Return to Transcripts main page
NEWS STREAM
World Headlines; Rape In India; Trade War; Sexual Orientation Dispute. Aired 8-9a ET
Aired September 19, 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."
A bold declaration. South Korea's president says the era of no war has started after making ambitious agreements with the North.
Pushing for an investigation. A woman accusing U.S. Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh of sexual assault says the FBI should get involved.
And China responds. Beijing slaps its own tariffs on U.S. goods as the trade war reaches new heights.
A peace deal on the Korean Peninsula looks closer than it has in decades. It is the second day of the three-day summit bringing together North Korean
leader Kim Jong-un and South Korean President Moon Jae-in. The two leaders who signed an agreement to suspend any hostile acts against one another.
In addition, Pyongyang is promising to destroy a key test facility for missile engines and the Yongbyon nuclear site. If the U.S. agrees to what
was described as corresponding measures. CNN's Paula Hancocks is live in Seoul. She joins us now.
And Paula, we saw the tweet earlier today. Donald Trump apparently excited by this agreement that was reached in Pyongyang, but should he be. Does it
really pave the way to peace and denuclearization?
PAULA HANCOCKS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Kristie, the South Korean President Moon Jae-in certainly thinks it does. He said that it is a very
meaningful achievement. Now, it is certainly a very wide ranging agreement. And you can see the pictures that are coming in off the mass games tonight.
Moon Jae-in is going to be speaking to 150,000 North Koreans within that. So certainly he sees it as a success.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
(voice-over): At face value, there's a little something for everyone in this agreement. The leaders of North and South Korea unveil an initial plan
for denuclearization. That plan includes a joint military pact, a plan to link railways, allow family reunions, even a bid to join the host of 2032
Summer Olympics. Kim Jong-un says he will visit Seoul. He would be the first North Korean leader to do so since the Korean war and he mentioned
the word nuclear.
KIM JONG-UN, SUPREME LEADER OF NORTH KOREA (through translation): Let's make active efforts to make the Korean Peninsula a place of peace without
nuclear weapons and nuclear threats.
HANCOCKS: North Korea pledges to permanently close down Tongchang-ri missile test and launch pad, the key test center for their ICBM program,
although no timeline given, the program that concerns Washington the most. Donald Trump quickly approved tweeting how exciting the developments were,
including a conditional nuclear concession.
MOON JAE-IN, PRESIDENT OF SOUTH KOREA (through translation): Depending on the U.S.' corresponding measures, North Korea agreed to take additional
action such as the permanent destruction of the Yongbyon nuclear facility.
HANCOCKS: The military agreement was detailed including dismantling 22 DMZ guard posts by the end of this year, a no fly zone in some border areas and
a plan to demilitarize the joint security area. The place where North and South Korean soldiers have faced off against each other for decades.
There have been plenty of memorable images during the summit, highly choreographed casual moments between the leaders. Thursday promises even
more, Kim and Moon will head to Paektu Mountain in the morning, the spiritual home of the Koreans before Moon returns to Seoul. His next stop
on September 24th, New York, to brief President Trump on an ambitious plan.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
(On-camera): We're just getting pictures through from Pyongyang, Kristie as well as I speak here. Just a couple of minutes ago, the pictures were of
Moon Jae-in, the South Korean president walking out to a mass game in Pyongyang, 150,000 North Koreans there with Kim Jong-un. And there was a
massive roar of approval as he came out. That's something that you don't often see. That was earlier on tonight, Kristie.
LU STOUT: Yes. And as we look at these live pictures of this mass games event, that the leaders of South Korea and North Korea are enjoying after
two days of diplomacy there in Pyongyang. A question for you, Paula, about Moon Jae-in, you know, there in Seoul, is the Pyongyang agreement being
considered a diplomatic coup, a huge diplomatic win for him?
[08:05:10] HANCOCK: Well, you know, the military aspect of this is certainly very wide ranging. That is being seen as a success. The sort of
things that this military pact that has been signed will achieve is, as they say, to end hostilities between the two Koreas.
But there are a lot of specifics. There are actually dates for a lot of these things. The DMZ for example, the demilitarized zone between North and
South Korea, from October 1st, they're going to start to try and clear some of the land mines. They're also going to have no fly zones areas along the
borders so there can't be any military skirmishes that happened the same thing (ph).
And even the joint security area, this is where North and South Korean soldiers have been facing off against each other for decades. There are
plans to demilitarize that. So there were certainly some very concrete plans when it comes to the inter-Korean issues. They even, and this is
quite odd, they're even planning to have a joint bid for the 2032 Summer Olympics.
Now, of course, when you consider there are still prison camps within North Korea, there's still a high rate of malnutrition, some of these strike you
as a little odd, but it just shows the ambitious nature of this agreement, Kristie.
LU STOUT: Yes, a very ambitious agreement. A number of takeaways from Pyongyang. Paula Hancocks, reporting live for us in Seoul. Thank you.
Joining me for analysis is adjunct senior fellow at the Center for New American Security, Duyeon Kim. She is also a columnist for the "Bulletin of
Atomic Scientists." She joins us from Seoul via Skype. Duyeon, thank you so much for joining us. Good to see you. As Paula was detailing just
now --
DUYEON KIM, ADJUNCT SENIOR FELLOW, CENTER FOR NEW AMERICAN SECURITY: Thank you.
LU STOUT: You know, this -- what was reached today in Pyongyang, the sweeping ambitious agreement. But is there enough substance to move the
process of denuclearization forward?
KIM: You know, based on the joint statements and the press conference, what is known to us publicly, it does not move the ball forward at all.
We're still in the same place. The North Koreans pronouncements and supposed agreements, they're old news.
The stuff about the Tongchang-ri missile engine test facility and launch pad, we've known this since June and the key point is that they said a
conditional statement, that if the U.S. takes measures first and then they're willing to consider or they may start to dismantle Yongbyon.
And so it puts the ball back in Washington's court. The vague wording of corresponding measures we can assume that to be a declaration ending the
Korean War or other steps. And so, really, you know, I hate to pour cold water on this situation, but at the same time, you know, I say this
because, you know, it's not anything new.
It's nothing advancing. But we have to wait and see what details come out of Moon's meeting with Trump later in a week or two or so later this month
and we need to find out eventually what the North Koreans tell Washington in their own channel because I did not expect this joint statement to
publicly declare any specifics, anyway.
LU STOUT: Interesting to hear what you're saying. You're saying that the needle has not moved at all in terms of denuclearization. Now, they're
just, you know, kicking the can down the road. It's now to Donald Trump in both North and South Korea waiting for him to take the next step.
You mentioned about the reciprocal action that North Korea expects from Donald Trump. You know, that could be agreeing to an end to the Korean War
could be ending sanctions or have you. What could tangibly -- what could happen next? What could North Korea and the U.S. agree upon to take that
next step towards peace and denuclearization?
KIM: You know, that's tough. Just because they're both trying to make the other side make the first move first. And so we're still in this waiting
pattern. And so, you know, the North has been saying all along that Washington needs to first declare the Korean War is over and then it will
consider certain steps. But you have Washington saying no, North Korea, you have to either submit a nuclear inventory first or take other concrete
meaningful denuclearization measures. Not this missile engine test site and so forth.
You know, dismantling facilities that they don't need, anyway. And so, you know, I guess a prudent or reasonable approach could be, you know, this
whole phraseology that you hear simultaneous actions. Even then, there is sequencing involved. And so event then it deals with who goes first.
[08:10:01] And so for the U.S. even to make a symbolic declaration ending the Korean War, that does not change the armistice. It would still need a
proportionate significant denuclearization measure from the North in order to even sign up on that.
LU STOUT: We are in this waiting game in terms of action and who is going to act first. But what about intention? In particular, the intention of the
North Korean leader. Is Kim Jong-un sincere about wanting to disarm?
KIM: You know, that remains to be seen. You know, based on history, the North Koreans -- no, the answer is no, but we're dealing with a Kim Jong-
un, a new and different leader under -- leading the North Korean regime. And so we have to touch (inaudible), but you know, if history is a guide,
it's really easy to be skeptical. Now, there will be some experts especially some South Koreans who will point to a fact that Kom Jong-un
uttered the word nuclear with his own mouth. He said, a Korean Peninsula that has no nuclear weapons and not nuclear threat.
And so they will see that -- they'll find that significant and they'll say that the points to the agreement, the joint statement saying he agreed upon
this in writing, but you know, really, this is between Washington and North Korea eventually and we'll have to see how this pans out, how this plays
out in that relationship.
And really, it has to be concrete actions. It cannot be the symbolic measures and getting rid of things that they don't need anymore because Kim
Jong-un has said earlier this year he does need to test parts anymore. Hecan just mass produce weapons. So if they're getting rid of facilities
that they don't need, then that constitutes a step that is not meaningful towards denuclearization.
LU STOUT: Duyeon, always appreciate your analysis and your insight, parsing what was achieved today in Pyongyang and what it really means for
the big prize, denuclearization on the peninsula. Duyeaon Kim, joining us live from Seoul. Thank you so much and take care.
Turning now to another horrific rape story coming out of India. This one involving a young girl. A 7-year-old girl is in critical condition after
being brutally assaulted wit with a water pipe in New Delhi. CNN's Nikhil Kumar is live in New Delhi with the latest on the story. Nikhil, the victim
again, she is only 7-years-old. The details are horrifying. What more have you learned?
NIHIL KUMAR, CNN NEW DELHI BUREAU CHIEF: Absolutely horrifying, Kristie. What we've learned is that the attack took place late Monday night over
here in New Delhi, the capital, in the eastern part of the city. The police is currently investigating the attack itself. They've arrested a 21-year-
old man they tell us accused of the attack.
Now, the chairperson of the Delhi Commission for Women, which is a statutory body set up in this city to promote safety for women and to fight
against (inaudible), the chairperson of that body visited the family in the hospital. She spoke to us. She told us that the girl is still in critical
condition, that she is still quite serious, quite unwell.
And she told us that the attack took place as you said, with a water pipe. The police wouldn't confirm those details to us just yet because the
investigation is still unfolding. But she stressed to us what this case does once again is it reminds us of this very serious and very deep rooted
problem here.
In April in India, we had nationwide protests against sexual violence and the aftermath of those protest, protest which I should point out, were
prompted by cases (inaudible) including an 8-year-old in northern India. Those protests were followed up by the government introducing changes to
the law. The changes included for rapes below -- rapes which involved victims below the age of 12, the government introduced the death penalty.
But as (inaudible), who is the head of this commission for women in Delhi points out to us today, you can have all the new laws, but it's really the
fact that enforcement is not working and this sad case is another reminder of that problem. Kristie.
LU STOUT: Yes, when is this going to end? Another sickening crime against a young, young girl there in India. Nikhil Kumar, we thank you for your
reporting.
And now to Pakistan where (inaudible) Nawaz Sharif is set to go free on bail. Now, the country's high court suspended a 10-year prison sentence
that was handed down in July for corruption. Sharif's daughter and son-in- law are also expected to be released on bail of $5,000 each.
The three served less than three months on corruption charges related to the family's purchase of overseas properties. You're watching "News
Stream." And still to come, the woman accusing a U.S. Supreme Court nominee of sexual assault is now demanding an FBI investigation, but Republicans
indicated that is not going to happen
Plus, it's being called the year of the woman in U.S. politics.
[08:15:01] Why more women than ever are running for office in the upcoming midterm elections.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LU STOUT: Coming to you live from Hong Kong, welcome back. This is "News Stream."
U.S. President Donald Trump is set to survey the storm damaged east coast today. He will arrive in North Carolina in a couple of hours. The death
toll in the aftermath of hurricane Florence has now risen to 36 people. Millions of poultry birds, thousands of hogs have also been killed. Most of
those who died were in North Carolina where many roads remain under flood water and some 340,000 people still without power.
The woman accusing U.S. Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh of sexual assault more than 30 years ago says that she wants the FBI to investigate
her claim before she testifies before Congress. But Republican leaders are rejecting the idea. They say Christine Blasey Ford has a chance to tell her
story to the Senate Judiciary Committee on Monday.
U.S. President Donald Trump meanwhile is continuing to back his Supreme Court pick and says Kavanaugh is, "not a man who deserves this." Kavanaugh
denies all the allegations against him. Now for more on that, our White House correspondent Abby Phillip joins me from Washington. And Abby, why
does the Kavanaugh accuser, Christine Blasey Ford, why does she want an FBI probe before testifying?
ABBY PHILLIP, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Kristie. Well, the FBI probe has now become a central part of this who0le conversation in part
because her lawyers are saying that she has been receiving threats as a result of coming forward, that she has been the subject of so much scrutiny
that she wants the process to unfold in a way that is fair to her.
She says an FBI probe will allow more facts to come to the table before she is asked to testify. So now the question is whether Republicans will push
through on this process or whether they will allow this to open up and to perhaps more people testifying in addition to Kavanaugh's accuser.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
LISA BANKS, CHRISTINE BLASEY FORD ATTORNEY: She will talk with the committee. She's not prepared to talk with them at a hearing on Monday.
PHILLIP (voice-over): Professor Christine Blasey Ford, calling for the FBI to investigate her allegation that she was sexually assaulted by Judge
Brett Kavanaugh in high school before she agrees to testify. Ford's lawyers writing in a letter to Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley,
that an FBI probe will ensure that the crucial facts and witnesses are assessed in a nonpartisan manner and that the committee is fully informed.
BANKS: For the last 48 hours, she has been deflecting death threats and harassment.
[08:20:005] and trying to care for her family and determine where they're going to sleep at night. And right now, she can't focus on having a hearing
that hasn't investigated and where nobody has talked to her.
PHILLIP: The letter also charging that the hearing would include interrogation by senators who have apparently have made up their minds that
she is mistaken and mixed up, an apparent reference to these remarks.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Do you believe, the accusers or --
SEN. ORRI HATCH (R), UTAH: Well, I think she's mistaken.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What did he say to you?
HATRCH: Well, he didn't do that and he wasn't at the party. So, clearly, somebody is mixed up.
PHILLIP: Grassley, responding that the invitation that a public or private hearing for Monday still stands, before writing, "Nothing the FBI or any
other investigator does would have any bearing on what Dr. Ford tells the committee. So there is no reason for any further delay."
Republican Senators Orrin Hatch and Bob Corker later echoing Grassley's call for the hearing to proceed as planned. President Trump also weighing
in, accusing Democrats of playing politics after expressing sympathy for Kavanaugh earlier in the day.
DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I feel so badly that he's going through this. This is not a man that deserves this.
PHILLIP: And rejecting calls for an FBI probe.
TRUMP: I don't think the FBI really should be involved because they don't want to be involved.
PHILLIP: Despite repeatedly calling for the FBI's interventionin other matters related to his political opponents. A number of Democrats
reiterating their support for an FBI investigation and calling for more witnesses to appear before the committee, including Mark Judge, Kavanaugh's
classmate who Ford says witnessed the alleged assault.
Meanwhile, 24 of Ford's classmates sending a letter to Congress defending her character. Ford's friend telling CNN, "I know from the things she has
told me, including her need to have more than one exit door in her bedroom, to prevent her from being trapped, that this event was serious enough to
have a lasting impact on her life.
PHILLIP (on-camera): Brett Kavanaugh spent a second day in a row here at the White House in meetings with White House aides and we're told that
yesterday he spent a lot of that time getting questions about his personal life in preparation for what might be his testimony before the Senate
Judiciary Committee.
But, of course, it's not clear now whether that will go forward as planned and Kavanaugh is now also getting some bolstering from other people who
were allegedly a part of this incident. There was one friend of his who was implicated in this whole incident who now says he doesn't recall attending
a party like the one that Ford describes, Kristie.
LU STOUT: The confirmation battle is heating up. Kavanaugh's allies are surrounding him. President Trump is supporting him. And throughout this
battle, Trump has taken a -- for Donald Trump, a remarkably measured tone. He has not lashed out on twitter. Abby, what do you make of that and will
Donald Trump maintain this tone?
PHILLIP: That's absolutely right. President trump has weighed in now on this twice and he's done it in a way in which he has defended Brett
Kavanaugh. He's defended his character, his intellect. But he has not gone after Kavanaugh's accuser. That has surprised some folks who have seen
President Trump deal with situations like this the by perceiving it as an attack on him, an attack on his administration.
We've seen something different in this case and we're told by White House aides it's partly because the president is very aware of how important
Supreme Court justices are to his presidency scattered showers justices are to his presidency. He doesn't want to risk throwing any more curve balls in
this situation. And as a result, he's heeded the advice of his aides who have said let's let this process go forward.
We even heard him yesterday saying, "We want to hear this accuser testify and give her side to the story." The question of how long that lasts is
anybody's guess, but I think there's a perception here among White House aides that for now President Trump understands that the process is no
longer in his hands, that it relies on some key members of the United States Senate including several GOP women senators who are key votes in
this and the president is loath to antagonize them any further, Kristie.
LU STOUT: Abby Phillip, really appreciate it. Abby Phillip, joining us live from the White House. Thank you.
The allegation concerning Supreme Court Brett Kavanaugh is the latest in a string of events that are galvanizing women to political action in the U.S.
A record number of running for office in the midterm elections this November. And as CNN's Kyun Lah reports, they come from all walks of life,
but they share one common frustration.
KYUN LAH, CNN SENIOR U.S. CORRESPONDENT: They are underdogs. They are first time candidates and they are breaking records.
[08:25:00] Over this entire midterm year, we've been coast to coast, trying to capture some of these key candidates, women who are part of the year of
the woman in 2018.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
KIM SHRIER, CANDIDATE FOR U.S. CONGRESS: March was the start. March was not enough, ans so citizens just like me became activated.
LAH (voice-over): Dr. Kim Shrier, Washington State pediatrician marched in 2017. By 2018, she quit her job. Now she's a Democrat running for congress.
LAH: Will women be the difference maker in 2018?
SHRIER: I'm counting on it. Really having a misogynist-in-chief to have as our presiden,t a man who grabs women's body, and has been disrespectful all
the way through to women, that drives us.
LAH: Every politician in every town's parade knows they have to press the flesh, ask for votes. But Democrat Lucy McBath brings a personal story
unlike any other.
LUCY MCBATH, CANDIDATE FOR U.S. CONGRESS: Jordan guides me every single day. Every single day.
LAH: Her 17-year-old son was gunned down at a Florida gas station six years ago. The gunman saying he shot Jordan Davis because he felt
threatened by him and his friends after complaining they were playing music too loud.
McBath, first a grieving mother at a murder trial, then quit her flight attendant job to become a national gun control activist for every town for
gun safety. Then this year, Parkland.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We got shots fired right now, guys.
MCBATH: Here we go again.
TRUMP: So good afternoon.
AMCBATH: And then I saw President Trump sitting with our federal legislators sitting at the table talking about the NRA then within 24 to 48
hours he flipped.
LAH: And that's when you decided to run?
Congresswoman Kristi Noem's daily ritual, on her path to make history, running to be the first woman governor of South Dakota.
REP. KRISTI NOEM (R), SOUTH DAKOTA: I started thinking out of the box, how can I get to have interaction with other members, and for me, it was
the gym.
LAH: Noem made the leap to state lawmaker, then in 2010 defeated a popular incumbent to go to Congress. Despite her success, this is what she heard as
she announced her historic run for governor.
NOEM: I had a few people tell me that maybe I didn't have the right body parts to be a governor so --
LAH: Really?
NOEM: -- there's just, yes. But, you know, it's a small minority of folks that we just have to change their perspective.
How are you doing?
LAH: Noem is as uncommon here as she is in Washington. Republican women make up just 7 percent of Congress. The unprecedented search of women
running for office this year has been almost completely among Democrats.
LAH: Why this year are a record number of women saying that they can run in government?
NOEM: You know, I think it's all about not missing an opportunity. Timing is everything in politics.
LAH: Congresswoman Noem's time may be now. She's regarded as the front- runner.
You prefer a tractor to an airplane?
NOEM: I do. You have control over your own destiny.
LAH: A path she hopes to forge at home.
Afghanistan, 2009, in her third tour of duty, Air National Guard Pilot MJ Hegar was shot hanging on to the outside of a rescue helicopter, standing
on the skids all while returning fire to the Taliban.
MJ HEGAR, AIR FORCE VETERAN: I kind of got peppered with different pieces of shrapnel.
LAH: You used a tattoo to cover the scars.
HEGAR: Yes. It's hard to walk away from something like that without a sense of second chance and do more with your life and have a purpose.
LAH: Finding that purpose now in her run for congress.
HEGAR: In this district, Trump won by a lot. The Republican leadership has gone off the freaking rails. And the things that the Republican Party
stands for now are not representative of the values of the people in this district to have voted Republican.
LAH: She's Democrat running against a long-term Republican incumbent in a district Trump won by 13 points.
HEGAR: Whew. Look at this crowd.
LAH: Her veteran status cracking open doors once thought shut for Democrats.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LAH: Two-hundred and fifty-six women have won House and Senate primaries, 16 women have won gubernatorial primaries. All of these are huge, new
records. Analysts who watch gender politics believe that all of these women are well poised to smash some records this November. Kyun Lah, CNN, Los
Angeles.
LU STOUT: It is the year of the woman in American politics. You're watching "News Stream" and still to come, China and the U.S. are raising
the stakes in the trade war. What could it mean for the world's two biggest economies? We have a live report from Beijing, coming right up.
[08:30:00] (COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KRISTIE LU STOUT, CNN NEWS STREAM SHOW HOST: I'm Kristie Lu Stout in Hong Kong. You're watching "News Stream" and these are your world headlines.
North Korea's Kim Jong-un and South Korean President Moon Jae-in signed an agreement to "cease all hostile acts against one another." On day two of
the three-day summit in Pyongyang, North Korea promised to destroy a key test facility for missile engines and it's Yongbyon nuclear site if the
United States agrees to what are described as corresponding measures.
The woman accusing U.S. Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh of sexual assault more than 30 years ago says that she wants the FBI to investigate
her claim before she testifies in public. The Senate Judiciary Committee has asked Christine Blasey Ford to appear to Monday. Ford's lawyer says her
client has received death threats since revealing her identity.
The United Nations says military leaders in Myanmar should be prosecuted for genocide. It follows a U.N. fact finding mission and a damning report
describing atrocities carried out by the military against Rohingya Muslims. The U.N. report also criticized its own agencies for not doing enough to
confront the Myanmar government over human rights abuses.
Let's turn back now to that horrific rape story out of India involving a young girl. We reported on and told you about earlier in the program a 7-
year-old girl is now in critical condition after being brutally assaulted with a water pipe in New Delhi. CNN's Anna Coren is live for us in Mumbai.
She joins us now.
And Anna, this is such a sickening crime and there have been far too many cases of women and young girls raped and attacked this week in India. Has
this latest case renewed anger and public outrage about sexual assault there?
ANNA COREN, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yeah, Kristie. India thought that it went through a national reckoning after 2012, the brutal rape of
the 23-year-old university student, who was gang raped by four men and a juvenile on a bus in 2012 in New Delhi.
Her injuries so extensive. They raped her with a steel rod. She had to be flown to Singapore for surgery. She died weeks later. Well, there were
massive protests. People took to the streets. They were enrage that that this is happening in their country. And yet it is still going on.
As you say, this 7-year-old girl, she was led to a park on Monday night. Her alleged attacker, a 21-year-old man. He has now been arrested. But he,
too, allegedly raped her with a water pipe.
Now, her injuries also so extensive that she had to undergo extensive surgery, and from all reports she is in a critical condition. Her mother
obviously at her bedside. But, Kristie, you know, we have been reporting on these rapes and reading about them every other week.
{08:35:02] They just make a mention. It's only the high-profile cases that are really catching people's attention. And I just want to name some of
them. Last year back in June, a 16-year-old girl was gang raped. One of the alleged members -- one of the alleged gang member was a member of Prime
Minister Narendra Modi's party.
Now, her father then went to the police and complained. He died in police custody. Nothing was being done. So she then went this lawmaker's offices
and set herself on fire. That case is now under way. But rape victims are just not being heard.
We then have this rape in January of this year. An 8-year-old Muslim girl brutally gang raped and then murdered. Eight men arrested. This sparked a
massive religious protests, sparked real religious tension in Northern India.
And then of July of this year, Kristie, an 11-year-old girl was gang raped by up to 17 men in Chennai. Now, these men allegedly worked in the building
where she lives. She had been drugged and raped over a period of some six months and it wasn't until her sister came home from university, could see
the marks and bruises on her body that they then notified police.
Now, there is so much shame attached with rape, as we know. But, really, India is wondering, what is going on? Why are these women and children,
these young girls, being raped? The latest statistic, Kristie, is from the national crime records bureau, says that 39,000 women and children were
raped in 2016. Kristie, that is one rape every 15 minutes.
LU STOUT: A sickening statistic there. Far too many women and young girls being victims of sexual assault and rape across India. When is this going
to end? Anna Coren reporting live for us from Mumbai. Anna, we thank you for your reporting.
Now, China is firing the latest shot in the escalating trade war with the U.S., vowing to slap $60 billion in tariffs on American goods in response
to President Trump's tariffs on $200 billion worth of Chinese goods.
Thousands of products are caught in the crosshairs here. Everything from meat to clothing to auto parts. Observers say the fight between the world's
two largest economies could only intensify. CNN's Matt Rivers joins me now live from Beijing.
Matt, after Donald Trump announced tariffs on $200 billion worth of Chinese goods, Beijing responded but with tariffs of only $60 billion worth of
goods. Is Beijing running out of options here?
MATT RIVERS, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: You know, Kristie, if you look at just the numbers in terms of the annual value of imports from
America here into China, then the answer would be yes. Considering that China already put $50 billion of tariffs on $50 billion worth of American
imports earlier and now they've added $60 billion to that, so doing the math, that gives about $110 billion so far.
America is only responsible for about $130 billion worth of imports in China each year. There is only $20 billion left for China to put tariffs
on. So, if you look at just the numbers, yes, they are going to quickly run out and that's because China exports far more to the United States than the
United States exports to China.
So, yes, when it comes to the dollar signs, yes, they are running out of ways. There are other things that the Chinese government can do, though.
They can make life a lot harder for American companies here. They can do things like make it harder for customs clearances. They can do annual or
spot tax adds, for example.
The American Chamber of Commerce here is reporting that some of its members are already experiencing some of those things. So they could do that. They
could also look at export restrictions. You know, making certain components that go into American goods that American companies need from china. They
can make restrictions on those exports.
But overall, Kristie, I think what you're looking at is China beginning to run out of options, but not backing down, which is why people are saying
this could last for a very long time.
LU STOUT: Yeah, the trade war is set to intensify. China looking for ways to strike back. Matt Rivers reporting live from Beijing. Thank you. You're
watching "News Stream." There is more news ahead. We'll be right back.
[08:40:00] (COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LU STOUT: It is mid-week here in Hong Kong. Welcome back. You're watching "News Stream." Now, it is a question that Sesame Street fans have been
asking for decades. Are they gay or not? I'm referring to, of course, Bert and Ernie.
A former writer for Sesame Street, Mark Saltzman, is quoted in the LGBTQ magazine Queerty as saying that yes, they are indeed gay. He says, "I
always felt that without a huge agenda, when I was writing Bert and Ernie, they were. I didn't have any other way to contextualize them."
But the makers of Sesame Street, they were quick to shut down speculations about Bert and Ernie, issuing a statement, which read this, "They were
created to teach preschoolers that people can be good friends with those who are very different from themselves. Even though they are identified as
male characters and possess many human traits and characteristics, as most Sesame Street puppets do, they remain puppets and do not have a sexual
orientation."
That is "News Stream." I'm Kristie Lu Stout. But don't go anywhere. "World Sport" with Alex Thomas is next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[08:45:00] (WORLD SPORT)
END
