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At Least 10 Killed In Car Blast Near Delhi Metro Station; White House Hosts Syrian President For The First Time; Senate Votes To End Shutdown, Sending Bill To House; Senate Votes to End Shutdown, Sending Bill to House; More Air Traffic Cuts Expected to Take Effect on Tuesday; China Debuts Its Most Advanced Warship Amid Military Build- up; Angola Marks 50 Years of Independence; Viral Fedora Man Revealed as Stylish 15-year-old Student; Wild Dolphin Mimmo Charms Venice Crowds, Worries Experts; Police Officer Responds to Suspicious Bull Rider Call; Colorado Governor Saves Two Turkeys Ahead of Thanksgiving. Aired 2-3a ET

Aired November 11, 2025 - 02:00   ET

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

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[02:00:36]

POLO SANDOVAL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, everybody. I'm Polo Sandoval live in New York. This is CNN NEWSROOM, and here's what's coming your way.

India currently on edge after a deadly car explosion in a popular Delhi neighborhood.

From wanted terrorists to accepted statesman, Syria's new president becoming the first from his country to visit the White House.

The U.S. Senate voting to end the government shutdown, sending a compromise bill to the House. So, what's next?

And an exclusive CNN investigation uncovering new details about China's rapidly expanding military.

ANNOUNCER: Live from New York. This is CNN NEWSROOM with Polo Sandoval.

SANDOVAL: We want to begin in India at this hour and the investigation into a deadly blast on a busy street. A car explosion in Delhi killed at least 10 people and injured dozens more. This happened on Monday near a metro station at the historic Red Fort monument. Delhi's police commissioner says that just before the explosion, there was a slow- moving vehicle that came to a stop near a red light. As believed that a blast actually happened inside that vehicle, but the cause, well, that's still unknown.

Airports, railway stations and government buildings across India, those are currently on high alert. CNN's Mike Valerio is following the very latest. He's live in Beijing. Mike, wondering if investigators are any closer to actually determining a motive, perhaps? MIKE VALERIO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, I mean, that's the central question, Polo. So, we can report as of this hour that this is being investigated under one of India's anti-terrorism laws. That is certainly notable. And we're starting to hear, Polo, as the hours go on from more and more officials, notably from Prime Minister Modi, as well as India's Defense Minister, that anybody who is responsible for this will be brought to justice, paraphrasing their comments lightly for the sake of our conversation.

But I want to take you to the scene. Let's play about five seconds of this clip, what people saw at the tail end of rush hour in Delhi yesterday. Let's watch this.

So, that is the scene outside just a couple meters away from the Red Fort metro station. Six vehicles torched, three auto rickshaws also torched from that explosion.

Now, let's listen to somebody who was in at the scene. Take a listen to how they described it, Polo.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): When we reached the spot, we could find only bodies. We went there with about 10 ambulances and found about four to five bodies and brought them to the hospital. The bodies were in parts. We had to pick different parts and bring them back in the ambulances and later brought them to the hospital.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VALERIO: Absolutely harrowing. So, to be clear, that is an ambulance driver from Delhi. We also heard from somebody who is in his car caught in a traffic jam about quarter to 7:00, as he noted. And he said, the force of that blast blew out his windshield, and it felt like his, "That his car had also exploded because of the sheer force of what happened."

So, again, I think it's important to note that even though we are hearing from more and more officials, even at the top of India's government, that are militating towards this being a deliberate act, still police and authorities at the top levels of India's government have not blamed an individual. They have not pointed blame towards a specific group of any sort. They are not there yet.

For what it's worth, India's home minister is engaged in a meeting as we speak, with people who are intensely involved in this investigation.

So, as the hours go on, we're hoping to glean some new facts as to what he learned from that meeting and what he is able to tell the public.

But in terms of the ripple effects of this story, this is affecting so many cities, Polo, in India, airports, rail stations, heritage sites and landmarks, all in a heightened state of security after this, Polo. SANDOVAL: CNN's Mike Valerio bringing us some absolutely troubling accounts from first responders there out of India, do come back to us if you get new information on the investigation. Thanks, Mike.

So, the president of Syria currently it -- the president of Syria, I should say, he's now the country's first head of state to ever visit the White House. Monday's meeting with President Trump is coming after Ahmed Al-Sharaa looks to reverse his country's isolation on the world stage. U.S. says that it will expand its pause on most sanctions against -- I should say that it will extend its pause on most sanctions against Syria for an additional 180 days.

[02:05:26]

And Al-Sharaa is also urging the U.S. to ramp up pressure on Israel to halt military operations in southern Syria. President Trump appearing optimistic after their meeting.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: We want to see Syria become a country that's very successful, and I think this leader can do it. I really do. I think this leader can do it.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SANDOVAL: And over the weekend, Al-Sharaa was seen playing basketball with top U.S. military officials. This was just days after the U.S. removed the former jihadist status as a specially designated global terrorist, some remarkable scenes there.

CNN's Alayna Treene with the latest on the historic visit.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ALAYNA TREENE, CNN WHITE HOUSE REPORTER: In what was, frankly a remarkable moment on Monday, President Donald Trump welcomed Syria's President Ahmed Al-Sharaa to the White House, and this was the first time that a Syrian Head of State had ever visited the White House in history.

Now, it comes after al-Sharaa had previously led an al-Qaeda backed rebel group to oust and overthrow the Assad regime, which had ruled for nearly half a century. He then appointed himself president in January, and President Donald Trump had some kind words and complimentary words, really, for the Syrian president following their meeting. Listen.

TRUMP: He's a very strong leader. He comes from a very tough place, and he's tough guy. I like him. I get along with him, the president, the new president in Syria, and we'll do everything we can to make Syria is successful, because that's part of the Middle East.

TREENE: Now, the president used similar rhetoric when talking about the Syrian president during their first meeting. They actually met back in May when President Donald Trump was in the Middle East. They had tea while they were in Saudi Arabia.

And look, this is quite remarkable, and also a once unthinkable meeting, because previously, Al-Sharaa had been associated with al- Qaeda, but he also had a $10 million bounty on his head as a jihadist.

And so, a very big moment in time for these two leaders, and for the Trump administration's part, they really seek Syria and ensuring that they have more economic stability moving forward, as a key part of their plans for a longer-term Middle East peace deal, whereas Syria was really looking for a couple of things.

One, the easing of more sanctions. We should note that the president had previously lifted changes sanctions on Syria, but they decided to lift those sanctions for another 180 days.

But also, Syria wanted to show essentially, that they are reversing that position of Syria's previous isolationism. And I think Monday's visit to the White House, of course, accomplishment -- accomplishes that goal.

And so, as we look forward, we'll have to see what this relationship could look like and whether the easing of more sanctions, something Syria desperately wants, is still on the table.

Alayna Treene, CNN, the White House.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SANDOVAL: Joining us now is Hagar Chemali. She's the former director of Syria and Lebanon at the National Security Council. Welcome to the program, Hagar.

HAGAR CHEMALI, FORMER DIRECTOR OF SYRIA AND LEBANON, NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL: Thank you for having me.

SANDOVAL: So, the visit today, it was -- it was fairly brief, obviously pretty low key, but I'm wondering if we could tap into your expertise to help me highlight the extraordinary nature of this visit.

I mean, you have the same person that was once sanctioned by the U.S., and you're very familiar with that. A former jihadist who spent years fighting U.S. forces in Iraq was in the White House Friday, even praised by the U.S. president. So, what do you make of all that?

CHEMALI: Sure. Well, for me, you know, it's a little bit jarring. I was spokesperson at Treasury for the office of Terrorism and Financial Intelligence when we sanctioned him, Mohammed al-Jawlani at that time, and I handled the first two years of the Syria crisis. I knew exactly who he was at that time. He was a member of al-Qaeda.

And so, this is certainly something that is shocking to see, for those of us who know that know him very well, to see him at the White House, and you're right, there was a deliberate effort to play it down a little bit. There was no press invited, as you noted, and a lot of that is because it is a risk to have him in the Oval Office. We're not sure exactly how those photos are going to turn out in the future. That said, it is understandable that the administration want to work

with him. Diplomacy includes dealing with unsavory characters, and Al- Sharaa is right now plays a very central role to carrying out or helping President Trump achieve the vision that he has in the Middle East, especially when it comes to undermining Iran's influence across the region and expanding the Abraham Accords.

SANDOVAL: Right. Look, there are those risks that you mentioned when it comes to the optics. But then again, what about the risks of not being able to engage with this new leader in his new role? From your perspective, do you think that the president can trust him?

[02:10:14]

CHEMALI: I don't think the president can trust him, but that's not surprising, to be honest with you, that's not really the measure by which the U.S. government -- or sorry, it's not the standard by which the U.S. government measures whether or not to engage with a certain leader and how to engage with them, because you can always trust but verify or it dictates how you negotiate.

And you see that playing out with the question of withdrawal of sanctions, which is really what al-Sharaa was in Washington trying to push for. He was trying to achieve the full withdrawal of Caesar Act sanctions in particular, and the response from the United States was to renew a temporary relief of those sanctions for another six months. Why? Because they can't trust him yet.

And whatever deals they do end up making with him, they're going to -- they're going to take that into account. They're going to make sure that whatever they do give him, whatever sanctions relief they include, there's going to be some condition on the other side where he has to protect minorities, for example, or kick out foreign fighters, or ensure free and fair elections in the future, for example, all those other things.

So, they're going to factor that in the U.S. in their negotiations, because they can't trust him.

SANDOVAL: And if you could just really underscore the importance of being involved in having those conversations with Syrian leaders. I mean, what happens in Syria certainly matters, especially for the region. It matters for Gaza, for example. So, is this why we're seeing other world leaders really at least establish that connection, leader to leader?

CHEMALI: 100 percent. So, there are a few reasons for that. On one -- on one hand, it is so significant to have anybody new in Syria, a new leader, after having the brutal dictatorship of Bashar al-Assad and his father, Hafez al-Assad before him.

And so, that, in and of itself, is something that is exciting for a lot of countries around the world. They also see somebody in Al- Sharaa, he is saying all the right things. He is behaving like a very pragmatic leader, and the reason for that is that he wants to invite as much investment into Syria as possible, and that creates the opportunity for deal making. And every leader around the world clearly sees that opportunity, notably President Trump here.

Al-Sharaa plays a very central role, number one, in undermining Iranian influence in the region, because his predecessor, Bashar al- Assad, invited Iran into Syria. Had the IRGC in Syria, sending weapons to Lebanon, for example, and sending arms and funds to Iran's proxies in the Levant.

And so, when you have al-Sharaa there, that is an opportunity to cut that, to make the Iranian influence in that corner of the world shrivel up and die.

And then you have the question of dealing with Israel, making deals with Israel, and that's something al-Sharaa has been very open to. We know that they're in talks today in the Oval Office, President Trump said that he would support the efforts to reach a security agreement between Syria and Israel, and that would, if that -- if that comes to pass, would open up all sorts of investment and deals.

And again, that also feeds, not only to Trump's vision, but it allows -- it puts pressure on Lebanon to also make a deal with Israel, also feeding into that national security interest of this administration to expand those Abraham Accords.

CHEMALI: Hagar Chemali, thank you so much for this -- for this extremely valuable incentive for your time. Really appreciate it.

CHEMALI: Thank you.

SANDOVAL: And Donald Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, is currently in Israel, where he met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. His visit coming exactly one month after the Gaza cease fire deal.

And also, after the start of the release of all living hostages in the enclave. And most of the deceased hostages have now been returned to Israel, but some bodies still remain. An Israeli spokesperson had this to say about that meeting.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SHOSH BEDROSIAN, SPOKESPERSON, ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER'S OFFICE: The two discussed phase one, which we are currently still in to bring our remaining hostages and the future of phase two of this plan, which includes the disarming of Hamas, demilitarizing Gaza and ensuring Hamas will have no role in the future of Gaza ever again.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SANDOVAL: While that meeting happened, Palestinians in Gaza still face an uncertain future despite the cease fire. Last week, humanitarian agencies said that far too little aid is reaching people there.

Still on the way here on CNN NEWSROOM, the U.S. Senate votes to end the government shutdown. Just ahead, we'll see why many Democrats are unhappy with their Senate Leader Chuck Schumer. Plus, massive delays and cancelations rocking the U.S. airline industry. Why those issues could get even worse as we head into the holiday season.

[02:19:20]

SANDOVAL: It's hard to believe the longest government shutdown in U.S. history could possibly be over in a matter of days after this happened in Washington.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: On this vote, the ayes are 60, the nays are 40. The bill, as amended, is passed.

Under the previous order, the motion --

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SANDOVAL: Eight members of the Senate Democratic Caucus joined Republicans in voting just a few hours ago to fund the government. The House is set to vote on that same bill on Wednesday, and then it's off to the White House, where the president is expected to sign it.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

KAITLAN COLLINS, CNN HOST: Do you personally approve of the deal that's happening right now on Capitol Hill to end the government shutdown?

TRUMP: What deal we're talking about? But if it's a deal I heard about, that's certainly, you know, they want to change the deal a little bit, but I would say so. I think, based on everything I'm hearing, they haven't changed anything, and we have support from enough Democrats, and we're going to be opening up our country, it's too bad it was closed, but we'll be opening up our country very quickly.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

[02:20:18]

SANDOVAL: So, let's get a state of play from CNN's Chief Congressional Correspondent Manu Raju in Washington.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MANU RAJU, CNN CHIEF CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: The longest government shutdown in history, now set to end, this after the United States Senate, by the narrowest of margins, approved a bill to reopen the federal government. It would reopen a large part of the federal government through January 30th of next year. Other federal agencies will be open until September 30th of next year, and Democrats ultimately had to give in to their chief demand that led to the government shutdown that was to extend subsidies expiring under the Affordable Care Act that people use to pay down their health insurance.

Democrats have said that must be dealt with immediately because of the health care crisis in this country, people seeing their premiums skyrocket, and they said that millions of Americans would be hurt unless Democrats got language in the funding bill dealing with this issue. That did not happen.

What they did get was a commitment for a vote in December in the United States Senate on a health care bill that has not yet been drafted. The catch, though, is that bill has virtually no chance of becoming law, and that's what's causing so much anger on the left flank of the party, including Senator Andy Kim of New Jersey, who told me, as he was leaving the vote, he was more frustrated than he has been in years.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

RAJU: What is your level of frustration now seeing this bill pass without any real assurance that the health care subsidies will be extended?

SEN. ANDY KIM (D-NJ): What just happened in the Senate chamber was an absolute disgrace. I just -- I can't stress it enough, just it was very profoundly disturbing to be there in that chamber where Senator McCain famously was able to stop the Republicans from gutting the Affordable Care Act. That's what got me to step up to run for Congress. Like, I literally ran for Congress in 2018 to protect our health care, to protect the Affordable Care Act, and I just -- I'm really gutted right now.

RAJU: Do you think the Democrats who backed this made a bad mistake?

KIM: Well, look, I would just say I certainly have a deep and profound disagreement on a lot of this, but shame on the Republicans for turning their backs on so many people and putting us in this place as a country where we have to see millions of Americans wondering whether or not they're going to be the afford health care. We're the richest, most powerful country in the world. You should never have to put people in this kind of place.

RAJU: Now, this bill passed. 60 to 48 Democratic senators voted to supply those critical votes. Remember, in the United States Senate, you need 60 votes to advance legislation because the legislation less than 60 votes can be blocked through a filibuster in the Senate, that's what Democrats have done 14 times prior to the enact -- the passage of this piece of legislation, but the eight Democratic senator some of them who are retiring, some of them more moderate senators, some of them who had simply were fed up with the government shutdown, said this is the best deal they could get.

They're pointing to the fact that food stamps will now be funded through September of next year. They're pointing to the fact that they got provisions in the bill to deal with to reinstate federal workers who were fired by the Trump administration during the shutdown, and they say that they fought as hard as they could on health care, and it was Donald Trump's refusal to agree to any extension of health care subsidies that there was really no point in dragging this on and seeing Americans suffer in so many different ways without any real sense that a health care bill could eventually become law with this president. They believe they're winning politically on this issue, and that will be an issue for voters in next year's midterms.

But still, there is so much frustration at the rank, directed at those eight members, and even at Senator Chuck Schumer, who's a Democratic leader who actually opposed this bill and voted no on it, but nevertheless shows you how much anger there is in the within the ranks over this deal, which now has passed the United States Senate and will pass the United States House by Wednesday and then move over to President Trump's desk.

Manu Raju, CNN, Capitol Hill.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SANDOVAL: Joining us now is Democratic strategist, Antjuan Seawright. Antjuan, welcome to the program.

ANTJUAN SEAWRIGHT, DEMOCRATIC STRATEGIST: Good to be with you.

SANDOVAL: So, Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders pretty big opponent of Sunday's deal. He said that the Republican guarantee offered to Democrats of calling up an ACA vote later this year. The senator called it a meaningless gesture. Help us really set expectations for what kind of bipartisan -- excuse me, bipartisanship, we could see in December, if any.

[02:25:03]

SEAWRIGHT: Well, I don't think you can expect the party who, over a 15-year period, more than 70 times, have attempted to repeal and displace the Affordable Care Act. The fact of the matter is, 79 percent of Americans want those Affordable Care Act enhancement tax credits, which is what this Republican health care government shutdown was all about.

But it seems as if Republicans have been consistent with the efforts to dismiss what K -- what Main Street and my street is saying, but focus on what the folks on K Street is offering to them as a solution. Republicans control the House, the Senate and the presidency.

So, I think it's intellectually dishonest to think that Democrats, being the minority voice, could somehow know the govern from a policy perspective. We were always punching above our political weight coming into this fight, and the American people expect us to fight with the Republican majority on the right side of history for the issues that matters to them, healthcare being top, front and center

SANDOVAL: And because of what you mentioned, Antjuan, do you think that Senate Democrats need to have -- need to be working right now on a strategy to address healthcare affordability if the expected ACA vote ends up leading nowhere? I mean, what could that plan B be?

SEAWRIGHT: Well, coming into this Republican government healthcare shutdown, Republicans in the House, the Senate and the White House, knew that those ACA subsidies expire at the end of the year, but they also knew they had zero interest in expanding them. It's unfortunate because 18.2 million Americans and states that Donald Trump won enjoyed those subsidies, 76 percent of those who enjoy those ACA enhancement tax credit subsidies are in places or people who voted for Donald Trump.

And so, this is not about Democrat versus Republican. This is about Americans have an accessible, affordable, quality healthcare. So, I expect House Democrats to be united in their front to make certain that this issue is amplified. I expect Senate Democrats to do everything they can to ensure this issue is amplified.

We saw what the amplification of the issue can mean from an electoral success standpoint. That's part of what the 2025 election cycle is all about. And so, we live to fight another day.

And I would just add there's a difference between the battle and the war. This what we saw over the past 30 some odd days was part of the battle. But we have not lost the war. The war will happen next year, when the House and the Senate is on the line for both to have a chance to fight at the majorities.

SANDOVAL: Yes, and as they fight that war, as you put it, I mean, ultimately, they still have to answer to their constituents. So, I'm curious, in your view, how do Democratic lawmakers navigate really, what could be two truths here, the positives of this deal, while also underscoring the urgency of addressing health care affordability for millions of Americans who are still essentially in limbo.

SEAWRIGHT: Well, the positive of this is one, we were able to make this a front and center issue, I would suspect, minus this Republican government health care shutdown, unless you were one of the 25 million Americans who logged on to check your insurance premiums on November 1st, you probably would not have understood that paying $8,000 previously or this past year means that your costs will go up to 24, 28, $32,000 a year, minus Democrats leading the charge and leading the fight. Republicans probably would have like Marjorie Taylor Greene, Josh Hawley and others, you probably would have not received the feedback you received from them and saying, we need to do something about making these subsidies extended and making them a reality.

So, I think the Democrats have done a hell of a job of educating the American people on what the ACA tax enhancement credits mean, but also now we have to educate them. It's been a Republican failure that has led to premium sky rocking. Same thing with co pays and deductibles all across the country, including in places that Donald Trump was electorally successful in the 2024 election.

SANDOVAL: I have a few more seconds with you, Antjuan, final thought. How do you see this deal playing out in the midterms? We're less than a year away now.

SEAWRIGHT: I think that it would be political malpractice if we are Democrats, do not remind the American people who's fighting for them, who's fighting with them, and who's fighting against them on the issues that matter to them, whether it's Republicans failure on MAGAnomics, whether it's their failure on health care, whether it's the failure to address the issues that clearly Americans voted with them and for them on, I think it will be malpractice if Democrats do not use this as a tool to galvanize and energize the American people up and down the ballot in 2026 and beyond, because this issue is not going away.

[02:30:00]

SANDOVAL: We heard from some of the Democrats yesterday that crossed party lines in their attempt to justify their vote, that it would be -- they saw it as a clear victory to at least bring health care front and center, as you just mentioned. Really appreciate the conversation, as always, Democratic Strategist, Antjuan Seawright. Have a good rest of your week.

SEAWRIGHT: Thank you. Although it appears the shutdown will end soon, U.S. travel will likely remain a mess. In fact, let's give you a live look at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport in Atlanta from this exterior shot may look like business as usual on this chilly November night, when in reality, this is just one of many airports across the U.S. experiencing either delays, cancellations, staffing shortages, or maybe a mix of all of them.

Massive delays were recorded across the U.S. on Monday, some of the highest being experienced in Chicago where arrivals were delayed an average of about five hours. And that's with just a 4 percent reduction in services. The FAA is mandating that number go up to 6 percent on Tuesday, and even higher by later this week, possibly. And that means that all of this is only going to get worse, frustrating more travelers.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Their text message says it is weather disturbance. And I'm like, that's crap, because no flights are grounded. I'm exhausted, I am tired, I am mad. I had to call the customer service. They couldn't give me anything. Yeah, I am tired. I just want to sleep. It's been -- no, it's not OK.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SANDOVAL: Completely understandable. You see that same frustration and anxiety, it is being felt by many passengers, and that has prompted one pilot to make this heartfelt promise to those on his flight.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I know we probably have quite a few nervous fliers today. It is perfectly understandable. I want to emphasize this aircraft does not move a single inch unless both my co-captain, Michael and myself are absolutely certain it is safe to do so. Top that off, before I left the house on this trip, my little one has learned the word ice cream, and she made me make sure I promised her to get her ice cream when I get back home from the trip. That being said, nothing and I mean absolutely nothing unsafe comes in between me that little girl and her ice cream. I know you guys probably have some similar plans, maybe not tonight, but probably tomorrow afternoon once we get you up to Raleigh. Please feel free to join our Wi-Fi and take care of picking out which place you guys are going to get ice cream, or shoot your friends and family text about what you guys doing on the flight.

It is going to be short. It should be a really nice day to go flying. We'll get you guys up there safely. Again, thank you so much for your help here in the boarding process. We'll get underway. Welcome aboard.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SANDOVAL: And still to come here on CNN Newsroom, China, it is hiding its military goals in plain sight, boosting its missile production as the U.S. is struggling to maintain its own. A CNN Investigation reveals the scale of China's military ambition ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[02:37:52]

SANDOVAL: Welcome back. You're watching CNN Newsroom. I am Polo Sandoval in New York. We have new video that now shows Chinese Leader Xi Jinping inspecting China's latest, most sophisticated aircraft carrier. And this comes as the country continues building up its navy, the world's largest, at a staggering pace. Tamara Qiblawi has an exclusive CNN Investigation uncovering new details and also never- before-seen satellite images that show just how rapidly China's arsenal sites are expanding.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

TAMARA QIBLAWI, CNN SENIOR INVESTIGATIONS WRITER (voice-over): China appears to be expanding its military arsenal at a historic pace, according to the findings of a CNN Investigation. We identified and located 136 facilities linked to China's rocket force, which oversees both nuclear and conventional missiles. This is one of the fastest growing areas of the country's two million strong armed forces.

We also analyzed satellite images to measure the scale of the expansion, details that have not previously been reported. These facilities are research institutes, factories, bases and testing sites. Despite Beijing's repeated denials, military experts say that this is China ringing in a new arms race. Across the country, more than half of these sites have expanded, several of them replacing whole villages, growing by tens of thousands of feet in just five years. Others emerging out of farmland like this one in northwest China, a testing site for hypersonic missiles complete with 139,000- feet of brand new facilities.

Take a look at this rocket factory on China's coast. We see a yard with missiles over 60-feet long. China's military covered the roofs of the rocket warehouses with camouflage. Freight trains transporting rockets run from one end of the site to the other. To produce missiles that are larger and more sophisticated, China needs a lot more floor space.

[02:40:00]

So, that's what we measured. Since 2020, China added at least 21 million square feet to its rocket research and production floor space. That's about the size of 375 football fields.

Historically discreet about its military posture. Recently, China has been flaunting its capabilities. In September, a show of force at China's military parade. Friend and foe watched closely. Among the weapons brandished by China, the DF-26 (ph), an upgraded version of a missile ominously dubbed the "Guam killer." The U.S. territory of Guam is home to Andersen Air Force Base, which serves as a launching point for America's long-range bombers.

Because of this missiles partially unpredictable flight path, it may potentially outmaneuver America's most advanced air defenses and strike strategic U.S. positions in the Pacific.

QIBLAWI: Why does this matter? Because in our previous investigation, we found that the U.S. burned through around 25 percent of its THAAD air defense systems in just 12 days. The Pentagon has been scrambling to replace them. Now, these are the very interceptors that are designed to shoot Chinese rockets down.

Is it fair to say that this is an arms race?

WILLIAM ALBERQUE, FORMER NATO DIRECTOR OF ARMS CONTROL: We are talking about operational missiles, missiles for theater warfare and battlefield. We are talking about strategic missiles, missiles for strategic dominance, for deterring the United States and possibly defeating the United States. I would say it is not only fair to say that it is an arms race, but China has already sprinted off the starting line.

QIBLAWI (voice-over): Tamara Qiblawi, CNN, London.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SANDOVAL: After decades of colonial rule and brutal civil war, Angola finding itself at a crossroads as it celebrates 50 years of independence. That story when CNN Newsroom returns.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[02:46:30]

SANDOVAL: Angola celebrating 50 years of independence on Tuesday, the decade since liberation from Portuguese colonial rule have been really quite difficult. The Southern African country was embroiled in a brutal civil war from 1975 until 2002. Now, as a nation rich in natural resources, Angola is the largest and the wealthiest of the Portuguese-speaking countries in Africa.

Despite Angola's dark past, the future seems brighter than ever. But will everyone in the country reap the benefits? CNN's Richard Quest brings us this report from the Angola's bustling capital.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

RICHARD QUEST, CNN ANCHOR OF "QUEST MEANS BUSINESS" (voice-over): As I walk around Luanda, Angola's flair is on full display everywhere I look. From the newly renovated waterfront to the old colonial architecture, this city blends its history with its current promise.

ALEXIO JUNIOR, GUIDE, LELU TOUR: As you can see, Luanda is a mixture of eras, right? The architecture is like the old and the new work side by side. You see those sleek glass buildings alongside with colonial landmarks. It means old and new are working together, right? And this place also is a demonstration of our resilience and our compromise, our commitment with the future.

QUEST (voice-over): And so the country now celebrates its 50th anniversary of independence from Portugal. Such a sharp turnaround after a brutal 27-year civil war which ended in 2002. Hundreds of thousands of people died and millions of people were forced to flee their homes. Now, as the local tour guide from Lelu Tours, Luanda explains the country is truly looking forward to the future.

JUNIOR: Angola's future is in the hands of young people. We have peace. We have development, although slow, but it is happening. So, the future is really in the hands of young people, and the responsibility of all Angolans to support the younger generation in order to achieve their dreams and their full potential.

QUEST (voice-over): Angola is blessed geographically. It sits along the Atlantic and there are vast natural resources, oil, diamonds and so much more. These benefits helped the country's economic development, last year growing 4 percent. If only everyone was sharing in that growth, the World Bank points out the country faces high inequality. And diversifying the economy and bringing the benefits to everyone, urban and rural, is a key challenge.

And then there is human rights and corruption, also present and needing to be tackled. Transparency International ranks Angola 121st out of 180 on the list. There has been progress over the last decade and that gives hope.

QUEST: What is your dream?

JUNIOR: My dream is to see Angola as a destination for everybody to see Angola as number one country in Africa.

[02:50:00]

QUEST (voice-over): Now, 23 years after the ending of that civil war, the tall task on building the peace.

QUEST: And the economic progress in Angola is everywhere to see. For instance, here on the Luanda Bay, from the very expensive apartment buildings to the skyscrapers of downtown. And just look at all the recreational boats over there on the water. But you might say, so far so good. It is what comes next that's the big challenge because Angola still has massive levels of inequality. And the country in 2027 is going to arguably face its largest challenge, which is a truly- contested presidential election.

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SANDOVAL: Well, a series of viral photos taken after the Louvre jewelry heist has really had some online sleuths playing detective. About three weeks since this photo was snapped, we'll unravel the mystery of the dapper fedora man.

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SANDOVAL: You've no doubt seen these viral photos that were taken after the Louvre jewelry heist in Paris last month. They really had some people on social media playing detective, trying to answer the question, who was this mysterious dapper man in the fedora? There have been a lot of theories that have been tossed around, including that he was a modern day Sherlock Holmes on the hunt for the thieves. Our very own Saskya Vandoorne took on the case.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SASKYA VANDOORNE, CNN PARIS BUREAU CHIEF (voice-over): We tracked down the mystery man from that viral AP photo taken as police sealed the Louvre after the jewel heist. And he is not a detective, but a stylish 15-year-old schoolboy, Pedro Garzon Delvaux, who lives with his family outside Paris.

PEDRO ELIAS GARZON DELVAUX: I'm just a student who is 15-years-old and like to dress classic.

VANDOORNE: Do you wear a fedora kind of every day?

DELVAUX: I save it for the weekend. I like to read like historic books, like maybe the movies, the old movies, because like the men are dressing like that. And I kind of like it.

VANDOORNE: And how do your friends at school react to the way you dress? Do they appreciate, your dapper style?

DELVAUX: Yeah, they think I have a lot of aura.

(LAUGH)

DELVAUX: It is very --

VANDOORNE: I would second that.

VANDOORNE (voice-over): So who shaped his style? Not a streaming star, but a French Resistance icon, Jean Moulin.

DELVAUX: I love that type of angle. When you don't see all the face, but you see just a part of the face.

VANDOORNE (voice-over): The waistcoat is Yves Saint Laurent, the jacket is Hackett, much of it borrowed or inherited, including a vintage watch with a cold war backstory.

[02:55:00]

DELVAUX: I do the knot of the tie very fast, like this. I've got the three things (ph) two.

VANDOORNE: There is one question that a lot of people would like to ask you, which is, do you know where the jewels are?

DELVAUX: Well, I don't know, but, I know that we found some suspects.

VANDOORNE: You're not working the case?

DELVAUX: No, I'm not.

(LAUGH)

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SANDOVAL: I want you to meet a wild dolphin nicknamed "Mimmo." It is making waves in Venice, delighting tourists near St. Mark's Square, but also worrying some experts by coming too close to shore. The dolphin, it's been spotted in the waters off of Venice over the past few weeks, dodging gondolas and water taxis in the city's lagoon. Scientists are keeping watch, warning people to keep their distance and hoping that Mimmo eventually heads back out to sea.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LUCA MIZZAN, HEAD OF NATURAL HISTORY, MUSEUM OF VENICE (through translator): There are many boats stopping to film or watch it. Let's not get too close. Let's not cut across its path if we are in a boat. And absolutely, do not try to feed it or turn it into a pet. It is a wild animal. We hope it will return to the sea. We hope that as soon as the lagoon water cools down and the fish move out, the dolphin will follow them. For now, let's enjoy this beautiful sight. But let's remember it is a wild animal. Keep your distance and leave it as much in peace as possible.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SANDOVAL: And I'll leave you with a cattle call of sorts. At least one for a police officer in the U.S. State of Ohio who responded to a call of a suspicious person riding a bull in a parking lot.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

RONALD HOOK, OFFICER, ALLIANCE POLICE DEPARTMENT: I have so many questions.

(LAUGH)

HOOK: What?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is Gus. This is Gus. Gus is famous.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's a Brahma bull.

(LAUGH)

HOOK: Can I pet Gus?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Absolutely.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(LAUGH)

SANDOVAL: That's Officer Ron Hook with the Alliance Police Department. He not only got to pet the bull, but check this out. He also mounted the bull. So it turns out that the bull and its owners, they were actually on our way to a rodeo. So all that fuss over Gus wasn't really a big deal. Police taking no further action. But can you imagine being the person who calls that into police? You look out the window and then you see the police officer on the bull. Love it.

And there is no denying that the power of the poultry pardon. Colorado Governor, Jared Polis was actually given two birds -- giving two birds a new lease on life in his state's third annual turkey pardon, nicknamed Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. They'll be spared a trip to the Thanksgiving table and will live out their lives at a local animal sanctuary.

And we want to thank you so much for joining us. I'm Polo Sandoval in New York. The news continues with my colleague, Rosemary Church, after a very short break. Don't go anywhere.

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