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One World with Zain Asher

Powerful Hurricane Melissa Slams Into Southern Jamaica; Jamaican Prime Minister Speaks To CNN As Melissa Roars Ashore; Melissa Is Now Second-Strongest Hurricane In Atlantic History; Cuban Residents Brace Hurricane Melissa; Over 40M Americans At Risk Of Losing Critical Food Aid; U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz wants Sanctions On Nigerian Leaders; Israeli PM Netanyahu Orders New Strikes In Gaza; Aired 12-1p ET

Aired October 28, 2025 - 12:00   ET

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

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[12:00:48]

ZAIN ASHER, CNN ANCHOR: Coming to you live from New York, I'm Zain Asher.

BIANNA GOLODRYGA, CNN ANCHOR: And I'm Bianna Golodryga. You're watching the second hour of "One World."

The warning from the National Hurricane Center is ominous. This is an extremely dangerous and life-threatening situation. Of course, they're

talking about Hurricane Melissa, which is slamming into southern Jamaica. At last check, the storm was just southeast of Negril.

ASHER: But from the satellite images, you can actually see the well-formed eye. Experts are bracing for what's already being called the storm of the

century.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JENS LAERKE, SPOKESPERSON, OCHA: I think everybody is really mobilized to the maximum. If we are indeed looking at the storm of the century, which we

are.

Time will tell how hard it's going to hit Jamaica, how hard it's going to hit Cuba, how hard it's going to hit Bahamas and -- and further down the

line.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ASHER: Melissa is battering the island with wind gusts of up to 300 kilometers or 186 miles an hour and a storm surge of 4 meters or 13 feet

last hour.

I actually spoke with a restaurant owner in the Alligator Pond area of Mandeville, Jamaica who described what he was seeing before the eye hit

land. Here's part of that conversation.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

EVROL CHRISTIAN, OWNER, LITTLE OCHIE SEAFOOD RESTAURANT: We're seeing feet, rising up to 15 feet above, going over walls and going over houses in

Alligator Pond. This is going to be a very dangerous problem.

And after I talk to you, I'm going to higher ground.

ASHER: And are you safe where you are, Evrol, right now? I mean, you describe the storm approaching as intense of a lightning.

CHRISTIAN: Well -- well -- well, I can describe will -- where we are. I am safe where I'm talking to you from for now. What is sea leverage rising.

And it looked like it's going to be a big storm coming.

ASHER: Evrol, Jamaica has never seen anything like this. It has never seen a Category Five storm in its history. Obviously, a lot of Jamaican

residents remember what -- what Beryl was like.

But just explain to us when you talk to other people who are trying to evacuate, what is the level of uncertainty, the level of fear, the intense

emotions that a lot of people are fearing as -- as Hurricane Melissa hits landfall?

CHRISTIAN: Well -- well -- well, everybody in Alligator Pond is trying out now. You know, I'm sorry that I never (INAUDIBLE) yesterday. I'm going to

higher ground. But what I'm seeing now the sea level is coming over the wall and we're in zero (INAUDIBLE), it's completely (INAUDIBLE) so we're in

zero in Alligator Pond.

ASHER: Evrol, where are you going to? Where are you going to be evacuating to right now?

CHRISTIAN: Well, I'm going more inland. I'm going more inland where -- we're going to see, I think, we want to get to come over. I'm heading

inland.

ASHER: What message do you want to share with other Jamaicans, other people who are in low lying areas? A lot of people might be -- go ahead.

CHRISTIAN: This is -- this is a big one and it must be taken serious. I'm telling everybody in Alligator Pond to evacuate now. Evacuate now.

ASHER: Are you seeing and hearing a lot of people who are choosing not to evacuate in order to protect their homes or their businesses?

CHRISTIAN: Yes. A lot of people refuse from evacuate. But what we're seeing now, to all -- to all Alligator Pond (INAUDIBLE) too late to evacuate, I

have to go to higher ground. Well, we cannot stay on the sea no longer -- no longer.

ASHER: And are those people -- are any more people -- now that the storm is approaching, are any of those people heeding to the warnings based on what

you're seeing?

[12:05:04]

CHRISTIAN: It's like (INAUDIBLE) picture of what's going on now, it is unbelievable in Alligator Pond. The whole coastline is gone.

ASHER: The whole coastline is gone. Talk to us about --

CHRISTIAN: Yes. The whole coastline is gone.

ASHER: Talk to us about how windy it is, the level of rain you're -- you're feeling right now. Just give us a sense of what you're feeling and what

you're experiencing as you look out into the sea.

CHRISTIAN: Well, when I look out in the sea, the wind is as high as around 15 feet. And the breeze, the wind -- the wind speed presently is like I

can't see the wind. It's -- it's -- it's an unbelievable.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

GOLODRYGA: That was Zain speaking with a restaurant owner in Alligator Pond just in the last hour.

We are now joined by Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness, who is in Kingston for us.

Mr. Prime Minister, thank you so much for taking time now of all times to speak with us and give us a sense of where things stand.

As we noted, Hurricane Melissa is making landfall as a Category Five hurricane, something that Jamaica has never witnessed or experienced

before, 175-mile per hour winds.

What is your latest assessment of conditions on the ground? And are emergency services able to currently operate safely?

ANDREW HOLNESS, JAMAICAN PRIME MINISTER: Well, as you would have heard from all our citizens, the hurricane is making landfall. Waves as high as 15 to

17 feet, which were predicted. So residents who are on the southern coast, westerly would be feeling severe impacts of the storm because that is where

the eye of the hurricane, where the strongest winds are centered.

It's projected that the hurricane will move across Jamaica, the southern end of Jamaica. It will affect the parishes of St. Elizabeth, part of

Manchester into Trelawny and then exit.

Along that path, we expect that there will be a severe damage to infrastructure, hopefully minimal loss of life.

We were very early in our preparations, and therefore, our emergency services did all we could before the storm, including giving our citizens

the accurate information for them to take the necessary actions to protect themselves and their property.

Presently, in that end of the island, I would not recommend that our emergency services operate, unless it is an extreme emergency and they

judge it's safe to do.

But for the rest of the island, we are experiencing hurricane-like conditions, rains, storms, flooding. There are reports of some landslides.

But the impact is really in the south of the -- the island. And I am praying for those residents. And we have been preparing and we have been

praying for the best.

ASHER: Mr. Prime Minister, I -- I think you did manage to hear some of my interview with a man named Errol -- Evrol Christian, who owns a seafood

restaurant in Alligator Pond in Mandeville, Jamaica.

And what he described was really scary. What he described was essentially - - what he kept on saying was that Jamaica was in major trouble. Was in major trouble based on what he was seeing, that the entire coastline, in

terms of what he was seeing, was completely gone.

One of the things that he said that surprised me and saddened me was that there were a lot of people. He knew a lot of people who were in the low-

lying parts of the island who had actually chosen not to go to higher ground, not to evacuate because they wanted to protect their businesses,

they wanted to protect their homes. And, obviously, Jamaicans have been through this before and there is so much fear.

What do you say to people who right now are trying to choose between either protecting their lives or protecting their homes?

HOLNESS: Well, let me say, there is no infrastructure in this region or maybe anywhere in the world that could withstand a Category Five hurricane

without some level of damage.

And for Jamaica, a Category Five hurricane, particularly where the impact is direct and in the area of impact, there will be catastrophic damage.

We informed our citizens of this days before. We have put in place a compulsory mandatory evacuation order. But in a liberal democracy like

Jamaica, we tend to want to respect the rights of citizens to protect their property, but to give them the information so that they can protect their

lives.

[12:10:12]

We have mobilized over 881 shelters. Most of them are activated now. We provided buses to move persons. The take-up was initially slow, picked up

afterwards.

So for those residents who have decided to stay, I'm encouraging them to back down, take all the necessary precautions to keep themselves safe.

Don't worry about property at this time because there is nothing that you will be able to do in a Category Five storm to protect your property. Keep

your lives safe.

Immediately after the threat is passed, our Jamaica Defense Force, our fire brigade and other emergency services, will be rapidly mobilized to see if

we can rescue persons and assist those persons who may be marooned.

At this time, I'm encouraging all our residents to stay inside, back down, keep safe. And now is not the time to try to protect the property. We have

had three deaths so far of persons who are taking precautionary measures in removing debris and cutting trees.

And unfortunately, they had accidents. So now is the time particularly for residents in the southern end of the island, St. Elizabeth, parts of

Manchester, Westmoreland, Hanover, Trelawny, St. James, for them to keep inside and what is necessarily to protect your lives.

GOLODRYGA: Yes. And, unfortunately, those concerns expressed to Zain by that restaurant owner aren't just anecdotal because authorities estimated

that some 50,000 people could be displaced, and according to your own minister for local government, as of last night, only about 1,700 had

evacuated to shelters. We also know that Jamaica has a limited disaster response resource compared to larger countries.

What additional help from regional countries, international? Have you been in touch with the United States about getting ahead of this storm and

seeking whatever additional aid you may need?

HOLNESS: Well, Jamaica has, as you would imagine, significant experiences in dealing with these disasters. We recently undertook a review of our

disaster preparedness apparatus, which is fairly well -- well stood up at this point in time. And we should be able to mount a credible response to

the disaster, including the immediate humanitarian and relief needs.

But as I've said, once this is a -- a Category Five hurricane, this would be over and above the capacity of most disaster response mechanism.

So, yes, Jamaica will need the support of the international community. And I want to, at this point, thank the international community, including our

CARICO neighbors, the United States, the European Union, France, the United Kingdom and others who I may not have called out.

I've actually gotten, since I'm talking to you now, a note from the Secretary of State Marco Rubio. So the international community is aware

that there will be need for support.

What we're doing in Jamaica is making sure that we have a very efficient mechanism to get that support in and to make sure that it is effectively

and fairly used for all of our citizens.

GOLODRYGA: Well, Mr. Prime Minister, it sounds like you've done a lot of work in preparation for this unprecedented size storm. It is reassuring to

know that you have heard from other government officials and neighboring countries, especially the United States and Secretary Rubio.

We are wishing you and the citizens of Jamaica all the best. And we, of course, will continue to stay in touch with you and whatever we can do in

terms of relaying developments and any sort of news that locals there can abide by and heed. We will continue to do.

Thank you so much for your time.

ASHER: Thank you very much. Good luck.

HOLNESS: Thank you very much. And if you allow me a few seconds just to reiterate the point to my citizens.

GOLODRYGA: Yes.

HOLNESS: Stay inside. Stay safe. Now is the time to protect life.

GOLODRYGA: All right. You heard the Prime Minister there. Thank you so much.

And let's turn out a CNN meteorologist Chris Warren in Atlanta. He's following Hurricane Melissa from our extreme weather center.

And you talk about the size and scope of this storm, especially given that it is slow-moving in the amount of water and rain and flooding that is

anticipated and its wake. It now seems to surpass that of what we even saw from Hurricane Katrina.

Just talk to us about some of your biggest concerns right now.

CHRIS WARREN, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Well, Zain and Bianna, the storm itself, there's a lot going on with it, and you mentioned, there's the wind.

There's the rain. There's the storm surge. Not everybody on the island will be seeing the same thing. A few miles or a few kilometers even will make a

huge difference in what people actually experience.

[12:15:14]

Now this storm, it's 185-mile per hour sustained Category Five hurricane. This is as high as it gets here. We are the top end with gusts at 220 miles

an hour for the Atlantic basin here. So this is historic. This is a huge deal, but let's put this into perspective with what we're talking about.

Those winds are right in here. So you're not going to be seeing the 185, 220 over here in Kingston. You're going to be seeing it closer to this

right in here.

So let's take a closer look at that. And you can even see that winds sustained are 25 miles an hour in Kingston right now.

But this, this is where the catastrophic winds are happening. And you see the rotation, the counterclockwise swirl around the eye of this hurricane.

The water, the seawater that is coming with it is that saltwater coming in and you're getting that surge above normally dry ground, while the heavy

rain is trying to drain out of the mountains here in Jamaica.

So the western part of the island is taking the absolute worst of this, taking the brunt of this storm as it's get -- getting closer to landfall.

So landfall is where this part, the very center goes over land. And that's really like halftime, right? So this right here, all of this part, these --

the reds and yellows, that's all a nightmare situation. You do not want to be in any of that. You want nothing to do with that. That can destroy

structure.

So let's take a look at where this is hitting right now and give you an idea of kind of what we're looking at as far as the terrain goes. Here's

Alligator Pond right here, but the eye of it is over here.

Now, what can be bad? This is a low-lying area here. You can have that -- that ongoing, strong 100-mile an hour plus winds pushing water into these

low elevations, while the rain is trying to drain out of this terrain.

So flooding can destroy homes and it can destroy businesses. Just the pure force of that surge. But then on top of that, there's the wind.

So while, say Kingston is not getting the worst of the winds right now, this heavy rain, after days of rain already can still lead outside away

from the eye where the strongest winds are, can still lead to dangerous flash flooding, also landslides and mudslides.

Where is it going next? It's going to take several hours to get across Jamaica. So the northern side of the west side of the island is going to

get it really bad as well.

And then by tomorrow morning, so late tonight, tomorrow morning, we'll be watching Cuba, Zain and Bianna.

ASHER: Yes. And, Chris, I actually, just speaking of Alligator Pond, I did speak to a business owner who had a -- a seafood restaurant or has a

seafood restaurant in alligator pond. And he said something that was powerful and heartbreaking. He was looking out to the sea and said that the

entire coastline is basically gone, which I assume just means that the roads, the homes, the businesses in that part of the island have been

completely submerged. He talked about the massive storm surge.

Explain to us what people -- that's in the southwestern part of the country, as you just showed on your map. Just talk to us about people there

right now are feeling and experiencing.

WARREN: I will guarantee they don't want to be there right now. I have talked to people firsthand after hurricanes where they didn't evacuate and

they'll say, I will never do that again. I will leave.

This is a nightmare. It is a -- a horrible thing that they're dealing with right now. And I'm glad you mentioned that they said that it wasn't there

anymore. The coastline wasn't there, because sometimes we'll hear that a -- a town was completely wiped out away and that's not necessarily true.

But I think what the person may have been talking about was that the water right here is now maybe inland a little bit or over here, which depending

on the force of that can destroy these businesses and can destroy these homes.

But just knowing the track of this storm, Bianna and Zain, this is -- would not be a place you'd want to be at all because of the low-lying nature.

You can see, it looks like you just go right to the beach and then the water coming out and then how strong the winds likely are as well.

So this whole area here, St. Elizabeth Parish is really going to be the spot and is the spot right now that's getting the worst of Hurricane

Melissa.

ASHER: Yes. You expect the worst, you hope for the best.

Chris Warren, live for us. Thank you. Thank you so much.

All right. While Hurricane Melissa bares down in Jamaica, Cuba's military officials are preparing for the storm to hit their country as well. Its

troops have been deployed to support Cuba with rescue and recovery efforts once the hurricane slams into the island nation.

GOLODRYGA: As we've been reporting, a hurricane warning is already in effect for Cuba and forecasters expect Melissa to move north and make

landfall on the island nation in the coming hours.

ASHER: Yes. Let's turn now to CNN's Patrick Oppmann, who's following Hurricane Melissa from Santiago, Cuba. Patrick, just walk us through what -

- what it's like where you are right now.

[12:20:05]

PATRICK OPPMANN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: You know, we're getting the extreme outer bands. It's just a slow pickup of rain. You can't see the mountains,

which actually Cuba's highest mountain the Sierra Maestra. Usually you would see them all around the city of Santiago, the Cuba.

And so the threats to the city are numerous. It is a coastal city. And so, of course, there's going to be storm surge here that could wipe away

houses. So, we've seen over the last day or so officials convinced people to leave. Some people live off little islands off the coast.

And then on these low-lying areas, they're being evacuated. Tens of thousands, if not hundreds of thousands of people have been evacuated now

to higher ground.

Throughout the day yesterday, it was actually sunny day. We saw people lining up to buy food, lining up to buy water, lining up to get money out

of the scarce ATMs there were.

And now as the rain picks up, people are staying closer to home. The city, it's Cuba's second largest city, really feels like a bit of a ghost town.

And there's just this gray weather that is slowly overtaking the city.

Everyone is -- is extremely concerned about Melissa's progress because this would be the strongest storm that anyone has seen here in a generation.

When you talk about a Category Five storm, you are simply talking about a force of nature that many structures that you see around me, many of the

old buildings that are in this city will not be able to withstand.

I'm seeing across the rooftops here, people going down and trying to secure tiles, take objects off the rooftops. They will essentially become shrapnel

when those winds pick up. And so that is a very scary part of this that you will not be able to be outside because you have roof tiles just going with

incredible speed, perhaps in the darkness when we expect the storm to be added strongest here.

And so I think by tonight and probably into much of tomorrow, people will have to be inside, they will have to be hunkered down. That is what the

government has told them to do.

But as experienced as Cubans are with storms, very few people here have ever seen a storm as powerful and is potentially deadly as Melissa.

ASHER: All right. Patrick Oppmann, thank you. Thank you so much for that. We'll stay across this breaking news throughout the hour.

GOLODRYGA: And coming up for us, we are live in Jerusalem with the latest on the repatriation of hostage remains.

ASHER: Plus, the trial of the 10 people accused of cyberbullying the French president's wife, Brigitte Macron, an update for you, ahead.

Plus.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JASMINE VIEL, CBS L.A. REPORTER: Are you in panic mode right now?

KRISTEN COX, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, LONG BEACH COMMUNITY TABLE: Oh, heck yes, for months now.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

GOLODRYGA: As the government shutdown, drags on, we'll take you inside a California food bank where the founder says there aren't enough donations

coming in, but there are plenty of people who need help. We'll bring you details coming up a little later in the show.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[12:25:28]

ASHER: All right. We are now 28 days into the U.S. government shutdown, and Republicans and Democrats in Congress continue to blame each other for the

standoff. The Republicans have been pushing for a short-term measure to reopen the government for a few weeks, but Democrats are sticking to their

demands for an extension of healthcare subsidies fuss before agreeing to any temporary plan.

GOLODRYGA: And caught in the middle, the many government employees who aren't getting paid and the millions of families who depend on food stamps

to eat.

When the Senate's chaplain prayed Monday, he also sent this reminder to lawmakers.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DR. BARRY BLACK, U.S. SENATE CHAPLAIN: Lord, remind our lawmakers that no gold medals are given for breaking shutdown records. But a crown of

righteousness is given to those who take care of the lost, last, and least.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ASHER: It's worth noting lawmakers are still getting paid. And the people who aren't are just trying to prepare for the worst.

This Saturday, more than 40 million people across the U.S. could lose access to the critical SNAP food assistance program if the shutdown drags

on.

Local news reporter Jasmine Viel looks at a food pantry in California that says it's in panic mode.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

COX: The refrigerators are usually full to the gills. They're about a third-full.

VIEL (voice-over): This isn't what a food pantry is supposed to look like.

COX: This table is empty. All of these tables normally have three layers of boxes. And they usually have boxes underneath.

VIEL (voice-over): Tables and shelves waiting for food that just isn't there inside the Long Beach Community Table warehouse that usually serves

7,000 people.

And are you in panic mode right now?

COX: Oh, heck yes, for months now.

VIEL (voice-over): Executive director Kristen Cox, who started the nonprofit, says lately food donations have decreased even as demand

increases. Millions in the state will lose CalFresh benefits in November due to the ongoing federal government shutdown.

COX: My guess is that if things keep going in this direction, we'll be up to 10,000 by the end of the year, for sure. Because I feel like everybody

knows that we're headed for even tougher times. So more people are coming in, more people are taking food, trying to store it up.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We have to get this pallet under it.

VIEL (voice-over): This truckload arrived from Food Forward Monday, a nonprofit organization that brings fresh surplus fruits and vegetables to

people experiencing food insecurity.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This summer, when I would pick up seven pallets on the truck, it would easily be 8,000 pounds, sometimes a little over that. And

today it was a little over 5,000 pounds. So we're definitely seeing a reduction.

And they even told me they might not even have seven pallets for us in the next coming pickups.

VIEL (voice-over): Food Forward says it's all hands on deck at the moment.

NKEMDILIM NWOSU, SPOKESPERSON, FOOD FORWARD: We've anticipated this in for a while, so we are preparing to ramp up to be able to donate to our hunger

relief partners.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Just -- just this weekend, it was way more than probably twice as many people as we normally see.

VIEL (voice-over): Kristen Cox says that this is one-sixth of what they usually have here in terms of food. And she is making a desperate plea to

the public for food donations, but especially financial help.

COX: The -- the response was overwhelming.

VIEL (voice-over): And another promising response. After we called, the L.A. Regional Food Bank said it would send Cox another food delivery.

COX: Called me this morning and said, I heard you guys are struggling.

VIEL (voice-over): Cox is hoping her food pantry can hold on, as thousands are depending on her.

COX: We pull together in tough times.

VIEL (voice-over): In Long Beach, Jasmine Viel, CBS L.A.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[12:30:37]

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

HOLNESS: No one can say that the government was not forward leaning in giving the information to persons who are in areas of risk. You have been

warned.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

GOLODRYGA: All right. We want to return now to our breaking news. A nightmare scenario is unfolding in the Caribbean as Jamaica takes a direct

hit from one of the strongest Atlantic hurricanes in history.

Melissa is in the process of making landfall as it pushes ashore onto the western part of the island.

ASHER: Yes. The monster storm is expected to bring catastrophic winds, flash floods and landslides.

A short time ago my colleague Kate Bolduan spoke to an American couple celebrating their 10th wedding anniversary in Jamaica now stuck to ride out

the storm.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MARITZA CAVER BLAKE, RIDING OUT STORM IN JAMAICA: They closed down a restaurant here and put beddings and board. Boarded it up everywhere and

make sure that beds and everything. They have food and snacks and all of that. They told everyone to pack in an emergency bag so that we will have

that and all our important documents.

KATE BOLDUAN, CNN NEWS ANCHOR: And, Maurice (ph), you're near Montego Bay, the other side of the island from Kingston. Officials have been concerned

that people not being prepared enough for what is setting in.

When was the last time you guys were able to -- to get outside? What does it look like? What are you seeing outside your hotel room right now?

[12:35:02]

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Right now, we're saying heavy winds and rain. The last time we were out, we went to dinner yesterday at 8:30. They put everybody

on lockdown at 9:00. So everybody had to be back in the room and report back to them and let them know that we made it back to our room safely. So

that was the last time we were out.

BOLDUAN: How does it feel, guys? I mean, does it feel -- I don't know -- does it feel scary? Does it feel safe? Like what -- what are you -- then

you hear like the biggest storm to ever make Jamaica is coming in. What do you think?

BLAKE: My nerves are reckoning. We just -- I can't believe -- it's a different ball game when it comes to a hurricane comparing it to tornadoes

in Arkansas. That's very different.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

GOLODRYGA: All right. We are following this story closely and we'll bring you updates as soon as we get them.

Meantime, a war of words is growing between a prominent U.S. senator and Africa's most populous country.

ASHER: U.S. senator Ted Cruz is blaming Nigeria for what he says is a campaign of mass murder targeting Christians living in that country. He's

called for sanctions on Nigeria's leaders.

Cruz says that 50,000 Christians have been killed in Nigeria since 2009 and 18,000 churches have been destroyed, though he did not provide evidence for

those claims.

Nigerian officials blamed the problem on Boko Haram, which has waged a campaign of terror mostly in the northern parts of the country. But they

say that Boko Haram is not specifically targeting Christians and that it often does attack Muslims as well.

GOLODRYGA: Nigeria has been shaken by protests and rising violence, forcing the president to replace some of his top security personnel, though it is

unclear how to fix the country's deep rooted security problems.

And it's not just Boko Haram. Criminal gangs operate -- operate openly in some areas and there have been repeated attacks on farmers in the center of

the country, often by rival ethnic groups.

ASHER: Time now for "The Exchange." Joining us live now is Mohammed Idris. He is the Minister of Information and National Orientation for Nigeria. He

joins us live now from London. Minister, thank you so much for being with us.

It has almost become a cliche now to say that nowhere in Nigeria is safe. Obviously in the north east part of the country, you've got rising activity

by ISWAP, which is an offshoot of Boko Haram.

You've got violence in the middle belt from armed gangs, banditry as well in the southeast part of the country. Obviously, there's violence stemming

from separatist movements.

And then, of course, everyone knows about the Niger Delta, which has been a -- a massive security issue or has had massive security issue for quite

some time, especially as it pertains to pipeline vandalism.

When you think about the strategies that will tackle Nigeria's rising insecurity problem, I mean, Nigerians have been sort of forced to try to

get used to violence for many, many years now.

In terms of how to tackle it, why should Nigerians trust that the method that Tinubu and his governments are using will actually work this time?

What are you guys doing differently?

MOHAMMED IDRIS, MINISTER OF INFORMATION AND NATIONAL ORIENTATION, NIGERIA: Well, thank you for having me.

First, let us recognize that the -- the highest duty of any government, the Nigerian government especially, is to protect lives and property. And this

includes the millions of -- and -- and millions of Muslims living side by side, you know, doing their daily -- daily activities.

And constitutionally, every Nigerian is guaranteed the right to -- to freedom of -- of faith, meaning that whether you're a Muslim or a

Christian, you're free to practice your faith in our country. That's one.

Second, you have to know that, of course, since 2009, Nigeria has been bedeviled with the activities of Boko Haram and -- and other criminal

elements like you have mentioned earlier.

But you also have to see the activities of government, what government have done, especially in the last two years. Of course, successive governments

have tried in the last two years. There has been a renewed focused. The new rotation has been put to ensure that, you know, Nigeria becomes safe.

We've seen massive deployment of resources to improve our military hardware. We've also seen, you know, investments in -- in other -- other

sectors, in agriculture, in social services to ensure that Nigerians, you know, the non-cognitive (ph) approach, you know, contributing to -- to the

stability of our country.

Nigeria is not that bad, as -- as it said. Yes, we have seen attacks on -- on -- on some Christians. It is true. We have also seen an attack on -- on

-- on Muslims as well. But it's also wrong to characterize Nigeria as -- as a country that does not tolerate religious freedom.

It's also wrong to say that everywhere is not safe in Nigeria. Nigeria is indeed, you know, a safe country, but we do recognize that we have security

challenges, in the North East.

But, you know, once upon a time, some of the territories around the North East were taken over by Boko Haram. That is no longer the case. They were

holding about 14 local governments at the point. That is no longer the case.

[12:40:10]

You know, but traveling around the country was a problem at some point. That is not the case. Nigeria is working hard. The government of Nigeria is

working hard to ensure.

Protection of, you know, for lives and properties, and also ensuring that people go about their businesses all over.

Some of the claims made by some officials in the United States based on faulty data. Some of them, you know, some assumptions that the victims of

these religious violence are largely Christian.

Yes, there are Christians that have been attacked. But these, you know, criminals do not just target one religion. They target Christians.

GOLODRYGA: Yes.

IDRIS: They also target Muslims. You know, we have seen that in several parts of -- especially the northern part of the country.

So yes, indeed, we have security challenges in Nigeria. But we also have to recognize that there is a massive drive by government to ensure that

Nigeria is ultimately served for everyone.

But for the records, we want to see that Nigeria is a very tolerant country when it comes to religion. We don't want these dangerous narratives to go

on because criminal elements and some of these extremists are driving this narrative and pushing people to believe that --

GOLODRYGA: All right. Mr. --

IDRIS: Nigerian Muslims and Christians are -- are fighting each other. This is not the case.

GOLODRYGA: Mr. Minister, there is an argument though that while, yes, Muslims and Christians have been attacked, it is the more mainstream

Christians and Muslims that have been attacked, those that have been opposed to Sharia law.

You mentioned U.S. lawmakers, specifically Ted Cruz, has accused the country of persecuting Christians even genocide. He's introduced a bill

that would push a country of particular concern, designation, and that would potentially trigger some crippling sanctions.

You do have former leaders of your own country and past presidents who have warned of Islamization as well.

Your justification here that it's not that bad doesn't seem to be a sharp rebuke to some of these allegations. What exactly are you doing to address

these concerns?

IDRIS: Well, we believe, and I would reiterate that we do have security challenges in --in the country. We are not denying this. We are not

actually for denial in that direction.

But what we are saying is that we need, you know, to, you know, make Nigerians to believe and the world to believe that this government is

actually working to assure the security of lives and property of everyone, Christians, Muslims, living side by side each other.

When you say that only a particular region is being targeted, that is not true in this country. We know that some of these Boko Haram extremists have

targeted also Muslims in the most.

Yes, they have targeted also Christians in their churches. So that is why we need the world to know that there is indeed this challenge. And to drive

you to characterize as a religious issue is not helpful for our country. It would drive us towards -- towards division.

What these criminal elements and these extremists want is actually to make Nigerians and the world to feel that there is actually a fight between

Christians and Muslims in our country. This is not the case. Absolutely -- absolutely false.

Our constitution -- Nigeria is safe, you know. You know, our constitution guarantees the right of every citizen to practice his religion, whether --

whether a Christian or a Muslim. And the hierarchy of our -- of our government.

There are both Muslims and Christians, you know, live in harmony, working together to ensure the return of, you know, the security and -- and of

lives and property all over the country.

So -- and we are -- we're achieving that in that direction. Even the recent changes you alluded to is all helped me, you know, to strengthen the --

our, you know, security architecture to ensure that, yes, indeed government responds to every situation.

ASHER: All right. Nigeria Minister of Information, Mohammed Idris, thank you. Thank you so much for your time, sir.

We'll be right back with more after this short break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[12:45:53]

GOLODRYGA: All right. We want to bring you this breaking news into CNN. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ordered immediate powerful

strikes in Gaza.

ASHER: Now this comes after Netanyahu's office accused Hamas of violating the ceasefire agreement when it returned hostage remains that did not

belong to any of the 13 hostages still unaccounted for earlier.

Hamas said it would hand over the body of another hostage today. But that has now been postponed. Crews were seen in Khan Younis today digging for

more remains.

GOLODRYGA: CNN Jerusalem correspondent Jeremy Diamond joins us.

And, Jeremy, give us the very latest, because there are reports that in addition to the delay of returning the hostages remains, there was some

reporting saying that Hamas militants had fired at IDF positions.

Just give us the very latest as to what led to this statement and directive from Prime Minister Netanyahu.

JEREMY DIAMOND, CNN JERUSALEM CORRESPONDENT: Yes, that's right, Bianna. An Israeli military official has indeed confirmed to me that there was an

exchange of fire earlier today between the Israeli military and Hamas militants.

This military official accusing Hamas of attacking Israeli troops who were positioned east of that yellow line. And they are saying that this is an

additional violation by Hamas who gets to hear from Hamas about that incident.

But this decision to carry out airstrikes in Gaza appears to be related not to that incident of fire between Israeli forces and Hamas, but rather due

to what the Israeli government is calling a violation by Hamas by not returning additional bodies of deceased hostages.

Let me take you quickly through the timeline of events. Because yesterday, we saw Hamas return. What it said was the remains of an additional Israeli

hostage after DNA analysis, though, that was conducted by Israel's forensic center here.

The Israeli government came out and said that the remains were related to the body of Ofir Tzarfati, an Israeli hostage who had previously been

recovered by the Israeli military inside of Gaza in late November 2023. And so this appears to have been perhaps additional remains related to Ofir

Tzarfati's body.

But what they were not was the remains of those remaining 13 deceased hostages held inside of Gaza. And as a result of that, the Israeli

government accused Hamas of carrying out a, quote, clear violation of the ceasefire agreements.

We then saw today the Israeli Prime Minister sitting down with his security apparatus to review potential options for how Israel might respond.

A decision on that wasn't taken immediately though, as the Israeli Prime Minister indicated he would first want to consult with American officials.

But now tonight, we have this statement from the Prime Minister's office saying that Prime Minister Netanyahu has instructed Israel's military

echelons to carry out, quote, immediate powerful strikes in the Gaza Strip. And so we have not yet seen reports of those strikes in Gaza, but you can

be sure that they will be taking place soon.

And the question now is what happens after that? We've seen, of course, the Israeli military previously carry out strikes during this ceasefire. Last

time, it was after they accused Hamas of killing two Israeli soldiers.

[12:50:10]

And so we know that it doesn't necessarily mean the total breakdown of the ceasefire. But it certainly does mean a very tenuous moment for the

ceasefire going forward.

GOLODRYGA: Yes. And what already had been a very tense and challenging ceasefire at that. We'll see if we have any comments coming from the White

House in response to these latest developments as well.

Jeremy Diamond, thank you so much.

ASHER: All right. It is the end of day two in the trial of 10 people accused of going online to harass Brigitte Macron, the French president's

wife.

The prosecutor says the accused has spread malicious comments about her gender, essentially saying that she's not a woman and her sexuality, as

well as describing the age difference between Mrs. Macron and the president as pedophilia.

GOLODRYGA: Yes. The trial has become a spectacle in Paris. Among the eight male and two female defendants are an elected official, a gallery owner and

a teacher. The verdict is expected soon.

We'll be right back with more.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

GOLODRYGA: All right. Returning now to our breaking news. A monster Category Five hurricane is bearing down on Jamaica.

ASHER: CNN's meteorologist Derek Van Dam joins us from Kingston, Jamaica.

Derek, you and I last spoke about, I would say about an hour and a half ago. I see, obviously, the rain coming down. It looks a bit windy.

Obviously, the trees are swaying. But just talk to us about how conditions have worsened over the past hour.

DEREK VAN DAM, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Yes. Again, we are 150 kilometers east of where the most powerful part of the storm is unfolding right now. There's a

number of reasons for that. Safe -- personal safety, but also the ability to communicate and broadcast live.

The further west you go from Kingston, the capital where I'm located, the more challenging it becomes in terms of communication, power availability,

and eventually any kind of resources. Let's just be honest.

So we're -- we're waiting for the call from the National Hurricane Center for the landfall of this high-end Category Five hurricane, Melissa.

Remember, half of the eye, the center of the storm, needs to cross land. We're talking 50 percent or more in order for the National Hurricane Center

to officially call this the landfall location. It's really specific, but it's important, because remember, that's where we find the core of the most

destructive winds, which, by the way, are now the second highest winds ever recorded in a hurricane in the Atlantic Basin, tying for the fourth

strongest storm ever recorded.

[12:55:13]

This is a history making storm in the process and it is going to be a serious, serious situation that's already unfolding. But going forward, it

is going to be very challenging. Because the wording from the National Hurricane Center talking about communities being isolated for days. We're

talking about catastrophic or full structural failure of businesses and homes.

Just -- just one example behind me, this construction and unfinished business there, their sheet metal, those concrete blocks, there's -- we saw

-- we saw a concrete mixer fall off the top of that building earlier today being pushed around by the wind.

So even though we're so far away from it, the center of the storm, we're feeling the impacts, but it's a drop in the bucket from what they're

experiencing right now over the western parts of the country of Jamaica.

Zain, Bianna.

ASHER: Yes. I mean I spoke to one business owner who -- who just said, you know, Jamaica is -- is in trouble right now. Derek, please, please do stay

safe where you are. Obviously, landfall is imminent. Derek Van Dam, thank you.

GOLODRYGA: All right. Well, that does it for this hour of "One World." I'm Bianna Golodryga.

ASHER: I'm Zain Asher. Thank you so much for watching. This lady will be right back with "Amanpour" in just a few minutes.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[13:00:00]

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