Return to Transcripts main page

NEWS STREAM

Airstrike Hit A Bus Carrying Children In Yemen; A 5.9 Magnitude Aftershock Shakes Lombok Island; Australia's Farmers Struggling Drought; Arson Suspect Arrested For "Holy Fire"; Wildfire Devastation Southern Portugal; U.S. Slaps Russia With Sanctions In Connection With Nerve Agent Poisoning; Rudy Giuliani Sends Mueller Latest Set Of Conditions For Sit- Down Interview; Paul Manafort Has Millions In Foreign Accounts; Tension In Israel-Gaza Border; World Headlines; Argentina's Senate Rejects Bill Legalizing Abortion; Samsung's Big Reveal; Ikea Opens Its First Store In India. Aired 8-9a ET

Aired August 09, 2018 - 08:00   ET

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

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

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

We start with breaking news out of Yemen where dozens have been killed or wounded after airstrikes on a school bus carrying children. That's

according to eyewitnesses as well as the International Committee for the Red Cross. This incident had happened in the country's northern Sa'ada

province not far from the Saudi border.

Now for more, (inaudible) by CNN senior international correspondent Nima Elbagir. She is live for us from London. And Nima, who was behind this

attack and why would they target a school bus full of children?

NIMA ELBAGIR, CNN SENIOR INTERNTATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: The Saudi-led coalition has just released a statement confirming that they did carry out

a strike in Sa'ada. They say that they were targeting terrorist elements responsible for the launching of ballistic missiles that strike at civilian

areas.

They also point out that as they allege the Houthis have used child soldiers, in essence, not quite a denial of hitting the bus, but a

confirmation that they were carrying out military activity in the area and they say that its military activity that is entirely legitimate.

Now, I want to show you the video, Kristie, and it is absolutely horrifying. This is the video of the aftermath of that strike and I want to

say that this is really all we can show you. This is the first 50 seconds of one of two videos that's been circulating. The second one we have yet to

independently verify, but this shows a little boy being brought in. He still has his light blue backpack on. He is covered in blood.

The rest of the images that we are unable to show you because they are just too graphic -- show body parts of dead children piled on to the back of a

truck. They show children so badly burned that some of their facial features are completely obscured. This is one of the most horrifying

incidents that have happened during the life span of the three-year Saudi led coalition assault on Yemen.

The last incident in which civilians were killed was two years ago when the funeral home was hit, Kristie. There is very little that can be said other

than showing you those images to truly bring home the horror of what happened when that school bus was hit. It also comes off the back of

intensifying airstrikes hitting the port of Hodeidah.

Three days of airstrikes hit Hodeidah, striking at the water purifying plant, robbing tens of thousands of households of access to clean drinking

water. Hodeidah is really the only remaining lifeline for Yemenis to receive any kind of food, any kind of supplies.

And the U.N. has been very strong in its condemnation of the intensifying of airstrikes in Yemen, and that was, Kristie, before all this happened.

Before we saw what we have just seen play out in those images this morning.

LU STOUT: Yes, horrifying images as you rightly point out, bring home the nightmare for children living in Yemen, dealing with this conflict. And as

this conflict grinds on, children are at risk of violence like the airstrike that we saw the aftermath of moments ago. They are also, you

know, at risk of hunger as well. You know, what has been the overall toll and humanitarian cost on children during this conflict in Yemen?

ELBAGIR: Children are always the first to suffer, when you have a situation of conflict, but also when you have a situation of hunger and

malnutrition. It's the very nature of the needs of children. Yemen has one of the most widely spread out instances of malnutrition with regards to

children under five.

The U.N. has consistently been beating the drum about the needs for not just access but consistent access. And that's why this attack on Yemen's

port of Hodeideah has been seen as so egregious because for the last three years, the Saudi-led coalition has been turning on and off the tap of

supplies and the only remaining entry point for supplies is Hodeidah.

And yet that onslaught into Hodeidah continues. The Saudis for their part say that the Houthis are backed by Iran and there is a lot of evidence to

support that, that they are -- that the Saudis believe that they are Iranian proxies and their concern is that Hodeidah or any other inlet into

Yemen will provide the Houthis with supplies to continue and further entrench their fight against the legitimate government.

[08:05:13] The Saudi coalition-backed government, but the reality is that the people that are suffering while this war of attrition and this war of

arms continues on Yemeni soil are the Yemeni people and that the front line of that even before today's strike have been Yemen's children. The U.N. is

trying desperately to get more supplies into Yemen. They're trying to get more people, the International Committee of Red Cross has said that they're

trying to get more access.

But the problem is that Sa'ada is a Houthi stronghold and by its very nature, therefore, it is besieged by the coalition forces. So what you saw

is a very rare glimpse into what has been the day-to-day reality. It's just that this is an extremist, but the children of Yemen have suffered and

continue to suffer. This is just a spike in the violence and a spike in their daily reality of horrors, Kristie.

LU STOUT: As you remind us, this is just their day-to-day reality. The reality of being a child in Yemen, vulnerable and a victim to violence.

Nima Elbagir reporting for us live, thank you so much.

Now, we have new fear and uncertainty this hour on the Indonesian island of Lombok as another earthquake rattles an area already in trauma. Here's a

look at the moment it hit.

(VIDEO PLAYING)

LU STOUT: And that was just one of hundreds of aftershocks since the quake on Sunday killed nearly 350 people. A (inaudible) in Lombok and neighboring

Bali are on high alert.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (through translator): We were watching T.V. when the earthquake happened and we ran out. Because there has been so many

earthquakes there are cracks in my room that's why we're afraid. So as a precaution, we need to run out during the quakes.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LU STOUT: And Thursday's panic comes on top of widespread destruction from Sunday's earthquake. Homes, villages, damaged or destroyed. More than

160,000 people have been forced from their homes. Our CNN meteorologist Chad Myers joins me now, and Chad authorities, they say that there have

been 355 aftershocks --

CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Right.

LU STOUT: -- since Sunday's deadly quake. Today's quake was the third major seismic event to hit Lombok in less than two weeks. How unusual is

this?

MYERS: Well, not really unusual at all, Kristie. When you get a 6.9, you can expect hundreds of aftershocks and that's what they're feeling right

now. And a 5.9 is exactly on the money for what we would expect -- 6.9, you subtract 1.0 and you get a 5.9. That should be the largest aftershock from

a 6.9 earthquake.

But there have been many in the five zone from the first time we got the 6.9. You would get one 5.9 or greater. You will get 10 4.9s or greater.

We've already seen five of those, and then obviously hundreds or even thousands of earthquakes still going to happen. The problem is that the

homes are already damaged. The buildings are cracked as that person was saying.

A little bit of shaking now can bring down a building that was already hit by the 6.9. In the red zone though, 90 percent of all earthquakes happen.

And you can see Indonesia, you can -- right through the middle of this country is where this red zone is. And if we take you to the most active

countries with active volcanoes, which means active earthquakes as well, Indonesia, 127 volcanoes on those islands. U.S. 65. Chile are (inaudible)

bottom there, has 36 active volcanoes.

And that happens because the Earth is moving. The Earth's crust is moving. The Earth is shaking here, but what can we expect? So, you ask how normal

is this? Would you believe if that there would be between 7 and 7.9, we would get 15 of those per year, and the active volcano I the area there

around Bali and around Lombok, you would get five -- 134 six to six or nine (ph) a year.

So, earthquakes like this happen over the Earth once every three days and it just happens to be when you put this earthquake where people live,

that's when it becomes a news story. If it shakes nowhere or on the ocean floor, it makes a little bit of a wave, those don't make the headlines, but

this one certainly did.

LU STOUT: Yes, absolutely. It's the location that determines what kind of devastation could result after that earthquake. Chad Myers reporting, as

always, thank you.

MYERS: Welcome.

LU STOUT: Take a look at what's being done right now to help the people in and around Lombok Island in Indonesia. We have Chris Rassi with us.

[08:10:02] He is with the International Federation of the Red Cross Red and Red Crescent. He joins me now live from Jakarta. And Chris, yet another

major tremor today. How is all this seismic activity affecting your organization and your ability to deliver aid and help the victims and the

survivors?

CHRISTOPHER RASSI, INTERIM COUNTRY SUPPORT TEAM HEAD, IFRC: Good evening, Kristie. It's quite obviously, the aftershocks like today's aftershock

would have make it very difficult for us to continue to provide and to reach the hardest to reach areas, those areas that have yet to be seen.

And that is in the days after a major earthquake, that's our biggest challenge, is getting to the areas that can't be reached. Clearing the

roads, making sure we can provide food, health services, tarps, shelter, and psychosocial support as well, and that is becoming more difficult when

they have these aftershocks.

Help is on the way. We have shipments of goods coming in. Our distribution teams are ready. We have 420 (inaudible) Red Cross staff and volunteers on

the ground supported by some from the International FRC and we're doing what we can and we'll continue to try to reach those that we have yet to

reach.

LU STOUT: Yes, thankfully, as you said, help is on the way. You're trying to reach those remote areas in Indonesia, but with each and every quake and

aftershock and tremor, there's more damage, there's more loss, there's more psychological trauma. So how are you helping people in the quake zone

psychologically cope with this disaster?

RASSI: We're turning -- I can tell you some of the people I've seen yesterday when I was in Lombok, into some areas that were just being (ph)

seen in the north and seeing children who were in large open areas with our volunteers. And they were being reached by the (inaudible) social support.

They were playing games because they couldn't be in schools because the schools are closed.

And we are hearing that schools will be closed for at least a few more days while we try -- while they test the structures and make sure they're safe.

So it's helping the children that should be in school and providing them with comforts, with education, with games, with laughs, and it's also

helping the families that are afraid to go back into their homes for right reason because of aftershocks and don't know where else to go.

So it's helping them to start thinking about temporary shelters and even lightly shelters so if that there is another aftershock they'll be safe and

they won't get injured, but at the same time they're trying, they're working to create a temporary shelter for themselves, which is extremely

important for them. And these are some of the little things. Otherwise, it's providing health services. I mean, some of the areas that we're

getting to we're seeing that individual with broken bones have not had any health services provided to them since Sunday.

LU STOUT: All right. Well, Christopher Rassi, we'll leave to that, but thank you so much for giving us an idea of just the amount of assistance

you and your teams are offering on the ground, and may you reach those remote areas soon -- a lot of people still waiting for help. Christopher

Rassi with the IFRC joining us on the line from Jakarta there.

Meanwhile, this severe drought in southeast north Australia has turned pasture land into wasteland. Farmers are struggling to make ends meet and

the government has approved more financial assistance to help farmers get through it. This man says he is trying to keep positive, but it is really

hard. He says some cows can take the conditions, but others can't, and he's trying to help this one survive.

Sky News Australia reporter Caroline Marcus joins us from near Gunnedah in New South Wales. And Caroline, thank you for joining us. Tell us more about

how farmers across the state are suffering and struggling through this drought.

CAROLINE MARCUS, REPORTER, SKY NEWS AUSTRALIA: It is a terrible drought here in New South Wales. The entire state has been declared in drought.

Some parts as much of a quarter of the state are in what's called intense drought including here in Gunnedah in the northwest of New South Wales

where I am at the moment.

I've been speaking to farmers here and they really are doing it tough. Some have had to either sell off their livestock or indeed even shoot their

livestock. We're hearing stories about suicides, tragically, and people really having a very hard time just getting by. Some people have had to

sell up (ph), unfortunately, because they just can't make ends meet.

We're hearing stories of people not being able to take showers because of the water restrictions and the lack of water in these dry conditions. Some

people having to use tubs of water in order to bathe and others -- even one woman telling me she can't make mashed potato anymore, because it just

requires too much water in order to make. So, people really, really struggling here.

[08:15:04] LU STOUT: Yes. Life has become so difficult there in New South Wales. This is a drought that's taking away livelihood and even lives as

well. So, what is the government of Australia doing to help mitigate the effects of this drought? I heard that a government relief package was

offered, but is it too little, too late?

MARCUS: That is certainly what some of the farmers are telling me. The federal government through the prime minister announced over the weekend

AUD 191 million U.S. -- sorry, package. Fundamentally that would include grants of about 9,000 for struggling families here, but the farmers say

there is so much red tape in order to access that assistance that it's just not worth their time.

They showed me 19 pages of just the first form alone, and there are at least six forms that they have to get through. They'd have to hire

expensive accountants in order to go through their affairs and go through these documents which will take them many weeks to fill out. So, many

aren't even able to do that and so they have to rely on charity in order to help.

The state government in New South Wales has also offered some special assistance. Freight subsidies worth around 15,000, but the farmers are

telling me that might not even cover a week of feed in order to (inaudible) to help feed their livestock. So, too little, too late is something that I

hear time and time again and also far too much red tape surrounding this assistance.

Charity has become essential in order for many people to get by. Many Australians across the country including in the cities are digging deep in

order to help through fund-raising events, but with many more months of drier than average conditions forecast. This drought isn't expected to go

anytime soon.

LU STOUT: Yes. This drought not expected to go anytime soon. Some dry conditions in the months ahead, a lot of people struggling in the meantime.

Caroline Marcus reporting from near Gunnedah in New South Wales. Thank you for joining us. Take care.

Now from drought in Australia to the battle against wildfires in California, we've now learned that one of those blazes is called the Holy

Fire. It may have been set on purpose and it isn't the states biggest fire but it has put 20,000 people under mandatory evacuation orders.

And authorities, they have arrested this man on suspicion that he may be the arsonist. He is set to appear in court later today. Now Nick Watts is

in Lake Elsinore that is southeast of Los Angeles. It's one of the communities under threat. He joins us now live. And Nick, this fire has

been burning since Monday. What's the latest on efforts to contain it?

NICK WATTS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, the fire is now at around 6,000 acres, but you know what, Kristie? It isn't the size of this fire that's

the issue. It's the location. Right now it's burning in a national forest just behind me, but I am standing in a subdivision on the edge of Lake

Elsinore.

A town of about 60,000 people, 7,000 homes, 7,000 structures are currently under threat. So, 300 fire personnel on the ground, about 19 aircraft --

they have been trying to contain the fire so it doesn't reach the homes. They've been dropping flame retardant on these hills behind me all day

yesterday hoping that they can stop this fire getting into these communities. Twenty thousand people as you mentioned have already been

evacuated, and many more have been told to get ready to leave at a moment's notice. Back to you.

LU STOUT: And this arson suspect has been arrested in connection with these fires, is arson the cause of this blaze?

WATTS: Well, it seems to be. This man was arrested Tuesday. He's facing two counts of felony arson. One of resisting arrest and another count

related to making threats. Now, according to the Orange County Register, which is one of the local newspapers down here, he sent some e-mails out

saying this place is going to burn. He is going to be in court a little later today when we may get some more indication of how he did this and

perhaps more importantly, Kristie, why he did this.

LU STOUT: Yes. Meanwhile, this Holy Fire is burning out of control for yet another day, edging closer to where you are, that development there on Lake

Elsinore. Nick Watt, we'll leave it at that, but thank you very much indeed for you reporting and do take care.

A wildfire is also devastating the southern most region of Portugal. Nearly 300 people have been evacuated as crews battle fires near Monchique. More

than 23,000 hectares have already been scorched. Dozens of people have been injured including several firefighters. Authorities say conditions are

stable but they are afraid winds could make matters worse.

You're watching "News Stream." And still to come, the United States slaps a new round of sanctions on Russia as punishment for the poisoning of a

former spy.

And tensions are high along the Israel-Gaza border as the fighting escalates. We'll go there live as well.

[08:20:04] (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LU STOUT: Coming to you live from Hong Kong, welcome back. This is "News Stream."

"Categorically unacceptable." That is how the Kremlin is responding after the U.S. slapped new sanctions on Russia in the wake of that nerve agent

attack on a former spy and his daughter. The penalties are said to go into effect in a couple weeks. The key question is still unknown. Will Russia

retaliate? Let's bring in CNN senior international correspondent Matthew Chance. He joins me live from Moscow. And Matt, you know, after that summit

in Helsinki and Trump's friendly gestures for Vladimir Putin, is the Kremlin taken aback by these new sanctions?

MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes, I think it is. I think that's the most noticeable feature of these latest sanctions

that have come from the United States, the fact that they were so unexpected. There had been a lot of expectation in Russia about new

sanctions coming from the U.S., but these were sanctions that were being debated by the U.S. Congress, that were meant to punish Russia for its role

in allegedly meddling in the 2016 presidential election.

This is about something entirely different. It's linked to legislation meant to end the use of chemical weapons and it comes essentially from the

State Department. And so that's something that was not expected, and indeed in their statement, the Kremlin said in response to this that the United

States has become an unpredictable participant in international affairs.

This is not something we've heard said by the Kremlin in the past when it comes to their relationship with the United States. You can now expect

anything, the Kremlin added in its statements, and he went on to complain that during the summit in Helsinki presidents Putin and Trump discussed a

constructive relationship.

The Kremlin then said we're sorry that we're not often met with cooperation on this account, and so you get from that a sense of frustration that the

Russians are feeling at these constants (ph) of barrage of sanctions that are heading their way from the United States.

There is also of course been a denial. The Russians, as you mentioned, said that the sanctions are categorically unacceptable and illegal. They also

took the opportunity to again reject any suggestion that they were involved in the poisoning of the Skripals and the other British citizens as well

with Novichok in Wilkshire in Britain earlier this year.

And so, the Russians are again saying this was nothing to do with us and these sanctions, this time from the U.S. are illegitimate.

LU STOTU: The Russians are frustrated. They are hitting back at United States rhetorically, but will Russia retaliate?

CHANCE: Well, I think it's a possibility. The Kremlin have said that it's too early to discuss retaliation at this point.

[08:25:02] But certainly in the past the Russians have forged countersanctions in response to various sanctions that have been imposed on

them. For instance, sanctions against agricultural products from countries in the European Union were put in place several years ago after the E.U.

sanctioned Russia for its activities in annexing Crimea and intervention in eastern Ukraine.

And so, there's an active, ongoing discussion in Russia about what can be done to prepare the country for the possibility of more sanctions, which

are not widely accepted and of course, what can be down to retaliate specifically against the United States in response to these particular raft

of sanctions that have been implemented.

LU STOUT: All right, Matthew Chance, reporting live from Moscow. Thank you.

Rudy Giuliani is making an offer that he hopes Bob Mueller can't refuse. Wrap up the talks over a sit-down with President Donald Trump by September

1st. The U.S. president's attorney spoke out as Mr. Trump's legal team sent its latest set of conditions for the interview to the special counsel.

But in an interview with CNN, Giuliani says, "Going beyond the proposed deadline could actually benefit Republicans politically by rallying the

base for November's mid-term elections."

And we are also getting a closer look at the finances of Mr. Trump's former campaign chairman. The FBI says Paul Manafort had more than $65 million in

foreign accounts, all thanks to his political work in the Ukraine.

Now this revelation came after a third and final day for Rick Gates, Manafort's former deputy, who admitted to stealing from his ex-boss. The

prosecution says it hopes to wrap up tomorrow. Now, Manafort has pleaded not guilty to charges of tax and banking crimes.

The Israeli military says it has carried out airstrikes on more than 150 targets in Gaza. Palestinian officials say three people including a mother

and child were killed in those Israeli strikes. The bombing came during a sudden escalating in fighting between Palestinian militants and the Israeli

army and it is stifling hopes of a long-term cease-fire between the two sides.

Let's go straight to our Oren Lieberman who is close to the Israel-Gaza border. And Oren, tell us more about what led to this deadly exchange of

fire at the border?

OREN LIEBERMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, any of these sharp escalations that we've seen in the last 24 hours or over the last few weeks happens

against the context of greater tension with Gaza and that dates back to late March when Palestinians began what they dubbed the "Great March of

Return," a series of weekly protests.

That already raised the tension level and made it incredibly sensitive here. Then we come to Tuesday, and that's when the specific round of

escalation began. An Israeli tank targeted a Hamas military post not far from here in northern Gaza, killing two members of Hamas. Israel says they

had fired upon Israeli forces. Hamas disputes that claim saying they were taking part in an exercise.

Hamas and Islamic jihad in Gaza vowed to response and we saw that response come some 24 hours later on Wednesday night. Since Wednesday night, the

Israeli military says 150 or more rockets and mortars have been fired from Gaza into Israel. Most landed in open areas, but dozens were also

intercepted by Israel's Iron Dome aerial defense system. Some landed in populated areas causing a few injuries.

Israel's response, widespread airstrikes on Gaza, hitting more than 150 targets, they say that are Hamas military targets. But, as you pointed out

Kristie, in those strikes, the Palestinian Ministry of Health says three Gazans have been killed including a young mother in her early 20s and her

18-month-old daughter.

So that is the situation right now. There had been airstrikes carried out within the last couple of hours or so. We know that from our producers and

our team in Gaza as well as red alerts, the rockets alarms outside of Gaza. So as there are efforts to try to bring about de-escalation, some sort of

short-term cease-fire, the situation still very tense here, Kristie.

LU STOUT: The situation is still very tense and this latest violence comes as the United Nations and Egypt try to broker a long-term cease-fire

between Israel and Hamas. Can that -- can diplomacy help somehow de- escalate the situation?

LIEBERMAN: Diplomacy is probably the only thing at this point that can help de-escalate the situation because Israel and Hamas aren't simply going

to get along on their own. It is once again, the U.N. and Egypt stepping up here to try to mediate between Israel and Hamas to find some sort of

workable cease-fire.

And perhaps cease-fire is too strong of a word and we should say the end to this round of hostilities and violence between the two. That's the U.N.

special coordinator for the Middle East peace process and the Egyptians in contact with both sides to try to work out some sort of arrangement. A

long-term cease-fire, don't worry about that right now. That's essentially off the table at the moment. Right now it's about ending this round before

it keeps escalating, Kristie.

LU STOUT: All right, Oren Lieberman reporting live for us from near the Israel-Gaza border. Thank you, Oren. Take care.

You're watching "News Stream." And still ahead, protests in Argentina after the senate rejects a bill to legalize abortion. We got the details when we

come back.

[08:30:05] (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

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

In Yemen, dozens have been killed or wounded after airstrikes hit a school bus. Houthi media says the bus was hit as it drove through a market in the

rebel-held province of Saada. A spokesman for the Saudi-led coalition says the strikes were a legitimate military operation.

Another powerful aftershock has shaken the Indonesian island of Lombok. This just four days after an earthquake on Sunday killed nearly 350 people,

flattened houses and villages, and forced more than 160,000 people from their homes.

Argentina's Senate has voted against a measure to legalize abortion. The 38-31 decision was met with angry protests from abortion rights advocates.

The measure would allow abortion in the first 14 weeks of pregnancy. Current law only allows a procedure in cases of rape or when the mother's

health is at risk.

Let's take a closer look at the controversial issue in Argentina. We have journalist Daniel Politi, joining me now from Buenos Aires. Daniel, thank

you for joining us. Argentina, its Senate has --

DANIEL POLITI, JOURNALIST: Great to be with you.

LU STOUT: -- rejected this bill to legalize abortion. This was rejected. Was this decision expected?

POLITI: It was. It was pretty much expected all day yesterday. We were pretty certain it was going to happen. When it was first approved in the

lower house in June, it seemed like momentum was with the bill, but as soon as the vote came through, the ones that were against the bill especially

the church started playing very strongly against it and lobbying very hard and it seems to have had some effect.

LU STOUT: Yeah, so this decision was expected, but why? Why did this Sunday in Argentina vote against legalizing abortion and to what degree did

the pope, Pope Francis, weigh on this decision?

POLITI: It's a hard question. You know, the way that Pope Francis weighs in on local politics or not is in constant subject of debate here in

Argentina. But the truth of the matter is that the church did play a huge role after it passed the lower house in June.

The church really stepped up its campaigns. It started rallying the faithful and that was evident yesterday in the streets. I was on the

streets yesterday. And whereas in June, the anti-abortion side was very, very small compared to the pro-abortion side yesterday. The anti-abortion

side had grown in numbers exponentially.

[08:35:02] And everybody I talked to pretty much said that they were brought there by organized groups, by their churches, whether they be

Catholic churches or evangelical churches. So the church itself did play and religious organizations as a whole played a huge role in this.

LU STOUT: Let's talk about the pro-abortion side and what's next for them, the abortion advocates, because they have protested, they are mobilized. We

know that this legislation even though it has been rejected, it can't be resubmitted until next year, but there is potentially another go. Will

these protesters and women's groups, will they continue to protest for another chance to legalize abortion?

POLITI: Definitely. All the pro-abortion protesters there yesterday, everyone I talked to, they all knew that the chance of it passing was very

slim, but they still were very optimistic that it's only a matter of time. They all said that what they had seen in these past few months is that

there is a groundswell of support for it.

But, you know, this goes beyond abortion itself. I mean, it's a women's rights movement that has grown exponentially in Argentina over the past

two, three years, and they're just demanding more rights for women equality and abortion is one side of it, but this has become I think a turning point

for the movement itself.

LU STOUT: Got it. So the movement has widened, becomes a greater women's movement, and there is definitely momentum in the movement as well. Daniel

Politi live from Buenos Aires reporting for us, thank you so much and take care.

Now, you're watching "News Stream." And still ahead, Samsung is set to unveil its latest device. Will it help the company maintain its place as

the top smartphone maker? We got the details on that, next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LU STOUT: All right, that's Hong Kong outside, welcome back. This is "News Stream."

Samsung electronics is gearing up to unveil its newest gadget or a couple of them in a couple hours from now, as the Korean tech titan hopes to keep

its crown as the world's number one smartphone maker. But Samsung, as you know, is facing fierce competition from Apple and Chinese (INAUDIBLE)

Huawei, and sales of smartphones slowing down globally.

Now, to tell us more about what we can expect from Samsung, let's bring CNN's Samuel Burke, who joins me now live from New York. That's where

Samsung is gong to reveal their new gadgetry in just a couple hours. And Samuel, we are waiting for the "Galaxy Note 9" and perhaps a few other

devices as well. But what should we be expecting?

SAMUEL BURKE, CNN BUSINESS AND TECHNOLOGY NEWS CORRESPONDENT: I think what's really interesting here, Kristie, is this could be the last "Note,"

according to Korean media. They might take this one and if it doesn't sell all that well -- if we could just put up on the screen what we're looking

at here -- If it doesn't sell all that well, they might merge it with the "Galaxy S."

This is a move that we've seen from other smartphone makers to try and make things a little less complicated at least in the case of Google. But

they've been really playing it safe with the "Note" after the spontaneous combustion of the "Note 7."

So, I think the other thing I'm about to show you on the screen here, like, bigger screen, 6.4 inches LED, about .1 inches bigger than the last one.

It's really playing it safe in a way. One thing that could make it very different, up to one terabyte of expandable storage.

[08:40:00] That's in a micro USD card. That could be a real differentiator here. But I don't think that expectations are very high at all. So a lot of

people are criticizing them after the "Note 7" for really not pushing innovation. Good for safety, good thing that we don't see exploding phones

anymore, but we don't see them innovating in the way that Huawei has, for example, in the past couple of years.

LU STOUT: Yeah, they need to innovate to keep the "Galaxy Note" around. Samsung wants to get bigger with this new smartphone offering and other

gadgetry that, you know, will be announced. But, Apple is now a trillion- dollar company. Huawei has added sales (ph). Can Samsung stay on top?

BURKE: It's becoming more and more difficult and even if they do stay on top, as you mentioned, there's actually very weak smartphone sales over the

past year. In 2017, we actually saw a decline compared to 2016.

There is a little bit of good news in this past quarter. I will just show you these numbers. We've seen that 2018's first quarter was a bit better

than 2017's first quarter. You can see $384 million versus $379 million, but people have phones that are lasting longer.

They are waterproof now, for example. So people don't have to go out and update as often. So it doesn't feel like we have that growth. Even if

Samsung is on top, it may not be the type of growth that they had before in keeping in those numbers and bringing them in the big bucks.

Other things to watch out for today, possibly a wireless charging device for the phones and tablets, and also a smart speaker powered by Bixby. We

know Bixby has had a lot of problems getting off the ground. It hasn't been quite as chatty as Alexa or Siri.

LU STOUT: Yeah, Bixby is a great name but it hasn't really delivered just yet, right? We'll wait and see. The big event will kick off in a couple of

hours from now in New York. Samuel Burke is giving us the preview. Thank you, Samuel. Take care.

Now, one of the world's best known furniture brands is taking on one of the world's biggest market. After years of waiting, the Swedish furniture giant

Ikea has opened finally its first store in India, in Hyderabad.

Now shoppers can browse around 37,000 square meters packed with merchandise including things Indians look for like pressure cookers, pans for making

flat bread, even mattresses made of coconut fiber. And don't forget the restaurant that seats 1,000 and has Indian fare as well as those famous

Swedish treats.

Ikea expects as many as seven million visitors a year. The company is also planning to open stores in Mumbai, Bangalore, and Delhi.

And that is "News Stream." I'm Kristie Lu Stout. Don't go anywhere. "World Sport" with Amanda Davies is next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[08:45:00] (WORLD SPORT)

END