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Deadly Blaze - Bangladeshi Officials Identify The Dead From A Fire In A Historic Part Of Dhaka; Fleeing Oppression, Two Sisters Accuse Saudi Officials Of Trying To Kidnap Them For Daring To Escape An Abusive Family; Confronting A Scandal, The Pope Calls For Concrete Action On Sexual Abuse At An Unprecedented Summit. Aired: 8-9a ET

Aired February 21, 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": I'm Kristi Lu Stout in Hong Kong and welcome to "News Stream." Deadly blaze -Bangladeshi officials identify

the dead from a fire in a historic part of Dhaka. Fleeing oppression, two sisters accuse Saudi officials of trying to kidnap them for daring to

escape an abusive family. And confronting a scandal, the Pope calls for concrete action on sexual abuse at an unprecedented summit.

And we begin with the devastating fire in the Bangladeshi capital that has left scores of people dead. At least 78 were killed, dozens more injured

when a fire tore through several buildings including a restaurant in a densely packed historic district. Officials say, the blaze broke out on

Wednesday night when a car's fuel cylinder exploded. Two buildings are so badly damaged, there is now concern that they could now collapse.

CNN's Nikhil Kumar has been following this story from New Delhi. He joins us now, and Nikhil, this fire has caused a horrific loss of life. How did

this come to be?

NIKHIL KUMAR, BUREAU CHIEF, CNN: Well, Kristie, there were a number of factors that came together to cause this tragedy. This was in one of the

busiest parts of Dhaka, already one of the mostly densely populated capitals in the world.

And when the blaze began on Wednesday evening, one of the buildings affected inside was a warehouse. And in there were chemicals, flammable

material which fed the inferno through the night.

(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)

KUMAR (voice over): Scores of people were caught up in massive flames as they spread through Dhaka's Chowk Bazaar area late Wednesday night.

Authorities say, the fire started when a fuel cylinder exploded in a car.

Chemicals and plastics stored in a nearby warehouse further spread the flames. The fire spread across a restaurant and at least five buildings,

leaving two of them near collapse.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: (Speaking in foreign language).

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KUMAR (voice over): People were in shock and grief outside Dhaka's Medical College Hospital as they began to find out what had happened to their loved

ones. Firefighters and volunteers worked overnight to put out the flames, but even as the fire died down, the death toll continued to climb.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (Through a translator): How many more there are is still not yet known. When we are able to search the whole building, then

we'll know the exact numbers of victims.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KUMAR (voice over): Fire Service officials said the tightly compact buildings and combustible chemicals made the fire particularly devastating.

There have been a number of deadly fires in Dhaka in recent years.

In 2010, a fire in an old building, also a chemical warehouse killed more than 120 people. City authorities have said they worked to block the

storage of chemicals in residential areas, but that hasn't happened quickly enough to save these people.

(END VIDEO TAPE)

KUMAR (on camera): So Kristie, you know, as doctors now treat those injured and as rescue teams work in the area to determine if there are any

more fatalities, questions are already being asked about why there was a chemicals factory -- sorry, a chemicals warehouse in such a densely

populated area. There's reports out there that officials tried to close this warehouse earlier, just a few days before this blaze occurred.

And so, now that will, of course, be a subject of investigation. Why was it there and why was it allowed to be there when it is surrounded, this

area -- I was there a few years ago -- buildings are almost touching each other and there is no space to walk. The streets are very, very narrow,

and it's one of the big factors that authorities think that led to this blaze which began with the bursting of a cylinder in a car that led to it

becoming this massive inferno that's already claimed close to 80 lives -- Kristie.

LU STOUT: Yes, so many questions about why this fire broke out? Why it took so many lives? And why this is a recurring tragedy in Bangladesh?

Nikhil Kumar reporting for us live. Nikhil, thank you.

What was supposed to be a two-hour layover in Hong Kong has turned into a five-month stay for two Saudi sisters hoping to flee oppression and abuse

back home. They're now stranded, living in hiding after Saudi diplomats intervened at the airport and tried to force them to return home.

Now, in an exclusive interview with CNN's Ivan Watson, the sisters say they have few regrets.

(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)

IVAN WATSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): This was supposed to be a family beach vacation. Instead, it is proof, two sisters

say, of the life they lived under oppression.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Every day, it was like a nightmare.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

[08:05:00]

WATSON (voice over: This holiday in Sri Lanka last September was also the scene of their dramatic attempt to escape from their family. Rawan and

Reem, not their real names, are 18 and 20-year-old sisters from Saudi Arabia. For their security, they've asked us not to show their faces.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Since we were teenagers we experienced family violence and abuse and we wanted to run away from this.

WATSON (on camera): Who was committing the violence in the family?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Father and the brothers.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WATSON (voice-over): Under Saudi Arabia's male guardianship system, women have fewer legal rights than men, forced to cover up and unable to

travel or even apply for a passport without a husband, father or brother's permission.

Years ago, these sisters secretly renounced Islam, a crime punishable by death in Saudi Arabia, and they began plotting their escape. On the family

holiday in Sri Lanka, they saw their chance, but first, they had to get their passports from their parents.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

WATSON (on camera): You snuck into your parents' room?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes.

WATSON: While they were sleeping?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes. So I just --

WATSON: To get your passports?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WATSON (voice-over): In the middle of the night, they fled to a waiting taxi and took off the long black abayas they were forced to wear from the

age of 11.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It was the first time we were without abaya.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes.

WATSON (on camera): And you're smiling right now.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's a great memory. Very exciting.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Exciting.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WATSON (voice-over): At Colombo Airport, they bought tickets and received boarding passes for Sri Lankan Airlines to Hong Kong and then

Cathay Pacific Airways to Melbourne, Australia, where they had already arranged online tourist visas.

But when they landed at Hong Kong International Airport, the station manager of Sri Lanka Airlines and a representative of Jardine Aviation

Services Group met them at the gate and asked them for their boarding passes.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I showed it to him, and he grabbed it. And we were asking, "What's going on? Why are you walking fast?" And they said

the plane, maybe you can't catch it.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WATSON (voice over): As they walked through the airport, they were led to the desk of Emirates Airlines, and the story changed.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: He said, "Now there's someone from the Saudi Consulate to talk to you."

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Will come to explain.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And you know, at that time, we just start to be panicked.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WATSON (on camera): Sri Lankan Airlines sent CNN this detailed account. It alleges that this man, Abdullah Hussein al-Sharif, the Vice Consul of the

Saudi Consulate in Hong Kong, came to the airport and asked the airline to change the sisters' itinerary.

WATSON (voice-over): The Saudi Consular officials had informed Sri Lankan Airlines staff that the passengers' mother was terminally ill, and

the passengers were therefore required to return to Riyadh immediately. Sri Lankan Airlines tells CNN Saudi officials canceled the sisters' tickets

to Australia and requested new boarding passes to take them to Dubai and then Saudi Arabia.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: When we scream in his face, saying, "Return my passport. You have no right to take it. You crossed the line. We will

tell the police," he's scared. And then we took our passport and literally run away.

WATSON (on camera): In the airport?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: In the airport.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WATSON (voice-over): This isn't the first time Saudi government officials have tried to stop women from fleeing. In Thailand last month,

18-year-old Rahaf al-Qunun barricaded herself in a hotel room and took to the internet, begging for help to prevent deportation back to Saudi Arabia.

And Dina Ali Lasloom was filmed by passengers in Manila Airport in 2017, being forced by male relatives on a flight back to Saudi Arabia. Activists

haven't heard from her since.

Back in Hong Kong, the sisters accused the Saudi Vice Consul, Abdullah al- Sharif, of intervening in their attempt to board a later Qantas flight to Australia, eventually prompting an Australian official to cancel their

visas.

Australia's Department of Home Affairs refused to tell us why the visas were canceled, saying it does not comment on individual cases.

The sisters have been stranded in this city ever since.

WATSON: (on camera): Do you think these sisters are in danger here in Hong Kong?

MICHAEL VIDLER, HUMAN RIGHTS ATTORNEY: Yes, I do.

WATSON (voice-over): Human rights attorney, Michael Vidler filed a criminal complaint on behalf of the sisters.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

VIDLER: We allege that they were the subject of an attempted kidnapping at Hong Kong International Airport in the restricted area. We allege that

they obtained their documents by deceit. They then used their documents unlawfully to cancel their boarding passes.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WATSON (voice over): Vidler says his team have screened airport security camera footage showing this man, Saudi Consul General in Hong

Kong, Omar Al Bunayan, shown here at the airport in happier times.

The lawyer says the diplomat was filmed holding the sisters' passports and boarding passes at the airport on September 6.

[08:10:10]

WATSON (on camera): A big question here. Why would the highest-ranking Saudi official in Hong Kong personally, allegedly, intervene in the travel

of two adult Saudi women? CNN reached out multiple times to the foreign ministry in Riyadh and the consulate here in Hong Kong and got no answer at

all.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Excuse me. Excuse me.

WATSON (voice-over): But Hong Kong police tell CNN, they are now officially investigating what happened in the airport on that day.

Sri Lankan Airlines and Jardine Aviation Services Group both deny any wrongdoing, saying they did not pressure the sisters into changing their

flights.

As for the sisters, they're still living in hiding in Hong Kong, hoping to receive political asylum. They have a defiant message for their family

back home.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I want to be a successful woman and to give them that message with my success that they can't break me.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WATSON (voice over): Ivan Watson, CNN, Hong Kong.

(END VIDEO TAPE)

LU STOUT: Wow, these women are determined, but they remain stranded in Hong Kong. If you'd like to read more about Rawan and Reem and their dangerous

escape from Saudi Arabia, go to cnn.com for the team's full report.

Now, the Saudi Crown Prince is in Beijing on the last leg of his Asia tour. Mohammed Bin Salman's visit is designed to deepen relations and to clench

deals with the Kingdom's biggest trading partner. This comes at a time of tense relations with western powers.

Alexandra Field has details. She joins us now. And Alex, this is a two- day visit, so what are China and Saudi Arabia, what are they working towards here?

ALEXANDRA FIELD, CORRESPONDENT, CNN: Well, look, this could look similar to what we saw in India and Pakistan. We have been watching those trips

closely as we see Mohammed Bin Salman turning his focus on the East right now, at a time when you point out, he comes under fire from the West.

He was in India and Pakistan earlier this week announcing energy and infrastructure investment deals, certainly, economics and strengthening

that economic relationship with China will be at the forefront of this trip to Beijing. He will sit down with Chinese President Xi Jinping tomorrow.

This is an opportunity for both leaders to drum up support for their personal key initiatives.

For Xi Jinping, of course, that's the massive infrastructure project, the Belt and Road initiative and for Mohammed Bin Salman, it's drumming up

support for his Vision 2030 plan, a plan to diversify Saudi's economy away from its dependence on oil alone.

Chinese businesses of course could be key to that, so you will see these two leaders certainly taking on these topics. These are leaders who have

spoken to each other before. Of course, they've kept up warm relations even at a time when the Crown Prince has come under fire internationally.

You will remember, Kristie, he was shunned frankly by a number of leaders at the G20 Summit back in December, but you did see President Xi Jinping

warmly engaging with him at the time.

LU STOUT: And these two leaders, they want to deepen the relationship. They want to strike new deals, and the issue of human rights. China and

Saudi Arabia, not likely to raise certain issues, domestic affairs have been widely criticized by others.

FIELD: Right, the rest of the world might be looking at human rights when it comes to Saudi Arabia and to China. Of course, we've been talking

about the fact that the Crown Prince himself had his own reputation suffer in the aftermath of the murder of Jamal Khashoggi. U.S. Intelligence

officials have said that it seems impossible that the Crown Prince wouldn't have known about plans to kills Khashoggi. The Crown Prince has of course

always denied any connection to his death. So he has been trying to repair his reputation in the aftermath of the killing of Khashoggi.

At the same time, in China, you've seen activists around the world raising alarm about what's happening in the far western province of China in

Xinjiang where up to a million Muslim minorities are believed to be been held in what have been called re-education camps. China has defended

against this, saying that these are vocational training camps.

But certainly, activists around the world have raised alarm in terms of Saudi Arabia and China. There is no expectation that these are issues that

will come up between these two leaders, simply because you have not seen China publicly condemn Saudi Arabia, as far as the killing of Jamal

Khashoggi in the past, and you have not heard any strong words out of Saudi Arabia directed at China over human rights abuses in Xinjiang, Kristie.

LU STOUT: Alexandra Field reporting live for us. Alex, thank you. And while the Saudi Crown Prince is not expected to bring up the plight of the

Uyghur Muslim minority in China, a campaign called #MeTooUyghur is growing on social media. Uyghur diaspora around the world, they've been asking

China to provide proof of life videos of their missing relatives, friends and families.

The campaign is part of an effort to collect testimony to pressure the Chinese government and to demand answers.

Halmurat Harri Uyghur is the President of Uyghur Aid and he joins us now via Skype. Halmurat, thank you for joining us. You created the movement

and this hashtag, #MeTooUyghur. Tell us why and what it means to you?

[08:15:10]

HALMURAT HARRI UYGHUR, PRESIDENT, UYGHUR AID (via Skype): I launched the #MeTooUyghur Movement because I wanted to give a platform for Uyghurs in

exile, to tell stories of their relatives who disappeared and to seek proof of life films.

Since then, the numbers of testimony is simply overwhelming. Many people from the Uyghur diaspora don't know the whereabouts of their loved ones.

They have remained silent for fear, so far for fear of retaliation.

LU STOUT: And in these videos, these social media videos, we see Uyghurs as real people, as ordinary people, and there was this one video that really

caught my attention. It was of a young Uyghur girl and she's holding up photos of who appear to be her missing relatives.

In this video, she is so articulate and then she just breaks down into tears. It's a really raw and emotional moment. Is this what Uyghurs are

experiencing around the world, this type of emotion?

HARRI UYGHUR: It is, and you see only one video, and in our website, there is over 350 videos that Uyghurs from the diaspora communities telling their

stories and their sorrow and their longing to their beloved family members who are under detention. I myself suffered and I understand them so well

and luckily, and thanks to God that my parents are released.

I've managed to contact them once. I'm the lucky one. But there are thousands or tens of thousands of Uyghurs living abroad and maybe millions

of Uyghurs inside the region are suffering of this kind of mental stress and psychological warfare.

LU STOUT: The United Nations has called out what China is doing in Xinjiang. Governments around the world have criticized the way China is

treating Uyghurs in the country, but not Saudi Arabia, and we know that the Crown Prince is in Beijing. Your thoughts about his visit and how damaging

it is to your activism and your cause when countries like Saudi Arabia remain silent.

HARRI UYGHUR: Many Muslim countries are keeping silent, but I believe like many Uyghur -- many Muslims, brothers and sisters are staying in so far as

with Uyghur people, and I hope their government as well, stands up and take their responsibility to help this Uyghur people, stop this atrocity and by

the way, it's not only the Uyghur problem, it's not only the Muslim or religious problem or not only the ethnic problem, it is now a problem for

the whole human being.

LU STOUT: Halmurat, we thank you so much for sharing your story with us. Take care.

Now, China initially denied Uyghur camps existed, but the country now claims it is undertaking voluntary vocational training as part of an anti-

extremism program.

You're watching "News Stream" and still to come, trade talks between the U.S. and China are back on as negotiators close in on President Trump's

deadline with no one quite sure what happens when it expires.

Plus, Pope Francis opens the Vatican's historic Summit on the child sex abuse crisis. We'll tell you what he said during his opening prayer that

is likely to be applauded by abuse survivors.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LU STOUT: Live from Hong Kong, welcome back. This is "News Stream." An unprecedented gathering of Catholic Church leaders has begun. A short time

ago, Pope Francis opened a four-day summit to confront what he called the scourge of child sex abuse in the church.

Victims' advocates have been demanding Church leaders to take concrete action and the Pope acknowledged today that this conference needs to

produce more than a strong condemnation. Already, he has viewed arrowing video testimony from survivors of long-term abuse.

CNN's Rosa Flores is in Rome. She joins us now, Rosa, this unprecedented Summit has started with this pledge from the Pope for concrete measures.

What does he mean by that?

ROSA FLORES, CORRESPONDENT, CNN: You know, normally, we have to read between the lines or talk to experts, but today, we actually have a copy of

the reflection points that he handed to Bishops.

So just to go through some of these points, Kristie, Number 7 really stands out to me because he says, "Establish specific protocols for handling

accusations against Bishops." He's talking about holding Bishops accountable. Bishops are the people that are in the audience, the people

that are actually reading these guidelines.

He also adds that Bishops have to inform civil authorities, review protocols, raise the minimum age for marriage to 16, have the participation

of lay experts, which is something that survivors have talked about in the past that more lay people need to be involved in some of these decisio

making.

And then another thing that really stands out is Number 14 on this 21-point list that Pope Francis gave over to the Bishops and that is that the list

of accused priests not be published until, quote, "Before the preliminary investigation and the definitive condemnation."

So, again, Pope Francis handed this to Bishops earlier this morning during the kickoff of this meeting after his opening remarks. And, again, this in

essence are some of the things that Pope Francis is thinking about, reflecting about, and he's hoping that Bishops do, too -- Kristie.

LU STOUT: Yes, these are very concrete bullet points in that Vatican statement. We know survivors, in addition to the Catholic leadership, are

there at this Summit. They're involved in this conference, what are they saying and how did they feel about what the Summit could achieve?

FLORES: You know, a lot of these survivors say, we, of course, know that clergy sex abuse is not going to end after a four-day summit. They

understand that. But when they talk about concrete action, some of the survivors that I've talked to say that is in the hands of Pope Francis.

As the Pope of the Catholic Church, he has the power to hold Bishops accountable and there's an interesting nuance here, Kristie, because these

survivors are saying the Pope can hold both abusers' accountable and those who cover up abuse because until you hold accountable the individuals who

cover up the abuse, it is not going to end.

And so that is an important point that they specifically would like the Pope to do and they say that is one concrete thing that the Pope can do

because he's leader of the Catholic Church.

LU STOUT: And so what is on the table for discussion here? Not just the abuse that has taken place, accountability and also prevention of more

abuse from taking place. Rosa Flores, reporting live for us. Thank you very much.

The French President, Emmanuel Macron says that he is tackling dangerous trends of anti-Semitism in his country. Officials are working to ban

groups that promote those ideas after seeing a massive uptick in anti- Semitic incidents last year.

With us now is Melissa Bell in Paris. And Melissa, exactly how does Emmanuel Macron plan to tackle anti-Semitism?

[08:25:00]

MELISSA BELL, PARIS CORRESPONDENT, CNN: Well, this was really a call for not just France, but European countries, western democracies, he said, to

tackle what he called a scourge that was anti-Semitism, clearly on the rise here in France since we've had these figures over the last few days. A 74%

increase in anti-Semitic attacks in 2018 compared to the year before.

And then, of course, it's been brought back into the news here in France over the last few days because one of France's leading intellectuals, one

of France's leading Jewish intellectuals was taken to task by some yellow vests over the weekend, insulted with anti-Semitic insults hurled at him.

This was captured on video and really caused a huge amount of outrage.

That cemetery that was desecrated in the eastern part of France, as well, and that saw Emmanuel Macron go and pay a visit to this cemetery on Tuesday

wearing himself a skull cap to try and show his solidarity with France's Jewish community.

I think one of the questions is why we have seen this uptick that he says is happening everything, and now, when you take the case of France,

particularly, it's often been pointed out it is not only Europe's largest Jewish population, Kristie, but also its largest Muslim population with

that large anti-Zionist sentiment within it that has sometimes translated into something else, something more profoundly anti-Semitic.

But I think it's important to mention that that is not France's only problem when it comes to anti-Semitism. One of the announcements that

Emmanuel Macron made last night in front of France's leading Jewish personalities, France's Jewish leadership was really that he was going try

and disband three far right clearly anti-Semitic groups, as well.

So it is a dual problem. It isn't simply down to the size of France's Muslim community. There is something more profound here going on there is

the resurgence in the far right here in Europe and that is something that he said it was time that not just France, but Europe tackled and urgently -

- Kristie.

LU STOUT: Yes, like CNN recently earned a special on the rise of anti- Semitism across Europe, including there in France and focusing further on France, a question about the yellow vest movement. Is anti-Semitism a part

of that protest?

BELL: Well, this has been one of the questions that have really dogged it since the start. You have to remember that the strength of this

movement has also been its weakness. It is leaderless. It has many different factions within it. It has been is hard for authorities to deal

with and to keep under control and to try and satisfy as those demands grew over the course of the last few months.

And the fact that you have these many groups within it means that you also have some of these elements that we're talking about today. I think it

would be wrong to paint the entire movement with that particular brush, but clearly this -- when Mr. Finkielkraut was attacked over the weekend, it was

by a group of yellow vest protesters.

And there has long been this question of how large that far right contingency was within the movement itself. Much of the evidence is

anecdotal. We saw, witnessed, heard some of it down there on the Champs- Elysees over the few weeks when the protests were at their strongest, and then these images on Saturday of this man seeing anti-Semitic insults

hurled at him by yellow vest, I think really brought to the fore crystalized, made apparent something that people have been worried about

for a great deal.

So this call now from Emmanuel Macron to get this issue under control first of all, by talking about it and getting the country to realize that it

actually has a problem and one that it needs to deal with as quickly as it can -- Kristie.

LU STOUT: Yes, you have to recognize a problem before you can tackle it. Melissa Bell reporting live from Paris. Melissa, thank you.

You're watching "News Stream" and still ahead right here on the program, today, trade is at the top of the agenda. We know that U.S. and Chinese

negotiators will be racing to hammer out that trade deal as President Trump's deadline is looming. Billions of dollars hang in the balance.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LU STOUT: I'm Kristi Lu Stout in Hong Kong and you're watching "News Stream" and these are your world headlines. Bangladeshi officials say the

death toll from a huge fire in the capital has risen to at least 78. Another 40 people are injured. The blaze started when a car's fuel

cylinder exploded. It quickly spread to neighboring buildings in Dhaka's densely packed historic district.

Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido is set to lead a convoy to receive humanitarian aid at the border. President Nicolas Maduro denies any

economic crisis exists. He is rejecting aid altogether calling it a ploy to oust him. Mr. Guaido is now recognized as the country's legitimate

leader by dozens of other nations.

Pope Francis has delivered the opening prayer at an unprecedented summit at the Vatican. Nearly 200 Catholic leaders are discussing the child sex

abuse crisis in the Church. The Pope acknowledged that people are expecting not just a simple condemnation, but concrete and effective

action.

It is crunch time for American and Chinese trade negotiators. They begin two days of high level talks in the next hour as the March 1st deadline

looms. That is when U.S. tariffs of billions of dollars' worth of Chinese products are set to jump to 25%.

Now, this time talks are in Washington after Beijing hosted a round. Will Ripley has more.

WILL RIPLEY, CORRESPONDENT, CNN: Hey, Kristie, really adding to a sense of urgency in recent days has been this hard deadline, supposedly, of

March 1st, just over a week away when the U.S. has threatened to kick in 25% tariffs on $200 billion in Chinese imports. That is why China's Vice

Premier, Liu He is going to be meeting in the coming hours with the United States Trade Representative, Robert Lighthizer and U.S. Treasury Secretary

Steve Mnuchin. Those meetings happening today and tomorrow in Washington.

And U.S. trade officials have repeatedly said that March 1st is nonnegotiable. Speaking to CBS in December, I'll read you what Lighthizer

said, quote, "As far as I'm concerned, it is a hard deadline. When I talked to the President of The United States, he is not talking about going

beyond March." But then President Trump did just that this week.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I can't tell you exactly about timing, but the date is not a magical date. A lot of things can

happen.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

RIPLEY: A lot of questions, is President Trump undercutting his negotiators or does he believe that they are moving closer to a deal, but

they just might need a little more time. We know that the last surround of trade talks in Beijing ended last week with no deal, but the word is

publicly that they did make progress on thorny issues.

We asked in Beijing whether these talks are going to yield results, they said, check in after the talks are over, but we know that these issues are

significant. For one, the U.S. wants China to stop what they allege is currency manipulation, devaluing the yuan to essentially make Chinese goods

artificially cheap.

We know that China already agreed to purchase more U.S. products in an attempt to at least in some way reduce the $375 billion trade deficit. But

really, Kristie, at the center of this trade war -- tech -- issues like forced technology transfer, intellectual property rights, cyber theft. The

U.S. government even accusing Chinese tech giant, Huawei of spying.

All of this is really complicating the situation as the negotiations are set to get under way and, really, it is anyone's guess right now how this

is going to turn out with this deadline or possible deadline looming -- Kristie.

LU STOUT: Will, thank you. Now, Huawei and the Chinese government, they have repeatedly denied the U.S. allegations that the company's technology

can be used by Chinese intelligence agencies for spying.

The investigation that has consumed the Presidency of Donald Trump is coming to a close. Attorney General William Barr could announce the end of

the Russia investigation as soon as next week.

[08:35:08]

LU STOUT: That's according to sources familiar with the Justice Department's plans. Now, we will have a final report from Special Counsel,

Robert Mueller. The big question at the heart of Mueller's investigation, what connections, if any, the Trump campaign had to Russian election

meddling? But it is unclear whether that summary will be made public or even sent to Congress and that could leave some burning questions. Now

polls show, Americans are eager to see what comes out of the probe after nearly two years.

Police say the American Actor, Jussie Smollett is under arrest in Chicago. He is accused of filing a false police report. The "Empire" actor insists

that he was attacked in a hate crime last month by two men shouting racist and homophobic slurs. It prompted national outrage, even President Trump

addressed the alleged attack calling it "horrible."

But now, Smollett's story appears to be falling apart. Sources tell CNN, the actor actually orchestrated his own attack. Ryan Young has been

following the story. He joins us now live from Chicago and Ryan, wow. Smollett is now under arrest. He is in custody, so was this hate crime

actually a hoax?

RYAN YOUNG, U.S. CORRESPONDENT, CNN: Well, that's what police believe right now. In fact, talking to a police source, they believe the actor

paid both brothers $3,500.00 in total to pull this off. What we now know, they're talking to the detectives and giving them the information about

this alleged crime.

(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)

YOUNG (voice-over): Jussie Smollett going from an alleged victim to a suspect in a possible felony, with Chicago police saying that the "Empire"

actor filed a false police report when he claimed these two men attacked him last month while hurling racist and homophobic slurs.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JUSSIE SMOLLETT, AMERICAN ACTOR: I don't have any doubt in my mind that that's them. Never did.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

YOUNG (voice over): Authorities say the brothers testified before a grand jury on Wednesday for two and a half hours. Their lawyer telling reporters

that the men were paid by Smollett to carry out the attack.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GLORIA SCHMIDT, ATTORNEY FOR OSUNDAIRO BROTHERS: There was a point where this story needed to be told, and they manned up and they said, "You know

what? We're going to correct this."

(END VIDEO CLIP)

YOUNG (voice over): One police source telling CNN investigators are working to obtain Smollett's financial records to corroborate the claim. This

surveillance video shows the two men inside a beauty supply store just one day before the alleged attack, purchasing items including a ski mask and a

red hat.

One source telling CNN Smollett missed a scheduled meeting with police on Wednesday. He denied any involvement in the attack in an interview last

week.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SMOLLETT: Who the [bleep] make something like this up or add something to it or whatever it may be? I can't -- I can't even -- I'm an advocate.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

YOUNG: His attorney saying in a statement Wednesday night, "Like any other citizen, Mr. Smollett enjoys the presumption of innocence."

(END VIDEO TAPE)

Authorities tweeting Wednesday that they're looking to speak with Smollett's lawyers to negotiate a reasonable surrender for his arrest. And

Alisyn, we've been talking to our sources overnight to try to figure out did they know the whereabouts of the actor.

YOUNG: Just to give you an idea how this works. First, he turned himself in with his lawyers. He will talk to the detectives for a little

while. They will bring him to booking. He will be fingerprinted. There will be mug shots and then he'll have a bond hearing -- Kristie.

LU STOUT: You know, Ryan, so many fans, celebrities, concerned Americans expressed immediate support for Jussie Smollett when this story first

broke, when we heard about the attack. Now the police believe that this was all orchestrated by him. So is there some soul searching going on

about the rush to believe?

YOUNG: I think there will be some soul searching. There were holes in the story from the very beginning one, but I think what sort of got people

sort of worried about the story is that a black man could be in Chicago and someone put a noose around his neck during a fight, during an attack. I

think that scared people.

And I think the initial judgment was on the idea that this young man has been so outspoken for so many things that they tried to help him out, but

then when you start looking at the story, you started to see how it was falling apart, and he may have done more damage to some of the causes that

he was trying to push forward. Who knows at this point? It would be great to know what his motive was for all of this.

And of course, he's not guilty yet, right? He's presumed innocent until he's been proven guilty. So we'll see to see how this plays out in court.

LU STOUT: Yes, absolutely. Ryan, we appreciate your reporting. Thank you so much and take care. You're watching "News Stream" and still to come

right here in the program, we're going to take you to Vietnam. We'll see how people are counting down to that visit from Donald Trump and Kim Jong-

un. Some even getting a makeover.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LU STOUT: Welcome back. Now the Trump-Kim Summit in Vietnam is less one week away and a local barber has come up with a stylish way to mark the

occasion. Michael Holmes takes you to Hanoi to find out more.

(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)

MICHAEL HOLMES, ANCHOR, CNN (voice over): A Hanoi barber is offering free haircuts in advance of the upcoming summit between U.S. President

Donald Trump and North Korean Leader Kim Jong-un. but there is a catch. Remind you of anyone?

Let's call them fashion forward. The cuts on offer reproduce the distinctive hair styles of the two world leaders.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LE TUAN DUONG, SALON OWNER (Through an interpreter): I was doing this only for fun, but I was surprised at how many people have responded. I'm

very happy.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOLMES (voice over): This nine-year-old Vietnamese boy says he's pleased with the likeness.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GIA HUY, SALON CUSTOMER (Through an intepreter): I'm a happy with this haircut because people will think I look like the North Korean leader.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOLMES (voice over): But the award for bravery has to go to this slightly more mature customer who has gone all in on the signature Trump

hair color.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LE PHUC HAI, SALON CUSTOMER (Through an interpreter): I'm not worried because after this promotional campaign is over, the owner said he would

make my hair go back to normal again. Donald Trump's haircut looks great and it suits my age.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOLMES (voice over): Of course, the free haircut promotion is all in good fun. Hopefully there won't be a repeat of a 2014 incident when North

Korean Embassy officials complained to a barber in London who had used the phrase, "Bad hair day under a photo of Kim Jong-un" in an attempt to drum

up business. Michael Holmes, CNN, Atlanta.

(END VIDEO TAPE)

LU STOUT: Wow, what a makeover, and that is it for "News Stream" and I'm Kristi Lu Stout. Don't go anywhere though, "World Sport" with Alex Thomas

is next.

(SPORTS)

[09:00:00]

END