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One World with Zain Asher
Hong Kong's Deadliest Fire in Decades Kills At Least 75; Two National Guard Members Shot Near the White House; DC Shooter Suspect is Rahmanullah Lakanwal, Afghan National; Pope Leo on Six-Day Trip to Turkey & Lebanon. Aired 11a-12p ET
Aired November 27, 2025 - 11:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[11:00:00]
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ZAIN ASHER, CNN HOST, ONE WORLD: All right, coming to you live from New York. I'm Zain Asher. Bianna Golodryga is off today. You are watching "One
World". Buildings are still smoldering, more than a day off, the deadliest fire in Hong Kong since World War Two.
The death toll has climbed to 75 after the blaze race through several high- rise buildings in the apartment complex. Nearly 300 people are unaccounted for. And crews are working to rescue those who still may be trapped amid
the grief. More questions are being raised about whether this disaster could have been prevented.
The apartment complex was under renovation and encased in bamboo scaffolding and safety netting. Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee says the
city is meeting to discuss a move to metal scaffolding and has ordered inspections of all housing estates undergoing significant renovations in
the city.
Hundreds of those displaced are still in emergency shelters across the city. Take a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JASON KONG, APARTMENT RESIDENT: I'm devastated. There are so many neighbors and friends. I don't know what's going on anymore. All the apartments are
just burning. I don't know what to do. I hope the government can help us to settle down after this.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ASHER: CNN's Hanako Montgomery is in Hong Kong, and she filed this report.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
HANAKO MONTGOMERY, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): A public housing complex in Hong Kong charred with pockets of fire still burning more than 24 hours
after catastrophic blaze left dozens dead and hundreds more missing in what is the city's worst fire disaster in decades.
Emergency officials laid out the herculean task that is facing them as they desperately try to find survivors.
WONG KA WING, HONG KONG DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF FIRE SERVICES: The temperature is very high in the fire ground, and the inside layout is very complex
because the scaffolding is collapsed.
MONTGOMERY (voice-over): That bamboo scaffolding and safety netting were encasing the eight residential towers which were under renovation. Those
structures were already on fire by the time firefighters arrived on the scene on Wednesday afternoon. And while the exact cause of this deadly
inferno that left from building to building has yet to be determined.
The city's Chief Secretary for Administration was quick to acknowledge the questions swirling around the bamboo scaffolding, saying that the
government is working on fully switching to metal scaffolding. A criminal investigation has been launched, and a police spokesperson said that three
men who worked for a construction company have been arrested on suspicion of manslaughter in relation to the fire.
Many of those who were able to escape looked on in disbelief as the place they used to call home went up in flames.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: As for my feelings, honestly, I don't even know how I feel right now, just taking things one step at a time. Now I'm just
thinking about where I'm going to sleep tonight, because I probably won't be able to go back home.
MONTGOMERY (voice-over): They're now having to take refuge in temporary accommodation and start over.
MONTGOMERY: We're at one of the nine shelters that have now popped up across Hong Kong. And according to the local authorities, at least 500
people are using the shelters because, again, they don't have any homes to return to. These volunteers are collecting a lot of food and also water and
heat protections to give out to these individuals who lost their homes.
MONTGOMERY (voice-over): And as shock turns to grief, the search for answers goes on. Hanako Montgomery, CNN, Hong Kong.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ASHER: Right at this hour, two National Guard members are in critical condition after a gunman opened fire on them. And we're learning new
details, not only about the suspect, but the victims as well. The shooting happened on Wednesday afternoon just blocks away from the White House.
Police say the two West Virginia Guard members were taking part in high visibility patrols when the man described as an Afghan national approached
them and opened fire. Fellow guard members then subdued the suspect. The U.S. Attorney identified the victims as Sarah Beckstrom and Andrew Wolfe
both of them had been sworn in the previous day.
A witness video captured the victims receiving first aid at the scene. We want to warn you that many of you might may find this video disturbing.
[11:05:00]
Attorney General Pam Bondi says she was seeking the death penalty for the alleged shooter who was injured the suspect Rahmanullah Lakanwal previously
worked in Afghanistan with the U.S. government, including the CIA. That's according to the agency's director. President Donald Trump now wants
reexamination of all Afghans who came during the Biden Administration.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: This heinous assault was an act of evil and act of hatred and an act of terror. It was a
crime against our entire nation. It was a crime against humanity. I have directed the Department of War to mobilize an additional 500 troops to help
protect our capital city.
We will make America totally safe again, and we will bring the perpetrator of this barbaric attack to swift and certain justice.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ASHER: Brian Todd joins us live now from Washington, from the scene, actually. So, Brian, just walk us through what we know so far a about the
suspect, this Afghan national, but also about a possible motive too?
BRIAN TODD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Right, Zain, well, we asked them specifically about a possible motive and whether they've been able to give
us new information about what motivated this attack. They said they really have not gotten information or not been able to at least whatever
information they've gotten, they haven't been able to give it to us.
We did hear that the suspect himself is in a local hospital being treated for injuries. We also were told last night that he is not cooperating with
authorities. Now, as we get more information about how the attack unfolded, I can kind of set the scene for you. We have a better vantage point now of
the scene where the shooting occurred.
It's right across the street here. This is the Farragut West metro station in Washington, the shooting occurred right basically at that corner, right
outside this metro station where authorities say the shooter came around a corner. It must have been that corner, but we're not sure exactly which
direction he came in.
But he came around a corner, started shooting at the guardsmen, according to sources, before they even knew he was there. We were told that one of
the guardsmen at least tried to take cover behind that bus shelter right there. And in addition, Jeanine Pirro, the Attorney General for Washington,
DC, gave additional information as to how exactly the attack unfolded. Take a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JEANINE PIRRO, U.S. ATTORNEY FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA: A lone gunman opened fire without provocation, ambush style, armed with a 357 Smith and
Wesson revolver, one guardsman is struck, goes down, and then the shooter leans over and strikes the guards man again.
Another guardsman is struck several times. Fellow guardsmen who were there responded, immediately engaging the suspect, neutralizing the threat and
subduing him at the scene.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
TODD: And we do have new information also on the guard's members who were shot. They are 20-year-old Sarah Beckstrom and 24-year-old Andrew Wolfe,
both members of the West Virginia National Guard. Officials at that news conference said that those two were sworn in less than 24 hours before the
shooting occurred. And we do have identification on the suspect.
He has identified as 29-year-old Rahmanullah Lakanwal, an Afghan national. He lived in Bellingham, Washington, according to Jeanine Pirro, with his
wife, and what Pirro said, we believe are his five children. She said that he drove across the United States with the intent to come to DC and commit
a crime like this.
Kash Patel, the FBI Director, said that warrants were executed overnight in Bellingham, Washington, at the suspects home, and also in San Diego,
California. We tried to get more information as to whether there might be accomplices or relationships that he might have had in San Diego, and
officials would not answer that question.
He does face three counts of assault with intent to kill while armed. Those counts carry life, excuse me, imprisonment of up to 15 years in prison. He
also faces one count of possession of a firearm with intent to commit violence. In addition, Zain, I asked officials at that news conference
about a post by Tulsi Gabbard, the Director of National Intelligence, she posted this morning that the suspect was a radicalized Afghan terrorist.
Excuse me, a radicalized Islamist, Afghan terrorist. I asked officials there what information they had about that how he could have possibly
gotten radicalized. They did not answer that question, Zain.
ASHER: Right, Brian Todd, live for us. Thank you so much. Right, Pope Leo has wished Americans a happy Thanksgiving and mark the holiday with a
traditional pumpkin pie while traveling to Turkey for his first overseas visit. Upon arriving in Ankara earlier today, Leo laid a wreath at attacks
mausoleum before meeting with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
The pontiff later made an address to political leaders in Turkey where he warned countries against allowing World War Three to be fort piecemeal.
[11:10:00]
CNN's Salma Abdelaziz joins us live now from Near Ankara in Turkey. One of the things that the pope really wanted to sort of hammer home is just like
this idea of the importance of interfaith dialog, the importance of unity, the end to conflict, and also Turkey's important role as mediator in some
of these crises.
SALMA ABDELAZIZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: This is his first overseas trip, and we're really getting a sense of his message, his mission and his
personality as the first American Pope. We had this very beautiful moment on the plane where he wished Happy Thanksgiving to the American reporters
and accepted gifts of pumpkin pie and pecan pie.
But it was right down to business, of course, when he got to Ankara and had his one-on-one meeting with President Erdogan and then addressed officials
there at the palace. Take a listen to what he said.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
POPE LEO, HEAD OF CATHOLIC CHURCH: Today, more than ever, we need people who will promote dialog and practice it with firm will and patient resolve
in the aftermath of the tragedies of two world wars, which saw the building of large international organizations.
We are now experiencing a phase marked by heightened level of conflict on the global level, fueled by prevailing strategies of economic and military
power. This is enabling what Pope Francis called a Third World War fought piecemeal. We must in no way give in to this. The future of humanity is at
stake.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ABDELAZIZ: The first words that Pope Leo uttered after he was elected to the papacy was peace be upon you all. We're now seeing him put some force
behind those words. The very fact that his first overseas trip is to two Muslim majority nations speaks to his sense of that interfaith dialog, that
desire for unity, for harmony.
And here in Turkey, President Erdogan has played a key role in those mediation efforts. And that is something that he was very much
acknowledging in that message. But tomorrow is going to be about focusing on the Christian community here in Turkey. He has a very important event
acknowledging the Council of Nicaea's, 1,700th anniversary.
Now this is going to take place in what is the ancient City of Nicaea. It's just outside of Istanbul. He's going to be at this historical site. I
believe we have drone shots to show you. Part of that historical site is under water. It's going to be extremely picturesque. He's going to connect
with the spiritual leader of the Eastern Orthodox Community, which is based here in Istanbul.
So, it's going to be an important moment there for him to acknowledge this minority community's massive role in Catholicism. But also, an opportunity
to acknowledge that bridge that differences, which is something that he addressed again in his message, is that differences are a positive thing,
something that should lead to more harmony, and should lead to more unity.
So, tomorrow is sure to be a very poignant day. On Saturday, he's going to be at the Volkswagen Arena in Istanbul, holding masks for 4000 people. He's
expected to have a papal style golf buggy that will escort him around the stadium. This is a six-day visit that is meant to bring historical meaning,
significance, and most of all, to put emphasis on his message and showcase his personality, six months into his papacy.
ASHER: Right, Salma Abdelaziz is live for us there. Thank you so much. The EU parliament has backed a resolution objecting to substantial EU funding
for Tanzania. It follows a debate on Wednesday when members condemned Tanzanian authorities for a brutal crackdown on protests, including
killings and disappearances.
Thousands of people took to the streets in October, demonstrating against the official results of a widely criticized presidential election. CNN has
conducted its own exclusive investigation and found evidence of Tanzanian police opening fire at protesters, killing some of them.
The probe involved a forensic examination of video and satellite imagery. Joining us live now from Nairobi, Kenya is CNN's Larry Madowo. So, the EU's
response here is really part of the continued fallout from what happened in Tanzania on and around October 29th when security forces used an excessive
amount of force, killing a lot of protesters, after which the president, President Hassan, supposedly received 98 percent of the vote in that
election, which many people described as a mockery of democracy, Larry.
LARRY MADOWO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's right, Zain. The European Parliament is saying that they don't want to be funding a repression in
Tanzania, and they're saying, according to this resolution they passed today, that the election in Tanzania was neither free or fair.
President Samia Suluhu Hassan received 98 percent of the vote there, though many in Tanzania say there was no much.
[11:15:00]
There's not much of an election. That's not possible. The turnout number that declared was not possible. And CNN's investigation has shown police
using excessive force against protesters. They're killing some who did not pose a threat, some of whom were running away.
There are some who were killed while in their own places of business or even in their own homes. And what European lawmakers are now calling for is
for the European Commission to stop funding the government of Tanzania and to redirect that funding to human rights defenders, to civil society, who
are working to restore the democratic space in the country.
They're also calling for the European Commission to consider sanctions against those responsible for the recent Democratic backsliding in
Tanzania. I want you to listen to this one lawmaker.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CATARINA VIEIRA, MEMBER OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT: Tanzania is showing a deeply troubling pattern of repression and abuse. Critics like opposition
leaders, journalists and activists face threats, arbitrary arrests, extrajudicial killings and forced disappearances.
The government is shutting down free media and taking away people's basic rights to speak, gather and move.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MADOWO: Tanzania's main Opposition Leader, Tundu Lissu has been in prison since May charged with treason. If found guilty, he faces death penalty.
And he's not the only one. There's been many other critics of the government, opposition leaders who've been abducted or disappeared and
whose whereabouts remain unknown.
For instance, one former ambassador to Cuba, who began -- who resigned from his post, became a government critic, Humphrey Polepole. He's been missing
three weeks before the election. His family say he was abducted from a house in Dar es Salaam, and they do not know where he is.
And many in the country want an independent investigation into these claims of atrocities carried out during the election day and in the days after.
And the Tanzanian government has so far not agreed to do though. So, they have an independent, they have a commission of inquiry that's supposed to
be investigating the events.
And that week, when they shut down the internet, declared a curfew, and many of these killings are believed to have taken place, but they have not
acknowledged the killings in the country, given a death toll, or any of that, and they have attacked CNN's reporting this investigation that we
did, but they have not pointed out any single lie in all of our reporting, Zain.
ASHER: Yeah, there does need to be accountability. Larry Madowo, live for us there. Thank you so much. Right, relations between the U.S. and South
Africa continue to deteriorate under the Trump Administration, in an unprecedented move in G20 history, President Trump has announced on social
media that South Africa will be excluded from next year's summit set to take place in Miami.
He wrote that South Africa is not worthy of membership and that Washington will halt all payments and subsidies to Pretoria. This follows the U.S.
boycott of this year's G20 meeting in Johannesburg, which the White House justified with unfounded claims that South Africa is committing genocide
against white South Africans.
Nigeria is boosting its security forces after its president declared a national emergency on Wednesday, following recent surges in mass
abductions. President Bola Tinubu has ordered the military and police to recruit more personnel, with the police set to add an additional 20,000
officers, according to a government statement.
The move comes after more than 300 students were kidnapped in north central Nigeria last week, and after 25 female students were abducted from a
boarding school earlier this month. Russian President Vladimir Putin says he expects a U.S. delegation to arrive in Moscow early next week for what
he's calling serious discussion.
Speaking at its summit in Kyrgyzstan, Putin said U.S. President Trump's 28- point Ukraine peace plan could form the basis of future agreements. But that it was impolite to talk about final deals at this stage. Putin made no
mention, however, of the 19-point plan drawn up by Ukraine, U.S. and European officials in Geneva after the initial proposal was criticized as
being way too favorable to Moscow.
It comes as Ukraine says it's also expecting to meet with U.S. negotiators soon as according to Ukraine's Foreign Minister, who said his country is
looking for concrete results and progress from the next stage of talks. All right, Thanksgiving is underway where I am in the U.S., and parades are
happening across the country.
Will go live to New York City. And the illustrious may see a parade where Harry Enten is covering all the balloons float and the spectators. Stay
with us.
[11:20:00]
ASHER: The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade is taking New York by storm, winding its way through the streets of Manhattan. Around 3.5 million people
have actually lined along the path, along the parade route there. This year, 34 balloons, 28 floats, 11 marching bands, 33 clown crews, dancers
and singers.
So much more are bringing joy to Turkey Day. Let's go live to our favorite "One World" friend Harry Enten. Harry, dress as a turkey. Of course, I've
been waiting for some feel good news for the show, Harry, take it away.
HARRY ENTEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I got to tell you, I have good news for you. I'm the feel-good type of guy. Santa literally just passed us towards
the end of the parade. Let me tell you, Zain, this has been quite the adventure for me. I started at the top of the parade in the upper 70s and
Central Park West here in Manhattan.
I have walked well more than a mile. I think I've walked now two miles. I've walked basically the entire parade route. I'm at west where am I? I'm
at West 50 and Sixth Avenue. My goodness gracious, I'm right near Times Square. Look, we've seen a ton of great floats that have come by.
We've seen Snoopy, we've seen Mario, we've seen Tom the turkey. Of course, we have seen -- I mean, I all of the ones that just kind of come to mind.
They're all just so nuts. How many different parades that we've seen, different floats that we've seen? And of course, one of the key questions
here was whether or not the wind would interfere with the floats that we would have.
There was this big concern about the weather. Last year, I had to stand through the worst parade weather ever. It was rainy, it was cold, but
today, the wind has really held off, Zain. And more than that, I've met so many nice people in the crowd. I even had a cheering section for me at one
point where they were yelling, Harry, Harry, Harry, it made me feel very good.
I need that ego boost, which, of course, is why I appear on television with you. Now Zain, I do have a question for you. You ready?
ASHER: Go on. Tell me.
ENTEN: OK. Have you ever seen turkey cannibalism before?
ASHER: I have not.
ENTEN: OK, so then this is going to be the first experience for you. We're going to have some live turkey on turkey actually for you here on "One
World".
ASHER: Oh my god.
ENTEN: Here we go.
-- going -- do?
ENTEN: -- Here we -- of course, you never know what you're going to get from me. So here we go. I'm going to take a bite.
ASHER: Oh, my God.
ENTEN: Oh my god.
ASHER: Harry, dress as a turkey, eating turkey.
ENTEN: -- delicious my friend.
ASHER: Harry, you know what? I still can't get over what you told me. I think it was like a month ago that you are actually quite shy as a person.
ENTEN: Yeah.
ASHER: I just I do not believe it at all, especially the fact that you're out there talking to crowds and they're shouting your name. You're loving
it. We look at you. There's nothing shy about you, Harry.
ENTEN: No, I don't go up to the crowd, but when they call me --
ASHER: When they come to you, of course, yes -- when they come to me,
ENTEN: When they come to me, when my adoring crowds come to me, then I can speak.
ASHER: Yes.
ENTEN: But I can't go up to them and say hello, because that makes me very, very anxious, and that is why I'm very shy.
ASHER: Nervous --
ENTEN: One last one for you. For the road, Zain, I'm going to take one last bite for you, OK?
[11:25:00]
ASHER: -- hungry.
ENTEN: It's absolutely delicious. And Zain.
ASHER: Yes.
ENTEN: I just want to wish you a happy Thanksgiving.
ASHER: You are so sweet. You know, we're both working, but so much to be grateful for, right? I really wanted to be at home with my family today,
but I'm so grateful to be sharing this moment with you, Harry.
ENTEN: Exactly, right. But you know what? We are family here at CNN, and you will get home to your family soon enough. I will see my lovely
girlfriend -- give her a nice Thanksgiving kiss, and I will say hello from you. And I've also noticed some of my turkey parts were making my way onto
the mic, so maybe no more turkey bites for the rest of the day from me.
ASHER: I'd love to see you in that costume doing live shots in the studio. That's what I want to see when you get back. Harry Enten --
ENTEN: That sounds like a plan. I'll see you later
ASHER: Promise me that. I'll see you later, my dear, Happy Thanksgiving.
ENTEN: I promise. Bye.
ASHER: We'll have much more than Thanksgiving celebrations next hour when I speak with Kelly Nix, the Executive Director of Luvin Arms Animal
Sanctuary, where we'll discuss adopting a turkey instead of eating one like what Harry Enten was doing just there. Stay with CNN. There's much more
"One World" in about 30 minutes from now, but first CNN "Creators" is up next.
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