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Global Markets Bounced Back After Trump Pauses Reciprocal Tariffs; Independent Senator Bernie Sanders Answers Tough Questions in a CNN Town Hall; Pope Francis Meets the King and Queen of Britain in Vatican; Singapore's Changi is Still the World's Best Airport for 2025. Aired 3-4a ET
Aired April 10, 2025 - 03:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[03:00:00]
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ROSEMARY CHURCH, CNN ANCHOR: Hello and welcome to our viewers joining us from all around the world and everyone streaming us on CNN Max. I'm Rosemary Church.
Just ahead, global markets react to President Donald Trump's 90-day pause on reciprocal tariffs. We'll check in on Europe's stock prices as trading starts for the day.
And some people are asking what exactly made Mr. Trump change his mind, what the White House is saying about the abrupt shift in strategy.
Plus a budget vote delay in Congress as hardliners in the House shut down support for the Senate's bill. Why they say it doesn't achieve the administration's goals.
UNKNOWN (voice-over): Live from Atlanta, this is "CNN Newsroom" with Rosemary Church.
CHURCH: Thanks for joining us.
Well right now we are waiting to see how China will respond to the latest swipe from the U.S. in the growing trade war. The Trump administration hiked tariffs on Chinese imports to the U.S.
Up to a whopping 125 percent right as the U.S. President unexpectedly caved, pausing his aggressive new tariffs on most other countries for 90 days. A crisis in the bond market caused Trump to fold and then stock soared.
Here's a look at the main Asia Pacific markets which have been in positive territory. It's all looking good. They're Japan's Nikkei, up more than 9 percent.
Here in the U.S., the futures are in negative territory thereafter, of course soaring as it as the bell closed at 4:00. We'll see what happens when they open in a few hours from now. So after Donald Trump halted the tariffs Wall Street enjoyed its best
day in 16 years. But stocks remained lower than they were before all this economic turmoil. Despite the market gains economists say President Trump has done lasting damage to the world's sense of stability and Fears of a global recession have yet to fade.
More now from CNN's Jeff Zeleny.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JEFF ZELENY, CNN CHIEF U.S. NATIONAL AFFAIRS CORRESPONDENT: President Trump reversing course on Wednesday in dramatic fashion his sweeping tariff policy revealed one thing above all else. His threshold for political pain was one week.
After day after day after his advisers and the president himself has said he would not put a pause on this sweeping tariff plan. That is exactly what he did and it sent the financial markets soaring. Of course after they have been falling for day after day for nearly a week's time.
The president as we asked him in the South Lawn of the White House explained it like this.
REPORTER: Can you walk us through you're thinking about why you have decided to put a 90-day pause?
DONALD TRUMP, U.S. PRESIDENT: Well, I thought that people were jumping a little bit out of line. They were getting yippee (ph), you know, they're getting a little bit yippee (ph), a little bit afraid.
REPORTER: You said that these tariffs would go in effect on Monday. You said no pause. Today, there is a pause.
So, who can people believe you?
TRUMP: It's not a question of that you have to have flexibility I could say here's a wall and I'm going to go through that wall. I'm going to go through it no matter what keep going and you can't go through the wall. Sometimes you have to be able to go under the wall around the wall or over the wall.
ZELENY: But we're learning there actually was a growing alarm inside the Treasury Department and indeed here at the White House about the bond markets, the weakening of the dollar. So that is one of the many things the president acknowledged led him to put a pause on tariffs until July except China.
The trade war with China is still very much underway. The percentage is now at 125 percent for China goods coming here. Now, the question is when will that end will it end who will blink first the president asked directly about that? He said he believes China wants to make a deal. There has been zero indication of from President Xi that he is willing to blink.
So the bottom line here is the U.S. now and China in a trade war even as other countries are hit with a 10 percent tariff as the market still rattled now recovers.
Jeff Zeleny, CNN, the White House.
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CHURCH: And we are watching the response all over the world. CNN's Melissa Bell is standing by live in Paris, but we begin with our Steven Jiang in Beijing. So Steven, how will China likely respond to President Trump raising tariffs on Chinese goods to 125 percent?
[03:05:01]
STEVEN JIANG, CNN BEIJING BUREAU CHIEF: That's right, Rosemary. There is a foreign ministry as well as a commerce ministry briefing going on as we speak. So, let's see what Chinese officials will say.
Are they going to take a breath, waiting for a while or even trying to arrange a phone call between the two leaders as President Trump suggested himself or are they going to feel compelled again to respond in kind?
But you know, even though Trump claims China's panicking desperate to talk to him, a lot of experts have pointed to the opposite, that is Beijing has been very calibrated and deliberate in their response so far and they have been studying Trump for a long time. And also watching closely how he deals with other trading partners in the consensus and the conclusion here seems to be more concessions will only invite more pressure.
So the only language Trump understands and respects is leverage. That's why especially now Trump has single China out. This is going to reinforce this notion here that the ultimate strategic goal of all the tariffs is actually to contain and suppress China, so the more likely scenario now to play out according to many experts is China standing firm absorbing pressure while trying to let Trump overplay his hands.
Now -- as of now of course the 84 percent additional Chinese tariffs on American imports have also kicked in and that is part of their broader retaliation package and perhaps more importantly they've also been very much focusing on doing their own things in their words that is to rewiring this economy and its trade ties turning pressure into motivation according to what a state media they have
Also been trying to pour more money in these key sectors and trying to pivot their export markets of their goods to other places outside the U.S. Most importantly, trying to drive up further domestic consumption to really transform their growth model all of this of course is going to take time, but when you talk about having their people convincing their people to endure pain? I mean, short-term pain, a lot of experts would agree the Chinese political system is probably better equipped compared to what the U.S.
And the President Xi Jinping himself has told young Chinese people, for example while Rosemary to learn to eat bitterness. Rosemary.
CHURCH: Right. So Melissa, let's go to you now in Paris and Europe markets have just opened. What's the reaction there?
MELISSA BELL, CNN SR. INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well for the moment from the Commission at least we're hearing a great deal of relief, welcoming the fact that this news has come this 90-day pause. Of course it does nothing to remove the uncertainty about the future.
And Ursula von der Leyen, in her statement, insists on the fact that the E.U. is going to continue to pursue very aggressively what it has been, what's been its strategy for the last few weeks faced with this looming trade war and that is to continue to seek further growth with the 83 percent of global trade that does not involve the United States.
So in that sense a lot of the damage to America and its credibility is done. I remember also that yesterday Europeans were voting on their answer to the initial wave of tariffs from Washington which had been on steel and aluminum. They voted in favor of those tariffs, so they will go into effect.
So this doesn't resolve everything, there is another round of tariffs on European goods, cars and auto parts in particular, that Europeans will consider next. This 90-day pause of course applies simply to the reciprocal tariffs, and that is of course what the Europeans had been about to consider they were looking towards negotiations, but warning that they could go much further than simply retaliatory measures regarding goods that they could be looking at services as well, which would have done harm to American big tech and potentially American banks.
All that now on pause but really what the 90 days will allow is certainly the Europeans to consider with more serenity and a bit more time. The question of what they do after the 90 days and should those reciprocal tariffs come back as to the market in your question. They are opening here in Europe slightly in the green this morning a reflection of that hope that investors markets had been looking for something to cling to.
And certainly that very dramatic pause from Washington yesterday on what would have been a much more sweeping and serious bunch of tariffs than those we've seen in those first two rounds. I certainly suggest that's given them some sigh of relief and a moment for the markets to correct themselves. Rosemary.
CHURCH: Our thanks to Melissa Bell in Paris, Stephen Jiang in Beijing. I appreciate it.
Well U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders delivered a wholesale rejection of President Trump's escalating trade wars on Wednesday night. In a CNN Town Hall, the independent lawmaker from Vermont criticized the Trump administration's economic policy and he condemned what he called a quote "horrific drift toward oligarchy and authoritarianism."
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(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) SEN. BERNIE SANDERS (I-VT): There is a lot of anxiety out there there's a lot of fear. People in the richest country in the history of the world are wondering why 60 percent of our people are living paycheck-to-paycheck.
Do all of you guys know what paycheck to paycheck is? All right, you know, I grew up in a family that was living paycheck-to-paycheck and one of the manifestations of living paycheck-to-paycheck is working- class people in America now live six years shorter lives than the rich.
Anyone have an idea why that is? Poverty, and what else? Stress.
When you are living paycheck-to-paycheck and you're wondering whether you can pay the rent whether you could provide, get your kid to a doctor when you need to. That eats away at your mind that it eats away in your body and you die younger.
And what I have seen, Anderson, all over this country is people living under incredible stress wondering why in the richest country in the world they can't afford health care. They can't afford child care.
Why the cost of housing is soaring and in the midst of all of that while 60 percent of our people are living paycheck-to-paycheck? Why is it that three people on top now own more wealth than the bottom half of American society?
And you got some zillionaire named Mr. Musk going all over Washington D.C. dismantling Social Security and the Veterans Administration.
Tariffs used selectively are a good idea if they're going to protect American jobs. But to arbitrarily out of nowhere come up with a tariff that they can't even justify or explain. So virtually every country on earth is absolutely counterproductive.
The immediate harm is going to be very significant and it is going to I was just in Target the other day buying something and I looked around there virtually all of those products sold in stores like Target are going to see significant increases in prices if Trump gets his way with tariffs, that's going to hurt working people a whole lot.
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CHURCH: U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson delayed a key vote on a budget bill until later today as Republicans feud over spending cuts in the legislation. GOP leaders failed to convince holdouts to vote for the bill on Wednesday Despite a push from President Trump.
Some lawmakers are demanding deeper spending cuts and say the bill is not viable in its current form.
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REP. CHIP ROY (R-TX): They haven't put any guardrails on their budget and yet they've done a one-way ratchet on taxes. So they're fine saying that they'll unlimited tax cuts, but they're unwilling to say that they'll do spending cuts, which is phony math.
REP. ANDY BIGGS (R-AZ): The plan is unserious. I think is the bottom line. We got a $2.25 trillion a year structural deficit to be addressed and they're not really addressing.
MANU RAJU, CNN CHIEF CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Are you going to vote for the budget resolution today?
REP. TIM BURCHETT (R-TN): Not currently as it's drafted. No, I have some concerns about the spending.
I don't know why we're bringing it up for a vote right now. It clearly doesn't have the votes.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CHURCH: The bill is a key part of the president's agenda But House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries slammed the GOP Saying Republicans are fighting with each other and quote "not working for the American people."
CNN senior political analyst Ron Brownstein joins me now. Good to have you with us.
RON BROWNSTEIN, CNN SR. POLITICAL ANALYST: Hi Rosemary.
CHURCH: So the biggest news of the day, of course is Trump's tariff reversal while the markets are overjoyed for now at least. And Donald Trump tries to take a victory lap for skyrocketing U.S. Stocks. What's the political fallout for him tanking the markets?
BROWNSTEIN: Yes, you remember back in the Clinton administration? There was a famous quote from James Carlyle, the Democratic political consultant said, if I ever there was reincarnation I used to want to come back as the President or the Pope, but I've decided to rather come back as the bond market because you can intimidate everyone.
I mean Trump, you know And I think in trade in general has run into a force that he just can't intimidate the same way he has Columbia University or some of the law firms. I mean other countries have pushed back. Obviously the markets have pushed back.
I think there is a lasting cost for Trump. First of all, he hasn't undone all of the tariffs. I mean, you know, we're still looking at elevated tariffs on our three largest trading partners: Canada, Mexico and above all China.
There are tariffs on cars and larger tariffs may be coming on pharmaceuticals. The concern among voters I think is not going to be completely eliminated by this even if markets have recovered. But I also think that just that the sheer kind of chaos here of the swerving one way and then the other way is undermining what was continuing to undermine what was his strongest asset in his first term, which was confidence in his management of the economy.
[03:14:54] CHURCH: And why did Trump change his mind on his tariff policy? I mean just hours after indicating he was sticking firmly to his plan. Was it the bond market as you mentioned conservative media outlets perhaps business leaders or someone or something else that prompted him to stop to hit the pause button?
BROWNSTEIN: So, you know, I think that as I think we've talked about this before I mean, there's always been kind of a left hand and a right hand in the way Trump world talks about tariffs. I mean many of the people around him talk about them primarily as a negotiating tool, you know, as a way to get other countries to do what you want to pressure them on issues relating to trade and other issues.
And then Trump usually and I think this is where his heart is, talks about them as a good in themselves as a way of fundamentally rebalancing the international economy and convincing or coercing American companies to shift more manufacturing jobs to the U.S.
I think that is as I said where his heart is, I think, he wants to have permanent tariffs, but there are very few others in his coalition who share that view and, you know, when you get the kind of uproar that we have seen in stock markets and more lit more recently the bond markets. There are a lot of people who gave him a lot of money to be President who are losing a lot of money and making that known I think not only to the administration, but to Republicans in Congress who remain remarkably silent.
So I don't think this tension is over by any means. I think this is a tactical retreat as I said, he's left in place a lot of significant tariffs and he fundamentally wants to impose lasting tariffs. I don't think he views them as a negotiating tool, and so I don't think this is the last time he's going to put his hand over the stove.
CHURCH: And Ron, turning quickly to another big issue the house GOP leadership delayed a critical vote on the budget bill for Trump's agenda due to insufficient support. What does that signal to you?
BROWNSTEIN: Well, look, this is the tension. I mean, you know, there are Republican, there's a handful of Republican conservatives, probably a couple dozen in the house, who see this bill as their opportunity not only to cut taxes and extend the Trump tax cuts and call it a day which is probably would be satisfactory to a lot of other Republicans in Congress.
But to make large cuts in spending particularly to federal health care programs and Medicaid above all. And you know, we'll see how tough they hang. But to the extent they do they are forcing Republicans into a strategy that they've avoided in the big tax cuts of the 21st century whether it was the two Bush tax cuts or the Trump tax cuts Republicans have kept their tax cuts far away from cuts in spending programs.
What the house Republicans Conservatives are demanding is a return to the strategy of the 1990s when Newt Gingrich tied together big spending cuts with tax cuts including in Medicaid and a distant kind of processor of today and Bill Clinton used that to really revive his presidency basically arguing Republicans are cutting Programs for the middle class to fund tax cuts for the rich.
That's what Democrats are poised to argue again. There are Republicans who are leery of going down that road. But these house conservatives are at the moment at least demanding that as the price for giving the votes they need to cut the taxes in the first place.
CHURCH: Ron Brownstein, thanks for joining us. I appreciate it.
BROWNSTEIN: Thanks for having me.
CHURCH: Still to come, President Trump signed executive orders targeting two former officials who criticized him during his first term. We'll take a look at that.
Plus U.S. Health Secretary and vaccine skeptic Robert F Kennedy Jr. is now urging Americans to get vaccinated against measles as an outbreak in the U.S. continues to spread. Back with that and more in just a moment.
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CHURCH: President Trump said he would use the Justice Department to go after two officials who criticized him during his first term. Another sign of his willingness to punish those that he perceives as his enemies.
Mr. Trump signed executive orders stripping Miles Taylor and Chris Krebs of any security clearance that the former officials may still hold; he aired his grievances about the two men in the Oval Office on Wednesday.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: I said who the hell is Miles Taylor? And I think what he did he wrote a book anonymous said all sorts of lies bad things. I think it's a very important case and I think he's guilty of treason if you want to know the truth this guy Krebs was saying oh the election was great. It was great.
Well, we're going to find out about this guy, too. Because this guy's a wise guy.
He said we've improved. This is the most secure election in the history of our country. Now this was a disaster.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CHURCH: Miles Taylor worked at the Department of Homeland Security He gained prominence after admitting he wrote an op-ed in the "New York Times" that said he was part of the quote "resistance against President Trump." The Trump administration is also taking aim at another perceived
enemy. The Justice Department said employees are not allowed to spend money to engage with the American Bar Association. AIT sided with firms Targeted by some of President Trump's previous executive orders.
Well U.S. Officials tell CNN the Trump administration is preparing to send more migrants to El Salvador's notorious mega prison. This comes after the Supreme Court ruled to allow the Trump administration to continue using a wartime authority for deportations but added that migrants must be given adequate notice to challenge their deportations.
This has spurred lawsuits in some parts of the U.S. On Wednesday federal judges in New York and Texas Issued orders to temporarily halt the deportation of Venezuelan plaintiffs.
U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy is urging Americans to get vaccinated against measles as an outbreak of the disease is now reaching close to 600 cases across multiple states. CNN's Jacqueline Howard has their report.
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[03:25:04]
JACQUELINE HOWARD, CNN HEALTH REPORTER: In his first sit-down T.V. interview as Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said quote "We encourage people to get the measles vaccine."
Keep in mind He is someone who has previously made anti-vaccine comments in the past. But here's what he had to say in this latest interview with CBS News.
ROBERT F. KENNEDY JR., U.S. HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES SECRETARY: I encourage people to get the measles vaccine. Federal government's decision, my decision says people should get the measles vaccine.
HOWARD: Right after that comment, RFK Jr. went on to say that he believes the government should not mandate vaccinations and public health experts say it's a good thing that he is encouraging people to get vaccinated.
But many experts argue that he should outright recommend the measles vaccine. Many experts say they were hoping he would issue an urgent plea for people to get vaccinated, especially as the nation continues to fight an ongoing measles outbreak, and this outbreak is spreading primarily among unvaccinated children.
The outbreak which originated in Texas, based on the latest numbers. We know Texas has reported more than 500 cases so far, New Mexico has reported at least 56 cases, Oklahoma has reported 10 cases, and Kansas 24 cases have been reported.
That health officials say may be linked to the ongoing outbreak and public health experts worry that this outbreak will continue to spread. We know the measles virus is so contagious if an infected person coughs or sneezes the virus can linger in the air for up to two hours even after that person has left the room.
That's why many public health officials say that there could be more cases out there tied to this outbreak. Back to you.
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CHURCH: U.S. investors breathe a sigh of relief after Donald Trump decides to reverse course on his reciprocal tariffs. More on our top story, next.
Plus, one of China's highest ranking military officers disappears from the public eye. We'll tell you why it could be a strategic move by President Xi Jinping. Back in just a moment.
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CHURCH: Welcome back to "CNN Newsroom." I'm Rosemary Church. I want to check today's top stories for you.
Donald Trump says he's ordered a 90-day pause on his reciprocal tariffs, except for China. The country will now see tariff rates rise to a whopping 125 percent as the U.S. President ratchets up his trade war with Beijing. The move is meant to put pressure on China to come to the negotiating table.
But so far, China is not backing down. On Wednesday, as Trump's tariffs on Chinese imports took effect, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said the country will never accept what it calls bullying behavior, and is promising to take quote "resolute and effective measures to safeguard its rights and interests." China's retaliatory tariffs of 84 percent on imports of U.S. goods is now in effect.
The tariff pause sent U.S. stocks skyrocketing. On Wednesday, all three major indices saw their best day in years. The Dow jumped almost 7.9 percent, while the S&P 500 gained 9.5 percent and the tech-heavy Nasdaq soared over 12 percent.
CNN's Richard Quest is following the market reaction from New York and has details.
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RICHARD QUEST, CNN BUSINESS EDITOR-AT-LARGE: Well, what the difference a day makes. The second best performance for the Nasdaq and the highest points gain for the Dow Jones Industrials. And for good reason, as President Trump delays the reciprocal tariffs by 90 days.
The relief was widespread. The damage that could have been done to major trading partners like the E.U., Japan, South Korea, the U.K., has been put on hold in a sense, or at least the worst of it has been.
For China, there was no such relief. In fact, the news got worse. Tariffs there raised to 125 percent.
And now we're just waiting to see whether the Chinese government is going to match those higher tariffs tit-for-tat. After all, let's not forget, the Chinese have said they're going to sit this through right to the bitter end, whatever that might mean.
For Donald Trump, the reasons why he postponed the tariffs, well, we got a glimpse of that. He said people were starting to get yippee (ph), that they were queasy, that there had to be flexibility in the policy.
In other words, people were starting to get seriously worried about the loss of wealth. And that meant the policy had to at least adapt, give people a bit more room.
But we are not out of the woods by any means. There are still tariffs of 10 percent, auto tariffs, steel and aluminum tariffs, and a whole host of other promises of things to come.
Richard Quest, CNN, New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
CHURCH: As far as the massive tariff hike on China, the U.S. Secretary of Commerce says he won't be discussing the matter with Beijing. That job will fall to President Trump himself, according to Howard Lutnick.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
HOWARD LUTNICK, U.S. SECRETARY OF COMMERCE: I'm not engaging with them. Scott has not engaged with them.
And the president, you know, he does expect to have conversations with President Xi. But that is between them. If we get a contact, we will just pass it to the president.
This is really about him. He has said publicly that maybe they don't really know the best way to go through.
But the answer really is, it's a phone call between the two leaders of these giant countries and that they can work it out together.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CHURCH: In the background of the global trade war, the second highest ranking official in China's army has disappeared from the public eye. His absence from a recent high profile event is fueling concerns he may be the latest and most senior official to be dismissed by President Xi Jinping.
CNN's Will Ripley has details.
[03:35:04]
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) WILL RIPLEY, CNN SR. INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Every spring in Beijing, Chinese leader Xi Jinping and his powerful inner circle plant trees, a carefully choreographed ritual to mark National Arbor Day. More importantly, it signals unity and strength at the top.
But this year, there's an unsettling omission. One of China's most powerful military men is missing. General He Weidong, seen here taking part last year, but not this year.
The general seems to be missing in action. Speculation is swirling. He may be the latest and highest ranking disappearance in Xi's deepening purge of the two million-strong People's Liberation Army.
Since the summer of 2023, more than a dozen top military officials have vanished or been ousted, including two defense ministers and leaders of China's nuclear capable rocket force. General He is not just any officer. He's one of two vice chairmen of the Central Military Commission, the PLA's top authority, led by Xi himself.
Their connection runs deep, going back decades. He once led China's Western Theater Command near India, later the Eastern Theater Command, which would spearhead any invasion of Taiwan. He oversaw troops simulating Taiwan blockades and warplanes flying near the island almost daily.
RIPLEY: And when someone that powerful just disappears from public view without even a word from China's defense ministry, it could have huge implications well beyond the Chinese mainland, from here in Taipei to Washington.
RIPLEY (voice-over): The latest mystery echoes the case of Qin Gang, China's former foreign minister who vanished in 2023. Here he is with then U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, weeks before disappearing, then losing his job amid rumors about his personal life.
General Li Xiangfu, seen here with Vladimir Putin, was China's face at global security summits as defense minister. Here he is in Singapore meeting top U.S. officials. Two months later, he was gone.
At the heart of the current purge, China's missile command and military procurement closely watched by the Pentagon. With U.S.-China tensions rising and an all-out trade war unfolding, Xi Jinping has made one thing clear, loyalty is non-negotiable.
But as these disappearances mount, so do the questions.
Why is China's military still plagued by corruption after more than a decade of Xi's anti-graft campaign? If even his most trusted generals are not safe, who could be next to disappear?
RIPLEY: So why is Xi cracking down? Is he worried that his military might crumble if a conflict were to break out here in Taiwan, just like Russia's military did in Ukraine?
Some think that China's military might be in real trouble. Certainly observers here in Taipei, they look at things like corruption running deep, commanders selling promotions, taking bribes, even running side hustles. They believe it may have hollowed out the force from within.
Even questions of whether the weapons systems themselves may be compromised. And then, of course, the big issue, if loyalty to the party actually matters more than actual military skill.
Will Ripley, CNN, Taipei.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
CHURCH: Still to come, dozens of Palestinians remain trapped or missing under the rubble of a residential building after a deadly Israeli airstrike. The latest from Gaza next.
Plus, Germany's new chancellor has formed a coalition government. Just ahead, His plans to revive the German economy and respond to the Trump tariffs. Back in just a moment.
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[03:40:00]
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CHURCH: As Israeli airstrikes continue to bombard Palestinians in Gaza, a member of Gaza's civil defense says, quote, "the entire world is watching in silence."
An Israeli strike on Wednesday killed at least 23 Palestinians, including children. 60 people were wounded. Dozens of people are still believed to be trapped or missing under the rubble of what was a four- storey residential building in Gaza City. Israel's military says it struck a senior Hamas terrorist who planned and carried out attacks from northern Gaza, but did not identify their target.
Ukraine's president says more than 150 Chinese citizens have been identified fighting alongside Russian forces. President Zelenskyy says they were recruited through advertisements and on social media.
It comes just a day after Ukraine's military said it captured two Chinese nationals while fighting in the Donetsk region. The military says one of the detainees paid to join the Russian army in hopes of becoming a Russian citizen. Through all of this, China has repeatedly denied any involvement in the war.
Ukraine saw a sharp increase in civilian casualties in March, according to a new report from the United Nations. At least 164 people were killed. That figure is 50 per cent higher than February.
The death toll in one of the deadliest tragedies in the Dominican Republic now stands at 184, and authorities say the bodies of dozens of victims in Tuesday's nightclub roof collapse have yet to be identified. The victims include two former Major League Baseball players, a Marengo artist and the governor of a local province. At least one U.S. citizen was among the 300 people who were inside the jet-set nightclub when the roof caved in.
Families have been waiting outside the building, hoping their loved ones will be rescued.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
YAEFREISI MALENO, RELATIVE MISSING AFTER ROOF COLLAPSE (through translator): We learned that there are two relatives of ours. Their vehicle was here. There are videos of them dancing here, and that's how we found out.
So far, they have not given us any clues. We have gone to the hospitals.
We have searched. We have been attentive. When they take the bodies out, end nothing.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CHURCH: The country's president has declared three days of mourning. The cause of the disaster is not yet known.
U.S. tariffs are now an additional issue for the new German government, which has already faced years of economic stagnation. On Wednesday, incoming Chancellor Friedrich Merz announced a deal between Germany's two major centrist parties to form a coalition which he says will revive a failing economy.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
FRIEDRICH MERZ, GERMAN CHANCELLOR-IN-WAITING (through translator): The future government, the future coalition, will reform and invest to keep Germany stable, make it more secure and make it economically stronger again. And Europe can also rely on Germany.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CHURCH: CNN's Fred Pleitgen has more from Berlin.
[03:45:00]
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
FREDERIK PLEITGEN, CNN SR. INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Germany has taken a major step towards forming a new government as the conservatives and social democrats have managed to come together and agree on a coalition contract going forward.
Now, this makes conservative Friedrich Merz the designated chancellor, and he could take office within the next couple of weeks.
There are several topics that are of extreme importance, the two coalition partners have said. On the one hand, it is Germany's economy, which has been faltering really over the past couple of years. And the designated chancellor, Friedrich Merz, says that one of the main priorities, we're trying to get more investment going here in Germany, but then also to decrease tax rates, especially on medium and smaller size companies, which are considered to really be the backbone of the German economy. On the other hand, also security, international security, very
important for the Germans as well. And that, of course, first and foremost means defense. The new German government is set to spend a lot more on defense than Germany has in the past.
And the third big issue is going to be migration, where the two coalition partners have already announced that they want to curb asylum seeking here in Germany, but immigration in general. Friedrich Merz had this to say after the negotiations.
MERZ: The key message to Donald Trump is Germany is back on track. Germany will fulfill the obligations in terms of defense, and Germany is willing to strengthen their own competitiveness. And that is not just Germany, that is Europe, the European Union, and Germany will be, again, a very strong partner within the European Union, and we will bring the European Union forward.
PLEITGEN: Now, all this comes as Germany faces several big challenges, both here at home, but then also on the European and international stage as well. Of course, first and foremost, that being the Trump administration and its tariffs, one of the things that we have to keep in mind is that Germany is not only Europe's largest economy, it's also a large manufacturing economy and a very large exporting economy as well. And so therefore, the tariffs, especially on Germany's powerful auto
industry, could hurt this country very dearly. As far as migration is concerned, the Germans certainly have had a lot of problems in that regard, and that was really one of the big priorities here for this country.
And then, of course, there is the continuing situation in Ukraine, where at this point in time, the Germans say that, of course, they want to continue to help Ukraine, but they also feel that they need to be doing more for their own defense as the threat of Russia looms.
Fred Pleitgen, CNN, Berlin.
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CHURCH: Pope Francis welcomed a pair of very special visitors to the Vatican. Britain's King Charles and Queen Camilla stopped by to see the pontiff on Wednesday during their trip to Italy.
The royal family released this picture. The Vatican says Pope Francis expressed his good wishes to their majesties on the occasion of their wedding anniversary and wished his majesty a speedy recovery as he faces his health issues. The 88-year-old pontiff spent five weeks in the hospital in February and March with double pneumonia.
In Bolivia, people are losing their lives and homes in floodwaters. When we return, the extreme rainfall devastating the South American country.
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CHURCH: The U.S. weather forecast is a mixed bag of extremes for the rest of the week. In the west, temperatures will soar 10 to 25 degrees above normal. Temperatures for most of the east coast will remain below normal in the coming days.
More than 50 million people are under frost advisories and freeze warnings from the Ohio Valley to the mid-Atlantic and into the south. Severe storms with large hail and damaging winds are possible across parts of the mid-to-deep south and the Tennessee Valley today, with the heaviest rain expected across the mid-Atlantic and northeast tomorrow.
Well the nation of Bolivia has experienced some of the heaviest rainfall in decades. Drowning farmland is displacing families and killing dozens of people. CNN's Patrick Oppmann has more.
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PATRICK OPPMANN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Water surrounds this house, flooding in from every direction, but life must go on. This woman stands on a wooden plank as she cooks for her family, the alternative to soaked feet and jeans.
For others, staying isn't an option. Makeshift shelters lie on the side of this road. The closest thing to respite for families displaced by the flood water.
UNKNOWN (through translator): That's what we have to do. Leave our houses because every day the water rises.
OPPMANN (voice-over): Bolivia's intense rainy season has brought with it floods, landslides, even hail. Here at this La Paz cemetery, mourning families face the grief of death all over again. Torrential rainfall caused a partial collapse, leaving coffins and even bodies vulnerable.
My daughter and mother-in-law are buried here, this woman says.
Families forced to exhume their loved ones, risking contamination and reopening emotional wounds.
And in rural Beni province, cattle barely keeping their heads above water, wading through what was once pasture, herders leading them to higher ground among the last of the dry patches.
UNKNOWN (through translator): My cattle are suffering and the animals are very thin. Plus there are a lot of snakes and tigers in that flooded area because the mountains are high. We have a lot of losses, money spent and loss of cattle.
OPPMANN (voice-over): Now produce and beef production have both taken hits. A problem for both overseas markets and local prices. But it's more than inconvenience. Since November, floods have killed dozens of Bolivians and affected
hundreds of thousands of families. And more rain is forecast in the next week. A national emergency has been declared and assistance requested.
But where the floodwaters eventually recede, Bolivians will be left to pick up the pieces.
Patrick Oppmann, CNN.
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CHURCH: If you're planning an international vacation this year, the world's best airport for 2025 is Singapore Changi. That's according to traveler survey company Skytrax. It's the 13th year that the Asian airport has bagged the top spot.
Changi is a destination in itself where early check-in means passengers can drop off their bags up to 48 hours before their flight to make their time at the airport part of their vacation.
Tokyo Haneda, which came in at number three, was also named the world's cleanest airport. Nine European airports made it into the top 20, but the U.S. lagged behind with not a single airport in the top 20.
Well, some say diamonds are forever. Now a new exhibition proves their enduring appeal. The luxury jeweler Cartier is putting some of its best pieces on display at London's Victoria and Albert Museum starting on Saturday.
More than 350 pieces are in the exhibit, from tiaras and necklaces to brooches and watches. Included are gems worn by the British royals Grace Kelly, the Princess of Monaco, and movie star Elizabeth Taylor. Very nice.
Thanks so much for your company. I'm Rosemary Church. Have yourselves a wonderful day.
"Early Start" with Rahel Solomon is coming up just after the break.
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