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U.S. Strengthening the Indo-Pacific Alliance; Ukraine with Customs Agreement Now with Poland; Ukrainian Soldiers in Russia's Captivity; World Top Leaders Meet for the World Economic Forum; Lithuania Cut Energy Imports From Russia; Turkey Blocks Sweden and Finland to NATO; White House Announces Second Flight of Baby Formula; Afghan Newsmen Wear Masks in Protest; Georgia and Pennsylvania Primaries; President Biden Unveils Economic Plan to Counter China. Aired 3-4a ET

Aired May 23, 2022 - 03:00   ET

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

[03:00:00]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ROSEMARY CHURCH, CNN ANCHOR: Hello, and welcome to our viewers joining us here in the United States and all around the world, you are watching CNN Newsroom. I'm Rosemary Church.

Just ahead, U.S. President Biden is in Tokyo boosting ties with allies, and strategizing about how to counter China. We are live in Tokyo with the very latest. And we'll take you live to Lviv for the latest on Russia's devastating war in Ukraine, the mourning, the loss, and the effort to rebuild.

Plus, the first batch of much-needed baby formula has landed in America with more on the way but the problem is far from solved.

UNKNOWN: Live from CNN Center, this is CNN Newsroom, with Rosemary Church.

CHURCH: Good to have you with us. Well, we begin in Japan where U.S. President Joe Biden is making a hard push for strengthening economic alliances as he tackles the second leg of a high-stakes diplomatic tour in Asia. Earlier, Mr. Biden wrapped up a meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida.

During their meeting, Mr. Biden endorsed Japan's plan to bolster its defense capabilities as it keeps a wary eye on China's growing military footprint. Meanwhile, the two leaders also affirmed their commitment to the Indo-Pacific economic framework, a plan Mr. Biden is set to unveil in the next hour.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOE BIDEN, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: This framework is a commitment to working with our close friends and partners in the region, on challenges that matter most to ensuring economic competitiveness in the 21st century. By improving security and trust in the digital economy, protecting workers, strengthening supply chains, and tackling corruption that robs nations of their ability to serve the citizens.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHURCH: Mr. Biden will bring a similar message about economic cooperation to a meeting of the quad alliance on Tuesday, where he will speak with leaders from Japan, India, and Australia.

Well, CNN is covering this story from every angle. Our Kevin Liptak and Blake Essig is standing by in Tokyo with the latest developments.

Good to see you both. So, Kevin, President Biden will soon unveil an economic plan to keep China in check in the region but he also had to be corrected on what he said in the joint news conference last hour regarding U.S.-Taiwan policy, and the correction came very swiftly. What is the latest on all of this?

KEVIN LIPTAK, CNN WHITE HOUSE REPORTER: Yes. Yes. Very quickly, and the president, it was actually a one-word answer, and it has generated waves, particularly because he said it here in Asia. When the president was asked whether he would be willing to respond militarily if China invaded Taiwan, he said simply, yes. And when the reporter followed up the president said that the U.S. has a commitment to do that.

Now, that is by far the strongest statement in support of Taiwan that a U.S. president has made in a long time. The U.S. has always sort of adopted the policy of what they call strategic ambiguity around Taiwan. They provide Taiwan with defensive weapons; they have issue warnings to China not to invade Taiwan but they don't necessarily spell out what they would do if China were to invade.

Now, in the 20 minutes or 30 minutes or so after the president made that statement, a White House official came out with their own statement to say, as the president said, our policy has not changed. He reiterated our one China policy and our commitment to peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, he also reiterated our commitment under the Taiwan Relations Act to provide Taiwan with the military means to defend itself.

Now it was interesting in the president's answer, he linked the Russian invasion of Ukraine to a potential Chinese invasion of Taiwan. And he said that the Russian invasion sort of increased the burden on the United States to do something if Taiwan were to be invaded, but he did say that he thought that China wouldn't necessarily do that.

He didn't think that was an eventuality that would come to pass because of this united, withering sanctions regime that has been put in place against Moscow, he seems to think that China would see that and not go ahead.

Now the president is on his way now to unveil this economic framework. This is his attempt to counter China on the economic space in this region, he said in that press conference that 13 nations have joined into that. [03:05:03]

There are some skeptics about this and there aren't actually a lot of details that have been hammered out. This is really the starting point. It's not a trade agreement per se but it encompasses the way the countries can participate, cooperate economically, and so, when the president speaks later, this hour, he will try to flesh out the outstanding questions about this plan.

CHURCH: All right. And Blake, Prime Minister Kishida said his country's alliance with the U.S. was more important than ever. What else did he say?

BLAKE ESSIG, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes. You know, Rosemary, in a part of the world that is seemingly more unstable by the day fueled by the rising Chinese military and a nuclear powered North Korea, our friends and allies have never been more important for Japan and the United States.

There is no more important friend or ally, and the strength of that relationship was on display today when Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida called the alliance the linchpin of Japan's diplomatic security.

And on the security front along with agreeing to continue monitoring Chinese and Russian joint military drills in the region, the two leaders discussed the importance of peace and stability on the Taiwan Strait, saying each country remains committed to making sure China doesn't change the status quo by force.

Today President Biden made it clear that the U.S. is fully committed to Japan's depends while Prime Minister Kishida said Japan would not rule out any options including counterattack capabilities. Domestically here in Japan, there has been a push to increase defense spending from one to two percent of its GDP, improve its defensive capabilities as well within the framework of the country's pacifist Constitution and develop counterattack capabilities.

The two leaders also confirmed close cooperation in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine discussing ways to strengthen ties both militarily and economically to ensure a similar situation doesn't play out in this part of the world, and with that in mind countering China economically and militarily was clearly a primary focus of their meeting with the Prime Minister Kishida saying that Japan would participate in Indo-Pacific economic framework that was announced by President Biden last October.

But at this point, the jury is still out on this economic plan, experts say that it lacks clarity, substance and the U.S.'s recent unimpressive commitment of only $150 million to Southeast Asia compared to the billions of dollars China has invested makes it a tough sell.

As for the location of next year's G7 summit to be held in Japan, Prime Minister Kishida announced that the summit will be held in Hiroshima, his hometown, that was devastated by the world's first atomic bomb attack. Kishida said that it's fitting to hold the summit in Hiroshima to promote peace and work towards a world without nuclear weapons, Rosemary.

CHURCH: All right. Kevin Liptak and Blake Essig, joining us live there from Tokyo, many thanks to you both. I appreciate it.

Well, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has announced an historic joint customs control with Poland, saying no one will break the unity between the two countries. That development came after Polish President Andrzej Duda visited Kyiv on Sunday, he sat down with Mr. Zelenskyy and became the first foreign leader to address Ukraine's parliament in person since Russia's war on Ukraine began.

In the coming hours, the war crimes trial of a 21-year-old Russian soldier is set to resume. Last week he pled guilty to shooting an unarmed 62-year-old civilian in Ukraine's Sumi region on the fourth day of the war. He is expected to be sentenced later today.

And in the city of Lviv, Ukrainians gathered at one cemetery to remember those who have been killed in Russia's unprovoked invasion. Many left flowers and lit candles while soldiers fired off their guns in salute.

And joining us now with more from Ukraine is CNN Suzanne Malveaux standing by live in the western city of Lviv. Good to see you, Suzanne. So, what is the latest on the ground?

SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Lynda, the messages from President Zelenskyy really trying to be optimistic and hopeful for the Ukrainian people particularly those who are in captivity in Russia's hands as well as their family. Over the weekend, the president saying and actually warning Russia that if the destruction of those people in Azovstal, if they were harmed in any way, that there would never be discussions with the Russians.

So, he is really trying to promote, give a sense of hope that perhaps a prisoner swap exchange could happen in the future but nevertheless, he also was painfully candid, saying 100 Ukrainian soldiers are killed every day in that eastern part of the country because of the fighting.

We also heard from the mayor's office in Mariupol, saying that they are on the verge of an infectious disease spread because of the conditions there.

[03:10:02]

Many of the families waiting to hear about their loved ones in Russian captivity had a chance to talk to one of those wives.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MALVEAUX: As Russia pummeled the Mariupol steel plant with overwhelming firepower, Natalia Zarytska could only watch and pray for her husband Bodan (Ph) inside. But Bodan (Ph), a Ukrainian soldier was able to update Natalia almost daily, she says, chronicling the worsening conditions. NATALIA ZARYTSKA, WIFE OF AZOVSTAL FIGHTER: He described the

situation are like as a real hell because people had no lands, no hands, and no medicine.

MALVEAUX: Weeks in photos revealed Bodan (Ph) was jaundice and had dropped weight.

ZARYTSKA: He lost weight, approximately 20 kilos. But he has a very strong spirit.

MALVEAUX: He'd seen many of his friends killed and feared he was next. Following his commander's order, Thursday, Bodan (Ph) surrendered, telling Natalia he would lose all ability to communicate. Now with his fellow soldiers in Russian custody, Natalia can only assume he is at their nearby detention center. Her greatest fear now, that he is being tortured or worse.

ZARYTSKA: We write each message as the last one.

MALVEAUX: What is the message that he typed to you?

ZARYTSKA: I love you. He was worried about his mom, he asked me to let her know that he is alive, and to wait for him.

MALVEAUX: Natalia believes Bodan (Ph) will give everything to stay alive. Motivated by their shared desire to someday create a family.

ZARYTSKA: And this idea helps me to be strong.

MALVEAUX: But the pain of not knowing is excruciating. The weight, heavy. As Russia's attacks carry on.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

MALVEAUX: Natalia is part of a small group of wives and mothers who are working with Turkish officials, including the Turkish president to try to help negotiate a push a prisoner release, but in the meantime, she simply waits. Rosemary?

CHURCH: All right. Suzanne Malveaux joining us from Lviv, many thanks for that report. I appreciate it.

Nearly three months since the war in Ukraine began, residents of a village outside Kyiv are returning. They are repairing buildings and infrastructure damaged or destroyed during the fighting. One local storeowner says she is determined to restore everything to its pre-war state.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ZINAIDA KOSTENKO, UKRAINIAN GROCERY STORE OWNER (through translator): When the Russians came here, it was frightening as hell. We are not the only ones who have been through this, the whole village. Some were lucky, their house remained intact, only the roof hit or a shed. But mostly, the whole villages like this, destroyed. We will restore everything and live like we did before. We are not a

nation that is afraid of hardship. But we won't give away our land. Our grandchildren are in the army, and we will stand proudly. The Russia dreams about a piece of our land, they won't get it.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHURCH: President Zelenskyy has spoken about getting compensation from Russian assets seized by Ukraine's allies.

Well, in the coming hours, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is expected to address the World Economic Forum remotely from Ukraine. Ahead on CNN, we will preview his speech and look at the other major challenges facing the world leaders as they gather in Davos.

Sweden's bid to join NATO was driven by concerns over Russia's war in Ukraine, and it's a big change for the historically neutral nation, a live report from Stockholm, that's ahead.

[03:15:00]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

CHURCH: Well, in the coming hours Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is set to address the World Economic Forum in Davos virtually from Ukraine of course. The ripple effects from Russia's war on Ukraine are being felt around the world, from energy supplies to the economy.

And CNN correspondents are covering all the angles, Anna Stewart is joining us with more on the World Economic Forum. Clare Sebastian is tracking how the war has affected Russia's energy sector. And Nina dos Santos has more on the bid by Finland and Sweden to join NATO.

So, let's start with the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland where political and business leaders are gathering this week. Russia's war on Ukraine the global pandemic, and climate change are expected to dominate the agenda this year. And for more on this, we want to bring in CNN Anna Stewart. Good morning to you, Anna.

So, a lot to cover at this forum, how is this different from others and what all is expected to be achieved?

ANNA STEWART, CNN REPORTER: Yes. I mean, this is a Davos with a difference not only that it's later in the year, due to Omicron it was canceled in January, so, you know, Rosemary, there's really no snow on those mountain tops. But also, as a result of that there will be some noticeable absences in terms of CEOs, in terms of world leaders, and also of course, the Russian delegation is entirely missing, not invited to this, to this year's forum.

But also, the world is facing a confluence of absolutely enormous economic challenges. Whether we are looking at the impact of the war in Ukraine in terms of pushing up wheat prices, energy prices, the inflation issue that is frankly going to push some of the world's biggest economies into a recession, whether we are looking at climate change which is of course still a big issue, or the aftereffects of the pandemic and the fact that it's still a big issue in parts of the world like China with ongoing lockdowns.

[03:19:55]

Now you question what will be done at this economic forum, and there are always huge questions as to whether a meeting of the rich and powerful in a Swiss resort will really do anything to address these challenges. Well, here's what the founder of the World Economic Forum told Richard Quest.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

KLAUS SCHWAB, FOUNDER AND EXECUTIVE CHAIRMAN, WORLD ECONOMIC FORUM: First, Davos never has been important as it is now, particularly for the reasons you mentioned. We cannot prevent a war in Ukraine, we cannot take away COVID and so on. But we can create coordinated responses to those challenges, and that's what we are doing. And those challenges need the cooperation of business, civil society, and of course mainly politics.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

STEWART: And I think politics and Ukraine and Russia is certainly going to be the main topic on and off the sort of stage at the whiff in all the discussions really. There will be discussions about the impact it's having on the global economy and what can be done to put more pressure on Russia, expect plenty more on the divisions with the E.U. over some of the oil embargo, and what more can be done there.

The IMF head speaking to The Financial Times said this is the greatest test for the global economy since World War II. She muted the idea of using Russia's frozen Central Bank asset to help reconstruct Ukraine, it has legal issues, so all of that will very much be part of the discussion and of course, it kicks off very soon with the president of Ukraine giving a keynote address. Rosemary?

CHURCH: All right. Anna Stewart joining us live from London, many thanks.

Well, if Lithuania's energy minister is correct, his country as of Sunday has completely cut off imports of Russian energy. That's everything, oil, electricity, and natural gas. Lithuania is small, only around three million people, so its power needs are just a fraction of countries like Germany. But this is still a major step as the E.U. shifts its energy needs away from Russia.

So, for more on this, I'm joined now by Clare Sebastian also in London. Good to see you, Clare. So, this is a significant move on Lithuania's part. I mean, what plan does it have to obtain energy, and where do things stand when it comes to Russian energy supplies and who is and isn't receiving them.

CLARE SEBASTIAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Rosemary. This is a complicated situation. A significant move by Lithuania, they are now saying not only oil and gas but electricity is going to come from sources other than Russia. They are using LNG for gas, they say that electricity can come from other European suppliers, the same thing for oil.

The Baltic states, the other, Estonia and Latvia have also said they are going to cut off Russian energy as well, though they haven't done that yet. But what we are seeing on both sides, are sort of significant but incremental moves, both sides showing that they are willing to go there, they are willing to use their leverage in the energy market.

So, Russia cutting off smaller countries when it comes to gas, Poland and Bulgaria and Finland over the weekend saying the gas supplies from Russia had stopped Gazprom because of nonpayment. All it comes down to this complicated ruble payment system that they have put into place.

And on the European side of course we have Lithuania, and Germany, for example, really cutting back on its Russian gas supplies and other countries trying to do the same. Then you have, you know, companies like Eni from Italy the energy giant there, saying that it will open an account in rubles, that it will continue to try to buy gas from Gazprom.

This is a very sticky situation, they can't agree, they still haven't agreed on a six-package of sanctions in the E.U. that would involve an oil embargo, Hungary still very much opposed to that. And meanwhile, Rosemary, we have oil prices at an 11-year high, gas prices have more than doubled this year, inflation is very high in parts of Europe, but especially parts that have been most reliant on Russian energy.

And it's just sort of compounding the situation of what to do about it, and Europe is facing up to the situation that it's not only going to have to race to increase renewables but it's also going to have to cut back on energy usage altogether if it's going to secure its energy future.

CHURCH: Extraordinary situation, isn't it? Clare Sebastian joining us there live from London. Many thanks.

Well, Turkey's president held phone calls over the weekend with leaders in Sweden and Finland, as well as NATO secretary-general as those two countries await a decision on their applications for NATO membership.

So, let's bring in Nina dos Santos who joins us live from Gothenburg in Sweden. Good to see you, Nina. So, Turkey at this stage of course is the only stumbling block in Finland and Sweden becoming members of NATO. So, do we know where things stand on that? What happened in those phone calls?

NINA DOS SANTOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, advisers to Recep president -- President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the Turkish president, Rosemary, over the weekend have been letting it be known to various Swedish newspapers that Turkey hasn't changed his position at all despite all these phone calls and the intense diplomacy going on behind the scenes.

[03:25:00]

And that they are willing to hold out for a number of months on this to make sure that the security concerns that Turkey says it has over Sweden and Finland's accession to NATO are fully discussed and met. Now that's a problem here for the ruling party that is in that position by a razor- thin majority and is also facing an election in about four months' time. So, you can see how this NATO issue is going to become a significant domestic politics issue here in northern Europe, and Turkey knows that and is using its leverage on that front.

Nut there's also other issues at play, it's not just concerns about Kurdish separatists and perceived sympathies for Kurdish separatist groups here in places like Sweden that by the way, Sweden refutes that the Turkish president has a problem with, it's also arms embargos and being frozen out of fighter jet contracts.

Now Sweden is hoping that its large $8 billion defense sector, and it's very well-stocked army will help win over critics.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DOS SANTOS: For Anna Ludiganoz (Ph) who just escaped the war in Ukraine with her mother and a young baby, Stockholm means safety for now.

UNKNOWN: Here it's so calm, the people who are leaving here, hundreds really kilometers from the war, and you don't feel it right here. It's difficult to understand the situation until you are not in it.

DOS SANTOS: Sweden has for years offered sanctuary to people like Anna fleeing conference across the world, unimpeded thanks to the nation's once cherished neutrality. But now, that is about to change, as the country prepares to join NATO alongside neighboring Finland.

MAGDALENA ANDERSSON, SWEDISH PRIME MINISTER: Every country has their own right to make their decisions, and we think this is better for the future, to be a member in NATO for the security of Sweden and the Swedish people.

DOS SANTOS: Sweden and Finland have changed their minds on NATO at lightning speed but this isn't a decision that either side is taking lightly. For these Nordic neighbors joining NATO means turning their backs on a deliberate policy of military nonalignment that has served them well for many generations.

For NATO it also means a much longer border with Russia to police. Russia has begun to talk down the significance of this expansion of the alliance, the exact opposite of Vladimir Putin's intentions.

(CROWD CHANTING)

DOS SANTOS: Public support for NATO membership was overwhelmingly high in Finland, but here in Sweden the debate is more nuanced.

Seventy-year-old Anita Salven (Ph)says that there's still room for a peacemaker in today's world order, and that Sweden should continue to fulfill that role. Russia hasn't been to war with Sweden for two centuries, she says. The warnings about Russia are just NATO propaganda. Anton Hamburg (Ph), an economic student in his 20s, says the decision has been rushed.

UNKNOWN: I don't think people should be scared that Russia is going to invade Sweden. I think that's preposterous. They're not going to invade Sweden.

DOS SANTOS: Amid fears the Ukrainian invasion could spark a bigger conflict, we meet Rainier Pinior who fled his native Germany after the Second World War, first, for neutral Austria before settling in Sweden's 60 years ago.

RAINIER PINIOR, FLED GERMANY: Now it comes back, all the memories and what could happen for those people.

DOS SANTOS: So how do you feel about Sweden's move to join NATO?

PINIOR: Yes, it's right. Because nobody knows what will happen in the next 20 years. That is my concern.

DOS SANTOS: Anna is also positive about NATO's expansion. Just sad her country wasn't afforded its protection.

UNKNOWN: They have an opportunity to be safe, and to protect their people. What's happening now in our country, it may happen to any of us.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

DOS SANTOS: Well, a lot of the weaponry that's being used on the battlefield to make a difference to defend countries like Anna Ludiganoz Ukraine is made here in Sweden. Most notably, the light antitank weaponry, the so-called NLAWs that are also made in conjunction with a British company, but there are also huge fighter jet capabilities, submarines and an enormous landmass.

So, despite the fact that Sweden does have a relatively small population, there is a sense that it will be able to contribute significantly to NATO, but as you can see there, as Turkey holds out, Rosemary, the signs of discord and some protest on the streets are getting louder. And political analysts say that it's likely to continue as Turkey continues to frustrate the process. Rosemary?

CHURCH: All right. Nina dos Santos joining us there, many thanks for that report.

Well, the U.S. is ramping up Operation Fly Formula to combat its critical shortage of baby formula. Coming up, the White House announces new steps to address the crisis.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[03:30:00]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK) ROSEMARY CHURCH, CNN ANCHOR: Welcome back, everyone. Relief for some

American families is on the way. The White House says a second flight of baby formula will be delivered in the coming days. The first flight landed on Sunday from Germany as the U.S. grapples with a nationwide shortage.

CNN's Paulo Sandoval was there for its arrival in Indianapolis.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

POLO SANDOVAL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: This was the first flight of President Biden's effort to try to provide some kind of relief to parents in the United States who have been desperate to stock up on that baby formula as we are months into the shortage here.

We are looking at 35 tons of prescription baby formula that was manufactured in Zurich, driven into Germany over the weekend, and then flown here to the United States where they hope that it will address the needs of some of the most vulnerable babies.

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack was on the tarmac on Sunday as this payload was being unloaded. He was basically describing what will be next for this particular load as he hopes it will be the first of many.

TOM VILSACK, U.S. SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE: This shipment is going to essentially get off this cargo plane. Then the Federal Express folks are going to take it from there. They're going to deliver it to distribution center that the Nestle, Gerber folks have here in Indiana, and then it's going to go on trucks and it's going to be delivered in hospitals and home health care clinics all across the country, providing support in health.

SANDOVAL: Important to point out that this is hypoallergenic product for babies that are intolerant to protein in cow's milk. So, it is meant to address a very specific need. There are still a majority of parents in the United States that are hoping to be able to stock up and to see the positive impact in the grocery store shelves because this latest load will not be going to those locations.

[03:35:02]

SANDOVAL: I did have an opportunity to speak to officials with FedEx, a big partner in these deliveries. They say that they are already scheduling a flight from Europe here to the United States, possibly later this week, and they hope that that will at least help begin to address some of the broader needs as manufacturing continues to ramp up in the United States of this essential item.

Polo Sandoval, CNN, Indianapolis.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CHURCH: Still to come, why these male employees at a news organization in Afghanistan are protesting the Taliban by wearing masks. You are watching "CNN Newsroom." We will explain on the other side of the break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

CHURCH: Welcome back, everyone. Well, the world has reached a shameful moment in the refugee crisis. The U.N. reports more than 100 million people have been forced to flee their home, a record number it calls a staggering milestone. The figure is equivalent to the 14th most populous country in the world.

The U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees says -- quote -- "One hundred million is a stark figure - sobering and alarming in equal measure. It's a record that should never have been set." "This must serve as a wake-up call to resolve and prevent destructive conflicts, end persecution, and address the underlying causes that force innocent people to flee their homes."

Well, it's been nine months since the Taliban seized control of Afghanistan. And with each passing day, more rights and freedoms are being stripped away from Afghan women and girls. Just last week, the militant group ordered all female TV presenters to cover their faces while on air.

[03:39:58]

CHURCH: And there is real concern about how much longer women will be allowed to even appear on Afghan television.

CNN's Christiane Amanpour asked former Afghan President Hamid Karzai to weigh in on the Taliban ruling. Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

HAMID KARZAI, FORMER AFGHAN PRESIDENT: On the television, all newscasts or others are wearing -- come to the screen or on the screen wearing -- covering of the face. That is not hijab. That is not Afghan culture.

CHRISTIANE AMANPOUR, CNN CHIEF INTERNATIONAL ANCHOR: Do you think they should obey it? KARZAI: No, they shouldn't. No, they shouldn't because that has got nothing to do with hijab. That has got nothing to do with Afghan culture either. They should not obey this. And the Taliban must rescind that decision, whoever has made that. It hurts Afghanistan. It hurts Afghanistan's reputation. And it is not Afghan at all. (END VIDEO CLIP)

CHURCH: The former president of Afghanistan isn't the only speaking out. On Sunday, this group of men at the private Afghan TV channel TOLOnews posted this picture to Twitter with their faces covered as a sign of solidarity with their female colleagues.

And thank you so much for your company. I'm Rosemary Church. For our international viewers, "African Voices Changemakers" is next. And if you're watching in North America, I'll be back with more news after a short break. Do stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[03:45:00]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

CHURCH: Welcome back, everyone. Well, primary elections in five U.S. states are just over a day away, but a high-stakes contest in Georgia has captured the spotlight.

State Governor Brian Kemp faces former Senator David Perdue in the republican primary. Perdue is the handpicked candidate of former President Donald Trump. But recent polling shows Kemp with a massive lead and he seems poised to deal Trump his biggest political defeat this year.

Meantime, the winner of Pennsylvania's democratic Senate primary is out of the hospital after suffering a stroke. Lieutenant Governor John Fetterman will now recuperate at home. But he doesn't know who his opponent will be. That is because ballots are still being counted in the republican primary. Trump-endorsed candidate Mehmet Oz leads businessman David McCormick by less than 1,100 votes. An automatic recount is likely.

For more on all this, let's bring in Ron Brownstein. He is CNN's senior political analyst and a senior editor for "The Atlantic." He is joining us now from Los Angeles. Always great to have you with us.

RON BROWNSTEIN, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL ANALYST, SENIOR EDITOR FOR "THE ATLANTIC": Hi, Rosemary.

CHURCH: All right. So, Donald Trump wanted to punish --

BROWNSTEIN: Yeah.

CHURCH: -- Georgia's Republican governor, Brian Kemp, for his refusal to overturn the election results. Now, it appears Trump's pick, David Perdue, is heading for defeat. His own supporters are calling him lackluster and destructed, and Trump appears to have abandoned him at this stage. So, how much damage could this have on Trumps kingmaker power, do you think?

BROWNSTEIN: Well, this will be the biggest disappointment of the primary season in all likelihood for Donald Trump. I mean, there was no one, as you noted, that he wanted to beat more than the Republican governor of Georgia, Brian Kemp, who he felt, you know, acted inappropriately by upholding the law and certifying Joe Biden's victory in that swing state in 2020.

But the candidate that he chose to run against -- that he basically handpicked to run against Kemp, former Senator David Perdue, has been totally lackluster. He has kind of a campaigner without much energy. He hasn't raised a lot of money. And Kemp really -- there really isn't a case against him in Georgia except for Trumps animus among Georgia Republicans.

So, it's going to be a disappointment but it is -- I think, again, as we talk about last week, it's a mistake to read any individual race as a sing that Trump's hold on the Republican Party is loosening. The ability of any individual to win every race they endorse has simply never existed in American politics. And to me, the broader direction that is clear is that there really aren't candidates running away from Trumpism, whatever happens.

CHURCH: All right. We are breaking in because U.S. President Joe Biden is delivering remarks in Tokyo about his administration's new economic framework for the Asia-Pacific region. Let's listen in.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

FUMIO KISHIDA, PRIME MINISTER OF JAPAN (through translator): As President Biden mentioned, Indo-Pacific region is home to half of the world's population and approximately 60% of the world's GDP. It truly is the engine of global growth and vitality.

We need to realize in a free and open Indo-Pacific, Japan has been contributing to the stable prosperity of the region in cooperation with the United States and regional partners, focusing on three pillars, namely entrenching and strengthening fundamental values and principles, pursuing economic prosperity, and ensuring peace and stability.

And, tonight -- excuse me -- the fact that President Biden is visiting Japan and announcing the launch of IPEF here, it is a clear demonstration of the United States' strong commitment to the region.

I commend wholeheartedly President Biden for his strong leadership. Japan will join IPEF and to work closely with the United States as in countries and other regional partners to help create a new framework.

[03:50:00]

KISHIDA: In order for IPEF to be a meaningful framework for the regional economic order, it is important to address what we can among areas that are critical in participating countries and to have concrete outcomes.

IPEF focus on supply-chain resilience, decarbonization, and clean energy, as well as additional economy is timely in the current international context.

It is important to work with the private sector in these areas of cooperation. This includes creating additional trades, trading common regional rules and standards, improving transparency and predictability, developing talent and technical assistance.

Let us work together to create a framework that finds a good balance between cooperation and rules, and we look forward to working with you on that.

I believe it is important for ASEAN, the source of dynamism in this region, to play a central role in IPEF. Japan respects the unity and centrality of ASEAN and will actively participate in the discussions in cooperation with the United States and other partners who are here today.

We look forward to working together to build a more prosperity in the Pacific region by bringing together the initiatives and wisdoms of countries in the region, including the U.S.' Indo-Pacific strategy, Japan's free and open Indo-Pacific, the ASEAN outlook on the Indo- Pacific, and India's Look East policy.

IPEF is an inclusive and open framework that will remain open to the participation of new partners following its inception today. We welcome more partner countries to join IPEF discussions in the future. We will work together to create an economic order that will ensure sustainable growth, peace, and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region in the years ahead.

I look forward to the opportunity to work with our many partners in the region. Thank you very much.

UNKNOWN (voice-over): Mr. President, Prime Minister Kishida, thank you very, very much. And everyone, we would like to give everyone participating an opportunity to speak to this initiative, starting with Prime Minister Modi. Mr. Prime Minister?

NARENDRA MODI, PRIME MINISTER OF INDIA (through translator): President Biden and Prime Minister Kishida, and all the leaders who are with us today online, excellencies, I'm very pleased to be with all of you at this important event.

The Indo-Pacific framework is the announcement of our collective desire to make this region the engine of global economic growth. I thank President Biden for taking the initiative to organize this important event.

The Indo-Pacific region is the center for manufacturing economic activities, global trade, and investment. History bears witness to the fact that India has, for centuries, been a very important center for trade flows in this region.

It is, therefore, significant that the most ancient commercial port is located in my home state in (INAUDIBLE). And therefore, it is necessary that we find shared solutions to the economic challenges of the region and that we make creative arrangements.

[03:55:00]

MODI (through translator): Excellencies, India will work with all of you to build an inclusive and resilient Indo-Pacific economic framework.

I believe that the three key pillars for resilient supply chains between us are trust, transparency, and timelines. I am sure that this framework will be helpful in strengthening these three pillars and will encourage development, peace, and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region. Thank you very much.

UNKNOWN (voice-over): Thank you very much, Prime Minister. It's a pleasure now to call on the prime minister of New Zealand, Prime Minister Ardern.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CHURCH: All right. So, we have been listening to a joint news conference there between U.S. President Joe Biden, who is there on his visit in Tokyo, and Japan Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. Now, the two leaders affirmed their commitment to the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework, a plan for economic cooperation between the U.S. and Japan.

We also heard from India Prime Minister Modi, who is part of the quad, also speaking there in support of this economic plan that he said would help the region become an engine of global economic growth.

And we will continue to watch this, of course, and monitor it in the hour that follows. But at this point, at this juncture, I want to thank you so much for spending part of your day with me. I'm Rosemary Church. "CNN Newsroom" continues next with Isa Soares.

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