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The Story Is with Elex Michaelson
National Guard Member Dies After Shooting In Washington D.C.; Death Toll Rises To 94 In Hong Kong Residential Building Fire; Trump Says Venezuela Anti-Drug Operations "By Land" To Begin "Soon"; Diplomacy Shifting Into Overdue On Ukraine Peace Plan; Pope Leo To Meet Middle East Christian Leaders In Bid For Unity. Miss Universe's Victory Overwhelmed by Controversies; Lawmakers Ask European Commission to Pull Tanzania Funding; National Retail Federation: 187M People to Shop This Weekend. Aired 1-2a ET
Aired November 28, 2025 - 01:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[01:00:00]
KIM BRUNHUBER, CNN ANCHOR: Ahead, what we know about Sarah Beckstrom.
Plus, Larry Sabato breaks down how the suspect's nationality is now playing into Trump's immigration agenda.
The story is clinging onto hope. Hong Kong residents are anxiously awaiting news of any more survivors from the inflamed towers. Coming up, the latest on the search and rescue operations.
The story is ramping up. The U.S. military in the Caribbean. President Trump says strikes on Venezuelan land will be starting very soon.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD TRUMP, U.S. PRESIDENT: We're going to take care of that situation.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BRUNHUBER: We'll bring you the reactions from Caracas to Panama.
President Donald Trump says U.S. army Specialist Sarah Beckstrom, one of the National Guard members shot near the White House, has died. He says he's spoken to Beckstrom's family and is open to attending her funeral. He called her a, quote, highly respected and magnificent person.
Several local and federal law enforcement agencies lined the streets in Washington for a procession earlier. They saluted during the dignified transfer to the medical examiner. The source says Secretary of War Pete Hagseth was in attendance.
The other National Guard member who was attacked, Andrew Wolfe, is still in critical condition after undergoing surgery. The president made the announcement a short time ago while on a Thanksgiving call with service members.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: Incredible person, outstanding in every single way in every department. That's horrible. As you know, the other young man is fighting for his life. He's in very bad shape. He's fighting for his life and hopefully get better news. With respect to him and the monster that did this is also in serious condition, but we won't even talk about him.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BRUNHUBER: Marybel Gonzalez brings us the latest on the investigation.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MARYBEL GONZALEZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): 20-year-old Sarah Beckstrom and 24-year-old Andrew Wolfe, the National Guard members who were shot Wednesday near the White House were tasked with protecting the nation's capital. On Thursday, President Trump announced that Beckstrom died from her injuries.
TRUMP: She was savagely attacked. She's dead. It's not with us.
BRIG. GENERAL LELAND BLANCHARD III, U.S. NATIONAL GUARD: We know that their lives, their family lot, their family's lives are all changed forever because one person decided to do this horrific and evil thing.
GONZALEZ (voice-over): Wolfe is still hospitalized in critical condition. His neighbors spoke about his character.
MICHAEL LANGONE, ANDREW WOLFE'S NEIGHBOR: You get the shirt off his back to somebody, just really good guy. We always looked out for each other.
TINA GESFORD, ANDREW WOLFE'S NEIGHBOR: Hopefully, you know, things work out good for him. He's a hard worker, good kid.
GONZALEZ (voice-over): Authorities identified the suspected shooter as Rahmanullah Lakanwal.
JEANINE PIRRO, U.S. ATTORNEY FOR DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA: He resided in Bellingham, Washington with his wife and we believe five children.
GONZALEZ (voice-over): The 29-year-old Afghan national who worked with the U.S. government, including the CIA, came to the country in 2021 as part of then President Biden's Operation Allies Welcome, a program aimed to protect vulnerable Afghans in the wake of the U.S. military withdrawal from Afghanistan.
He applied for asylum in 2024, and then the Trump administration granted it In April.
PIRRO: He drove his vehicle across country from the state of Washington with the intended target of coming to our nation's capital. GONZALEZ (voice-over): The Trump administration says it will reexamine
green cards issued to people from 19 countries of concern, including Afghanistan. I'm Marybel Gonzalez reporting.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BRUNHUBER: President Trump is planning some harsh measures in the wake of the National Guard shooting. He says he will permanently pause migration from all third world countries to allow the U.S. system to fully recover. He also says he will remove anyone who is not a net asset to the United States. He's also considering action against the shooting suspect's family. Listen to this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Suspect does have a wife and five children who live in Washington. Do you plan to deport them?
TRUMP: The suspect has?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The suspect --
TRUMP: Well, we're looking at that right now. We're looking at the whole situation with family. It's a tragic situation.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BRUNHUBER: The administration has frozen the cases of all Afghans looking to immigrate to the U.S. many of those people are waiting in other countries, including Pakistan, Qatar, and North Macedonia. And some are still in Afghanistan. The founder of a group that works to resettle Afghans says he's concerned about those allies who worked with the U.S. military.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SHAWN VANDIVER, FOUNDER AND PRESIDENT, AFGHANEVAC: President Trump, one hand, said a lot of things about the withdrawal, about how horrible it was, and he was right. It was chaotic. It was terrible. We left a bunch of people behind. And then as soon as he got into office, he started ratcheting down on Afghans.
My number one concern is that all these 195,000 Afghans that came here during the last administration are going to be painted with the brush of this man.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
[01:05:02]
BRUNHUBER: For more, I'm joined by Larry Sabato, the founder and director of the University of Virginia Center for Politics. Thanks so much for being here with us. A Thanksgiving holiday marked by tragedy. A young woman lost her life. I think, really, this unites all Americans in grief. LARRY SABATO, DIRECTOR, CENTER FOR POLITICS, UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA:
Oh, absolutely. It's a terrible thing to happen at any time, but certainly on a major holiday, people naturally focus on it. And of course, there's another guardsman who is in very critical condition, and we hope he pulls through.
BRUNHUBER: Yes, absolutely. And President Trump was the one who announced the news of her death to the public. I mean, you've seen many presidents, far too many, unfortunately, have to do this, share sad news with the nation. I mean, what did you make of what President Trump said and his tone?
SABATO: Well, I think what he said about the two guardsmen was very appropriate and generally about the assignment that the guardsmen had in D.C. whether you think it was necessary or not.
I think the criticism that's legitimate is the focus of the Trump administration on a narrative that isn't supported by facts, at least not completely. They're very good about getting out there first, getting that narrative out there first. And their narrative was the terrible immigration policies of Trump's predecessor, Joe Biden, are somehow responsible for this.
And the facts as they're emerging seem to fit the narrative in the sense that asylum to the accused individual was given under the Trump administration in April.
BRUNHUBER: Yes. How do you think that complicates the narrative for them? Are they going to acknowledge that at all or just sort of sweep that under the carpet?
SABATO: Well, they have to acknowledge it because it's clearly true and it's been reported widely. But of course, they say that, well, the real decision was made in 2021 when he was allowed into the country along with many others. There was a good reason for it.
The Afghans who had worked closely with the Americans in the military and the CIA and other intelligence operations were threatened with death by the Taliban. And I think we owed them something. And this individual was brought back over along with many others and settled.
And look, we don't know exactly what happened, and we don't know what this individual's problem was, assuming that he is the one actually guilty. We'll find out in time. And, you know, mental illnesses do develop over time in anyone of any nationality, so it's better to wait for the facts. This administration rarely does.
BRUNHUBER: Yes. And President Trump was quick to blame Democrats and also, I mean, immigrants more widely. President Trump has ordered a review of all Afghan nationals who entered the country under the Biden administration and has said they'll reexamine all green cards issued to people from 19 countries. I mean, what do you make of him making immigration the issue here?
SABATO: Well, Kim, immigration is one of the last issues where Trump breaks even with the public. Sometimes he's his approval is a little above 50-50 and other times it's a little below. But it's his views and his policies on immigration seem to be more popular than his policies on, say, the economy.
So they see this as an opportunity and Trump sees it as an opportunity to reinforce one of his strongest cards. But again, you have to stick to the facts. And this widespread attack on immigrants from so many countries, the vast majority of whom have already been leading productive lives in the United States, is unwise. It's not good for the country, this country. It's not good for our foreign relations with many other countries.
BRUNHUBER: The president is adding 500 more National Guard troops in response to this attack. I mean, where do you see this going in terms of federal control over the Capitol?
SABATO: It greatly concerns many people, including Republicans who served at the highest level in prior Republican administrations, because it is normalizing the idea of dispatching National Guard and even regular armed forces into American cities and potentially other localities. If it's being normalized, that means the president can manage to do it at any time, say just before elections or just after elections, for example, coming next year with the midterm elections.
So when he challenges long held traditions and even rules and facts of law, it naturally contributes to a sense of unease among his opponents. But I think also people who may support him in some respects, but also don't want to live in an authoritarian society.
[01:10:04]
BRUNHUBER: Listen, really appreciate getting your political analysis of what is such a tragic event. Larry Sabato, thank you so much for being here with us.
SABATO: Thank you, Kim.
BRUNHUBER: The death toll from the high rise apartment fire in Hong Kong has risen to 94, with more than 200 people still unaccounted for. Investigators don't yet know what caused the fire, but they're looking at whether bamboo scaffolding and flammable construction materials may have helped the fire spread so quickly.
Hundreds of people are now homeless or staying in shelters. Hong Kong's chief executive says each household affected by the fire will receive about $1,200 and get a social worker to help with recovery. CNN's Hanako Montgomery has more.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
HANAKO MONTGOMERY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I just want to show you what I can see behind me right now. There aren't any water hoses coming from fire trucks and it looks the fire has largely been contained, according to authorities. They do say that the fires have been under control, though sometimes fires do pop up again in small pockets.
Now, of course, just around me in this area, there are dozens of fire trucks to really respond to, again, any pockets of fire that might pop up in the coming hours or so. But again, it seems the situation has largely improved from what we saw yesterday and, of course, Wednesday when the fire first broke out.
Now, Kim, I think you mentioned that there are survivors and those who have evacuated at emergency shelters. And let me just tell you, I mean, were at some of those emergency shelters yesterday and the community spirit there is absolutely astounding. I mean, we saw boxes and boxes of babies clothing, ladies clothing, emergency food, water, pet food. Really anything that these evacuees and these survivors need, the community was really there to provide that for them. I mean, the spirit behind this group and this community is absolutely astounding.
Now, Kim, as you mentioned, the authorities are still trying to investigate what exactly caused this fire and what also caused it to be so deadly. There are questions about potentially the construction material being used to renovate these buildings and also some of the bamboo scaffolding that were encasing the buildings.
And again, as you know, at least three people have been arrested on suspicion of manslaughter, but authorities haven't really updated since providing that information. Now we can also say that firefighters and search and rescue missions were currently undergoing a Friday morning local time. They were going from unit to try to find any remaining survivors, according to the authorities.
On Friday morning, they did say they were able to locate some survivors but they haven't really provided any details beyond that. So there is still fear that at least 200 people still remain missing. And we don't know if those individuals are safe, if they're in a secure location or not, or if authorities are still tending to those injuries. Kim.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BRUNHUBER: President Donald Trump says the United States will strike inside Venezuela, quote, very soon. He made the statement while speaking to members of the U.S. Military on a Thanksgiving phone call. Here he is.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: All of you are backbone of America and you really are the backbone of America's air power. And in recent weeks, you've been working to deter Venezuelan drug traffickers, of which there are many. Of course, there aren't too many coming in by sea anymore. You probably noticed that from sending their poisons into the United States, where they kill hundreds of thousands of people a year.
But we're going to take care of that situation. We're already doing a lot. We've almost stopped. It's about 85 percent stopped by sea. You probably noticed that. People aren't wanting to be delivering by sea and we'll be starting to stop them by land also. The land is easier, but that's going to start very soon. We warn them, stop sending poison to our country. (END VIDEO CLIP)
BRUNHUBER: The U.S. has killed more than 80 people in strikes on alleged drug trafficking boats in the Caribbean, but the administration has offered no proof that the vessels were carrying drugs.
The recent U.S. buildup and strikes in the region have prompted a strong reaction from Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
NICOLAS MADURO, VENEZUELAN PRESIDENT (through translator): For the last 17 weeks, foreign imperialist forces have been continuously threatening to alter the peace in the Caribbean, in South America and in Venezuela under false pretenses and extravagant arguments that no one believes.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BRUNHUBER: Protesters objecting to the U.S. military presence in the region gathered in Panama. They're asking their government to reject U.S. military intervention and refuse to cooperate with American forces. Panama has long hosted its joint anti-drug and security missions with the U.S. military.
Efforts to advance the latest U.S. Peace proposal for Ukraine will shift into overdrive in the coming days. U.S. army secretaries expected in Kyiv at the end of the week for talks with Ukrainian officials.
[01:15:00]
Dan Driscoll already met President Volodymyr Zelenskyy last week. The exact wording of the latest peace proposal is yet to be revealed. It was modified last weekend in Geneva. Ukraine and the Europeans pushed back against the original plan. That reads very much like Moscow's wish list. President Zelenskyy says Kyiv is hoping for progress. Here he is.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY, UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT (through translator): Already this week, at the end of the week, our team together with American representatives will continue to translate the points we secured in Geneva into a form that puts us on the path to peace and security guarantees.
Next week there will be important negotiations not only for our delegation but also for me personally. And we are laying solid groundwork for those talks.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BRUNHUBER: But Russia's president is suggesting Ukraine should accept its losses and warning they could get worse. Vladimir Putin is expected to meet U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff in Moscow next week, but indicated in Kyrgyzstan on Thursday that he's not ready to compromise much. Here he is.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
VLADIMIR PUTIN, RUSSIAN PRESIDENT (through translator): Once Ukrainian troops withdraw from the territories they occupy, then the fighting will end. If they don't withdraw, we will achieve this through military means.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BRUNHUBER: Russia currently controls about 20 percent of Ukraine. The original U.S. peace proposal would have given Moscow more territory in the east. Putin described the plan as a good starting point.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PUTIN (through translator): In general, we agree that the U.S. backed peace plan can be used as a basis for future agreements. But it will be impolite on my part to speak about any final versions because there are none.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BRUNHUBER: But one expert believes Putin's playing the White House. Mick Ryan, a retired Australian army major general, weighed in earlier. Here he is.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MAJ. GEN. MICK RYAN, AUSTRALIAN ARMY (RET.): He does not want to be seen as arbitrarily dismissing it. So, more sanctions and more weapons aren't sent to Ukraine. But I don't think there's anything very optimistic in his words. Putin thinks he's winning on the battlefield and I think he would prefer to continue the war rather than negotiate.
BRUNUBER: OK, so let's talk about the battlefield then. The most contentious issue from the original plan was requiring Ukraine to hand over parts of Donetsk that it still controls. What does the current battlefield reality in Donetsk tell us about whether Ukraine could actually defend what it still holds there?
RYAN: Well, the reality is that even with all of its many tactical, technological and strategic advantages and manpower advantages, Russia really hasn't been able to leverage this into any decisive gains this year. It hasn't gained a lot of territory. It's still fighting Pokrovsk after nearly a year. And the other fortress cities in Donetsk still are occupied by the Ukrainians and are likely to be held by them for some time to come.
BRUNHUBER: So Ukraine pushed back on that original deal, which, as I mentioned earlier, seemed very, you know, made in Moscow. But more broadly, Ukraine has agreed to a revised framework. Now, we don't know all the details, but based on what you know about the military situation right now, is Ukraine negotiating from a position of strength or weakness?
RYAN: Well, I think President Zelenskyy is in a pretty tough spot right now. He's got that very significant corruption scandal. He has large shortfalls in his frontline forces. He has a population that's facing a very grim winter with the greatest power outages of the war so far due to Russian attacks.
So this doesn't come as a great time for Zelenskyy. But at the same time, he has been very careful not to seem to be arbitrarily dismissing it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BRUNHUBER: A 6.0 magnitude earthquake rocked the Anchorage area of Alaska on Thursday. Have a look at this. In this surveillance video, you can see objects falling inside a home and spooking the family pets. There were no immediate reports of significant damage. According to local media, the quake was the largest to hit this area of Alaska since 2021.
The Palestinian Authority sharply criticizing the killing of two men in the West Bank. Still ahead, the latest from the region as Israel deploys military aircraft to assist in counterterror operations in the West Bank.
Plus, the pope's new warning about what he says is a danger to the future of humanity. Those stories are coming up. Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[01:24:02]
BRUNHUBER: Israel says it's reviewing an incident where its soldiers shot and killed two people following a surrender procedure. Now in this video, you can see two men coming out of a building with their hands above their heads. They're surrounded by what appears to be Israeli soldiers and later the two are seen on the ground as multiple rounds of gunfire are heard. Now CNN isn't showing that moment.
Israeli officials say the two were wanted for alleged terror activities. The Palestinian Authority has condemned the killing, calling it a fully-fledged war crime.
Israel says it used military aircraft as part of its counterterrorism operation in the occupied West Bank. There's not much more information, but the Israeli military said the air force provided aerial assistance to soldiers.
This is the second day of Pope Leo's visit to Turkey. It's his first overseas trip since becoming pope. Now, at this hour, you're watching live pictures here.
[01:25:00]
The pope is set to meet with Catholic leaders and workers at the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit in Istanbul. That's what you're seeing. On Thursday, the pontiff gave an impassioned address to civic and
political leaders in Ankara. He warned that quote, conflicts on the global level are endangering humanity. He said his trip is focused on unity and peace, as well as finding ways for people with different beliefs to coexist. Here he is.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
POPE LEO XIV, CATHOLIC CHURCH LEADER: In a society like the one here in Turkey where religion plays a visible role, it is essential to honor the dignity and freedom of all God's children, both men and women, fellow nationals and foreigners, poor and rich. We are all children of God. And this has personal, social and political implications.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BRUNHUBER: Now, long term trends show a sharp decline in youth engagement in mainstream religions in Western countries. But despite the Catholic Church's global child sex abuse scandal, the Catholic faith is seeing a surprising rebound in popularity in Europe, especially among young adults, as CNN's Melissa Bell reports.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MELISSA BELL, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Sharing the oldest of messages in the newest of forms on Instagram and TikTok, Sister Albertine leads prayers, offers advice to her more than half a million followers. Part of a growing tribe of Catholic influencers who are speaking to a generation dusting off the solemnity of the past.
SISTER ALBERTINE DEBACKER, FRENCH CATHOLIC NUN AND SOCIAL MEDIA INFLUENCER: This is how God is doing. I think he is surprising us. How are we going to help these young people?
BELL (voice-over): Partly through song and dance. At this Christian festival in the foothills of the French Alps, a young generation has flocked. Many followers of Sister Albertine who've come to hear her speak.
JEANNE FABRE, FESTIVAL ATTENDEE (through translator): She really makes questions of faith accessible and in fact, she's really authentic.
BELL (voice-over): The 29-year-old nun says she's inundated with questions. Her role simply to take to the space where the young spend most of their time.
DEBACKER: Jesus was going outside. Jesus was walking all the time. He was searching for encounter people. And now in 2025, to encounter people, we have to start with social media.
BELL: Over the last few years here in France, there's been a doubling in the number of adult baptisms, with nearly half of those coming from families with no religious background. The starkest rise of all is amongst the very youngest 18 to 25 year olds. BELL (voice-over): The stunning rebuilding of Notre Dame may also have
added a new shine to the image of Catholicism. Audrey Bourges, who's 24, shows us where she was fortunate enough to be baptized on Easter.
AUDREY BOURGES, CATHOLIC CONVERT: So, yes, the church was really, really helpful because I joined just after COVID. I found friends, I found my boyfriend, I found everything. I was looking for in my life, peace and some people I can rely on.
BELL (voice-over): Back at the festival, Sister Albertine, just back from the Vatican's jubilee celebrations, tells the crowd of her chance encounter with Pope Leo. She'd been invited as one of more than a thousand influencers as the church moves to capitalize on this thoroughly modern megaphone to the young.
FATHER LUCIANO COUTO, HEAD OF YOUNG MINISTRY, CHEMIN NEUF COMMUNITY: They are eager for that. They are thirsty for that experience. God can talk to me and they are coming to the Catholic Church because we have a 2,000 years tradition of teaching people to hear God's voice. And that's awesome.
BELL (voice-over): A religion, says Father Luciano, that is yet again showing its remarkable power of resurrection. Melissa Bell, CNN, in the French Alps.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BRUNHUBER: Well, this should be a joyful time for the Mexican woman who won the Miss Universe pageant. But now her victory appears to be a second thought amid multiple controversies prompting Mexico's president to come to her defense. Details ahead. Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[01:33:44]
KIM BRUNHUBER, CNN ANCHOR: Welcome back. I'm Kim Brunhuber.
Let's take a look at today's top stories.
One of the two National Guard members targeted in a shooting Wednesday has died. President Trump says U.S. Army Specialist Sarah Beckstrom was, quote, "outstanding in every way". U.S. Air Force Staff Sergeant Andrew Wolfe is still in critical condition following surgery. They were both attacked while on patrol just blocks from the White House.
President Trump says his administration will, quote, "permanently pause migration from all third world countries". He says he'll remove anyone who is not a net asset to the United States. That comes after an Afghan national was identified as the suspect in the D.C. shooting.
The death toll has jumped to 94 in that Hong Kong apartment block fire. More than 200 people are still unaccounted for. One official says firefighting and rescue efforts have taken longer than expected because the inferno was much worse than first thought.
Bamboo scaffolding and flammable construction materials may have helped the fire spread so quickly.
[01:34:46]
BRUNHUBER: Fatima Bosch Fernandez's victory in the Miss Universe pageant this month seems all but forgotten as controversies roiled the contest itself. The Mexican contestant was a fan favorite, but she was criticized by a pageant official. Contestants staged a walkout, and now Mexican authorities are investigating one of the pageant's owners on multiple criminal allegations.
CNN's Valeria Leon explains.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
VALERIA LEON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: From heading Miss Universe to being investigated, Raul Rocha, a director of the pageant, is being targeted by Mexican prosecutors for alleged arms and drug trafficking, as well as for smuggling fuel illegally into the country.
In a statement, Mexico's attorney-general's office said they are still in the evidence gathering stage of the investigation and haven't issued a warrant for Rocha's arrest yet.
The case dates back to 2024, but the timing of the allegations added doubt to an already turbulent Miss Universe. Just days after Mexico's candidate Fatima Bosch, won the contest, accusations of corruption spread, fueled in part by pageant Judge Omar Harfouch's claims the competition was reached by Rocha, who allegedly kept close ties with Bosch's father.
CNN reached out to Rocha for comment, but has not received a response.
Bosch, the fourth Mexican to win the Miss Universe crown, says she's been harassed online with posts accusing her of buying the title.
On Wednesday, Mexico's President Claudia Sheinbaum defended the beauty queen, insisting the Rocha investigation is unrelated to the legitimacy of Fatima Bosch's crown.
CLAUDIA SHEINBAUM, MEXICAN PRESIDENT: It's different, isn't it, because then they want to take away her merit. Whether we agree with pageants or not, credit goes to the person who won.
LEON: Amid the glamor of the 74th edition of Miss Universe has been swept up in a growing corruption scandal, one still far from settled.
Valeria Leon, CNN.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BRUNHUBER: A court in Peru has sentenced former president, Pedro Castillo to 11.5 years in prison for rebellion and conspiracy. The rulings related to his dramatic attempt in December of 2022 to dissolve congress and seize power on national television. Peru's supreme court said the move violated the country's constitution. Castillo maintains his innocence, saying he only read a document
without consequence and didn't intend a coup. Two of his former ministers were also handed the same 11.5-year sentence.
The verdict comes only a day after another ex-president, Martin Vizcarra, who was convicted and given 14 years for bribery.
One day after staging a coup, Guinea-Bissau, has installed an army general as its new transitional president. The country's military says the transition will last one year.
Guinea-Bissau's military overthrew the government after a disputed presidential election. The country's president fled to Senegal. The African Union condemned the coup and is demanding detained officials be released.
European lawmakers passed a resolution on Thursday asking the European Commission to pull funding from the Tanzanian government. Tanzania has been gripped by protests and tensions since a disputed election in October led to a brutal government crackdown.
CNN's Larry Madowo has our report.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
LARRY MADOWO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: In the absence and in the silence of the African Union, the United States and other influential nations about the situation in Tanzania, the European Union has been the most consistent voice.
European lawmakers Thursday passing a resolution asking the European Commission to stop funding the Tanzanian government, essentially saying they do not want to be funding oppression in the country.
They're also asking the European Commission to consider sanctions against the people responsible for some of these reported atrocities. They have noted of the killings of protesters, some of whom did not pose any threat to security forces, the abductions and disappearances of government critics.
And they are essentially saying that the European Union has to act and act right now.
DAVIC MCALLISTER, EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT MEMBER: All E.U. funds channeled through state-controlled entities must be frozen immediately. The European union must not use its fund to subsidize oppression. The time to act is now.
The great people of Tanzania, they deserve new, free and credible elections. Thank you. And free Tundu Lissu now.
MADOWO: The case of Tundu Lissu has captured global attention, the opposition leader, who is in prison charged with treason in Tanzania, found guilty. He would face the death penalty and he has been in jail for a few months. He did not participate in this election because his party, Chadema, was not allowed to run. The second largest party in Tanzania was also not allowed to run in that election. Yet President Samia Suluhu Hassan won the election with 98 percent of the vote. Many in the country consider that improbable given the violence and chaos that they saw, but also the low turnout.
[01:39:50]
MADOWO: But that is a backdrop for these European actions and also the noted silence of other voices that could apply pressure on the Tanzanian government.
The government has been critical of CNN's investigation, calling it biased and saying that it did not give the government a chance.
CNN did send requests for comment to all Tanzanian authorities -- the government spokesperson, the minister of health and the police, but did not get a response.
Authorities have refused to declare a death toll or even speak about the killings that happened in the country, focusing instead on the scale of destruction, the burning of fuel stations and public transport and private businesses.
But not about the killings that happened in the week after the election, when the Internet was shut down, a curfew was declared, and many of these killings are believed to have taken place.
Larry Madowo CNN -- Nairobi.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BRUNHUBER: All across the U.S., people celebrated Thanksgiving Day at the dinner table with their family and friends, having fun and expressing gratitude.
But in many cities, it all started with traditional parades. Now, the one best known worldwide was in New York. More than 3 million spectators attended Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade to see giant, iconic character balloons, elaborate floats, marching bands, singers, dancers.
Onlookers in Philadelphia watch and cheer the longest-running Thanksgiving Day parade in the country. And hundreds of thousands turned out in Chicago despite the chilly day for the live entertainment and celebrity appearances.
All right. Thanks so much for watching.
I'm Kim Brunhuber. For our international viewers, "WORLDSPORT" is next. For our viewers here in North America, I'll be right back.
[01:41:26]
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BRUNHUBER: Well, Thursday was a day of family, football, food and floats as Americans celebrated Thanksgiving. Now, all eyes were on New York for the annual Macy's parade with the famous balloons, including Snoopy, Buzz Lightyear, and even Labubus. They took center stage.
But with the feast now over, the holiday shopping season starts. The National Retail Federation says a record number of people are planning to shop for Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals, but financial constraints are expected to keep spending down.
And I'm joined now by Claudia Lombana, a consumer expert focusing on consumer spending trends and the retail sector.
Thank you so much for being here with us. Really appreciate it.
So explain this for me. The National Retail Federation is predicting holiday spending this year to pass $1 trillion for the first time ever. That's over November and December. But Black Friday spending is projected to decline for the first time in four years. So what's really going on with shoppers this Black Friday?
CLAUDIA LOMBANA, CONSUMER EXPERT: I think what we're seeing is with those prices, we are going to be seeing shoppers are still making purchases, but prices are higher, so they might be purchasing less items but the cost of those items is increasing.
We're still seeing really strong sentiment with shoppers, even though they are being cautious. They're still resilient and fundamentally strong in driving U.S. economic activity despite uncertainty and inflation.
BRUNHUBER: So ok, you mentioned inflation there and prices going higher. I mean, just to be clear, I mean, is this just inflation or are we talking tariffs? I mean they've been a huge factor this year. How is that actually showing up in what we're paying at the register this Black Friday weekend?
LOMBANA: Yes, of course. Trade uncertainty part of that, tariffs being a part of that trade uncertainty. Analysis shows that consumers might be planning to buy less. They're looking to offset those higher prices with more deals.
Early shopping is a big part of that mindset for those who need to budget. Higher income shoppers, not really worried they are spending at will.
But middle and lower-income shoppers, shoppers who are less affluent are still needing to budget. A lot of them have started their holiday shopping early for that very reason.
Nearly half of consumers started their holiday shopping before Halloween, and part of that is so that they can get the best deals and budget.
BRUNHUBER: Ok, so let's get to what they're actually buying. Now, I have to admit, I'm pretty boring. I get most of my friends and family gift cards, but I have stats on my side here. Gift cards are still the number one gift that people want to give and receive. But in terms of actual stuff that you can buy, what are the hottest
physical products that are flying off the shelves right now that people are actually excited about?
LOMBANA: You hit the nail on the head with the gift cards -- three out of four, you're right. Not only do they want to receive them, that's what they're going to be giving.
But physical items, you know, we see the same things every year. Clothing, accessories, always a top seller, followed by technology and electronics, and beauty. But some of the trends we're seeing this year for items to be purchased include personalized items, wellness products, sustainable or vintage items.
And experiences versus physical gifts are also really popular this year. Things like concert tickets, cooking or dance classes, anything related to travel and adventure or memberships also.
BRUNHUBER: All right. So this is the money question, pun intended. Where should shoppers actually expect to find real bargains this weekend? And what categories should they maybe skip?
LOMBANA: I would say that omnichannel is still where it's at. Shopping with both online and in store. 77 percent of consumers are actually searching online on their mobile devices while they're in store to make sure that they're getting the best deal.
And that's what one of the smartest things that you can do as a consumer, to make sure that you're getting the best price.
BRUNHUBER: All right. And finally, on how people are actually going to pay for this. Almost half of holiday shoppers say they're planning to use buy now, pay later services this season. Is that a smart way to manage a tight budget, or are people kind of setting themselves up for trouble down the road?
LOMBANA: Very smart to use buy now, pay later. There are so many services now that are offering interest free buy now, pay later. We're seeing a large amount of people -- as you mentioned, half will use buy now, pay later this holiday season. \ [01:49:46]
LOMBANA: Budget control the top reason for that, affordability, convenience. We also know that a quarter of Gen Z and millennial shoppers use buy now, pay later services on a regular basis. Gen Z even using buy now, pay later more than credit cards.
BRUNHUBER: Interesting. Fascinating trends this Black Friday weekend. Appreciate getting your take on all this, Claudia Lombana. Thank you so much.
LOMBANA: You bet. Happy shopping.
BRUNHUBER: One Irish woman is on a long-distance mission of hope ahead. Why she's skateboarding nearly 2,000 miles along the country's coast.
Stay with us
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[01:54:45]
BRUNHUBER: The Olympic flame is on its way to Italy for next year's Winter Games. The torch left Ancient Olympia at dawn Thursday, the start of its two-month journey to Milan, where it will arrive on February 6th for the opening ceremony.
After a week-long relay in Greece, the flame heads to Italy, where 10,000 torchbearers will carry it through 60 cities and towns.
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BECKY GILMORE, SNOWBOARDER: A few years ago, I lost a close friend and we used to skateboard together by the sea in Port Rush.
So I wanted a way to process that healthily for myself, and I thought I'd set out and I'd skateboard the wild Atlantic way.
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BRUNHUBER: Becky Gilmore is making a unique journey along the length of Ireland's west coast on a skateboard, as you can see there. After one of her friends committed suicide, Gilmore vowed to raise awareness of the importance of mental health.
She's planning to skate nearly 2,000 miles and create a mural in each county she visits. Gilmore wants to spread the message that you're never alone.
Chefs in London created a miniature and tasty version of the city. Look at this -- these versions of Big Ben and other London landmarks. Now, this is a display at London's Museum of Architecture.
The gingerbread city was built by architects and designers, and it features 50 architect-designed gingerbread buildings. The exhibit opens on Saturday and runs until just after New Year's.
Imagine the security personnel must be trying to keep people from eating that. It looks delicious.
Thanks so much for joining me. I'm Kim Brunhuber.
The news continues with Ben Hunte after the break.
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