Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Newsroom

Hawaii State Of Emergency; Election Result In Venezuela; Donald Trump To Demand Investigation; Texas Shooting; Mother of Victim Says Her Daughter Rejected Santa Fe Suspect's Advances; Maduro Secures Re- Election Despite Economic Crisis; Nearly 30M In The U.S. Watched Harry & Meghan Wed; Harry & Meghan Begin Married Life. Aired 2-3a ET

Aired May 21, 2018 - 02:00   ET

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

[02:00:12] ROSEMARY CHURCH, CNN, ANCHOR: The U.S. President is demanding his own investigation. We will tell you what he wants his Justice Department to look into now.

GEORGE HOWELL, CNN, ANCHOR: And in the U.S. state of Hawaii, massive columns of acid steam as lava from the erupting volcano hits the Pacific Ocean, why this is causing new concerns for the area there.

CHURCH: And the election result in Venezuela that surprised nobody. We will look at the political and economic challenges still facing Nicolas Maduro.

HOWELL: Live from CNN world headquarters in Atlanta, welcome to our viewers in the United States and all around the world. I am George Howell.

CHURCH: And I am Rosemary Church. This is CNN Newsroom. U.S. President Donald Trump will officially demand an investigation into whether the FBI spied on his campaign.

HOWELL: He announced his plans on Twitter. This follows reports that the FBI used a confidential source to ask campaign aides about possible ties to Russia. The Justice Department is already responding. Our Ryan Nobles filed this report.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

RYAN NOBLES, CNN, CORRESPONDENT: President Donald Trump busy on Twitter this weekend, taking aim at the Department of Justice and the FBI about their conduct in the lead-up to the investigation into his campaign, and whether or not that campaign had any ties to Russia. The President particularly upset about reports that there was an unknown source who tried to gain access to Trump officials and learn information about the Trump campaign.

The President topping his tweet storm off with this tweet, I hereby demand and will do so officially tomorrow. He was talking about Monday, that the Department of Justice look into whether or not the FBI/DOJ infiltrated or surveilled the Trump campaign for political purposes, and if any such demands or requests were made by people within the Obama administration. But here's the thing about the President's call for an investigation.

There's already one under way. The inspector general for the attorney general's office has been looking into whether or not those applications for surveillance of members of the Trump team done so appropriately. And they did respond to the President's tweet on Sunday, saying that they're going to expand that investigation to look into whether or not there were any political motivations for asking for those wiretaps.

And the deputy attorney general Rod Rosenstein, who is of course, in charge of the Russia investigation put out the following statement, saying "if anyone did infiltrate or surveil participants in a Presidential campaign for inappropriate purposes, we need to know about it and take appropriate action." So the President getting results pretty quickly. The question is, is this more about an effort to discredit Robert Mueller and his investigation?

The President continues to call that a witch hunt and wants it to come to an end. Of course, we are now just past the one-year anniversary of the launch of that investigation. At this point, there's no indication when it's going to wrap up, Ryan Nobles, CNN at the White House.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHURCH: And Steven Erlanger joins us now from Brussels. He's the New York Times Chief Diplomatic Correspondent in Europe. Good to have you with us.

STEVEN ERLANGER, NEW YORK TIMES, CHIEF DIPLOMATIC CORRESPONDENT: Thanks, Rosemary.

CHURCH: So as we saw in President Trump's tweet Sunday, he is demanding his own Justice Department examine whether it or perhaps the FBI spied on the Trump campaign for political reasons. What does that signal to you and what will likely come of all this, do you think?

ERLANGER: Well, it signals to me a coming constitutional clash or crisis, which is what a lot of people have been worried about for quite some time, which is the President is opening himself up again to charges that he is trying to obstruct justice, or pressure the Justice Department into ending its inquiry into the behavior of his campaign.

And that has now been broadened. According to a story at our newspaper, there were officials from the Middle East, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia, who also approached Mr. Trump's son during the campaign, offering various kinds of help. Now, help from a foreign country is illegal. And that's the part of the problem with the Russia investigation, too. Mr. Trump obviously wants it over with. His spokesman and lawyer, Mr. Giuliani says he wants it over with before the midterm elections.

I am sure Mr. Trump would love to go into the midterm elections with a big banner saying I am cleared. But I am not sure Mueller is going to be done with what he's trying to do by then. So that's what's -- to me what it's about. It's about the President trying to intimidate the Justice Department into ending the inquiry into his own campaign before the midterm elections.

[02:05:07] CHURCH: Right. And I want to get on to that point in just a moment. But first, of course, we are learning that the Justice Department asked its inspector general to expand its review to try to determine whether there was any impropriety or political motivation on the part of the FBI. Where is all that going, do you think?

ERLANGER: Well, I mean that seemed like a defensive move on the part of the Justice Department. They are doing inquiry. They're trying to pacify the President by simply saying you know we'll expand the inquiry into this new complaint that you have. It is interesting that the FBI would have chosen this academic, whose name we've chosen not to reveal, but you can find it easily to kind of look into early charges from the Australian Ambassador in Britain, that the Russians were involved with a couple of young members of the Trump campaign team.

Now, why they chose this person and how underground he was is a question. And also it's a question you know, Mr. Trump alleges that this was done for political purposes. I imagine the FBI would say we were trying to figure out the nature of Russian collusion. Of course, it should be remembered that it was you know the FBI and the Justice Department under Mr. Comey who are digging into the Trump campaign very early on the basis of this early knowledge but never talked about it before the election. They suppressed it.

CHURCH: Right.

ERLANGER: And it was the Clinton e-mail scandal that came public. So in a way, Mr. Trump's complaining about the Justice Department, which in the end I think without meaning to aided his campaign rather than Mrs. Clinton's.

CHURCH: Right. And I do want to go back to that point you raised about President Trump's attorney Rudy Giuliani. He said Special Counsel Robert Mueller could end his investigation of Trump by September 1st. If the President agrees to an interview and he said that Mueller's office shared its timeline with him about a month ago. How likely is that? How likely is it that Mr. Trump would agree to such an interview to bring this to a close?

ERLANGER: Well, it would bring one part of it to a close, which is the President's own possible culpability, which I have always wondered about. I am not sure it ever got up that high. But it's also not clear Mr. Trump will testify. I mean his lawyers who have now quit most of them, quit because they wanted him not to testify.

And they thought he would open himself up to more vulnerability ability if he did so, not that necessarily proved wrongdoing, but that Mueller's investigation could be wide ranging and perhaps it was best that Mr. Trump simply speak through his lawyers. But Trump wants to do it. He says he wants to do it. And Giuliani is not sure which way to go.

So yeah, it could be if Mr. Trump sits down with Mr. Mueller, the part involving the President himself could be over. It's possible. But there's a lot more to the investigation and it will keep going into the campaign itself.

CHURCH: Right. All right, Steven Erlanger, thank you so much for your analysis. We appreciate it

ERLANGER: Thanks, Rosemary.

HOWELL: Now to the U.S. state of Texas. A town Santa Fe, Texas is in mourning. And new details are coming to surface about a deadly school shooting at a high school there. The sheriff of the town says the entire incident lasted about half an hour, including the 25-minute shoot-out between the gunman and police.

CHURCH: The teenage suspect eventually gave himself up after allegedly killing eight students and two teachers. On Sunday, a memorial service was held for the victims, and as it began, a rainbow appeared above the church. CNN's Rosa Flores has more details now from Santa Fe.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ROSA FLORES, CNN, CORRESPONDENT: We are finally learning more details about what happened inside Santa Fe High School during the shooting. Now, here is what we know from the Galveston County Sheriff. He says that the shooting lasted for about 30 minutes. Four minutes into the shooting, he said that that's when officers engaged with the accused shooter.

Then he says that there was a 25-minute gun battle. So process this with me for moment. Inside Santa Fe High School, in the area where the shooting happened, which he says happened in the art lab section of the school. There was a gun battle with crossfire between the shooter and police. Now the obvious question here is, were all 10 people who died shot by the accused shooter?

[02:10:06] When we asked the sheriff that question, he said that we would not know the answer to that questions until the medical examiner completed and finalized all of the of autopsies. Now, from the probable cause document, we know that the shooter surrendered after that and that he told officers that he spared some students because he liked them, and he was hoping that they would tell his story, Rosa Flores, CNN, Santa Fe, Texas.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHURCH: And two attorneys are representing the teenaged suspect. They say they've only met with him briefly so far.

HOWELL: They spoke with Erica Hill.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We've had brief, brief visitations with our client, two 30-minute visitations. And he really hasn't been able to answer the questions. We're going to have to sit down for hours and ask him. ERICA HILL, CNN, CORRESPONDENT: He said he hasn't been able to answer

the questions. Has he been responsive though? Are you engaging in conversation with him?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We have had conversations, but we're telling him what he needs to do right now to get through the next few days. We're not asking him probing questions at this point.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, at this point, we don't have the information with which to even start asking those questions. I mean the timing, this happening on a Friday and then a weekend where the information flow is really just what's in the media, nothing from the state. Once we start to begin that discovery process, we can start asking more intelligent questions.

HILL: Have you spoken with investigators at all? $

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We've spoken with the DA's office.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The first assistant.

HILL: And so everything at this point has to wait till Monday.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Till Monday.

HILL: In terms of what we do now and one of this obviously is based on the affidavit. In that affidavit, your client reportedly confessed to shooting multiple people with the intent to kill. Did he confirm that with you?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He has not confirmed that and we did -- At this point we don't have the information available to confirm what's in the affidavit.

HILL: So also in that affidavit, is that he intentionally spared people he "liked" so they could tell his story.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Same answer. We don't know at this point if that is accurate or not.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOWELL: Erica Hill there on the story. The Pakistani exchange student Sabika Sheikh was one of the 10 people killed in this shooting rampage on Friday. Her body is being flown back home in the coming days to her family for burial.

CHURCH: Houston's Islamic society stepped in and organized the transport home and a funeral prayer service at a mosque near Santa Fe Sunday for the 17-year-old. Her American host family was among those in mourning at the service.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: First started school, I didn't know anybody. I wasn't -- I didn't previously go to Santa Fe. And it was very hard for me, and because I didn't know anyone. And I met Sabika and she didn't know anyone either. And we both became very close. And she was the most beautiful, loving person I have ever met.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHURCH: And the victims of the shooting are being remembered outside Texas as well.

HOWELL: At Sunday night's Billboard Music Awards, host Kelly Clarkson opened the show with an emotional plea for an end to gun violence. Listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Why don't we not do a moment of action, why don't we change what's happening? People are failing our children. We're failing our communities. We're failing their families. I can't imagine I have four children, I cannot imagine getting that phone call or the knock on the door. So instead of a moment of silence, I want to respect them and honor them with tonight you all. In your community where you live, your friends, everybody, let's have a moment of action. Let's have a moment of change.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOWELL: Clarkson herself a native Texan, me as well. And I have to say that a lot of people in that state talking about there issue. The governor of the state Greg Abbott wants to hold several days of conversion to talk about you know what can be done to stop things like this. The question though, Rosemary, will the topic of gun violence and gun control come into (Inaudible).

CHURCH: It appears less likely for the state of Texas though.

HOWELL: We'll see how that plays out.

CHURCH: All right, let's take a very short break. But still coming up, new dangers from Hawaii's Kilauea volcano, why geologists in Hawaii are urging people to stay away from parts of the ocean now.

HOWELL: Plus, many Venezuelans are struggling to find food, to find medicine. But President Nicolas Maduro, he has been re-elected. How he is managing to stay in power. We'll discuss. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[02:15:00] HOWELL: Welcome back to the Newsroom. We're following the situation in the U.S. state of Hawaii. The Kilauea volcano is opening up more rifts along the east coast of the big island there. Just look at those fumes coming out of the ground there, spewing lava bombs into the air, destroying homes in its path. And that's not all.

CHURCH: Yeah. Take a look at this, rivers of molten lava dumping into the Pacific Ocean. It is a spectacular sight. But authorities are urging people to stay away from it. That is because the steam clouds that are released into the air are filled with extremely dangerous gas and debris. Our Stephanie Elam explains.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

STEPHANIE ELAM, CNN, CORRESPONDENT: Two heads of lava that were flowing to the ocean came together as one and then broke apart and they did enter the ocean. But the U.S. coast guard is asking people to stay away by about 1,000 feet in the 360 degree radius. And the reason why is because of something called laze, and that is when that lava hits the ocean it creates hydrochloric acid and also little small particles of glass that can cause irritation to the eyes, to the lungs, to the skin.

[02:19:53] And so they're asking people to stay away. But I want to show you what that lava looks like here on land. Take a look at this lava fountain that has bubbling nonstop here. And we can see that from there it oozes down into this black sea of lava that goes down towards the ocean. We know that there were a couple of structures that were taken out by this flow, as well as this has been bubbling up.

It's been raining here all day. And that has no affect whatsoever on the lava that is flowing here. An beyond that, on the other side of me, there is a fissure, which sometimes you may be able to hear in the background from where I am about a mile away. And that fissure when the volcanic gases come erupting out of there, sometimes it feels like it is a jet engine right next to you or a plane taking off.

Other times it sounds like a cannon. One was so loud and I happen to be standing back where I could see. It shot up rock and debris several hundred feet into the air. That is another concern. As we know that one man was hit by a lava bomb as he was on his balcony. We understand that his leg is shattered, so they're asking residents here to be vigilant, as this is a very active eruption and it doesn't seem to be ending anytime soon, back to you.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOWELL: Stephanie Elam in Pahala, Hawaii. And now let's talk more about this with Ken Rubin, Ken, the Chair of the Department of Geology and Geophysics at the University of Hawaii live for us from Honolulu this hour. These images just are incredible. You know just to see the power of the earth playing right out in front of your eyes. Let's take full inventory, Ken, of what we're seeing here, the dangers.

First, the free flowing lava carving out a path of destruction, prompting evacuations, and not to mention the noxious gases associated with it all.

KEN RUBIN, UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII, DEPARTMENT OF GEOLOGY AND GEOPHYSICS: Yes. So Kilauea is often accessible volcano. It's easy for people to get to and quite dangerous volcano. The intensity of lava flow has really picked up in the last day and a half or so, which means that there's more lava coming out. It's moving more quickly. It's more fluid.

And this presents various kinds of hazards. There is also an increase in the sulfur dioxide gas coming out by -- something like a factor of two or three at several of these fissures. This is associated with what we belie is a different pulls of magma coming down the rip zone from the source further up slope, and feeding a new type of lava and the magma into the area that's producing much more vigorous lava flows.

HOWELL: And we heard this from Stephanie just a moment ago. But as the lava reaches the ocean, there is also the danger of laze. It's sending these plumes up into the sky of hydrochloric acid, steam, and fine glass particles.

RUBIN: Yes, that's one of several hazards at the ocean entry. During the last 35 years of volcanic activity of Kilauea, roughly half of that time there has been lava flowing into the sea. And the production of this noxious gas which basically comes from dehydration of sea water and the small particles are formed when the rock interacts with. The steam that is produced in this process, breathing that in is quite hazardous.

There's also scalding hot water. The water very close to the ocean entry is very warm, and the land that is formed during this process we call it the lava delta, tends to be very unstable and can break off without any warning, and cause waves of hot water to wash back up on the shore. So it's very important that people stay away from that area. It's very dynamic and very dangerous.

HOWELL: And you know, the question will there be any more explosions, you know, as we've seen. So obviously we'll have to keep a very close watch on this. Ken, thank you so much for your time. Ken Rubin, we'll stay in touch with you.

RUBIN: Aloha.

HOWELL: Aloha.

CHURCH: All right. So let's get more from our meteorologist Pedram Javaheri. Pedram, we can't labor enough how critical it is that people stay away from this lava as it meets the ocean. And what are the consequences of all of this? And how long is this all going to go on for?

PEDRAM JAVAHERI, CNN, METEOROLOGIST: Yes. That's the million dollar question, right? This is such a multidimensional, such a dynamic event taking shape. We've got multiple events in one. Of course, we've got the (Inaudible) the volcanic ash, acid rain we've seen in recent days. Now the laze which is the lava and the haze put together in the coastal communities.

And images like this. This is the spattering we've seen across this region of course. Some of the debris can travel many, many miles away from the center of any eruption point or fissure. That's already concerning as it is. The sulfur dioxide levels, they in fact are now triple where they used to be just a few days ago, and that is a concern as well.

You see some of these images of resident on their porch. Can you imagine the rumbles you're feeling, what you're seeing, of course, what you're smelling? And we know the earthquakes are still continuing on the order of potentially 50 to 100 per day everyday or so across this region. So this has certainly a big event taking place across this part of the world.

[02:25:02] And satellite imagery (Inaudible) does a fantastic job putting it in perspective, because last May, this is what it looked like from space, looking down towards this region of areas around Kilauea. Of course, (Inaudible) and you look at this as the volcano erupts, the lava work its way downstream, decimating the communities in is path, and of course, this I not something that you can stop.

It is something you get out of the way, and frankly very little to no chance that you would be able to come back and reside in this particular stretch of land. You take a look at this. We're talking a three-mile stretch there from fissure number 20 that we've seen the lava flow that is (Inaudible) for all the way to the ocean, where it connects with the ocean where have you lava entering the waters.

That's where the laze, the lava haze begins to really set up shop. Very dangerous scenario here, in fact, when you talk about hydrochloric acid here, of course, very irritating odor associated with this, so highly corrosive, as well. So if this makes contact with anything, whether it be your skin or any materials, it would instantly destroy that material and of course, this is something you find in batteries.

This is used in industrial purposes to melt steel, as well and process steel. So it's really an incredible thing taking place here. And again, very multidimensional, so a lot of impacts to be had, and really impossible to tell how long it's going to last, too.

CHURCH: Yes. Unbelievable the images are extraordinary, too. Thank you so much, Pedram.

HOWELL: Thanks, Pedram. It is an accusation the U.S. President has made before. But now, President Trump is planning to demand an official investigation into the Russia probe, and what he suspects is behind it. An investigation into the investigation, you could say.

CHURCH: Plus, the U.S. And China has come to an agreement on trade. And we will have the details and a look at what it means for the economies of both countries, back in just a moment.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[02:30:12] ROSEMARY CHURCH, CNN INTERNATIONAL ANCHOR: Welcome back to our viewers here in the United States and, of course, all around the world. I'm Rosemary Church.

GEORGE HOWELL, CNN INTERNATIONAL ANCHOR: I'm George Howell. This is CNN NEWSROOM with your headlines this hour.

CHURCH: And we are learning more about the timeline of Friday's school shooting in Santa Fe, Texas that killed eight students and two teachers. The sheriff there says the gunman opened fire for four minute before officers arrived. A 25-minute shoot-out between police and the suspect ensued before the gunman gave himself up.

HOWELL: Just take a look at the pictures here in this next story. Hawaii's big island, the lava from the Kilauea volcano, it crossed a highway and spilled into the ocean now. Officials are warning people to stay away and say the lava creates a steam cloud of hydrochloric acid and particles of glass when it hits the water. They also say that sulfur dioxide emissions had tripled. One man was injured when an airborne chunk of lava in his leg.

Chuck: With the Russia investigation now in its second year, President Trump is launching a new attack. He wants an investigation into whether the FBI spied on his presidential campaign for political purposes.

HOWELL: Let's now bring in Steve Moore. Steve is a CNN Law Enforcement Contributor and former FBI Supervisory Agent. Steve, it's always a pleasure to have you here on the show. Let's start by reminding everyone what Mr. Trump tweeted earlier, "I hereby demand and will do so officially tomorrow that the Department of Justice look into whether or not the FBI-DOJ infiltrated or surveilled the Trump campaign for political purposes. And if any such demands or requests were made by people within the Obama administration." Steve, this comes after reports that the FBI sent in a confidential source to speak with some aides to the Trump campaign to find out about possible ties to Russia. What do you make of the president's latest declaration?

STEVE MOORE, CNN INTERNATIONAL CONTRIBUTOR: Well, again, I don't think this is necessarily the place -- Twitter is the place to make those kind of accusations and depends. If the president has a concern, I think he has the right to talk to the Department of Justice about it. And the Department of Justice's answer I believe was about as perfect as you can get. Certainly, if -- certainly, they're saying that any political interference would bead bad, but they're not saying that there's evidence of any. They're just saying that if we find any, certainly, we'll do something about it.

HOWELL: Mr. Trump also says the FBI did this for political reasons. Does that seem likely to you?

MOORE: You know, they would have to barrel through so many safeguards that it's -- it just doesn't seem plausible to me. I mean I will say that it's fairly aggressive for any administration's Department of Justice to direct an informant, not just question an informant, but direct an informant in the opposite party's candidate's political campaign. However, those are the kind of things agents want to do all the time, not because they're crooked, not because they're politically motivated, but because they see a crime or a potential crime and they want to go after it. So with this be an aggressive action by the FBI? Yes. But I see nothing that indicates on the face of it that was politic -- that it was political.

HOWELL: And certainly, you know, that is the implication coming from President Trump given the tweets that we're seeing. Also, the Department of Justice has asked the inspector general to look into whether political motivations played into how the FBI conducted its counter intelligence investigation. Is this significant in your mind or is the DOJ following Mr. Trump's direction here?

MOORE: I think the DOJ is following down the line. There is nothing wrong with following up on his allegations. But at the same time, there's no smoking gun here. I mean, yes, the FBI was apparently working a source inside the campaign. But that doesn't mean it's necessarily going to be political and the way to respond to this is certainly we will look at it and certainly if there's an issue, we'll do something about it. But nowhere in their response do they say that there's any evidence that this ever occurred.

HOWELL: Steve, one other question just the optics here, does it look as if the president, you know, is using these institutions to go after political opponents?

MOORE: Well, isn't it ironic if that's the case that he's saying that his allegations are that another person used these institutions for political reasons.

[02:35:02] I am hoping that Rosenstein and the Department of Justice have a -- have a pretty good course here that they are focused on true north and they will -- well, doing what a president asks, do -- first and foremost, what the American people expect of them.

HOWELL: Steve Moore, we always appreciate your time and perspective. Thank you.

MOORE: Thank you.

CHURCH: The United States and China have agreed not to engage in a trade war at least for now. In a joint statement, the two countries announced China would significantly increase its purchases of U.S. goods and services.

HOWELL: This comes after two days of trade talks in Washington with Chinese officials. U.S. plans to send a team to China to hammer out details witch the U.S. Treasury Secretary spoke about earlier. Listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

STEVEN MNUCHIN, UNITED STATES SECRETARY OF THE TREASURY: We're putting the trade war on hold. So right now, we are -- we have agreed to put the tariffs on hold while we try to execute the framework. We are immediately going to follow this up with Secretary Ross going there with very hard commitments in agriculture where we expect to see a very big increase, 35 percent to 40 percent increases in agriculture this year alone. In energy, doubling the energy purchases. I think that you could see $50 to $60 billion a year of energy purchases over the next three to five years.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHURCH: And CNN's Matt Rivers joins us now from Beijing. So Matt, good to see you. What exactly is China saying about this and what will its actual commitment likely be in the end with the expectations from the U.S.? MATT RIVERS, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, China presumably is quite pleased. You know, they did issue that joint statement. They are happy with the fact that there is no trade war. They certainly were not in favor of one. They would have stood to be hurt quite severely economically were these tens of billions of dollars in tariffs that are now being delayed if not put off to the side altogether. They would have been hurt quite badly by that. So overall, China is quite happy about this. But when it comes to actually understanding the specifics of this framework, it's not an agreement yet, right? It's just a framework. We really don't have a lot of agreements, you know, yes, the United States said China pledges to significantly to buy more American products. Well, what does that mean? Is that $50 billion more? Is that $200 billion more? How much does that reduce the overall deficit? We don't know that as of yet. The other things that the U.S. said that China agreed to would be to strengthen protections on technology and agreeing to make structural changes to its economy. What does that mean? Does that mean greater market access for U.S. companies? Does that mean strengthened intellectual property rights? Does that mean an end to force technology transfers between U.S. and Chinese joint ventures? We don't know. It could be all of that. It could be none of that. But these are the kind of promises that the Chinese government has made in the past, but without any sort of specific timeframe. So when these next round of negotiation happens, Rosemary, I think that's when we'll get some more specifics.

CHURCH: Yes, lots of questions still. Of course, as you point out, this puts off a trade war for now at least. We don't know how long this will last. So what will this mean for the economies of both countries? And of course global markets will be watching this very closely. It will certainly have an impact on whether they go up or down.

RIVERS: Yes, presumably a very positive impact given that that, you know, the two largest economies in the world are warring with one another. Well, that's not going to have a very good impact. I think what you're seeing here and what a lot of people will take heart in is the fact that there have been optimistic tones struck by both sides here. So let me play you a little bit of sound with Liu He, he's the chief trade negotiator for China during these negotiations. Let's slow you what he said to state media.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LIU HE, VICE PREMIER, PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA (via translator): This round of talks have been pragmatic, fruitful, and efficient. We reached many agreements. We resolved some of our misunderstandings from the past. These meetings will not just help bilateral economic and trade relations and build overall ties. It's good for people in both countries. It's also sending a positive signal to the whole world.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

RIVERS: So the people who were nervous about a potential trade war are going to look at statements like that and take heart in it. But I think what we really need to wait for in terms of is this going to move at a positive direction away from a trade war is these next round of negotiations. The Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross coming here to Beijing to iron out the details of exactly what this agreement will look like should it move forward? We need to wait for those details to really make any sort f judgment as to the success or failure of these latest rounds of U.S.-China negotiations.

CHURCH: Indeed. You're right. It's raised a lot of hopes, but there's still a lot of details to learn yet before people get too excited. Matt Rivers joining us there live from Beijing which is 2:40 in the afternoon. Many thanks.

HOWELL: The facts on the ground in Venezuela, people there are hungry. The economy is in collapse. But guess who got re-elected, President Nicolas Maduro secured another term in power.

[02:40:07] How did he manage to get re-elected? We explain as NEWSROOM pushes on.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HOWELL: In Venezuela and as predicted, President Nicolas Maduro has been declared the winner of a contested presidential election, this despite a devastating economic crisis in that nation. Officials say that Maduro won 68 percent of the vote.

CHURCH: The main opposition boycotted Sunday's vote calling it illegitimate and voter turnout was only 46 percent. Maduro's main opponent, Henri Falcon is demanding a new election, but President Maduro is calling it a popular victory.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

NICOLAS MADURO, PRESIDENT OF VENEZUELA (via translator): Today, I am a president with more experience. I am a human being more prepared. I swear to you, I will fulfill my promise and will dedicate myself entirely to recover the economic growth to heal our economy, to prosecute criminal mafias. You will see me throughout the country in the streets to activate the motors of the economy.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOWELL: Maduro's election though comes as many Venezuelans are struggling to get basic necessities things like food and medicine. CNN's Paula Newton has more.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

[02:44:33] PAULA NEWTON, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: In Venezuela now, even the garbage has been ravage thoroughly picked over by so many who suffer the indignity of dumpster diving.

The IMF projects hyperinflation will reach 13,000 percent this year. A number so high it's utterly meaningless. The measure of misery now, a Venezuelan study shows four of five people live in poverty, many rely on government handouts. Carmen Rivera, says she is poor, thin, and fed up. "Nothing is normal," she tells me, "because the little bit of money that we earn is not enough to even buy a half dozen eggs."

She asked me, "any other questions?" Of course, we have more under about the election. "I would like to see a change," she says, "because, at this rate, we're not going to get anywhere." But even for those who want change in Venezuela, there is no raucous resistance, no values to fight on like last year's opposition protests.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

NEWTON: Now, things are quiet now. Not because anything's any better, but from despair and a crippling fatigue. For many, the elections will be enough to thought.

CHURCH: Paul Newton with that report. On earlier, I spoke about the situation in Venezuela, with Brian Winter. He is vice president of policy for the Americas Society and Council of the Americas. And I started by asking him how reliable the results are given the low voter turnout?

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BRIAN WINTER, VICE PRESIDENT FOR POLICY, AMERICAS SOCIETY AND COUNCIL OF THE AMERICAS: Well, we've known for months now really, if not longer that this election was going to be a farce. I mean, you have most of the opposition candidates were barred from participating.

You had government control of virtually all media, and things got so bad at the end that the government was essentially using food handouts or the promise of those in order to coerce or coax people to vote. So this was really an election in name only. And the fact that it's now over, lets us focus on what's next for Venezuela.

The only question is -- you know, essentially what the international community does now as a reaction. I mean, there's a real chance that President Trump, may announce new sanctions, perhaps, directly at Venezuelan oil. And you know, the other big issue right now in the region is this just this torrent of Venezuelan migrants' hungry, unemployed, desperate, sick, pouring over the border into places like Colombia and Brazil. And then, continuing onward to the rest of the hemisphere.

And it's -- many of those countries are reaching a breaking point right now. I mean, they have absorbed hundreds of thousands of immigrants here over the last couple months. But they have really reached their -- a point where they can't handle that more. So, it's unclear whether the point of rupture will come within Venezuela or whether -- you know, it will be tent cities alongside the borders or what. They're just getting increase the desperate.

CHURCH: Well, let's just take a look at what the country is dealing with right now. We can bring a graphic up that shows hyperinflation of nearly 14,000 percent. Unemployment as high as 33 percent, a shortage of food and medication and the collapsed oil industry. Now, that is President Maduro's legacy so far. But it's looking like the country will get more of the same going forward since Maduro, as you have said is pretty much a sure win here. So, what will this mean for Venezuela, and life in their country? And how will other countries outside of Venezuela deal with this? And punish Venezuela perhaps?

WINTER: I mean, certainly, the international community hopes that Nicolas Maduro will do something to at least make the suffering of his people a little better. But, unfortunately, there's just no indication that we've seen over the last two or three years that he's willing to do that. I mean, that level of hyperinflation you mentioned, that means that prices are doubling every months, which just boggles the mind. And they're introducing a new currency soon.

And of course, the Maduro government says that this is all just a conspiracy being put forward by or being caused by the country's economic elite, as well as, the United States. Which -- you know, shows you that unfortunately, he's in a total state of denial about what's really causing this.

And he denies that there's any humanitarian crisis at all which is why -- one of the reasons why he refuses to accept international humanitarian aid in a country where three-quarters of the population is separate from hunger right now.

CHURCH: Oh, he's probably isolated from any of the impact of this anyway, right? So, what was the Maduro's main opposition rival Henri Falcon, offering? And why didn't voters get out in force and vote for the alternative rather than abstain? I mean, they knew what the outcome would be, but at least have a voice in this.

WINTER: Right, you know, that's a really good question and one that a lot of people are offering and or asking rather. And basically, it has to do with the fact that there have been more than a dozen elections going all the way back in the last 20 years since Hugo Chavez first took power.

And what you've seen is this gradual erosion of the fairness of those elections and Democracy itself. And you know, it's a little bit to cite the old Peanuts cartoon, it's a little bit like Charlie Brown, running up to grip the football and Lucy dragging it away at the last minute.

And basically, 80 percent of the Venezuelan population decided this time around that didn't want to run up and kick the football because they knew it would get be taken away. And there was no reason to believe in any legitimacy to this election. And so, you know, the overwhelming majority of people in the country decided to just stay at home as a measure of their disbelief in the process and also the sign of protest, as well.

[02:50:15] CHURCH: All right. Well, Brian Winter, thank you so much for joining us. We will watch and see what happens next for Venezuela.

WINTER: Thank you.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HOWELL: Be happily ever after starts now for Britain's royal newlyweds. The very latest on Prince Harry and Meghan's fun-filled reception, still ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PEDRAM JAVAHERI, CNN INTERNATIONAL METEOROLOGIST: Good Monday, too. Meteorologist Pedram Javaheri, CNN "WEATHER WATCH" here. Watching what's happening in the Gulf Coast area of the United States here.

A lot of wet weather stretching all the way from Key West to Miami, eventually, towards Tallahassee. A disturbance here that's exhibiting some tropical characteristics. Of course, you check your calendar, this is the time of year you watch that region carefully but at this point, just a wet weather maker.

And down into -- eventually, to parts of the Midwestern U.S., we're watching some stronger storms pop up across Indianapolis and Chicago, as well. Rainfall ranging in New York from say 50 to 150 millimeters and the highest amounts there across parts of the Midwest.

Chicago, yes, some rain could be expected, maybe some disruptions there when it comes to the morning commute. Denver, looking at 27, with some thunderstorms while back around the Western U.S. Southern portions of British Columbia have warm setup in store. And that is what eventually, is in store for much of the Eastern U.S. after we get through the first couple of days, where some clouds and wet weather keep at tops and they be expected to warm up rather nicely across that region.

How about Portland? Brings in May, and brings it with a significant warmth here in the 3rd week of May up to 30 degrees across that region. But in fact, will be warmer than what's happening down in the Caribbean. Nassau, look at that mostly cloudy skies at 28. Havana, Cuba getting some of those storms began in area we watch carefully. These none of yours -- some thunderstorms begin to show some interesting features across that region. Paranam around 31.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

CHURCH: It is said that nothing brings people together quite the royal wedding. And on Saturday, nearly 30 million people in the U.S. tuned in for the royal wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan. But the public didn't get to see the receptions for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.

HOWELL: At the later reception that evening, the bride reportedly broke with tradition, she gave a speech, and the couple danced to Whitney Houston's I Want To Dance With Somebody as their first dance. With the party now over, it is back to work, though, for the newlyweds, and back to normal life in Windsor. Our Ana Stewart has this report.

[02:55:07] ANNA STEWART, CNN REPORTER: The Royal Wedding ended, but the party kept going long into Sunday with a street party here just over the bridge from the Windsor Castle is now wrapping up. But it was the perfect way for everyone to share their favorite moments of the royal wedding and over, a very British queen tea.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We have Americans surround us. We had French, Italian surround us.

STEWART: It was a real international affair.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Totally, which I think has been wonderful.

STEWART: And Chelsey, what was your favorite part?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The wedding was wonderful in the chapel, but I thoroughly enjoyed the music as well, which was up so delightful.

STEWART: Standby me, should that become a sort of British thing, it was very un-British.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Well, no. The choir were wonderful and also the cellist.

STEWART: Right, And also the Archbishop -- the American Bishop, sorry. Curry, what did you think of him?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Well, he was really interesting. He was there much into love, and love making people happy. That is got to be a good thing.

STEWART: And kids, what was your favorite part? A dress?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: How about the carriage?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The dress.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

STEWART: It's all over now, but the conversation about the royal wedding will carry on for months to come. Anna Stewart, CNN, Windsor.

HOWELL: And Anna is now back in London, we'll check in with her live next hour.

CHURCH: Yes, and we are back in just a moment. Do stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)