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Washington Renewed Push for Peace; Trump Accuses Democrats of Sedition Punishable by Death; Concern Grows for Fragile Ceasefire in Gaza After IDF Strikes; U.S. Economy Added 119,000 Jobs In September; Judge Rules Trump's Deployment Of National Guard In D.C. illegal; Trump To Meet With Mamdani At White House Today; Mozambique Hit By ISIS Resurgence Amid USAID Cuts. Aired 2-3a ET

Aired November 21, 2025 - 02:00   ET

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

[02:00:00]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KIM BRUNHUBER, CNN HOST: Welcome to all of you watching us around the world. I'm Kim Brunhuber. This is "CNN Newsroom."

Washington is mediating a new push for peace between Russia and Ukraine. We'll have details on the plan and what the U.S. is asking Kyiv to give up to end the war. President Donald Trump suggests several Democratic lawmakers be punished by death for encouraging the military not to follow unlawful orders. And an African nation ravaged by the resurgence of ISIS. We'll look at where the terrorist groups are laying down new roots and the atrocities they're committing.

UNKNOWN (voice-over): Live from Atlanta, this is "CNN Newsroom with Kim Brunhuber"

BRUNHUBER: We can now tell you the details of a draft U.S. peace proposal for Ukraine, which the White House has so far kept under wraps. CNN has obtained the 28-point draft, which calls for major territorial concessions by Kyiv. They include the recognition of the Crimea, Donetsk and Luhansk regions as de facto Russian, the current front lines in the Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions would be frozen.

Ukraine would also have to stay out of NATO and limit its military to 600,000 troops. It would be required to hold new elections within 100 days. In return, it would receive security guarantees. Ukraine has rejected similar proposals in the past, and its deputy ambassador at the UN described the plan as a non-starter.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

KHRYSTYNA HAYOVYSHYN, DEPUTY UKRANIAN AMBASSADOR TO U.N.: Our red lines are clear and unwavering. There will never be any recognition, formal or otherwise, of Ukrainian territory temporarily occupied by the Russian Federation as Russian. Our land is not for sale. Ukraine will not accept any limits on its right to self-defense or on the size and capabilities of our armed forces, nor will we tolerate any infringement on our sovereignty, including our sovereign right to choose the alliances we want to join.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BRUNHUBER: But that statement doesn't line up with what President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is saying. His office confirmed he received the draft on Thursday when he also met with a Pentagon delegation in Kyiv. Kevin Liptak has the details.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KEVIN LIPTAK, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE REPORTER: Ukraine's president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, says he will work with the Trump administration on a new 28-point peace plan that President Trump is proposing to try and bring the war in Ukraine to an end. Zelenskyy met on Thursday with a senior delegation of Pentagon officials led by the Army Secretary Dan Driscoll in part to try and restart these peace negotiations that had stalled out over the last several months.

Now, the plan, as it has been described to CNN by western officials, does appear heavily weighted to some of Russia's demands, including that Ukraine cede the entire Donbas region, that it limits the size of its military, and that it gives up certain long-range capabilities that it has been provided over the course of this conflict.

But what American officials say is that this is still a work in progress, that the plan is in flux, and that it will incorporate contributions from both the Russian and Ukrainian side. And what one U.S. official said is that, yes, Russia will also have to make concessions, as will Ukraine, in order for this conflict to come to an end.

Now, President Trump has made clear that he has been frustrated at the progress in bringing about peace. He has voiced his displeasure at the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, saying that he thought he would be able to leverage their personal relationship to try and bring this conflict to an end, and that he's disappointed that that has not been successful.

But the pressure now seems clearly on President Zelenskyy as President Trump works to convince him to accept certain provisions of this document that he has so far been totally reluctant to sign on to, including some of these territorial concessions.

Now, President Trump seems emboldened by his success in bringing about an end to the war in Gaza, and he's applying a similar strategy here, a multi-point plan that he will now try and pressure both sides to agree to. The president also seems to view a window opening as a corruption investigation in Ukraine creeps closer and closer to Zelenskyy's inner circle.

[02:05:01]

The president clearly viewing this as a moment to try and restart this diplomacy that in the past had failed. Now, what we have heard from the secretary of state, Marco Rubio, is that this plan is -- quote -- "a list of potential ideas." And what we heard from the press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, at the White House on Thursday was that this was still a working document, but that the President had reviewed it and signed off.

Kevin Liptak, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BRUNHUBER: I want to bring in now Oleksandr Merezhko, who's the chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee in the Ukrainian Parliament. He joins me now from Kyiv. Thank you so much for being here with us again.

So, this plan, as we reported there, asks Ukraine to give up parts of Donetsk that your forces still control and recognize Crimea's Russian territory, which the U.S., as I understand, has never done before. I mean, what's your reaction to this part of the plan especially?

OLEKSANDR MEREZHKO, CHAIRMAN OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS COMMITTEE, PARLIAMENT OF UKRAINE: Well, thank you for having me. I have read this text, the 28 points, and, you know, the first reaction was -- the first instinct was it -- it's -- it's not serious. It's kind of fake because it's a contradictory plan. It's full of controversies. It's absolutely illiterate from legal technical point of view.

It's written as if there is no international law, no U.N. charter, let alone the Constitution of Ukraine. And, of course, it contains absolutely unacceptable points which are across red lines of Ukraine. We are talking about our territorial integrity. We are talking about our sovereignty.

So, this is a typical case of the appeasement of the aggressor. Instead of this plan, which consists of 28 points, we need just three points based firmly on the U.N charter and principles of international law.

The first point is to stop Russian aggression using all possible means. Second point, to provide with the necessary aid the victim of the aggression. And final point, to punish the aggressor. This should be the peace plan proposed by the United States and by anyone who is really interested in stopping Russian aggression and saving lives.

BRUNHUBER: Yes, U.S. unlikely to exceed to that given that they are repeatedly saying that both sides have to give up something here. We heard in that report the plan is still in flux. But, as you've said there, I mean, the plan seems so heavily weighted towards Moscow. I'm just wondering what the mood there is like in Kyiv after seeing this, after all the talks, your president making multiple trips to the White House, that this is the plan you're getting as a plan from the Trump administration.

MEREZHKO: I would say that those people who are familiar with this plan, they can't help being in shock because it looks ludicrous. It looks absolutely unacceptable for us. And, of course, we cannot agree to our -- to surrender. This is about surrender of Ukraine. This is about conditions which will allow Putin to subjugate us, to destroy us completely, to erase us from the map of the earth. So, it's absolutely unacceptable for us. And I still hope that -- there is a kind of little hope in my mind, continues to be, that maybe it's a part of sophisticated political game played by Mr. Trump. I don't know. Otherwise, you know, if the United States will continue to insists on this plan, it will bring disgrace to the country. It will be violation not only of international law, it will be violation of American values and national interest of the United States. I still hope that somehow, President Trump will retract and will t refuse to claim that this is American plan.

BRUNHUBER: Flipping it around, I mean, is there anything in this that you like, any basis from which you think you can -- you can build?

MEREZHKO: Of course, of course. This is a very interesting issue because the plan starts with an extremely important point, which should be left. The problem is that all other points contradict this initial point, initial principle. It starts with the confirmation of the Ukraine sovereignty. This is the only point which I would leave in this plan, Ukrainian sovereignty. And we can proceed to develop, to elaborate on this principle of Ukraine sovereignty and confirmation of the Ukrainian sovereignty.

BRUNHUBER: Lastly, one of the more contentious issues there, the plan would cap Ukraine's military at 600,000 troops and ban you from joining NATO. So, I mean, if Ukraine were to accept those terms, and they haven't seemed likely to do that, how -- how would you defend yourselves if Russia violated the agreement and invaded again?

[02:10:02]

I guess that's the -- the question.

MEREZHKO: Exactly. This is an attempt to disarm the victim of the aggression. You know, when some American politicians are saying that both sides should give up something, they should be compromised. We're talking about serious international crime, the crime of aggression. We have the perpetrator and we have the victim. And the victim should not be punished. You shouldn't put pressure on the victim to give up, I don't know, hand, leg, and something else. It's impossible. It's not fair. It goes against international law.

And this plan, by demanding to have a cap on our military, it's a clear attempt to disarm Ukraine and allow Putin to completely destroy us whenever he feels like it.

BRUNHUBER: We'll have to leave it there. I really appreciate getting your insights on this, Oleksandr Merezhko. Thank you so much.

MEREZHKO: Thank you.

BRUNHUBER: The U.S. is wrapping up pressure on Nigeria over the treatment of Christians in the country. A senior State Department official says the country is considering economic sanctions against Nigeria. He also raised the possibility of the Pentagon getting involved. Here he is.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JONATHAN PRATT, SENIOR OFFICIAL OF BUREAU OF AFRICAN AFFAIRS, U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT: It is in the United States' interest to work with the Nigerian government on a plan of action to strengthen security for at-risk Christian communities and Nigerians of all faiths whose ability to practice their faith is put in jeopardy by endemic violence and terrorism.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BRUNHUBER: President Trump previously threatened military action in Nigeria over the treatment of Christians. Nigerian officials say the situation is complex, and they have made efforts to safeguard religious freedom.

President Trump is facing major backlash after accusing some Democrats of seditious behavior punishable by death. Now, those are his own words from his Truth Social post. He's attacking a group of Democratic lawmakers for releasing a video urging military members and intelligence officials to disobey illegal orders. He says those lawmakers should be arrested and put on trial. CNN's Kristen Holmes has more details from the White House.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KRISTEN HOLMES, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: The White House is doubling down after President Trump essentially said that six Democratic lawmakers should be arrested or tried for a video they put out targeting U.S. Military.

Now, in this video, they essentially ask or tell U.S. Military and the Intel Community that they don't have to follow orders if they are illegal. This is specific to this video, they say over and over again, if these orders are illegal or, at one point, they say, if they break the law. They are making it very clear it's about specific orders, although we aren't sure what exactly prompted this video. It's done by these six Democratic lawmakers, all of whom have some sort of military or intelligence background.

The press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, gave a briefing today where she answered questions about this and, again, essentially doubled down on what President Trump said. Here's what she said.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNKNOWN: Just to be clear, does the president want to execute members of Congress?

KAROLINE LEAVITT, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: No. Let's be clear about what the President is responding to. You have sitting members of the United States Congress who conspired together to orchestrate a video message to members of the United States Military, to active-duty service members, to members of the national security apparatus, encouraging them to defy the president's lawful orders.

(END VIDEO CLIP) HOLMES: Now, I will also note that one of the posts that President Trump made out of roughly 16 posts on social media was this: Seditious behavior punishable by death. And when Leavitt was asked, does President Trump believe that these Democratic lawmakers should be executed, she said, no. But any other questions about this topic were deflected to essentially place blame on the Democrats, saying that Democrats were telling the U.S. Military to defy the commander-in- chief, to work around the chain of command.

So, it certainly seems as though this is now a White House position, but I will say, we heard from a number of Republicans, high-ranking Republicans, who said President Trump went too far, who tried to distance themselves from those remarks. But, again, that being said, the White House doesn't seem to be wanting to pull this back any time soon.

Kristen Holmes, CNN, the White House.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BRUNHUBER: Six weeks into the Gaza ceasefire, Palestinians find themselves burying more loved ones. That's because Israel attacked what it says were Hamas targets in Gaza. Now, some worry if the fragile truce can hold. That's ahead. And attendees at COP30 flee from a fire. We'll show you pictures of the blaze at the climate summit in Brazil. Stay with us.

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[02:15:00]

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BRUNHUBER: A delegation of former hostages freed from Gaza met with U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House on Thursday. They also met with senior U.S. officials, including special envoy Steve Witkoff, who helped negotiate the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. The group is calling for renewed efforts to bring home the bodies of the three hostages still remaining in Gaza.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEGEV KALFON, FORMER GAZA HOSTAGE (through translator): The fight isn't over. We're here in Washington, D.C. to close our own chapter. But there are families still living through the pain our families endured. This won't be over until everyone comes home. There's a rally this Saturday night. I'm asking everyone to show up. Everyone needs to come home now.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BRUNHUBER: Concerns growing over the stability of the Gaza ceasefire. Qatar, one of the countries that helped mediate the truce, says Israel's brutal attacks on Gaza are threatening to destroy the fragile peace.

[02:20:02]

This as Palestinians are mourning the loss of at least 32 people killed in the latest IDF strikes in Gaza. Israel says it struck out at Hamas after the group targeted IDF soldiers. Hamas denies that claim. Our Nic Robertson has more.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMATIC EDITOR: Getting more detail from the Israeli government, from the government spokesperson, saying that there were two events here involving people they described as terrorists, saying the terrorists crossed over the yellow line, that's the yellow line in Gaza, that's not a line drawn in the ground, it's yellow cinder blocks every few hundred yards or so, that terrorists came across that line and put the troops there, IDF troops in imminent danger, and they neutralized those terrorists.

There was another incident, according to government spokesperson, where (INAUDIBLE) several terrorists came into an area where the IDF was operating, that's how it was described, and that put those IDF troops in danger. That was when the IDF took the decision to go ahead with these strikes.

And interestingly, what we've heard from the Israeli government spokesperson, and this kind of speaks to perceptions that there may now be some kind of ceasefire oversight body in place, the government spokesperson said the IDF took the decisions on what to strike and just go ahead and strike without calling any other country. And, as we've heard from Palestinian health officials, 32 people killed, 88 injured. Of the people killed, 12 of them were children and eight of them were women.

So, this situation whereby there's a line that can be very easily crossed, Hamas still has weapons, still active inside of Gaza. The IDF is just across the other side of that line. These disagreements and misunderstandings that Hamas are calling a dangerous escalation, you know, there's nothing to stop them happening again tomorrow or the next day or maybe just next week. The implementation of that ceasefire agreement is far from begun in reality.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BRUNHUBER: A new wave of arson attacks is hitting the occupied West Bank. Israeli settlers set fire to a vehicle scrapyard in the northern town of Huwara. The scrapyard's owner says more than a dozen settlers descended on the site, smashing cars and starting fires that damaged or destroyed some 150 cars.

The attacks came as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was holding a security meeting focused on settler violence. It surged over the past few months. On Monday, in a rare condemnation of settler violence, Netanyahu blamed the attacks on a small extremist group.

A fire at the COP30 climate summit in Brazil forced attendees to evacuate part of the venue. The blaze broke out in the blue zone section of the conference site. That's the part of the venue dedicated to summit negotiations between countries. Some presentations were cut short and attendees fled the scene. Thirteen were treated for smoke inhalation. The fire was quickly contained after just a few minutes. Now, the cause of the fire isn't yet known, but authorities are investigating.

President Trump is preparing for a special guest at the White House. We'll see what's on his agenda for his meeting with New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani. That's coming up. Stay with us.

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[02:25:00]

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BRUNHUBER: Welcome back to all you watching us around the world. I'm Kim Brunhuber. This is "CNN Newsroom." September jobs report in the U.S. is finally out seven weeks late, thanks to the government shutdown that paints a muddy picture. Better than expected job growth but higher unemployment. CNN's Matt Egan explains.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MATT EGAN, CNN SENIOR REPORTER: Yes, this report was about as mixed as it can get. Instead of the clarity we were hoping for, we just got a lot more confusing and conflicting signals.

Now, the good news is that the U.S. economy added 119,000 jobs during the month of September. That blew away the forecast for 50,000. And that suggests that the U.S. economy job growth is not imploding or at least it was not as of the end of September.

The bad news, though, is that prior months were revised lower again. Both July and August revised lower. August went from a tiny gain to a tiny loss, which means that after nearly four years of uninterrupted monthly job growth, the U.S. economy has now shed jobs in two of the last four months.

The other bad news is the unemployment rate continues to rise unexpectedly, going up to 4.4%. That's the highest level in nearly four years. And when you look at the trend, you can see it is clearly rising. It's moving in the wrong direction.

Now, we look at the sectors. Health care continues to be a major source of strength, gaining almost 60,000 jobs in September alone. Construction, after losing jobs for a number of months in a row, gained 19,000.

[02:30:03]

That's encouraging. In fact, that's the most that construction has gained in any month in a year. But manufacturing continues to lose jobs, lost another 6,000 in September. That means that manufacturing has lost jobs every single month since April, the month that the president rolled out his liberation day tariffs -- tariffs that, by the way, were designed to prop up employment in manufacturing, transportation and warehousing.

Another sector exposed to tariffs lost 25,000 jobs during the month of September. At the end of the day, this report was so mixed, it's probably not going to move the needle all that much in either direction. The job market looked like it was on shaky footing before this report. After the report, it looks like it's on shaky footing.

What's telling is that Moody's economist, Mark Zandi, I asked him how concerned, one to 10 he is about the job market. He said before the report he was a seven maybe an eight after the report, he said seven, maybe an eight. So, kind of right back where we started.

Back to you.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KIM BRUNHUBER, CNN ANCHOR: U.S. stocks initially rose Thursday morning as investors embraced the new labor report and Nvidia's earnings, but that rally was short lived. The Dow, S&P 500 and the Nasdaq all closed in the red. Tech and A.I. stocks pushed the market lower as concerns resurfaced about a potential A.I. bubble.

U.S. President Donald Trump is rolling back tariffs on Brazilian food products, including beef, coffee, cocoa and fruit. It follows a similar move last week when the Trump administration removed tariffs on agricultural products from several other countries in an effort to lower the cost of food in the U.S.

A federal judge has ruled President Trump's deployment of National Guard troops to the nation's capital is illegal. The district judge says the Trump administration, quote, exceeded the bounds of their authority in sending the troops to Washington and acted contrary to law when they deployed the D.C. national guard for nonmilitary crime deterrence missions. In the absence of a request from the city's civil authorities, Washington's attorney general sued the Trump administration in early September over the deployment.

The White House, responding to Thursdays ruling, says, quote, "President Trump is well within his lawful authority to deploy the National Guard in Washington, D.C., to protect federal assets and assist law enforcement. The judge delayed an order that would require the troops to leave and gave the Trump administration 21 days to file an appeal.

The days-long immigration crackdown that started in Charlotte, North Carolina, last week appears to have ended with same confusion as when it began. The Mecklenburg County Sheriff said Thursday. The operation was over, but moments later, a top Department of Homeland Security official rejected that claim, adding to the confusion, top border patrol official Gregory Bovino left Charlotte on Thursday. He and hundreds of his agents are expected to launch an operation in New Orleans after the Thanksgiving holiday as early as December 1st.

The Trump administration says the Charlotte operation resulted in more than 370 arrests. At the same time, fearful residents closed businesses and kept their children out of school. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LETICIA OLMEDO, RESTAURANT OWNER: It's kind of hard to recover from this. It's not going to just -- they leave because I think we're going to still have the feeling everything can happen and everything we know. Even me, I don't feel like safe because they can come any time.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BRUNHUBER: President Trump will host New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani at the White House in the day ahead. The president has clashed repeatedly with the self-declared Democratic socialist over the past few months, often calling him a communist.

CNN's Tom Foreman has more.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ZOHRAN MAMDANI (D), NEW YORK MAYOR-ELECT: I have many disagreements with the President.

TOM FOREMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The stage is set with Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani eager to talk about how President Donald Trump can help his city.

MAMDANI: I want to just speak plainly to the President about what it means to actually stand up for New Yorkers and the way in which New Yorkers are struggling to afford this city and, frankly, cost of living.

FOREMAN (voice-over): And Trump perhaps not so eager to lend a hand.

DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: It's going to be hard for me as the President to give a lot of money to New York. Because if you have a communist running New York, all you're doing is wasting the money you're sending there.

FOREMAN (voice-over): Mamdani is a democratic socialist, not a communist, but he has been a sharp thorn in Trump's side.

MAMDANI: Donald Trump, since I know you're watching, I have four words for you. Turn the volume up.

FOREMAN (voice-over): In the campaign, Mamdani routinely skewered the President in the town where Trump grew up and built his fortune over inflation, accusations of corruption, election interference, and so much more.

MAMDANI: If anyone can show a nation betrayed by Donald Trump how to defeat him, it is the city that gave rise to him.

FOREMAN (voice-over): For his part, Trump has questioned the citizenship of Mamdani, who is a naturalized American born in Uganda. Trump endorsed Andrew Cuomo, who ran as an independent for the mayor's job, and he declared if Mamdani won, "this once great city has zero chance of success or even survival." [02:35:01]

FOREMAN: Perhaps the toughest clash came as Mamdani pledged to fight Trump's amped up efforts to arrest suspected undocumented immigrants.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: What you're doing is kidnapping.

MAMDANI: I will be a mayor who will finally turn the page on this chapter of our city. A mayor who not only defends but is proud of our sanctuary city laws. One that recognizes that they are laws that keep us safe.

FOREMAN (voice-over): Trump's answer?

TRUMP: Well, then we'll have to arrest him.

FOREMAN (voice-over): All that has the two men in such wildly opposite political corners. Some analysts suspect even as the president and mayor-elect are touching gloves ahead of this meeting --

TRUMP: We want to see everything work out well for New York.

FOREMAN (voice-over): -- they are also bracing for a brawl.

MAMDANI: I'll be ready for whatever happens.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes.

FOREMAN (voice-over): Tom Foreman, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BRUNHUBER: Protesters in Mexico are speaking out against government corruption and worsening violence. They marched through Mexico City carrying signs, chanting slogans and waving flags as they demanded accountability from the government. The demonstration was organized mostly by Gen Z youth groups. Mexico is the largest country to see a surge in youth activism in recent months, but people of all ages and demographics came out to make their voices heard against the rising violence and corruption.

The Trump administrations aid cuts are having a devastating impact in Mozambique. Still to come, how the lack of funding is leaving a void for ISIS to play a bigger role. Those stories and more coming up.

Stay with us.

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[02:41:18]

BRUNHUBER: Last year, the United States Agency for International Development, known as USAID, gave $586 million to Mozambique. The money paid for humanitarian aid and projects to curb ISIS recruitment. But earlier this year, USAID was dismantled by the Trump administration. That's left the southern African nation reeling, just as ISIS is resurging there.

CNN's Nick Paton Walsh has this exclusive report from Mozambique. We just want to warn you, some of the footage is disturbing.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

NICK PATON WALSH, CNN CHIEF INTERNATIONAL SECURITY CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It looks like a place where nothing should go wrong. But ISIS are seeing a resurgence across Africa, home to two thirds of their global violence this year, rising fast here in northern Mozambique.

We land in the flashpoint of Mocimboa da Praia, seven weeks after ISIS started their worst offensive since they occupied the town in 2021. The government's grip is so shaky they've let Rwandan forces in to be the real muscle on streets where ISIS seemed to rule the night.

WALSH: So, USAID contribution to Mozambique amounted to about 3 percent of its GDP, and that U.S. aid money helped the economy here, development schools, really enabled the government to try and promote its hold on the place. And so now, that money suddenly vanished -- well, they're reeling here. And ISIS are back.

WALSH (voice-over): The little video we have of ISIS recent onslaught is terrifying. Outgunning Mozambican forces, slaughtering captives.

But in October, they tried something new, less savage and confident. They walked unopposed, armed in stolen uniforms, straight into this mosque in Mocimboa coastal fishing community to deliver a manifesto. The crowd didn't flee, but instead filmed when ISIS arrived, asked for the keys and walked in wearing their boots. The imam had presumed they were soldiers.

WALSH: What did you think on that night when these guys came in?

SUMALI ISSA, IMAM: They ordered the old man, asking for the microphone to broadcast their voices.

When they displayed their banner like this, I was surprised that they are Al-Shabab (ISIS).

WALSH: It is extraordinary. After all these years of ISIS has spread across the Middle East to stand in startling, to stand in a place where they had freedom of movement, just a couple of days ago.

WALSH (voice-over): Ninety-three thousand people around this area fled in just six weeks after ISIS attacks began on September the 7th. Rafael takes us directly to the home of his brother-in-law, now abandoned. They were not rich and also took USAID.

RAFAEL NDINENGO, SON KILLED BY ISIS: He was tied up, they took a stick and beat him. They cut off his head and put it on his bottom. This place you see here is where we laid my son's spilled blood. You are going to make me cry because of my son. My son -- I lost him. My feelings for my son -- you're going to make me cry. I didn't want to come here. He was calling me "papa", "papa". WALSH: Eight men killed by ISIS, seven of them beheaded, some in

front of their families and you just for looking around -- I mean, there's nobody here. It's startling. This used to be a vibrant area, Christian area.

[02:45:00]

WALSH (voice-over): The money USAID spent here urgently tried to curb the spread of ISIS, they gave $50,000 here to help motorcycle taxi drivers vulnerable to recruitment by ISIS, improve their working conditions with paperwork, vests and helmets. Their anger about that help suddenly disappearing and then asked asking questions clear.

WALSH: Emotions incredibly high here. I mean, it's all about peoples livelihoods, really. And a lot of anger.

WALSH (voice-over): The man who ran the project describes how it is the only way to stop ISIS

KHAMISSA FABIAO, PROJECT COORDINATOR: If they have an opportunity to earn money, I don't think they will go into the jungle because nobody wants to die. When we started this project, I personally recruited many young people to keep them integrated into society. President Trump should have a heart.

WALSH (voice-over): Fishermen, the main workforce here, but also a source of ISIS recruits. We visit a USAID project aimed at giving them a better livelihood now shut.

Ten thousand new arrivals in this camp alone were met with a steep drop in food aid.

SAVIANA NDIWICA, VILLAGER: They come and immediately start shooting. There is war. Beheaded. You flee with nothing. They come and cut your throat. When you see someone else being killed, you flee alone to a safe place. Since we arrived here, we sleep on the floor.

WALSH (voice-over): But Mozambique could be rich. Around the town of Palma, shielded by these fortifications, it's clear that while the Trump administration is stripping away aid here, its also investing fast and hard. A $4.7 billion loan in March in vast liquid natural gas facilities, a contradiction where wealth is held up by a wave of ISIS savagery, which surged after the USAID meant to calm it, vanished.

A State Department spokesperson said the U.S. had continued to provide assistance this year in Mozambique, a majority of which was life saving food and nutrition assistance. They added that worldwide aid was constantly under review to ensure it meets the needs of the receiving country and the priorities of the United States.

The State Department did not respond to our questions about the resurgence of ISIS following the withdrawal of USAID, their statement added, "The United States continues to be the most generous nation in the world. This administration is significantly enhancing the efficiency and strategic impact of foreign assistance programs around the world. We call on other nations to increase in burden sharing globally."

Nick Paton Walsh, CNN, Mocimboa da Praia, Mozambique.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BRUNHUBER: We'll be right back. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[02:50:23]

BRUNHUBER: We're learning more about the sexual battery allegations made against rapper Sean "Diddy" Combs that have prompted a new investigation by the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.

CNN's Elizabeth Wagmeister spoke exclusively with the man who says Combs made unwanted sexual advances on him. We just want to warn you this interview does contain graphic content that you might find disturbing.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JONATHAN HAY, SEAN "DIDDY" COMBS ACCUSER: Violated me like I've -- like I've never been violated.

ELIZABETH WAGMEISTER, CNN ENTERTAINMENT CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Jonathan Hay in his first TV interview since the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department opened a new investigation into allegations that Sean "Diddy" Combs forced Hay to perform oral sex on him.

HAY: Someone is listening, and I feel like I'm so close to justice finally.

WAGMEISTER (voice-over): Hay, a music publicist and producer, says his first incident with Combs came in 2020 when they collaborated on new music honoring Biggie, the late rapper Notorious BIG. This is Hay modeling Biggie's actual clothes, a photo, he says, he gave to the police, taken on the day he says he found himself alone with Combs.

HAY: He took a phone call, sat down. I could hear like sex noises. He was really like masturbating. This goes on for a few minutes. I just like want the whole thing, you know, to be over. The next thing you know, he ejaculates into one of Biggie shirts, shows the shirt. I mean, it was like -- rest in peace, BIG.

WAGMEISTER (voice-over): Hay, in this police report, says that he kept the incident to himself, but it began to eat at him, and eventually told Biggie son, CJ Wallace, who was collaborating with him on the new music.

HAY: I finally got that off my chest after almost a year.

WAGMEISTER (voice-over): But Hay told police that the dynamic of the partnership changed. In March 2021, Hay went for what he thought was an interview for Combs's Revolt T.V. Instead, he says he was taken to a house where Combs entered the room. HAY: Chaos erupted. And he was screaming at me. He was in a rage. And that's when he violated me.

WAGMEISTER (voice-over): Hay told police Combs stuck his penis inside of his mouth. Hay says he pulled away, but Combs pulled his head back and allegedly did it again, approximately three to four times.

WAGMEISTER: What was going through your mind in that moment?

HAY: Shock, like blur. I didn't know if I was going to die at that point. It's the first time in my life where I felt suicidal.

WAGMEISTER (voice-over): Combs's attorneys told CNN, "Mr. Combs categorically denies as false and defamatory all claims that he sexually abused anyone."

In July, Hay filed a civil suit against Combs and Wallace, Biggie's son. Wallace is now suing for defamation, claiming Hay became irate at the decision to not release the remainder of the songs that Hay had produced and retaliated. His attorney adding, "The allegations will be shown to be complete fantasy."

HAY: C.J. knows what has happened. He was there.

WAGMEISTER (voice-over): Combs is now serving four years in federal prison. Hay hopes that his case will add to that.

HAY: Biggie was like -- supposedly his best friend. To just do that in his shirt and to attack me like he had, he doesn't need to be out on the streets.

WAGMEISTER (voice-over): Elizabeth Wagmeister, CNN, Los Angeles.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BRUNHUBER: All right. Now to some of the days sports headlines.

The action is heating up at the Davis Cup in Bologna, Italy. Germany bounced back from an opening singles defeat, beating Argentina two one to reach the semifinals. World number three Alexander Zverev scored a key victory to bring about a doubles decider that lasted almost 2-1/2 hours.

Germany will face Spain in the semifinals. World number one Carlos Alcaraz is out with an injury, but that didn't stop the Spaniards. Just like Germany and Argentina. A tie in the singles match led to another deciding doubles. Spain came out on top seven-six, seven-six to advance.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We are honored and humbled to present the 2,828th star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame to Chadwick Boseman.

(END VIDEO CLIP) BRUNHUBER: Hollywood's iconic walk of fame honored the late actor Chadwick Boseman on Thursday. Family and friends celebrated the "Black Panther" star at the event. Boseman died from colon cancer in 2020 at the age of 43.

Scientists are using one of the world's most powerful supercomputers to create a digital model of a mouses brain, and it could lead to lifesaving research for humans.

CNN's Allison Chinchar explains.

[02:55:00]

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ALLISON CHINCHAR, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): This colorful 3D model with flashing lights is a simulated mouse brain, and those flashes represent neural activity. It's a step toward one day creating a virtual human brain that could lead to lifesaving research into diseases such as Alzheimer's and epilepsy.

ANTON ARKHIPOV, RESEARCHER, ALLEN INSTITUTE: Ultimately, it would be fantastic to be able to run simulations at the level of the human brain with this level of detail that we have in this simulation. Currently, it's not feasible.

CHINCHAR (voice-over): Using one of the world's fastest supercomputers. Experts from the Allen Institute in Washington teamed up with their counterparts in Japan to create the model that shows nearly 10 million neurons and 26 billion synapses in the brain of a mouse. Researchers say mice share most of their genes with humans, but are much easier to study up close, making them the perfect choice for this kind of analysis.

ARKHIPOV: The model was constructed by integrating very carefully and systematically a large array of data about the cell types, connectivity, and neural activity across the mouse cortex, primarily the Allen Institute data.

CHINCHAR (voice-over): Even the most powerful supercomputers aren't yet strong enough to simulate human brain in the same amount of detail. But for this team, the virtual mouse brain is a technical milestone for brain study.

ARKHIPOV: This is the most beautiful thing that other people can come up with something that you cannot even imagine, and, make some breakthroughs this way.

CHINCHAR (voice-over): Allison Chinchar, CNN.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BRUNHUBER: Have a look at this. Frida Kahlo's 'El Sueno" has set a new record, selling for $54.7 million. Now, that is the most ever for a work by a woman sold at auction. The 1940 painting depicts Kahlo asleep in a wooden bed wrapped in a golden blanket, embroidered with vines and leaves, and above her rests a skeleton and strings of dynamite, crowned with a vibrant bouquet. Painting last sold at auction in 1980 for $51,000.

Well, that wraps this hour of CNN NEWSROOM. I'm Kim Brunhuber. I'll be back with more news in just a moment.

Please do stay with us.