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Croatia Closes Border; Cuba Prepares for Pope Francis; Singapore Companies Moving Away From Downtown, Value Hunting; Singapore's Hidden Cocktail Innovators. Aired 8:00a-9:00a ET

Aired September 18, 2015 - 8:00   ET

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


[08:00:38] KRISTIE LU STOUT, HOST: I'm Kristie Lu Stout in Hong Kong. And welcome to News Stream.

Now overwhelmed Croatia closes its borders after more than 14,000 migrants enter the country.

Plus, Indonesia cracks down on companies that could be contributing to this thick blanket of haze.

And Cuba prepares to welcome Pope Francis. We are live in Havana.

Croatia called on refugees to come, so they did in the thousands. And now the country is saying no more and has closed seven crossing points on

the border with Serbia.

Now, it comes a day after Croatia criticized Hungary for doing the same thing. Now Reuters quotes Croatia's prime minister as saying that the

country simply cannot accommodate the influx of migrants any longer.

Now he says that they will get food and water and medical help and then they can move on.

Now Croatian police say more than 14,000 refugees have flooded into the country since Wednesday. And the crowds are now trying to get on

buses bound for the capital.

Now meanwhile, Hungary is in the process of building another fence, this one to secure its border with Croatia. It already put up razorwire

along the border with Serbia.

Now the new hurdles are making this journey even tougher for the thousands of refugees desperately seeking a better life and a home in

Europe.

Now our senior international correspondent Ben Wedeman, he is in Tavarna (ph), Croatia. That's near the Serbian border. He joins me now

live with the very latest. And Ben, overwhelmed with the influx Croatia has seal off its border. What is the situation there now?

BEN WEDEMAN, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, what we have now is still thousands of people in this town near the border -- I'm just going

to step out of the way. They are lined up way down the block. Now, they've been taken away occasionally. One bus just left with about 50

people on board, but it's really hot here. The last I looked it was about 31 degrees Centigrade in the shade.

And it's getting difficult, more difficult by the hour. There's not a lot of water available. There's no shade if you want to keep your place in

the line. So, they are being bused off to other places like reception centers in Zagreb, the capital, and other reception centers around Croatia,

but there's no indication that they're actually going to be able to move on from here, that they may just simply end up in these welcome centers with

very little else to do.

And of course as they wait, there's confusion. I spoke to one woman from Syria who had collapsed from the heat. They'd taken her away to get

first aid. And when they took her away, her 6-year-old son was boarded on a bus and sent she doesn't know where.

Another man told me that in the process of getting here, they've spent everything they have. They have no money left to afford to buy things like

water, food, shoes, pay for accommodations. So, it's chaotic, really, because of course Croatia had initially opened its borders to migrants and

refugees saying that they would put them up, perhaps even put them up with families. But they never expected within the span of 48 hours for as many

as 15,000 people to show up here.

So, at the moment, the focus is here, the crisis is here. But the crisis just moves on to other places with no sign at the moment that

they'll actually be able to move to those countries that so many of them want to go to in northern Europe -- Kristie.

LU STOUT: Yeah, very difficult conditions on the ground. You're describing just heartbreaking scenes of chaos, so much uncertainty. So

what options are next? You know, as more and more border crossings are sealed off, what is emerging as a next route for migrants and refugees in

Europe?

WEDEMAN: It's not at all clear. And this is what is I think so frustrating for these people, because they had seen the news that suddenly

Germany had thrown out the red carpet. It was welcoming people so the decision was made by so many of them to sell their possession, to collect

as much money as possible, to make the dangerous journey to Europe. And now they find themselves on the doorsteps, but unable to get in.

Hungary is not opening its borders, Slovenia is obviously very hesitant to do the same. They say the experience of Croatia where it just

-- a brief opening of three days and already they're struggling to deal with the crisis.

So, when you speak -- I spend more time answering questions here than I do asking, because so many people want to know. What's the situation?

Can I get to Slovenia? How do I get to Slovenia? What will happen if I get to Slovenia? It's just question after question after question. And I

don't have the answers, aid officials don't seem to have the answers. What -- when we were on the Hungarian-Serbian border yesterday it seemed that,

yes, finally there's an opening. People can go to Croatia and move on from there.

But of course 24 hours later in a sense we're back at square one. People stuck unable to move forward. And it's important to keep in mind

they're increasingly exhausted, frustrated. They've run out of resources. People are getting sick from being sleeping in the rough day after day

after day. They're not getting proper sanitation. There aren't any public toilets here. There's not a shower in sight that anybody can use.

So, as this continues to go on, the situation can only get worse unless something is done about it. And it doesn't seem that anybody is

able or willing to do what needs to be done to take of these people -- Kristie.

LU STOUT: The situation is deteriorating. Help is needed. And then meanwhile the situation on the other side of the border, Ben, I mean what

is the bottleneck at the Croatian border mean for Serbia? I mean, how are they dealing with this additional buildup of migrants at the border?

WEDEMAN: Well, probably in the same way they dealt with it on the Hungarian side. There are local groups, European aid groups who are

providing the help that they can muster. But at the end of the day, it's the same struggle on the other side.

And keep in mind something else, Croatia has closed its borders, that doesn't mean people aren't crossing. People are crossing through fields,

through forests and that's where, of course, there are these landmines left over from the Balkan war of the 1990s. So, wherever you go if you're a

migrant or a refugee there is discomfort, this is dismay, there is danger waiting for you basically every step of the way -- Kristie.

LU STOUT: Indeed, discomfort and danger awaiting migrants and refugees as they make this journey.

Ben Wedeman joining us live on the border there between Croatia and Serbia on the Serbian side of the border. Ben, we thank you for your

reporting.

Now we'd like to update you on the fate of a Syrian refugee we told you about last week. He was running with his 8-year-old son and in arms,

this was happening near the border with Hungary. And was suddenly tripped by a camerawoman. Now, as Paula Newton reports, they have been given a new

home and a new life.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

(SHOUTING)

PAULA NEWTON, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It was the trip seen around the world. A Syrian refugee running with a child in his arms tripped

by a camera woman while fleeing police near the Hungarian border, the video caused an international outrage and the Hungarian camera woman was fired.

(APPLAUSE)

NEWTON: That same refugee father received a different welcome in Spain. Osama Abdul Mohsen and his two sons were greeted with applause at

this train station. 52-year-old Mohsen was overwhelmed.

OSAMA ABDUL MOHSEN, SYRIAN REFUGEE: I love you. I love Madrid. I love Espana, all Espana. Thank you for all. This very important for my life I am

here with you, thank you very much.

NEWTON: It turns out Mohsen is a football coach who managed one of Syria's top teams, until the country's civil war forced him to flee to

Turkey.

When the president of a school for coaches in Spain heard Mohsen's story, he arranged for him to travel to Madrid and offered Mohsen a job.

MIGUEL ANGEL GALN, PRESIDENT, NATIONAL SCHOOL OF FOOTBALL COACHES (through translation: The fact that he is a football coach in Syria and we

are the National School Football Coach's, leads to solidarity because we are colleagues. So we said, how are we going to support these people.

NEWTON: The school is also providing Mohsen with an apartment, language training, and schools for his children. Mohsen's wife and the rest

of his family, who are still in Turkey, are

expected to come to Spain next week.

And the family will be guests at Real Madrid's next match.

A remarkable turn of events for Mohsen, from being tripped in a field in Hungary, to starting a whole new life in Spain, all of it in little more

than one week.

Paula Newton, CNN.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

[08:10:23] LU STOUT: Wow, what a beautiful outcome for that Syrian family.

Now the International Organization for Migration says that more than 470,000 migrants have made the perilous journey across the Mediterranean to

Europe so far this year. And about 40 percent of them are Syrian refugees. Many have left everything behind. Everything.

Now for ways that you can help, you can go to the website CNN.com/impact.

Now turning on to Pakistan, at least 16 people were killed when Taliban gunmen stormed an airbase outside the city of Peshawar.

Now ambulances, they rushed to the scene as gunfire erupted inside the compound. An army spokesman says the militants split into two groups. Now

one group attacked worshipers inside a mosque on the base. Security forces responded and killed 14 attackers. It is said to be the largest assault on

the Pakistani military this year.

Now to Indonesia where seven executives have been arrested over fires, which have caused a thick haze to spread across the region. Now there is

deep anger about the thick smog blanketing Southeast Asia and a state of emergency has even been declared in one Indonesian province.

Now the haze is caused by land clearing forest fires in Sumatra and Borneo, but the affect is being felt much farther afield in Malaysia and

Singapore.

Now the city-state's grand prix this weekend is even at risk. Organizers insist it will go ahead, but that may change depending on

weather conditions.

Now in any case, masks will be available for participants and for spectators.

Now earlier I spoke with CNN Indonesia anchor Desi Anwar about the haze and the Indonesian government's efforts to try to contain it.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DESI ANWAR, CNN INDONESIA ANCHOR: Government is very serious in tackling these forest fires in Sumatra and (inaudible), clamping down on

the perpetrators that are causing the fires and the land burning and treating them as criminals. These are corporate -- as corporate crimes.

And as of today, the government is looking at around 286 concession permits and they're also investigating various cases.

If they are found guilty, they could be punished with a fine of up to $1 million and around up to 10 years in jail.

LU STOUT: The haze this year said to be some of the most intense air pollution that Indonesia has experienced in a very long time. What is the

air quality like there in Indonesia? What does it feel like?

ANWAR: Yes. Absolutely. I mean, Kristie, we've had -- we've suffered haze and forest fires for the past 18 years, but this year has

been very, very bad. In that last few weeks, the air pollution index has reached well above 300.

Now 300 being of a dangerous level, dangerous, hazardous to the health. And we've gone beyond the 300 index.

Now schools in the (inaudible) province and the Jambi (ph) province and in Kalimansang (ph) are being closed, and hospitals are being inundated

with people complaining of chest pains and respiratory. These orders of up to now in Riao (ph) itself around 25,000 people have complained of various

illnesses related to the haze.

So, the health condition is very bad.

And in terms of just, you know, the economic fallout of this foreign fires is almost, it reaches $1.6 billion, Kristie, and that's a huge amount

of money.

LU STOUT: And what about the diplomatic fallout? Because every year these annual fires cause a lot of tension between Indonesia and its

neighbors, namely Malaysia and Singapore. Is there more tension this year because of the intensity in the haze and the fact that the Singapore Grand

Prix is happening this weekend?

ANWAR: Yes, I mean when we have fires in Sumatra and Kalimansang (ph), Singapore and Malaysia they often very much affected by the

(inaudible) quite rightly say that Singapore is holding the Grand Prix this year. And Singapore has actually offered to help with putting out the

fires.

Now, I talked to the minister of forestry and environment the other day on this offer to put out the fires. And she actually said, well,

thanks but no thanks. But the government of Indonesia has done its best to put out the fires, water bombing the areas with millions of liters of

water. And for Singapore to come, you know, with their help at the tail end of this effort is, you know, probably not required.

And also what she mentioned that at least 29 foreign companies, you know, whether it's from Malaysia or Singapore, are operating in Indonesia

and she will actually look and see if any of them have actually also caused the forest fires. And she will bring them to court.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

[08:15:29] LU STOUT: And that was CNN Indonesia anchor Desi Anwar speaking to me from Jakarta earlier.

Now, you're watching News Stream. And still to come on the program, Cuba is rolling out the red carpet for Pope Francis. And we'll take you

live to Havana with new information about what lead to renewed ties between the U.S. and Cuba.

Plus, another corruption controversy at FIFA. The organization's number two man is defending himself after he was suspended. We'll bring

you details on the serious allegations against him.

Plus, from being handcuffed and taken away from school to being invited to the White House. Now support is pouring in for the American

teenager who was arrested for making a clock.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LU STOUT: Welcome back.

Now FIFA number two Jerome Valcke has been suspended while accusations against him are investigated. He is accused of taking part in a scheme to

sell tickets to last year's World Cup on the black market.

His lawyer says the accusations are fabricated and outrageous.

Now Valcke has been Sepp Blatter's top deputy since 2007. And FIFA says its ethics committee will investigate.

Now for much more on the FIFA fallout as well as all the details on the rugby World Cup do tune in to World Sport in about 30 minutes from now.

Now in the United States, the story of a young aspiring inventor arrested for bringing a clock to school has gripped the internet and

sparked national outrage. Now supporters gathered outside his high school in Texas to show support for 14-year-old Ahmed Mohamed.

Now Jeff Paul from our affiliate KTVT has more.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MOHAMMED ELHASSAN, FATHER: If really this is a bomb, as they say, why they don't evacuate the building?

JEFF PAUL, KTVT CORRESPONDENT: Speaking to a crowd gathered outside of MacArthur High School, a father pleads for answers and change.

ELHASSAN: What happened to my son is something it doesn't look like America.

PAUL: Mohamed ElHassan's (ph) son Ahmed has captured the attention of the world. Outrage sparked after Irving police arrested the 14-year-old

for his homemade clock calling it a hoax bomb.

ELHASSAN: I applaud the Irving Police Department for arresting the young man.

PAUL: Across town at Irving city council...

ELHASSAN: This was an innocent little boy.

PAUL: Residents sounded off about the controversial arrest, and so did Irving's top cop.

LARRY BOYD, IRVING POLICE CHIEF: We will learn from and build off of this and continue the strong relationship.

PAUL: Chief Larry Boyd telling council he plans to meet with Ahmed's family and pledged to continue building a relationship with the Muslim

community.

The last few days have been rough on Ahmed and his father says was too tired tonight to attend, but appreciates everyone.

ELHASSAN: He thinks there is people behind him, you know. And there is, you know, people will not forget him. And he's not alone in the field.

There I go with him until the end.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

[08:20:00] LU STOUT: Now Ahmed's story caught the attention of leading tech figures, including Apple inventor Steve Wozniak. In fact, on

Facebook he says Ahmed reminded him of his own high school years.

Now Wozniak, he built a metronome that exploded in his friends locker. And that stunt landed him a night in juvenile detention. Wozniak says that

he hopes the incident did not kick Ahmed's talent out of him, calling the boy a modern day hero.

Now other also encouraged him to keep on inventing. In fact, the Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg says the future belongs to people like

Ahmed. And while he won't be returning to his high school, he now has internship offers from Twitter, Reddit and a space camp scholarship.

Now people are also showing their support by posing with clocks on social media, referencing the clock that some thought was a bomb.

You're watching News Stream. And after the break, too close to call: no party has a clear edge as Greek voters prepare to cast their ballot this

weekend.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LU STOUT: Coming to you live from Hong Kong on a Friday night, you're back watching News Stream.

Now large crowds of protesters have gathered outside the Japanese parliament where upper house lawmakers are set to vote on a controversial

security bill.

Now a special house committee cleared the bill on Thursday when, as you can see and hear, scuffles broke out when opposition members tried to

delay the ballot.

Now if passed, the legislation would allow the country's troops to fight overseas to defend allies under limited conditions. Opponents say it

violates Japan's pacifist constitution.

Now, Greek voters are prepared to head to the polls this Sunday for the fifth time in three years. Alexis Tsipras resigned as prime minister

last month after some members of his party refused to back him on the third Greek bailout deal.

Now the latest polls show his Syriza Party neck and neck with the conservative New Democracy Party.

Now distinctive sky scrapers provide a stunning backdrop to downtown Singapore, but recently some big companies are saying goodbye to high rise

offices in prime locations. David Molko finds out why.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

[08:25:56] DAVID MOLKO, CNN CORREPSONDNET: You've probably heard the saying location, location, location. And there's a certain prestige factor

that comes with having your brand logo splashed across the top of a downtown skyscraper.

But the latest property trend here in Singapore is less about appearances and more about the bottom line.

Monthly rents for office space out here near Changi Airport can be up to 50 percent less. Real Estate experts are calling that a flight to

value.

NICK HUGHES, STANDARD CHARTERED BANK: Out here, it's looks like a $3 or $4 a square foot.

MOLKO: This is Changi business park, about 20 minutes from downtown. It's where Standard Chartered bank has relocated its back office

operations, including this call center.

HUGHES: The idea is just give our staff choices.

MOLKO: Nick Hughes (ph) looks after the bank's regional footprint, including a plan not to downsize, but to consolidate operations from 20

offices down to just two.

It's not just about efficiency, he says, but about options when it comes to the space itself.

HUGHES: Whether it's the quiet time or whether it's more clarity, we have the facility here to do that.

MOLKO: Back in the city center, commercial property expert Sigrid Shelsita (ph) says it's not just big banks that are putting value first.

Tech giants like Google and Oracle are also decamping from downtown.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's something that we'll see going forward? Absolutely.

MOLKO: And even with rental rates forecast to drop some 20 percent over the next year or two, Shelsita (ph) says more businesses are thinking

creatively, because less expensive space means it could be easier to expand in the future.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We're seeing that idea (inaudible). But to a certain extent we're seeing that also in Tokyo.

MOLKO: For some big brands, there are limits to what you can send to the suburbs. What Standard Chartered says is one of the largest trading

floors in the region will stay here in the city center. So while location may not be everything, when it comes to doing business it still matters.

David Molko, CNN, Singapore.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LU STOUT: You're watching News Stream. And coming up, Havana is getting ready to welcome Pope Francis. We'll have a live report from the

Cuban capital.

And we learn more about the pope's key role in helping bridge the divide between Cuba and the U.S. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[08:30:46] LU STOUT: I'm Kristie Lu Stout in Hong Kong. You're watching News Stream. And these are your world headlines.

Now Croatia says more than 14,000 refugees have entered the country since Wednesday prompting it to close seven border crossings with Serbia.

Now Reuters quotes Croatia's prime minister as saying that the country cannot accommodate the influx of migrants any longer. He says that they

will get food, water and medical help and then they can move on.

In Indonesia, seven company executives have been arrested over fires which have caused a thick haze to spread across the region. Now smog is

blanketing parts of Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia, leading to a state of emergency being declared in at least one province.

Taliban gunmen stormed a Pakistani air base outside Peshawar killing at least 16 people. A military spokesman says one group of militants

attacked worshipers inside a mosque on the base. Security forces say they responded and killed 14 attackers.

Pope Francis is getting ready to head to Cuba and the U.S. for a nine day trip. A few days ago he posted a video message to the Cuban people

saying that he was coming as a missionary of God's mercy.

Now, the capital Havana is getting ready to welcome him. And CNN's Patrick Oppmann is there. He joins me now live.

And Patrick ahead of the papal visit, we are picking up more intel about what led to the renewal of diplomatic ties between the U.S. and Cuba.

What have you learned?

PATRICK OPPMANN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's right, Kristie, and it's something out of a spy thriller, frankly. You know, we've known since the

breakthrough in relations back in December that Pope Francis played a crucial role, but it always seemed more of a role urging the leaders to

come together. But we're learning that the pope was involved and many of the small details, getting not only the vicious talk, but dealing with

things such as the prison transfer and this pope played a great role in the behind the scenes secret diplomacy.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I want to thank his holiness Pope Francis whose moral example shows us the importance of

pursuing the world as it should be.

OPPMANN: On the day of the breakthrough in relations between Cuba and the United States, Castro and Barack Obama both paid homage to Pope Francis

for his role in the landmark agreement.

(SINGING)

OPPMANN: Not mentioned was this man, Cardinal Jaime Ortega, the pope's eyes and ears in Havana, who was at the center of parts of the diplomacy.

In an exclusive interview with CNN, Ortega reveals at the pope's first meeting with President Obama, Francis lobbied to change U.S. policy toward

Cuba. Obama surprised the pope by agreeing with him.

"The president's response was very clear," he says. "These measures were all made before his birth, and he wishes to change them. This

encouraged the pope and he made the important argument that would benefit the Cuban people who had suffered under these measures."

The cardinal said the church was not directly involved in the negotiations, but acted as a back channel to keep lines of communication

open between Cold War adversaries and push for an agreement. (on camera): One of those back channels, Ortega says, was how to arrange a prisoner swap

between the two countries. Cuba wanted to exchange Allen Gross for three of their captured intelligence agents. The United States wanted a better

deal.

(voice-over): The cardinal thought he knew how to break the deadlock. He had received a letter from a man he had prayed with while ministering

the inmates in prison. His name was Rolando Soroff (ph), a Cuban intelligence official condemned to a lengthy sentence for his spying for

the CIA.

"He wrote me a letter as someone who could be exchanged," Ortega says. "It was something separate from the pope's contribution. He wrote saying he

could be traded."

At secret meetings at the Vatican and in Canada where sources involved in the negotiations say Cuba was represented by this man, Colonel Alejandro

Castro, Raul Castro's son. The prisoner swap was struck.

After the trade, U.S. officials called Soroff (ph) one of the most valuable spies they ever had in Cuba, having helped broker ties with the

U.S.'s long-strained relations between the church and Cuba are also improving.

Having helped broker ties with the U.S., long-strained relations between the church and state in Cuba were also included.

"The desire that Raul Castro stressed toward the U.S. is that we could live with our differences," he says, "but in a civilized manner. That's the

desire that the church has also expressed to the government. The church is not the enemy."

A message of reconciliation and new beginnings that Pope Francis will bring with him when he arrives in Cuba.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

OPPMANN: And biographers of Pope Francis tell us that the pope sees the water between Havana and Miami as the Berlin Wall of his era, something

that has divided people, something that must be changed. And we expect him, we're told, to keep working on this issue to urge both President Obama

and Castro to not let the progress that's been made stand, that they need to keep pushing to have better U.S.-Cuban relations to bring this community

that's been so long divided back together, that's going to be one of the pope's main missions when he lands in Cuba tomorrow, Kristie.

LU STOUT: Yeah, the Vatican playing a very key role in this diplomatic breakthrough. And Patrick, since the renewal of ties between

the U.S. and Cuba, what kind of changes has there been on the ground there? What kind of change will Pope Francis see when he arrives on Saturday?

OPPMANN: You know, some of these changes are just things that were unimaginable. Raul Castro said this week that he will visit the United

States later on this month going to the UN general assembly, that's something he hadn't done in over 50 years, never as President of Cuba.

That's something just a few months ago would have been totally unthinkable.

President Obama, we know, is considering a trip to Cuba. It really it'll depend on how much progress can be made in the next few months. But

he said he would like to. And we're starting to see some of the preplanning if that visit were to take place. Again, a major historic

visit that would not have been possible without Pope Francis's involvement in the secret diplomacy last year. And certainly Pope Francis will keep

pushing these issues forward. And we expect more of these changes to things that are on -- were just unthinkable last year. And slowly it's an

era of new possibilities here in Cuba -- Kristie.

LU STOUT: All right. CNN's Patrick Oppmann reporting live in Havana for us. Thank you, Patrick.

You're watching News Stream. And still to come on the program, we take you to some of Asia's hippest bars and lounges, but don't try to order

a Singapore Sling. Now, the cocktail scene in Singapore is in the midst of a revolution.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[08:40:22] LU STOUT: All this week, CNN has been on the road in Singapore where the night scene is changing. And the trendiest thing to

embrace is a cocktail. Now Paula Newton finishes the week with some of Singapore's craftiest new drinks.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

PAULA NEWTON, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Feast your eyes and forget, yes forget, because we're in Singapore and there is no sling.

We're scouting the newest cocktail scene in Asia and it is artful, curated to the last straw.

First stop, 28 Hong Kong street where Singapore cocktails have been refreshed by a master Michael Callahan, self-described spirits evangelist.

A lot of people would be surprised. They do not think of Singapore as a cocktail city. What's changed?

MICHAEL CALLAHAN, SPIRITS EVANGELIST: I kind of like that people think that way, because it manages expectations. And they come here and we

knock their socks off.

NEWTON: Getting it done, Peter Chua a celebrity of sorts behind the bar.

PETER CHUA, BARTENDER: Well, I'm going try to get you something that's pretty cool that kind of captures about what we're saying, about how

we're taking western influence and putting in Asian touches.

NEWTON: Quite a name, Uncle Tony's Tonic.

CHUA: Rumor has it he used to be an old time gangster when Singapore was still growing. So if you want to think about this drink. It's going

to be like an amped up Whiskey Sour, but with more of like I put it an Asian twist to it.

(inaudible) a bit of homemade (inaudible) made from fermented berries.

It's going to be bit spicy, because there's Chipotle in there and Chile putty (ph).

NEWTON: Oh wow.

CHUA: A little bit (inaudible). Top it off. There you go.

A drink influenced from the western style, and a bit of Asian touch.

NEWTON: Drink up, because we're on the move.

We're at the Regeant Four Seasons in the grand hotel bar Manhattan. Inspired by the Pedigree of old New York, in less than two years this place

has become one of the leading hotel bars in the world?

CALLAHAN: As you can see, it's quite stunning. And they took every component of what makes a great hotel bar both globally and historically

and they really baked it into a cohesive program here, nothing is left untouched. Everything is spot on.

NEWTON: So step away from the bar just for a moment and into the Rick House (ph).

CALLAHAN: So this is a little treasure trove of happiness for a bartender. You don't get to see this hardly anywhere. A Rick House (ph)

is a place where they age usually spirits, but what they've done here at the Manhattan is that they have barrel aged cocktails, some of them done by

a very famous personalities in our industry. And they're allowing them to sit to integrate flavors. It's a very complex process. And to do one

barrel is a big investment. To do so many is unheard of. And to do it in a hotel has never been done.

So this is truly the world's first in hotel Rick House.

NEWTON: Paula Newton, CNN, Singapore.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LU STOUT: All right, now we're ready for the weekend. That is News Stream. I'm Kristie Lu Stout. But don't go anywhere. World Sport with

Amanda Davies is next.

END