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Rolling into Beijing, North Korea's leader is in China; Pitching Border Security, U.S. President Donald Trump Prepares For A Prime Time Address With No End In Sight To The Government Shutdown; Access To Xinjiang, Journalists Get First-Hand Experience Of Uyghur Camps In China. Aired: 8:00-9:00a ET

Aired January 08, 2019 - 08:00   ET

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

KRISTIE LU STOUT, HOST, "NEWS STREAM" (voice over): Rolling into Beijing. North Korea's leader is in China.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MATT RIVERS, CORRESPONDENT, CNN: This is Kim Jong-un understanding that China is going to have a role in anything that happens on the Korean

peninsula.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LU STOUT (voice over): At a time of uncertainty between Washington, Pyongyang and Beijing.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JERRY NADLER, U.S. REPRESENTATIVE, NEW YORK, DEMOCRAT: I expect the President to lie to the American people.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LU STOUT (voice over): Pitching border security, U.S. President Donald Trump prepares for a prime time address with no end in sight to the

government shutdown.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: We have a crisis at the border of drugs, of human beings being trafficked all over the world.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LU STOUT (voice over): And access to Xinjiang, journalists get first-hand experience of Uyghur camps in China.

LU STOUT: I'm Kristi Lu Stout in Hong Kong and welcome to ""News Stream." North Korea's leader is spending his birthday in Beijing as speculation

grows over a possible second summit with U.S. President Donald Trump.

Chinese state media report that Kim Jong-un will stay in China for three days for talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping and the leaders are

meeting amid the ongoing U.S.-China trade war and stalled U.S.-North Korean nuclear talks.

Matt Rivers joins us now live from Beijing and Matt, Kim Jong-un, he is back in town. According to state media and according to Chinese officials,

why?

RIVERS: Well, you have some analysis in certain state media which again, would be sanctioned by the government that suggests that Kim is here ahead

of a potential North Korea-United States summit. We're not hearing that specifically from Chinese officials as of yet and I don't think we will.

I think generally, Chinese officials will stick to the kind of boilerplate language about promoting bilateral ties, promoting peace on the Korean

peninsula, promoting denuclearization - all the kinds of things, Kristie that you've heard before. But if you're really trying to read between the

lines here, Kim Jong-un is here because of that summit upcoming between Donald Trump and Kim Jong-un. It's Summit Number 2, and if you need proof

of that, well, just look at what happened in 2018.

The first two of three trips that Kim took to China in 2018 were before the summit in June in Singapore between Kim Jong-un and Donald Trump. What

we're seeing now appears to be the exact same sort of playbook. Kim Jong- un, recognizing that China is a major ally, that China will have a role in these negotiations moving forward, is basically saying, "Okay, we're going

to come here to Xi Jinping, we're going to have a strategic conversation between these two allies ahead of this incredibly important summit with

Donald Trump."

Do we know where that summit is going to take place? When it's going to take place? No, but the fact that Kim Jong-un is here in China meeting

with Xi Jinping, I think lends a lot of credence to the fact that that summit will happen or at least the North Koreans think it will.

LU STOUT: Yes, and it appears that that meeting was happening there where you are in Beijing, is all about laying out the groundwork for a sequel to

Singapore. Matt Rivers reporting live for us. Matt, thank you.

And if that second summit between Donald Trump and Kim Jong-un happens, where will it be held? Now, a source tells CNN that the White House has so

far scouted three possible locations. One of those is the Thai capital, Bangkok. Thailand has diplomatic ties with North Korea, allowing Pyongyang

to send in diplomats ahead of time.

Hanoi, Vietnam is another possible location. Although, there's speculation that Kim Jong-un may not want to go to a communist country that has invited

outside investment. It is thought that Kim fears that would loosen his grip on power.

The White House also has scouted Hawaii, but there is no North Korean embassy there. Let's take a closer look into Kim Jong-un's latest visit to

China. Joseph Yun is a CNN global affairs analyst and former U.S. Special Representative for North Korean Policy. Sir, thank you so much for joining

us back here in the program. Good to see you again.

Why is Kim Jong-un in Beijing? Why do you think he is back there?

JOSEPH YUN, FORMER U.S. REPRESENTATIVE FOR NORTH KOREAN POLICY: Well, I agree with Matt very much that this is a prelude to the Trump-Kim Summit

that is coming up. And it is essentially to get the green light from Beijing, from Xi Jinping, that there will be another summit.

I think there is also a second underlying message, which is to show Donald Trump that he's not the only game in town that he's going to see Xi Jinping

and that he has a China card to play; and for Xi Jinping, it works out pretty well, too.

Remember, tensions between Beijing and Washington is really spiking up each day with trade war and arguments over Taiwan, so Xi Jinping is also to show

Trump that nothing gets solved in Northeast Asia without China.

[08:05:10]

LU STOUT: So if Kim Jong-un is in Beijing showing off that he has this, as you put it, China card to play, does this visit embolden Kim Jong-un to

take a much harder line before his next meeting with Donald Trump?

YUN: Yes, I think so. I think it emboldens him and you've seen a prelude to it in his New Year's speech in which he came out, very clearly, and

said, "What I want is sanctions relief and more than that, I want to open Kaesong Industrial Complex and Kumgang Mountain Tour." And really those

two projects are what financed North Korean nuclear weapons program.

So for Kim to come to Beijing is to essentially get a blessing on what he will propose to Donald Trump when he meets him next.

LU STOUT: Now, and I've got to get your take on this. Where is this second summit going to take place? We're getting intelligence, it could be

Bangkok; it could be Hanoi, even the U.S. state of Hawaii. Where do you think the second Trump-Kim summit is going to take place?

YUN: I think those are all likely. Remember, there are two factors. One is do they have a diplomatic mission in these places where they can support

them? Second is the transportation arrangement.

Remember last time, Kim had to fly to Singapore using Chinese plane. He really would like to avoid doing that. That's not good for optics. That's

not good for his prestige. So, I do think he would like to go somewhere where his own plane can reach.

And in your map, I think certainly, Vietnam and Bangkok are one of them. Hawaii is very far, and is, of course, in the U.S. And so I think he wants

to avoid that, ideally. Kim Jong-un will want to do it in Pyongyang, but that will be resisted by Washington.

LU STOUT: Joseph Yun, always, always valuable to get your insight, sir. Thank you for joining us. Take care.

YUN: Thank you.

LU STOUT: Now, we know that China is also hosting U.S. officials for a second day of talks aimed at ending the trade war. The U.S. Commerce

Secretary says that he feels that the two sides can reach a trade deal that, quote, "we can live with." Dozens of U.S. officials are in Beijing

right now, but there is skepticism that both sides will be able to come up with an agreement to address all the issues by that March deadline.

Still, in a possible sign of goodwill, Reuters is reporting China has now approved five U.S. genetically modified crops for import for the first time

in 18 months. It's a move that could help ease pressure from the U.S. for china to open its markets to more agricultural goods.

Now, a bid to make good on one of his most controversial campaign promises, U.S. President Donald Trump will make his pitch for funding a border wall

on Tuesday night in his first prime time address from the Oval Office, and he will follow that up with a trip to the border with Mexico on Thursday.

Democrats are refusing to fund the wall. The dispute has caused a partial government shutdown now in its third week. Joe Johns joins us now live

from the White House, and Joe, President Trump set to address the nation tonight, U.S. time. What is he expected to say and how will the Democrats

respond?

JOE JOHNS, SENIOR WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT, CNN: Well, Kristie, it's not expected to be a long speech. According to aides here at the White House,

the President is expected to talk about what they've called a humanitarian and security crisis on the southern border, expected to talk about the

families and unaccompanied children trying to get across the border.

There have been a lot of questions about the facts and figures this administration has been using. On the other hand, Democrats are expected

to raise questions about the administration's candor and its reliability of statements. Let's listen to an example from Congressman Jerry Nadler, the

incoming Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee. This is sort of typical of what Democrats are saying.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

NADLER: I expect the president to lie to the American people. Why do I expect this? Because he has been lying to the American people and his

spokespeople continue lying to the American people.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

JOHNS: So the Democrats have asked for essentially equal time in addressing whatever it is the President says in the speech which is only

expected to go between seven and nine minutes. The top Democrats on Capitol Hill put out a statement saying, "Now that the television networks

have decided to air the President's address, which if his past statements are any indication will be full of malice and misinformation, Democrats

must immediately be given equal airtime."

Of course, all of this is critical because in the midst of all of this, the President and the people on Capitol Hill have not been able to reach

agreement on ending this government shutdown which if it reaches Saturday or Sunday this weekend, it would be the longest in recent memory. Kristie,

back to you.

[08:05:10]

LU STOUT: Wow, and we know that Donald Trump will follow up that prime time address on the wall with a trip to the border with Mexico on Thursday.

What impact is that going to have on the showdown over funding for this wall?

JOHNS: Anybody's guess what the President is trying to do is essentially change the calculus that his aides have suggested to him. According to our

sources that he's losing this argument right now, in part, because the President himself said he was assuming the mantle and taking credit for

this shutdown, which has now occurred.

So the President going to the southern border to try to drum up support from the American people. Interesting, though, according to our

information, he's going to McAllen, Texas, which is the home district of a Congresswoman who is very much opposed to the border. I mean, into the

border wall, Kristie.

LU STOUT: Joe Johns reporting live from the White House. Joe, thank you. And you can watch President Trump's prime time address as well as response

by the Democrats right here on CNN. It starts at 9:00 p.m. Tuesday in Washington. That's 2:00 in the morning Wednesday in London, 10:00 a.m.

here in Hong Kong. Due tune in.

Airports across the U.S. are meanwhile are feeling the impact of the government shutdown. Sources tell CNN that senior TSA leaders held an

urgent call to determine how to keep security screeners at their posts.

CNN aviation correspondent Rene Marsh reports from Reagan National Airport.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

RENE MARSH, AVIATION CORRESPONDENT, CNN: Well, Kristie, according to two sources, one who is actually on this call that TSA will now begin tracking

sick calls nationwide. The agency also discussed incentives, possible incentives or the need for these incentives to entice employees to show up

to work.

A source on the call also said that the head of the agency, David Pekoske vowed that the level of security would not change at the nation's airports,

and that he really wants to be transparent about the number of TSA sick calls there are so that travelers know how much time they will need to get

through security.

The call and the topics discussed on the call is an indication that this increasing number of TSA sick calls, it really does have the attention at

the highest levels there at the agency. That's despite public rebuttals, public statements from both the Department of Homeland Security as well as

TSA that this isn't really a significant issue.

Now, this call is happening, of course, after CNN broke the story on Friday that the agency will seeing an increase in sick calls due to this

government shutdown. Many of these employees opting to look for cash- paying jobs so that they can pay their bills because, as you know, as a shutdown drags on, they are not getting paychecks.

This also comes after the House Homeland Security Chairman sent a letter to the agency essentially asking them for data on how many TSA employees have

called out since this shutdown began and what is the agency's plan to essentially maintain security if these call outs continue.

This House Homeland Security Committee of course has oversight over the agency at this point. And TSA, we spoke to them yesterday. They say they

have received a letter and they are reviewing it -- Kristie.

LU STOUT: All right, Rene Marsh there. Thank you. You're watching "News Stream" and still to come, the search for crew members after a deadly oil

tanker blaze off the coast of Hong Kong. Plus, Carlos Ghosn, once sat atop an automotive empire; now, he is facing up to ten years in prison. What

happened at his first court hearing since his arrest?

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[08:15:00]

LU STOUT: Coming to you live from Hong Kong, welcome back. This is "News Stream." An update now on the Saudi teenager seeking asylum in Thailand.

Thai officials say that her father and brother are now at the Saudi Embassy in Bangkok and want to see her.

The young woman who says she is escaping her abusive family is under U.N. protection. The 18-year-old had barricaded herself inside a Bangkok

airport hotel room after she said authorities tried to send her back to her family in Kuwait.

On Monday, Thailand released her into the protection of the U.N. Refugee Agency, the UNHCR. The Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs denies the teen's

allegations and says it is in constant contact with her family.

At least one person is dead and two are missing an after oil tanker transporting kerosene caught fire just south of one of Hong Kong's main

islands. CNN's Alexandra Field reports on the extraordinary measures the crew members took to save their lives.

(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)

ALEXANDRA FIELD, CORRESPONDENT, CNN: It happened just off the coast of one of Hong Kong's largest islands near one of the world's busiest shipping

lanes. A fuel tanker at anchor badly destroyed by either a fire or an explosion. You can see the damage to the decks.

Emergency responders explaining that the crew members aboard dove into the water to try and save their lives. We're told there were more than two

dozen crew on board. Police boats and fire boats are still surrounding that tanker just listing off the coast of Lamma Island.

They were quick to announce that one crew member had been killed, four crew members were immediately taken to the hospital. We are told that they

suffered various kinds of injuries including burns. There is still no word on what caused, what was either a fire or an explosion. We do know this is

a fuel tanker that is registered in Vietnam. It had made its last stop at a port in Mainland China.

Alexandra Field, CNN, Hong Kong.

(END VIDEO TAPE)

LU STOUT: For the first time since his arrest, Carlos Ghosn gave his version of the events that landed him in jail, pleading innocent to charges

of financial misconduct in a Tokyo court. The former Nissan boss told the judge that he did not underreport his income, and denied any illegality

regarding a temporary transfer of personal investment losses to Nissan a decade ago.

Now, the auto industry icon has been behind bars since his arrest in November. Kaori Enjoji joins us live from Tokyo and Kaori, after seven

weeks in jail, Carlos Ghosn spoke out in court today, what more did he say?

KAORI ENJOJI, JOURNALIST: Well he came out in public for the first time since his arrest he claims innocence against all the charges there being

made against him. Three arrests have been made against Carlos Ghosn during that period. He walked into the courtroom in handcuffs, roped around the

waste and spoke for about ten minutes in English.

He read from a prepared statement. His voice was very strong, but I will just tell you what some of the words he used in this statement, he said "I

am innocent of the accusations made against me. I have been wrongly accused and unfairly detained on meritless and unsubstantiated

accusations."

Now, cameras are not allowed in, but we are getting these artist sketches from the courtroom. His checks looked a little bit - he looked a lot

thinner than I usually remember him to be. His hair is usually jet black, but starting to grey around the temples. But throughout the one hour and

45 minute process, he was pretty emotionless. He didn't show a lot of feeling during that time.

[08:20:00]

ENJOJI: And he is denying all three of these allegations, Kristie. He is saying that any money that he was paid by - from Nissan was on the books

and he says that if he ever entered any binding contract to Nissan to be paid a fixed amount, those were in the books, as well.

And as far as the transfer of investment losses, he says that there is a written agreement between Nissan, his bank, that says that Nissan would not

have incurred any financial losses, even if it helped him to put up collateral for these so-called Forex swap transactions, which seem to be at

the heart of the controversy because he was losing a lot of money on them after the Lehman crisis.

LU STOUT: Kaori Enjoji with the very latest on Carlos Ghosn. Kaori, thank you. Now, Kevin Spacey has pled not guilty to a charge of sexual assault.

The actor, he was in a courtroom on Monday in the U.S. state of Massachusetts accused of groping an 18-year-old busboy at a bar in 2016.

The judge ordered Spacey to stay away from his accuser.

The 59-year-old is known for his roles in the "Usual Suspects," "American Beauty" and a popular Netflix series, "House of Cards." If convicted,

Kevin Spacey faces up to five years in prison.

To the U.K. now where Prime Minister Theresa May is battling to save her Brexit withdrawal deal with the European Union. Parliament is at set to

vote on the agreement next week, but there is little sign it is going to pass it and companies are starting to react.

Banks and other financial companies have moved at least $1 trillion in assets out of the U.K. to the E.U. That's according to an Ernst & Young

report published on Monday. Now Phil Black is on the South Coast of England in Portsmouth where the majority of residents voted to leave there,

but let's start with CNN business reporter, Hadas Gold at 10 Downing Street.

Hadas, just give us more context to that astounding figure. Brexit already shifting some $1 trillion of assets out of the U.K.

HADAS GOLD, BUSINESS REPORTER, CNN: Right, this Ernst & Young report talked about 800 billion pounds, so as you said, about a trillion dollars

that are going to be shifted into the European Union as Brexit approaches.

This represents about 10% of the U.K. banking sector. And of course, London has been Europe's financial hub now for some time. But as these

banks and financial companies are increasingly looking at what could be a no-deal Brexit scenario, they're trying to safeguard their assets and

safeguard their companies by moving them into the European Union.

Part of this has to deal with satisfying E.U. regulators who say that you need to have a certain number of assets in the European Union, but along

this, it also has to do with just uncertainty in trying to protect their clients, protect their services because as we approach closer and closer to

March 29th, that date when the U.K. leaves the European Union, we still don't have a deal.

As you noted, there is a vote next week on Theresa May's Brexit deal, but it doesn't seem as though we're any closer to knowing whether that will

pass and what will happen if it does not pass.

LU STOUT: Got it. From Hadas Gold there, let's go to Phil Black. And Phil, you're reporting in the Brexit stronghold. Residents - the majority

of residents there voted to leave. How are they feeling now, one week away from this big vote, when, as Hadas was reporting, it doesn't look like

she's going to get her deal through?

PHIL BLACK, CORRESPONDENT, CNN: Well, Kristie, Portsmouth, from its position on the English Channel has long engaged with Europe, but not

always peacefully. This has long been a key base for the British Navy and it was here that the British from here, the British Navy once imposed -

used to impose the will of the British Empire around the world and that includes, when necessary, fighting wars against European rivals.

Now, that is history, but what has endured here is a strong dislike and distrust of the European Union. In the Brexit referendum, 58% of voters

here demanded that Britain leave the E.U. We've been speaking to people here on how they feel about the progress that has been made in delivering

that mandate, and crucially, as you touched on, what they is think should happen next especially in that scenario where the British Prime Minister,

Theresa May, is unable to get her negotiated agreement through the British Parliament. Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We shouldn't sabotage Europe at all. But that would be a tragedy. Yes, absolutely. The deal should go through, yes.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Try and have a deal. They're not having a deal, are they? They're just saying no to everything, so if a deal can't be reached,

what happens then? We'll just have to go.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Preferably with a tail, but --

BLACK: If that's not possible?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Well, we've got to get out.

BLACK: Full stop.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Because they're just going to take us for a ride like they always have done.

BLACK: Do you think we should leave without a deal?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, if it comes to it.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: No.

BLACK: No?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: No.

BLACK: You have a difference of opinion here?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes. We need to have a decent deal with the E.U., otherwise, our trade is going to go down and there would be a massive

impact if there was no deal at all.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Theresa May needs to pull her finger out and just cut the ties and we are going to fall down low and pick ourselves back up.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Just get on with it. Just get on with it. Let us all carry on with our lives.

[08:25:02]

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLACK: So, Kristie, no surprise I think that this is still Brexit-y territory. But what is really striking is that so many people here want

Brexit regardless of the circumstances, regardless of the consequences. They are demanding a clean break, even in the event that Theresa May is

unable to secure a negotiated agreement with the European Union. You still get people here talking about a second referendum, including the

possibility of having the option of voting to remain, but here in Portsmouth, Pompey to the radicals, they are definitely in the minority.

LU STOUT: Wow, incredible opinion there despite the fact that the financial fallout could be even more. Wow. Hadas Gold reporting live for

us from Downing Street, Phil Black, reporting live from Portsmouth, a big thank you to you both.

You're watching "News Stream," and still to come, educational centers or are they detention camps? We have got some rare insight in the Xinjian's

facilities for Uyghurs, coming up.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

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

un is on a three-day visit to China. State media there report that he was invited by Chinese President Xi Jinping. The visit comes amid the U.S.-

China trade war and talk of a second summit between Kim and U.S. President Donald Trump.

Now, President Trump will make his pitch for funding a border wall in a televised address Tuesday night. Now, he will follow that up with a trip

to the border with Mexico on Thursday. Democrats are refusing to fund the wall. The dispute has caused a partial government shutdown now in its

third week.

U.S. National Security adviser John Bolton is in the Middle East to reassure allies that there is no plan to cut and run from Syria. He said

the troop withdrawal was conditional on the defeat of ISIS and a guarantee from Turkey that it would not strike U.S.-backed Kurdish forces. But that

demand for protection for Kurdish fighters isn't going down well in Ankara.

Now, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan slammed the comments and said Bolton made a quote, "very serious mistake." He then threatened to move

soon to eliminate terror groups in Syria.

During his weekly party meeting, the Turkish President said this, quote, "We reached a deal with Trump. Then we started hearing different voices

from the administration. We keep taking Trump as our reference point." Adding this, quote, "We always kept our promises. We expect this from our

allies."

Now to China where a group of journalists has been granted rare access to centers housing mainly Uyghur Muslims in Xinjiang. The Chinese government

describes them as vocational training centers. But human rights experts say credible reports suggest that there are more like massive internment

camps.

[08:30:10]

LU STOUT: Now, reporters witnessed people singing, learning Mandarin in the presence of government officials - says at least a million mainly

Uyghur Muslims are being held there in these camps. Beijing says it is part of a de-radicalization program.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BILIKIZ (Through a translator): The police spoke to me and said I had broken the law and recommended a school to me. After discussing this with

my family, I applied to come here voluntarily. I listened many times to an illegal preacher speaking. Afterwards, some extremist thoughts appeared in

my head which broke the law.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LU STOUT: Reuters is one of the media organizations that visited the Xinjiang camps. Their senior correspondent, Ben Blanchard us now. Ben,

thank you for joining us. In that clip we aired just now, I mean, it was such a weird, surreal moment. The Uyghurs were made to sing to you in

English singing "If you're happy and you know it clap your hands." How staged did all of that feel to you?

BEN BLANCHARD, SENIOR CORRESPONDENT, REUTERS: Hi, Kristie. Well, it's very difficult to work out on these kinds of trips exactly how much is

staged and how much isn't staged. If you look at the curriculum of these centers that we were taken to, they do actually have singing and dancing as

part of the curriculum there.

When we walked into that room and they were - they basically stood up to sing some songs in Uyghur, some in Chinese, and then they broke into

singing, "When you're happy and you know it, clap your hands." It did appear that they were aware that we were going to come and that they had

planned to sing that song specifically for us and to sing it in English and of course to show by that that they are, indeed, very happy.

And that is the impression that the Chinese government would like you to come away with, that everybody is the camps, these centers - education

centers as they call them, that they are willingly and that they're very happy to be there.

LU STOUT: And crucially, you were able to speak with Uyghurs at these centers. What did they say to you and how did they appear to you, mentally

and physically?

BLANCHARD: So everybody that we spoke to or that I spoke to in these centers, I clearly identified myself ahead of time. I said I was a British

reporter. I work for Reuters. I have been invited here by the government. Are you willing to talk to me? And people told me yes, they were happy to

talk with me.

And I asked them, you know, are you there willingly? They said they were, and I said, well, why are you here? I mean, one of the things that a lot

of people said to me that was sort of - there was some very similar language about how they had been infected with extremist thoughts, and then

I said, well what does that mean? What kind of extremist thought?

Some people told me that - one person in particular told me that they had gone to an illegal religious gathering at some neighbor's house. This was

a lady, and after that, she was - she came away with the impression that as a Muslim, she should be covering her face. That she should wear a veil and

she said, after that, I decided that I would cover my face.

So in these situations, it really was - it's very difficult to work out independently, of course, it's impossible to independently verify their

stories. And of course, in the presence of government minders, it's equally difficult to work out how willing they are to actually be talking

to you.

I mean, I certainly - everybody that I talked to, they said to me explicitly, yes, I understand what you're asking me and yes, I am willing

to talk to you.

LU STOUT: You also spoke with Chinese officials, do they honestly believe that these centers are educational and that they are actually effective?

BLANCHARD: So the Chinese government officials, I got actually a lot of access to Chinese government officials. They were willing to talk to me.

They answered all of my questions. Nobody said to me there is nothing you can ask. They are extremely proud of these centers. They think they are

extremely effective.

One of them actually said - actually, a couple of them said to me, "We think this is the kind of de-radicalization programs that you in the west

should be following." They pointed the examples of terror attacks in France and Britain and Belgium, in places like that saying, "Look, you guys

need to be following what we are doing and then you can have - and you can avoid all of these problems that you've been having in Europe."

So they are extremely proud about it and they think they're doing an absolutely excellent job.

LU STOUT: Ben, we thank you for your insight. We thank you and your team for also sharing your footage with us to have a better understanding about

at least, how the Chinese government wants to portray what's happening inside these quote, "re-education camps" in Xinjiang. Ben Blanchard of

Reuters joining us live, thank you.

BLANCHARD: Thank you.

LU STOUT: You're watching "News Stream" and still to come right here on the program, we take a look at South Africa as the country blooms into the

digital era and enters the fourth industrial revolution.

[08:35:08]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LU STOUT: All right, welcome back. You are watching "News Stream". Now, it is called the fourth industrial revolution. Johannesburg's fast growth

in technology is putting South Africa on the map of digital innovation, just think super computing, self-driving cars, smart robots. CNN's Matt

Rivers introduces us to entrepreneurs in the city aiming to create better and more efficient life for all.

(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)

RIVERS (voice over): Johannesburg in South Africa straddles a few worlds. It seems as if the city has societal problems hindering it from truly

becoming a smart city. But in line with the Africa Rising narrative, citizens are stepping up to create their own city of the future.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PHATWA SENENE, FOUNDER, FIYELA IOT BROOM: I think that innovation should come from the people on the ground, the citizens.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

RIVERS (voice over): Phatwa Senene is a innovator based in Johannesburg.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SENENE: So this Fiyela IoT broom. It allows the street sweepers to report illegal dumping by pressing the green button. They can report water leaks

by pressing the blue button and they can report crime and emergencies by pressing the red button.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

RIVERS (voice over): It's called "Citizen-Led Innovation," and according to Leslie Williams, it's vital for the transformation of a city.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LESLIE WILLIAMS, CEO, WITS TSHIMOLOGONG DIGITAL INNOVATION PRECINCT: Citizen-led innovation is absolutely critical. You don't always need high

tech solutions. You can apply the thinking from high tech and use it in new ways that are far more relevant for local context.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

RIVERS (voice over): Williams heads up Tshimologong Precinct, a hub where citizens like Senene can learn digital skills and build technology

solutions. It's open to the public. It's attracting and inspiring young entrepreneurs. One such entrepreneur is Moepi Setona, creator of a service

delivery app called "Let's Talk."

Setona's app would help citizens communicate with their local municipality by requesting and rating certain government provided services.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MOEPI SETONA, FOUNDER, "LET'S TALK" APP: What it means essentially for municipalities is gathering data, citizen-generated data and it means for

them monitoring and planning. And for sustainability because the data is what drives solutions to be made. "Let's Talk" is all about being known,

being heard and being interactive.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

RIVERS (voice over): According to Setona, this platform can help with service delivery protests that are plaguing the country. It took him over

two years to secure his first pilot agreement with a provincial government and he says that one of his biggest challenges still is to get the powers

that be to bite.

As for Senene's broom, a competition held by one of the biggest African telecoms secured him the funding for the manufacturing of his broom and he

hopes to see his brooms on the streets of Johannesburg very soon.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

WILLIAMS: So we need top down and bottom up solutions when it comes to innovation. We need top down to create an enabling environment and this is

a combination of corporates, but also government particularly getting involved.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

RIVERS (voice over): Whether it's an app or a broom with the support of corporations and the government, Citizen-Led Innovations are trying to help

South Africa to clean up its act in preparation for the fourth industrial revolution. Matt Rivers, CNN.

(END VIDEO TAPE)

[08:40:09]

LU STOUT: And for lifeguards in Dubai, rushing across the burning sand to reach those in trouble is no easy task, but the lifeguards you're about to

meet are getting a helping hand from cutting edge drones. Samuel Burke has more.

(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)

SAMUEL BURKE, BUSINESS AND TECHNOLOGY CORRESPONDENT, CNN (voice over): Off the coast of Dubai, the city's newest emergency responder is put through

its paces. Designed to quickly respond to drowning cases, the smart rescue drown contains a raft that automatically inflates when it touches the

water.

If a swimmer is seen in trouble, the drone is flown with a remote control to the person in need. It is equipped with a voice communication system

that can speak to the victims and guide them on what to do until a lifeguard arrives.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ALI VILLACRUSIS, LIFEGUARD AND DRONE PILOT: When the drone take off and when there's a drowning person, it will take only ten seconds to reach to

the victim, which is faster than a normal lifeguard procedure.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BURKE (voice over): The rescue drone is just one of a number of high tech innovations installed here at Al Mamzar Beach Park. The region's first

smart park right here in Dubai.

Developed by the Dubai municipality, the park is brimming with smart technologies designed to attract more visitors providing a new way to

modernize public spaces.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

FATIMA SULAIMAN, LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT, DUBAI MUNICIPALITY: The government is looking forward to implementing various technologies to move towards

smart cities. So having a smart park, this is one of the initiatives that the Dubai municipalities are moving towards.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BURKE (voice over): In irrigation system uses smart technologies and sensors that detect the exact amount of water that grass and plants need.

It's already reduced water usage by 25%. A solar powered system called the Smart Oasis converts humid air into drinkable fresh water. Every day, up

to 90 liters of drinking water can be produced.

And if your phone runs out of battery or data, solar powered smart benches enable visitors to charge their electronic devices and connect to a

wireless internet service.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SALEM AHMED, SUPERVISOR, AL MAMZAR NATIONAL PARK: We are enhancing people's experience through their day in the park by finding solution for

their problem -- smart solutions.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BURK (voice over): The government says it's planning on making all parks in the city smart in the next two years to effectively improve the user

experience. Through sustainable technologies and these initiatives, Dubai is revolutionizing the way services are being delivered in hopes of

achieving its ambitious plan to become the smartest city in the world. Samuel Burke, CNN.

(END VIDEO TAPE)

LU STOUT: And that is "News Stream." I'm Kristi Lu Stout, but don't go anywhere, "World Sport" with Amanda Davies is next.

END