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One World with Zain Asher

Exclusive: CIA Drone Strike Targeted Port Facility in Venezuela; Demonstrations Erupt in Tehran and Beyond Over Currency Plunge; Expert Tips for Job Hunting in 2026; Unemployment Rate Hit a Four-Year High of 4.6 Percent in November; French Health Professionals go on Six-Day Fast to Test of Physical and Mental Benefits; Beyonce Becomes Fifth Billionaire Musician. Aired 11a-12p ET

Aired December 30, 2025 - 11:00   ET

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

[11:00:00]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PAULA NEWTON, CNN HOST, ONE WORLD: We have exclusive CNN reporting the CIA carried out an attack on Venezuelan soil targeting a port facility. "One

World" starts right now. The U.S. has entered a new phase in its campaign to put pressure on Caracas, the first known U.S. attack on Venezuelan

territory.

Plus, a power failure in the Channel Tunnel halts Eurostar services amid the New Year travel rush, we'll have the latest on efforts to get those

trains running again. And looking for a new job in the New Year. We speak to a career expert about the outlook for hiring in 2026.

Live from New York. I'm Paula Newton, and this is "One World". And we do begin with a CNN exclusive. Sources say a CIA drone strike targeted a

remote dock on the coast of Venezuela earlier this month. Now this would make it the first known U.S. strike on Venezuelan soil.

Sources say there were no casualties. Now this incident could further inflame tensions with President Nicolas Maduro, who Washington has been

pressuring to step down. This comes as U.S. military strikes on alleged drug trafficking vessels continue. On Monday, U.S. Southern Command said a

boat in the Eastern Pacific was hit, killing two people. At least 107 people have died in similar U.S. strikes there in the Caribbean since

September.

Senior National Security Reporter Zachary Cohen joins us now with his exclusive reporting from Washington, DC. And Zachary, can you let us in on

you know, what more we've learned about this and why President Trump actually chose to disclose this? I mean, CIA operations are not normally

made public.

ZACHARY COHEN, CNN SENIOR NATIONAL SECURITY REPORTER: Yeah, that's right, Paula. So first, our sources are telling us that the CIA drone strike

targeted a facility on the Coast of Venezuela that the U.S. believes is used by a Venezuelan gang for drug trafficking, to load drugs onto ships

for transport.

We're also told that, as you mentioned, the facility itself was vaccine at the time of the strike, and that's why there were no casualties. One source

describing the strike itself as a success because the facility and the boats that were present there at the time were all destroyed at the same

time, characterizing this strike as largely symbolic in nature, as this port facility is just one of many locations that is used by drug

traffickers to transport their product around the world.

And look, this is really an interesting revelation, in part because of how we first sort of learned about it, and that's from President Donald Trump

directly, you said, and you're exactly right that CIA operations are typically shrouded in secrecy. That is sort of the CIA's whole objective.

They operate in the shadows.

But President Donald Trump, in a radio interview just the other day seemed to allude to what we now know to be a CIA covert operation, telling a

Republican donor that the U.S. blew up a facility on land inside of Venezuela. Of course, the president was pressed on this issue just

yesterday as well by our own Kevin Liptak. Take a listen to what he said when he was asked about the strike and who carried it out.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: There was a major explosion in the dock area where they load the boats up with drugs. They

load the boats up with drugs. So, we hit all the boats, and now we hit the area. It's the implementation area, that's where they implement, and that

is no longer around.

KEVIN LIPTAK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: With the facility taken out by the U.S. military was it another entity like the CIA?

TRUMP: Well, I don't want to say that. I know exactly who it was, but I don't want to say who it was, but you know, it was along the shore.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COHEN: So, Trump obviously declining to answer the question as to whether or not this was the U.S. military or a CIA operation. Of course, sources

now confirming to us that it was the CIA who carried out the drone strike. We've reported in the past too that Donald Trump did has authorized the CIA

to carry out covert operations inside Venezuela.

But this is really the first indication of what the agency has been doing as part of this month's long and increasingly escalating pressure campaign

against Venezuelan Leader Nicolas Maduro. And as you also mentioned in part that is, that is a piece of that is, are these drones?

Are these strikes in international waters against alleged drug boats that the Trump Administration has tried to tie to Maduro himself. This

Venezuelan gang that the U.S. believes was using this port struck by the CIA also has been tied to Maduro by the Trump Administration.

So, we have to wait and see what the response is from Venezuela. It's worth noting sources pointed out that the CIA strike really got little to no

acknowledgement inside Venezuela when it happened.

[11:05:00]

And we have not heard from Maduro himself in the time since.

NEWTON: Yeah, and that is definitely ironic. Zachary Cohen, we appreciate the exclusive reporting. Thanks so much. And we do want to dig deeper into

this story with CNN Global Affairs Analyst Kim Dozier, she joins us now. Good to see you Kim, as we try and parse exactly what went on here.

Now listen, I've heard both takes on this now, right? That this is not really a big deal or a big operation, that it wasn't that significant

others, though, saying that it is quite an escalation. Where do you stand on all this?

KIMBERLY DOZIER, CNN GLOBAL AFFAIRS ANALYST: Well, it's a strike on Venezuelan soil, and that is an escalation. But, you know, Venezuela is a

vast country with a vast shoreline. It could be that we haven't heard from Venezuelan officials about this, because if no one was there when it

happened, they don't know it was a drone strike.

If it was a drug facility of some sort that isn't necessarily directly under Maduro's purview, even though the regime profits from the drug

running. So, was it significant? Well, it won't significantly dent the drug running overall, but it is a message that the Trump Administration is

trying to use every method possible to increase the tension and pressure on the regime.

That said now that President Trump has outed this, or he loves kinetic action, and he loves talking about it, but he's made the next strike that

much harder, because now drug runners might put a person a guard at every single similar facility just to watch to see if they're going to get hit

again.

NEWTON: Yeah, it is significant that he disclosed something that, as I said, normally, is not disclosed for operational reasons and to protect

future operations. I am wondering, though, what this tells us about the Trump Administration's real end game here. And how close the administration

might be to putting even more pressure on Maduro on Venezuelan soil?

DOZIER: Well, Trump doesn't want to put troops on Venezuelan soil, because he knows that's unpopular with his base and unpopular with the wider U.S.

population and with the size of Venezuela, and also the way Maduro is connected to his military.

And they also have this entrenched, trained group of essentially a trained mob in every single city, armed and ready to launch an insurgency. This

would be a bloody war and take a long time, and wouldn't necessarily unseat Maduro.

So, what they're trying to do is increase the pressure on every front, seize the oil make the drug running difficult and keep those naval ships

off of Venezuelan soil to frustrate all traffic in the region. That said, you know, in Trump 1.0 they tried everything under the sun, including

planning possible covert operations. And that didn't unseat Maduro. It's not clear that any of this will work this time around.

NEWTON: And yet, the Trump Administration, you know, goes forward with this. We've had reporting in the last few weeks both about Marco Rubio and

his Chief of Staff, Susie Wiles, Trump's Chief of Staff, you know, in giving us some clues as to what the end game is here.

Do you believe the Trump administration will back off at all? Because you just pointed out the risk in actually trying to escalate this with any kind

of troop involvement whatsoever?

DOZIER: Well, the tough thing is, Trump's invested his pride in this now. He can't really withdraw without doing something, some sort of fake act

that then he can declare victory and take the ships home.

And I think what we could see is instead, just some sort of extended patrol off the Coast of Venezuela, in hopes that week after week, month after

month, it will start to at least bother freak out the people keeping Maduro in power and start to make some of them reconsider.

That said, the Venezuelan military is riddled with Cuban and other operatives who have in the past spotted something like half a dozen coups

against Maduro before they could be launched. That's the kind of infrastructure that the U.S. is up against in trying to unseat this regime.

NEWTON: Yeah, a couple things to note there Kimberly. And the opposition told me several weeks ago that they believe that the military in Venezuela

will flip. So, you do wonder what they know about what the Trump Administration is doing there?

But I do want to bring up another point. I mean, it has been well over a decade and year after year that Maduro has told me personally that there

are CIA operatives within Venezuela.

[11:10:00]

In him, in he now having this kind of proof that the CIA was doing operations inside of Venezuela. Does it not embolden him locally, as well

within his own country, to really, as you said, beef up those militias that are throughout Venezuela. I've seen them for myself and have a large stash

of weapons with them.

DOZIER: I mean, it certainly does, and not just throughout Venezuela, but across Latin America. You know, the CIA has got a dirty history of toppling

various regimes throughout Latin America, and then putting in place, especially far right regimes that end up disappearing people, torturing

people, not putting in a democratic system.

And so, you've got people across Latin America, and also leftist parties across Latin America watching this, and they will be able to message to

their supporters and probably win new supporters, because nobody likes being pushed around like this. And that may lead to more covert aid to

Venezuela and the kind of support that just helps keep Maduro in power.

NEWTON: Yeah, it is deeply unsettling, and we've even seen from the UK in terms of them not being as cooperative on intelligence sharing with the

United States. Because no matter what is going on in those Caribbean waters, it is on shaky international legal ground. Kimberly Dozier, thank

you so much. Appreciate it.

Now, thousands of travelers in Europe are seeing their holiday plans upended as major disruption hits the railways just ahead of New Year.

Eurostar says it has suspended cross channel train services to and from London until further notice. That's because of a power supply problem

within the Channel Tunnel.

Crowds formed at the English entrance to the tunnel. Passengers are being warned to expect severe delays. There's no word yet on how long the service

will be down?

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I realize I've been traveling normally, by plane or by car, and it's actually the first time that I've used the trains. They have

an interrail ticket for senior people, and I was, yeah, excited to find out how it works. And since I started in Zurich, I just had troubles with the

reservations, with over bookings, with cancellations of the train.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

NEWTON: Anna Cooban is tracking these developments live from London. I know you've seen some of the chaos firsthand. It is -- it looks ugly. And I

guess the real question is, do we have any more indication about how long this might last?

ANNA COOBAN, CNN BUSINESS & ECONOMICS REPORTER: Well, Paula, we've seen in the past hour or so, actually, that services have started to resume, both

on the Eurostar service, which transports chiefly or only passengers between London and Paris, and also Le Shuttle, which is the service that

transports cars and trucks, usually with people inside them.

They both are partially resumed, but Eurostar is still warning passengers to stay away. It says to really expect severe delays, cancelations for the

trains that are running. And really, you know, we can all see this is the, really the worst time of year for something like this to be happening

during the busy holiday period.

I was at Kings Cross Station in London just a few hours ago, speaking to a woman who says that she was considering shelving plans to go to Rotterdam

to visit friends for New Year's Eve. And with another man who said that he had been on a train on a Eurostar train just outside the tunnel and was

stuck there for six hours earlier today.

NEWTON: Anna I am wondering, though, when these things happen? Sometimes, when I say it gets ugly, I'm not kidding. People are stranded. How much are

we seeing that on either side of the channel right now?

COOBAN: Well, the Euro tunnel is a vital artery linking London to Paris. To give you a sense of the numbers of people that travel via this route every

year or last year, it was around 20 million people took that route, and that was bumped up by the Paris Olympics, with people going to see Paris.

But even on our average year, it's multiple millions of people. So that gives you an idea of the kind of bottlenecks that we see when something

happens. Early this year, we saw actually an unexploded World War II bomb found near the train lines in Paris, and that caused massive disruptions,

and it has a huge domino effect.

We don't yet know the financial calculus of this, the financial repercussions. We know that passengers who've had their train canceled are

entitled to a refund and to rebook. And the chaos does seem to be subsiding somewhat, but there are still many people left stranded right

Now.

NEWTON: Yeah, and given it is the New Year's holiday I don't have to remind anyone about no one who wants to be disappointed with these plans. Anna

Cooban we'll continue to keep an eye on it and hope that it resumes to full service soon.

Still to come for us, unrest in Iran as protesters hit the streets again over the state of the economy. How the Iranian government is responding.

That's just ahead. Plus, an influential Former Prime Minister of Bangladesh has died. We'll have more on the life and legacy of Khaleda Zia.

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NEWTON: Iranian shopkeepers strike in Tehran again today as the country sees its largest protests in three years. Demonstrations erupted on Monday

after the country's currency plummeted to a record low against the U.S. dollar. Iran's economy has been struggling under the weight of Western

sanctions.

Iranian officials say they hear the concerns of protesters, and they're promising monetary reforms. Our Nanda Bashir has been following all of

these latest developments from London for us. And I'm wondering what you make of the government's response.

Trying to have some kind of a response already is notable, because these protesters, what they're doing is at great personal risk. At times, we have

seen that the regime can even become violently repress these kinds of protests. So, I'm wondering what's at work

Now?

NADA BASHIR, CNN REPORTER: Absolutely, Paula. And of course, these are some of the largest protests that we have seen since we saw large scale protests

about three years ago over the country's actions on terms of the morality police the treatment of women.

But these are, of course, focused on the economic crisis, the economic situation, sharp inflation and rising prices, which have become a daily

struggle for average Iranians across the country. And of course, we have seen these protests erupting in parts of Central Tehran, downtown.

At Tehran, just yesterday, we saw social media video being shared showing police actually engage in a standoff with protesters. We have seen today

university students participating in a large-scale march around the University of Tehran.

And we are expecting to see this continuing, according to calls from local merchants and markets and bazar officials who have called on many to close

their stores, to close the markets as part of this protest movement calling for urgent reform.

Now, in terms of government action, we have seen the Head of the Central Bank resigning, according to state media. And we've also heard some

statements from government spokes people essentially telling protesters that they are listening. Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

FATEMEH MOHAJERANI, IRANIAN GOVERNMENT SPOKESPERSON: The government will listen patiently, even if there are harsh voices, because we believe that

our people are patient enough. And when they voices are raised, the pressure that is being put on them is high.

[11:20:00]

The government's job is to hear the voices and help them reach a common understanding to solve the problems that exist in society.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BASHIR: Now of course this has really become a daily struggle for so many Iran. We are talking about rising food prices, the cost of medical care

rising significantly. Gas prices also rising. There have been indications from some officials that we may see tax hikes in the coming year.

So, this has all led to a huge feeling of unease amongst many Iranians, who feel that the government isn't listening and that the cost of living is

becoming too much, really, for many to bear. And as we've seen, these protests have been quite significant.

They are gaining momentum. And of course, Iran has a history of protests being led by shop owners market workers as well. So, there's certainly a

sense of unease being felt within the government over the potential that these protests could have.

NEWTON: But these financial troubles, are so closely related to the sanctions that Iran has been under for several years. I'm wondering how

this connects to Iran's recent belligerence as well. I mean, it continues to say that it's on a war footing with the U.S., Israel and Europe, that

certainly doesn't jive with actually getting any of these sanctions lifted.

BASHIR: That's right. We have certainly felt that our knee is growing with regards to the potential for yet more military action targeting Iran. We've

been hearing actually, from the U.S. President Donald Trump, hinting towards the potential for further action if Iran intends to rebuild its

ballistic missile program.

That is something that, of course, the U.S. has warned against quite firmly. We've course seen the sanctions put back in place, which has

essentially crippled Iran's economy. And many, of course, average Iranians are feeling that at home.

And of course, we've been hearing from Trump, just in the last day, he's met with the Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, who has also been

calling on the U.S. to take tougher action on Iran, to prevent Iran from being able to have any sort of ballistic missile capability or nuclear

weapons capability.

Of course, following the U.S.'s targeting of Iran's nuclear bases. And of course, we've heard from Trump saying that he is threatened, very powerful

in his words, consequences if Iran continues to rebuild its nuclear program. At this stage, the U.S. has no clear indications that it has been

able to rebuild any such capabilities at the sites targeted by the United States, but Trump has indicated that there may be other sites which are

being looked at.

NEWTON: Nada Bashir in London. Grateful to you. Thanks so much. Bangladesh's Former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia has died at the age of 80.

Now, before her death, she had been planning to launch a potential political comeback in February's general election. CNN's Hanako Montgomery

has more now on her life and legacy.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

HANAKO MONTGOMERY, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Khaleda Zia came to power as Bangladesh's first female prime minister in 1991. Serving another

term from 2001 her arch rivalry with Sheik Hasina, whose recent rule was toppled by student protests in 2024 defined the country's politics for a

generation.

Zia was married to Bangladeshi President Zia Rahman, who was assassinated during an attempted coup in 1981. Following his death, Zia helped build a

mass movement against a military dictatorship that later came to power. Finally ending in 1990.

She then took office as Prime Minister, beating out Hasina, her then political ally against military rule. Zia worked to re-establish the

country as an electoral democracy and replaced presidential rule with a restored parliamentary system.

Over the years, she faced corruption cases that she claimed were politically motivated. Bangladesh's Supreme Court acquitted her of the last

of those in January, which would have freed her to run in the country's next election in February.

The 80-year-old had advanced cirrhosis of the liver, arthritis, diabetes and chest and heart problems according to her doctors. She had returned to

Bangladesh in May after undergoing medical treatment in the United Kingdom, despite years of ill health, Zia had promised to campaign in the upcoming

election in which her Bangladesh Nationalist Party is expected to perform well.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

NEWTON: Still ahead for us on "One World", 2025 brought a lot of worries over jobs. So, will next year be any better? You will want to stick around

for this conversation as we run down the numbers and take a look at what's on the horizon.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[11:25:00]

NEWTON: And welcome back to "One World". I'm Paula Newton in New York. Here are some of the headlines we're watching today. In an exclusive report,

sources tell CNN that the CIA carried out a drone strike on a port facility in Venezuela earlier this month.

The Trump Administration believes the facility was used by the Venezuelan gang Trend De Aragua to store, pardon me, and ship drugs. This marks a

major escalation in President Trump's campaign against Venezuela and its leader, Nicolas Maduro.

The Iranian government says it hears the complaints of protesters over the state of the economy, and it's offering up dialog and monetary reforms.

Anger has boiled over in the past few days as the value of Iran's currency plunges to an all-time low against the U.S. dollar.

China says it's staging military exercises in the sea and sky around Taiwan, describing them as a serious warning to those who seek Taiwan's

independence. Beijing says army, navy, air and rocket units are testing their combat readiness and also simulating the blockade of ports and other

targets. Taiwan's government condemned the drills, accusing China of military intimidation.

The UAE says it will withdraw its forces from Yemen after Saudi Arabia struck a Yemeni port, a Saudi led coalition carried out the air strike,

saying two ships from the UAE had delivered weapons and combat vehicles to separatist forces. The UAE initially denied the accusations, but in light

of the air strike, says it will voluntarily pull out its remaining forces.

So, as we head into 2026 the New Year means new beginnings, least some hope so. And for some people, possibly a new job in this installment of consumer

watch CNN's Jenn Sullivan sat down with a career expert to find out what it takes to stand out with recruiters?

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(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JENN SULLIVAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Bringing in a New Year means self-reflection and setting new goals for some that may mean looking for a

new job in many career experts say January is a good time for job seekers.

DAWN FAY, OPERATIONAL PRESIDENT AT ROBERT HALF: In the New Year, you often see hiring opportunities increase out in the marketplace.

SULLIVAN (voice-over): Dawn Fay, with recruiting firm, Robert Half, says a New Year means a new annual budget for most companies, so they have more

financial flexibility to add positions. But this is a tough climate for job seekers. The latest jobs report shows 105,000 jobs were lost in October,

and 64,000 jobs were added in November, while the unemployment rate rose to 4.6 percent a four year high.

FAY: The jobs are there. It's more competitive to find the opportunities you're looking for.

SULLIVAN (voice-over): Faye recommends broadening your job search if you work in marketing, don't just apply to other marketing firms. Look for a

marketing job in other industries.

FAY: Certainly, things are picking up in the energy sector, because there's all talk about power, and how are we going to power all these data centers

to keep the AI work running.

SULLIVAN (voice-over): -- your resume and cover letter to each job you apply for. She says, AI can be a useful tool to help you save time. Use the

job description to help you come up with a rough draft.

FAY: You might again, just want to tweak it to highlight your skills and the results that you've had from the work that you've done that could be

really particular to that role that you are applying to.

SULLIVAN (voice-over): Don't just apply through the company's website. Try and track down the hiring manager and email them directly as well. If

you're currently unemployed, consider contract or temporary work, take a class to develop new skills, or even volunteer. Fay says that helps you

explain any resume gaps. For "Consumer Watch" I'm Jenn Sullivan.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

NEWTON: Now worries about the job market have brought consumer confidence down this month, according to a report from the Conference Board, which

tracks consumer sentiment. Americans at all income levels are concerned about the labor market. The Consumer Confidence Index fell to its lowest

level since April, when Donald Trump unveiled a slew of import tariffs.

December's reading of 89.1 is down nearly four points from November. We want to get some perspective on consumer sentiment, but mainly the job

market. And we are joined by Andrew McCaskill. He is a Career Expert at LinkedIn. Good to see you.

As we head into 2026, we do want to take a bit of a look back to 2025. You know, the overall employment rate you say doesn't tell the whole story of

2025. I mean, you point out that the no fire, no hire and job hugging headlines were kind of missing the mark this year. And I'm using your words

here, it kind of felt like a white-collar job massacre. Do you see that continuing?

ANDREW MCCASKILL, CAREER EXPERT, LINKEDIN: Yeah. Look, I think that there's not going to be a lot of change or growth in terms of it being any better

than 2025. I say that the 300,000 jobs that were lost from federal workers, 150,000 jobs that were lost in the tech industry. It definitely did feel

like that for a lot of white-collar workers.

A lot of workers who traditionally felt very safe and secure in their careers, found themselves out looking for new work and looking for work in

a really competitive environment. This is how competitive I do think that the job market is going to be in 2026.

I can tell you that there are going to be times where people who may be in the job market, they may actually be competing for roles against former

bosses and managers. And so, this is a moment where this economy, you're going to have to call in the favor. This is the time to start using the

silver bullets to take the pride out of it, and really get strategic about how you look for a job.

NEWTON: OK, all of that sounds pretty tough. When we look at the economy itself and there's been so much discussion about AI. I know how LinkedIn

you guys are at LinkedIn, in terms of really looking at the data, which jobs do you see as growing and which are vulnerable? Because, come on, look

from some of the data we saw in 2025 we thought computer science was bullet proof.

MCCASKILL: Listen, I will say this. That AI engineers, those jobs are on fire, right? AI engineers, or even product managers in AI, AI product

managers, but any of those jobs that are connected to people and places like health care, those types of jobs, even jobs in roles where you are

looking at hospitality, the retail, construction, we saw a lot of jobs added in all of those industries.

Dealing with people you're going to see a lot more opportunity there. I think for AI though, don't just think that every AI job is a job behind a

desk. We saw this year while there was a ton of layoffs in tech that Google has pledged $10 million to train 100,000 electricians and 30,000

apprentices to help with all of the data center work that's getting ready to happen, right?

And so skilled trades work is on fire, so folks who are doing HVAC, plumbing work, all of those sorts of things, those jobs oftentimes are not

just AI bullet proof, but they're also AI demand roles as well.

[11:35:00]

NEWTON: Yeah, the robots aren't doing that work for us, not just yet.

MCCASKILL: Not yet.

NEWTON: You know, you said something which I'm sure elicits dread from many. I'm quoting you again, you will have to network and interview for

your entire life.

MCCASKILL: Yes.

NEWTON: What does that look like? And should we blame AI for that?

MCCASKILL: Listen, I don't think we should blame AI. I think that there's a lot of reason. There's a lot of AI uncertainty in the marketplace. There's

a lot of tariff uncertainty. And what I think that, what I mean by that is that you're going to have to be really strategic about how you look for a

job?

Every interview and interaction is going to count. That means that a lot of those things, of the way that we interviewed in the past and the way that

we've interacted with job opportunities in the past, comes back around. You've got to treat every interview like it is a command performance.

Every conversation like it's a command performance. Enthusiasm actually matters. COVID is over, put on a suit, be early, send a thank you note. And

in that thank you note, Paula, you've got to say not just thank you for your time, but thank you for the opportunity. And here's why I know I can

have an impact at the company.

I'll say this too, is that so many, so many of the hiring managers are hiring based on referrals. You're 40 percent more likely to get a job if

you've got a referral from someone inside the organization. So again, I say, now is the time to get in your group chat or talk to your friends, let

your network know that you're looking. What you're looking for and what to say about you to other people?

This is a strategy play, and you're going to have to play the long game and be prepared for those no's and to get right back in the fight.

NEWTON: Right. You're not going to take any of this personally. And it's interesting that even though sites like LinkedIn have made the job hunt

easier that it's still the old-fashioned networking that really is going to get you that job. You have three top tips for finding a job in 2026 take us

through.

MCCASKILL: Taking you through it. Here, your network, your network, your network again. Let people know that you're looking. Let people know what

you're looking for. And it's time to get outside and actually start back physically IRL networking. Have some lunches, go to some of your events

with where you might see recruiters or people that you used to know, call your old boss and reintroduce yourself and say hi, right?

Your network will save you when results won't. The second thing is, invest in both human and AI skills. AI literacy is in demand. It's not just for AI

engineers. It's for everyone. We are entering the AI enabled work force. And whether you're in marketing or communications, you need to have some AI

literacy. That is something that you should highlight on your LinkedIn profile, on your resume and in the interview, but also invest in human

skills.

One of the biggest things that we're hearing from recruiters when it comes to sort of buyer's remorse on people that they've hired that they're not so

keen on, is that they cannot communicate. They can't do conflict resolution, or they can't have a righteous debate at work and not take it

personally. We need those human skills. AI is here, but the future work is still human.

And finally, every interview and interaction has to be treated like a paid performance you are on from the minute that that that interview process

starts all the way through to the end. And I will say that it really, really matters to be enthusiastic that you want this job, not just a job,

desperation, no, but enthusiasm and fervor for that opportunity. It goes a long way. People want to work with folks who are likable and so be that in

that interview.

NEWTON: And that's where that network comes into right? You need those cheerleaders on the sidelines for you; everybody needs some of that. Andrew

McCaskill Happy New Year, and we'll continue to check in with you fascinating stuff there. Appreciate it.

MCCASKILL: Thank you.

NEWTON: Now, many people go to the gym or play a sport for the health benefits, but a group of health professionals in France.

MCCASKILL: Thank you.

NEWTON: -- is taking it to the next level. Our Melissa Bell, she did it as well. The ultimate fasting test you'll want to see this.

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[11:40:00]

NEWTON: So, eating sparingly or abstaining from food is better known as fasting. Now, several health professionals in France are putting it to the

ultimate test. They're walking 10 miles a day on just 250 calories for six days.

CNN's Melissa Bell joins them to find out whether the practice truly delivers the physical and mental benefits they claim. And a reminder here,

fasting is not recommended for everyone. Always consult a health care provider before making any significant changes to your diet.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MELISSA BELL, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: I'm heading to Southwestern France, a part of the world famous for its food, but I'm not

going to be eating any of it. I'll be joining this group of 80 health professionals, led by French doctors, to take part in what sounds like a

daunting challenge.

Another little climb, hiking 60 miles over six days and fueled only by 250 calories a day. A juice in the morning and a broth for dinner. Some find

fasting controversial, but this group meets every other year to highlight its benefits. They say that fasts over several days are not just possible,

but actually good for you.

I don't know if I can do it. Forget eggs and toast for breakfast instead, it's just a juice. Today's blend, cucumber, apple, kiwi and cabbage,

delicious. Now it's time for that 10-mile hike. Fasting has become a popular diet trend, but these doctors say that it's about much more than

burning fat, especially when combined with walking.

They say that fasting increases energy, reduces inflammation, and after two to three days, activates the body's cellular repair processes. Kay Linee is

a fasting coach, guiding people through the process of fasting safely, a reminder that fasting isn't necessarily for everyone and shouldn't be done

alone.

KAY LINEE, FASTING COACH: If you feel weak in the morning, you'll notice that once you walk a kilometer or two, the energy is going to grow better.

BELL: What can we expect in terms of how we feel? This is day one. It's our first hike.

LINEE: A little hunger or something you feel in the stomach, but that really goes away quickly. The second or third day can sometimes can be a

little more difficult in the morning, when you wake up in the morning, you might feel a bit of dizziness, because the body is adapting.

Most people are not hungry at all when they fast, or if they think they're hungry very often. It's just, it's more psychological.

BELL: This is what I'm really curious. How much is it more on our head?

LINEE: It's more dreaming of food, or --

BELL: Even for experienced fasters, the first hill can be too much low on blood sugar. Sophie Jeannin collapses. I catch up with her a little later

on her walk.

[11:45:00]

SOPHIE JEANNIN, FASTING COACH: I take just a little spoon of honey, and that's it. I can walk again.

BELL: Dr. Jacques Rouillier has seen this all before. He's been fasting regularly for more than 10 years.

DR. JACQUES ROUILLIER, GENERAL PRACTITIONER: [FOREIGN LANGUAGE]

BELL: It was the 2016 Nobel Prize winning research by Yoshinori Oshumi that reveal the mechanisms of autophagy, literally meaning eating itself, a

survival process in which cells, when deprived of glucose, recycle and repair damaged components.

There is no shortage of sugar here however. You've just walked into this bakery to buy Mark a sandwich because he's not fasting. My body is just

craving all of it, and I'm going to walk straight out again. I pretty well had a sleepless night. I don't feel hungry. I'm not thinking of food

anymore, but I do feel light headed. My heart is beating fast and pretty grumpy again this morning.

Definitely need to stop smoking. We've been super low in energy, and so this is what they recommend, teaspoon of honey. Tastes amazing. I don't

think honey; it ever tasted so good. So, I'm going to keep it in my mouth, and it's going to give me more energy. Put a little spring in my step. When

you did that, I wish I should make it to the end of the day, then everything will get better I'm told.

We've probably almost done 10 miles now, and I am dead. I feel weak. My legs are killing me. If I can do it. Oh, it feels like a lot right now.

They woke up this energy, Jesus.

Day four and I wake up feeling surprisingly recharged and eager to walk again. What a transformation, not just energy, but happiness, like I just

feel really, really good. And it's really the first time since we've been here that I think I can say that.

So that's super cool. And the difference with yesterday is mind blowing. I'm two different people, for sure. Is fasting transformative for everyone

who does it?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: For everyone, not always the same way. It can be very different. It can be emotional. It can be physical. You know, when you eat

all the time, you know you keep digesting all the time, and a lot of your organs are busy doing that well. When you fast, you know they're resting,

and you have all this vital energy available for other things.

BELL: So, this is the final mile of our journey, and I do feel physically full of vitality energy, as everyone had told me I would. I think the most

surprising thing, though, is what's happening mentally, a clear sightedness, a lucidity, a sense of power, which is really remarkable.

Getting back on the scales after six days of no food, it was 153 when we first weighed in. It's now 148 so five pounds less. I probably did think I

would lose more than that. But crucially, the results show no change to my muscle mass. I feel totally different than I did a week ago, five pounds

less.

But that's not the real change actually. The real change is in my mind. My mental fog is gone, and so as we prepare to break our fast, I am curious

about food, but not desperate for it. Beetroot hummus on a carrot, the flavor inside it is out of this world. How have I taken it for granted all

my life?

There's something almost sacred about this first meal in a week, the food tastes different. Now that I know that I'm beholden to nothing, not even my

own appetite.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

NEWTON: It wasn't that fascinating. Our thanks to Melissa Bell for taking that on.

[11:50:00]

OK, still to come for us, superstitions and traditions collide on New Year's Eve, a look at some of the more unusual ones from around the globe

when we come back.

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NEWTON: OK, the countdown is on due 2026 and while the team here at CNN is getting ready for our own New Year's Eve Party. The folks in New York's

Times Square are making sure the confetti is ready for midnight. More than 3000 pounds of it will be dumped on crowds there. But have you ever

wondered how people in other parts of the world ring in the New Year? Max Burnell takes a look at some unusual traditions.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MAX BURNELL, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): What does eating 12 grapes, wearing red underwear and receiving coal from a tall dark haired-man have

in common? Well, depending on where you are in the world, these actions are thought to bring you good luck in the New Year. For a lot of us,

celebrations on December 31st might look something like this.

Fireworks have become widely recognized as a way to mark the New Year, but they originally became popular in Asia to ward off evil spirits. Around the

world, there are a multitude of lesser-known traditions and rituals at the turn of a New Year, and many of them include food.

Some of us might be eating sober noodles for a long life, lentils for money and prosperity, or marzipan piglets for good fortune. The tradition of

eating exactly 12 grapes at midnight, one for each toll of the clock to encourage a prosperous New Year originated in Spain.

More recently, it has spread around the world after gaining popularity on TikTok. But it's not all about the food. Wearing red underwear is said to

bring you good luck, especially if it's a gift from someone else. Want to travel more in some Latin cultures, people believe walking around with an

empty suitcase at the end of one year might bring more trips in the next.

And in Scotland, a custom called first footing means the first person to enter your house on January 1st might influence your year. Traditionally,

it should be a tall, dark-haired man coming with gifts, including a coin, some short bread, coal and whiskey for good fortune.

[11:55:00]

Superstitions, traditions, celebrations, however you want to mark the New Year, we'll leave it to you.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

NEWTON: And we are so looking forward to it. This reminder, you're invited to our special coverage. New Year's Eve around the world. We'll bring you

celebrations from across the globe. Live party starts December 31st at 08:00 p.m. in Hong Kong, 11:00 p.m. in Sydney and noon in London. Can't

wait.

And finally, before we go, the bay hive is buzzing over the latest career milestone of its Queen Bay Forbes. Forbes is declaring Beyonce a

billionaire, the Mega Star, had a landmark year, taking home the Grammy's top prize for her album Cowboy Carter, a tour that brought in more than

$400 million.

Now, Beyonce is not the -- is now the fifth musician to join the billionaire ranks, and we were curious. It is with her husband, Jay Z

Briana, Bruce Springsteen and, of course, Taylor Swift. We note three women among them. Stay with CNN, I'll have more "One World" right after the

break.

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END