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One World with Zain Asher
Luigi Mangione Pleads Guilty To Federal Stalking Charges In Killing Of UnitedHealthcare CEO; Hegseth: Concerns Over USS Lincoln "Completely Misrepresented"; Wildfires Rage As Europe Battles Fifth Heat Wave Of Year; Europe's Economy Faces Challenges From Record Heat Waves; The Devastating Reversal Of Afghan Women's And Girl's Rights; Restrictions; Christopher Nolan's Epic Film "The Odyssey" Releases In China; Aired 12-1p ET
Aired August 14, 2026 - 12:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[12:00:12]
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is CNN Breaking News.
ZAIN ASHER, CNN ANCHOR: All right. Coming to you live from New York, I am Zain Asher. You are watching the second hour of "One World."
Happening a short time ago, accused UnitedHealthcare CEO killer, Luigi Mangione, pleaded guilty to federal stalking charges connected to the
killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO, Brian Thompson.
Mangione is accused of shooting Thompson in a broad daylight on a New York City sidewalk in December 2024. He was captured five days later at a
McDonald's in Pennsylvania after an anonymous tip.
The 28-year-old who faces charges in both federal and state courts previously pleaded not guilty in both cases. Under the most serious federal
charges, he faces life in prison.
Today's plea would likely raise questions about whether the state prosecution can move forward with their case.
Through all of this, Mangione has gained really cult-like support on social media and in court as well. Many of his supporters harbor deep frustration
and anger at America's for-profit healthcare system.
Here with more on this, former federal prosecutor Gene Rossi. I mean, obviously many of us remember that day. I live in New York. And we all got
the alert that at six o'clock in the morning, the UnitedHealthcare CEO, he was leaving the Marriott Hotel on December 4th, two years ago, 2024, around
6:30, 6:40 in the morning and he was shot at point-blank range in the morning and he died about half an hour later.
And then you had this manhunt across the northeast, obviously, in New York City, New York State and beyond, trying to find his killer and it ended up
obviously being Luigi Mangione, who was taken in by police after he was spotted at a McDonald's in Pennsylvania, as I just mentioned, captured the
attention of the country, not just New York.
What we saw in federal court today, just -- just walk us through it because essentially you had Luigi Mangione pleading guilty and his exact words in
the courtroom was, "I shot Brian Thompson and he died." He also said, "I knew what I was doing was illegal."
What's important to -- OK. I'm just being told that we have a live press conference (INAUDIBLE). Let's listen in.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KAREN FRIEDMAN AGNIFILO, LUIGI MANGIONE'S ATTORNEY: Full responsibility for the death of Brian Thompson, arising from the events of December 4th, 2024,
outside of the UnitedHealthcare investor conference here in Midtown Manhattan.
It was a single tragic event, yet, he's being prosecuted twice for the same conduct. As Luigi explained in court today, he endured years of severe
debilitating pain following a broken bag while struggling to navigate our healthcare and health insurance systems.
Like the thousands of people who have reached out since this tragedy to share their own experiences, he believed that the system had failed him and
destroyed his life.
Despite this being a single isolated event, Mr. Mangione has been unfairly treated since the outset in every way and has successfully fought off
terrorism charges and the death penalty while also fighting at the same time two simultaneous prosecutions in two jurisdictions who were trying to
punish him twice for the exact conduct.
He's been treated differently from every other defendant charged with this offense in New York. However, thankfully, New York law does not allow this.
New York law does not permit a person to be prosecuted and punished twice for the exact same crime under a statute that governs successive
prosecutions. It's also known as the double jeopardy law.
Today's guilty plea triggers the statute. And we just filed our motion in state court explaining why the state charges must be dismissed under New
York's double jeopardy protections.
We will not be taking any other questions. Thank you so much for coming.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ASHER: All right. Let's bring in Gene Rossi, former federal prosecutor. We just heard from Luigi Mangione's defense team.
And they essentially said that this was a single tragic event and yet, their client, Luigi Mangione, is being prosecuted twice. They also went
into the backstory, which I thought was quite interesting, that they would sort of bring this up. This idea that he had a broken back and he had to
sort of navigate a very difficult convoluted healthcare system and he felt that the system had failed him.
Just explain to us, it's on the -- one of the key issues here is whether or not he is going to face a state trial potentially.
[12:05:03]
What is the strongest argument for continuing the state case? And what is the strongest argument here for dismissing it? Obviously, New York law,
double jeopardy applies here, but give us your take, Gene.
GENE ROSSI, FORMER FEDERAL PROSECUTOR: Well, let me give you the argument for the state of New York. Back in the 1990s, 1995 Oklahoma City bombing,
there was a federal case, and Timothy McVeigh and Terry Nichols were convicted, and Oklahoma went ahead and -- and prosecuted Terry Nichols,
even though he had been convicted at the federal level. They dropped Timothy McVeigh because he got the death penalty.
So, a state always has an interest in protecting its own jurisdiction and its laws. So, even though the Feds have done their thing with the guilty
plea, New York State has -- has an interest. That's part of their argument.
The second argument for the state is that they're charging second-degree murder and the elements of that case are dramatically different than the
federal stalking charge, and that they're going to bring in more evidence about possible premeditation or evidence that goes to intent.
In the federal case, they're focusing on just that one incident relatively where he stalked Mr. Thompson, shot him in the torso and the calf and
fatally -- and killed him.
So, the government of New York is going to argue that our state case is a little more expansive, therefore, double jeopardy doesn't apply. The law
doesn't apply.
Now -- now, the defense team, and he has a very good defense team, they're going to argue the opposite. Both cases, the murder case in New York and
the federal case, it's one event, one occurrence, it's right in front of a hotel, it's relatively straightforward. We basically have identical cases.
That would be the -- the same argument.
And, Zain, you brought up a good point in your previous segment and your producer asked me a question, what -- what does it matter? He's going to
get a ton of time by the federal judge --
ASHER: Gene, I'm so sorry. Gene -- Gene, I have to interrupt you because we're actually going to listen to prosecutors right now. I'll get back to
you after they speak.
ROSSI: OK.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JAMIE MCDONALD, UNITED STATES ATTORNEY FOR SDNY: Good afternoon. I'm Jamie McDonald, United States attorney for the Southern District of New York.
It's 6:45 on a December morning, Luigi Mangione, stalked and murdered Brian Thompson in cold blood on a public sidewalk in Midtown Manhattan.
Just a few moments ago, Mangione pled guilty to his heinous act. This was not a spontaneous act of violence. It was deliberate, calculated, and
premeditated.
In the days leading up to the murder, the defendant very carefully prepared for the attack. He tracked Mr. Thompson's whereabouts, conducted
surveillance along the route he knew Mr. Thompson would take and positioned himself to carry out the plan.
Then on a sidewalk on West 54th Street, the defendant murdered Mr. Thompson, shooting him from behind with a nine millimeter handgun equipped
with a silencer. He shot Thompson twice at close range. The second shot came as Mr. Thompson turned and faced the defendant.
The defendant did this as everyday New Yorkers walked nearby and while the rest of the city woke up to start their day. Mangione then ran away,
leaving Mr. Thompson to die.
The defendant committed this murder in an attempt to draw public attention to his dislike of certain businesses. But we live in a civilized society
governed by the rule of law. We debate, we disagree, we protest. We do not commit murder.
No grievance, political belief or ideological cause can ever justify murder. There can be no celebrity in assassination. Any person who
celebrates, encourages, or excuses actions like these is fundamentally wrong.
Mangione attempted to send a public message through violence, but the message that emerges today is very different. Violence is not a legitimate
instrument to promote any political or social message.
And those who resort to violence in an effort to advance their beliefs will be prosecuted, convicted and put in jail.
[12:10:01]
Today, the Southern District of New York, together with our law enforcement partners, writes the final chapter of Mangione's federal prosecution. Now,
he stands convicted in federal court and faces life in prison.
One other point that's important to note, while the defendant pled guilty, our office does not have a plea agreement with him. Instead, he pled open,
which means he pled guilty to all pending counts in the indictment.
There are no accommodations or concessions, and we are free to seek the maximum penalty under the law.
I'd like to thank the dedicated prosecutors of our office's violent organizations in crime unit, who are beside me, for their remarkable
efforts to bring this case.
I would also like to thank the NYPD and the FBI, whose tireless and incredibly sophisticated investigative efforts made this conviction
possible.
Finally, I want to express on behalf of all of us here our deepest sympathy and compassion for the many family members and friends of Brian Thompson.
Mr. Thompson's family and many of his friends were in court for the guilty plea today. I know they will have an opportunity to be heard at sentencing.
We all stand in awe of their love for their family and for their friend and their unwavering commitment to seeing justice done in this case.
We hope they can take some solace in the fact that from the beginning, we have brought the full force of the federal government to bear in this case.
In this prosecution, we have consistently pursued the maximum penalties under the law, as necessary and just punishment for these crimes. The
result achieved today now allows our office to seek the maximum penalty allowed, life imprisonment, which as I've conveyed to Mr. Thompson's family
is what we intend to see here.
I'll now turn it over to Commissioner Tisch.
JESSICA TISCH, NEW YORK POLICE COMMISSIONER: Good afternoon. Thank you, U.S. Attorney McDonald. And thank you to the prosecutors and the federal
law enforcement partners who have worked alongside the New York City Police Department throughout this case.
Today, Luigi Mangione pleaded guilty in connection with the murder of Brian Thompson on a Midtown Manhattan sidewalk in December of 2024.
This is an important moment of accountability. And my thoughts remain, first and foremost, with Mr. Thompson's family and everyone who knew and
loved him.
But I also want to take a few minutes today to recognize the extraordinary police work that brought us here.
From the moment that Mr. Thompson was assassinated on the morning of December 4th, the NYPD mobilized an enormous investigative effort.
Our detectives combed through thousands of hours of surveillance video, followed up on hundreds of tips and worked through an extraordinary volume
of forensic and digital evidence. They used some of the most sophisticated technology available to law enforcement. And they paired it with the kind
of painstaking old-fashioned detective work that has defined the New York City Police Department for generations, interviewing witnesses, canvassing
neighborhoods, retracing the suspects' movements, and pursuing every viable lead.
Most importantly, they developed a clear image of the man we were looking for and got that image out to the public and to law enforcement agencies
across this country five days after the murder.
That work paid off in Altoona, Pennsylvania where an alert member of the public recognized Mangione and local police took him into custody.
That was not simply a lucky break. It was the culmination of five days of relentless investigative work that gave the public the information it
needed to recognize the suspect and gave our law enforcement partners what they needed to act.
This case began with the worst kind of violence on our streets. It was answered by the very best of the New York City Police Department to every
member of the NYPD who played a role in this investigation. You should be enormously proud for bringing us to this day.
And to those who idolized Luigi Mangione -- Mangione, I say this, violence is not a cause. Murder is not a message. And a killer is certainly not a
hero.
Now, I'd like to introduce the FBI's Assistant Director in Charge for the New York Field Office, Jim Barnacle.
JAMES BARNACLE, JR., FBI NEW YORK ASSISTANT DIRECTOR IN CHARGE: Thank you, Commissioner. Good day. My name is James Barnacle. I'm the Assistant
Director in Charge of the FBI New York Field Office.
[12:15:00]
I want to begin by addressing the family, friends, and colleagues of Brian Thompson. We had the chance to sit down with the family this morning. And
they are still grieving. And they have been grieving for almost two years, as Brian was taken away in the most heinous way possible.
They lost a son, a brother, a husband, and a father, and a friend to many colleagues and other people. Family deserves closure, the clarity, and the
assurance that every step taken throughout our investigation, the New York City Police Department's investigation, the Altoona Police Department's
investigation, and the U.S. Attorney's Office prosecution reflected the gravity of the situation and the importance of Brian's life.
While today's plea doesn't replace the void he left behind, I hope it offers a glimmer of the closure that the Thompson family and friends
deserve. This tragedy shocked the nation, left a deep impact on everyone it touched.
Violence, driven by hostility toward opportunity and success, stands in sharp contrast through the values true Americans hold dear. But rest
assured, this FBI and our partners never stopped working to bring this killer to justice.
While plea was entered today, we know the crime has not been erased. Thank you to the FBI's violent crime task force, our largest partner on that task
force, the New York City Police Department, the New York State Police Department.
Thank you to the prosecutors and the United States Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York, led by Jamie McDonald. Thank you.
And I want to thank the officers and detectives of the New York City Police Department, led by Commissioner Tisch, for your agency's unwavering pursuit
of truth and accountability. Thank you, Commissioner.
I also like to thank the Altoona Police Department of Pennsylvania and the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections who helped facilitate the
extradition to New York.
We're incredibly grateful to our partners and we wish the Thompson family comfort and strength as the legal process continues.
Mr. McDonald.
MCDONALD: Thank you. Thank you all.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ASHER: All right. You were just looking at a very quick press briefing by U.S. Attorney Jamie McDonald. He's the U.S. Attorney for the Southern
District of New York, essentially reiterating why the state trial should go on for Luigi Mangione.
He talked about the fact that Luigi Mangione, not - not only stalked and murdered Brian Thompson and pled guilty, but that this was not spontaneous.
This was rather a -- not a spontaneous, but it was indeed a deliberate, intentional, and premeditated act.
Let's bring in former federal prosecutor Gene Rossi again. You and I were speaking right before we went to this press conference.
ROSSI: Yes.
ASHER: Really about what sort of difference it would make for Luigi Mangione anyway, because the chances are, based on sentencing guidelines,
he'll either spend his entire life in prison or at the very least several decades.
But I just want to talk about the two press conferences we've heard for just a moment. When his defense attorney spoke --
ROSSI: Yes.
ASHER: -- she reiterated that this was a single tragic event, that he's been prosecuted twice for. Obviously, they -- they just want the federal
case to hold and then we'd -- we'd see sentencing in December.
But she also brought up the context, which I thought was very interesting. She -- she talked about the fact that this is somebody who had a broken
back. He had a lot of health problems and he was having to navigate a very difficult, complicated healthcare system.
Obviously, she's not justifying the act of murdering Brian Thompson, but she is providing an important detail about his state of mental health,
which could be an important argument for lowering his sentences.
Just walk us through that side of it, Gene.
ROSSI: Sure. Well, Zain, thank you for having me.
When you go to sentencing at the federal level, even the state level, you present mitigating evidence. If someone murders somebody or does stalking
that leads to a murder or death, you want to put the forth to the judge evidence about the background, the personal characteristics of the client
whom you are representing.
And what the defense attorney, and she's -- she's very, very good, she's basically putting -- putting information out there, not only to impress the
judge, but the public in the event, Zain, there is a state case and they have to pick a jury.
[12:20:08]
So, she's kind of talking down the road if they lose their motion to get rid of the state case. But at a sentencing, it's fair game for the defense
and the prosecution to put things that mitigate or aggravate that would not ordinarily come in at a trial.
His bad back and what happened before, that may not come in at the trial if there had been one at the federal level.
ASHER: One of the things that Jamie McDonald, the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, reiterated was that this was deliberate.
This was pre-meditated. But under New York law, interestingly, most murder charges are -- are second-degree, not first-degree murder charges.
And I think a lot of people who are listening to this would hear the term premeditated, deliberate, intentional, that was planning that went on here.
And they would automatically assume that it should be a first-degree murder charge, but it is second-degree.
Can you explain why?
ROSSI: Zain, yes, a great question. When they indicted Mr. Mangione, the state -- the state folks, I was perplexed as to why they didn't charge
first-degree murder.
This case at the federal level, based on what he pleaded guilty to, reeks of premeditation. And as many as you know, first-degree involves
premeditation, lying in wait, if you will.
And -- and why they charge second-degree? It's a lower evidentiary hurdle. There may have been practical reasons why they did that. If I had been a
prosecutor, I would have charged first-degree. Well, that -- that's just me. I was a prosecutor for many moons. And that would have been my first
preference.
But the state case is only second-degree. But Zain, even though it's second-degree, and it doesn't require premeditation, you still can bring in
premeditation evidence to prove intent, because intent is always the key element in a murder charge.
ASHER: And, Gene, we actually just got a statement from the family of Brian Thompson. Obviously, he's the victim here who was killed on December 4th.
His family were actually in the courtroom today, and they've now issued a statement. They said, "Today's guilty plea marks an important step toward
justice for Brian and for our family. While nothing will ease the pain of losing him, we are grateful that the federal justice system has held the
person responsible for this heinous act accountable. Now, we look to the court to ensure that the sentencing reflects the severity of this crime. We
remain mindful that additional proceedings in New York and Pennsylvania are still to come. And we will continue to seek the justice that Brian
deserves."
Just in terms of whether or not there are going to be additional proceedings in New York, I mean, that's -- that's, I guess, still -- still
sort of TBD at this point.
But when it comes to the sentencing on December 18th, family statements, the friends of Brian Thompson, family members, those who loved him,
speaking out about the kind of man he was. And it is really important in all of this.
Just -- just walk us through that aspect of it.
ROSSI: Oh, Zain, at a sentencing, in a case like this, it's hard for a prosecutor to keep their composure because you're sitting about a foot away
from the podium where a family member or -- or a spouse or someone very close to the deceased, Brian Thompson, is reading a statement.
And it gets incredibly, incredibly emotional at a sentencing where you have somebody who's been killed, like in this case, Mr. Thompson, tragically.
So, at a sentencing, those statements of -- of the family, the spouse of Brian Thompson, children, relatives, of friends, they will be powerful
statements.
And this is what I always see. When you have powerful statements at a sentencing like this, it can't help but affect the judge. And the judge may
have a pre-disposed view of what the sentence could be or should be before they walk into the courtroom. But when they hear those statements, it kind
of raises the level a little bit.
So, I predict that at his sentencing in December, Mr. Mangione, those statements are going to raise the awareness of the judge who will be more
inclined to give a harsh, harsh sentence.
I do have to say this. Anybody who says that Mr. Mangione is a hero, a martyr, or someone whom we should respect for what he did, let me give you
my version of who he is. He's a coward, he's a killer. And what he did was nothing but coldblooded violence.
[12:25:18]
And he should not be elevated or respected for what he did. He's a convicted murderer right now. And that's -- that's what we have to keep our
focus on, especially at the sentencing.
ASHER: All right. Gene Rossi, live for us there. Thank you. Thank you so much for breaking down all of that for us.
Once again, Luigi Mangione essentially pleading guilty in a federal court, saying, I shot Brian Thompson and he died. I knew what I was doing was
illegal. Still TBD as to whether or not the state trial continues at this point in time we heard from both Mangione lawyers and also the U.S.
Attorney for the Southern District of New York speaking there each arguing their perspective and their cases.
All right. Gene Rossi, thank you for that. Hope to have you on again soon.
We'll be right back with me after this short break.
ROSSI: Thank you. Thank you.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ASHER: All right. Now, to today's other news. The Pentagon is pushing back on reports of a possible mental health crisis among sailors on board an
aircraft carrier that's been deployed to the Middle East for nearly nine months. However, defense department officials won't say specifically what
they object to.
Currently, the USS George Washington is headed to the region to replace the USS Abraham Lincoln. U.S. official says the swap was planned. But it comes
amid reports of deteriorating conditions that are deeply impacting thousands of sailors on board the Lincoln.
We're also learning that several of them have attempted to jump overboard and once succeeded, but was quickly rescued.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, however, appeared to dismiss those claims.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
[12:30:01]
PETE HEGSETH, U.S. DEFENSE SECRETARY: Completely misrepresented. Listen, we make sure that every ship, every crew, every captain has everything we can
provide them at every single moment.
Some deployments are longer than others and I have more respect and gratitude for those sailors than anybody.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ASHER: CNN military analyst retired Colonel Cedric Leighton joins us live now.
So, I imagine for anybody, I mean, whether you are part of the military or not, the idea that people would try to jump overboard just as a desperate
attempt to escape the conditions that they're in is utterly heartbreaking.
I'm sure just for you alone, given that you have been a part of the U.S. military for many years, I'm sure that, you know, the news is devastating
for so many of us to read that.
Obviously, it's not just one thing that would drive someone or might drive someone to do that. I mean, obviously, yes, I imagine it's the monotony.
It's the fact that, you know, there's no way to escape to it. It's the fact that it hasn't docked at a port for many months.
And then when you think it's almost over, you're told that the deployment is again being extended. And, of course, we can't ignore the fact that
there are mental -- there are personal mental health issues involved as well.
Just walk us through your thoughts on what the Defense Department should be doing to mitigate this.
COL. CEDRIC LEIGHTON (RET.), CNN MILITARY ANALYST: Yes, Zain. It's -- it's good to be with you. And this is a really serious issue for the military
and really for any military in the world. It -- it is. And also for people in -- in general, for society in general, because what you're dealing with
here is people who are in a space that is limited.
Yes, you're going halfway around the world. You're performing your mission. That can be very exciting work to do that. But once you do the routine of
that mission, it becomes routine.
And -- and that, of course, you know, can lead to, you know, people being careless, people, you know, ending up with mental issues because they can't
escape that particular routine or that -- those particular stresses. And I think the stresses are really among the most important things here.
So, when you have a unit, whether it's a naval unit on board a ship or, you know, you're with the Army or with an Air Force unit, mental health for
people who are in deployed conditions is extremely, extremely important.
And the motivating factor is, you know, from leadership as well as, you know, from the troops themselves, play a critical role. The Navy has tried
to do some things. You know, they have things like therapy dogs on board. They have one therapy dog on board. The USS Lincoln, for example, they have
mental health counselors. And that's all well and good.
But the realities of those deployments, the conditions of those deployments are the ones that leadership needs to help mitigate and make as normal as
possible in spite of the stresses, in spite of the distances involved. And that can be a real challenge for, you know, leadership, for the
organization.
And sometimes the organizations fall short. They can learn from, you know, situations like this and hopefully not to repeat them, but really long
deployments that extend beyond what a -- the crew was told. That can be a significant burden for anyone both mentally and physically.
ASHER: And so one of the -- the things that the Defense Department is doing right now is swapping the carrier, is essentially deploying the USS George
Washington to relieve the USS Abraham Lincoln, but apparently the swap -- the swap was planned.
You know, is that enough? Because, yes, that might address the issue of the sort of conditions on board the USS Abraham Lincoln, but it doesn't address
the stresses that you are talking about.
LEIGHTON: Yeah. That's -- that's absolutely true because those stressors can continue. And there's always a risk. And you hate to point this out.
You know, as a -- you know, the Lincoln is about to be relieved.
But there's always a possibility that something could happen where the Lincoln would be called upon to do, you know, something, you know -- you
know, defend itself or, you know, there's a new situation that they need to respond to could be a natural disaster, could be another military
situation.
So, the crew always has to be ready. And that very fact that is an added stressor to the crew and they know this. There is that glimmer of hope, you
know, that one imagines one would have, you know, if you were in an isolated area like, you know, let's say trapped in a mine shaft for a long
period of time and then you see that light at the end of the tunnel.
Well, this is the kind of thing that they see. You know, they know that the George Washington is coming to relieve them. At least that's the plan. But
until the George Washington gets on station and the Lincoln can move off station, that is -- is something that they're -- they're waiting for and
they hope that that glimmer of light is going to be something that they can actually move toward and eventually get back to home board, in this case
San Diego. And that -- that, of course, is a critical thing for the crew and -- and for all their families as well.
[12:35:10]
ASHER: All right. Colonel Cedric Leighton, live for us. Thank you so much.
All right. Still to come here on "One World," Europe remains in the grip of a powerful heat wave. Details ahead on how this moment is adding to the
continent's economic woes.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ASHER: All right. Europe is struggling this week. Historic temperatures and multiple wildfires are complicating efforts to get people to safety. Some
firefighters in Germany are facing a particularly unique challenge.
In one village, explosions could be heard in the forest due to old World War II munitions detonating during a fire. Emergency crews were advised to
stay out of the area.
In Croatia, 14 people were taken to the hospital after a fire raged overnight in the town of Omis. More than 1,000 people had to evacuate the
area.
And after surviving the hottest day of the year, Thursday wildfires are raging across parts of the U.K. According to the National Fire Chiefs
Council, more than 1,000 wildfires have been recorded in England and Wales this year.
Let's discuss all of this with our meteorologist Allison Chinchar from Atlanta.
So, I mean, listen, when you think about the U.K. having the hottest day on record yesterday, temperatures unbelievable, not to mention the fact that
that country is not used to this kind of heat. Is there any respite on the way, Allison?
ALLISON CHINCHAR, CNN METEOROLOGIST: There is, but it's going to take a few more days and it's the over prolonged heat, not just in the U.K., but
across much of Europe that's really been what's fueling so many of these fires.
Again, you look at all of these hot spots here on the map. You can see this isn't just one or even two or three countries that are being impacted by
these fires, it's a lot of them.
And again, as we talked about, the heat is one of the big driving factors and it's going to stick around.
Here's a look at the alerts for Saturday. Again, you can see you're talking more than a dozen countries here, looking at some level of alerts for the
heat because those temperatures are expected to be well above average.
Now, we talk about a break. Yes, there is one coming. Some countries earlier than the others. Again, you'll notice across Northern Europe and
then even across Central Europe. You'll start to get that break beginning Sunday and then transitioning into Monday and Tuesday of next week.
[12:40:00]
One area that doesn't really see it, however, is the Iberian Peninsula, which is not only expected to stay hot, but could end up seeing their
temperatures go the opposite direction.
When we talk about fire danger, again, you're looking here at a lot of the orange and the red colors on the map. This is for August 15th.
Now, if we fast forward, say, to around the 17th, you'll notice we start to get a bit more green here on the map, meaning, the fire danger is expected
to lower.
And in many cases, it's lowering as the temperatures also lower across portions of Europe. So, that is some good news there.
Now, we talk about the temperatures here. The forecast highs for Saturday. Again, a couple of them here still in the mid to upper 30s. The vast
majority of them start to coming back down into the low 30s as we go into Saturday.
And some will continue to drop. Take, for example, Paris going from 34 on Saturday down to only 31 on Monday. Similar drops in London. Again, you're
going to get those temperatures back down below the 30s, finally into the mid to upper 20s.
Madrid, however, the opposite scenario. We go from a high of 32 on Saturday, which actually is pretty average for this time of year. But then
they just keep going up to nearly 40 degrees by the time we get to Tuesday. Then we finally start to see them coming back down. And they don't get back
down to below normal until the very end of next week.
So, again, there is the respite coming for some earlier than others. But even for most areas, including the Iberian Peninsula, it will come just not
until the end of next week.
The one thing a lot of these areas could really use is rain. Now, not many are going to receive substantial rain to really put out the fires. But what
you will also notice is the increase in humidity to a lot of these areas.
And that will also help fire crews because when stuff is not as dry, it doesn't kind of go up in flames. You don't have the concern as many of
those embers spread that they're spreading two areas that are incredibly dry.
So, even just having the add -- having the added humidity to some of these areas is certainly going to help. But some spots could, in turn, yes, pick
up at least some rain.
Again, we mentioned it, Zain, you're talking maybe 25 millimeters at absolute best. But I think at this point, they'd be happy with anything.
ASHER: Absolutely. Allison Chinchar, live for us. Thank you so much.
So, as we've been showing you, there has been a lot of long, dangerously hot summers for Europe. The extreme heat, along with wars and higher energy
prices, is adding to the continent's economic woes.
Wildfires have destroyed crops, driving up food prices and severe drought, which you can see here along the river Danube in Romania, has forced a
nuclear power plant there to go offline.
Experts say the fallout from dangerously high temperatures could cost the E.U.'s economy more than $200 billion this year.
CNN's Anna Cooban is following all of this from a sweltering London.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ANNA COOBAN, CNN BUSINESS AND ECONOMICS REPORTER: Well, two really bad things are happening at the same time. And essentially what you've got is
that this heat wave, I mean yesterday in the U.K. was absolutely unbearable. You had 38 degrees Celsius.
And, you know, we're -- we're seeing at least one case of a farmer in -- in a part of England, which is having to get his crops at 3:00 A.M. to harvest
his crops so that they have enough moisture.
And also low water levels. So, you've mentioned the Danube there. But the Rhine, this is a huge river that goes through Germany. And BASF, which is a
major chemicals company, they are warning that they're not going to be able to get enough of their ingredients for their chemicals because they are
delivered on ships that travel on the Rhine. So, all of that is happening.
And you've got the cost of the wildfires themselves. You know, the U.K. is not really associated with wildfires, but we're seeing that too. So, this
is really is unprecedented for this part of the world.
And you're right, this is happening at the same time as you've got this prolonged war in the Middle East. The Strait of Hormuz is still effectively
shut. And it's not just oil that's not getting out, it's also natural gas.
And Europe is in prime time during the summer when it is filling up its stocks of natural gas at relatively low prices, usually for this time of
year, ahead of the cold winter.
We're probably not going to see outright shortages at the end of this year in Europe. Europe can pay its way out of this problem. But that is the
problem because people in Europe will probably see higher energy bills later this year because of the higher costs that their politicians, their
energy companies are going to have to be spending in order to get the energy they need.
So, I wish I could be the bearer of better news, but it's really a whole maelstrom of problems right now for Europe's economy.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ASHER: Anna Cooban reporting there.
All right. Still to come on "One World," how empathy can help you cope as the world gets more contentious and politics continues to divide us.
We'll talk to Dr. Tony Nader about the power of caring.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[12:45:15]
ASHER: The White House says it's looking at potential pathways for cooperation with Ukraine after President Zelenskyy made a plea on CNN for
more Patriot missiles. The White House says it is exploring options, but must prioritize its own weapons productions.
CNN's' Nick Paton Walsh is in Kyiv and he spoke to President Zelenskyy about the war and his hopes for life after it.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY, UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT: Thanks so much. No, I -- I had too -- too many meetings today with the soldiers. And they will have, after
the interview, the second military cabinet.
NICK PATON WALSH, CNN CHIEF INTERNATIONAL SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: So you have said in the past that when this war is over, you just want to sit on
the beach.
ZELENSKYY: Yes.
WALSH: And drink beer.
ZELENSKYY: Yes.
WALSH: Is that still --
ZELENSKYY: Yes.
WALSH: -- your abiding feeling? Or do you know that there will be more work to do afterwards?
ZELENSKYY: No, I won't. I won't really. I need some time. I need some time with -- with -- with my family and -- and with the sea.
WALSH: I mean, that's a key question because this must be for you physically, incredibly exhausting to deal with the loss, the pressure you
say every morning, phone calls about Patriot interceptors --
ZELENSKYY: Yes.
WALSH: -- that lives depend upon, how you handle that particular stress.
And do you get to talk to your kids every day or?
ZELENSKYY: Every day but -- but -- but sometimes by phone, of course, not every day I can see them, but I mean, I'm very happy to --
WALSH: What -- what do you say to them?
ZELENSKYY: To them? Morning. How are you? How are -- how are things. Yes. And they -- they tell me what the dreams they had.
WALSH: You missed them?
ZELENSKYY: Miss. Of course. Of course miss. And, of course, I always say how I love them. And it's like -- you like, you know, you physically need
to hug them. And so we understand it's like -- like big support, big energy support.
WALSH: Thank you, Mr. President.
ZELENSKYY: Yes. Big --
WALSH: I have one last question.
ZELENSKYY: Yes.
WALSH: What is that?
ZELENSKYY: This elephant.
WALSH: The elephant with the cold. What is it?
ZELENSKYY: You know, this is where a historic building is.
WALSH: Sure. Sure.
ZELENSKYY: Thank you very much.
WALSH: Thank you, sir, very much for your time.
ZELENSKYY: You just gave some moment to relax.
WALSH: Please have it removed and spend time on the beach at some point some -- somewhere, you know.
ZELENSKYY: After the war.
WALSH: After the war.
You worry you might get trapped in like the political world of Ukraine after the war?
ZELENSKYY: Nobody can take my seat.
WALSH: Right, right.
ZELENSKYY: I will fight for this.
WALSH: Thank you.
ZELENSKYY: I need it.
WALSH: Take care. Thank you so much.
ZELENSKYY: Thank you so much.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ASHER: Great interview there with our Nick Paton Walsh and President Zelenskyy.
This week marks a somber anniversary for Afghan women and girls. On August 15th, five years ago, the Taliban returned to power after chaotic
withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan.
[12:50:05]
Law by law, the Taliban have enforced what the U.N. now calls a system of gender apartheid. Women are not allowed to speak in public and have been
pushed out of the workplace.
And under a draconian edict passed earlier this year, husbands are allowed to beat their wives as long as no bones are broken.
For the past 1,824 days, 2.4 million girls have been shut out of secondary school and higher education, depriving them of their fundamental right to
education.
CNN's Isobel Yeung has more on this anniversary.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ISOBEL YEUNG, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): These images marked the end of America's longest war. The Taliban were back in Kabul. Airport crowds of
Afghans desperately trying to flee as the country entered an uncertain era.
Some parents were even willing to hand their children over the airport fence, anything to get them out of a Taliban-controlled Afghanistan.
Five years later, the Taliban government has survived. They say they're bringing much-needed stability and security after decades of war.
But at the same time, Afghan women and girls now face some of the starkest restrictions in the world.
According to the United Nations, more than 100 decrees and directives have cut off their access to education, employment, and public life.
Girls over 12 can no longer attend school. Women are restricted from working as lawyers, doctors or NGOs. Women can't travel without a male
guardian or even visit parks.
MAHBOUBA SERAJ, AFGHAN WOMEN'S RIGHTS ACTIVIST: They don't have money to buy anything. They don't have any place to go to. They're not allowed to.
So, why should they work on the streets? They don't want to get up. So, they're staying home. It's by force and it's been happening by force from
day one.
YEUNG (voice-over): For Afghan children, another crisis is unfolding. Nearly one in 10 children under five is suffering from acute malnutrition,
according to Save the Children.
The organization says that since humanitarian funding has dried up, nearly 600 health clinics have been forced to close.
Last year, we travelled to Afghanistan to see what the withdrawal of USAID was already doing to the country's fragile healthcare system.
We met Mohammed Omar (ph), who had severe malnutrition and meningitis. His grandmother, Nazu-Gal (ph), was in the middle of explaining his condition
to us when we noticed Mohammed had stopped breathing.
YEUNG: Is he breathing? Is he breathing?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You need to go.
YEUNG: You need to go. Sorry. Move, move, move.
YEUNG (voice-over): Mohammed's mother returns to the room and the most devastating news.
(CRYING)
Mohammed's death came as Afghanistan's malnutrition crisis was worsening. The World Food Programme estimates nearly four million Afghan children will
suffer acute malnutrition this year without urgent investment.
Now, Afghanistan is no longer in the chaos of the takeover, but as the country remains internationally isolated and heavily dependent on
humanitarian assistance, the uncertainty for millions of Afghans has not gone away. It has become their new reality.
Isobel Yeung, CNN, London.
All right. Before we go, I want to turn to the movies. Now, Christopher Nolan's blockbuster film, "The Odyssey," releases in theaters across China
today.
CNN's Mike Valerio talks to movie buffs in Beijing to see if they're ready to come aboard the epic voyage.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MIKE VALERIO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Is China the biggest test yet for "The Odyssey?"
VALERIO (through text translation): Why do you want to see "The Odyssey?"
BEX LIU, BEIJING MOVIEGOER (through translator): It's already trendy and the reviews are positive. The pre-release promotion was done very well, so
I'm very interested in it.
VALERIO: The blockbuster just opened in China, ceiling into a market where Hollywood has been struggling to get Chinese audiences into theaters.
Domestic movies now dominate China's box office, a growing trend. Only one or two Hollywood movies will crack the annual top 10 highest grossing
lists, but Christopher Nolan may be different.
MR. HE, BEIJING MOVIEGOER (through translator): I really look forward to seeing how the director, Nolan, is going to tell the stories.
BRENT LANG, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF, INDIEWIRE: Christopher Nolan is now a brand unto himself. People really go out just because Christopher Nolan's name is
above the title.
VALERIO (voice-over): And Nolan's films have already made similar box office journeys in China before. "Oppenheimer" made about $60 million here.
"Interstellar" and "Inception" were hits too.
On Chinese social media, influencers are summarizing Homer's epic poem and key characters to tell those scrolling what they need to know before
watching "The Odyssey."
It's playing on hundreds of IMAX screens across China. And people in their socials are talking about which IMAX theaters in their cities offer the
best experiences.
Nolan, Matt Damon, and Charlize Theron all came to Beijing for a splashy premiere.
[12:55:05]
And Nolan's interview with Chinese podcaster, Zhong Shu, went viral, racking up tens of millions of views.
ZHONG SHU, CHINESE PODCASTER: Are you a bard for a civilization at dusk?
VALERIO: But does all that buzz actually translate into Chinese moviegoers buying tickets?
LANG: The local product has gotten so much better in China and so much more popular that they -- they've gotten a little out of the habit of going to
Hollywood films.
VALERIO: "The Odyssey" could help show if Chinese audiences are ready for another Nolan epic and if that could help lead them back to Hollywood.
Mike Valerio CNN, Beijing.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ASHER: All right. That does it for this hour of "One World." I'm Zain Asher. "Amanpour" is up next. You're watching CNN.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
END
