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Trump, Zelenskyy Cite Progress on Peace Deal after Mar-a-Lago Meeting; Round One of Voting Ends in First Myanmar Election Since Coup; Bulgaria to Introduce Euro on January 1; More Americans Buying Homes in Idyllic Cotswolds Region; Brigitte Bardot Dies at Age 91; Dubai Tennis Exhibition Pits Sabalenka Against Kyrgios. Aired 12-1a ET
Aired December 29, 2025 - 00:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
POLO SANDOVAL, CNN ANCHOR: And I'm Polo Sandoval, live in Atlanta. To all of our viewers around the world, welcome to CNN NEWSROOM. And here's what's coming your way.
[00:00:45]
President Trump says an end to the war in Ukraine is closer than ever following talks with both Zelenskyy and Putin. But key issues remain unsolved.
And we are live in Myanmar after that country held its first election since a military coup nearly five years ago.
And more than 50 years after the legendary match between Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs, it's another Battle of the Sexes on the tennis court. Details on what they're saying about the rematch.
ANNOUNCER: Live from Atlanta, this is CNN NEWSROOM with Polo Sandoval.
SANDOVAL: Let's begin with U.S. President Donald Trump, as he describes his meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as excellent after the two leaders held talks at Mar-a-Lago on efforts to end Russia's war on Ukraine.
While both cited progress, no breakthrough was reached as several key issues remain. Mr. Zelenskyy said the teams from the U.S. and Ukraine could meet as early as next week to work out the remaining points in the peace plan.
And President Trump, he planned to speak again with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD TRUMP, U.S. PRESIDENT: We discussed a lot of things. As you know, I had an excellent phone call with President Putin that lasted for over two hours. We discussed a lot of points, and I do think we're getting a lot closer, maybe very close.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SANDOVAL: The Ukrainian leader also expressing some optimism as he laid out what was covered during Sunday's meeting.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY, UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT: We discussed all the aspects of the peace framework, which includes, and we have a great achievements, 20-point peace plan, 90 percent agreed. And U.S.-Ukraine security guarantees, 100 percent agreed. U.S., Europe, Ukraine security guarantees almost agreed. Military dimension, 100 percent agreed.
Prosperity plan being finalized. And we also discussed the sequencing of the following actions. And we agree that security guarantees is a key milestone in achieving lasting peace.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SANDOVAL: As President Zelenskyy was also underscoring that the question of Ukrainian territory, it remains a difficult factor amid these negotiations. And President Trump also acknowledging the fate of the Eastern Donbas region, which Russia has demanded Ukraine surrender, that that remains an outstanding issue.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: We're getting closer to an agreement on that, and that's a big issue. Certainly, that's one of the big issues. And I think we're closer than we were, probably one -- It's unresolved, but it's getting a lot closer. That's a very tough issue.
ZELENSKYY: We have to respect our law and our people. We respect the territory which we control. And of course, there are -- our attitude is very clear. That's why President Trump said this is very tough question. And of course, we have with Russia's different positions on it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SANDOVAL: CNN's Kevin Liptak is in West Palm Beach, Florida, covering the president.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
KEVIN LIPTAK, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: President Trump and Volodymyr Zelenskyy emerged from their three-hour-plus meeting --
LIPTAK (voice-over): -- down here in Palm Beach, sounding optimistic, sounding confident. But neither of them announcing any major breakthroughs that would suggest a peace deal for Ukraine is happening in the immediate future.
And what President Trump said is that there were, quote, "one or two thorny issues" that remained and acknowledged that there could be some issue that no one is thinking about that could derail this whole process down the line.
So optimistic, but also somewhat realistic about where the state of these talks is.
President Zelenskyy saying heading into Mar-a-Lago that they were about 90 percent there. He kept that figure when the meeting was over, suggesting that there is still that 10 percent remaining for the two sides to work out.
And when President Trump was asked about those thorny issues, he said one was, of course, the idea of land concessions. And that remains an issue for the two sides to continue talking about.
President Trump even said that he was willing to go to Ukraine and speak to that country's parliament if he thought that it would get that particular issue over the finish line, although he said he didn't think it would be necessary.
[00:00:03]
The other issue is the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, currently occupied by Russia. And what President Trump said is that was a topic of some lengthy discussion in a phone call that he held earlier on Sunday with the Russian president, Vladimir Putin.
And so still many issues to remain. President Trump said that he thought we would know in about a few weeks' time whether this peace deal would be successful. That is, of course, a time frame that the president uses a repeatedly when he isn't quite sure when a resolution might be at hand.
And what Zelenskyy said is that President Trump would convene European leaders in Washington next month to continue discussing all of this.
And so, optimistic words out of this meeting today. President Trump certainly had a lot of praise for President Zelenskyy, which, of course, hasn't always been the case after that disastrous meeting in February. The tone -- the tone certainly was much better today.
President Trump repeatedly praising Zelenskyy as brave, as working very hard to try and get something finalized in all of this.
But ultimately, a peace deal remaining elusive even after this high- stakes summit down here in Florida.
LIPTAK: Kevin Liptak, CNN, West Palm Beach, Florida.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SANDOVAL: Joining me now from Los Angeles is Benjamin Radd. He's a political scientist and senior fellow at the UCLA Burkle Center for International Relations.
Benjamin, it's great to see you again.
BENJAMIN RADD, SENIOR FELLOW, UCLA BURKLE CENTER FOR INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS: Thank you.
SANDOVAL: So, let's start by getting your assessment. Based on what you saw, based on what you heard from the two leaders on Sunday, did you see any progress at all in efforts to end the war?
RADD: To be candid, I did not see progress. What -- what I also didn't see was anything that indicated that -- that negotiations were failing or that we're moving backwards in -- in the -- the scope of the talks.
But nothing groundbreaking was revealed, nothing indicating that serious movement has been made on the contentious issues, and notably, nothing indicating any pressure or efforts to really lean on Vladimir Putin to come along with where the United States and Ukraine seem to be on the latest rounds of negotiations.
SANDOVAL: "Thorny and tough issues remain." Those are the words from the U.S. President. That tells us, basically, that there's currently no agreement yet when it comes to land concessions.
What options do you think exist for Ukraine if Putin refuses to compromise on that front?
RADD: Well, so long as Ukraine can continue to receive material support, military support, and funding from the West, specifically from the Europeans, to continue waging the conflict, they can stay in this fight.
But the concern is, can they hold onto the land that they are barely holding onto now, specifically, the portion of the Donetsk region that they are holding onto?
The concern is that that's going to be harder, especially as winter drags on. And the Russian forces are attacking Ukrainian power centers and really affecting the nation's ability to -- to heat and provide power for its citizens.
So, these all become challenges in sustaining that. And the Russians have demonstrated that they're able to replenish their military, their -- their soldiers, as they're effectively dying. And they're able to -- to get more conscripts.
So, this is going to make it difficult for Zelenskyy to really keep the line, unless he's receiving enough support from the Europeans.
SANDOVAL: And then, of course, there is the Putin factor. Like, the Americans, the -- the Ukrainians, the Europeans, they can all get on the same page, but it doesn't work if the Kremlin is not on board.
And Russia, as you know, they have not backed off its -- its maximalist demands, including the surrender of the entire Eastern Donbas region, which we just discussed a little while ago.
Are there any possible small victories, you think, that Ukraine stands at least a higher chance of securing?
RADD: I think at this point, maybe the release of prisoners, those that have been detained by the Russians; possibly a pause in the fighting that would really allow Ukrainians to endure a harsh winter and a chance to basically reconstitute their supplies. Russia doesn't want to see that.
But really, sort of a humanitarian gesture at demonstrating goodwill on the part of the Russians. I think that is a realistic goal. And I think maybe that is where the bar should be set, is to basically give a humanitarian pause in the fighting while these other finer points are being negotiated.
SANDOVAL: And in terms of securing rock-solid security guarantees for Ukraine, do you think that's perhaps unrealistic at this point?
RADD: Well, yes. If the Ukrainians are insisting that there be a European presence or a firm security guarantee, that's going to be difficult. The Russians have indicated there they will not allow European soldiers to be placed on Ukrainian territory.
And again, this idea of a U.S. security guarantee, something that has to pass the Senate, if and when it does come up for a vote, what does it look like? Does it essentially mean that there will be U.S. military or personnel stationed there?
That's going to be a cause of concern for the Russians. They've not indicated support for anything along those lines.
[00:10:04]
So, again, details are vague, and that's what makes this so -- so challenging.
SANDOVAL: And then there's also taking any mechanics of an agreement to voters in Ukraine.
If President Zelenskyy does put any possible peace agreement up for a vote in the form of a referendum, what kind of response do you think he's likely to get from voters? Would they sign on?
RADD: Yes. Yes, that's a great question. A lot of that will determine on how it's framed.
If any of this comes off as a retreat or a surrender, especially of territory in the Donetsk that Ukraine still holds, but that Russia is demanding being relinquished or turned into a neutral zone, that's going to be difficult.
Because I think the Ukrainian people, have endured, you know, almost three years of horrific conflict, are not necessarily ready to see it end on the basis of surrender, giving up territory that they have not lost.
And so, I think whether or not that's included and how that part is framed will be crucial in any referendum.
SANDOVAL: Yes. The wording in that will certainly matter. And then finally, when it comes to going back to the Putin factor in
all this, when President Trump does go back to -- to his Russian counterpart with, essentially, an update, what do you think the president needs to do to really apply pressure on Putin to try to, at least, take that step forward? At least one small step forward towards diplomacy?
RADD: He has -- Yes, I think No. 1, he has to demonstrate publicly that he is not going to give Putin the benefit of the doubt; maybe sort of easing off the rhetoric that he thinks Putin understands; or some of the comments he made during the press conference indicating that Putin wants what's best for Ukraine also, which really we saw in Zelenskyy's body language how that was received.
But also, being prepared to deliver on the threat of sanctions and other diplomatic tools the U.S. has to pressure the Russians even more so.
The Russians have demonstrated they're prepared to withstand what economic punishments they've endured so far. But the U.S. really has the ability to step up on that. And so far, it hasn't used all the tools that it has. And I think Trump needs to make that clear.
SANDOVAL: Another meeting in the books now. And as you point out, Benjamin Radd, at least it doesn't appear to have been a step back. And that alone could be a promising sign of success. We'll see how this all plays out.
As always, Benjamin Radd, grateful for your perspective. Thank you.
RADD: Thank you.
SANDOVAL: President Trump and the Israeli prime minister, they are expected to discuss the next phase of the Gaza ceasefire plan in the coming hours.
Benjamin Netanyahu, this is his plane as it arrived in West Palm Beach, Florida, on Sunday ahead of Monday's meeting at Trump's mar Mar-a-Lago resort.
On the agenda: the disarmament of -- the disarmament of Hamas; rebuilding Gaza; and also, the establishment of postwar governance in the enclave; as well as the creation of a board of peace that's supposed to be led by President Trump.
He's been urging both Israel and Hamas to work towards a phase two of his peace plan. Both sides, though, they continue to accuse each other of violating the deal.
Earlier, CNN spoke with former department of -- former State Department Middle East negotiator Aaron David Miller about what's at stake during Monday's meeting.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
AARON DAVID MILLER, FORMER STATE DEPARTMENT MIDDLE EAST NEGOTIATOR: I don't think -- I think both -- both of these guys don't trust one another. I'm not even sure they like one another.
But the reality is they need one another. Trump needs Netanyahu to avoid his much-touted 28-point plan in Gaza from cratering. And Netanyahu desperately needs the prime minister -- the president of the United States, in order to manage growing calls for his resignation. And the prospects, in 2026, of an election and -- to which he'd like to become prime minister again. And Trump is more popular in Israel than Netanyahu.
So, again, mutual need creates a certain amount of dependency. This may not be a great meeting, but it's not going to crater; may push the ball forward a tad on Gaza.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SANDOVAL: We have new reaction to the U.S. Christmas day airstrike in Nigeria.
U.S. President Donald Trump says that the strike was a response to violence against Christians by, quote, "Islamic State terrorists."
Nigerian officials approved the attack, though no specific organization has been named as the direct target.
The country has grappled with security issues for years, including religiously motivated attacks. Some Nigerians support President Trump's involvement, but others say that the U.S. should stay out of Nigeria's matters.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: My message for President Donald Trump is he shouldn't stop now, should keep going, keep going till he gets them.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: If you are coming to assist Nigeria in fighting insecurities, let it be insecurity you are fighting and do it in a proper way, without causing more harm than trying to do good.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: If you want spread peace among the people, don't go fight here and there and there and there.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SANDOVAL: China's military says that it has launched war games around Taiwan in a, quote, "serious warning" against the island's push for independence.
China's Eastern theater command said that the military drills, called the Just [SIC] Mission 2025, will also involve live-fire exercises.
[00:15:05]
Beijing has significantly escalated Taiwan encirclement drills in recent years. These latest drills, they follow a landmark multibillion-dollar arms deal between Taiwan and the U.S.
Taiwan condemned the drills and accused China of military intimidation.
Myanmar just wrapping up the first phase of voting in parliamentary elections. But critics say that the vote will not bring the country any closer to democratic rule. We'll dive into this topic after the break.
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[00:20:04]
SANDOVAL: The first round of Myanmar's controversial election, it is over. The next two rounds will be taking place in January.
The country's military junta seized power from the elected government nearly five years ago. The group's leaders say that the vote will restore democratic rule.
But critics and human rights groups say that that is highly unlikely.
Entire sections of the country will not get to vote because of the civil war that was sparked by that coup.
CNN's Ivan Watson joining us from Yangon, Myanmar, as he closely follows this election.
Ivan, you've been speaking to -- to voters. I mean, what kind of concerns are they sharing with you? What are they saying?
IVAN WATSON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, there are fears because the military government here created a new law that made it illegal to criticize the election.
So, I did hear one person tell me off camera that this was not -- you did not have the free choice that that voter had had in the last election in 2020 before the military coup.
Though I did hear another voter express hope that this might get a way out of this terrible civil war that this country has been facing for nearly five years.
But yes, the first day of the voting has concluded, and the acting president, who was the leader of the coup in 2021, he insists that this was a free and fair election.
WATSON (voice-over): At polling stations across Myanmar's largest city, this song played on a constant loop: an anthem urging citizens to vote.
Myanmar's military is holding an election in the midst of a brutal civil war. The conflict, triggered nearly five years ago when the military staged a coup, overthrowing an elected government, and violently crushing subsequent protests.
This voter told me he hopes the election would help Myanmar chart a way out of its difficult situation. "My family live in the countryside where it's not safe," he says. "I want the fighting to stop and wish for peace."
The situation in this Southeast Asian country is dire. The U.N. predicts more than 12 million people will suffer from acute hunger in 2026, with some 4 million people displaced by the war.
Meanwhile, the U.N. special rapporteur for human rights calls the election a sham.
TOM ANDREWS, U.S. SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR FOR HUMAN RIGHTS IN MYANMAR: There has been an escalation of the use of sophisticated weapons of war. A helicopter, gunships, jet fighters attacking civilian targets in the run-up to this -- this election.
If the junta is successful in getting the international community to, in any way, recognize this as -- as legitimate, then it will be able to entrench its brutality, and things in Myanmar are going to get much, much, much worse.
WATSON (voice-over): The military government concedes it can't hold the election in large parts of the country, now controlled by armed opposition groups.
WATSON: Is it difficult to have an election when there's a civil war?
"In Yangon? It's safe," says Meu Ping (ph).
"No problem, no problem."
WATSON (voice-over): He's running for office with the military-aligned Union, Solidarity, and Development Party.
WATSON: You lost in the last two elections.
MEU PING, RUNNING FOR OFFICE IN MYANMAR: Yes.
WATSON: Do you think you have a better chance in this election?
WATSON (voice-over): He has reason for optimism. The party whose candidates beat him twice can't compete in this election. These are the offices of the National League for Democracy, or NLD party.
Now, it won conclusively in national elections that were held in 2015 and 2020. But since the coup, many of its leaders have been arrested and thrown in jail.
WATSON (voice-over): The U.K. and European Union say this election is neither free nor fair. But a Myanmar military government spokesman calls their criticism irrelevant.
The junta, trying to generate excitement for this controversial process. Two more phases of the election are scheduled to take place in other parts of the country next month.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WATSON: Now, Polo, the acting president, Min Aung Hlaing, the general who sparked the coup in 2021, he said, in an interview with state media, that the results would be coming out Sunday night. Well, they haven't officially come out.
The candidate from that pro-military party that we interviewed in the report, we've spoken to him. He claims that he won.
So, after failing in the past two elections to that opposition party, which has basically been dismantled since the coup, he is now enjoying, in his words, a new victory. And he claims that his party, that that military aligned party has also done quite well.
[00:25:18]
There has been a report or two of violence. We've spoken to a resident of the border city of Myawaddy who described a blast taking place on Sunday with -- with casualties reported. We're trying to find out more about what exactly took place there -- Polo.
SANDOVAL: And in your reporting there, Tom Andrews addressing the international community and what it's saying. I mean, what else are international observers saying as they closely watch that election?
WATSON: Right. Well, you know, I didn't bump into, really, election observers as I might -- as I did in the 2015 election that I covered here in Yangon.
There is much less interest and engagement from the international community, though there does seem to be support from China, which sent an envoy to meet with the Myanmar government this week.
And Russia, in fact, according to Myanmar, state media sent a representative from Russia's central election commission. And he's quoted as saying that Russia is happy with the election that's taking place here and encouraging Myanmar to go forward with this process.
The state media reporting that there were also election observers from other countries like Belarus and Venezuela participating at this time.
But I do have to say, I was here in the 2015 election, when the NLD first really routed the pro-military party at the polls. There was a lot less energy, much fewer people that I saw just anecdotally at the polls.
So, it was a much different vibe than what we saw -- than what we saw on Sunday.
And again, this is just the first of what are supposed to be three rounds. And elections will not be held in large parts of this country, where the fighting continues to rage as we speak.
Back to you.
SANDOVAL: No doubt a highly watched election. And that's CNN's Ivan Watson, closely following it out of Yangon, Myanmar.
Still ahead here on CNN NEWSROOM, Bulgaria getting ready to usher in the new year. And with that, a new currency. We'll look at the changes that you can expect as the country transitions to the euro.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[00:27:16]
SANDOVAL: Welcome back. I'm Polo Sandoval in Atlanta. These are today's top stories.
China's military says that it's launching major drills around Taiwan to test combat readiness and send a serious warning against any push for independence.
Beijing has been increasing these types of drills since 2022, when former U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Taipei in a significant show of support for Taiwan.
Authorities in Southern Mexico, they are investigating what led to a deadly train derailment. The Mexican navy reporting at least 13 people died and nearly 100 were injured.
The train line links Mexico's Pacific and Gulf coasts and has only been in service since 2023.
No breakthroughs after more than three hours of talks between the Ukrainian and U.S. presidents at Mar-a-Lago. The U.S. president, Donald Trump, says that they could be very close, he says, to a peace deal to stop Russia's war in Ukraine.
Mr. Trump spoke on the phone with Russian President Vladimir Putin before the meeting. And he's expected to do so again.
Trump and Volodymyr Zelenskyy praised each other after those talks, and they both sounded optimistic, despite unresolved issues like Ukraine giving up land to Russia.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
TRUMP: Our meeting was excellent. We covered -- somebody would say 95 percent. I don't know what percent, but we have made a lot of progress on ending that war, which is really the --certainly, the most deadly war since World War II, probably the biggest war since World War II.
And I want to thank Steve Witkoff, who is here. And I'd like to thank Jared, who's here someplace. Thank you, Jared.
Thank you, Steve. What a great job you've done. Jared Kushner Steve Witkoff, and Marco Rubio is here. Thank you Marco.
And Pete Hegseth is here, doing -- those two people are doing an unbelievable job. And the four people on this one are doing -- I don't think anybody could do it. And we'll see if it gets done. But it's very close, certainly.
Nobody would even have a chance of getting it to where it is right now. Nobody would have thought that was possible. So, I just want to say we've done very well. We've had discussions on
just about every subject, and that includes with President Putin before.
And we went into great detail, and we likewise went into great detail today.
And it was an honor to have you at Mar-a-Lago and have lunch. I hope you enjoyed the food. Your people enjoyed the food. I can tell you that; your big, strong people. Your general over there, it looks like central casting.
I want to also -- by the way, speaking of generals, we have a great general, General "Raizin" Caine, who is here someplace. Thank you, General. Thank you very much.
He's great.
So, Mr. President, maybe you want to say a few words.
[00:35:05]
ZELENSKYY: Yes.
TRUMP: And then we'll speak over the next couple of weeks. We'll speak probably quite a bit, but we'll speak tomorrow. Thank you very much. Appreciate it.
ZELENSKYY: Thanks so much, Mr. President.
TRUMP: Thank you.
ZELENSKYY: Thank you for everything. Dear colleagues, first of all, I would like to thank President Trump for a great meeting at this amazing place in his home in Mar-a-Lago.
And we had really great discussions on all the topics, and we appreciate the progress that was made by American and Ukrainian teams in these recent weeks.
Special thanks to Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. And thank you, too, for -- for their engagement and full commitment. And also to our team, and first of all, to Rustem Umerov and General Hnatov and to all our teams.
And we discussed all the aspects of the peace framework, which includes -- and we have great achievements. Twenty-point peace plan, 90 percent agreed. And U.S.-Ukraine security guarantees 100 percent agreed.
U.S.-Europe-Ukraine security guarantees almost agreed. Military dimension 100 percent agreed. Prosperity plan being finalized. And we also discussed the sequencing of the following actions.
And we agree that security guarantees is a key milestone in achieving lasting peace. And our teams will continue working on all aspects. We also had a joint productive call with European leaders, like
President Trump said already, and a lot of leaders, including NATO and the E.U. And we agreed that our teams will meet in upcoming weeks to finalize all discussed matters.
And we agreed with President Trump that he will host us and maybe in Washington, European leaders and Ukrainian delegation. Yes, in January.
And Ukraine is ready for peace. And once again, would like to thank President Trump for a warm welcome and substantial discussion.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SANDOVAL: Syria plans to kick off the new year by introducing a new national currency. It's expected to replace the former Assad regime's banknotes -- banknotes in a bid to strengthen the Syrian pound.
Reports saying that the updated notes will remove two zeros from the currency. Some bankers fear that that could undermine efforts to tame inflation in that country.
The exchange period is expected to last 90 days, during which both currencies will be recognized as legal tender.
Big changes are also coming to the economy in Bulgaria, which will actually transition to the euro at the start of the new year. The E.U. calling it a historic milestone that will offer new opportunities for people and for businesses.
And this comes just two weeks after the Bulgarian government resigned amid widespread protests over alleged corruption and the state of the economy.
CNN's Lynda Kinkade has more on what the euro will offer Bulgaria.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
LYNDA KINKADE, CNN ANCHOR/CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Dual pricing at a Bulgarian grocery store, the cost of goods displayed in both the outgoing Bulgarian currency, the lev, and euros, a soft launch of what customers can expect to pay on January 1st when Bulgaria adopts the euro as its official currency.
It's taken many years for Bulgaria to meet the economic criteria to join the euro, after becoming a member of the European Union back in 2007.
And now that the time has come for the switch, Bulgarians are divided on how it will affect them. Some people say it would be good to integrate more with other E.U. countries.
VESELINA APOSTOVIOVA, PENSIONER (through translator): Because in the entire E.U., the euro can be used. Not only older people but also young people can easily travel using euros instead of having to exchange currency. KINKADE (voice-over): But a recent poll says that about half the
country, which is one of the poorest nations in the E.U., is skeptical, fearing the change would drive up prices.
EMIL IVANOV, PENSIONER (through translator): I am against it: first, because the lev is our national currency. Secondly, Europe is heading towards demise, which even the American president mentioned in the new national security strategy.
KINKADE (voice-over): Euro starter coin kits are now being circulated. Analysts say there may be some confusion, especially amongst the elderly, as people use the new banknotes and coins.
But some processes will be automatic. Lev bank accounts will be converted into euros on the first of the year, a necessary adjustment period, according to some economists.
STEFAN LUKOV, ECONOMIST (through translator): First and foremost, it will further integrate our economy. And in the end, at least, our central bank will become a full member of the European central bank family and will have the right to participate in decision making.
KINKADE (voice-over): But the transition comes at a time of political turmoil in the country. The prime minister resigned in December after less than a year in office, following weeks of mass protests against corruption and a controversial 2026 budget proposal, which means Bulgaria's entry into the eurozone will be happening as the country tries to form a new government.
[00:40:10]
That's a lot of change in the new year, but one thing is certain: as of January 1, there will be a period of one month where there will be dual circulation of both the lev and the euro for payments.
And after that, the euro will be Bulgaria's sole legal tender, and the lev, part of the country's past.
Lynda Kinkade, CNN.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SANDOVAL: Well, from A-list stars to wealthy buyers, just pretty much looking for a fresh start, more and more Americans, they are calling Britain's idyllic Cotswolds region their home.
The area, it's pretty famous for its rolling hills and uniquely colored cottages. Anna Cooban went there to find out for herself why Americans want their own slice of the English country life.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ANNA COOBAN, CNN BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: I'm here in the Cotswolds. It's a region in the West of England, and it is a quintessential slice of English country life. And despite the really gray, drizzly weather here today, this part of
the world has become a big draw for Americans buying properties and starting new lives here. So, I've turned up to find out why.
DEBRA DREW, COTSWOLDS RESIDENT: I think the Americans have quite a romantic notion about the Cotswolds because of the honey-colored stone and the cottages. I think they think everyone in England lives in a stone cottage.
COOBAN: It's all -- it's all like this.
DREW: Yes. And it's always sunny.
COOBAN: And tell me. There's this trend of more and more Americans moving to the Cotswolds recently. Is this something you've noticed?
DREW: Oh my gosh, yes. It's in the press here every day. I think that -- I think the Brits are quite interested in the fleeing Americans. Oh!
COOBAN (voice-over): The Cotswolds is a protected area of natural beauty. It's about 100 miles West of London. Hop on a train, and you're there in a couple of hours. That proximity, combined, of course, with those famous rolling hills, makes it a magnet for lots of famous people.
For centuries, the region was at the center of Britain's wool trade. Today, it is sprinkled with many well-known names. Kate Moss has had a place there since the early 2000s.
Here's David Beckham digging up vegetables on his Cotswolds estate.
But in 2024, U.S. comedian Ellen DeGeneres really helped put the region on the map for Americans when she moved there with wife Portia de Rossi.
HARRY GLADWIN, BUYING AGENT, "THE BUYING SOLUTION": Over the last 12, 18 months, we've seen about 30 percent increase in the number of Americans registering with us, wanting help with their purchases.
But it's not a cheap part of the world to buy in. There is a premium, because it's an incredibly popular location. Really, you could look at anything from a smaller cottage for around 1 million pounds through to sky's the limit.
LAUREN NEELY, COTSWOLDS RESIDENT: Hi, there!
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: How are you?
NEELY: I'm well. How are you?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Usual for you today?
NEELY: Yes, please.
Thanks so much. It's been a 15-year dream in the making. My husband and I fell in love with the U.K. way of life. We love the weather. We loved the architecture, the history, even the food.
It looks quite a bit like home. I'm from Pennsylvania, so it's not that different as far as rolling, gentle hills, fertile land.
COOBAN: The Cotswolds has quite a reputation in the U.K. for being very well-to-do. Has that been what you've experienced? How does the reality compare with the impression?
NEELY: I think the impression is correct. These homes are much bigger than they look from the lanes, and they're very private.
That being said, well-to-do means the people have wonderful etiquette. They're very inclusive. They have wonderful manners.
Yes, everyone's just been so friendly and so gracious. Everyone's very down to earth. They have a dog; they take walks. They come to the local pub. They're just people.
Painswick feels like I went to bed and woke up in the middle of a Christmas Hallmark movie. The stone walls and the architecture.
It just feels like comfort in a time when the world needs more of that. So, we moved here in May, and it's been a dream.
COOBAN (voice-over): You know, I think I understand what all the fuss is about now.
Anna Cooban, CNN, the Cotswolds.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SANDOVAL: And with those pictures, so do we.
Dubai, they hosted a modern-day Battle of the Sexes tennis match this weekend. Ahead, why this high-profile exhibition didn't quite have the impact that the original one did.
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[00:49:20]
SANDOVAL: And welcome back to NEWSROOM.
Tributes, they are pouring in for famed French actress Brigitte Bardot, who died on Sunday. She was 91.
President Emmanuel Macron said that France is mourning a legend of the century, who embodied a life of freedom. Italy's prime minister [SIC], Matteo Salvini, called Bardot a timeless star.
Stephanie Elam has a look back at her life.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) STEPHANIE ELAM, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Brigitte Bardot attacked everything she did in life with brute force and fierce passion, and it was that quality, along with her flawless face, that made her one of the most captivating women in the world.
BRIGITTE BARDOT, ACTRESS: Always, I am -- I am myself, really myself. Even when I am playing. I don't play; I am myself.
[00:50:06]
ELAM (voice-over): A testament to her exceptional star power. The French icon didn't need to come to Hollywood to capture the hearts of American audiences. She played only bit parts in a few English- language films, including 1956 "Helen of Troy."
BARDOT: Shall I tell the King you said that?
ELAM (voice-over): And 1965's "Dear Brigette," in which she played herself opposite Jimmy Stewart.
BARDOT: May I join you?
JIMMY STEWART, ACTOR: Well, you certainly may.
BARDOT: You know, I haven't met a fellow out here in more than a year that wasn't flat broke.
ELAM (voice-over): Always one to leave them wanting, the actress turned her back on the flashing lights at age 38, making her final film in 1973.
But her star continued to shine.
Bardot's effortless glamor situated her among art and fashion royalty. It was her influence that brought the bikini out of obscurity. Her classic bouffant still inspires copycats.
Her face inspired Warhol and became the likeness of France's national emblem, Marianne, Goddess of Liberty.
Bardot first became an international sensation after starring in Roger Vadim's French new wave film "And God Created Woman."
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You'd make a good wife, wouldn't you?
BARDOT: I suppose so, someday.
ELAM (voice-over): Vadim, so enchanted by the young siren, married her when she was just 18 years old. The marriage was her first of four.
But Bardot's most famous relationship was with a man she never wed: the legendary musician Serge Gainsbourg. The brief coupling led to the creation of several songs in the '60s and '70s.
In 2003, she incited anger and disappointment among many fans by writing a book, "Un Cri dans le Silence," or "A Cry in Silence," which took aim at France's unemployed, gays, and Muslims.
Bardot was several times convicted of inciting racial and religious hatred, paying her largest fine in 2008: over 23,000 USD.
She was also feverishly passionate about the rights of animals. In 1986, she established the Brigitte Bardot Foundation for the Welfare and Protection of Animals.
And in 2013, the aging star threatened to leave France and move to Russia in protest of the pending euthanasia of two zoo elephants suspected of having contracted tuberculosis.
As proof of her everlasting influence, the elephants were granted reprieve.
Bardot said in a 2019 memoir that she felt suffocated by her fame, but that a love of animals gave her comfort and a new calling.
"Humans have hurt me," she wrote, "and it is only with animals, with nature that I found peace."
As an activist, as an artist, Brigitte Bardot played her parts to the fullest by being true to herself.
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SANDOVAL: Look at some of these pictures here. The Olympic torch making its way across Italy before next year's winter games.
The 21st leg of the relay took the torch to the city of Potenza, in the mountains just East of Naples.
The 2026 Winter Olympics, they are scheduled to begin in Milan on February 6.
And this weekend in Dubai, event organizers billed a high-profile tennis exhibition match as a modern-day Battle of the Sexes but didn't have the cultural stakes of the 1973 original one, which has gone down in history as a defining moment in the sport.
[00:55:08]
So, this event landed more as a -- pretty much as a spectacle than a statement. CNN's Don Riddell explains.
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DON RIDDELL, CNN SPORTS ANCHOR/CORRESPONDENT: It's been 52 years now since the famous Battle of the Sexes, when Billie Jean King beat Bobby Riggs at the Houston Astrodome.
More than half a century later, another Battle of the Sexes. On Sunday in Dubai, Aryna Sabalenka went head-to-head with Nick Kyrgios. Now, to set the scene for you, Sabalenka is on top of her game. She's won four Grand Slam titles, including the U.S. Open in September. She is the world No. 1 female right now.
Kyrgios, on the other hand, has never won a major title, and his ranking has plummeted because of recent injuries. He's actually only played a handful of games this year.
But there is so much disparity between the way that men and women strike the ball that the organizers reduced the size of Sabalenka's half of the court to level the playing field.
Neither player was given a second serve.
They broke each other throughout the opening set, and although Kyrgios seemed to be tiring halfway through the match, he ultimately won it in straight sets, six-three, six-three.
ARYNA SABALENKA, WOMEN'S WORLD NO. 1 TENNIS PLAYER: I think it was a great level. I made a lot of great shots, moved a lot to the net, great drop shots. Nick, great serving.
And yes, really enjoyed the show. And I think -- not I think; I feel like next time I'm -- when I play him, I already know the tactic. I know his strength, his weaknesses. And it's going to be a better match, for sure.
NICK KYRGIOS, TENNIS PLAYER: I had to strap in, because she was putting the pressure on. She -- she was hitting some amazing shots. And honestly, I would -- I would love to play her again. And -- and showcase her talent and also what I have left in the tank.
But ultimately, it was -- it was a really hard-fought battle. And there was breaks back and forth. And I think this is a great stepping stone forward for the sport of tennis.
RIDDELL (voice-over): This match did not capture the world's attention like the original in 1973, nor did it feel like there was as much riding on the outcome. It was an exhibition match with a twist.
But both players said they enjoyed it. They said they'd be open to a rematch, and it's clear that --
RIDDELL: -- Sabalenka thinks the next time, she could win it.
Back to you.
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SANDOVAL: Appreciate you watching. I'm Polo Sandoval in Atlanta. I'll join you again in just a few minutes with more CNN NEWSROOM.
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