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Anti-Trump Anger Growing in U.S.; NASA Finds Seven Earth-like Worlds; Trump Administration Rescinds Transgender Student Guidelines. 8:00- 9:00a ET

Aired February 23, 2017 - 08:00   ET

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

[08:00:12] KRISTIE LU STOUT, HOST: I'm Kristie Lu Stout in Hong Kong and welcome to News Stream.

Now anger is growing in the U.S. after a string of controversial moves from the Trump administration from immigration policy to the removal of

protection for transgender students. Iraqi officials say that they have driven ISIS out of Mosul's airport as they fight to retake the western half

of the city.

And NASA says it's found seven Earth-like worlds orbiting a single star, increasing hope that life exists outside our own planet.

Now, the Trump administration is unrolling a string of controversial actions sparking protests at home and abroad. Now civil rights groups has

denounced the withdrawal of federal protection for transgender students to choose which bathroom they want to use.

Now, brought in by President Barack Obama, the guidance let students use facilities that correspond to their gender identity. It is now up to

individual states to decide.

Now, meanwhile, we've learned a revised travel ban on citizens of countries considered to pose a high risk of terrorism, that has been delayed until

next week. And Mr. Trump's recent overhaul of immigration enforcement could have enormous implications for America's southern neighbor. We've

got more on that in just a moment.

But first, there is concern in Europe about mixed messages coming from the White House. Now, sources say White House strategist Steve Bannon told the

German ambassador that the European Union is a, quote, flawed institution. That conversation came just one week before Vice President Mike Pence tried

to reassure European leaders.

Now, CNN's Atika Shubert is in Berlin to help us understand the implications of all of this. And Atika, there have been a lot of

conflicting messages from the Trump team. So, how has Europe been interpreting these latest comments from Steve Bannon?

ATIKA SHUBERT, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, very cautiously. I mean, for a long time now, German officials have been very worried that

they don't really know the Trump administration that well, so they've been sending out emissaries and ambassadors to really try and get into the mind

of, you know, the Trump administration and the policies that maybe coming from it. So that may be one reason why we saw this meeting between the

German ambassador and Steve Bannon.

Now, keep in mind, this did happen a week before Vice President Pence came through to meet Chandellor Merkel here in Germany and went on to Brussels

as well.

But in that meeting, sources tell CNN that it was, quote, combative and that Steve Bannon, you know, basically said that the EU is a flawed

institution and that the U.S. preferred to deal with European nations on a one-on-one basis.

A Trump administration official, however, disputes that and says it was a very short conversation, very not substantial, and it was really more like

a quick hello.

The foreign ministry here won't comment on what the substance of that conversation was. But I think it does send these mixed messages. On the

one hand, you have this conversation with Steve Bannon, on the other, Vice President Pence comes through to Munich and to Brussels and says the U.S.

is absolutely committed to NATO and the European Union.

And so what we find policy makers and lawmakers doing is saying, OK, that's some reassurance that we have from some administration officials, but

what's the thinking going on behind the scenes and what is the policy ultimately going to be?

So, people here are still worried even though they did receive some reassurance from Vice President Pence.

LU STOUT: Yeah, so the comments from Steve Bannon, they took place before the flurry of visits that took place in Europe last week. We have the Vice

President Mike Pence there, the Defense Secretary James Mattis there, Secretary of Homeland Security John Kelly all there in Europe. But Atika,

despite that strong showing of top Trump officials, does Europe still remain confounded and concerned about U.S. foreign policy under Donald

Trump?

SHUBERT: I think they're absolutely concerned. And I mean I've been talking to people here on the ground, lawmakers, policy thinkers, officials

about what do they see coming out of the administration? And what many people say is they're basically conflicting messages. They're not sure

which is the message that is going to actually shape policy going forward?

And this is the big concern.

So, on the one hand, yes, you have these very official statements by Vice President Pence, by Mattis, by other officials that give this very stalwart

sort of absolutely we are committed to NATO and the European Union.

On the other hand, you get - you hear not only from Steve Bannon, I should point out, but from Trump himself. President Trump has said in previous

interviews that, you know, he really doesn't care very much for the European Union. In fact, he sees it as a vehicle for Germany, as the way

he put it.

And his top trade official has said Germany uses the EU, uses the euro, hides behind the euro, to support to sort of support its own trade.

So, I think what we're seeing here is two very different messages. The question is what kind of policy comes out of it. That is what policymakers

here are waiting for.

[08:05:34] LU STOUT: Yeah, a lot of uncertainty about the state of the alliance, especially from where you are, the EU perspective. Atika Shubert

reporting live for us from Berlin. Thank you.

Now, tensions are high between the U.S. and Mexico as well after Mr. Trump unveiled his plan to increase enforcement of immigration laws. But Mexican

officials are preparing to fight back. The U.S. Secretary of State and the homeland security secretary, they're now in Mexico to try to smooth things

over.

CNN's Leyla Santiago reports.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

LEYLA SANTIAGO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Secretary Tillerson and Secretary Kelly are expected to not only meet with the foreign minister, but also president

Enriqeu Pena Nieto here in Mexico and some high level cabinet members.

So, what do we expect that they will talk about? Well, you can expect that they'll talk about immigration, especially given the timing of this. This

is just days after the Trump administration released guidance on immigration policies. And the foreign minister has already taken issue

with some of this. You see, some of that guidance indicated that the U.S. could send immigrants back to the Mexico, and that could be immigrants that

aren't necessarily from Mexico, possibly some from central America. And the foreign minister has already said - has already said that the does not

plan to accept those immigrants back into his country if they are not from Mexico.

Pretty strong reaction given that just yesterday the White House called this a phenomenal relationship.

Now, we know that the foreign minister met with Secretary Tillerson over dinner last night. We checked in with his office today. They are not

commenting on exactly how that meeting went, but I suspect they talked not only about immigration, but also NAFTA, that free trade agreement and its

impact on the economy in the U.S. as well as Mexico.

We understand that it is also important for the American officials to talk about border security as well as the other topics we've already discussed.

But this is a sort of a wait and see on what the tone is that the Americans strike here in the U.S. - Kristie.

LU STOUT: All right, Leyla Santiago there.

Now, the concern in Mexico is nothing like what Republicans and U.S. are hearing from their own constituents after a rocky month in Washington,

Republican lawmakers are returning home for townhall meetings with voters. But, they've been met with booze and jeers. They have faced tough

questions on issues like health care, education, immigration. Now CNN's Ryan Young looks at how tempers have been boiling over.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: In 2020 you're gone!

RYAN YOUNG, CNN CORRESPONDENTT: Republican lawmakers across the country coming home to this.

(SHOUTING)

YOUNG: Facing off with scores of enraged constituents.

CROWD: Do your job! Do your job!

YOUNG: The anger palpable in Arkansas.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You work for us!

(APPLAUSE)

YOUNG: Senator Tom Cotton looking out over a sea of protesters in a packed down hall, some emotional about the prospect of losing insurance coverage

under Obamacare.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: What kind of insurance do you have?

(APPLAUSE)

YOUNG: Others expressing their frustration over the new administration, including this seven-year-old boy.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Donald Trump makes Mexicans not important to people who are in Arkansas who like Mexicans like me, my grandma, and all my people.

(APPLAUSE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And he's deleting all the parts in PBS kids just to make a wall. He shouldn't do that.

(APPLAUSE)

YOUNG: In New Jersey, a record crowd.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: How will you mobilize the other Republicans to push back against this man when he makes delusional statements/

(APPLAUSE)

YOUNG: Congressman Leonard Lance shouted down for not standing up to the president's so-called alternative facts.

REP. LEONARD LANCE, (R) NEW JERSEY: I believe that when the president misstates, as, for example --

(APPLAUSE)

YOUNG: In northern California, tempers erupting after Congressman Tom McClintock sidestepped this question.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Will you support a bipartisan investigation of the Trump administration's dealings with Vladimir Putin and Russia?

(APPLAUSE)

REP. TOM MCCLINTOCK, (R) CALIFORNIA: I'm not sure that an investigation, which would take up an awful lot of bandwidth in the Congress --

(SHOUTING)

[08:10:11] YOUNG: Liberal groups across the country holding empty chair town halls for lawmakers who are reluctant to face voters. The president

and White House downplaying the wave of opposition.

SPICER: I think some people are clearly upset, but there is a bit of professional protester manufactured base in there.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm Mary from Fayetteville, and I am not a paid protester.

(APPLAUSE)

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LU STOUT: And that was CNN's Ryan Young reporting.

Now, the Trump administration is facing even more outrage after withdrawing federal guidance on transgender bathroom use in public schools. The White

House dropped Obama era guidance that told schools to allow transgender students to choose which facilities they wanted to use. The administration

says the policy should be decided by individual states.

Now, for more on this story, our senior Washington correspondent Joe Johns joins me now from the White House. And, Joe, thank you for joining us.

Now, this is not an executive order from Trump, but it is a directive to schools across the country. So, in a practical sense, what does it do?

JOE JOHNS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, it's guidance and it's guidance that is typically issued from Washington to states and localities on how to deal

with particular issues in which the federal government is involved.

So, it's an important roll back of the Obama guidance that started this whole thing, very controversial when it first happened. But it's not clear

exactly what the Trump administration wants to do with this, quite frankly. Essentially what they've said is they don't like the legal analysis that

was used by the Obama administration and as far as they're concerned, the several states as well as the localities are the ones who are best to

decide.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JOHNS (voice-over): The federal Departments of Justice and Education issuing a letter to public schools, saying they no longer need to allow

transgender students to use the bathroom of their gender identity rather than the gender they were assigned at birth. The White House arguing this

week that this isn't an issue for the federal government to decide.

SPICER: The president, as I said yesterday, is a firm believer in states' rights.

JOHNS: The move in stark contrast to candidate Trump's position last April.

DONALD TRUMP (R), PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: There have been very few complaints the way it is. People go, they use the bathroom that they feel

is appropriate. There has been so little trouble.

MATT LAUER, HOST, NBC'S "THE TODAY SHOW": So if Caitlyn Jenner were to walk into Trump Tower and want to use the bathroom, you would be fine with her

using any bathroom she chooses?

TRUMP: That is correct.

JOHNS: Sources tell CNN the president's education secretary opposed the new guidance but was pressured to get on board by the president and Attorney

General Jeff Sessions. A source says Education Secretary Betsy DeVos reminded the president they both promised to protect all students. DeVos

issuing a strongly worded statement saying, "This is not merely a federal mandate but a moral obligation no individual school district or state can

abdicate," reassuring concerned students that her department will investigate "claims of discrimination, bullying and harassment against

those who are most vulnerable in our schools."

The new guidance rejects the inclusion of gender identity in the interpretation of Title IX, the federal law that bans sex discrimination in

schools.

Hundreds gathering outside of the White House to protest. One of the performers at the president's inauguration, who has a transgender sister,

tweeting, "Mr. Trump, you gave me the honor to sing at your inauguration. Please give me and my sis the honor to meet with you to talk transgender

rights."

(END VIDEOTAPE)

JOHNS: Now this is an issue, as you can see, that is not settled in the states. And the courts may very well have the final say that there is a

pending case before the United States supreme court, so the justices just might have the last word - Kristie.

LU STOUT: All right. Joe Johns reporting live for us. Thank you, Joe.

Now, you're watching News Stream. And straight ahead, an all-points bulletin, INTERPOL is asked to help track four suspects wanted in

connection with the death of Kim Jon-nam, the North Korean leaders half- brother. We'll have an update from Malaysia.

And Iraqi forces have just announced a major victory as they fight to recapture Mosul from ISIS. We'll have a live report straight ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[08:16:51] LU STOUT: All right, coming to you live from Hong Kong. Welcome back. You're watching News Stream.

Now, Malaysia has asked INTERPOL to put out an alert for some North Koreans on the run. They're wanted in the investigation of the death of Kim Jong-

nam, the half-brother of North Korea's leader who was apparently attacked at a Malaysia airport.

Now, police have also asked to interview an official at the North Korean embassy. Pyongyang has strongly denied any involvement in Kim's death.

Now, let's bring in Alexandra Field for Kuala Lumpur with more on the story. And Alex, earlier today, we heard some pretty strong words from

North Korea, directed squarely at Malaysia.

ALEXANDRA FIELD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yeah, tensions are certainly rising, Kristie, and this isn't the first time that the North Korean's have had

strong words for the Malaysian's concerning this investigation. You saw the ambassador from North Korea step out and hold a press conference about

a week ago. He spoke harshly. And now you're hearing from KCNA, the state news agency in North Korea. They are accusing Malaysian officials of

having an unfriendly attitude, saying that in certain ways the Malaysians are even violating international norms, they believe.

The North Koreans say that they should be part of a joint investigation here, but Malaysian authorities say that's not at all necessary. What they

want is cooperation from the North Korean in tracking down North Korean suspects.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

FIELD: An international battle over the body of Kim Jong-nam. North Korea wants the body back, but it's still on Malaysian soil under close watch at

a morgue in Kuala Lumpur after someone staged a break-in. Authorities won't say who.

Malaysian authorities are refusing to release Kim Jong-nam's body from the morgue inside this hospital without identification from a family member or

a DNA sample. They say they've requested a sample from the North Koean embassy and that that DNA could come from any of Kim's relatives, including

his half-brother, North Korea's dictator Kim Jong-un, something North Korea is not providing.

North Korean state news agency KCNA is going after Malaysian officials in their first report on the matter some 10 days after Kim's death. KCNA

argues responsibility for the death rests with the Malaysian government because he died, quote, in its land.

KCNA is casting doubt on the investigation into the suspected poisoning at Kuala Lumpur's airport, alleging secret police got involved following South

Korean media reports. This CCTV video appears to show the moment Kim Jong- nam was attacked by two women putting poison on his face at the Kuala Lumpur airport on February 13. Airport cameras capture Kim Jong-nam

reportedly asking for medical help. He died in an ambulance on the way to the hospital.

North Korea's ambassador claims he was told by Malaysian authorities Kim died of, quote, a heart stroke, a statement from his office says Malaysia's

investigation now continues under the delusion that the female suspects had dabbed the poison on the victim's face with their own hands. Then how is

it possible that these female suspects could be alive after the incident, he asks?

One of the women told authorities she thought she was taking part in a prank, but police here say both were trained to kill.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: These two ladies were trained to swab the deceased face. Before that, the four suspects were give them the liquid, were put

the liquid on their hands. They're supposed to wipe it over deceased face.

FIELD: Malaysia is asking INTERPOL to issue an alert for those four suspects, North Korean men who are believed to be back in Pyongyang. And

authorities are looking in Malaysia for three more North Koreans.

They sent a request to the North Korean embassy to question two of the men, the embassy's second secretary and an employee of North Korea's airline:

Air Corio (ph). North Korea is demanding the release of one of its citizens already in custody in connection with the attack along with the

release of the Indonesian and Vietnamese women suspected in it.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

FIELD: Now, while the North Korean officials continue to try and cast doubt on the theory that Kim Jong-nam was poisoned, police here in Malaysia

are saying that they have looked at video. They can see one of the women backing away with her hands up in the air. They say this is further

evidence that these women were trained. They knew not to touch themselves with the poison on their hands and that they were instructed to go wash

their hands immediately afterward.

Police here are also saying that the women had done practice runs in a mall right here in Kuala Lumpur - Kristie.

LU STOUT: You know, relations between North Korea and Malaysia clearly strained during the investigation after the attack and the death of Kim

Jong-nam in this Malaysian airport. But what were ties like between these two countries before the death of Kim Jong-nam?

FIELD: Well, look, it is certainly rare, obviously, for a country to have diplomatic relations with North Korea, but this is clearly a country that

does have that. And again I'm standing right in front of the embassy that is here in Kuala Lumpur. This incident, this international incident

certainly exacerbating tensions within this relationship right now. You've got Malaysian officials who are very angered by the fact that the

ambassador here has come out and has had strong words concerning the nature of this investigation.

So, both sides digging in and doubling down. The Malaysian's defending their investigation right now. And they're right to conduct this

investigation for what they say is a crime that was carried out here in their territory. And then you've got the North Koreans who are becoming

increasingly irate with the Malaysians because they point to the fact that Kim Jong-nam had a diplomatic passport on his body. They say that that

means that diplomatic immunity needs to be respected here. And that's why they say that the Malaysians are violating international standards,

international norms, in failing to return this body and insisting first on getting a DNA sample or an identification from next of kin, Kristie.

LU STOUT: Alexandra Field reporting live for us from KL. Many thanks indeed for that update.

Now, let's turn our focus now to Iraq where a fierce battle has been underway in Mosul. A federal police official tells CNN government forces

has now driven ISIS from the airport. This video is coming to us straight from the battlefield where heavy artillery has been used in an all-out

offensive to retake the western half of the city.

Let's get the very latest from Ben Wedeman. He joins us from Irbil, that's east of Mosul. And Ben I understand Iraqi forces have announced that

they've retaken Mosul Airport from ISIS. This was a fast operation. How did they do it?

BEN WEDEMAN, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, basically when the days prior to this operation that began early this morning, the airport

came under intense and prolonged bombardment by Iraqi artillery, essentially softening up the targets. So they went in this morning. The

airport itself, we should stress, is inoperable. The runway is full of rubble and it will be some time before it can be brought back in to

operation.

It's not necessarily needed part of the operation, but symbolically to take this - it's a large area to the south of the city is important for Iraqi

forces.

Now, they also had two other objectives today. One is the Hazlani (ph) army base, which is right to the west of the west of the airport. They've

entered that. They've taken some of the buildings, but the fighting is ongoing.

They're also trying to get control of the largest power plant in western Mosul, which is also in that area south of the city. That operation is

still ongoing.

But as we've seen so often in the past, their progress is being hampered by ISIS's use of suicide car bombs, snipers and IEDs, or roadside bombs. But,

yes, they have made significant progress, but really the big battle, when they get into the heart of the city, the old city, is still several steps

away - Kristie.

LU STOUT: Yeah, the big battle in the heart of the city, the western part of Mosul, that's next. And also the fate of the hundreds of thousands of

civilians who are still there. What's your thinking now about their situation and whether they're choosing to stay or to run.

[08:25:07] WEDEMAN: Until now, Kristie, we understand that there hasn't been a mass exodus of people fleeing western Mosul, that's not necessarily

because they don't want to leave, but leaving really would expose them to a threat from ISIS itself. We've seen in the eastern part of the city, for

instance the Iraqi army did set up safe passageways for civilians to get out, but they weren't respected by ISIS, and many people we spoke to who

had fled this city, often in the middle of the night said that they did come under fire from ISIS snipers. So they're really stuck. They don't

have really much choice but to remain.

And of course the situation for them is increasingly difficult. Many people anticipated this operation, stored a lot of food up, but things like

water is a little more difficult. And we understand that people are drinking water out of contaminated wells, because there's no electricity to

run the pumping stations in western Mosul, so you have the threat on top of everything else of the spread of disease - Kristie.

LU STOUT: Ben Wedeman reporting live for us from Iraq. Thank you, Ben.

You're watching News Stream. And after the break, we turn to another pivotal conflict in Ukraine. The ceasefire, it seems to be over before it

really began. I'll be live from Kiev with an update.

Also ahead, the fight against human trafficking, how an English teacher in Vietnam became a hero to several girls kidnapped and sold as brides in

China.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(HEADLINES)

[08:30:22] LU STOUT: Now, let's get a situation in Ukraine. Nick Paton Walsh is in the country's capital, Kiev. He joins us now.

And Nick, the status of the ceasefire, is it already over?

NICK PATON WALSH, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Kristie, it's very hard to really to refer to these declared moments as actual ceasefires, because

it is rare that guns fall silent.

Now, you see at times a drop in violence. We did, though, see an accelerated period, about 72 hours ago, in which there were - I think it

was about 600 of so violations reported by the OSCE monitors that look at this conflict. In the 24 hour period since then, two of them we've seen

those round about 400 violations per 24 hours.

These numbers are quite hard to digest for those of you at home, but it basically means the fighting is continuing as it has done since the very

first cease-fire had meant to come into effect. Our understand in Donetsk well over a year ago, and then listening to the runs fall silent briefly,

but hours later the violence picked up again.

That's the problem here, these political negotiations have a lot of terminology which suggests some avenue for hope, but it doesn't actually

lead to the explosions stopping.

We've been (inaudible) near Donetsk's beleaguered airport there. A heavily pockmarked runway. And seen for ourselves quite how consistent the heavy

explosions are.

The heavy weapons are not even supposed to be at the front line, but they still are, hidden around there. And I think the fear is, as we move

forward, that each time the violence flares up during this supposed declared ceasefire that was meant to have started on Monday. We could see

the violence spiral into yet more open conflict where territory actually changes hands.

The backdrop to all of this, Kristie, is that while the Russians were pushing this ceasefire for Monday, days earlier, their president Vladimir

Putin had issued an executive order recognizing documents issued in the separatist territories by the de facto separatist authorities there as

being usable in the Russian Federation. You got a passport, basically, from the separatists you can cross into Russia using it.

Many thought that was them on the road to recognizing those separatist areas themselves, and it may - Ukrainian officials where I'm standing here

in Kiev are very angry thinking that Russia had pulled out of the so-called Minsk accords, the peace deal that's supposed to be at the heart of

stopping this war here that Germany, France, the UK had sign on to as well.

The big problem now is do we see a lurch forward in violence? The Ukrainians were warning at the UN Security Council just yesterday that may

be Russia's broader intention to take more territory. There's a lot of anger and nationalism here in Kiev. And I think many are concerned that

while the Ukrainians also feel increasingly confident the west may be behind them, particularly after Munich's security conference, we may see

either side try something on in the months ahead - Kristie.

LU STOUT: Nick Paton Walsh reporting live for us from Kiev. Thank you, Nick.

Now, in Vietnam, towns near the border with China. They have become a hunting ground for human traffickers. Seven years ago, Ben Randall was

teaching English to young students in one of those towns. And then the kidnapping of several of his own students that led him on a harrowing

journey straight into the world of human trafficking.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: They come and they run and they catch me and they grab my arm like now I'm going to kidnap you and you will be my wife.

LU STOUT: It was 2010 in Sapa (ph), Vietnam when three girls, part of the Hmong ethnic minority, went missing. Ben Randall, an Australian on

furlough, had been teaching them English at the time and he wanted to help.

BEN RANDALL, FOUNDER, THE HUMAN EARTH PROJECT: But I thought if we did find the girls that that would be the end of the story, but in fact that

turned out to be just the beginning.

LU STOUT: Soon, Randall learned one of the girls had managed to get a cell phone. She called a Vietnamese aid group Blue Dragon to inform them she and

two other girls had been grabbed and put on the back of motorcycles. She'd escaped, but did not know where the others had been taken.

In this agrarian town just south of China's Hunan (ph) province, locals estimate more than 100 girls go missing each year. And their fate often to

be sold as brides or worse.

RANDALL: There are still some cultural practices that are actually quite harmful to these girls and facilitate trafficking.

LU STOUT: This footage, shot by a colleague of Randall, shows the practice of ceremonial bridge kidnappings, a traditions, which can sometimes lay

cover for more deviant behavior. Family pressure to get married means Hmong girls are susceptible to what can be aggressive courting, even

entertaining offers of marriage from strangers, which human traffickers use to their advantage.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The boy, they are just like telling us we will love you and we will want to marry you for sure. Just speaking like this. And

after them they just bring their people to stay in China.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I hate people who is coming here and stealing the girl to sell in China. I wish I can kill all of them. I see a lot of

boys, they come here want to try to steal my friends, or even they try to steal me also.

[08:35:11] LU STOUT: As for the two girls, it took Randall and the investigators from Blue Dragon more than three years to find them. The

next five months were spent investigating and documenting a way to get them home.

RANDALL: That was a very intense five months.

If I come to Guangzhou, can I call you and can we meet somewhere?

I was just doing everything I could to try to locate and meet with the girls. The journey was a process of discovering just how complicated the

world of human trafficking is and how difficult life becomes for its victims.

LU STOUT: But in their time away, both girls had given birth with the men who had bought them. Randall says while he did manage to find both girls,

one of them ultimately decided to stay in China with her child.

Looking to motivate people into action, he's now turning his experiences into a photography project and a documentary.

RANDALL: The women featured in Sisters (inaudible) my friends in Sapa (ph) are very strong-willed, very strong women, because they need to be. They

grow up in a society that's very male dominated. They don't have a lot of rights within their traditional culture. So, I set up the Human Earth

Project as a photography project to raise awareness of human trafficking in Asia and around the world.

LU STOUT: A thoughtful lesson born from heartbreak.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LU STOUT: Yeah, they are strong women, but they need more help to fight back. As CNN is teaming up with young people around the world for a day of

action against Modern Day Slavery. It's called My Freedom Day and it's happening on March 14.

Driving the day is a simple question: what does freedom mean to you? Send us your answer via text, photo, or video across social media using the

#myfreeomday hashtag.

You're watching News Stream. And still to come, it's a brand new world or worlds, in fact, astronomers say that they have found planets that bear

interesting similarities to Earth. We've got more on that fascinating discovery next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LU STOUT: Welcome back.

And finally, NASA has announced an amazing discovery. Astronomers have found a brand new galactic neighborhood with seven Earth-sized planets.

Now researchers believe that some could potentially be as lively as our own planet Earth. Rosemary Church has more.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ROSEMARY CHURCH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It's a jump to light speed in the search for signs of life outside our Solar System. NASA says it's found at

least seven earth- sized planets orbiting a dwarf star 40 light years away.

MICHAEL GILLON, ASTRONOMER, UNIVERSITY OF LIEGE: This is the first time that so many Earth-sized planets are found around the same star.

CHURCH: Astronomers have named it the Trappist-1 system. They say what's especially significant about the discovery, all of these exoplanets could

have liquid water on their surface, the key to potentially supporting life. But scientists say three are in the habitable zone, meaning conditions

there are best for life like that on Earth.

SARA SEAGER, ASTRONOMER & PLANETARY SCIENTIST, MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY: We've made a giant accelerated leap forward in the search for

habitable worlds and life on other worlds.

THOMAS ZURBUCHEN, NASA SCIENCE MISSION DIRECTORATE: Finding a second earth is not just a matter of if but when.

CHURCH: NASA says all of the planets in Trappist-1 are likely to be rocky and more observation is needed to learn if they have water either

underground or on the surface. Now the problem is getting there. If we could travel at the speed of light, it would take 40 years to reach the

TRAPPIST system.

While it will likely take years of study, researchers say this may be the best opportunity yet to answer the question, are we alone?

Are we, indeed. And for more on this, Tom Kerss is an astronomer at the Royal Observatory in Greenwich joins us from London. Thanks so much for

being with us to talk more about this very exciting find.

Seven newly discovered Earth-size planets orbiting the same star some 40 light-years away. What could this mean ultimately and just how significant

is it as we do try to answer that elusive question of whether or not we're alone?

Rosemary Church, CNN, Atlanta.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LU STOUT: As Rosemary mentioned there these planets are 40 light years away from us. And well, compared to the scale of the entire universe it's

not too far away. It would still take us millions of years to reach this star system. Still, it is the best opportunity for researchers to study

the exo-planets and to look for life beyond our solar system.

Now, Google is celebrating this discovery with a pretty cute doodle. Now, it's done by Nate Sweinhardt (ph). It shows the moment Earth spots the new

star system and is greeted by the exo-planets.

And if the three exo-planets in the habitable zone do show possible signs of life, hopefully they'll be just as friendly as the planets in that

Google doodle.

Now, most people struggle to eat the five daily servings of fruits and vegetables recommended by many doctors. And now nutritional experts are

raising the bar even higher, 10 portions. Researchers at Imperial College London say that's the magic number to give you the best protection from

early death.

Max Foster took to the streets of London to ask people if they could keep up with the new guidelines.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MAX FOSTER, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: So, this is what we're meant to be eating every single day. I would struggle, I have to say, to have a

third of this.

We're going to find out what the people think.

UNIDENITIFIED MALE: I don't think you need 10 really. Five is good enough. And as long as you're taking the important of the fruit or veg,

that should be fine.,

FOSTER: So, you're disagreeing with the scientists based on...

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: From my experience.

FOSTER: You take five on five.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yeah, I've been find with five.

FOSTER: I mean, what do you think of that?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: A bit too much.

FOSTER: What do you manage in a day yourself?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Two or three.

FOSTER: Really?

UNIDENITIFIED MALE: Yeah.

FOSTER: Can I ask you how old you are?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: 80 plus.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I do think people should move towards a vegetarian diet.

FOSTER: But do you...

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And so 10 portions seem very reasonable.

FOSTER: Do you eat this much?

UNIDENITIFIED FEMALE: I do actually.

FOSTER: You do?

UNIDENITIFIED FEMALE: I'd try to eat it all, yeah. I mean, think about it, that's dinner. That's lunch, that's breakfast.

FOSTER: So it's fine. You're good with this.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yeah, yeah.

FOSTER: And you're going to live longer.

UNIDENITIFIED FEMALE: Apparently.

FOSTER: Longer than me.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I hope so, yeah.

FOSTER: Good luck.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Just juice and you'll be fine.

FOSTER: Oh, really. Actually that's true. You can just do it in a juice. Maybe that's the answer.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Probably.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LU STOUT: But do I have to eat the cauliflower? No thank you.

That is News Stream. I'm Kristie Lu Stout, but don't go anywhere, World Sport with Alex Thomas is next.

END