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U.N. Security Council Approves U.S.-Backed Plan For Gaza; Nicolas Maduro Confirms Letter To Dt Requesting Dialogue With U.S.; Trump Suggests Striking Mexico, Colombia Drug Facilities; China Issues New Warning About Travel to Japan; Japanese Envoy in Beijing to Address Rising Tensions; Chinese Premier Cancels Plans to Meet Japanese PM; Federal Agents Surge in Charlotte; Violent Federal Tactics Causing Fear and Resentment; Driverless A.I. Race Cars Show Rapid Advancement of Technology; Cambridge Dictionary Names "Parasocial" as Word of the Year. Aired 2-3a ET

Aired November 18, 2025 - 02:00   ET

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

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[02:01:00]

POLO SANDOVAL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hey everybody, welcome to CNN NEWSROOM. I'm Polo Sandoval live in New York and here's what's coming your way. The U.N. Secretary counts -- the U.N. Security Council approving a U.S. backed peace plan as Palestinians struggle with the onset of winter, a lack of shelter and continue struggling with hunger.

Open to dialog. The Venezuelan president says that he is willing to talk to Donald Trump amid heightened military tensions in the Caribbean, as well as this:

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BILLIE JEAN KING, AMERICAN TENNIS PLAYER: We still have so far to go. We haven't even had a woman president in the United States yet.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SANDOVAL: Tennis legend Billie Jean King, talking about her legacy and why she is returning to the classroom.

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

SANDOVAL: The United Nations is giving the green light to President Trump's 20-point plan that aims to implement a more sustainable peace in Gaza.

On Monday, the U.N. Security Council had passed the U.S. backed resolution that includes the establishment of a Board of Peace as a transitional authority. President Trump praising this vote in a lengthy social media post, he said that the members of the board will be announced in the coming weeks. Hamas pushing back on this resolution. The militant group says that giving any stabilization forceful, "Tasks and roles inside the Gaza Strip, including disarming the resistance, it strips it of its neutrality and turns it into a party of the conflict."

CNN's Nic Robertson reports from Jerusalem on exactly who will lead this proposed Board of Peace.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMATIC EDITOR: Going into the vote, there were concerns that Russia might veto it. in the end, they abstained. China abstained, 13 votes for the resolution passed. It was an effort the U.S. Ambassador Mike Waltz said, to make sure that the current cease fire holds and can last longer. He laid out some of the details of what was inside that resolution, including the peace -- the Board of Peace, this international organization that will run Gaza for the next couple of years. Here's how he explained it.

MIKE WALTZ, U.S. AMBASSADOR TO U.N.: Today's resolution represents another significant step towards a stable Gaza that will be able to prosper, and an environment that will allow Israel to live in security.

The Board of Peace, which will be led by President Trump remains the cornerstone of our effort. The board will coordinate the delivery of humanitarian assistance, facilitate Gaza's development and support a technocratic committee of Palestinians responsible for day to day operations of Gaza civil service and administration while the Palestinian Authority fully implements its reform program.

ROBERTSON: But within minutes of the vote, Hamas appearing to reject this resolution specifically about the Board of Peace, saying it was an international guardianship, something they they said, and the people of Gaza reject. They also said it doesn't go far enough for their humanitarian and other needs.

Israel, on the other hand, which earlier in the day, had been some heated political pushback to the notion that this allows for a pathway to a Palestinian state. The Ambassador of Israel in his comments after the resolution passed, speaking not about those issues and Israel's concerns about a rejection, indeed, of a Palestinian state, but focusing on the security aspects that it might bring.

DANNY DANON, ISRAELI AMBASSADOR TO THE U.N.: The U.N. Security Council adopted a resolution which was submitted by the United States, which calls for international stabilization force to arrive to Gaza. We are committed to make sure that all of the hostages are coming home and that Hamas is demilitarized. We will make sure that Hamas will not pose a threat on Israel.

[02:05:07]

ROBERTSON: And it was interesting as well, listening to the Algerian ambassador at the Security Council vote saying that they had put forward many amendments and ideas to the U.S. scripted, crafted resolution, and they he said that some of their suggestions have been taken on board. He said that they've been working down to the last minute. They decided at the last minute to support the resolution.

But it rather gave the impression that, as he said, speaking for the Arab and Muslim world, there were other things they would have liked to have seen in the resolution that weren't present.

But he said, at the core of this, and this was central to the vote. That the core of all of this was really about keeping the cease fire going in Gaza, despite potentially any shortcomings, any of the people, any of the ambassadors voting for it might have felt.

Nic Robertson, CNN, Jerusalem.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SANDOVAL: All right, so how about we take a closer look at the details of this U.N. deal with Israel's former consul general in New York, Alon Pinkas. He joins us from Tel Aviv. Long time no see, Mr. Ambassador. It's good to see you.

ALON PINKAS, FORMER ISRAELI CONSUL GENERAL IN NEW YORK: Good to see you too. Well, the cease fire is not good for our relationship. It's good for everything else, what can I say.

SANDOVAL: We have to find others -- we have to find other topics to discuss.

So, Mr. Ambassador, I'm curious if we could get your -- you know, more of your insight here, as you just heard the U.S. Ambassador to the U.N., he calls this approved plan a significant step towards a stable Gaza. How do you see it?

PINKAS: Well, it is significant, and I'll detail where I think it's significant, but at the same time it's also important, Polo to -- you know, to emphasize that it does have its deficiencies and shortcomings that may in the very near future, surface and derail the entire thing.

Why is it significant? Well, the U.S. went to the U.N. Security Council, a body that the Trump administration detests in an organization that the Trump administration disdains. And the U.S. went there to seek a legitimacy and an international mandate, meaning some kind of multilateralism, which, in a way, is a departure from previous U.S. policy.

And if that's an omen to how the U.S. will conduct its business in the Middle East, or perhaps even elsewhere in Ukraine, that's, you know, arguably, I'm sorry, is a good sign.

The second important thing is that, despite what Israel claims this is something that is an anathema to everything that Israel has worked for, meaning the internationalization of the conflict. For many, many years, Israel rejected and fended off any type of U.N. Security Council resolutions, ideas for international conferences, international forums, all kinds of initiatives, like the Saudi French initiative to recognize a state of future, State of Palestine.

And here we are, at the behest of the U.S., at a U.S. draft proposal -- draft resolution, rather, is being accepted by the U.N. Security Council. Which leads me to the third significant factor, and that is that the U.S. is doing something -- well, President Trump is doing something that none of his predecessors, going back to Dwight Eisenhower in the mid '50s, in 1957 to be exact, did, and that is pressure Israel and dictate its moves.

Because Israel right now is powerless to resist this. All Israel can hope right now, and this leads me to the deficiencies, all Israel hopes right now is to what Nic Robertson spoke about a moment ago, and that is that Hamas is pushing back and saying that this is not acceptable, because it does not -- it does not contain, it does not have a serious Palestinian component in it in this international force.

So, we can go on to the deficiencies. But you should -- you should talk to.

SANDOVAL: Well, actually, I want to pick up on that second point that you made just now, which is one of the things that really struck -- that stood out to me in this U.S. revised resolution, which contains a specific -- it's very specific reference to a two state solution. It reads, and I quote, "The conditions may finally be in place for a credible pathway to Palestinian self-determination and statehood."

Picking up on where you left off there, Mr. Ambassador, how do you think the Israeli prime minister is taking this?

PINKAS: Badly I imagine because this is -- this signals, or this represents a collapse of his entire foreign policy ideas.

[02:10:02]

Look, he's been urged by successive American administrations and successive European countries please to go and initiate a peace process with the Palestinians. He brushed it off. He derided it, he ignored it. He was reluctant to even entertain this.

And now the U.S. is doing this, and as you quoted from the resolution, sees a pathway to a Palestinian state.

Now, remember, Polo, that a month and a half ago, two months ago, in September, the U.S. rejected the Saudi-French initiative to recognize Palestinians -- the Palestine on the grounds that the U.N. is not the place where this should be decided. Yet, the U.S. did the exactly the same thing in this resolution.

Of course, it is worded with caution and a lot of caveats, the Palestinian authority needs to reform, and it's only a pathway, and it's not a full endorsement, and there's no timetable.

Fine, but this is -- this is the beginning of a process that, if the U.S. and indeed the entire world remains engaged in this could force Israel and -- well, I'm saying -- I'm going to say Mr. Netanyahu, but this is down the road. I doubt he's going to be prime minister then, but it's going to force Israel to make some decisions it refrained from doing since the mid '90s, and that is engage in a serious political process. I hasten to call it a peace process, because that's -- that would jinx it.

SANDOVAL: Sure, no, without a doubt, certainly widens that international scope. So, I really appreciate that insight.

Mr. Ambassador, we have to leave it there. Let's have you back when the Yankees make it to the World Series. And certainly, of course, on the more serious notes.

PINKAS: So, are you telling me -- are you telling me next year? Are you telling me five years from now? Because I got to know where you stand on this.

SANDOVAL: Or I may never see you through this -- through this particular see you again. Mr. Ambassador, it's always a pleasure. Thank you for your time.

PINKAS: I'm sure you will.

SANDOVAL: Thank you.

PINKAS: Thank you, Polo.

SANDOVAL: So, in the coming hours, the White House, it will be welcoming the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, Mohammed bin Salman. Ahead of their meeting, President Trump announced that he plans to sell F-35 fighter jets to the Gulf country. According to experts, the move could disrupt the current balance of military might in the Middle East, with Israel worried about maintaining its aerial superiority.

On Monday, President Trump told reporters that Saudi Arabia is, "A great ally."

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: No, I am planning it. They want to buy. They've been a great ally. They've got to like us very much. Look at the Iran situation, what we did in terms of obliterating, you know, there -- we obliterated their nuclear capability. Yes, I will say that, we will be doing that. We'll be selling F-35s.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SANDOVAL: And it marks the first time Mohammed bin Salman will visit Washington since the 2018 killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, which the CIA believes the Crown Prince ordered. The Crown Prince has repeatedly denied any involvement.

Now, to the Jeffrey Epstein case, on Tuesday, the House of Representatives will be voting on a bill seeking to force the Justice Department to release the Epstein files. The measure is expected to get broad support from Republicans after a complete 180 by President Trump. He now says that he will sign the measure if it makes its way to his desk.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) TRUMP: I'm all for it. You know, we've already given 50,000 pages, you do know that. They can do whatever they want.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You would sign it if it comes to your desk?

TRUMP: We'll give them everything. Sure, I would. Let the -- let the Senate look at it, let anybody look at it, but don't talk about it too much, because, honestly, I don't want to take it away from us.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SANDOVAL: And a White House official tells CNN that Trump has not directed the Justice Department to stand in the way of turning over any of the Epstein files to Congress, but Trump was at -- he already has asked the Justice Department to open a criminal investigation into various high profile figures connected to Epstein, which might have actually kept the department from turning over those files in the first place.

A window for diplomacy opening up amid rising tensions between the U.S. and Venezuela. Coming up, the latest reactions from Donald Trump and Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.

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[02:18:57]

SANDOVAL: The U.S. and Venezuela, they are signaling that they are open to dialog as a potential conflict in the Caribbean looms over both countries. President Trump has already said that he will be talking directly to President Nicolas Maduro. He said it will happen at a certain time. The Venezuelan leader responding on Monday, saying any talks should be face-to-face. Despite the steps towards diplomacy, Donald Trump lashed out at President Maduro while speaking with reporters in the Oval Office on Monday.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TRUMP: Look, he's done tremendous damage to our country, primarily because of drugs, but really because we have that problem with other countries too. But more than any other country, the release of prisoners into our country has been a disaster. He's emptied his jails. Others have done that also. He has not been good to the United States. So, we'll see what happens.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SANDOVAL: President Maduro reaffirmed Venezuela's commitment to diplomacy on state T.V. Monday, saying that it's the only way that these countries and governments can actually understand each other. He also confirmed that he sent a letter to President Trump requesting a dialog with the U.S. back in September. We get more now from CNN's Stefano Pozzebon.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

[02:20:12]

STEFANO POZZEBON, CNN CONTRIBUTOR: Venezuela leader Nicolas Maduro revealed that he had written a letter to the U.S. President Donald Trump as early as the beginning of September, and that that letter was delivered to the White House on September 6th, almost nine weeks ago, he said, in his weekly T.V. show here in Caracas.

The letter had been rumored and reported on in the past, but is the first time that the Venezuelan government confirmed its existence at such a high level. And this revelation comes less than 24 hours after the president of the United States Trump announced that he was ready to open discussions with Maduro. And on Monday, he even said that he would be open to speak with Maduro directly.

In his weekly T.V. show, Maduro had once again, words that appeased Trump and called on his deal making ability and suggested that he would be open to finding a deal.

NICOLAS MADURO, VENEZUELAN PRESIDENT (through translator): War? No. Never, ever war. Those who wish to engage in dialog will always find among us people of their word, decent people and people with the experience to lead Venezuela.

POZZEBON: At the same time, the White House accuses Maduro of being the leader of a narco trafficking cartel called the Cartel de los Soles.

And on Monday, Trump reiterated his intention to declare the Cartel de los Soles as a foreign terrorist organization. Maduro has, of course, denied his involvement in drug trafficking, but analysts believe that behind this designation could be paving the way to more forceful actions in Venezuela from the United States military.

I think that in the last few hours, the United States has resorted to tried and testing tactics when it comes to Venezuela, which is the carrot of opening the door to a diplomatic solution with direct talks between the White House and the Miraflores presidential palace here in Caracas, but also envisioning what the alternative would be, a much more forceful and perhaps military direct action here in Venezuela.

For CNN, this is Stefano Pozzebon, Caracas.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SANDOVAL: And earlier, I spoke with Mark Cancian. He's a retired Marine colonel and Senior Advisor at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. I asked him about the prospect of a diplomatic resolution versus U.S. military involvement inside Venezuela, and he remained fairly optimistic about the dialog that's potentially opening up in the recent -- in recent days.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

COL. MARK CANCIAN (RET.), U.S. MARINE CORPS: I think so. Couple of days ago, it looked like we were on the verge of military action. Then the president started talking about negotiations. He likes person to person diplomacy, so it's not surprising that he has hinted at that, and the fact that there will be some sort of discussions, that means that military action is at least not imminent.

SANDOVAL: As we continue to consider all possible options that the White House could follow, given the assets, given the momentum, certainly potential military action, I assume it's too early to roll out. If we see that non-diplomatic route, is this conventional military presence off the coast of Venezuela? The best tool, as we've learned in conflicts like Afghanistan and Iraq, it hasn't really been.

CANCIAN: The assets off of Venezuela now are excellent for conducting long range air and missile strikes. They could attack the cartels. They could even attack the Maduro administration regime. It's not designed for invasion. There are only 2,200 Marines, and there are something like 90,000 Venezuelan ground forces.

So, if there is military action, what you'll see are long range strikes, maybe one strike to see what happens if the Maduro regime either surrenders or collapses, perhaps additional strikes after that. Right now, no boots on the ground.

SANDOVAL: Colonel, just to give us perhaps a rough estimate of the timing of when we could see the next possible step, how long could these kinds of sophisticated assets, like the USS Gerald Ford actually remain off the coast?

I mean, I assume, not only are they extremely expensive to mobilize, but they could perhaps be serving elsewhere.

CANCIAN: It's the opportunity costs that is the problem. The budget already includes money for the Ford to be deployed, but it wasn't expecting that the Ford would be in the Caribbean. Expectation had been that it would be in Europe and the Middle East and the Mediterranean.

[02:25:00]

So, when it's in the Caribbean, that means it's not someplace else. It's also not a great place to train. So, my estimate is that it could stay there couple of weeks, but there'll be increasing pressure to use it or lose it. That is, if there's not going to be a military action, then to send it somewhere else where it's needed.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SANDOVAL: And we're staying in Latin America after the break, the U.S. president now making a renewed threat to send the U.S. military after cartels south of the border. Coming up next on CNN NEWSROOM, we'll take you to Mexico City as we wait to hear from the Mexican government.

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[02:30:37]

POLO SANDOVAL, CNN ANCHOR OF "CNN NEWSROOM": The U.S. president has been vocal about the country's fight against alleged drug trafficking in Latin America. And he seemingly escalated those feelings on Monday. Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office, President Trump said that he'd be willing to carry out military strikes on drug facilities in Mexico and in Columbia if necessary.

It was just last week that Secretary of State, Marco Rubio said that the U.S. did not plan to send any sort of American troops into Mexico, but would potentially provide Mexico with some support if they requested it. But U.S. forces, they have carried out multiple strikes on alleged drug trafficking boats in international waters.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP, (R) PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: Would I launch strikes in Mexico to stop drugs? It's OK with me, whatever we have to do to stop drugs. Columbia has cocaine factories where they make cocaine. Would I knock out those factories? I would be proud to do it personally. I didn't say I'm doing it, but I would be proud to do it.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SANDOVAL: Ana Maria Salazar is a former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Drug Enforcement Policy and Support, joining us from Mexico City. It's good to see you.

ANA MARIA SALAZAR, POLICY ADVISER FOR PRESIDENT CLINTON'S SPECIAL ENVOY FOR THE AMERICAS: Good to see you. Greetings from Mexico City.

SANDOVAL: Ana Maria, hours later, I'm curious if there's been any sort of response from Mexican President, Claudia Sheinbaum to Monday's comments from the Oval Office?

SALAZAR: Not yet, but I'm sure we will hear some comment or a statement from the Mexican government during her daily press conference. And perhaps the best way to react to that comment is not to react. I mean, President Sheinbaum has been pretty smart in not negotiating with President Donald Trump publicly. When he makes these types of statements, she usually just reminds everybody that Mexico is a sovereign nation, and that the United States and Mexico have -- they have very good cooperation, especially on security matters. But, it will be -- we'll see. I mean, I'm sure there's many Mexican officials that are alarmed.

SANDOVAL: I read elsewhere on another platform that this should be taken as Trump opening the door for possible military action against cartel elements in Mexico. Not sure if that's accurate. I mean, we've -- it feels like we've been here before, going back to 2017 when the president did issue similar threats to the Mexican government that he planned to go after cartel elements across the border. But something seems different this time, I believe. You have the strikes on the targets in the Caribbean, because of that, do you think that Mexican officials could perhaps assume that Trump could be more inclined to actually deliver on that threat this time?

SALAZAR: Well, I guess part of the problem is there has been -- there was one strike on one of these fast boats at the -- close to Mexican Coast in Acapulco. But it wasn't -- it was still in international waters. And I think it was that particular case that has made the Mexican military quite nervous. And there was statements by the Mexican government saying, if you want us to go after these fast boats, give us the intelligence, and we will detain them, arrest the individuals, seize the drugs, and if necessary, we will take them to trial.

But, so Mexico has been making statements like that. I think the only difference between 2017 and now has to do with what's happening in the Caribbean and the threats to Venezuela and kind of this -- I think most countries in the Caribbean Basin are quite nervous and kind of frustrated to have such a large presence to go after fast boats. So, there is this confusion. If that was the strategy, you don't need to have that level of military presence of the United States.

So, I think there's kind of this sense that somewhat the statements by the president somewhat of a -- I don't want to use the word show, but it's kind of a way to pressure Nicolas Maduro to basically either surrender, turn himself in, or try to find a peaceful way to leave the country and take all his assets and his family. Now, with the statement today, I don't know if it's much different.

[02:35:00]

The only thing that I see different was his comment that things seem to be a little different or a little bad in Mexico because we had major protests that took place Saturday, in which there was an interesting level of violence that perhaps this president had not suffered. Protests were not only young people, but people or individuals from all types of backgrounds who have -- who are concerned either about security, not having access to healthcare, and of course, the murder of mayors and politicians from the opposition.

So, that was kind of the only difference that I saw from his comments. But clearly, there has to be a certain level of nervousness, trying to understand what does Donald Trump want to do. I don't think anybody is concerned that he's going to invade Mexico. I think they're just concerned he's going to send some missile or drone to destroy labs. And of course, then there's this -- there's a couple legal issues that even I'm sure those Pentagon officials, Pentagon lawyers that are still left in the Pentagon are wondering, this -- how legal are these attacks, one.

And two, there is a concern that any attack on Mexican soil, you could kill an American citizen or have an impact on U.S. interests. So it's a little different than what is happening with the threats to Venezuela. But I can tell you that I am -- I'm sure Mexican officials are watching these statements very, very closely.

SANDOVAL: I'm just curious if you could characterize the relationship between these two nations, between the U.S. and Mexico right now, from tariff talk to the White House insisting that the Mexico's not doing enough to control the flow of drugs going north. I mean, is it fair to characterize it as somewhat delicate right now, that relationship? SALAZAR: I would say it's a working relationship. Mexico is pretty much willing to do what it takes right now to make sure that Donald Trump doesn't decide to send a missile into Mexico. The problem is, what does Donald Trump want out of this? I mean, he pretty much has -- he's gotten what he has wanted from the Mexican government and the Mexican strategy has dramatically changed, and there has been some successes in terms, at least the numbers seem to indicate that there's less fentanyl crossing into the United States right now. And there's literally the number of migrants that have been crossing into the United States have completely stopped.

So, it's not clear what else Donald Trump needs. And I would see his statement as a somewhat a position he's taking as Mexico, the United States and Canada head towards the renegotiation of the trade agreement, USMCA, which is an agreement between Canada, United States, and Mexico. And maybe this is starting to position or starting to -- different way of pressuring Mexico.

SANDOVAL: Yeah. Well, along with you, we'll be watching closely as the Mexican president is at the podium later today for her daily press conference to see if she addresses those comments from the Oval Office. Ana Maria Salazar from Mexico City, thank you so much for your time and your insight.

SALAZAR: Thank you. Thank you so much.

SANDOVAL: China is ramping up its travel warnings about Japan, urging its citizens to stay away from its neighbor in a dispute over Taiwan. Now, a top Japanese diplomat has arrived in China in a bid to calm the simmering (inaudible). CNN's Jim Sciutto reports.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JIM SCIUTTO, CNN ANCHOR AND CHIEF NATIONAL SECURITY ANALYST (voice- over): On a mission to turn down the diplomatic temperature, Japan's senior diplomat, Masaki Kanai arriving in Beijing amid growing anger in China about the new Japanese prime minister's comments on Taiwan. Answering a question in parliament on November 7th, Sanae Takaichi said that Japan would view a Chinese attack on the island as a situation threatening Japan's survival, which could therefore trigger a Japanese military response.

Soon after Takaichi said her remarks were hypothetical and that she would refrain from making similar comments in parliament again. However, to Beijing, the comments crossed a red line. China's foreign minister demanded a retraction.

MAO NING, CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESPERSON (through translator): I want to emphasize that in response to the wrongful remarks made by Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi regarding Taiwan, China has already lodged and will continue to lodge solemn representations and protest strongly with the Japanese side, urging them to immediately reflect on the matter, correct the errors, retract the wrongful remarks, and cease from creating incidents on issues concerning China.

SCIUTTO (voice-over): The falling out comes less than two weeks after Takaichi and Chinese Leader Xi Jinping met for the first time on the sidelines of the APEC Summit in South Korea and agreed to pursue constructive stable ties. That warmth didn't appear to last.

[02:40:00]

Beijing views self-governing, democratic Taiwan as part of China, and has vowed to take the island by force if necessary. And in recent years, China has escalated military exercises around Taiwan, rehearsals U.S. military analysts believe for a potential invasion or blockade. Previous Japanese prime ministers have avoided discussing Japan's response to a potential invasion. U.S. policy had for years been deliberately vague, strategic ambiguity as the approach is known. Although President Biden repeatedly said the U.S. would defend Taiwan militarily.

China is now warning its citizens against traveling to Japan and urging its students to be cautious about making plans to study there citing a "worsening public security situation." Japan rejected that message.

MINORU KIHARA, JAPANESE CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY (through translator): I believe that this announcement, which seems to curtail the exchange of people between the two countries, including study abroad and tourism, is incompatible with the broad direction of promoting a strategic mutually beneficial relationship confirmed by the leaders and building a constructive and stable relationship. We have made a firm request for the Chinese side to take appropriate steps.

SCIUTTO (voice-over): The travel advisory prompted each country to summon the others' ambassador. And as the tensions deepened, China says its premier Li Qiang will no longer be meeting with Prime Minister Takaichi on the sidelines of the upcoming G20 Summit in South Africa. Nearly 7.5 million travelers from China visited Japan in just the first nine months of this year, according to the Japanese broadcaster, NHK, by far the highest count of any country or region.

Beijing's actions suggests it's willing to use economic heft to apply geopolitical pressure, a move from a well-worn playbook. Japan's leaders appear eager to limit the damage. Its senior diplomat is expected to tell his Chinese counterpart, the prime minister's remark on Taiwan does not signal a shift in Japan's security policy.

Jim Sciutto, CNN.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SANDOVAL: Still ahead here on "CNN Newsroom," protests as federal tactics cause fear and resentment in some American cities. Details when we come back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[02:46:55]

SANDOVAL: Federal agents, they've been sent to North Carolina in a fresh immigration crackdown. Some local officials and residents are telling CNN that they were very unhappy with the situation. Our Omar Jimenez has more on the operation dubbed Charlotte's Web and its predecessor in Chicago.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

[Foreign Language]

OMAR JIMENEZ, CNN ANCHOR AND CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): This is the new reality in Charlotte, North Carolina as Border Patrol Agents led by top Border Patrol Official, Greg Bovino, fan out across the city enforcing a crackdown on illegal immigration.

DANTE ANDERSON, CHARLOTTE MAYOR PRO TEM: Our citizens are left to look at what has occurred in other cities as a bellwether to what might occur here.

JIMENEZ (voice-over): One of those cities is Chicago.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Get out of here. Go, go.

JIMENEZ: This is happening in the southwest side of Chicago. You see the community response here to what our federal immigration enforcement, trying to get them out of this neighborhood. Those in the federal government will say they're just endangering these agents as they try to do their jobs here. But clearly, the tactics they've employed to this point have made neighborhoods and people feel like they need to show that they're not welcome here.

JIMENEZ (voice-over): Others have taken less confrontational tactics.

MARICELA, CHICAGO RAPID RESPONSE VOLUNTEER: We know that they're black (inaudible), but if we have license plates, that would help too.

JIMENEZ (voice-over): Like Maricela, who volunteers as Rapid Response, fielding calls to show up and document. She didn't want to show her face over fear of retaliation.

MARICELA: We have showed up two cars that have their windows smashed, where a vehicle has been abandoned or there is a family member in distress. The tactics being used are a lot more severe.

JIMENEZ (voice-over): And the impact in Chicago's immigrant communities is unmistakable, including in Little Village, a majority Latino neighborhood.

JOSE LOUIE LUIS LOPEZ, OWNER, LOS CANDILES RESTAURANT: Best description would be like another pandemic as far as seeing the numbers just every week. Part of our clientele from our neighborhood, they're frightened to come out right now.

JIMENEZ (voice-over): Jose Luis Lopez's restaurant started with his parents decades ago. In this moment, his receipts tell a story.

LUIS LOPEZ: This is $5, $2, $3, $4 -- $4 and $five is $9.

JIMENEZ: Yeah. LUIS LOPEZ: I mean, and it's $11.

JIMENEZ: Yeah. Yeah.

LUIS LOPEZ: We should be around $20 to $25.

JIMENEZ (voice-over): Even outside Chicago, there have been protests for months at an ICE facility in Broadview, Illinois.

DERRICK NASH, BROADVIEW , ILLINOIS RESIDENT: It was (inaudible) girl some popcorn. Like yeah, damn, it's crazy.

JIMENEZ (voice-over): Derrick Nash says agents chase people into his yard and some days ended in tear gas affecting his family, including an asthmatic teenager.

NASH: I thought he was about to die. He was foaming at the mouth. And I'm like, oh my God, what I'm going to do?

JIMENEZ: And just to be clear, you all were just in your house?

NASH: Yeah.

MARICELA: Seeing what has been happening in L.A., a lot of us, or at least myself, was kind of waiting like, when is that type of aggressiveness and escalation going to start happening in Chicago?

[02:50:00]

JIMENEZ (voice-over): And now, Charlotte residents say they're bracing for the same. Manolo Betancur, an American citizen, closed his bakery for just the second time in 28 years after watching Border Patrol Agents tackle people outside his business.

MANOLO BETANCUR, OWNER, MANOLO'S BAKERY: That could be myself, my wife, or my kids. And I feel this is more just like intimidation and trying to scare us.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

JIMENEZ (on camera): And already in North Carolina, like Illinois, we are seeing the Democratic Governor criticize the tactics being used in his state. There are tactics by the way that DHS is proud of. You don't have to look far on the DHS or Gregory Bovino's social media to see that they've claimed they're making America's cities safer. But when you go into some of these communities, it's not so much the mission, it's the tactics that at points have included detaining U.S. citizens that have contributed to this climate of fear that so many people told me about in Chicago, a climate by the way, they had been bracing for because of Los Angeles and a climate that could serve as a preview for Charlotte.

Omar Jimenez, CNN, New York.

SANDOVAL: Still on the way here on "CNN Newsroom," a conversation with tennis legend, Billie Jean King. She talked to CNN about her life, her legacy, and why is she's still not done changing the game.

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SANDOVAL: So she's one of the most influential figures in sports and at 81, tennis legend, Billie Jean King is still pushing for equality, opportunity in which she calls unfinished business. CNN's Don Riddell sat down with her to talk purpose, progress and her legacy.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Billie Jean King.

(CROWD CHEERING)

DON RIDDELL, CNN WORLD SPORT (voice-over): You'd never guess it, but the tennis icon, Billie Jean King is now 81 and she's not slowing down just yet.

BILLIE JEAN KING, TENNIS LEGEND WHO WON 39 GRAND SLAM TITLES: I feel fantastic. The reason I feel great is because I hit tennis balls all the time, and that really makes a big difference.

(LAUGH)

KING: At my age, you have to do something and keep moving.

RIDDELL (voice-over): King has seen and done it all, and yet she says there is still some unfinished business. After a hiatus of six decades, she's back at Cal State University hoping to graduate in May.

KING: Lately in the last few years, I've been going, you know what, I should finish. And I was a history major. Of course, in those days, women didn't have very many opportunities on what to major in. But I do love history. I think that's how you help shape the future.

RIDDELL: How do you think it feels for your professors to be teaching someone who themselves has contributed so much towards the history that, I guess, they're now teaching?

KING: I don't know what they think, to be honest. They're being very strict. They're not giving me any breaks. I can tell you that, which is good.

[02:55:00]

RIDDELL (voice-over): 39 Grand Slam titles across singles, doubles and mixed doubles ranks. Billie Jean King as one of the best-ever tennis players. But it was her creation of the Women's Tennis Association and her fight for equality that saw her transcend the game. However, King says her academic resume isn't the only work in progress.

KING: I come a long way, but we have a long way to go. We still have so far to go. I mean, we haven't even had a woman president in the United States yet. I mean, that's pathetic.

RIDDELL (voice-over): Now in her ninth decade, the fire inside of her is as ferocious as ever.

KING: I don't think you can understand inclusion really until you've been excluded.

RIDDELL (voice-over): Her partnership with the e.l.f. Beauty cosmetics brand is focusing on opportunity and equality, just as many women's sports are now exploding in popularity.

KING: (Inaudible) about the women on the field and in the boardroom.

RIDDELL (voice-over): In addition to her investment in the back-to- back World Series champions, the LA Dodgers, Billie Jean King Enterprises own stakes in Angel City FC and the LA Sparks. And last year, she was instrumental in launching the Professional Women's Hockey League.

RIDDELL: When people talk about you, it's about your legacy and you are so revered. How does it feel to kind of walk in your shoes knowing that, that is how people have regarded you for such a long time? KING: I feel gratitude and I feel the responsibility. I care about grassroots with the Women's Sports Foundation, which I started in 1974. We have done so much. We've given over $100 million to help girls get started. And it's really about every girl. It's not just about the top athletes, but the top athletes are very involved and really wonderful to us. So it's -- I just am very thankful every single day and very grateful that I've had this life. I'm really -- I know I'm one of the luckiest ones in the world.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SANDOVAL: It was a show down like no other at a race track in Abu Dhabi, six driverless cars, they raced each other at speeds topping 250 kilometers per hour. The race showcasing the rapid advancements in the autonomous vehicle technology. Four of the six cars finished the race this year. That is a huge improvement over last year when only one car managed to cross the finish line.

Cambridge Dictionary unveiling its 2025 Word of the Year, "parasocial." It was actually coined in 1956. But sociologists say that it was once an academic term. Well, it's now become a mainstream term. It actually refers to a connection people feel with someone that they don't know or even something like artificial intelligence. Cambridge citing the example of, of course, Taylor Swift, who announced her engagement to NFL Star, Travis Kelce and received an outpouring of feelings from fans who she's never met. Well, one Cambridge writer says that the word really demonstrates how language can change.

And we have crossed our finish line after the last hour of news. Thank you for joining us. I'm Polo Sandoval in New York. I'll join you again in just a few moments with much more news, here on "CNN Newsroom."

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