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Isa Soares Tonight
Putin Vows Quick Response if Europe Provokes Russia; NATO Increases Presence in Eastern Airspace; FIFA Announces First Afghan Women's Refugee Squad; Denmark's Large Military Service in Greenland. Vile Manchester Synagogue Attack on Yom Kippur Leaves 2 Dead; U.S. Government Shutdown Continues to Day 2 with No End in Sight; Putin Vows Response If Europe Provokes Russia. Aired 2:00-3p ET
Aired October 02, 2025 - 14:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[14:00:00]
ISA SOARES, HOST, ISA SOARES TONIGHT: A very warm welcome to the show, everyone, I'm Isa Soares. Tonight, a horrifying attack on the holiest of
days. At least, two people are dead after a terror attack on a synagogue. We are live in Manchester for you with all the details. Plus, the U.S.
government remains closed as negotiations remain at a standstill.
We'll bring you the latest from Washington D.C., of course. And Russian President Vladimir Putin vows a quick response if provoked by Europe, as
European leaders gather to discuss the Kremlin's latest incursions into NATO airspace. But first, tonight, we begin right here in England, where
police are treating a deadly attack at a Manchester synagogue as an act of terrorism.
Two members of the Jewish community were killed in the car-ramming and stabbing attack. And it happened on Yom Kippur; the holiest day in the
Jewish calendar. Police say four people are in the hospital. Authorities say at least, one suspect was shot dead by police. He was wearing what
appeared to be an explosive device.
This image of the suspect is being shared on social media, and a warning though, our next video that we're about to show you is disturbing. And
these images show armed police at the scene appearing to point their weapons at a person lying on the ground. Security is now being stepped up
across the U.K. as a result.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
LAURENCE TAYLOR, ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER, SPECIALIST OPERATIONS, LONDON METROPOLITAN POLICE: And I want to be clear, U.K. policing is mobilizing,
and it's mobilizing fast. Police forces are stepping up patrols across the country at synagogues and Jewish sites, and more widely, to provide
reassurance to all those communities who have been affected by this incident. At counterterrorism police, we're deploying all of our
capabilities in response to what has happened.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SOARES: Meantime, the British Prime Minister chaired an emergency security meeting, a COBRA meeting in the past few hours, and he said the U.K. must
defeat rising anti-Semitism.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KEIR STARMER, PRIME MINISTER, UNITED KINGDOM: Earlier today on Yom Kippur, the holiest day for the Jewish community, a vile individual committed a
terrorist attack that attacked Jews because they are Jews, and attacked Britain because of our values.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SOARES: And Nic Robertson is in Manchester with the very latest. Nic, this is a horrific and senseless attack which has been declared, as we've heard,
a terrorist incident. What more can you tell us about how it unfolded? Just bring us up-to-date with the very latest there from Manchester.
NIC ROBERTSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMATIC EDITOR: And what we're being told by the police is that it could have been much worse. But for the
selfless acts of bravery, of the security staff outside of the synagogue, as you say, Yom Kippur, holiest day of the year, more people than normal
inside the synagogue.
And it appears from what the police have said that the attacker intended to try to get inside with his knife, that he was already brandishing and using
to attack people, having already knocked some people over. So, the police say if it hadn't been for those acts of bravery, he might have been able to
get inside the synagogue, the bloodshed could have been much worse, and the fear in this community, I have to say, is very real.
People we've talked to here, shock, outrage, but fear, a sense that because of the rising anti-Semitism in the U.K., that there was a feeling that
something like this could happen. Of course, no one expects it to happen in their own community, but here, this is a fear today that has been realized.
And although, people are trying to find out, you know, precisely who the victims were, did they know them? Can they speak to their families? Can
they offer condolences? All the usual things. People are just now concerned about the community in the future, should they, as some people have told me
today, move to Israel because security here is bad.
So, there will be perhaps some relief that the government is stepping up, the police are stepping up, providing more security. Certainly a very heavy
presence here today.
[14:05:00]
And perhaps, those two arrests that we heard the police talking about, that they made this afternoon, which by the way, those arrests let barely a
quarter of a mile from the synagogue. A lot more to learn, and are still very heavy police presence right here.
SOARES: And I know the investigation is still ongoing, perhaps there's a lot still we do not know. But what do we know at this stage, Nic? One about
those two arrests, but also about the attack and whether, you know, given there was arrest, the police, not ruling out the possibility that perhaps
he didn't act alone. What are you hearing?
ROBERTSON: In these situations that we've seen happen before, the police go into it with that primary question. Is the situation now under control,
which is what the police have said earlier in the day, or are there others out there, accomplices or people at a house that the attacker left from
early in the day? What we know about those arrests, there were a large number of police.
It was a quiet residential street, barely a quarter of a mile from the synagogue itself. It's not clear that greater Manchester police are not
saying that the two men arrested have anything to do with the attacker involved, but they have, in the scope of talking about this attack,
mentioned these two additional arrests, how the -- how these are precisely interlinked, we just don't know at the moment.
But if the attacker -- and this is an 'F' at the moment --
SOARES: Yes --
ROBERTSON: We don't know if they had accomplices, police would have wanted to move very quickly, and these arrests did happen very quickly.
SOARES: Absolutely. And this is very early on, lots of questions, lots of answers that we will get some -- hopefully some clarity on in the next 24
hours or so. Nic, I know you'll continue, of course, to work your sources. Thank you very much indeed. And as we've noted, as Nic was noting there,
this horrific attack has taken place on Yom Kippur, that is the holiest day in the Jewish calendar.
And it comes to a close in around 20 minutes, in fact, from now, at which time we will be joined by the conservative MP David Simmons; he chairs the
All Party Parliamentary Group for British Jews, so stick around for that conversation in about 20 minutes time right here on CNN. Well, the U.S.
says it hopes as well as expects Hamas to accept its plan for Gaza in what's become a waiting game.
President Trump will draw a red line on how long to give Hamas to accept an Israel-backed proposal to halt fighting in Gaza. That is according to White
House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt speaking on "Fox News". Inside Gaza meantime, Palestinians are attempting to flee Gaza city as Israel presses
on with efforts to capture Gaza's biggest urban area.
Many are carrying their belongings on foot, as you can see, following an Israeli statement that this was the last chance for residents still inside
to escape. One Palestinian woman says she doesn't know where she will end up. Have a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (through translator): We came on foot. We couldn't find any ride, and we don't have money for transportation any way. So, here
we are, walking and even there, we won't find a place. We don't know where we are going. We will probably end up throwing ourselves by the shore or
anywhere.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SOARES: Well, Israel has accepted almost all boats sailing as part of an aid flotilla toward Gaza, detaining those on board, including Swedish
activist Greta Thunberg. The ships were trying to deliver life-saving items, including food, tents, baby formula, as well as medicine. The
interception has triggered global condemnation as well as demonstrations, including in Italy's capital, Rome.
A major Italian labor union has called for a national general strike on Friday to express solidarity with the flotilla and the people of Gaza.
Protesters from Buenos Aires, Argentina and Mexico City all the way to Madrid, Spain, have marched in a show of support. Our Paula Hancocks has
more on how the ships were stopped.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
PAULA HANCOCKS, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Water sprays the crew of a Gaza-bound aid ship.
(FEMALE SCREAMING)
HANCOCKS: The global Sumud flotilla says one of its vessels was, quote, "deliberately rammed and others targeted by water cannons by the Israeli
military.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Put your life jackets on.
HANCOCKS: One-by-one, dozens of vessels were intercepted in international waters and boarded by Israeli forces. Live streams were cut. Activists
detained.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: (SPEAKING IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE)
HANCOCKS: Numerous flotillas have tried to break Israel's 18-year blockade on Gaza in the past, all were intercepted by Israel or came under some form
of attack.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Free Palestine!
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Free Palestine!
[14:10:00]
HANCOCKS: This is the largest flotilla to date. Organizers call the interception, quote, "an illegal attack", saying they were carrying food,
medicine and baby formula. Israel says the activists were, quote, "not interested in aid, but in provocation". As the interceptions began
Wednesday night, pro-Palestinian protesters took to the streets in Italy, Turkey and several other countries.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): This is a non-violent flotilla. We have no weapons. We carry medicine, food and serum to save lives.
HANCOCKS: Israel released footage of the most famous passenger, Swedish activist Greta Thunberg, saying she is, quote, "safe and healthy".
GRETA THUNBERG, ACTIVIST: If you are watching this video, I have been abducted and taken against my will by Israeli forces. Our humanitarian
mission was non-violent and abiding by international law.
HANCOCKS: The Israeli Foreign Ministry says activists are being transported to Israel where their deportation to Europe will be processed.
In 2010, Israel's military killed nine Turkish nationals when it boarded the Mavi Marmara flotilla, trying to break the blockade, it sparked
international outrage. More than 500 participants from dozens of different countries did not make it through the Israeli blockade, nor were they
expected to.
What they did was increase international scrutiny on the desperate humanitarian situation in Gaza, at a time that Israel finds itself
increasingly isolated over its actions there. Paula Hancocks, CNN, Abu Dhabi.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SOARES: Our thanks to Paula for that report. Well, it's day two of the U.S. government shutdown. Congress remains deadlocked. The White House is
threatening to fire thousands of federal workers, and the political blame game, well, it continues. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt offered this
explanation just a short time ago. Have a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KAROLINE LEAVITT, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: We're going to look at agencies that don't align with the administration's values that we feel are
a waste of the taxpayer dollar. And look, the -- unfortunately, these conversations are happening because we don't have any money coming into the
federal government right now.
And so, the President wants to be a good steward of the American taxpayer dollar during a time when our balance sheet is looking very grim, because
the Democrats chose to shut the government down.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SOARES: And it is worth noting that those are taxpayer dollars that have already been congressionally appropriated. Today, President Trump plans to
meet with White House budget director to discuss what cuts will be made to federal agencies, and whether they will be permanent. Meanwhile, several
agencies as well as activities deemed essential are still open.
The head of Air Traffic Controllers Union calls this moment a, quote, "unnecessary distraction". Lawmakers are not on Capitol Hill today due to
the Yom Kippur holiday. Senators are scheduled to hold a vote Friday to reopen the government. Alayna Treene joins us now from the White House. And
Alayna, the shutdown drama, it seems to continue, as do the threats from President Trump.
ALAYNA TREENE, CNN WHITE HOUSE REPORTER: That's exactly right, and I think a lot of people are trying to figure out exactly what this administration
is going to do about, you know, taking advantage of it, which is what we've now heard several people the President himself included, repeatedly argue
they are going to do.
Actually, the way that the President framed it this morning was that, he said he couldn't believe that Democrats had given them this, quote,
"opportunity", and to inflict some of the key priorities that his team has had, mainly the priorities of Russell Vought, the White House's budget
chief. Now, to get into this some more, and you heard that from Karoline Leavitt about how the President is going to meet with vote today to decide
exactly which agencies they're looking at cutting.
She said it was going to be a number in the thousands when it comes to the scope of the layoffs that they're looking at. I mean, that is a key
question. Is which agencies and really which workers could be targeted here? Now, I can tell you that Russell Vought is someone who has long known
and had a lot -- has a long list of agencies that he likely wants to target right now.
We heard the President and the White House Press Secretary argue that they are going to be agencies and workers that do not align with President
Donald Trump's agenda. But again, it's very much unclear which specifically, which agencies they're looking at. That's all going to be
decided in this meeting.
But there's a couple key things I think we need to be clear of as well is that, you know, the White House is framing this as an opportunity to kind
of expand the President's executive authority here, make some of these cuts without congressional approval because the government is shut down. But I
remind you, we saw mass layoffs earlier this year as well, back when, you know, Elon Musk was helming DOGE, and he was still a part of this
administration.
And so, I have some questions about why, you know, they are arguing that this is, you know, this is an opportunity for them and why they feel they
have to do it during a shutdown. And some of the conversations I've had so far, I should note that, you know, they're still sorting through some of
the messaging on this, but a lot of this, of course, is politics.
[14:15:00]
And there is an argument that has been made even before the government was ultimately shut down earlier this week, that you know, Republicans believe
this could potentially play politically well for them, and that's because they do believe they have a good case to make to the American people about
Democrats being the ones at fault here.
Again, that's -- there's so much time that we have to see what -- how that pans out and if that's true or not. And I would note the recent polls show
that Americans are blaming both parties for this shutdown. But that's kind of the thinking, at least, from the people in the building behind me. Isa.
SOARES: Yes, I mean, I'm glad you brought up the polls. You know, the fact that they think that they will do politically well seeing this is an
opportunity because according to a poll in the "Washington Post", I think, Alayna, 47 percent of Americans blame the GOP for the shutdown, as you can
see there, 30 percent blaming the Democrats.
From those you were speaking to in the White House behind you, are they hoping that the Democrats, you know, are going to fold here, they're going
to ride this out? How long? How long for? Where do they draw the line here?
TREENE: I think that is an excellent question for now. I think we've seen both sides seem dug in, at least from the White House perspective. They
have -- they've shown no signs of thinking that they are going to fold at all. They really do believe that the onus is on Democrats. And I would
remind you that the last time we saw a government shutdown was when this President was in office, except that was during his first term.
And it went on for several -- over a month. And so, he's shown in the past a willingness to kind of, you know, see, stick it out and have the shutdown
take place for a number of days, if not weeks. And so, hopefully, you know, hopefully that's not the case this time. And I don't think many people want
that in either party.
But there is definitely a blame-game of course, going on here. But at least in my conversations with people in this building, they argue that it really
is up to the Democrats to be the ones to kind of come to the table and begin negotiating once again. We'll see if that ends up happening. But for
now, both sides seem dug in, in their own positions.
SOARES: Indeed, day two, Alayna, you and I will be speaking more often, and I have no doubt. Good to see you --
TREENE: Yes --
SOARES: Thanks very much.
TREENE: Thank you, Isa.
SOARES: And still to come tonight, officials fear time has run out as they shift from rescue to recovery in the aftermath of a school collapse in
Indonesia. And then Europe under pressure. Leaders sit down to discuss how to fortify defenses following incursions into EU airspace. Both those
stories after this short break.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[14:20:00]
SOARES: Welcome back everyone. Hopes fade in Indonesia as crews work to search for survivors of Monday's boarding school collapse. Officials have
now made the agonizing decision to move from rescue to recovery. Five teenage boys were pulled alive from the wreckage on Wednesday.
Officials on the scene believe up to 59 people still remain trapped in the rubble. Five have been confirmed dead. Here's CNN's Ivan Watson with the
very latest for you.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
IVAN WATSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): A rescue from the ruins. Indonesian emergency workers have been digging and cutting in a
desperate effort to find dozens of boys trapped since their school suddenly collapsed on Monday. This mother's prayers answered when rescuers plucked
her son from the rubble.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (through translator): I thought there was only a 20 percent chance he'd make it, but I kept saying, in the name of God, my
child is strong, my child is strong. I kept reciting. Praises for the prophet.
WATSON: But for too many other families, an agonizing vigil that's now turned to despair. Officials bring in heavy machinery and announce they've
detected no more signs of life. Parents line up to give DNA samples to help identify bodies of young victims. This woman's 17-year-old son Ahmed, is
among those missing.
"My hope is fading", she says. "I need them to find his body soon so that he can be buried beside his father's grave." The Al Khoziny Islamic
Boarding School was a four-story building in the Indonesian city of Sidoarjo. Students were gathering for afternoon prayers on Monday as
construction workers were reportedly pouring concrete on the roof of the school, that's when the building collapsed.
A top Indonesian government official now calls this a wake-up call. Authorities say they've launched an investigation into the cause of this
deadly disaster. Ivan Watson, CNN.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SOARES: Hurricane Imelda is now a post-tropical cyclone over the central Atlantic Ocean. The storm's downgrade comes as it moves away from Bermuda,
where the core passed over the island late Wednesday into Thursday, leaving about 18,000 homes without power Thursday morning.
Imelda is expected to still cause heavy surf and rip currents for Bermuda, the Bahamas and the eastern coast of the United States. And still to come
tonight, Ukraine's President gives a stark warning to Europe's leaders as Russia accuses the EU and NATO of preparing provocations against Moscow. We
have the details for you.
And on board a NATO surveillance flight, CNN's Fred Pleitgen rides along on a mission called Eastern Sentry. Details after the break.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[14:25:00]
SOARES: Welcome back, everyone. Russia's President says that his country will respond quickly if provoked by Europe, but that Moscow is not planning
to attack NATO. Speaking in Sochi just a short time ago, Vladimir Putin said that there was a militarization of Europe, and that it was being
driven by hysteria and nonsense.
His comments come after Europe's leader sat down at a summit, if you remember, in Denmark today. They've been hashing out options to help
bolster security across the continent, including a so-called drone wall. Earlier, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that only united
effort would truly guarantee security. Have a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY, PRESIDENT, UKRAINE: When we talk about the drone wall, we are talking about all of Europe, not just on one country. If the
Russians dare to launch drones against Poland or violate the airspace of northern European countries, it means this can happen anywhere in western
Europe, in the south. We need fast and effective response and defense forces that know how to deal with drones.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SOARES: Let's get more on all this. Michael Bociurkiw is a former spokesperson for the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe. A
familiar face on the show. He joins me now. Michael, good to have you back on the show. Let me pick up, not with Zelenskyy, but with what we heard
from President Putin who spoke -- I lost track of how long he was speaking for, but he did say that Russia would respond should Europe provoke Moscow,
amid what he called an allied militarization of the continent.
Driven, he says, by hysteria. Of course, we know it's not hysteria. We have seen incursions in Poland, Romania, Estonia, and now we're talking about --
Europe is talking about a drone war. What do you make of what's come out of these meetings so far? Two days of meetings.
MICHAEL BOCIURKIW, SENIOR FELLOW, ATLANTIC COUNCIL: Yes, good to be back on with you, Isa. Well, this is Mr. Putin doing what he usually does, you
know, rattling the saber. And mostly, I think, for domestic audience, the - - firing them up. And, you know, let's face it, Russia is already well into Europe with these incursions that you mentioned with other forms of hybrid
warfare, including here just a few days ago for the past months, trying to destabilize Moldova and the elections that were held here.
So, you know, I just wish, Isa, that European leaders would stop sleepwalking their way through this all and most importantly, prepare their
populations for what's about to come. Because if Mr. Putin gets Ukraine, so goes the Europe that we know of today.
SOARES: Let's talk then about the options, because European leaders meeting in Copenhagen, we certainly heard this yesterday have been, you
know, discussing employing Russian assets, those frozen Russian assets --
BOCIURKIW: Yes --
SOARES: To kind of to ease the burden, right? Of supporting Ukraine from their own national budgets. Is there consensus on this? Because I
understand there are legal concerns too here, Michael.
BOCIURKIW: Yes, we're talking about a 140 billion euro loan, more or less half of what total frozen Russian assets are in Europe right now. The big
holdouts seem to be Belgium. After all, the home of Euroclear, where these assets sits. And you know, the Prime Minister, I mean, I don't blame him.
He is somewhat anxious about the reputation to Belgium.
He's very anxious about the burden that might fall on Belgium, should Russia pursue recovery of these assets that would go to a loan in Ukraine.
And of course, we also have on the sidelines, Hungary and Slovakia, which means if they don't agree, we don't have the entire block and other
innovative measures need to be used to get that money to Ukraine.
But one quick factoid here, there's a roughly a $3.5 billion a month budget hole in the Ukrainian economy. But also, let's put this into perspective,
140 billion euros, that's only about 11 or 12 months of Russian energy revenues. So, Russia is really kicking up dust about this, but they'll
eventually get over it.
ISA SOARES, CNN INTERNATIONAL HOST: Well, you we've heard what Kremlin had to say, saying it's illegally confiscating Russian property and Russia, I
think they said it we call it theft. But you argue -- and I get your newsletter, you argue the choice is simple, pay less now or pay much, much
more later. Then what is that message to Europe? If you're looking at the long-term here, Michael?
BOCIURKIW: Yes. Well, yes, in world briefing, I did put there clearly is that if Ukraine doesn't -- sorry, if Europe doesn't attack together and
defend Ukraine, and we've recently been seeing new moves by the Trump administration to not only provide better intelligence to Ukraine for long
range strikes, but also better weaponry, you know, if they don't get their act together and defend Ukraine, it will become a lot more expensive for
Europe. We're already seeing the destabilization caused by those incursions, but also things like cutting of submarine cables, sanction
evasions.
And, you know, if Europe -- I think the message is finally getting into the Polish leaders, at least because they're very close to Ukraine. If Europe
doesn't put up the defenses now, they will have to start thinking in the not-too-distant future about building bomb shelters and kindergartens and
in schools across Europe. The stakes are very, very high.
Mr. Putin is an autocrat who loves to probe, loves to test, see how far he can go. And I got to say he's doing a pretty good job so far. It's caused a
lot of anxiety.
SOARES: And causing -- most likely will cause anxiety. If it's true, what we're hearing, and this is according to TASS, Russian media saying, and
this is coming from what we heard today from President Putin, that the Russian army, Michael, has entered Severus, Kostyantynivka, and --
apologies for my accent, Chornomorsk. What is the significance particularly of Kostyantynivka?
BOCIURKIW: Yes, Kostyantynivka is part of the 50-kilometer so-called fortress built. These are heavily fortified cities with very, very
important military and industrial infrastructure. And we -- this doesn't come as a huge surprise because for more than a month, Russian forces have
been closing in on Kostyantynivka from three different directions. But should they take it, huge blow to Ukrainian military morale and to
Ukrainian messaging. And it could potentially open up the way for them to get closer to Kramatorsk and Slovyansk, pretty much opening the door for
them taking the rest of the Donbas. This is something that Ukraine has fought very heavily for to defend.
But I think you and I have spoken in the past about the problems on the Ukrainian side too, the lack of rotation, the lack of younger men coming
into the military. So, there's also a whole stack of problems on the Ukrainian side that need to be dealt with. But no doubt about it, it's not
a game changer, but it's certainly going to make an impact militarily for the right.
SOARES: Indeed. If true, of course, is according to TASS. But I appreciate it, Michael, such important context and analysis. Thank you very much.
Great to see you, Michael, as always. Thank you.
BOCIURKIW: Thank you.
SOARES: Now, while a so-called drone wall, as Michael was talking about, there could be a way to bolster European security, a measure underway right
now is NATO surveillance flights over parts of Eastern Europe. CNN was invited to ride along on one eight-hour mission. And who better to send it
than our Fred Pleitgen.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
FREDERIK PLEITGEN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): A quick takeoff from an airbase in Western Germany. We're on a NATO E3 Sentry
surveillance plane on a mission deterring Russian incursions into NATO airspace.
PLEITGEN: The reason why these flights are so important is that this plane has a massive radar on top, and it can see really far in all directions,
about 650 kilometers for higher flying objects, a little less for lower flying objects. But that means that it can see planes and other aircraft
coming towards NATO airspace long before they get there.
PLEITGEN (voice-over): While Moscow is praising what they say are improved relations between Russian leader Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Donald
Trump, it's also been testing NATO's readiness. NATO jets recently scrambling to shoot down several Russian combat drones that crossed into
member state Poland's airspace.
[14:35:00]
And in late September, NATO says Russian MiG-31 fighters flew over Estonia's airspace for 12 minutes while alliance interceptors were rushed
to escort them back out, even though Russia denies its planes ever crossed into NATO territory.
This is part of the U.S. and its allies answer, more surveillance flights, the operation named Eastern Sentry. Captain Jacob Anderson says if Russian
jets come close, they'll see them.
CAPT. JACOB ANDERSON, U.S. AIR FORCE: At that point, we probably have been watching that for a while. So, we're pushing them over the military
tactical data links. So, it's not just us that are aware of it, it's the whole theater is aware that this track is approaching the airspace.
PLEITGEN: If we go back and look at the map, you can see that we're cruising around Eastern Europe right now. This is Kaliningrad, that part of
Russia. You have Belarus down here. So, the plane is situated here, but can still look very far into territory even beyond the borders of NATO.
PLEITGEN (voice-over): And the E3 needs to stay in this area for hours, only possible thanks to U.S. Air Force tankers providing gas to extend the
mission. Air-to-air refueling a plane the size of a commercial jetliner is extremely challenging, the pilots tell me.
MAJ. JASON SANCHEZ, U.S. AIR FORCE: Essentially, the power management, the lateral management, ensuring you feel nice and comfortable in your closure
to and from a certain position.
PLEITGEN (voice-over): Crew members come from various NATO member states, all of them with the same stake in the mission success. Lieutenant Colonel
Stephen Wahnon tells me.
LT. COL. STEPHEN WAHNON, U.S. AIR FORCE: It's not one nation, it's all of NATO that's represented on this aircraft right now. So, when we are
patrolling these borders, they're our borders, right. So, it means a lot for us to be here to defend our borders.
PLEITGEN (voice-over): And NATO says surveillance, seeing possible threats before they get close, is key to keeping those borders safe.
Fred Pleitgen, CNN, Geilenkirchen, Germany.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SOARES: And our thanks to Fred and team for that report. And still to come tonight, years of frustration and fighting for the right to play gives way
to hope for a group of young Afghan women. Still ahead, their inspiring journey from defying the Taliban to realizing their dream. Amanda Davies
brings us that report.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SOARES: A group of young athletes from Afghanistan is celebrating victory before they even take the pitch. FIFA is backing their bid to compete as
the first Afghan refugee women's football team. CNN World Sport Anchor Amanda Davies has their inspirational story.
[14:40:00]
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm going to start.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: So, congratulations to the 23 players.
AMANDA DAVIES, CNN SPORT ANCHOR: 7:00 a.m. on a Friday morning in the northwest of England. A milestone moment after a sleepless night, awake
with nerves.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You should feel so proud.
DAVIES (voice-over): Susan, Sevin, Elaha, Najma and Zainab, all named as part of the squad for the first FIFA-backed Afghan women's refugee team.
Said to be reunited with fellow Afghan players scattered in exile around the world to represent their country at last.
ELAHA SAFDARI, AFGHAN FOOTBALL PLAYER: Obviously, just an amazing moment for all of us. I can't wait to share it with my family. They're probably
going to see me from TV, but the thing is, it's how sad it is that I don't have them by my side to celebrate them like other -- my teammates who are
going to share with their family.
DAVIES (voice-over): In 2021, Elaha was 17 and had earned her first call up for the Afghan women's national team as a goalkeeper. She never got to
play. For her and her teammates, their role as footballers and what that meant in the eyes of the Taliban meant they were forced to flee their homes
and country. Elaha's father was ill, so her parents were unable to travel. She and her brother had to leave without them.
DAVIES: I feel very honored being your passenger after you just passed your test. Am I safe?
SAFDARI: Yes. I feel like you guys should trust in me.
DAVIES (voice-over): For everything they've lost, there are so many ways this group live in defiance of the rules the Taliban have imposed on women
in Afghanistan. Learning to drive, gaining an education, securing jobs and playing football.
DAVIES: The only thing they've not been able to do is go from playing their football here in Doncaster to representing their country, wearing the
shirt of Afghanistan on the international stage.
NARGES MAYELI, AFGHAN FOOTBALL PLAYER: FIFA has said that Afghanistan's women national team title should come from Afghanistan Football Federation
which we do not accept, and it is running by Taliban now. And we do not recognize Taliban.
ZAINAB MOZZAFARI, AFGHAN FOOTBALL PLAYER: We want the people to recognize us as an international women's Afghan. And we are tired of calling -- get
called refugee. We've been called refugee for four years now.
DAVIES (voice-over): Because the Taliban believe women playing sport is against Sharia law and have refused to acknowledge the women's team, their
ability to play internationally has depended on the intervention of world footballs governing body, FIFA.
It has taken until now for them to create the Afghan women's refugee team. Set to take part in a four-team tournament in Dubai in October.
None of this would have been possible without Khalida Popal, the first ever captain of the original Afghan women's side, founded in 2007.
KHALIDA POPAL, FORMER AFGHAN FOOTBALL CAPTAIN: We have been screaming out loud. We have been knocking every closed door to listen, to get FIFA's
attention, to listen to our voices. And we have really faced silence. For four years, these girls lost their time.
DAVIES (voice-over): FIFA did not respond to our questions about the desire of some of the players to be referred to as the national team. It
did, however, stress in a statement that its financing, facilities and personnel, in what it called a significant and landmark step forward in
giving Afghan players the international platform and recognition to which they aspire.
Amanda Davies, CNN, Doncaster.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SOARES: Keep knocking on those doors, girls. I hope you go all the way. And FIFA has told CNN that it has worked to improve the situation of Afghan
women's football in the country and for plays in exile since the evacuation from Afghanistan in 2021.
Well, in Greenland, Denmark's stage is largest ever military drills last month with the publicity stated goal of deterring Russia and China. But
some wonder if these war games are really a message for U.S. President Donald Trump and his interest in acquiring the massive island. Matthew
Chance has this story.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN CHIEF GLOBAL AFFAIRS CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It's a vast landscape, remote and virtually untamed. But Greenland has emerged
as a key Arctic battleground as Russia and China vie with NATO allies for Arctic influence.
CNN was invited here by the Danish military to observe their biggest ever combat exercise dubbed Arctic Light.
[14:45:00]
Much of Greenland, ruled by Denmark for three centuries, is a moonscape of jagged ice. A frozen desert rich in resources the size of Alaska and
California combined. Danish military officials say this unforgiving terrain is virtually unconquerable. But they're training hard to repulse any would-
be attackers.
SOREN ANDERSEN, COMMANDER, DANISH JOINT ARCTIC COMMAND (through translator): We are here to protect Greenland. And in order to protect
Greenland, we have to train. And -- because if you're not up here and conduct training, you're not able to defend Greenland. So, that's what
we're doing.
CHANCE: What are the security threats to Greenland? Who are you protecting it from?
ANDERSEN (through translator): Yes, against Russia. That is the main threat for Greenland. There's not a threat now, but there's a future
threat. So, we are looking into a threat when the war in Ukraine is over.
CHANCE (voice-over): But such a remote danger begs the question why Denmark is ramping up military spending right now to the tune of billions
of dollars and pouring its limited resources into the Arctic.
CHANCE: Well, Greenland has become a highly contested territory, seen as strategically important. And Denmark has deployed its air force, its navy
and its land assets here to show that it is in charge very much and is increasing its presence.
Now, the purpose of this exercise is to deter countries like Russia and China, we're told by Danish military officials, which are increasingly
active in the Arctic region. But the real message, the real target audience for all of this is in Washington and President Trump.
DONALD TRUMP, U.S. PRESIDENT: We need Greenland for national security and even international security, and we're working with everybody involved to
try and get it.
CHANCE (voice-over): That ambition appears to have dropped off the White House agenda, at least for now.
TRUMP: One way or the other, we're going to get it.
CHANCE (voice-over): But in the icy fjords of Greenland, with naval exercises underway too, it's still seen as the most pressing diplomatic
challenge.
Although Denmark's top general, who CNN met on board a Danish frigate, was careful not to admit it in public.
CHANCE: Is the real reason for these maneuvers the remarks by President Trump about the sovereignty of Greenland? Is it intended to send a message
to Washington?
MICHAEL HYLDGAARD, DANISH CHIEF OF DEFENSE: This is a military exercise. It is to demonstrate our ability to protect Greenland, and that's the
military side of it.
CHANCE: It's not meant as a message to Washington, that Greenland can protect this -- that Denmark can protect Greenland?
HYLDGAARD: I'm not a politician. So, I have a military task.
CHANCE (voice-over): But as we flew out of Greenland, it was clear that military task carries a key Danish political goal, not just to deter Moscow
and Beijing from ever invading this vast Arctic expanse, but also to convince Washington there's no need to take Greenland as its own.
Matthew Chance, CNN, in Greenland.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SOARES: And we'll have much more after this short break.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[14:50:00]
SOARES: Welcome back, everyone. Britain's Prince William is opening up about very personal matters in a new television interview. The prince made
an appearance on actor Eugene Levy's program, "The Reluctant Traveler." You can see there.
He said 2024 was the hardest year of his life, with both his wife, Kate, the Prince of Wales, and father, King Charles, of course, undergoing cancer
treatment. The royal also talked about missing his grandparents during a tour of Windsor Castle. Here's a short clip.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
EUGENE LEVY, HOST, "THE RELUCTANT TRAVELER": Miss your grandmother?
PRINCE WILLIAM, PRINCE OF WALES: I do, actually. Yes, I do miss my grandmother and my grandfather. Yes, it's been quite a bit of change. So,
you do sort of -- you think about them not being here anymore. And particularly being in Windsor, for me, Windsor is her. So, she loved it
here. She spent most of her time here.
Showing you around today is very much the case. I'm trying to make sure I'm doing it the way she'd want you to see it. She had her horses here as well,
as you can imagine, it was a big deal for her. So, that's why she loved it here.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SOARES: That is just so lovely. Max Foster joins me now. He really opens up, doesn't he? How did you -- from the clips you've seen, what did you
take away, Max?
MAX FOSTER, CNN ROYAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, I think it was, I think it was fortuitous in a way. So, Levy does the show, he goes to different countries
and he looks for local hosts. And the producers just aimed really high.
SOARES: Why not?
FOSTER: So, he went to the future king, and he agreed. And there's a bit of an interchange about "American Pie." He watched "American Pie," he liked
"American Pie." So, I think he agreed to it there. Also, it's not -- it's interesting because there's a lot of journalism in it, but it's not being
done by journalists. So, I think maybe William was able to control it in a way. He was able to say things and they weren't followed up. But you could
argue as well, he opened up a bit more because of that.
So, he goes through, you know, all the issues that you and I would ask. It's quite remarkable. And it's in three sections going through the castle.
You see -- you know, he talks about how he used to play there as a kid, how his kids play there. Then they go on a walk and then it ends in a pub where
Levy really does go into the deeper issues.
SOARES: And the clip that we played there, he was referring, of course, to the late queen, his grandmother. What does he say? Speak to that
relationship, that bond that they've had.
FOSTER: Well, you know, he talks about missing her, how his grandfather, Philip, had this amazing sense of humor. And it was interesting. So, he's
got this sense of -- obviously, I think Levy was very interested in the history. So -- and he said, you get overwhelmed by the history of your
role. And you particularly see that walking around the castle.
He points out Henry VIII's armor, you know, and he's part of that history. And he said, no, I don't at all. He said, what overwhelms me is family and
stress. When the family's stressed, I get stressed. And so, I did ask, were they referring there to the wider family and the Harry stuff? And it
wasn't, it was about the princess specifically. But last year, he describes the worst year of his life when he found out about his wife's cancer and
then his father's cancer. And then, that's where -- you can sort of see where it becomes overwhelming, because then he gets asked about, does he
think about being king? And he goes, no, I think about -- in the context of George, he thinks about being king.
SOARES: That's interesting.
FOSTER: And then the privacy issues and the immense pressure in terms of privacy. And then he says, it's safe to say there's going to be change.
SOARES: Yes, and there's change, yes.
FOSTER: Which is when -- but Levy doesn't follow up on that, which was the interesting part.
SOARES: And that to you is key.
FOSTER: Well, it is, because he's basically saying, tradition's really important and history's important, but it's not everything and it needs to
be relevant. And Levy, at the beginning of the show, talks about the history being the attraction. So, it's kind of -- he's opening up the
mystique and make it less mystical by showing he's normal, but that might take away some of the attraction.
SOARES: And that is interesting because, you know, the worries, the concerns that he had day to day will resonate with so many people,
especially when you're talking a closest part of the family, not wider -- the wider historical part of the family.
[14:55:00]
FOSTER: And you see his normality, I think, in a way that you haven't seen for years. And he's a smart guy, William. He knows that everything he says
is going to be analyzed. So, it's intentional to show that he's a regular guy. And I think the -- coming -- arriving on a scooter, when there's this
moment where Levy's waiting for him and he's late and he just turns up on the scooter, I think he was setting the tone there, saying, I'm a regular
person who rides a scooter.
SOARES: You saw a different side to him? I mean, obviously you've interviewed him before. You know him well.
FOSTER: I didn't really because that's -- you know, I know what he's like off camera. I thought it was very interesting that you saw him on camera
like that. And he's basically opening up life behind castle walls, which I think his mother, I wouldn't say she'd have an issue with it because she
got to evolve the monarchy, but she would never have done that.
SOARES: Yes. Fascinating. Looking forward to seeing it.
FOSTER: Sorry, his grandmother.
SOARES: His grandmother.
FOSTER: Yes.
SOARES: Thank you very much. Max, that does it. We're told we're running out of time, but no, we've got 30 seconds.
FOSTER: Maybe they just got bored with what I was saying.
SOARES: No, well, it's your show. I don't want to eat up into your show. It's a show. That does it for me for this hour. "What We Know" with Max
Foster is up next. Don't go anywhere.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[15:00:00]
END
