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Connect the World
Global Markets In Turmoil Over Donald Trump`s Tariffs; Market Leaders Warn Of Economic Impact Of Donald Trump`s Tariff Policy; Donald Trump And Benjamin Netanyahu To Meet At White House Today; Retirement Accounts Lose Ground Amid Market Turmoil; Stellantis Halts Production In Mexico Due To New United States Tariffs; Russian Strike Kills Nine Children, 10 Others In Kryvyi Rih. Aired 10-10:45a ET
Aired April 07, 2025 - 10:00:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
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[10:00:29]
ANNOUNCER: Live from CNN London, this is CONNECT THE WORLD.
CHRISTINA MACFARLANE, CNN ANCHOR: Welcome to our second hour of CONNECT THE WORLD. I`m Christina Macfarlane in London, and these are live pictures from
Wall Street. The U.S. markets and global markets are reacting to President Trump`s imposed tariffs. Banks are raising concerns over a feared
recession.
And from New York to Washington, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will visit Donald Trump at the White House today, they will discuss
tariffs, hostages and what the future holds for Gaza.
In Ukraine, the single deadliest strike on children since the war started. Hit Kryvyi Rih on Friday, we have heartbreaking video from the scene.
U.S. President Donald Trump says he won`t back down from his aggressive tariff policies against most of America`s trading partners, even as global
markets tumble. He took to social media earlier today to argue that the U.S. is in a better economic position and will earn billions of dollars
from the tariffs he`s placed on other countries. And he`s urging Americans to be, "Strong, courageous and patient as markets drop."
But fears of a global recession, an economic downturn are still mounting. Business tycoon JPMorgan Chase CEO, Jamie Dimon, now among the latest to
warn that Trump`s tariffs will likely increase inflation and weaken American standing in the world.
Well, CNN`s Anna Stewart joining us now with a closer look at the global markets, with markets in the U.S. just opening, Anna, in the last half
hour. Talk us through what we`ve been seeing around the world.
ANNA STEWART, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, last week, we saw trillions of dollars just wiped off stock markets as a result of Liberation Day, the
tariffs implemented by U.S. President Donald Trump. And I have to say, this week isn`t looking much better at this stage, Christina.
I`m going to start off in Asia, the Hang Seng fell more than 30 percent, this was actually the worst performance since 1997. I think this goes to
show that over the weekend, perhaps investors were hoping there would be some sort of negotiation, maybe a reprieve, maybe a delay on some of the
tariffs, given how damaging they were at the end of last week to global markets. Absolutely no change here.
So, we saw Hang Seng fall significantly, and following Asia, of course, we had the European markets. At one point, the Xetra DAX in Germany was down
10 percent, an open significantly lower.
We are still looking at steep losses right across the board. And this is after, of course, we saw steep losses on Thursday and Friday of last week.
Looking at where we`re at currently in the trading day, about half an hour into the session in the U.S. And you can see some big losses across the
board, the S&P 500 actually opened in bear market territory. We will have to reload -- hopefully reload the markets here, those are the U.S. stocks.
And I`m going to take you to some of the biggest losses we are seeing on the U.S. This is the Dow 30. Now, some of the biggest losses we`re seeing
are in big consumer brands like Apple, like Nike.
And if we just look at where there`s trading. Tesla down nearly three percent. This was significantly lower when I last looked earlier in the
session.
Over the weekend, we had Elon Musk saying he was hoping for zero tariffs. Obviously, we`re not looking at that right now. And of course, Tesla has a
big facility for manufacturing in China, as well as of course, the damage done by Elon Musk`s involvement in in DOGE and in European politics, many
people not buying Teslas around the world, so that has really dented sales.
We`re seeing a big impact on Apple here. Nvidia now looking pretty steady. Apple, of course, relies on China manufacturing to make things like
iPhones.
For Nvidia, there is a bit of an interesting one here, because perhaps semiconductors will be next on the list. Currently, they are exempt, but
there are huge expectations that the next round of tariffs, we are not done yet from U.S. President Donald Trump, might be semiconductors and
pharmaceuticals.
And just to see whether there are any bright spots on the markets today, let`s look at some commodities. Now, gold is where you normally see a
flight to safety. This is where we normally see in a market route some investors heading in here. Gold was at a high two weeks ago. It`s still not
that far off the high, but it`s interesting to see that even gold is lower today.
And you`re seeing huge declines here in oil. Brent crude down eight percent, WTI down nine percent. Brent crude down around 15 percent since
Wednesday before Liberation Day.
And Christina, this is something that the president likes. He likes lower oil prices. But the reason behind this is because there are huge fears for
a global recession, thanks to the tariff plan, a global recession of course, meaning that there will be less manufacturing, there will be less
demand for oil. Back to you.
[10:05:17]
MACFARLANE: All right, yes, of course, watching those oil prices very closely as President Trump has been speaking out about them on social media
in the last hour. Anna, thank you.
Let`s bring in CNN`s Matt Egan, who`s joining us now live from New York. I mean, Matt, it`s -- there`s no escaping the fact that business leaders are
really losing confidence, given the fact that, you know, there doesn`t appear to be any reversal happening here on negotiations, President Trump
telling American businesses instead to hang tough. How can businesses plan when they don`t really know where all of this is going to land?
MATT EGAN, CNN REPORTER: Yes, Christina, that is the big problem. They don`t know what the cost of their goods is going to be, and so they don`t
know right now, should they be hiring workers, or should they be firing them? Should they be retreating, or should they be expanding? I mean, it
just creates mass confusion.
Now, you look at the markets right here, the Dow is up by almost a thousand points, 2-1/2 percent. The S&P 500 down by two percent. Earlier, the S&P
did enter bear market territory, which signals a 20 percent decline from a previous high.
Now, the S&P is trading just above that. The key number to watch is 4,915. If the S&P closes below 4,915 then this would be the second fastest bear
market in history, second only to COVID in 2020 of course, then it was a deadly virus. Now, it`s a self-inflicted trade war. And the big fear is
that, yes, this is going to cause prices to go up, it`s going to cause global trade to grind to a halt, and potentially even an economic downturn.
We are hearing from more business leaders, some of whom have been quiet about tariffs recently. Some of them are speaking out.
JPMorgan, CEO, Jamie Dimon, he said in his annual shareholder letter that, yes, tariffs, they could increase inflation. He said, whether or not the
menu of tariffs causes a recession remains in question, but it will slow down growth. America First is fine, as long as it doesn`t end up being
America alone.
Some are even invoking Smoot-Hawley, the 1930 law passed by the U.S. Congress that sent tariffs skyrocketing and made the Great Depression even
worse than it had to be. Take a listen to former St. Louis Fed President Jim Bullard on CBC this morning,
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JIM BULLARD, PRESIDENT, ST. LOUIS FED: This has dramatically raised the risk of a Smoot-Hawley type outcome. So, Smoot-Hawley was 1930. Other
countries retaliated. Global trade collapsed, and the Great Depression was on. So, I think that`s really what has people worried about this, doesn`t
have to work out that way.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
EGAN: Some very strong words there from a former Federal Reserve official. There`s others that are speaking out too, Bill Ackman, the billionaire
hedge fund CEO who endorsed Trump for this election, he`s basically pleading with the president to hit the pause button on this trade war. And
he said, if not, we`re heading for a self-induced economic nuclear winter, and we should start hunkering down.
Also, just want to look at things historically to just sort of show you how bad the market has been lately. So, the S&P 500 entering today, this does
not even count today`s losses. Entering today, the S&P 500 is off to its worst start to any presidential term in modern history, since the S&P
launched in the 1950s, it`s just staggering, and you can see how much lower the market is under Trump 2.0 than it was at this point under Trump 1.0.
So, we`ve got to listen. We have to wait and see whether or not the president`s going to heed these warnings from CEOs and investors and
economists, he`s clearly shown that he`s more willing to stomach economic and financial pain than he was during his first term.
Still, though, these losses have got to get the attention of the White House, and we`re just going to have to wait and see whether or not the
president is willing to change course at all on tariffs. Back to you.
MACFARLANE: Hard to get your head around the magnitude of the steep declines that we`re seeing across the border. Matt Egan for now. Thanks,
Matt.
Well, as the markets continue to react to President Trump`s tariffs with big banks and global leaders, as we heard there from Jamie Dimon warning of
the economic impact, his team spent much of the weekend defending his tariff policies. Take a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JAKE TAPPER, CNN HOST: Are these tariffs here to stay as Howard Lutnick and President Trump seem to be suggesting?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Listen, we`ve got 50 countries that are burning the phone lines into the White House.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Is the president considering postponing implementation to negotiate?
[10:10:01]
HOWARD LUTNICK, UNITED STATES SECRETARY OF COMMERCE: There is no postponing. They are definitely going to stay in place for days and weeks.
KRISTEN WELKER, NBC NEWS HOST: Is President Trump willing to negotiate, or are these tariffs permanent?
SCOTT BESSENT, U.S. TREASURY SECRETARY: Well, that`s going to be a decision for President Trump.
PETER NAVARRO, WHITE HOUSE SENIOR COUNSELOR: This is not a negotiation. This is a national emergency based on a trade deficit that`s gotten out of
control because of cheating. We`re always listening -- we`re always willing to listen. That`s what Donald Trump does best.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MACFARLANE: Well, joining me now is UBS Global Wealth Management Chief Economist Paul Donovan, thank you for being with us.
It was interesting to read that UBS released a note last week after the tariffs were announced, saying that effective tariff rates could still be
higher and without a move from President Trump, we are likely to enter a downside scenario, including a meaningful U.S. recession and lower equity
markets.
Other banks are also, of course, sending out warnings as the Fed -- as has the Fed. What steps do you think at this point can be taken to warn the
U.S. off this current path towards recession with it -- to which it is currently hurting at the moment?
PAUL DONOVAN, CHIEF ECONOMIST, UBS GLOBAL WEALTH MANAGEMENT: Well, I think the thing is, we started this year with a very solid foundation, so that`s
what we need to cling on to. We started with a very good economy. The question is, how much are these tariffs going to damage it?
So, if we get very clear messages coming through from business leaders, look, this is going to cost jobs. This is going to lead to, you know, a
very significant downturn. If you get the idea of economic damage becoming very general in what is a very polarized society in America, we must
remember this. Then I think that political and that business pressure will take place with Congress, prior pressure to the administration, business
leaders applying pressure to the administration, and we will hopefully see a dialing back of these trade taxes.
MACFARLANE: We obviously saw the move -- retaliatory move from China on Friday. We have yet to see the exact move from the European bloc, although
Ursula von der Leyen just about an hour ago said they are ready to negotiate. What steps do you see them taking in reaction to these tariffs,
given the impact these will have on their economies?
DONOVAN: Well, I think we will see retaliatory tariffs coming through. But what we`ve got to remember, of course, is tariffs are a tax paid by
domestic consumers. So, the tariffs that President Trump has put in place, these will all be paid by U.S. consumers. The idea that foreign countries
pay these taxes to the United States is nonsense. We have 4,000 years worth of history on trade tariffs, domestic consumers paid us.
But that`s important when we consider the other side, that if Europe goes down the route of retaliatory tariffs, that too is a tax on domestic
European consumers, and that`s not good for the European economy.
So, I think there`s going to be some degree of finesse on the part of the Europeans, making sure that these are surgical, that these are not blanket
tariffs. It helps that Europe is only applying tariffs against one country, the U.S. is applying tariffs against the world. So, in that sense, European
consumers have cheaper alternatives to American products. American consumers don`t have cheaper alternatives. So that does give a bit of an
advantage in this.
But I think the E.U. is going to have to be mindful that they don`t want to do too much self-inflicted damage in response to U.S.`s self-inflicted
damage.
MACFARLANE: Yes. And as you`re speaking, Paul, I just -- I mean, I`m sure our viewers can see it on the screen. Interesting to note that all three
indices in the U.S. stock market are now back in the green, the Dow, the NASDAQ, and the S&P 500, I guess, Paul, we`re going to continue to see this
fluctuation. But as we do, how worried should the average consumer be at this point about the current market term or we`re seeing, and the fact that
we are seeing, you know, such variations here?
DONOVAN: Well, what you`re getting with the -- with the market volatility at the moment, I think is uncertainty about what is going to happen,
because economic logic says there should be negotiations. You should see a scaling back of these taxes. And also, if markets become disorderly,
central banks should provide some degree of support, so there is a degree of insurance there.
But nevertheless, the longer the tariffs go on, the greater the economic damage and the greater the negative for the markets. So, that then gives us
two issues for the ordinary consumer to think about. The first is that if markets go down, that itself reduces wealth in the economy. We had
trillions of dollars wiped off of equity markets last week, that`s something which does affect consumer`s willingness to spend. If your asset
portfolio, if your 401(k) plan has gone down, you`re less willing to spend.
[10:15:01]
But secondly, why are markets going down? They`re going down because they are concerned that we have a perhaps lack of policy competence that we are
seeing a negative economic scenario, recession risks are rising, and that`s then going to be an additional concern for consumers. Are consumers going
to start worrying about job security, because if they start worrying about job security, they`ll be saving, not spending. That then becomes a self-
fulfilling, negative scenario for the US economy, and that`s where the real concern is.
The last four years were remarkable, with the low fear of unemployment, if fear of unemployment comes back to consumers in the States, we have a
problem.
MACFARLANE: Just want to ask you quickly about oil because we heard Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to join "Meet the Press" at the weekend,
and he said the following about the oil markets. Take a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BESSENT: A little publicized story this week, everyone wants to look at the stock market going down. You know what else went down? Oil prices went down
almost 15 percent in two days, which impacts working Americans much more than the stock market.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MACFARLANE: Yes, oil markets have dropped, as we were saying. But is it a fair characterization to say, as it does there, that oil prices have a
bigger impact on Americans than the stock market?
DONOVAN: On working Americans, yes, because working Americans don`t have a great deal of equity. So, in a direct sense, yes, your cost of filling up
your sports, utility vehicle goes down. That`s an important positive versus the negative the equity market.
But again, we come back to what the equity market itself is signaling, that falling oil prices are not going to be a positive if you don`t have a job
at the end of the month, if you don`t have an income coming through, particularly with the Social Security chaos that currently exists.
So, I think that we have to put this in a proper context, the wealth of equity markets that matters essentially to the top 10, 20 percent of
Americans. Oil prices matter to ordinary Americans, but having a job matters a lot more. And if the equity market weakness is signaling effects
of recession, risks of recession rising, that`s more important to ordinary Americans.
MACFARLANE: All right. Paul Donovan, appreciate you breaking this all down for us this hour, as we watch these markets fluctuate, thank you.
OK, still to come, calls for an international probe into the killings of emergency workers by Israeli troops in Gaza. We have the latest on the
questions surrounding the incident.
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MACFARLANE: There are calls for an international investigation, and more than a dozen -- after more than a dozen aid and emergency workers were shot
and killed by Israeli troops in Gaza last week -- last month. Here`s what the president of the Palestine Red Crescent Society said a short time ago.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
[10:20:00]
DR. YOUNIS AL-KHATIB, PRESIDENT, PALESTINE RED CRESCENT SOCIETY: They have to answer for that. This is why an investigation, an independent
investigation, has been our number one request from the international community. We have lost so many dear colleagues throughout the years, and
nobody once answered. Had to answer for their claim. What we call this time is for justice.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MACFARLANE: 14 bodies were found in a mass grave, along with their vehicles and United Nations` vehicle. Israel claimed the emergency vehicles were,
"Advancing suspiciously and without lights." But a video showing the final moments of the workers contradicted that account.
Meanwhile, President Donald Trump is set to host Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House in the coming hours. It`s Mr. Trump`s
first in-person visit from a foreign leader since his announcement on tariffs last week. The two are expected to discuss those tariffs, as well
as Iran, Gaza and ongoing efforts to return the hostages still held there.
Our Chief National Security Correspondent Alex Marquardt is across developments from Washington. So, that meeting between President Trump and
Prime Minister Netanyahu has been underway, and lots on the agenda for the two leaders to discuss today, Alex.
ALEX MARQUARDT, CNN CHIEF NATIONAL SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: There really is, and you`ll have the classic agenda items of Gaza, Syria, Iran, et cetera.
But the tariffs news really adds a new dimension. Israel -- the U.S. is Israel`s largest trading partner. Israel had tried to preempt these tariffs
by getting rid of all duties on U.S. goods, but it didn`t really work. The U.S. has now slapped Israel with some 17 percent tariffs.
And so now we have Israeli officials saying that Netanyahu was not just the first foreign leader to come visit Trump when he retook office, but now
he`s the first foreign leader to come to Washington to talk about the tariffs issue. We heard from the ambassador to Washington saying that
they`ll talk about deepening economic ties and putting trade relations in order.
But aside from the tariffs, of course, the ongoing war in Gaza is very much, Christina, going to be a topic of conversation. Israel is ramping up
its military operations in Gaza, taking more territory and pushing Palestinians out. As the efforts by the U.S. and the mediators to get this
cease fire back on track increase. We know that Hamas, in the past, had rejected a U.S. offer to extend the cease fire. Now they have accepted an
Egyptian proposal that was then rejected by the Israelis.
So, they`re essentially at loggerheads here, where the -- where Hamas is willing to release hostages if a cease fire -- if a -- if the war ends,
Israel is not willing to end that war.
So, Steve Witkoff, the president`s envoy, very much going to be a part of these meetings as the U.S. does try to reimpose a ceasefire and get to an
end to this war.
Meanwhile, the French president Emmanuel Macron has been visiting Cairo, where he endorsed a reconstruction plan put forward by the Arab League, but
he did reject, essentially, the U.S. proposal or idea that Palestinians should leave Gaza. Here`s what he said.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
EMMANUEL MACRON, FRENCH PRESIDENT (through translator): We firmly oppose the displacement of populations and any annexation of Gaza or the West
Bank, this would be a violation of international law and a serious threat to the security of the entire region, including that of Israel. I also
reiterate my full support of the reconstruction plan for Gaza, which is endorsed by the Arab League.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MARQUARDT: Of course, Christina, President Trump, has talked about moving Palestinians out of Gaza so that the Strip can be rebuilt into what he
called a Riviera.
We will also be looking to see whether President Trump will respond to the latest from the West Bank. Last night on Sunday night, three Palestinian
American teenagers were shot by Israeli forces. One 14-year-old was shot and killed, and so will President Trump respond to an American citizen
being killed by Israeli forces? We have to wait and see for that. We are expecting the two men to appear in the Oval Office together in just a few
hours to take reporters` questions, that will then be followed by a more formal press conference, Christina.
MACFARLANE: All right, we will wait for that. Alex Marquardt there live from Washington. Thank you.
Coming up, the steep losses in the stock market have many people rethinking their retirement plans. I`ll speak to an expert for tips on how to manage
the upheaval.
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[10:27:01]
MACFARLANE: Welcome back to CONNECT THE WORLD with me, Christina Macfarlane. Here are a check of your headlines. Israeli Prime Minister
Benjamin Netanyahu is in Washington ahead of his meeting with President Trump at the White House, tariffs, Gaza and efforts to return hostages
taken by Hamas will be on the agenda when the two leaders sit down for discussions in a few hours` time.
Tariff panic is spreading across the globe, with markets sinking sharply across the board, Asian markets took a beating in reaction to Trump`s
tariff policies. Hong Kong`s Hang Seng closing down over 13 percent, it`s the market`s steepest drop since 1997.
Mr. Trump is lashing out against detractors on his social media platforms as U.S. stock markets enter bear market territory, he`s calling on the
public to not become a, "PANICAN a new party based on weak and stupid people."
The S&P 500 alone has lost more than $5 trillion in market value over the past three trading days.
And joining me now to discuss the market impact on 401(k)s and retirement plans, is Sarah Behr, investment advisor and founder of Simplify Financial
Planning. Thank you so much for joining us at a time when many people are checking the stock market. I think you know, every hour, if not every
minute. The market turmoil over tariffs has, of course, shrunk many retirees` accounts a significant amount. What advice would you give to
those who are already retired and who are soon hoping to retire, about what they do in this moment?
SARAH BEHR, FOUNDER, SIMPLIFY FINANCIAL PLANNING: Yes, I think it`s a good time to look at allocations and make sure that you have enough cash to, you
know, sustain you for six to 12 months. And that`s sort of a combination of peace of mind and also the unknown of we don`t know when this market might
bottom out, when it could enter into recovery.
My recommendation is about 40 percent in cash and bonds, cash in positions like money markets or high yield savings, where you`re getting interest on
it. And this varies, of course, folks that are already retired might already be receiving Social Security income, pension income, which is
fairly stable and unlikely to be adjusted in the near future. There`s also some folks who have passive income from rental and things like that.
So, it`s not, you know, a blanket rule to have 40 percent but that`s a good, you know, sort of check point. And the other piece is to make sure
you really understand your cash flow and your expenses. Have an honest way to reflect on the last six months and what your variable expenses have
been, so you can project out what would the next year look like. How much cash do I need to have on hand if I don`t want to sell any stock funds in
the next year and just rely on cash to sustain me.
MACFARLANE: Yes, it`s a challenge, isn`t it, because the situation is different for every retiree? At the other end of the spectrum, what advice
would you give to younger investors sort of wondering where they should go in this moment?
[10:30:02]
BEHR: I think they should really hold the line, especially when it comes to retirement. Continue to contribute. This is actually a great time to, you
know, invest at a lower price point, lower cost basis, that compounding interest and that builds momentum that will carry you through your 30s, 40s
and 50s.
So, the hesitation or the impulse to pause retirement contributions can really impact future values. So, continue to contribute, continue to save
in -- target date funds are a great choice, they have a lot allocated to stock. I know that can be scary, but if you're 30 or 20 or even 15 years
from retirement, you don't need to check it daily. Just keep the momentum going.
MACFARLANE: Is there a sort of wrong move you can make when reacting to these types of market moves? I mean, we're following the U.S. markets right
now. One minute they are in the green, one minute they are in the red. What is -- what would constitute a wrong move at this time?
BEHR: I think panicking and moving everything, like selling all of your investments right now at a low point, to just give yourself a semblance of
control could really impact the future value of your investments.
Often, the best days in the market follow some of the worst, and we have historical charts to reflect on. Of course, this is a somewhat
unpredictable time. I don't want to, you know, rely too much on historical charts, but I would say that, like, unless you absolutely need the money in
the next 12 months, let it ride, try to set it out.
If there's options, like, you know, financial commitments, large purchases that you're on the cusp of making, whether it's a home renovation or
sending your children to private school, or a new car, maybe those financial commitments could be paused to give yourself that feeling of, I
have control. I have agency in this environment, without pushing the button and just selling all of your investments altogether.
MACFARLANE: OK. So, no major moves right now.
It's a good message. Sarah Behr, as everyone kind of you know waits to see what happens next. We appreciate it. Thank you.
BEHR: Bye.
MACFARLANE: Now, I want to bring in CNN Valeria Leon. She joins us from an auto assembly plant in Toluca, Mexico, where production is now paused as
President Trump's tariffs take effect.
Valeria, what are people saying to you there?
VALERIA LEON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Christina. That's correct.
Starting today, production at this Stellantis, a car assembly plant located in the state of Mexico, in the city of Toluca, about two hours from Mexico
City, will pause for a month.
And Stellantis said that roughly these 3,000 employees who work at this plan may face layoffs, and this is as the company tries to prevent a crisis
due to the uncertainty of U.S. tariffs on cars and also car parts produced outside the United States.
This comes in response to the U.S. imposition of tariffs of both cars and car parts produced outside the United States.
But on Friday, Mexico -- during her morning press conference, Mexico's president, Claudia Sheinbaum, said that there won't be any layoffs due to
this temporary pause, although, Mexico's economic Secretary Marcelo Brat said that after speaking with the Stellantis representatives in Mexico,
they said that they will use this pause to try to refocus their line productions and also to improve the performance at this plant in the state
of Mexico.
They also told Mexico secretary that they might shut down the production of this electric vehicle called the Jeep Wagoneer. But the company invested a
billion-dollars at this plant to be able to produce this electric vehicle two years ago, the Jeep Wagoneer.
And this plant has a long history here in the state of Mexico. It opened its doors about 57 years ago, creating a lot of, you know, works here in
this plant in the state of Mexico.
And now, despite the reinsurances from both the Mexican government and also Stellantis, many Mexicans here fear that this temporary pause may become a
permanent one, Christina.
MACFARLANE: All right. Well, we will watch to see. We know how interconnected, of course, the auto industry is with the United States.
Now, Valeria Leon in Mexico. Thank you.
Now, Russia attacked Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy`s hometown this weekend, killing 19 people, nine of them children.
A warning, the images you're about to see are disturbing as emergency workers rush to try and save a wounded child.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: (INAUDIBLE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (INAUDIBLE).
[10:35:06]
MACFARLANE: It reiterated the strike was close to residential buildings, not even sparing a child's playground.
This video shows two adults devastated after the nearby missile strike appeared to have killed their child.
Well, the U.N. high commissioner is calling for an investigation into the attack.
Joining us now, Fred Pleitgen, live from Berlin.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
So, Fred, tell us more about what the U.N. ae saying.
FREDERIK PLEITGEN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, the U.N. says that they are absolutely shocked. In fact, the U.N. human rights chief
has come out, and he has said that this is the single deadliest strike that has harmed children, that has been verified by the human rights chief of
the United Nations, since Russia's full-on invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
So, obviously, the U.N. very angered by that, calling for that full on investigation. But there have already been U.N. personnel on the ground
there. And one of the interesting things that we got from the statement from that human rights chief, Christina, is he says that the U.N. has come
to the conclusion that what blew up there was a missile that blew up into shrapnel above that town, and, of course, also above that playground,
apparently, above a restaurant as well.
We can see some of the aftermath there on our screen right now.
So, the Ukrainians, for their part, are saying that this was an Iskander-M missile, which is sort of a medium-range Russian missile, and that it used
a cluster warhead, which is, of course, something that causes a lot of havoc in a very wide area.
The Russians, for their part, are denying this. They are saying that this was a targeted strike, as they put it, and that they were targeting what
they say was a meeting of commanders of Ukrainian commanders and foreign military advisers.
They claim that the strike was absolutely successful and that many foreign personnel were also killed and wounded in this as well.
Obviously, the Ukrainians putting forward those pictures that we're seeing right now and saying that, that is not true, that it was civilians who bore
the brunt of that attack. And the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, he has come out, and he said that this incident, once again, as he said,
shows that Russia needs more pressure on it to really come to the negotiating table and to come to a ceasefire that, of course, the U.S. has
wanted the Russians to implement.
The Russians earlier today, by the way, coming out in this in the form of the Kremlin spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, and saying that the Russians are
indeed very much interested in a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine.
But once again, the Russians saying, as they have for the last couple of months, really, since the Trump administration has been in office, saying
that there are certain preconditions that they want to see met before there can be a full ceasefire. Of course, a lot of that has to do with territory,
and a lot of that has to do also with some of the conditions that the conditions that the Ukrainians want, those security guarantees as well.
Nevertheless, this attack that happened on Friday really a watershed moment for the Ukrainians. They are saying, once again, look, the Russians
continue to target not just critical infrastructure, but also civilian areas as well.
And that town Kryvyi Rih, which, as you've noted, is the hometown of Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, certainly, has been one of the
places that has been under pretty consistent missile and drone attack over the past couple of weeks. Christina.
MACFARLANE: Yes. And obviously, now, nine children dead as a result of that. CNN`s Fred Pleitgen there with the update. Thank you.
And we are going to be back after this quick break. Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[10:40:32]
Welcome back. We're going to have a quick check in on the markets once again, on what is proving to be a fast-moving day. U.S. markets there, as
you can see, the Dow, the NASDAQ, the S&P 500 up in the two percent category.
Meanwhile, European markets are also down by more, three to four percent in the last few minutes, and we will continue to follow these fluctuations as
global markets around the world has still feel the effects of Donald Trump's tariff war.
Now, his friends are happy, his fans are ecstatic, and the tributes keep on pouring in for NHL Hockey great Alex Ovechkin. The Russian superstar is
celebrating a landmark day, a historic feat of sportsmanship.
Here to tell us all about it is CNN "WORLD SPORTS" Patrick Snell.
PATRICK SNELL, CNN INTERNATIONAL SPORTS ANCHOR AND CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Chris.
Yes, it was just amazing. We were all sort of gathering around the screens yesterday in our office to watch history in the making. Absolutely
incredible. He is now the highest scorer ever in the history of the NHL, surpassing the great Wayne Gretzky.
Ovechkin from Moscow, Russia, getting to 895, Chrissy. The magical 895, a standalone record.
And this video, these lovely scenes there, afterwards. They actually stopped the game against the New York Islanders. It was such a momentous
piece that video there got just Ovechkin with his two young sons, his two young boys just basking in the glory of it all.
(CROSSTALK)
MACFARLANE: That`s I want to ask, is that his sons.
SNELL: Yes, two sons there.
MACFARLANE: Oh, sweet.
SNELL: Just incredible, really sweet moment there. They stopped the game, as I say, and even the Islanders` fans there in the stadium just taking in
their own special piece of history.
Incredible. He is going to turn 40 years of age later on this year. It is a momentous achievement, and he is done.
Yes, we're going to be hearing from the main man himself in "WORLD SPORT", which is coming our way in just a few moments, what he's saying about that
record breaking achievement. Chrissy.
MACFARLANE: All right. We look forward to that, Patrick. Patrick and "WORLD SPORT" up after this quick break. Do stay with him.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(CNN WORLD SPORT)
END
