March 8, 2025: Clashes & Killings in Syria, Iran: Won’t Be Bullied, More

Listen for the latest from Bloomberg News

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:01):
News when you wanted with Bloomberg News. Now I met Kalgi.
The death toll from two days of clashes between Syrian
security forces and loyalists of ousted President Bashar Asada and
revenge killings that followed, has risen to more than one thousand,
making it one of the deadliest acts of violence since
Syrious conflict began fourteen years ago. The Britain based Syrian

(00:22):
Observatory for Human Rights set in addition to seven hundred
forty five civilians killed, mostly in shooting some close distance,
one hundred and twenty five government security force members and
one hundred forty eight militants with armed groups affiliated with
Asad were killed. Electricity and drinking water were cut off
in large areas around the city of Lakatkia. The clashes

(00:42):
which erupted Thursday marked a major escalation and the challenge
to the new government in Dabascus, three months after insurgents
took authority after removing Asad from power. Iran won't be
bullied into negotiations with countries that have not fulfilled their
prior commitments, its Supreme leader, Ayatola Ali Khameni said this Saturday.
An apparent rebuff to US overtures to start talks for

(01:03):
a new nuclear deal. Kamani, who has the final say
on Iran's key decisions, did not name specific countries, but
said such negotiations were a way to present new demands.
President Donald Trump said Friday that he had sent a
letter to the Iranian leadership urging it to negotiate a
peace deal and warning of the possibility of a military
intervention if a deal was not reached. House Republicans announced

(01:25):
a spending bill to keep government agencies open through September thirtieth,
daring Democrats to vote against it and risk a disruptive
March fifteenth shutdown. The move tees up a dramatic confrontation
on Capitol Hill next week and threatens to further fuel
uncertainty for a federal workforce roiled by swift and aggressive
cuts made by billionaire Elon Musk. Speaker Mike Johnson will

(01:46):
attempt to hold the fractious Republican majority together and muscle
the one hundred page bill through the House Tuesday, likely
without help from Democrats, but the bill would still need
the help of moderate Democrats over in the Senate, where
the legislation would stall without sixty votes. The Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention reported fifty eight new measles cases Friday,
jumping thirty five percent in one week. We get more

(02:08):
in this from Bloomberg's Charlie Pellett.

Speaker 2 (02:10):
It is a worrying sign in the outbreak that has
already been linked to two deaths. According to the CDC,
the US now has two hundred and twenty two cases
across twelve states since the beginning of the year, and
thirty eight, or seventeen percent of those confirmed cases have
led to hospitalization. Measles is a highly contagious disease, and

(02:32):
according to the CDC, up to ninety percent of people
around a positive case who are not immune will become infected.
In New York Charlie Pellett Bloomberg Radio.

Speaker 1 (02:43):
Germany's Conservatives and the Social Democrats agree to deepen talks
over forming a new government to step forward as pressure
builds on Chancellor and Waiting Friedrich Mrz to implement sweeping reforms.
At a press briefing in Berlin Saturday, Merz said the
parties have agreed to titan border controls to reduce illegal immigration,
as well as implement reforms aimed at supporting German industry,

(03:03):
including lowering energy costs in corporate taxes. The party is
also aimed to ease the tax burden on middle class
households and encourage more companies to invest in Germany. Purchase
incentives for electric cars will be revived if the parties
finalize a coalition deal and form a government. The Trump
administration may be eyeing a new trade deal with one
of the world's fastest growing nations. Bloomberg's Nathan Hager reports

(03:26):
from Washington.

Speaker 3 (03:27):
Commerce Secretary Howard Luttnik says there's a chance to negotiate
a broad trade agreement with India. He spoke at a
recent event hosted by India Today Group. He says it
could address everything from India's higher tariff levels to its
purchases of Russian weapons and efforts to dethrone the dollar
through the Bricks Group. India's Commerce minister is on a
nearly week long trip to Washington aimed at avoiding the

(03:48):
reciprocal tariffs that President Trump has promised nations around the world.
Starting April second in Washington, I'm Nathan Hager Bloomberg Radio.

Speaker 1 (03:56):
After three rounds of the Arnold Palmer Invitational at bay
Hill near Orlando, Colin Morricawa five under four the day
on Saturday, ten under four of the tournament. He will
head into Sunday's final round with a one shot lead.
The act of putting something aside is an exercise and
remembering what we lose when our memories exist entirely in
our phones. You can read all about this in Bloomberg's

(04:16):
weekend edition, exploring the places where finance, life and culture meets.
Find it now on bloomberg dot com in the Bloomberg
Business app. That's news when you want it with Bloomberg
News Now. I'm in Kleggy.

Speaker 2 (04:28):
This is Bloomberg