Return to Transcripts main page
CNN Newsroom
Russia Pounds Ukraine As U.S. Pushes Reported New Peace Plan; Trump Signs Bill to Release All Epstein Files; IDF Strikes Across Gaza Kill At Least 28 On Wednesday; Japanese Prime Minister's Taiwan Comments Trigger Feud With China; North Carolina Communities Live In Fear Of ICE Raids; Rule Breakers Movie Tells the Story of All-girls Afghan Robotics Team; Study Finds Kissing on the Lips May Date Back 21 Million Years; NASA Releases Images of Rare Interstellar Comet; Jeff Goldblum Meets Wax Double at Madame Tussauds; State Play Turns Climate Talks Into Political Thriller. Aired 2-3a ET
Aired November 20, 2025 - 02:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[02:00:37]
LYNDA KINKADE, CNN ANCHOR: Hello and welcome to all our viewers watching from around the world. I'm Lynda Kinkade.
Ahead here on CNN NEWSROOM, as bombs hit more residential areas in Ukraine, the U.S. attempts to hammer out a peace deal with Russia.
The Epstein files, close to 50,000 pages are set to be made public after President Trump signs the legislation, but will we actually see all of them?
And the real story of the Afghan robotics team who dared to dream. The women behind the film "Rule Breakers" joins me live.
ANNOUNCER: Live from Atlanta, this is CNN NEWSROOM with Lynda Kinkade.
KINKADE: We begin with a meeting that aims to bring U.S. peace efforts to in Ukraine back to life. The White House has been working on a new peace plan behind the scenes, according to a source familiar with the talks.
And in the coming hours, the Pentagon delegation will meet with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv to discuss the U.S. push for peace. Full details of the reported new plan is still unclear, but a senior Ukrainian lawmaker is already calling it ludicrous and a nonstarter.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
OLEKSANDR MEREZKHO, CHAIR, FOREIGN AFFAIRS COMMITTEE IN UKRAINIAN PARLIAMENT: This plan seems to be aiming at surrender of Ukraine, and for us, it's totally unacceptable, and I do hope that it's not serious. Everything looks very suspicious, and for Ukraine, it's totally unacceptable to take such decisions without our participation. We hope that President Trump will continue to honor important principle. Nothing about Ukraine without Ukraine.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KINKADE: Ukraine is also reeling from the latest barrage of deadly Russian strikes that hit targets across the country, but this time, Russian drones and missiles went after areas long considered safe by Ukrainian standards.
Our Nick Paton Walsh reports a
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
NICK PATON WALSH, CNN CHIEF INTERNATIONAL SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: A particularly horrific night in western Ukraine normally safer compared to the capital and the country's east, but it seems certainly one Kh- 101 missile hitting one, possibly two, residential apartment blocks, causing the majority of the dead, of 25 killed, three of those children across the country in this particularly horrific series of strikes. 92 injured, 18 of those children as well. Nearly 500 drones launched in this attack and nearly 50 missiles as well.
The extent of Russian activity causing several NATO nations to respond. Poland closed two Eastern airports briefly and scrambled fighter jets. And Romania says that a drone entered into its airspace and caused it to scramble Euro fighters and F-16s.
At the same time, Russia claims it shot down four attack missiles supplied by the United States that were fired into its Voronezh region, Ukraine has claimed.
So, particularly intense night in the skies and significantly distant to the message of a potential new avenue for diplomacy that's been pushed by senior Russian officials and indeed encourage it seems to by the White House as well.
It's unclear what this new initiative that seems to be between the Kremlin and U.S. president envoy Steve Witkoff involves, in terms of the detail, there's been some reporting suggesting there might be 28 points here, but it's precisely, exactly what Russia is willing to offer that this will all hinge upon, particularly given the new hardline approach of the Trump administration.
On the battlefield, Russia is seeing potentially its best weeks in you might argue, the past year, particularly around the embattled city of Pokrovsk, and to the south of that in Zaporizhzhia, where we've seen some substantial advances in the past week or so.
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Turkey to try and kick start possibly a separate diplomatic initiative. It's clear both sides want to convey the notion that they need peace here. But for Russia's part, it is seeing success on the front lines and indeed, an ability to penetrate deep into Ukraine that we saw last night, that would suggest it's seeing progress in terms of the violence it's willing to inflict on Ukraine that wouldn't necessarily be compatible with a peace deal at this stage. But another particularly horrific night in western Ukraine with a particularly large death toll, the injured and dead, involving children.
Nick Paton Walsh, CNN, London.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KINKADE: I want to head over to Johannesburg, South Africa, where we're joined by Michael Bociurkiw. He is the senior fellow at the Atlantic Council and the founder of the World Briefing Report on Substack. Good to have you with us.
[02:05:10]
MICHAEL BOCIURKIW, SENIOR FELLOW, THE ATLANTIC COUNCIL: Great to be with you again, Lynda.
KINKADE: So, Michael, I understand your family comes from this region of Western Ukraine. What was your reaction when you heard that Ternopil had suffered its deadliest attack of this war with at least 25 people killed, including children?
Horrible, Lynda. You know, this is an area where my mother and father were born. It's an area where millions of Ukrainian diasporas trace their roots.
And, you know, I got to say, and it's difficult for me to say this, almost brings tear to my eyes. I remember just a few days after the start of the Russian folk scale invasion, I was sitting with your former excellent colleague, Michael Holmes, live on set and veal, and we had this beautiful Western Ukrainian background behind us, and I reminded him and your viewers that this is the -- this is where the Ukrainian patriotic heartbeat beats. This is the founding area of Ukrainian nationalism.
And it's such a beautiful area. And I said at the time, the Russians will never touch this. We were wrong, and I hate to be wrong. They have -- and you know, the Russians would like nothing more than eradicate completely Western Ukraine, for those very reasons, that this is really the patriotic place, a lot of historical significance to Ukrainians and once again, where a lot of diaspora trace their roots.
KINKADE: Yes, I'm so sorry to hear that. I mean this strike really deep inside Ukraine, far from the front lines. What does this signal to you about the escalation and Russia's strategy here?
BOCIURKIW: Well, it's very, very bad, because it reminds everybody, those who stayed behind in Ukraine and those who left that no inch of Ukraine can be considered safe.
And I worry about this, Lynda, because those millions of Ukrainians who fled are watching this very carefully, obviously, and this is yet another deterrent for them to return to Ukraine amid a huge manpower shortage in Ukraine. And also, it shows the extent of Russian brutality, according to Ukrainian state linked media, 26 confirmed dead, that could double and well over 100 injured. This is the war, as Nick Paton Walsh pointed out, it's not going very well at all for the Ukrainians on the front line, but now also those daily barrages.
And of course, on top of all of this, the lack of power and heating, 13 plus hours, Lynda, without power, where I'm usually based in Odessa on a daily basis, with temperatures just around zero celsius.
KINKADE: Wow. So, certainly not going well on the front lines, but also doesn't seem to be going very well diplomatically. But we understand the U.S. is secretly drafting a new plan to end the war, reportedly a 28-point plan without Ukrainian involvement, U.S. officials, of course, are in Ukraine right now. Does it look like Ukraine is being backed into a corner? What's your view?
BOCIURKIW: Oh, absolutely. And without European involvement, I may add. Look, this is a Donald Trump who is acting as if he is a mafia don. He should focus on his area, the Western Hemisphere, Venezuela, whatever. We know this is a president with a short attention span who can't handle many things at once.
And you know, let Turkey come back into this. Turkey has -- Mr. Erdogan of Turkey has Mr. Putin, Mr. Zelenskyy, both of them on speed dial. Turkey is very interested, of course, in Black Sea security. They have enormous investments in Ukraine, and I think they're trusted by many, many different quarters.
But for the Americans to come back in here, and Lynda, I got to say this worries me too, because it looks like, if we trust the reporting from political and others, that the Americans feel that they have Ukraine backed into a corner for two reasons, not going well on the battlefield, and secondly, there's widening corruption scandal, so they're going to push an agreement that's going to be very difficult for the Ukrainians down their throats once again.
KINKADE: Yes, certainly plenty more to discuss, especially regarding that corruption scandal. But we're running out of time. We'll have to leave it there for now. But Michael Bociurkiw, as always, thanks so much for your time.
BOCIURKIW: You're welcome.
KINKADE: Well, President Trump has signed a bill directing the U.S. Justice Department to release all the files. That's about 50,000 documents related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. He shared the news on social media, calling the move a push for transparency, while also taking jabs at some Democrats for their past connections to Epstein. The Justice Department now has 30 days to release all those files, but some lawmakers are concerned the administration may find a way to block it. CNN's Evan Perez reports.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
EVAN PEREZ, CNN SENIOR JUSTICE CORRESPONDENT: President Donald Trump has signed the bill that requires the Justice Department to release documents from the Jeffrey Epstein investigation.
[02:10:09]
The question now is, what happens next? The Justice Department has an ongoing investigation. Pam Bondi, the attorney general has assigned that to prosecutors in the Southern District of New York, and that investigation is now ongoing.
During a press conference, the attorney general addressed what happens now that that investigation is ongoing, and now that Congress is requiring the Justice Department to release the Epstein files, here's what she had to say.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Does the new investigation by the Southern District of New York U.S. Attorney prevent the department from releasing all of the remaining files?
PAM BONDI, U.S. ATTORNEY GENERAL: So, we have released 33,000 -- over 33,000 Epstein documents to the Hill, and we'll continue to follow the law and to have maximum transparency.
PEREZ: Now, within the next 30 days, we anticipate that at least some of these documents are going to be released by the Justice Department.
What is not going to be released is some of the terabytes of material that the Justice Department collected in its investigation of Epstein and of Ghislaine Maxwell, his accomplice who allegedly helped traffic some of these young women. Those -- any videos, or any material that depicts child sex abuse is not going to be released by the Justice Department.
Now, what is in play are some of the documents that might show some of the communications with people that were associated with Epstein, even people who are not credibly accused of any wrong doing, people who continue to associate with him, even after he was convicted in Florida for a sex crime.
Those documents are likely now to see the light of day. The question is, how soon will that happen? Because there is -- there is an ongoing investigation, that material is now part of that investigation, and we anticipate that there might be some delay in when we see some of that material.
Now, for the Justice Department and certainly for the attorney general, there is a bit of whiplash, because just a few days ago, the president ordered that investigation, and then just a couple of days later, he ordered Republicans, or told Republicans that they should vote for the release of that very material that the Justice Department now is trying to figure out what to do with it.
And so, now, we wait to see when we can see that information. The attorney general says that that she's going to comply with the law. How soon that happens is everyone's guess. Back to you.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KINKADE: Our thanks to Evan Perez.
Well, a volcanic eruption in Indonesia sent thick clouds of hot ash soaring into the air and racing along valley floors. Officials say more than 300 people were evacuated from villages near Mount Semeru in Java, the world's most populous island.
Local media reported that authorities are struggling to reach around 178 people stranded at a monitoring post on the mountain. The spokesman said the people are currently safe as the post is not in the path of the hot ash clouds.
Hamas is warning of a dangerous escalation in Gaza after Israeli strikes to cross the enclave killed dozens of Palestinians. It's the latest episode of violence since the two sides agreed to a U.S. backed cease fire deal last month. CNN's Nic Robertson reports.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
NIC ROBERTSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMATIC EDITOR: We're getting some new details as well from Palestinian health officials, they say as of now, 28 people have been killed. Nine of them were children. They say eight of them women. The most deadly attack came in Zeitoun, which is just sort of south of Gaza City, so sort of in the northern area of Gaza, they say that 13 people were killed, four of them women, four of them children, 13 other people killed in the South. Not clear where all the other fatalities were.
77 people injured in totality so far. But the strikes did begin we're told, the IDF say that they were fired upon by several terrorists, and this is what drew this particular response. The IDF said they had no casualties from this -- from this incident of being fired upon. Of course, not the first time that the cease fire has broken down the IDF counter strikes, if you will, lasted almost 24 hours.
They did -- they did cease. The cease fire, perhaps in a way, you could say it did -- it has gotten stronger since then, because it's lasted longer. It's got better oversight in the civil military combined center that Israel has established, with the United States and other allies, to kind of oversee what's happening in Gaza.
And also, you've had the U.N. Security Council resolution over the past couple of days, which has given a legal basis for President Trump's 20-point peace plan to move forward from that cease fire.
[02:15:07]
But none of the pieces of that are in place, yet, the Border of Peace, to oversee the international stabilizing force, the Palestinian police, the disarming of Hamas, none of that has happened.
So, in that context, it remains fragile. And the other context that it remains fragile, and Israel and Hamas, even after U.N. Security Council Resolution, have a complete difference of opinion. Hamas has said very clearly they don't want that international security force. They're not going to disarm to them. And Israel has said clearly that international stabilization force must disarm Hamas. So, we are in a context here that you can get an escalation. But at
the moment, it doesn't appear as if the cease fire is completely broken down.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KINKADE: Our thanks to Nick Robertson there.
Well, President Trump is buckling criticism from his MAGA base and endorsing visas for skilled foreign workers is necessary for the American economy. His remarks about the issue that's dividing conservatives, next.
Plus, federal immigration raids ramp up around the country leaving many countries living in fear. Report from North Carolina next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[02:20:40]
KINKADE: China is continuing its condemnation of Japan, claiming that there would be, "No market for Japanese seafood in the country." It's the latest pressure point that Beijing is using against Tokyo after recent comments by the Japanese Prime Minister about Taiwan. CNN's Simone McCarthy breaks down a feud.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SIMONE MCCARTHY, CNN SENIOR NEWS DESK REPORTER: What has gone wrong in relations between China and Japan? Just last month, Japan's new Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, and Chinese leader Xi Jinping agreed to keep their ties stable despite long standing frictions between the two countries.
Some three weeks later, relations between the two Asian neighbors are nose diving. So, what happened?
It all started when Takaichi suggested that Japan could respond militarily if China moved to take control of Taiwan by force.
SANAE TAKAICHI, JAPANESE PRIME MINISTER (through translator): If China were to deploy battleships and involve the use of force, I believe this could be deemed a situation threatening Japan's survival.
MCCARTHY: That infuriated China, which claims Taiwan as its own territory, and led to a Chinese diplomat's apparent threat of beheading the prime minister in a since deleted X post.
Now, Takaichi has said she was speaking hypothetically and that she would refrain from making such comments in Parliament again, but the backlash from Beijing has just continued to pick up in speed and intensity.
MAO NING, CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESPERSON: China has already lodged and will continue to lodge solemn representations and protest strongly with the Japanese side. MCCARTHY: Just over the past week, China has ramped up economic pressure, warning its citizens against traveling or studying in Japan, and pulling Japanese movies from cinemas. It's even signaled its premiere won't meet Takaishi on the sidelines of an upcoming international summit.
But this flare up has deeper roots too. China was invaded and occupied by Imperial Japan decades ago, and it views Takaichi's efforts to boost defense spending and strengthen security ties with Washington with deep suspicion.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KINKADE: Well, prosecutors have run into another problem in their case against former FBI Director James Comey. Interim U.S. Attorney Lindsay Halligan now admits the grand jury never reviewed the final set of charges, only the four persons signed off on the indictments after Halligan removed one of the three counts. Prosecutors say that should not matter, because the grand jury voted to indict Comey on two remaining charges.
Comey denies lying to Congress during a 2020 hearing, he says it is a vindictive prosecution because he's been an outspoken critic of President Trump.
Saudi Arabia is announcing a flurry of joint ventures with the U.S. tech companies worth billions of dollars. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman joined President Trump at the U.S.-Saudi investment forum in Washington, Wednesday. The Kingdom is hoping to stake its claim in artificial intelligence through partnerships with Cisco, AMD and Qualcomm.
Elon Musk announced that his company xAI will develop a huge data center in Saudi Arabia and hopes to deploy its chatbot Grok, throughout the country.
President Trump says visas for skilled foreign workers are necessary, bucking criticism and backlash from some conservatives as well as his MAGA base. He explained his position at a U.S.-Saudi that U.S.-Saudi investment forum on Wednesday.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I'm going to welcome those people. Now, my -- I love my conservative friends, I love MAGA, but this is MAGA, and those people are going to teach our people how to make computer chips. And in a short period of time, our people are going to be doing great, and those people can go home.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KINKADE: The president said certain industries like computer chip manufacturing require foreign workers to open factories. He claimed it would be impossible for major new investments to move forward in the U.S. without foreign workers, and he suggested those who oppose the H- 1B visas don't understand the complex business dynamics at play. A plane carrying Venezuelan migrants deported from the U.S. arrived at
the International Airport in Caracas on Wednesday. The deportation flights from the U.S. to Venezuela have continued despite tensions over military strikes in the Caribbean. The fly from Phoenix, Arizona was one of nearly 50 deportation flights over the last eight months.
[02:25:04]
The Trump administration's crackdown on immigration is ramping up in North Carolina, the Department of Homeland Security says more than 250 people have been arrested in Charlotte since the weekend. The immigration raids have sparked days of protests throughout North Carolina. Democratic leaders have denounced the raids and criticized federal agents tactics, saying they're not promoting safety. As CNN's Gustavo Valdes reports, the raids have left many communities living in fear.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
GUSTAVO VALDES, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The end of day at some Charlotte area schools is a bit different this week, fewer vehicles are in line because many parents and guardians are afraid to send their children to school.
EMILIA MORENO, GRANDSON MISSED SCHOOL (through translator): Yesterday morning, I was walking to drop off my grandson in school when I saw immigration arriving.
VALDES (voice-over): Part of Operation Charlotte's Web that has resulted in over 250 arrests this week.
VALDES: What have you been doing this week?
MORENO (through translator): Taking risks, running to cross the street, looking around and fearing every car has agents.
VALDES (voice-over): Others like Mario (ph) are afraid to leave their house. He agrees to talk to us through the window and doesn't want to show his face.
He says he hasn't left home since Friday. He lives near his daughter's school so they can walk to class. He says the girls get scared when they see so many classmates missing. So, they try to reassure them that everything is going to be OK soon. The fear runs so deep that even our presence is questioned by neighbors like Marilyn Gomez.
MARILYN GOMEZ, VOLUNTEER: We're keeping an eye out on activity, on any vehicles that may look like they may be harmful for our community.
VALDES (voice-over): And helping families who need a ride to get their kids to school or assistance buying groceries. Many in the city have taken to the streets with daily protests. That is where we found Jamie Roldan, who is a teacher.
JAMIE ROLDAN, SCHOOL TEACHER: Students showed up with fear, asking questions about what is going to happen if I go home and my parents aren't there.
VALDES (voice-over): She says the only thing she can do is reassure them that people are fighting on their behalf.
ROLDAN: I tell them that I'm going to fight. If someone comes to my door, I'm fighting. You're not coming in my classroom and taking any of my kids.
VALDES (voice-over): For now, all they can do is be patient and hope that Operation Charlotte's Web ends soon.
Mario says he is willing to wait a month behind closed doors, but even if his daughters can continue their education, he is afraid for his job and a way to support his family. Gustavo Valdes, CNN, Charlotte.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KINKADE: CNN spoke with Epstein survivors who have been demanding the release of the Epstein files. Ahead, we'll hear how they felt when they heard Congress passed the bill.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[02:33:00]
KINKADE: Welcome back. I'm Lynda Kinkade. More now on one of our top stories. President Trump has signed legislation ordering the release of all 50,000 files related to the investigation of Jeffrey Epstein. It comes after years of calls for government transparency from survivors of abuse at the hands of the late sex offender. Many of them were on Capitol Hill on Tuesday to witness lawmakers approve that legislation. CNN's MJ Lee has more on what that experience was like.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MJ LEE, CNN SENIOR NATIONAL ENTERPRISE CORRESPONDENT: How are you feeling?
DANI BENSKY, EPSTEIN SURVIVOR: A little frazzly. But it is good. You know, it's a lot of emotions.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Wait, wait, wait. Before we go anywhere, let's just, like, organize this.
MJ LEE, CNN SENIOR NATIONAL ENTERPRISE CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): We are walking over to the House right now with a number of Jeffrey Epstein survivors. They are going to gather together and hold a press conference ahead of this important vote later today. This is a big crowd.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: 10 min, no adding loopholes.
ANNIE FARMER, EPSTEIN SURVIVOR: 30 years later, even as oceans of allegations and obvious truths have emerged, the government has still not chosen transparency.
SKY ROBERTS, BROTHER OF EPSTEIN SURVIVOR VIRGINIA ROBERTS GIUFFRE: Well, sissy, you made a monumental impact, a resounding statement that echoed across the world.
LEE: And this huge group, I mean, you know most of them?
BENSKY: Yeah.
LEE: At this point?
BENSKY: Yeah. Charlene and Laura are new to the community. They have just recently come forward and --
LEE: Yeah.
BENSKY: Our numbers are growing all the time.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You're going to introduce yourselves like quick and then we're --
LEE (voice-over): So the Epstein's survivors are meeting with various lawmakers throughout the day. And we are currently outside of Congresswoman Nancy Mace's office.
(APPLAUSE)
REP. NANCY MACE, (R-SC): Very emotional day. My heart just is so with you guys, you're giving me hope that maybe one day I might get justice.
[02:35:00]
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Can we give you a hug?
(LAUGH)
MACE: Thank you. I thank you. I deserve courage.
BENSKY: If I follow up, are you good?
FARMER: So, the House vote is about to begin.
BENSKY: OK.
FARMER: It's a whirlwind but --
BENSKY: It's a whirlwind with emotional highs and lows.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Speaker Johnson, did you get a chance to meet with any of the survivors?
REP. MIKE JOHNSON, (R-LA) HOUSE SPEAKER: Not today, but I have before, of course. Yes.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And what is your message to them today?
JOHNSON: Well, we're terribly sorry for everything they've had to endure. Justice has long been delayed for them.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The bill is passed and without objection, the motion to reconsider is laid on the table.
(CROWD CHEERING)
LEE: Tell me about just being upstairs and watching all of that.
BENSKY: It's so surreal. I think I really felt like I was like watching a hallucination.
(LAUGH)
BENSKY: It's amazing. It was amazing.
FARMER: Yeah. I think, it was -- it really, I kept trying to tell myself to be in the moment, take this in. So many people have worked so long to make this possible, to try and -- try and breathe it in.
Virginia's brother and sister-in-law gave us these butterflies. It's very, very sad that she's not here with us. But we are certainly carrying -- carrying her spirit with us and we believe she has guided this process.
LEE: Spending the day with you guys, it was kind of amazing, just seeing how well you seem to almost know each other at this point. I wondered whether you can imagine going through this experience now alone.
BENSKY: No.
FARMER: I think every time a large group gathers, it completely changes the dynamic and the experience. Like, it really does move us from feeling like fearful to feeling like we are feared. We have power together.
BENSKY: Yes.
LEE: I keep coming back to the pictures that some of you all were holding up, of your younger selves when you were going through the abuse and the trauma. Is there anything that you think, if you could say something to that younger self?
BENSKY: Yeah.
LEE: Do you know what you would say?
BENSKY: Yeah, I think just, for me, it's -- I want to hug that tiny human and say, well, one, that it's all going to be OK. I don't have that answer yet. I hope it is, for girls of the future.
LEE (voice-over): MJ Lee, CNN, Washington, D.C.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KINKADE: Well, much more still to come on CNN. Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[02:42:25]
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ROYA MAHBOOB, PORTRAYED BY NIKOHL BOOSHERI, RULE BREAKERS: Computers come today for the boys.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Girls, outside.
MAHBOOB: The first time I touched a computer, it's like a light in the darkness. And my tiny --
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KINKADE: That is a clip from the movie "Rule Breakers." A true story based on Afghanistan's first all-girls robotics team. It follows Roya Mahboob, who encouraged the girls to dream and pursue their passion in defiance of those in power. The real-life inspiration for Rule Breakers, Roya Mahboob, joins me now along with Nikohl Boosheri, the actress who played her in the film. Great to have you both with us.
ROYA MAHBOOB, EXECUTIVE PRODUCER, RULE BREAKERS: Thank you for having us.
NIKOHL BOOSHERI, ACTRESS: Thank you so much.
KINKADE: So Roya, I'll start with you. For people who haven't seen the film yet, how would you describe "Rule Breakers" and how closely does it reflect what you and the Afghan girls went through in building the robotics team?
MAHBOOB: I think that watching the movie, obviously for us, was incredibly moving because it's bringing back the memories that we had either building the robots or spending the time together. And I think that the film captured the moment of our fear, our excitement, and our stress. But more than everything, I think that we all felt honored by the filmmaker because they choose to tell our stories and they approach it with sensitivity and respect. So they capture the heart of our mission, the resilience, the brilliance and determination of the young girls that they refused to give up about their dreams. Watching their journey portrayed in such care, I think that made it all of us emotional and grateful, even more committed to continue our work.
KINKADE: And Nikohl, to you, what was the biggest challenge in stepping into Roya's shoes to betray her as a character on screen? And what do you think you got right about her story and did she give you any feedback along the way?
BOOSHERI: Well, the challenge would be, there's very -- some very big shoes to fill. Roya is, in my opinion, an incredible role model. And I saw her very much in that way. And it was such an honor to bring her story to life. I really didn't set out to do an impersonation, but for me, it was most important to capture the heart. You know, what lit her up, what was at the center of her incredible tenacity and courage and drive, and that's what was so inspiring to me.
[02:45:00]
And that's what I hoped to understand and to portray. And yeah, we had an amazing few days on set in Budapest, kind of like near the end of the shooting where Roya was on set. And I was very nervous about those days, but so happy that Roya was happy with the work we were doing and she's such a warm and kind and generous person. And it was -- it's just been such a -- I'm so grateful to have been able to get to know her through this process.
KINKADE: Beautiful words. Roya, you of course founded Afghanistan's first all-female robotics team in a country where girls are often told they shouldn't study, they can't study, let alone build machines. It's a deeply personal story, now on the big screen. What for you was the greatest challenge in taking your story and turning it into a film?
MAHBOOB: I think that for me, everything was changed when I was sitting in front of the computer in Heart, changed my lives. It's opened a window to the world. I realized that education, especially technology is not just the tools, but it's a form of independency. And obviously, we faced with lots of the challenges, but if you wanted to bring the changes in a society, it is not going to happen with one example. And we know it, if we keep continue to create more role models of the young girls in technology and science, we can change the perception of the people specifically in a conservative society.
And I think that, after many of the victories, I mean many of the competition that we won, we have seen that the changes has happened. The girls becoming as a symbol of hope and determination in Afghanistan. And that was a moment that we felt that we win because for centuries, in the conservative society like Afghanistan was ignoring the women's ability in science and technology.
KINKADE: And of course, Nikohl, the film captures danger, hope, moments of pure defiance. Was there a scene that hit you emotionally or a moment that you've carried with you even after the filming stopped?
BOOSHERI: I mean, the stakes are so high in the entire film. It felt very intense and it felt like a very important story to tell. I will say our -- the first scene that we filmed was with Noorin who plays my Roya's brother, Ali. And we filmed, I don't want to give anything away, but the opening sequence in the film. I think it -- and it was very intense, very -- felt very real to understand the danger that they were under and how much courage it took to continue to stay on the mission even after what can -- many would've seen as a setback, or a clear sign to stop what they were doing. But they were so -- I think they really understood what they had to lose and what was on the line. And I'm sure thousands, millions of young women are grateful to them for continuing on.
KINKADE: Well, plenty of people have already seen this film and have loved it. It's now in, even more theaters right now, so hopefully people get a chance to watch it as well. Roya Mahboob, Nikohl Boosheri, thanks so much for your time. Much appreciated.
MAHBOOB: Thank you for having us.
BOOSHERI: Thank you so much, Lynda.
KINKADE: Well, still to come, a new study shedding light on an ancient trait. When and where researchers believe the first human kiss happened. We'll have that story next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[02:51:44]
KINKADE: A new study is unlocking some of the mysteries behind locking lips. Researchers estimate that kissing dates back about 21 million years in animal species, with the earliest recorded human kisses happening around 4,500 years ago in West Asia and ancient Egypt. Biologists say they're not sure why or how kissing came about, but they believe it's an evolved trait occurring across primate species. Not all humans do it. A 2015 paper says kissing is documented in about half of all cultures in the vast majority of human kisses and not mouth to mouth.
We'll take a look at this. The latest images of a visitor from another solar system. This is the interstellar comet, only the third one ever to be observed. NASA pivoted a variety of space probes and missions to capture the rare site, but the images were only released now because of the government shutdown. The comet is racing through our solar system. It will be the closest to earth on December 19th. After that, it will begin to leave the solar system, and once it does, it will likely never return.
Jeff Goldblum met his real-life double on Wednesday when his wax figure was unveiled at the New York's Madame Tussauds. The actor said he posed for the statue for a full day and marveled at how lifelike the finished product looked and felt.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JEFF GOLDBLUM, ACTOR: This is actually fantastic, I mean that's -- I mean, those people are really good. And this as photorealistic sculpture, or what do you, however you call it, sculpture realistic as you can get. I mean, that's -- they really did do that whole day. They were like, Oh, let's see every, you know, they really went into the whole thing.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KINKADE: The figure was an outfit selected by the actor who says he considers this to be one of his signature looks. The wax statue will be on display permanently at the Madame Tussauds in Orlando, Florida.
The world's biggest climate conference will be wrapping up in Brazil on Friday. COP 30 comes three decades after the U.N.'s first conference aimed at reducing humanity's negative impacts on the planet. And now, theater audiences in New York can get a front -row look at how all the drama from one of the earliest COP Summits may have played out. Our Bill Weir explains.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BILL WEIR, CNN CHIEF CLIMATE CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): From afar, they seem so wonky, so dry, so unproductive.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Sea level rise will threaten survival.
WEIR (voice-over): But in the rooms where it happens, every COP holds enough drama for a thousand Shakespeare.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The developing world will no longer be brushed aside.
WEIR (voice-over): And while few will see the inner workings of COP 30 underway in Brazil, you can now buy a ticket to COP 3 in Kyoto when small island nations stood up to super polluters and petro states until nearly 200 nations unanimously agreed to fight climate change. And audiences first in London, now in New York's Lincoln Center, have a seat at the table.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Rest of this process into an agreement.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: For the sake of your children and mine.
[02:55:00]
WEIR (voice-over): Next to Germany or Tanzania for an intimate look at the haggling over humanity's fate.
JOE ROBERTSON, CO-WRITER, KYOTO: The inspiration of writing "Kyoto" was actually talking to the amazing men and women diplomats, delegates, scientists, lawyers, legal minds who toil every day and have done for decades at the heart of these big multilateral negotiations.
DON PEARLMAN, PORTRAYED BY STEPHEN KUNKEN, KYOTO: Now, I know what people like you think of lawyers like me, but I'm the only one who can tell this story.
WEIR (voice-over): In a play about agreement, our guide is a notorious merchant of disagreement named Don Pearlman.
PEARLMAN: Let me tell you an uncomfortable truth, people. This is oil.
CROWD: Yeah.
PEARLMAN: This is oil.
CROWD: Yeah.
PEARLMAN: This is oil. CROWD: Yes.
WEIR (voice-over): And while fossil fuel lobbyists now descend like locust on every COP, he was their founding father.
PEARLMAN: It is the American sacrament.
CROWD: Yeah.
WEIR: Who was Don Pearlman?
STEPHEN KUNKEN, ACTOR, KYOTO: Oh, just a great guy.
(LAUGH)
KUNKEN: Don Pearlman worked in the Department of Energy for the Reagan administration.
ROBERTSON: He was an oil lobbyist, a real Washington oil lobbyist who tried at every point during the negotiations in the 1990s to stall and obfuscate and delay the process. And he did so for reasons that he truly believed in.
PEARLMAN: The Climate Council exists to do one thing, prevent targets and timetables for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.
KUNKEN: A big part of his way of working was to sort of work in the shadows.
WEIR: Yeah.
KUNKEN: And a lot goes on in the shadows. And until you shine a light into the shadows, that's where the mold can grow.
WEIR: That was COP 3. We're about to go into COP 30, and I don't think it could be worse in terms of what has happened since then. How do you wrap your head around what has happened since the climate negotiations and what we're living through now?
ROBERTSON: I think there's a lot of -- I think a lot of people look at the COPs every year and there's a lot of sense of sort of despair as a -- an apocalypse. But before Kyoto, the world was on track to warm by four or five degrees, which would've been truly sort of world ending. Because of those negotiators working day and night and into the early hours, the Kyoto Protocol and the agreements that have happened since, Paris and beyond, mean that actually we're not looking at that at all.
So while we're not in a good place, we're also in a much better place than we would've been. And I suppose we wanted to celebrate that and to tell, if it's possible, a little more of a hopeful story about this subject.
WEIR (voice-over): Bill Weir, CNN at New York's Lincoln Center.
(END VIDEOTAPE) KINKADE: Thanks so much for joining us. I'm Lynda Kinkade. There is another hour of Newsroom just ahead. You're watching CNN. Do stay with us.
[02:57:41]
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[03:00:00]
