[Watt:] And with that, China's annual National People's Congress got underway. About 3,000 communist elite gather to vote on the party's policies and decisions, though, few, if anyone, uncorrupts to any of the proposals. China's premiere told party members to prepare for a tough struggle ahead especially when it comes to the slowing economy and the outlook for 2019. Let's go live to Beijing and CNN's Will Ripley. Will, economics, that's the big deal here?
[Will Ripley, Cnn International Correspondent:] Yes. Obviously, that is probably the biggest deal in terms of China's priorities because they want to try to figure out a way to navigate some rough waters economically and still keep China's economy plugging along, still growing albeit at a slower and slower pace every single year. Here in China it's kind of amazing. When the government sets its growth target it's always reached. The numbers always seem to match what the government predicted. Geez, you got to wonder how that happened. While some economists might estimate that there's a bit of cooking of the books happening, but nonetheless, last year's growth was officially reported at 6.6 percent. The lowest in three decades. This year, even lower, between 6 and 6 and a half percent. Still an enviable growth number for pretty much any of the developed economy, but here in China which remembers the days of double-digit growth that went on for years and years, obviously it's a dose of reality. The new reality for China. And then of course the trade war with the United States. Well, at this stage it hasn't had much of a noticeable effect on the Chinese economy. If they can't strike a deal, which it does seem ever closer, you know, a deal in this trade war, but if they couldn't it could have really catastrophic consequences for this country's economy. They are going to be voting on a bill to try to ease some of the concerns about trade brought up by the United States, it's called the foreign investment bill. It's going to try to, you know, crack down on things like intellectual property theft, force technology transfer and try to make the playing field more level for foreign companies when they are operating here in China. But of course, enforcement is going to be the key. you know, they talked about you know, getting rid of Chinese tariffs on U.S. goods. If the U.S. in turn gets rid of its own tariffs those are the things that will be discussed at the NPC. But in addition to the economy and Xi Jinping, the president's kind of strategic plan on that, they're also, you know, positioning themselves as a regional military power, they're boosting their military spending yet again this year. Last year was a little over eight percent. This year they're up it by 7.5 percent investing in things like their aircraft carrier. Their carrier killer missiles that could pose a strategic threat to U.S. military assets in this region. Given some of the escalating tensions as of late over the issue of Taiwan, which China considers to be a renegade province that they can take back at any time. China's continued bolstering of their defense budget and their military asset is a clear signal to the United States that they intend to defend what they view as their sovereignty in this region and really solidify themselves as kind of a regional military power. Nick?
[Watt:] CNN's Will Ripley reporting live from Beijing. Thank you very much. Now to Israel, where Benjamin Netanyahu is facing possible indictment on corruption charges and the prime minister is taking a page out of Donald Trump's playbook as he mounts his defense. CNN's Oren Liebermann reports.
[Oren Liebermann, Cnn Correspondent:] Two leaders, one message.
[Trump:] Fake news.
[Benjamin Netanyahu, Israeli Prime Minister:] Fake news.
[Trump:] So, the attorney general is weak and ineffective and he doesn't do what he should have done.
[Netanyahu:] They, the left are carrying against us an unprecedented political witch hunt. Its only goal to overthrow the right-wing government under my leadership.
[Liebermann:] They favor social media to traditional news outlets with one American exception.
[Unidentified Male:] They have not been able to beat Bibi Netanyahu at the ballot box and so they're trying to beat him through these Trumped up, he calls it a witch hunt. He call what our president calls it Trump-up charges.
[Liebermann:] The two leaders share more than a message. Trump and Netanyahu are well-connected millionaires, the ultimate insiders who portray themselves as fighting a system rigged against them and standing up for the little guy. There is one big difference here. Trump keeps crashing in to the American political system. Netanyahu is a master of finessing Israel's system.
[Abraham Diskin, Political Science Professor, Hebrew University:] I think that Trump in his reaction definitely was very emotional. Very impulsive and I don't think that Netanyahu is either emotional. The thing is he is very calculated and he's definitely not an impulsive person.
[Liebermann:] Trump has made his admiration of Netanyahu clear.
[Trump:] I can say this, that he's done a great job as prime minister, he's tough, he's smart, he's strong.
[Liebermann:] Netanyahu has done the same.
[Netanyahu:] Israel has no better ally than the United States.
[Liebermann:] The mutual adoration has helped each leader's popularity. Ring wing Israelis celebrate Trump. Republicans here [Inaudible] Netanyahu. In a time of surging right-wing politics these two have risen hand in hand, they have supported one another as each leader faces the investigation that threatens to topple him. In the first election polls since the attorney general announced his intention to indict Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli leader suffered a major blow, both polls showed that he would not be able to form a coalition government. he would not be able to essentially win the election. In response in a speech on Monday night he went on the attack. Oren Liebermann, CNN, Jerusalem.
[Watt:] Next, it was a merger that President Trump opposed as a candidate and now there are questions about what he might have done about it after he took office. Plus, one of the darkest periods in world history, and we're still in the dark about what the Vatican knew. How the church could soon reveal Holocaust era secrets, that's coming up.