to voice their support for family-run farms across America. Right after the break, a closer look at the Farm Aid fundraiser's 40-year legacy.

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[05:54:01]

ABDELAZIZ: Fans are reacting to reports that one of the most successful soccer clubs could be facing sanctions. The reports claim the English Premier League has found Manchester City guilty of charges connected to breaches of its financial rules.

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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Loads of fans. I think they will have lost the trust of loads of fans. The people, the fans. They'll never have the same trust in their owners and the club again. But there's the true fans that will stay with the club through thick and thin. But obviously they'll lose quite a few just for everything that's going on.

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ABDELAZIZ: Now the Premier League did charge Manchester City back in February of 2023. It alleges the club failed to provide accurate financial information for more than a dozen seasons, failed to comply with financial fair play regulations, and failed to follow rules on profit and sustainability. According to the report, sanctions have not been decided as of yet. And Manchester City is expected to appeal that decision.

[05:55:10]

A star-studded music festival is raising awareness and funding for family farms in America. Farm Aid 2026 saw headline performances from icons including Willie Nelson, Neil Young and John Mellencamp. That trio started the annual benefit concert back in 1985 and have since raised tens of millions of dollars to support family farm-centered agriculture. CNN's Bill Weir was in attendance and brings us the flavor and action from Virginia Beach.

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BILL WEIR, CNN CHIEF CLIMATE CORRESPONDENT: This now 41-year-old tradition started in the mid-80s, back when empathy was cool and live aid was rocking two continents. Bob Dylan took the stage

flanked by a couple of rolling stones, and said, as long as were raising money for famine victims, we should do a similar thing for farmers in the U.S. at the time during the Reagan administration, farm foreclosures and suicides were at an all-time high. But fast forward now, 41 years later, a lot of the same issues remain. You can add on tariffs and trade wars and the price of diesel. So, life for the American independent farmer has only gotten harder over the life of Farm Aid.

This institution has raised about 90 million dollars over the years to support those small farmers. And tonight was a cavalcade of those long-time supporters. Willie Nelson was watching Live Aid and saw Bob Dylan's call out. That's when he called Neil Young. John Mellencamp had started this movement that is now rolling on here.

Neil Young, a rather subdued performance. The hard rock and protest singer, mostly acoustic and emotional early on, but finished with rocking in the free world. And it was young and old, all kinds of generations represented here at Farm Aid 41.

Bill Weir, CNN, Virginia Beach.

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ABDELAZIZ: I'm Salma Abdelaziz. "CNN This Morning" is up next.

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