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High Court In Rule On Macron's Plan To Raise Retirement Age; FBI Arrests 21-Year-Old Air National Guardsman Suspected Of Leaking Classified Documents; U.S. President To Explore Heritage On Final Day In Ireland; U.S. President to Explore Heritage on Final Day in Ireland; Pyongyang Says It Launched New Solid-Fuel ICBM; U.S., Philippines Carry Out Largest Ever Joint Military Exercises; Brazilian President to Meet with Xi Jinping in Coming Hours; Murderer Fakes Own Death; Cyclone Ilsa Breaks Wind Record as It Smashes into Australia. Aired 1-2a ET
Aired April 14, 2023 - 01:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
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[01:00:22]
MICHAEL HOLMES, CNN ANCHOR: Hello, everyone, I'm Michael Holmes, appreciate your company. Coming up here on CNN Newsroom.
Hundreds of thousands of protesters hit the streets of France again as the Constitutional Council is just hours away from ruling on raising the country's retirement age. U.S. authorities swooped in on a suspect in the leaked Pentagon documents case. We're learning about the 21- year-old Air National Guardsmen. And she was credited with turning the miniskirt into a symbol of the swinging 60s, how the fashion world is remembering British designer Mary Quant.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Live from CNN Center. This is CNN Newsroom with Michael Holmes.
HOLMES: And we begin in France where in the coming hours the nation's highest constitutional court is expected to deliver a long awaited crucial ruling on whether the pension reform law will stand or fall. Hundreds of thousands of people took to the streets on Thursday in a fresh round of protests against the government's controversial plan to raise the retirement age from 62 to 64. Some demonstrations were peaceful others however were not.
Smoke bombs, projectiles and tear gas were fired as protesters clashed with police. At least 47 people arrested in Paris and at least 10 police officers reportedly injured. The head of a French trade union tell CNN the protests will continue if the Constitutional Council approves the pension reform law.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MAHER TEKAYA, HEAD OF EUROPEAN AFFAIRS, FRENCH TRADE UNION CFDT: Unfortunately, we are seeing that the government in different statement showing that they are still deaf to the requests of the workers. They are trying to carry on as if nothing is happening and to go to another discussion on the working condition. But unfortunately, the anger that was expressed during the last weeks and several demonstration will not just disappear. Once this law, this law is promulgated.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: France's finance minister defended his government's pension reform plan when he spoke with CNN's Richard Quest on Thursday, have a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BRUNO LE MAIRE, FRENCH FINANCE MINISTER: I will not say that the leverage of an easiest growing we have violence in the street. I strongly condemn all violence. But nevertheless, the process is going on. We are waiting for the very last decision or the friendship import tomorrow.
I just want to emphasize how vital this reform is for a pension system. We have a very efficient, very generous pension system. But we need to ensure to the French citizen that there is a financial balance by 2030. This is the purpose of the reform.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: Now despite what the government says about the purpose of the reform, thousands of French citizens are frankly not happy about it. And as we've seen voicing their opinions on the streets CNN's Frederik Pleitgen was with them in Paris.
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FREDERIK PLEITGEN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voiceover): Outbursts of anger rip across France.
PLEITGEN (on camera): I just got a full load of tear gas.
PLEITGEN (voiceover): Police in Paris charging a crowd of demonstrators. Flares and sirens taking over the headquarters of luxury giant LVMH which owns the likes of Louis Vuitton Dior and Tiffany's.
Chants from rail workers echo through the halls of the metro. Trash bins blocking off schools and streets with garbage set ablaze. These are the sights and sounds of rage by some protesters stirring tensions in what was largely a peaceful day of protests across the country.
French citizens young and old coming together for the 12th day of nationwide outrage against President Emmanuel Macron controversial pensions bill, which would raise the retirement age from 62 to 64.
FABIEN VILLEDIEU, SUD RAIL UNION REPRESENTATIVE (through translator): I would lie if I was telling you that there is no fatigue. We are tired, but immobilization is like a marathon. It's the last kilometer as at the end that are the hardest. [01:05:02]
PLEITGEN: While protesters say they are here for the long run, the final hurdle for the bill comes Friday at the country's Constitutional Council. The contested reform will either be greenlit partly scrapped or in a highly unlikely situation entirely thrown out. The court's decision will bring to an end a month of deliberations. However, French unions and protesters say they are going to continue to fight the reform, regardless of the ruling. Frederik Pleitgen, CNN, Paris.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HOLMES: Joining me now from Strasbourg, in France is Dominic Thomas, CNN European Affairs commentator and professor at UCLA. Good to see you again, Dominic.
So it could be all it could be nothing or it could be something in between how do you think things might unfold? Later today when the court issues its review?
DOMINIC THOMAS, CNN, EUROPEAN AFFAIRS COMMENTATOR: Yes, well, I think the greatest likelihood when you look at the constitution of the court, you know, nine members and older people, long legislative history, some former prime ministers, and the likelihood of them and throwing out the entire legislative agenda is very unlikely. At the most, you could expect some, some tweaks to the process.
But I think ultimately, whether they find legislative or legal issues with this document, or whether they simply recommend minor changes, or go so far as to rubber stamp it, it's not going to satisfy the streets with a full understanding here that we're talking about the judicial branch weighing in, there's already tension between the executive and the legislative branch where he was unable President Macron pushes legislation through.
And it's important to understand that in the French context, in many ways, the street is the fourth branch of government, and they will continue to be heard loud and clear. Until Emmanuel Macron, withdraws this legislation, Michael.
HOLMES: Yes. And that's interesting. Let's explore that further. You've spoken about how the street plays a major role in French politics. Explain that role of street versus government in France?
THOMAS: Yes, well, it's, of course, you see a worldwide, you know, protest demonstrations. And we see that in France as well on a range of cultural, political and social issues. But when it comes to the interaction between the legislative process and the people, you could go all the way back, let's just say two examples of revolutions in France.
And it's important to understand how those are presented and taught in school and deeply ingrained in the French psyche, that protest is an acceptable form of engaging and with the authorities. And we think just during the Fifth Republic, going back to 1968. And then since then, every single government, particularly around issues of educational reform, and labor, pension reform have resulted in these kinds of protests and more often than not have either cost presidents their reelections, or they have been forced to either abrogate tweak or even withdraw legislation. And we see this process unfolding here on the streets of Paris as they express their discontent with this legislative process, and also with a Macron presidency.
HOLMES: So why then is President Macron so determined to push his reformist agenda? And how do you see the evolution of the antimicrobial movement and where it might be headed?
THOMAS: Yes, I think it's really remarkable that knowing the sort of the long history and just how problematic this kind of reform is that Emmanuel Macron has essentially, and potentially here hitched his wagon to an issue that could derail the next four years of his presidency. He already when he was reelected, claims that he has a mandate to enact these changes, which he talked about.
But at the end of the day, folks ended up voting against Marine LePen in the runoff stages, rather than really for him. And he lost his legislative majority in the Lower House, which is making it of course very difficult for him to enact this particular agenda.
For Emmanuel Macron, he is absolutely committed to reforming the economy, and to sort of injecting the French business sector with new funding and support. And these measures have been challenged by economists, by demographers, and also by pointing the fact that he has been unwilling to increase taxes on the wealthiest sections of society and on corporations and businesses.
And they see his agenda as a kind of unrelenting, long term attack on the social system to which people are deeply committed to preserving in the French context.
HOLMES: Yes. I'm curious. I mean, how would you see -- how have President Macron statements following his state visit to China played into the social and political unrest in France at the moment? And I asked that because some have suggested that, you know, it's showing a detachment by him from the mood on the street.
THOMAS: Yes, and I think that you're finding her an increasingly isolated president, and increasingly out of touch with what people are asking and saying now.
[01:10:00]
The irony, of course, is that internationally from the moment he became president in 2017, he has always enjoyed greater popularity, ratings and support on the international scene. And it's domestically that he's struggled going all the way back to the yellow vest movement, social uprisings and so on.
In this particular case, that statements he made following his state visit to China, particularly given the fact this was just a few months after President Biden had welcomed him in the United States for an official state dinner, were completely out of touch with the reality of the European Union. For him, he was ultimately speaking here.
And this points to kind of a further indication of the ways in which Emmanuel Macron feels that he understands things better, he knows better, and tries to instead of enlisting and mobilizing people around him to support this is more intent on going the heavy handed way.
And we see this lack of consultation discussion and of creating unity around different legislative or international foreign policy agendas are coming back to haunt him here and ultimately undermine his capacity to act as president. Michael.
HOLMES: Yes, yes. Or implement his agenda over the next few years as well. Dominic, always great to get your thoughts. Dominic Thomas there in Strasbourg for us. Thanks.
THOMAS: Thank you.
HOLMES: Well, now to the damaging leaks of highly classified Pentagon documents that have the U.S. and its allies rattled. The FBI has arrested a suspect in the case, you see that arrest happening there on your screen. He is a 21-year-old Massachusetts Air National Guardsmen, Jack Teixeira. The Air Force says he was a cyber transport systems journeyman. And he was among those responsible for the military's global communications network.
U.S. officials believed Teixeira was the leader of an online chat group known as Thug Shaker Central, where he posted documents about the war in Ukraine and U.S. spying operations. The Washington Post reports group members bonded over military gear guns and God. Here's what one of Teixeira's neighbors had to say.
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HAYDEN ELLINWOOD, NEIGHBOR: I never really talked to him or like met him in person. But like I've seen them walking around hanging out with that kind of group that was want to go in the military. And they were also big in video games, so I'm not surprised it would have been like, over Minecraft and stuff, but I just find it -- it's crazy because it's like it's a small town like nothing ever bad happens here.
Definitely, like not the brightest idea you ever had. You know? Obviously if you go on Minecraft, like it's online like anybody can play, you know, it's like for everybody to see.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: Now U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has ordered a review of who has access to intelligence like that. And the Pentagon spokesperson called the leaks quote, a deliberate criminal act. CNN's Oren Liebermann with more than.
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OREN LIEBERMANN, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT (voiceover): A 21-year-old member of the Massachusetts Air National Guard is in custody arrested in connection to the massive leak of classified documents online.
The FBI swooping in on Dighton, Massachusetts, a tactical team moving into arrest Jack Teixeira after surveilling him for a couple of days. A U.S. official said the plan was to arrest Teixeira when he left the house away from the stash of weapons they worried he might have.
MERRICK GARLAND, U.S. ATTORNEY GENERAL: Today the Justice Department arrested Jack Teixeira in connection with an investigation into alleged unauthorized removal, retention and transmission of classified national defense information.
LIEBERMANN: The arrest comes after a fast moving search by the U.S. government. Only one week after President Joe Biden and other senior U.S. leaders were briefed about the leak that exposed a trove of top secret documents.
The documents were accessible to thousands of people military and civilian. But the digital trail of information led investigators to a small group for closer scrutiny, allowing the FBI to hone in on a suspect. The Pentagon having to explain how such young members of the military have access to such national secrets.
BRIG. GEN. PATRICK RYDER, PENTAGON PRESS SECRETARY: You've received training. And you will receive an understanding of the rules and requirements that come along with those responsibilities and you're expected to abide by those rules, regulations and responsibility. It's called military discipline.
LIEBERMANN: According to The Washington Post, the man behind the leaks posted the national security secrets for a group of his online acquaintances to see which CNN could not independently verify. The documents were leaked on Discord chat and messaging platform often used by gamers. The Post spoke with a friend of the man who claimed the leaks began last year long before they were first made public.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I was first made aware of these documents. I want to say about six eight months ago. I was in a Discord server by the name of Thug Shaker Central. And in this channel, there was classified documents being posted by a user who I will refer to his OG from this point. The documents were often listed as Ukraine versus Russia at first, however, it's slowly spiraled into just intelligence about everything.
LIEBERMANN: The Pentagon has begun Damage Assessment and has already begun to limit who receives highly classified intelligence briefs.
[01:15:05]
After the information exposed, U.S. spying on allies like South Korea and Israel critical information about Ukrainian military capabilities and top secret intel about Chinese weapons development.
GLENN GERSTELL, FORMER U.S. NATINAL SEUCRITY AGENCY GENERAL COUNSEL: If it indeed is true that it's a military base, then there certainly going to be a lot of military officials who have to be called for account. LIEBERMANN: The Biden administration has downplayed the consequences of the leaks. But the question of how to stop someone with top secret access determined to spread secrets remains unanswered.
JAMES CLAPPER, FORMER U.S. DIRECTOR OF NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE: And their concern here is as people and people if they are bent on exposing classified information, they'll figure out a way to beat the administrative procedures.
LIEBERMANN (on camera): According to the sheriff's service record, he joined the Air National Guard three and a half years ago in September 2019. His job, cyber transport systems would require him to have seven half weeks of basic military training, and then 136 days of technical training, it is that job that led him to be in a position where he could have access to some of these classified documents that were leaked. And that certainly is one element of the Pentagon investigation and look into all of this, and the consequences of it. That will be under severe scrutiny. Oren Liebermann, CNN at the Pentagon.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HOLMES: For more, I'm joined by Douglas London. He's a retired senior Operations Officer for the CIA and the author of the book, "The recruiter: Spying and the Lost Art of American Intelligence."
You know, great voice to have on this particular case, Doug. How does a 21-year-old national reservists get his hands on material like this? Does -- what's happened suggest changes are needed on the whole need to know process?
DOUGLAS LONDON, RETIRED SENIOR CIA OPERATIONS OFFICER: Well, thanks, Michael, looking at what we know, currently, he had enough of the clearance to be on the system. But we're also told that he had an information technology role troubleshooting, which means it's possible he might have had administrative access that would have allowed them to get to servers or even accounts, which contains intelligence that has nothing to do with his job.
So, I think there are certainly some issues about need to know. But I will tell you, as a CIA case officer, going after somebody with admin access was one of my favorite targets because of the breadth of information they can provide.
HOLMES: Yes. And to that point, that information, what -- from what you've seen, what damage might have been caused to sources and methods in an Intel sense?
LONDON: You know, it's really a hodgepodge. Because what we've been told is a lot of these are briefing materials slides for the Joint Staff, which means they're drawing on other intelligence products. Now, in general, the intelligence community's very careful to write for what we call Source Protection, meaning you can transmit what we know without giving away how we know, so people who need to act on the information can without exposing our sources. But it's not as clear to me that these people took the same precautions, as the intelligence agencies producing these products usually take. So, there's certainly some reference to the means of acquisition, whether it's signals intelligence and such, which would offer some clues to an adversary, though it's a snapshot in time on what we know. It's really how we know that brings some concern to me.
HOLMES: Yes. One thing I wanted to ask you about, and I know you've been interested in this, too, there are apparently altered or doctored documents in this trove of material. What does that suggest for you?
LONDON: It's a big takeaway for my view, as somebody who's worked the Russian target for so many years, because the Russians came up pretty quickly publicly to say this was disinformation. And then we see these apparent forgeries, which were done fairly haphazardly, and perhaps in a rush nature, just to get this information out.
In a lot of ways the exposure of American intelligence detailing this tremendous losses Russia is taking I mean, casualty figures, over 100,000 deaths per house, which is more than double what the United States suffered during the entirety of the Vietnam War, does not paint a good picture of Russia in order nor the paint a good picture of Putin's leadership. So I think he's as disappointed to see this public as we are.
HOLMES: Now Doug, it's interesting these documents surfaced in an online gaming group. I mean, maybe this 21-year-old was just showing off. But what are your concerns more broadly about members of the military gravitating to online groups and taking their knowledge there, particularly groups more radical than a game, a chat room.
LONDON: It's certainly a concern. We've seen evidence that the military has been trying to deal with folks going online expressing political views that can tend to be aligned somewhat with some of what we now refer to as racially motivatedly the ethnic extremists. This is what this thought of the grabbed bad for everything from white supremacist to anti-government militias, and there's unfortunately more online activity both in social forums as well as private groups among military members.
We saw this with the attack on the Capitol in January 6, and it's a touchy issue for the military to address but I think one they really need to dig deeper into.
[01:20:05]
HOLMES: A man with more than 30 years experience with the CIA a perfect voice to talk to you about all of this. Douglas London, our thanks as always.
LONDON: Thank you Michael.
HOLMES: New video shows the sheer devastation that months of fighting have left on the Ukrainian city of Bakhmut. Have a look at this footage shows the entire city blocks obliterated by the brutal battles that have taken place there. Ukraine says Russian troops in Bakhmut have received reinforcements from other areas, and they launched dozens of attacks a day trying to take full control of the city. Ukraine also says about 4,500 Russian troops are being killed or wounded in Bakhmut over just the past two weeks, CNN unable to independently verify that figure.
Russian forces are reportedly trying to push into the central part of the city and encircle it from north and south.
Meanwhile, Ukraine says two people were killed by Russian shelling in the Kherson region on Thursday. Officials are also concerned about more attacks around orthodox Easter which is Sunday.
And we now want to show you one side of the war that is playing out behind the front lines. At the forefront of it, Ukrainian activists who lead a nonviolent resistance in areas occupied by Russia, and they told CNN's Ben Wedeman been waiting for any pushback against Moscow is risky business.
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BEN WEDEMAN, CNN SENIOR CORRESPONDENT (voiceover): Braving gunfire a year ago, residents of the city of Kherson came out to protest the Russian occupation. It was there that a non-violent resistance movement began, Zhovta strichka, Ukrainian for yellow ribbon.
The Yellow Ribbon sprayed on walls tied to railings has spread with the movement throughout the areas under Russian control with a particularly large and growing number of activists in Crimea. We spoke with some of the movements activists who requested we conceal their identities due to security concerns.
Every day 30 or 40 new people are joining says Taras (ph), not his real name. These acts are small and symbolic but under occupation any act of defiance comes with a huge risk. Says Taras (ph), all this resistance is very difficult because the price of putting up one poster could be the loss of your freedom or your life.
Katia (ph) not her real name knows those risks. Twice Russian police searched her home in the Kherson region. The invaders she says expected to be met with flowers.
Last November Russian forces retreated from much of the Kherson region. According to Katia (ph), women make up the majority of Yellow Ribbon members. Women have the power to fight, she says. They want to contribute to the victory.
Small and symbolic though these acts may be they've caught someone's attention.
In a recent televised meeting, Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered officials to crack down on resistance violent and nonviolent in the occupied territories. You need to act in a strong and efficient manner said Putin, control over this situation must be reliably insured. Ivan (ph) also not his real name is the operations tech brains from occupied territory he set up a chat bot which allows Yellow Ribbon members to stay in touch and share material. Russian operatives tried to infiltrate Yellow Ribbon via the chat bot. Their lack of subtlety is often a dead giveaway.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: From talking about with Russians. They really just Hello, let's meet.
WEDEMAN: Ivan (ph) shows us what one real activist has posted.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He send us confirmation about his work. For example, Pain, Glory to Ukraine works with armed forces on one of the buildings in Luhansk.
WEDEMAN: Simple acts of defiance by a nebulous network of anonymous activists are driving home a blunt message to the Russian occupiers. You're not welcome here. Ben Wedeman, CNN, eastern Ukraine.
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HOLMES: Joe Biden takes a veiled swipe at his predecessor while touting the close ties between the U.S. and Ireland. We're live in Dublin with how he's spending his final hours there in a place he called -- he's called home. Plus, the U.S. and the Philippines team up for war exercises that have got China angry what the two allies working for. That's coming up.
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[01:27:03]
HOLMES: The U.S. president will soon begin his final day in Ireland and much of it will be spent tracing his family lineage and County Mayo. Joe Biden's trip has been part homecoming and part politics on Thursday meeting with the Irish Prime Minister who thanked him and the U.S. for helping protect the peace in Northern Ireland.
Later in a speech to the parliament, President Biden urged Ireland and the U.K. to work more closely to restore Northern Ireland's power sharing agreement saying, quote, political violence must never again be allowed to take hold on this island. And during a banquet dinner at Dublin Castle, Mr. Biden emphasize the deep ties and resilience of both the U.S. and Ireland.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOE BIDEN, U.S. PRESIDENT: Today, wherever there's a yearning for freedom, a struggle for change, a cry for justice. People around the world know they can count on Ireland. They can count in Ireland, and I believe they can count on the United States with notable exceptions once in a while.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: CNN's Kevin Liptak, standing by in the Irish Capitol a little dig at his predecessor there. Kevin speak though to the broader messaging in what Joe Biden said and the moment itself.
KEVIN LIPTAK, CNN WHITE HOUSE REPORTER: Yes, and certainly President Biden really does view Ireland as the kind of democracy a modern progressive democracy that can act as a bulwark against this tide of populism that's, you've seen in the last decade or so.
And you did hear him talk about that, in the speech yesterday in Parliament really trying to use this trip, as a springboard for these ideas that he often focuses on the global stage. Things like democracy, things like optimism, things like possibilities, and he used all those words in his speech yesterday.
But really, in the end, this trip is not a trip with major policy objectives. This is a personal trip for President Biden. And you saw that yesterday, he felt so comfortable speaking to Irish lawmakers in their parliament, really a much warmer welcome that he sometimes receives in the American Congress.
And you heard him say, at the very start of his speech in the Irish language, that he was at home. And it's been so interesting at moments on this trip, he has really let his guard down, talked about things that he isn't necessarily comfortable talking about when he's back in the United States.
And one of the most interesting things to me was when he referenced his age, in that speech, talked about how he was at the end of his career and that his age, lent him some wisdom when it comes to these issues of democracy, lent him some perspective or he is traveling with members of his family, with his sister, with his son Hunter and later today, he will explore another side of his family in the west of Ireland in County Mayo.
[01:29:45]
He will be delivering a speech in front of what is expected to be a very large crowd in front of the cathedral, and the cathedral actually has something of an interesting family tie and his great, great, great grandfather sold the bricks to the cathedral, and it helped pay for his passage to the United States.
So certainly a lot of positive images are coming out of this trip as the president heads back home later today.
MICHAEL HOLMES, CNN ANCHOR: Yes. Yes. And you wrote earlier that, you know, this trip has had the feeling of a -- I think you put a family spring break.
So what has been the overall reception? We've seen the Taoiseach by all accounts enjoying the visit. More broadly what our own John King earlier today called a love fest.
How are the people of Ireland viewing this Biden visit?
LIPTAK: Yes I mean, the crowds on this trip are far bigger than any presidential trip that I've seen for President Biden. You know, there were -- there were four or five deep up in County Louth when he visited earlier this week, waiting in the cold drizzle to see someone, you know, that they could potentially be related to.
They found about 500 cousins of President Biden dragged out of the woodwork to come see him on this trip. So I think he's been very well received. I think the question is whether the president can use this reception here maybe to help him as he prepares to launch a presidential bid back home.
You know, it's always a question. Does reception -- good reception abroad really translate back home? Certainly people do like to see the American president well-received, but I'm not sure how focused Americans are on this particular trip, Michael.
HOLMES: All right. Good to have you there, Kevin. Thanks.
Kevin Liptak in Dublin for us.
Quick break here on the program.
When we come back, North Korea says it launched a new type of intercontinental ballistic missile. What we're learning about the weapons tests.
We'll be right back.
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HOLMES: Welcome back, everyone.
I'm Michael Holmes. You're watching CNN NEWSROOM and thanks for doing so.
North Korea says the rocket that it launched on Thursday was a new type of intercontinental ballistic missile. State media reports that leader Kim Jong-un guided the weapons test. It was reportedly a solid fueled ICBM, which can be moved more easily and launched faster than a liquid-fueled rocket.
Joining me now is CNN's Paula Hancocks in Seoul.
So talk more about the significance of this particular type of missile and how it plays into Kim Jong-un's overall nuclear plan.
[01:34:49]
PAULA HANCOCKS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well Michael, this is one of the technologies he said that he wanted to be able to perfect as part of his five-year military plan. This was his wish list if you like back in January, 2021 when he said these are the military and arms improvements and developments that I want to achieve in the next five years.
This was a key part of that plan, and we're almost halfway through that five year plan at this point, so he said he did want the capability of a solid fueled ICBM.
Now the key for the solid fuel rather than liquid fuel is, as you mentioned, it is easier to handle. It's quicker to be able to launch one of these ICBMs. And of course, that makes it far more difficult to detect and if necessary, intercept. So it certainly does give North Korea a benefit.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ANKIT PANDA, STANTON SENIOR FELLOW, CARNEGIE ENDOWMENT FOR INTERNATIONAL PEACE: Solid fuel ICBMs compared to their liquid propellant counterparts are generally speaking, much more responsive in a crisis. That means that they can be used much quicker. They don't need to be fueled right before they're launched.
Think of a firecracker that's ready to go once the fuse is lit. A solid fuel ICBM is something similar.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HANCOCKs: So what the South Korean military has said at this point is, although they do believe it could well be a solid fueled missile, they do believe that North Korea needs more time and effort to be able to perfect this kind of technology and capability.
Now, of course, time and effort is something that we know full well Kim Jong-un has plenty of. Now it's also coming at a time just a couple of weeks before the South Korean president heads to Washington to meet with the U.S. President Joe Biden, but also at a time where there is no communication whatsoever between North and South Korea.
Now they're not talking any kind of dialogue at the moment. But there's usually a hotline twice a day, which is answered but has not been answered by North Korea for about a week, Michael.
HOLMES: All right. Paula Hancocks there, following all of this for us from Seoul. Thanks so much.
Now much to the ire of China, the Philippines and the United States are to enter several days of their largest ever joint military exercises.
Troops from both countries held anti tank missile exercises on Thursday at the military base in the northern Philippines. The joint exercises aimed to boost Manila's military capability while showing U.S. support for the Philippines as China's assertiveness grows.
The two allies plan to hold more exercises in the South China Sea later this year, which will include other countries.
The Brazilian president Luiz Inacio Lula Da Silva is in Beijing right now. He's expected to meet in the coming hours with trade union leaders and later with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
But despite previously vowing to discuss peace making strategies with Russia's ally, there is no mention of the war in Ukraine on Mr. Lula's official schedule. Instead the two are expected to focus heavily on issues of trade and investment.
Stephano Pozzebon with more.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
STEPHANO POZZEBON, CNN JOURNALIST: Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula Da Silva is in China landing on Wednesday for an official state visit. On Thursday, the Latin American leader held business meetings in Shanghai, including the visit to the headquarters of the tech company, Huawei.
The main event, however, will be on Friday when Lula is geared (ph) to meet the Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing. The Brazilian delegation includes several ministers and state governors, as well as business leaders.
And Lula has said that he aims to sign as many as 20 different bilateral trade agreements with the Chinese. China is Brazil's main economic partner by a considerable margin, and even though bolstering the commerce between the two countries is the stated goal of these visits, a high profile trip holds a considerable political significance.
IGOR PATRICK, RESEARCH SCHOLAR, KISSINGER INSTITUTE ON CHINA AND THE U.S.: I see this trip also has a message to the U.S. because when Lula visited Biden at the beginning of 2023, the Brazilian side had like high hopes for like signing deals, especially when it comes to climate change and protecting the Amazon. And what the U.S. side offered wasn't too much.
And now you see China rolling the red carpet and offering like thousands of like ideas and projects and willing to cooperate in so many different areas.
So in a way, I think this trip will also serve as a yellow light to Washington.
POZZEBON: Just on Thursday, Lula invited countries in the developing world to trade in local currencies rather than U.S. dollars for bolstering international commerce.
[01:39:55]
POZZEBON: Among the topics of discussion with Xi is also likely to feature Ukraine with both Brazil and China saying that they're working for a peaceful solution to the conflict in Europe.
For CNN, this is Stefano Pozzebon, Bogota.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HOLMES: Anna Coren joins me now from Hong Kong to discuss further. So tell us more about the agenda and what do both leaders want from each other.
ANNA COREN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, well look, Michael last week it was the French President Emmanuel Macron visiting Beijing. You know, that was last week. Last month it was Spain's prime minister. Now the Brazilian president is due to have an audience with Xi Jinping.
China certainly open to business after three years of self isolation as a result of COVID. But I think there's also highlights. You know China's economic importance and the potential shift in the -- in the global order, something that Xi is certainly pushing hard for -- the end to the dominance of the U.S. dollar for international trade.
President Lula he's definitely behind China on that. During yesterday's visit to the new development bank in Shanghai, known as the BRICS Bank, Lula called on developing countries to work towards replacing the greenback.
Let's take a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
LUIZ INACIO LULA DA SILVA, BRAZILIAN PRESIDENT (through translator): Every night I asked myself why should every country have to be tied by the dollar for trade? Why can't we trade in our own currency?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COREN: Well, earlier this year, the two countries announced a deal, Michael to trade in their own currencies, basically ditching the dollar as an intermediary.
Just this month, Brazil Central Bank announced that the yuan had actually overtaken the euro as the country's second largest international reserve currency.
Now this afternoon, Lula will meet with Xi Jinping at the Great Hall of the People. That's around 4:00 p.m. local time. That will be followed by a banquet.
And for Lula, who took office in January, this is in fact, his third state visit to China. During his first presidency in the early 2000s Lula was particularly close to the former Chinese President Hu Jintao. And during that partnership, China overtook the U.S. as Brazil's top trading partner, and it still remains importing Brazilian soybeans, iron ore and oil.
Now more than 20 business deals, Michael are expected to be signed on this trip. But the issue of Ukraine may be raised. It's not on the official agenda. But it is something that could be discussed.
Lula is calling for a peace club of non aligned countries to mediate between Russia and Ukraine. As we know China has proposed its own peace deal, yet that is to gain any traction, Michael, in the west.
HOLMES: Yes. Anna, thanks for the update. Anna Coren there in Hong Kong for us. Appreciate it.
Still to come here on the program how a convicted murderer who faked his own death in a prison fire managed to flee South African authorities. We'll have that and more after the break.
[01:42:57]
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HOLMES: The South African government has apologized to the nation and the victims of a convicted rapist and murderer after he broke out of a maximum security prison.
Thabo Bester faked his own death in a fire and managed to flee the country, only to be fortunately caught again.
CNN's Larry Madowo with the story.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
LARRY MADOWO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: A man believed to be Thabo Bester speaks virtually at a fancy event in Johannesburg in 2018, claiming to be in New York, but he was in prison. He was promoted as Tom Motsepe, one of the aliases police attribute to him.
Thabo Bester was sentenced to life in prison in 2012 for raping and murdering model Nomfundo Tyhulu. But in May last year, he faked his death and escaped from this maximum security prison in a bizarre tale that has shocked South Africa.
Inmates, officials of the British private security firm G4S who managed the prison can't explain how Bester faked his own death and almost got away with it.
GLYNNIS BREYTENBACH, SOUTH AFRICAN MP: Just days prior to this incident. A vehicle made an unauthorized entry into the prison facility. Correct?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That's correct.
BREYTENBACH: How come? Why?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That's currently being investigated.
MADOWO: G4S denies any wrongdoing and has dismissed three employees who were on duty. Bester who was nicknamed the Facebook Rapist by local media for luring his victims on the social network, had asked to be moved to solitary confinement, claiming his life was in danger.
Three days later, he escaped during a fire in his cell leaving an unidentified burned body. There's no security camera footage during the crucial hours of the escape because of a power failure. G4S officials told South African lawmakers.
ANTHEA RAMOLOBENG, SOUTH AFRICAN MP: There's no accountability to say here (INAUDIBLE). Here it's our mistake.
MADOWO: While Bester was reported to have died in the prison fire, he was actually living with his girlfriend, a celebrity doctor and entrepreneur, Dr. Nandipha Magudumana.
When South African investigative newsroom Ground Ups Reporting (ph) questioned his death, government DNA analysis revealed that the body in the cell was not Bester and the person had died before the fire.
An embarrassed South African government was forced to launch a manhunt for Bester. Bester and Dr. Magudumana were arrested on Friday in Tanzania, 10 kilometers from the Kenyan border and deported back to South Africa.
In parliament, an apology.
RONALD LAMOLA, SOUTH AFRICAN MINISTER OF JUSTICE AND CORRECTIONAL SERVICES: I also want to take this opportunity chairperson, to apologize to the victims of the convicted rapist Thabo Bester and to all the people of South Africa. That this dangerous criminal was let loose in the public by the G4S officials.
MADOWO: G4S has a contract to run the Mangaung Correctional Center until 2026. But lawmakers want it canceled, accusing it of whitewashing Bester's prison break and breaching its contract.
COBUS GROENEWOULD, G4S SOUTH AFRICA: We were not aware of an escape and we did not have the right to talk to third parties about the activities of the correctional center.
Bester's girlfriend, Dr. Magudumana has been charged with murder, fraud, as well as aiding and abetting his escape. Her 65 year old father is also named as an accomplice and has been arrested but has not entered a plea.
Bester is now under 24/7 surveillance at another maximum security prison.
LARRY MADOWO, CNN.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HOLMES: Search efforts are ongoing for three Nepali sherpas missing on Mt. Everest. Officials say the trio were delivering materials to clear a route for climbers when they were buried in an avalanche. Authorities are using helicopters and teams on the ground to find the sherpas. The avalanche struck between the base camp and Camp One around a particularly treacherous section of the route to the top of the world.
Sherpas play a critical role, of course, in finding a safe path through the terrain. The spring climbing season is the most popular time of year to make the dangerous track.
The British fashion designer widely credited for a style that symbolized the swinging 60s has died. Mary Quant was known as the mother of the miniskirt, the free spirited look she popularized that shocked some parents at the time. She was 93 when she died peacefully at home in Surrey, England, according to her family.
They called her an outstanding innovator. Quant also set the trend for Peter Pan collars and colorful tights. All in her Vidal Sassoon bob haircut.
Fashion leaders called her visionary and a role model for young women.
Quick break here.
When we come back, the first El Nino watch in years. How the warm tropical weather system might factor into the Atlantic hurricane season. Details on the new projections when we come back.
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HOLMES: For the first time in four years, the U.S. National Weather Service has issued an El Nino watch for the upcoming summer months. It says there is a 62 percent chance of El Nino, developing between May through July.
And that could mean areas in the northern U.S. and Canada might be warmer and drier than usual. And the U.S. Gulf Coast and southeast could see increased rainfall and flooding.
The El Nino watch is also adding uncertainty to the Atlantic hurricane season. Colorado State University predicts a fewer number of storms but the odds of one of them making landfall in the U.S. appear to be just as high as in any normal year.
Right now western Australia getting walloped by a historically powerful cyclone. It also broke wind speed records when it smashed into the coast, making landfall late Thursday night with the strength of what would be equivalent to a category 4 hurricane in the Atlantic.
The cyclone has the potential to cause significant damage with its severe wind and heavy rainfall over the coming hours.
Meteorologist Britley Ritz is monitoring this storm. Yes, tell us about how it hit where it's going, and how much rain it's going to leave behind.
BRITLEY RITZ, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Yes. Basically it's weakening now, which is fantastic. It hit the friction of the land, and it has torn the system apart. The eye completely gone now, which is a big indicator of the weakening and the convection around the center weakening too.
Here it is making landfall around midnight local time with wind speeds of 240 kilometers per hour. Deep convection around the center just north of Port Hedland. Then again, of course, it pushed inland and weakened but as it came onto shore and hit Bedout Island a 10-minute wind speed -- record wind speed at 218 kilometers per hour. By the way, the last time that happened, the previous record was back in 2007 at 195 kilometers per hour, 94 rather.
And we have seen 13 storms of equivalent cat 4 strength for an Atlantic hurricane status since 1960. The most recent was Lawrence back in 2009 when we had winds up to 140 kilometers per hour as well, this whole system weakens completely. As we roll into Saturday, the winds really start to diminish. It's more of the rain that we're focused on where we could be dealing with flooding as it moves inland. Places like Alice Springs, Michael typically don't get this much rain where we're picking up 50 to 100 millimeters here in the upcoming day. On average for April it's about 16 millimeters.
HOLMES: Yes, traditionally a very dry part of the country, but they could end up with some flooding around that northwest.
Britley, good to see you. Britley Ritz --
RITZ: You too.
HOLMES: -- appreciate it.
UNICEF says there has been a seven fold increase in the number of child migrants crossing the treacherous Darien Gap in Central America. Almost 9,700 young people attempted the trek.
In the first two months of this year, travelers have reported robberies, corpses, mutilations and rape in the dense forest along the route.
The 60 kilometer trek north brings migrants from Colombia to Panama. It is a crucial passage for those hoping to reach the U.S. and Canada.
[01:54:58]
HOLMES: Well, coming up on the premiere episode of "THE WHOLE STORY WITH ANDERSON COOPER", CNN's Nick Paton Walsh travels with a group of migrants as they make the arduous trek on foot through the Darien Gap.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
NICK PATON WALSH, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: At dawn, the first thing that strikes you is how few of them seem to grasp what's coming, gently packing crackers and tying sneakers like waving a Kleenex at a storm.
The second thing that strikes you is how organized the cartel wanted to seem.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The first ones will be the last. The last ones will be the first. That's why we shouldn't run. Racing brings fatigue.
WALSH: They only walk when they're told to.
The stories here are many, but there is only one goal -- America. And the dream is just that, a reverence (ph) of hope, of conviction that they will be the ones to make it over danger, disease, dehydration, deportation.
About this number every day every year, almost doubling.
The Darien Gap is the only land corridor from South America, where entry is easier, to its north where it's not. There are no roads only 66 miles of treacherous jungle from Colombia to Panama and onwards north, 3000 miles to the U.S. border.
We walked the entire route of the Darien Gap over five days in February to document the suffering endured by people milked for cash by cartels, unwanted by any country.
What's startling is the sheer number of children on this trek as it begins on a route sometimes adult don't even survive.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HOLMES: And do tune in to see the full report on "THE TREK: A MIGRANT TRAIL TO AMERICA". That is airing first on Sunday at 8:00 p.m. in the Eastern part of the United States, 8:00 a.m. Monday in Hong Kong. You can also see it on Monday at 4:00 p.m. Eastern, 9:00 p.m. in London.
And finally this hour, the American Red Cross has recruited Snoopy to send the message. If you're cool, you'll donate blood. Those who donate the lifesaving liquid are getting a T-shirt featuring Joe Cool the alter ego of the Peanuts Beagle. The shirt has gone viral on TikTok.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Do you want a Red Cross Snoopy shirt? This is what you need to know about donating blood.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: The campaign seems to be working. The Red Cross says blood donations have jumped more than 40 percent compared to the week before the Peanuts partnership. There's also been an increase in first time donors.
Thanks for watching, spending part of your day with me. I'm Michael Holmes.
Don't go anywhere. CNN NEWSROOM continues with my colleague Kim Brunhuber after the break.
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