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World Headlines; My Freedom Day; Prime Minister Theresa May Announcing Measures Against Russia; Renowned Physicist Stephen Hawking Dies At Age 76; Tillerson Fired As U.S. Secretary Of State; American Mother Of Eight Trapped In Eastern Ghouta; Fighting Modern-Day Slavery And Human Trafficking. Aired 8-9a ET

Aired March 14, 2018 - 08:00   ET

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


[08:00:00] (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KRISTIE LU STOUT, CNN ANCHOR: I'm Kristie Lu Stout in Hong Kong, and welcome to News Stream.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LU STOUT: Retaliating against Russia? Well, the British Prime Minister is due to announce a response to the poisoning of a former Russian spy.

Science legend passes away. Stephen Hawking inspired millions of people around the world with his work. And it's My Freedom Day, a student-driven

movement to raise awareness of modern slavery and human trafficking.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LU STOUT: Now, Russia's Foreign Minister is lashing out at the U.K., just as British Prime Minister Theresa May prepares to announce possible

measures against Moscow over that nerve agent attack in Salisbury.

Sergey Lavrov says Britain is fragrantly trying to mislead the international community, and that Moscow will not allow that to happen.

Russia defied May's ultimatum for answers, and the Kremlin saying it will not respond to her allegations that Moscow helped poison Sergei Skripal

until it gets samples of the nerve agent for its own analysis.

We are following the latest from both Moscow and London. Sam Kiley is in Moscow. Nick Paton Walsh is at the British Parliament. And, Nick, let's

go to you first. Theresa May, she is expected to come in shortly. What is she expected to say? How is she expected to act against Russia?

NICK PATON WALSH, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, the pressure is on, really, for some sort of measures that act immediately that

Russia feels the bite of today, rather than potentially after court challenges or other issues moving forward.

Now, there a possibility that diplomats will find themselves expelled, but that's something that Russia can simply retaliate by retaliating equal

number of British diplomats.

We have heard though from the British foreign office that they wish to call an urgent meeting of the United Nations Security Council, as soon as

possible, in which they will use that meeting to brief the other members of what has occurred here in the United Kingdom in Salisbury, of their

allegation that a nerve agent, Novichok was used to try and kill Sergei and Yulia Skripal.

Now, of course, we all know, Russia has a veto at the United Nations Security Council, so we might see a resolution of a description and this is

presumably Britain's bid to elevate the situation to a higher international level to enforce their message of quite how seriously they take this.

Remember, Theresa May referred to the use of a nerve agent on British soil as an unlawful act of force by Russia, and certainly the deadline that they

gave them of midnight last night, just about 12 hours from -- before when I speak now, Russia overtly flouted, saying they had no interest in

responding to that at all.

So I think Russia's response today, we've seen them trying to internationalize this. Britain saying well, let's put it in front of the

Security Council.

But they say Theresa May, who's due to speak in the next 25 or so minutes, has a tough task here. Britain is not exactly at its best with its allies

here.

We've heard messages of solidarity from Europe, particularly Donald Tusk actually, the President of the European Council, saying they will be,

alongside Britain when they make their particular measures.

And in fact, it's important that he used the phrase Moscow or the word Moscow, suggesting who they may possibly hold culpable for this. But we

know that Britain, of course is trying to leave the European Union.

That's going to put a great distance between its usual allies, where we know the Trump administration just sacked his Secretary of State, Rex

Tillerson, after he made some pretty pungent marks, suggesting that he thought Russia was to blame.

Donald Trump swiftly afterwards said if it was Russia, they would condemn Russia, too. But as you we all know, the U.S. Commander-in-Chief has a

habit of changing his mind at times.

So the Theresa May does, I think today, have to act powerfully, stridently, show that Britain's not afraid of kind of suffering in the short-term to

send a message to Russia about this. And then, presumably we hope in the hours and days afterwards that we see solidarity from its European and

transatlantic allies here. Kristie.

LU STOUT: Expectations are high for the British Prime Minister to deliver that solid, strong response. We're looking at live pictures underway now,

Jeremy Corbyn, the Labor Leader speaking.

We saw the Prime Minister just a moment ago, she is answering questions, but we are awaiting the comments that she would make, specifically

addressing how the U.K. plans to respond to that nerve agent attack.

Now, let's go to Sam Kiley now, who is standing by in Moscow. And, Sam, ahead of those expected comments from Theresa May. It appears that the

Kremlin through, with its Foreign Minister, remains quite defiant.

SAM KILEY, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes, absolutely defiant.

[08:05:00] Full of righteous indignation, really, a sense of a nation wronged through erroneous and irresponsible accusations being thrown out of

Westminster would really be the way to characterize it.

Falling, as ever, back on the terminology of international law, quite an interesting tact to take, given that Russia and their Syrian allies are

effectively flouting a U.N. Security Council resolution, demanding a ceasefire in Syria, but nonetheless, Sergey Lavrov, the Russian Foreign

Minister here in Moscow saying today that Russia would take no lessons in international law from London. And this is how he put it.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SERGEY LAVROV, RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTER (through a translator): And if London doesn't have any experts left that can advise the foreign office and

Number 10 Downing Street how the law-abiding members of the international community behave themselves in these situations, this is not our problem.

When the official request comes in, we in accordance with our obligations will respond to this within 10 days. But instead of sending such requests,

the U.K. authorities continue to play this political theater.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KILEY: Now, the political requests he's talking about is a request to investigate the use of Novichok, this rare or (inaudible), almost unknown

nerve agent developed by the Soviet Union and deployed by deployed personal persons unknown, officially, at the moment in Salisbury.

The Russians have been saying all along, give us the evidence and we'll respond to it, and using the terms of international anti-chemical weapons

treaties to say that they need 10 days to assess the allegation before responding.

But of course, the British government is very, very firmly of the view that the fingers point directly to Moscow, to the Kremlin, and that orders for

the use of this nerve gas, which in the view of the British, could only have been produced by a nation state means that Russia is behind it.

But it will be very interesting as, Nick, was saying there, to what Theresa May can come up with that could in anyway really rattle the Kremlin at a

time the Kremlin is sitting back and enjoying the discomfort they've cause the British Prime Minister in international terms with the problems that it

was outlining there, equivocation within Europe, unclear messages coming from the Trump administration, Kristie.

LU STOUT: Yes, that's the question. Does the U.K. have a means to adequately punish Russia for what happened in Salisbury? That is what

we're waiting to see later in the hour and of course, in days ahead given the story. Sam Kiley reporting live for us, thank you.

Now as I mentioned, we are keeping a close eye on how Britain plans to retaliate against Russia over that nerve agent attack. We will bring you

the Prime Minister's speech as soon as it happens.

Now, we are also remembering the life and work of one of the most beloved scientific minds of our time. Professor Stephen Hawking has died at the

age of 76 at his home in Cambridge, England.

He inspired millions around the world, shaping our understanding of the nature of time and space, and accolades for his theory that black holes

radiate energy and lose mass, and for how he explains scientific theory to the public. Matthew Chance has more.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: By any measure Stephen Hawking's life was incredible. Even more so because in the 1960s, he was diagnosed with

ALS or motor neuron disease and given just a few years to live.

This rare form of motor neuron disease left him virtually paralyzed, unable to express his profound vision of humanity and science without a voice

synthesizer.

STEPHEN HAWKING, PHYSICIST: At one point I thought I would see the end of physics as we know it. But now I think the wonder of discovery will

continue long after I am gone.

CHANCE: But this was never a man bound by his own physical limitations. He reveled in zero gravity flight freeing him, he said, from the confines

of his wheelchair. He also wrote a series of children's books about space with his daughter Lucy. He had two other children and three grandchildren.

For more than three decades, he was a professor at Cambridge University's Department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics specializing in

the study of black holes and revered as a member of the academic elite. But Professor Hawking also did much to popularize science playing himself

in Star Trek.

HAWKING: Recessed in the opposite direction.

CHANCE: And in The Simpsons. In 2014, his life and romance with wife Jane Wilde was depicted on the big screen in the acclaimed film The Theory of

Everything.

EDDIE REDMAYNE, ACTOR: The universe is getting smaller and smaller, getting denser and denser, hotter and hotter.

FELICITY JONES, ACTRESS: And you rewind back the clock?

[08:10:00] REDMAYNE: Exactly. Wind back the clock.

CHANCE: Hawking consulted on the bio-drama which earned five academy award nominations and a Best Actor win for Eddie Redmayne for his portrayal of

the physicist.

Hawking's most famous work, A Brief History of Time, remains ones of the bestselling science books ever written. And he was deeply concerned with

humanity's survival.

HAWKING: I see great danger for the human race. There have been a number of times in the past when its survival has been a question of touch and go.

The frequency of such occasions is likely to increase in the future.

We shall need great care and judgment to negotiate them all successfully. But I'm an optimist. If we can avoid disaster for the next two centuries,

our species should be safe as we spread into space.

CHANCE: He was, as ever, looking firmly to the future.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LU STOUT: An extraordinary man. Now, our technology and business correspondent Samuel Burke has more.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SAMUEL BURKE, CNN TECHNOLOGY AND BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: Stephen hawking won't just be remembered as a brilliant theoretical physicist, but as a man

who never let a debilitating disease get in the way of living an inspiring life.

In the science world, his biggest accomplishment is merging Einstein's theory of relativity with quantum theory to suggest that space and time

would begin with the big bang, and end in black holes.

But even if you didn't understand the science, it was clear that he defied the odds. He was diagnosed with ALS in 1963, and given just years to live.

He formed ahead with a very public life from his wheelchair, and using a voice synthesizer to communicate, capitalizing on the media attention he

received to bring science toe masses.

The outpouring on social media coming from the science and entertainment world, Astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson saying, his passing has left an

intellectual vacuum in his wake, but it's not empty.

Think of it as a kind of vacuum energy, permeating the fabric of space time that defies measure. Matt Selman, executive producer of The Simpsons,

sending out this message, farewell to Stephen Hawking, the most intelligent guest star in the brief history of The Simpsons.

And CNN icon Larry King tweeting, I once asked Stephen Hawking in an interview, what puzzles him the most in all the universe. Women, he

answered. He will be missed. Hawking was 76-years-old. I am Samuel Burke in London, back to you.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LU STOUT: Stephen Hawking is being honored around the world, and we've heard from the Chinese Foreign Ministry, who expressed condolences and

recalled a time, Hawking visited China.

On Chinese social media, hashtag Hawking passed away soared to the second most trending topic on Weibo with about 400 million views, almost a quarter

of million posts.

Hong Kong is remembering when he gave an inaugural lecture at Hong Kong University. Hong Kong's Chief Executive at the time, Donald Tsang said

Hawking's scientific knowledge and the way he saw life was inspiring.

He's also being remembered by those who worked with him at Cambridge. Jonathan McDowell, from the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics

spoke with CNN.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JONATHAN MCDOWELL, HARVARD-SMITHSONIAN CENTER FOR ASTROPHYSICS: I was one of many students who were privileged to go to lectures by him at Cambridge.

I was a grad student there in the 1980s. And so, yes, I was able to experience him firsthand.

I even had some conversations with him about physics. And what struck me was, you know, this is what he could -- he didn't need the computer yet, he

was sort of grunting, but speaking.

And it was such an effort for him to speak, and yet he would not only give the full lecture, but he would throw jokes in. He wasn't going to let

anything slow him down.

And that I think is, you know, what just sort of sums him up as -- he had a great sense of humor and he was just determined not to be limited by his

physical challenges.

He had that pop star quality for his work combined, you know, the story about his disease which may have got him, let's say you know, extra

attention, you know, because of the challenges that made.

But, yes, he was definitely a rock star in the field. And he -- you know, part of it was the science. And part of it was the personality. He had a

very, very strong personality, a strong sense of humor, a strong sort of attitude. So I think he -- you know his charisma really captured people's

attention.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LU STOUT: A man of brilliance, strength, and good humor. He touched countless people, as well, with his inspiring observations about humanity.

[08:15:03] It would not be much of the universe if it wasn't home to the people you love. Or this one, encouraging curiosity at a 2015 lecture he

gave at the Sydney Opera House, he said, so remember, look at the stars, and not at your feet.

Now, you're looking at live pictures from the House of Commons in London. We are, again, waiting for the British Prime Minister to speak about

possibly retaliation against Russia for what British officials believe is Moscow's involvement in that recent nerve agent attack on a former Russian

spy.

We will bring you the Prime Minister live when she begins to address that. You're watching News Stream. And still ahead, U.S. President Trump sacks

his secretary of state and suggests more shake ups are in store at the White House. We've got the latest from Washington, next.

Plus, students around the world are standing up against modern-day slavery and human trafficking, a look at some of their amazing efforts on this My

Freedom Day, coming up.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LU STOUT: All right. It's Wednesday night here in Hong Kong. Welcome back. You are watching News Stream. As mentioned, we're keeping a close

eye on how the U.K. plans to retaliate against Moscow over the nerve agent attack in Salisbury.

Russia's Foreign Minister says London is staging, quote, political theater by linking Moscow to the poisoning of a double agent. And will bring you

the Prime Minister's speech just as it begins.

Now to the fallout from another major shake up in the Trump White House. After months of disagreements on key issues, the U.S. President sacked

Secretary of State Rex Tillerson.

The international response has been swift. Japan's foreign Minister says he feels regret over the decision. Australia's Prime Minister thanked

Tillerson for his great work in being a terrific partner. This latest firing comes just ahead of Mr. Trump's pivotal with North Korea. And Paula

Hancocks has more on the possible impact of Tillerson's departure.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

PAULA HANCOCKS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: As we're still waiting for reaction from North Korea to the fact that the U.S. President has accepted Kim Jong-

un's invitation to talk, Pyongyang now has something else to mull over, the fact that the top diplomat in the Trump administration has now changed.

Rex Tillerson, who had publicly disagreed with Donald Trump when it came to the North Korean policy and who had said that engagement with North Korea

was preferable, is now out.

The CIA Director Mike Pompeo is in. This is what we know about his North Korean opinions at this point. Now he has, in the past, publicly said that

he supports regime change.

He has also been supportive of the -- that the hard-line pressure and sanctions policy that the Trump administration has been engaged in over

recent months, it's of course, unknown whether or not those ideas would change if he was, in fact, confirmed as the secretary of state.

[08:20:06] He will need that confirmation, though. He'll be appearing ahead of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Hopefully they will get

some more indication about what his North Korean policy will be, or his opinions, at least.

And in addition to that, the South Korean Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha is heading to Washington tomorrow on Thursday. She was expected to meet

with Mr. Tillerson. Clearly, that is now going to happen now. So she will be meeting with a Deputy Secretary of State John Sullivan.

But the Foreign Minister here in Seoul says that it's simply too important, what is happening at the moment, the North-South Korean summit happening in

April, potentially this Trump-Kim Jong-un summit in May for any kind of deviation from the plans just because of personnel changes. So that

meeting will go ahead as planned just with a different individual. Paula Hancocks, CNN, Seoul.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LU STOUT: This all comes as South Korea continues its shuttle diplomacy with its special envoy in Russia. Chung Eui-yong is in Moscow for talks

with Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. He asked the Kremlin to join what could be a turning point in bringing peace to the Korean Peninsula.

Now, despite news of evacuations taking place in Eastern Ghouta, hundreds of thousands of its civilians remain trapped, and under the Russian-backed

Syrian government's continuous military campaign.

It has killed more than 1,000 people in less than three weeks. An American mother of eight is one of those trapped. Here is Jomana Karadsheh.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DEANA LYNN, AMERICAN, TRAPPED IN SYRIA: We woke on the sound of a Russian warplane bombing us. We're all scared, sitting in basements.

JOMANA KARADSHEH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: She says her name is Deana Lynn, a 44-year-old American from Michigan, trapped in Syria's hell on earth, she

wants the American President to save Eastern Ghouta.

LYNN: I would say to President Trump, that he has to make a move. He has to put pressure on any tyrant in this world. He has to put pressure on

Bashar al-Assad and his regime. He has to put pressure on Russia and Iran. They're all a part of this -- this slaughter in Eastern Ghouta.

KARADSHEH: The U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Nikki Haley says the United States is, quote, prepared to act if the U.N. fails to demand a ceasefire.

The mother of eight has been living here with her Syrian husband for nearly 20 years. Like most in Eastern Ghouta, with nowhere safe, they've been

driven underground. She spoke to us over a shaky internet connection.

LYNN: Maybe the hardest thing in the world, to be a mother here in the Eastern Ghouta. We see our children in danger every day. I fear they will

be hurt. I fear they will be injured. I fear when I hear the bomb, and I tell my children to lay on the floor, and I know it's not enough, and it's

not safe.

KARADSHEH: The situation in Eastern Ghouta is catastrophic. Doctors without borders said bombs raining down on Eastern Ghouta have claimed more

than 1,000 lives in just two weeks. Now it seems a matter of time before the regime recaptures the area.

LYNN: I think, my message to the world is, let your voice be heard. Don't just -- don't just be quiet. We have to say something. I've been here for

five years under siege and I was quiet. I feared to say anything, but now I'm coming out, because it's life or death. It's life or death for the

people.

KARADSHEH: A message to a world that many feel has turned its back on Syria. Jomana Karadsheh, CNN, Amman.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LU STOUT: We are celebrating My Freedom Day here at CNN. It is a worldwide event driven by students to raise awareness about the impact of

slavery and human trafficking.

Did you know that more than 40 million people live in slavery around the world today? Women and girls, they represent more than 70 percent of those

victims.

Now, we have dispatched correspondents across the globe to cover this story, and they will be bringing us live reports through the coming hours.

Now, for more on My Freedom Day, Farai Sevenzo joins us now from the International School of Kenya. Farai, how are the students there marking

this day?

FARAI SEVENZO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Oh, they've been fantastic, Kristie. They have been really prepared for this day. They had a debate for us

early on, in which they talked about all the salient points of human trafficking and in slavery, and one of them composed a song for this

Freedom Day.

[08:25:06] Her name is Paulina (ph) and her song is called Human.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The voice of this weak is amplified by the voice of the strong -- voice of the strong. The voice of the weak must be amplified by

the voice of the strong -- voice of the strong. Don't be a bystander. Don't be a bystander. Don't be a bystander.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SEVENZO: And there you go, the voice of the weak must be amplified by the voice of the strong. Don't be a bystander. Exploitation means there is

nobody -- we are all dehumanize.

I put it to them at one point, Kristie, the students that if I am a man in Northern Libya who owns a boat, and every time I put a hundred people on

this boat, I make $10,000. How is it my fault if they drown? They have given me their money. And they were very passionate about how this is

exploitation.

This is the very thing they are talking about, that I'm using human souls to make capital. So they get it. They absolutely get it, what freedom is

all about.

And it's been an astounding day for them remembering this, and of course the question is -- yes, this is the passion of adolescence, but can they

keep this on into adult hood, and keep this awareness of what freedom really means to them.

LU STOUT: Yes, you mentioned that passion of adolescence. And it is so inspiring to hear and see these students so motivated to undertake My

Freedom Day, but there are over 40 million people in the world today living in modern-day slavery. The challenge is so daunting. When you talk to the

students about the task at hand, are they still optimistic?

SEVENZO: They are very optimistic, Kristie. And bear in mind, I mean last year, we were in the central area province, in a much poorer school. This

is the International School of Kenya. The parents are well healed.

They will never be in trouble. And they acknowledge that, that they would never face something like human trafficking. They would never have to

scramble out of Chad or Nigeria, and across the desert, and then end up perhaps in those awful slave auctions we saw from our colleagues earlier in

the year.

But they acknowledge that the awareness -- they also said, they must question where they buy their t-shirts. Are children making these t-

shirts? And they are very in-tune with what's going on. They've read the U.N. reports on human trafficking. They watch our channel, obviously, and

they are very, very into it.

LU STOUT: It's great to see and hear these young people making such -- you know just committed activists, and very passionate about the cause. Farai

Sevenzo reporting live from Kenya, thank you so much and take care.

CNN's My Freedom Day coverage continues next. Between 2011 and 2016, nearly 90 million people experienced some form of slavery. We've been

asking young people around the world what freedom means to them. Here's what students from the Hong Kong International School had to say.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Freedom means the ability to choose. Whether it be to choose the one you love, or choose what you want to do with your life.

And that's why I stand against slavery, because to encroach on one's ability to choose, to me, means to encroach on one's basic human rights.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Freedom to me is essentially one's capability and innate right to think, act, and speak freely however they want without any

objections, or restrictions imposed on them.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Freedom to me is the power over my body, choice, my actions, and my thoughts. Freedom is so I can explore who I want to be.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

[08:30:00] (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LU STOUT: I'm Kristie Lu Stout in Hong Kong. You're watching "News Stream" and these are your world headlines.

British Prime Minister Theresa May is preparing to announce possible measures against Moscow over the nerve agent attack in Salisbury. Russia's

foreign minister is lashing out at the U.K. over the threat, saying that Britain is flagrantly misleading the international community and that

Moscow will not allow that to happen. We will bring you Miss May's speech as soon as it begins.

The world is remembering renowned physicist Stephen Hawking. He died at the age of 76. He was widely considered to be one of the world's most brilliant

minds. And despite a debilitating disease, Hawking improved our understanding of the universe and expressed serious concern about the

survival of humanity.

News of Rex Tillerson's dismissal, as the U.S. secretary of state has rattled foreign government. Japan and South Korea are determining how to

move forward with the U.S. on North Korea. The change comes as the U.S. and South Korea prepare for those upcoming talks with Pyongyang.

More now on "My Freedom Day," as students stand up against modern day slavery and human trafficking. Let's take a look at some really grim and

shocking statistics. More than 40 million people live in slavery today. Women and girls represent more than 70 percent of that number. One in four

victims of modern slavery are children. Human trafficking is still $150 billion a year illegal industry.

Now, let's go to Rome where CNN's Isa Soares joins us live. And Isa, what are students doing there on this day of action?

ISA SOARES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It's been a jam-packed day for students here at Link Campus University from the graduates as well as the post

graduate university. They have been staging a play to highlight, raise awareness of human trafficking.

Of course, many of the students here in Italy, all too aware of what is happening. Of course, the Mediterranean route is one of the most well-known

routes for many of the migrants, and they see many of the migrants arriving in Rome and throughout Italy, so they can see. Although they haven't

experienced it, they're seeing with their own eyes.

So what they've been doing, they've done a play, they've actually released something -- something like 2,000 -- released 2,000 white balloons to raise

awareness to "My Freedom Day." And they have been posting messages throughout today on what freedom means to them, including actually doing a

video, very long video on what freedom means to them.

And I want to give you an idea of the little messages they're posting. That's one tree there, they've been posting what freedom is. This is

another one here. As they come in from their lectures throughout the day, they've taken time out, five minutes here to write what it means to them.

This one says, freedom is democracy. Freedom is art. And this one says, freedom is a lifestyle. This is the interpretation for each person. Freedom

is involvement. If we have a look at this one, Kristie, freedom is no censorship. freedom is a life. Freedom is the oxygen of the soul.

And for some, still grasping the concept of how lucky we are to have our freedoms. Freedoms going out after work at 5:30. So, many people still

trying to get their head around, you know, how fortune we are but also what it means to lose your freedom.

I'm joined her by a young man who comes from Nigeria. And you have been thinking about what freedom means today. Tell me what, you know, what your

one would say.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Freedom to me, it's an ability to voice your own opinion. It's like an expression of your innermost self. Freedom has

different -- to me, it has different meaning, like I can analyze it literally, mentally and physically.

Like physically, I'm going to talk about the slavery going on in Libya right now and the seven years of war right now in Syria. Those are the

physical freedoms. Those people don't have freedom right now. And if I'm going to talk about it mentally, it's when you can't decide for yourself.

[08:35:00] When you let the society -- when you let the society dictate for you what to do, when you don't have a voice. You know you want to say

something but you can't say it because you're scared of what people might think of what you're going to do.

SOARES: And sometimes freedom may be hard for people to see, to actually recognize it.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.

SOARES: Which is, you know, very hard. You're from Nigeria.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.

SOARES: You're talking about what's happening in Libya. I have covered some of the thousands of Nigerian women who have made their way to Italy,

being in human trafficking, as a report I did last year, something that we've been covering throughout the whole year on CNN. What do you say when

you look out on the streets of Rome, because there are many migrants.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.

SOARES: I mean, what do you think?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh, it's kind of sad to see many Africans in general leave their African home to come to Europe to find greener pasture,

according to them. When they come here, they have this idea of calmness (ph), oh, it's going to be more free for them because the government cannot

(INAUDIBLE) place because of governmental process and all that.

But coming here to them is a lot of freedom, I'll say, and you know, everything that has merits (INAUDIBLE). So to them, yes, they're free and

at the same time they're not free because there are so many things they can't do. I'm taking myself, for example, I'm free but I'm not free.

So I believe that everyone is also kind of enslaved to themselves in a way. Like that's very -- freedom is something that we need to express, but at

the same time, everyone is not really free. I don't know if you get what I mean.

SOARES: No, I completely understand what you mean. And of course, we have different concepts of freedom because for the people, of course, that we

have covered on CNN, those struggling, leaving Libya, those who have been in human trafficking, those who have been sold, those who have been beaten,

those who have been enslaved, freedom has a very different concept for them, doesn't it?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.

SOARES: When you look -- I've traveled through Turin and Rome --

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: OK.

SOARES: When you -- has anyone ever approached you and spoken to you and asked you how you feel about Nigerians coming over, their plight?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes. You know, it's something that we've tried -- government trying to stop or trying to make people feel free about. But the

flight of Africans in general coming to Europe is kind of liberating for them.

SOARES: Yes.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes. It's really liberating. At the same time, it's -- I don't know how to present it, but I do feel that immigrants coming from

other parts of the continent to Europe have a sense of liberation when they come here. So, it's freedom, it's the expression.

SOARES: Absolutely. Dillon (ph), thank you very much. And Kristie, Dillon (ph) was very much explaining, you know, even he fights with the very

concept of freedom. Of course, nothing like what we've seen in the hundreds of thousands of people, of migrants trying to make their way to greener

shores as Dillon (ph) was saying here in Europe.

And more than anything, I want to show you this message here behind Dillon. Freedom is what the students are doing here. Freedom is participation.

Making your voice heard. Making sure that you explain, you express yourself. This is what it's about today, my freedom day. And students here

have been raising their voices very loud and very clear, Kristie.

LU STOUT: Absolutely. Celebrating freedom, highlighting modern day slavery. That is what this day is all about. Isa Soares, reporting live

from Rome, a big thank you to you and the students there.

Now, do you want to see what freedom means to me? Go to the hashtag "My Freedom Day" on Twitter. You can check out my message there. And you'll

find posts from students and schools all over the world. Check it out online, on air, including on CNN's own Facebook page.

Now, let's bring up once again live pictures in the House of Commons in London. We are again waiting for British Prime Minister Theresa May to

address possible retaliation against Russia for what British intelligence believes is Moscow's involvement in the poisoning of Sergei Skripal, the

former Russian spy. More on that story is next.

[08:40:00] (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LU STOUT: Again, we're keeping close eye on any action that the U.K. could take against Russia after that nerve agent attack in Salisbury. Prime

Minister Theresa May is speaking now. Let's listen in.

THERESA MAY, PRIME MINISTER OF THE UNITED KINGDOM: The ongoing risk to public health is low. And the government will continue to do everything

possible to support this historic city to recover fully. Mr. Speaker, on Monday I set out that Mr. Skripal and his daughter were poisoned with

Novichok, a military-grade nerve agent developed by Russia.

Based on this capability, combined with their record of conducting state- sponsored assassinations, including against former intelligence officers who may regard as legitimate targets, the U.K. government concluded that it

was highly likely that Russia was responsible for this reckless and despicable act.

There were only two plausible explanations. Either this was a direct act by the Russian state against our country, or conceivably, the Russian

government could have lost control of a military-grade nerve agent and allowed it to get into the hands of others.

Mr. Speaker, it was right to offer Russia the opportunity to provide an explanation. But their response has demonstrated complete disdain for the

gravity of these events. They have provided no credible explanation that could suggest they lost control of their nerve agent. No explanations as to

how this agent came to be used in the United Kingdom. No explanation as to why Russia has an undeclared chemical weapons program in contravention of

international law.

Instead, they have treated the use of a military-grade nerve agent in Europe with sarcasm, contempt, and defiance. So Mr. Speaker, there is no

alternative conclusion other than that the Russian state was culpable for the attempted murder of Mr. Skripal and his daughter. And for threatening

the lives of other British citizens in Salisbury, including detective Sergeant Nick Bailey.

This represents an unlawful use of force by the Russian state against the United Kingdom. And as I set out on Monday, it has taken place against the

backdrop of a well-established pattern of Russian state aggression across Europe and beyond. It must, therefore, be met with a full and robust

response, beyond the actions we have already taken, since the murder of Mr. Litvinenko and to counter this pattern of Russian aggression elsewhere.

As a discussion in this House on Monday made clear, it is essential that we now come together with our allies to defend our security, to stand up for

our values, and to send a clear message to those who would seek to undermine them.

This morning, I chaired a further meeting of the National Security Council, where we agreed immediate actions to dismantle the Russian espionage

network in the U.K, urgent work to develop new powers, to tackle all forms of hostile state activity, and to ensure that those seeking to carry out

such activity cannot enter the U.K., and additional steps to suspend all planned high-level contacts between the United Kingdom and the Russian

federation.

Let me start with the immediate actions. Mr. Speaker, the House will recall that following the murder of Mr. Litvinenko, the U.K. expelled four

diplomats. Under the Vienna Convention, the United Kingdom will now expel 23 Russian diplomats who have been identified as undeclared intelligence

officers. They have just one week to leave.

This will be the single biggest expulsion for over 30 years and it reflects the fact that this is not the first time that the Russian state has acted

against our country. Through these expulsions, we will fundamentally degrade Russian intelligence capability in the U.K. for years to come. And

if they seek to rebuild it, we will prevent them from doing so.

Second, we will urgently develop proposals for new legislative powers to harden our defenses against all forms of hostile state activity. This will

include the addition of a targeted power to detain those suspected of hostile state activity at the U.K. border. This power is currently only

permitted in relation to those suspected of terrorism.

[08:44:56] And I have asked the home secretary to consider whether there is a need for new counterespionage powers to clamp down on the full

spectrum of hostile activities of foreign agents in our country. Mr. Speaker, as I set out on Monday, we will also table a government amendment

to the sanctions bill to strengthen our powers, to impose sanctions in response to the violation of human rights.

In doing so, we will play our part in an international effort to punish those responsible for the sorts of abuses suffered by Sergei Magnitsky. And

I hope, as with all the measures I am setting out today, that this will command cross-party support.

Mr. Speaker, we will also make full use of existing powers to enhance our efforts to monitor and track the intentions of those traveling to the U.K.

who could be engaged in activity that threatens the security of the U.K. and of our allies.

So we will increase checks on private flights, customs, and freight. We will freeze Russian state assets wherever we have the evidence that they

may be used to threaten the life or property of U.K. nationals or residents.

And led by the National Crime Agency, we will continue to bring all the capabilities of U.K. law enforcement to bear against serious criminals and

corrupt elites. There is no place for these people or their money in our country.

Mr. Speaker, let me be clear, while our response must be robust, it must also remain true to our values as a liberal democracy that believes in the

rule of law. Many Russians have made this country their home, abide by our laws, and make an important contribution to our country, which we must

continue to welcome. But to those who seek to do us harm, my message is simple, you are not welcome here.

Mr. Speaker, let me turn to our bilateral relationship. As I said on Monday, we have had a very simple approach to Russia, engage but beware.

And I continue to believe it is not in our national interests to break off all dialogue between the United Kingdom and the Russian federation. But in

the aftermath of this appalling act against our country, this relationship cannot be the same.

So we will suspend all planned high-level bilateral contacts between the United Kingdom and the Russian federation. This includes revoking the

invitation to Foreign Minister Lavrov to pay a reciprocal visit to the U.K. and confirming there will be no attendance by ministers or indeed members

of the royal family at the summer's World Cup in Russia.

Finally, Mr. Speaker, we will deploy a range of tools from across the full breadth of our national security apparatus in order to counter the threats

of hostile state activity. While I have set out some of these measures today, members on all sides will understand that there are some that cannot

be shared publicly for reasons of national security.

And of course, there are other measures we stand ready to deploy at any time, should we face further Russian provocation. Mr. Speaker, none of the

actions we take are intended to damage legitimate activity or prevent contacts between our populations. We have no disagreement with the people

of Russia who have been responsible for so many great achievements throughout their history.

Many of us look to the post-Soviet Russia with hope. We wanted a better relationship. And it is tragic that President Putin has chosen to act in

this way. But we will not tolerate the threat to life of British people and others on British soil from the Russian government, nor we will tolerate

such a flagrant breach of Russia's international obligations.

Mr. Speaker, as I set out on Monday, the United Kingdom does not stand alone in confronting Russian aggression. In the last 24 hours, I have

spoken to President Trump, Chancellor Merkel, and President Macron. We have agreed to cooperate closely in responding to this barbaric act and to

coordinate our efforts to stand up for the rules-based international order, which Russia seeks to undermine.

I will also speak to other allies and partners in the coming days. And I welcome the strong expressions of support from NATO and from partners

across the European Union and beyond. Later today in New York, the U.N. Security Council will hold open consultations where we will be pushing for

a robust international response.

We have also notified the organization for the prohibition of chemical weapons about Russia's use of this nerve agent. And we are working with the

police to enable the OPCW to independently verify our analysis.

Mr. Speaker, this was not just an act of attempted murder in Salisbury nor just an act against the U.K. It is an affront to the prohibition on the use

of chemical weapons and it is an affront to the rules-based systems on which we and our international partners depend.

We will work with our allies and partners to confront such actions, wherever they threaten our security at home and abroad. And I commend this

statement to the House.

[08:50:00] UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Jeremy Corbyn.

JEREMY CORBYN, LEADER OF THE LABOUR PARTY: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to thank the prime minister for advanced cite of her statement and I

echo absolutely her words about the service of our emergency and public services.

The attack in Salisbury was an appalling act of violence. Nerve agents are abominable if used in any war. It is utterly reckless to use them in a

civilian environment. This attack in Britain has concerned our allies in the European Union, NATO, and the U.N. And their words of solidarity have

strengthened our position diplomatically.

Our response as a country must be guided by the rule of law, support for international agreement, and respect for human rights. So when it comes to

the use of chemical weapons on British soil, it is essential that the government works with the United Nations to strengthen its chemical weapons

monitoring system and involves the office of the prohibition of chemical weapons.

The prime minister said on Monday, either this was a direct act by the Russian state or the Russian government lost control of their potentially

catastrophically damaging nerve agent and allowed it to get in the hands of others. Our response must be both decisive and proportionate and based on

clear evidence.

If the government believes that it is still a possibility that Russia negligently lost control of a military-grade nerve agent, what action is

being taken through the OPCW with our allies? I welcome the fact the police are working with the OPCW and has the prime minister taken the necessary

steps under the Chemical Weapons Convention to make a formal request for evidence from the Russian government under Article 9.2.

How has she responded to the Russian government's request for a sample of the agent used in the Salisbury attack to runt its own tests? Has high-

resolution trace analysis been run on a sample of the nerve agent? And has that revealed any evidence as to the location of its production or the

identity of its perpetrators?

And can the prime minister update the House on what conversations, if any, she has had with the Russian government? And while -- and while suspending

planned high-level contacts, does prime minister agree that it is essential to maintain a robust dialogue with Russia? In the interest of our own and

wider international security.

With many countries, Mr. Speaker, speaking out -- speaking out alongside us, the circumstances demand that we build an international consensus to

address the use of chemical weapons. We should urge our international allies to join us and call on Russia to reveal without delay full details

of its chemical weapons program to the organization for the prohibition of chemical weapons.

It is, as we on these benches have expressed before, a matter of huge regret that our country's diplomatic capacity has been stripped back with

cuts of 25 percent in the last five years. It is, Mr. Speaker -- it is, Mr. Speaker --

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The right honorable gentleman must be heard! There will be adequate opportunity for colleagues on both sides of the House to poke

questions. Members must be heard. Jeremy Corbyn?

CORBYN: I couldn't understand a word of what the foreign secretary just said, Mr. Speaker, but he's behavior demeans his office.

It is in moments -- it is in moments such as this that governments realize how vital strong diplomacy and political pressure are for our security and

national interests. The measures we take have to be effective, not just for the long-term security of our citizens, but to secure a world free of

chemical weapons.

So can the prime minister outline what discussions she has had with our partners in the European Union, NATO, and the U.N. and what willingness

there was to take multilateral action?

[08:54:54] While the poisoning, Mr. Speaker, of Sergei and Yulia Skripal are confronting us today, what efforts are being made by the government to

reassess the death of Mr. Skripal's daughter, Liudmila, who died in 2012 and the deaths of his eldest brother and son who have both died in the past

two years?

We have a duty to speak out against the abuse of human rights by the Putin government and its supporters both at home and abroad. And I join many

others in this House in paying tribute to the many campaigners in Russia for human rights and justice and democracy in that country.

And Mr. Speaker -- and Mr. Speaker, we must do more to address the dangers posed by the state's relationship with unofficial mafia-like groups and

corrupt oligarchs. We must also -- we must also expose the flows of ill- gotten cash between the Russian state and billionaires who become stupendously rich by looting their country and subsequently used London to

protect their wealth.

We welcome the prime minister's statement today, clearly committing to support the Magnitsky amendments and implementing them as soon as possible

as we on the side have long pushed for. Mr. Speaker, yesterday, Nikolai Glushkov, a Russian exile, who was close friend with the late oligarch

Boris Berezovsky, was found dead in his London home.

What reassurance can she give to citizens of Russian origin living in Britain that they are safe here? Mr. Speaker, the events in Salisbury

earlier this month are abominable and have been rightly condemned, right across the House.

Britain has to build -- Britain has to build a consensus with our allies and we support the prime minister in -- Mr. Speaker, we support the prime

minister in taking multilateral action and firm action to ensure we strengthen the chemical weapons convention, to ensure that this dreadful,

appalling act, which we totally condemn never happens again in our country.

MAY: The right honorable gentleman raised -- the right honorable gentleman raised a number of questions around the nerve agent that had been used. He

asked if we -- if we were putting together an international coalition to call on Russia, to reveal the details of its chemical weapons program to

the OPCW. That is, indeed, what we did.

We gave the Russian government the opportunity through the day that my right, honorable friend foreign secretary delivered to the Russian

ambassador here in London earlier this week, to do just that. They have not done so. And it is -- he's raised a number of questions. He asked about the

corrupt elites and money going through London.

As I said in my statement, led by the National Crime Agency, we will continue to bring all the capabilities of U.K. law enforcement to bear

against serious criminals and corrupt elites. There is no place for these people or their money in our country. And that work is ongoing.

He talked about getting an international consensus together. As I have said, I have spoken to Chancellor Merkel, to President Trump, to President

Macron. Others have also expressed their support. Again, Stoltenberg, the NATO secretary general, said we stand in solidarity with our allies in the

United Kingdom, and those responsible for both those who committed the crime and those who ordered it must face appropriately serious

consequences.

The NATO council has expressed deep concern at the first offensive use of a nerve agent on alliance territory since NATO's foundatioan and allies agree

the attack was a clear breach of international norms and agreements.

And Donald Tusk, the president of the E.U. Council, said, I express my full solidarity with P.M. Theresa May in the face of the brutal attack, inspired

most likely by Moscow. I am ready to put the issue on next week's European Council. So we will be doing that.

But I say to the right honorable gentleman, this is not a question of our diplomacy, of what diplomatic support we have around the world. This is a

question of the culpability of the Russian state for acts on our soil. And he said that we should be trying to build a consensus.

It was clear, it's clear from the conversations I've had with allies that we have a consensus with our allies. It was clear from the remarks that

were made by back benches across the whole of this House on monday that there is a consensus across the back benches of this House.

[08:59:58] I am only sorry that the consensus does not go as far as the right honorable gentleman.

END