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Interview with Ai Weiwei; International Pressure Mounting to save Susya; Kenya's Smuggling Routes; Barack Obama Set to Visit Kenya; El Chapo a Hero?. Aired 8:00a-9:00A ET

Aired July 23, 2015 - 8:00   ET

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

[08:00:20] KRISTIE LU STOUT, HOST: I'm Kristie Lu Stout in Hong Kong. And welcome to News Stream.

Now we take a special look at how militants are able to cross from Somalia into Kenya, a nation that is preparing for the visit of U.S.

President Barack Obama.

Dissident artist Ai Weiwei speaks exclusively to CNN a day after the Chinese government returned his passport.

And he is the unlikely leader of the Republican U.S. presidential race, but we'll tell you why there might be more trouble for Donald Trump.

The people of Kenya have waited nearly seven years for this visit, and on Friday it becomes a reality. They will welcome Barack Obama for the

first time since he became the president of the United States.

Now Mr. Obama's father was born in Kenya and a number of the U.S. president's relatives still live there. And while the visit is generating

excitement on the ground in Kenya, CNN's has learned that there are fresh security concerns ahead of Mr. Obama's trip.

The al Shabaab terror group has carried out horrifying attacks in recent years, including the Westgate mall siege two years ago. What's

more, parts of Mr. Obama's itinerary that are normally kept secret have gotten out.

And while officials are downplaying that, analysts say there is concern that the terror group could go for a soft target, while so much

attention is focused on Mr. Obama's visit. And what's more, al Shabaab militants may still be able to enter Kenya with relative ease as CNN's Nima

Elbagir shows us in this exclusive report.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

NIMA ELBAGIR, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Dirt tracks crisscrossing through the bush. They're known locally as panya (ph), the

rat routes, essentially a backdoor into Kenya.

We've been told that these are the routes that al Shabaab are using to travel back and forth into the country and we have to put on our protective

gear.

Behind us, that's the official route, but this, this is the smuggler route. It takes you from Somalia into Kenya back out again. No government

presence, no checkpoints, you can bring in what you when and who you want.

Two years ago, we traveled these same tracks. We've come back to see if anything had changed. It's even busier than before.

Surprised to see us, some spot the camera and turn back. One man stops to threaten us with rocks.

When our producer approaches, he calms down enough to admit this is his regular route, ferrying people back and forth to the southern Somali

port town of Kismaya (ph). No passports, no questions.

And this junction isn't out in the middle of nowhere. It's only 20 kilometers from a major military base and the Dadaab (ph) air strip. And

yet out here, you wouldn't know it. There is no government presence, just clear access all the way to Somalia.

In spite of an increased security drive for the government, al Shabaab's attacks and ambitions have been spilling over into Kenya with

deadly frequency.

Once little known back roads, the panya (ph) are now a security nightmare.

In Nairobi, the spokesperson for the ministry of interior tells us they're doing everything they can to fight this, but it's not easy.

MWENDA NJOKA, KENYA MINISTRY OF INTERIOR SPOKESMAN: There is a border that is (inaudible) -- a border that is being constructed along the Kenya-

Somali border. It's a long border. It has been porous for a long time, because previous governments have not taken serious action to ensure that

there is -- there is proper control.

We have established a border patrol police that was a specialist police unit with a specialist. We are equipping them with specialized

equipment. We are not denying that there is a problem we have.

ELBAGIR: On the panya (ph) routes, the sun begins to set. Night falls as we wind our way directly into the heart of Dadav (ph) town. No

checkpoints, no security searches, and no one the wiser.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LU STOUT: OK. And Nima Elgabir, she joins us now live from Nairobi with more. And Nima, as we saw from your report, it was just so easy for

you to cross from Somalia into Kenya, no checkpoints, no security, no questions, and that raises a lot of questions inside Kenya, whether

officials there will rise to the challenge to be able to provide the security needed for the U.S. president's visit there.

[08:05:01] ELBAGIR: Well, that border has always been a challenge and continues to be -- and security officials here are very aware of that. And

that's the kind of support that they're looking for from the U.S. during this visit is how do you man, how do you police a border that's almost 800

kilometers long with a country like Somalia that isn't just a regional security concern, it's had international implications for a very long while

now.

Here in Nairobi, at least, we are getting a sense of how they are stepping up to the plate. We've seen reinforcements at a lot of those soft

targets like hotels. We've seen deployments on the streets and we've seen increased security measures at the malls. And of course those are all very

emotive places for Kenyans, a country that is still reeling from that horrifying attack in Garissa where almost 140 people -- almost 150, I

should say -- people were killed.

We've also been seeing U.S. Ospreys flying overhead.

This is being taken very seriously and White House officials say that they don't believe that anyone can get anywhere near the president. But

this is also about Kenya showing that it is a partner, a security partner that can be trusted. And that's why how it handles the lead up to

President Obama's visit, how it handles President Obama's visit, that could be very crucial for Kenya going forward, Kristie.

LU STOUT: And Nima, CNN has also learned that the head of this visit that the U.S. has carried out military action targeting al Shabaab in

Somalia. What more have you been able to learn about that operation and what impact it's had on the militant group.

ELBAGIR: Well, sources have been telling us that it's called clearing the landscape, trying to hit them hard enough and often enough

that there is a sense of disarray.

We do know from sources that we've been speaking to that they're concerned about what they're calling an increase of chatter on social media

and on pro-jihad forums amongst the militant group. But that's to be expected that during an opportunity like this, during such a historic

occasion. Of course, there's going to be a heightened interest.

Whether there is a credible threat, there is no sense now of a credible threat.

What many of those that we've been speaking to on the ground want us and everyone around the world to remember that for the average Kenyan here,

yes, of course security is always an issue, but this is about a historic occasion, the first sitting U.S. president to visit here, really a sign of

Kenya's place on the international stage, but also really emotional time, a sense that a son of Kenya is coming home, Kristie.

LU STOUT: This is a historic visit generating a lot of excitement on the ground there.

Nima Elbagir reporting for us live. Thank you, Nima

Now, China has lifted a four year international travel ban on the artist Ai Weiwei. Now the high profile dissident is speaking exclusively

to CNN. Ivan Watson caught up with him at his brand new exhibit in Beijing.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

IVAN WATSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: You got your passport back. How does that feel?

AI WEIWEI, ARTIST: I feel my heart is at peace. I feel quite released.

WATSON: the international travel ban has been lifted. Chinese authorities gave Ai Weiwei his passport back on Wednesday after

confiscating it more than four years ago.

These are the spouts of...

(CROSSTALK)

WATSON: It's been a big summer for China's most famous artist provocateur.

Freedom to travel and a new exhibit in Beijing.

WEIWEI: This is the first time I showed in China.

WATSON: Your first solo exhibit in your own country?

WEIWEI: Yes.

WATSON: Ai intentionally split this huge installation between two neighboring galleries, rebuilding part of the ruins of a 400-year-old

wooden house photographed here, which he found in southern China.

WEIWEI: I think it represents last of the old China, you know, the aesthetics or the moral and philosophy of the whole society is completely

disappeared. And this building represents that kind of condition.

WATSON: Ai's outspoken criticism of society and the government in China has gotten him into a lot of trouble.

He made this music video ridiculing Chinese prison guards after security forces detained him for 81 days in 2011 during a crackdown on

human rights activists.

Chinese authorities later accused the artist of tax evasion, charges he denies.

You seem to enjoy being a bad boy sometimes.

WEIWEI: Well, only when the situation becomes too ridiculous then I start making fun of it.

All the beams go through the wall.

WATSON: These days, the irreverent artist seems subdued, perhaps more cautious about mocking authorities who shut down his blog and censor his

name on popular social networks.

But he says his convictions remain the same.

[08:10:13] WEIWEI: What will not be changed is my demanding of freedom of expression. I think those are very central rights. And those

rights should be recognized in any society.

WATSON: After years of persecution, this artist insists his faith in his ideals has not been broken.

Ivan Watson, CNN, Beijing.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LU STOUT: As Ivan mentioned, Ai Weiwei has been a vocal critic of the Chinese government. He was particularly critical of the government's

response to the 2008 Sichuan earthquake that killed at least 87,000 people. Here you see him creating a list of student names who died in that tragedy.

And, an upcoming exhibition in London is expected to include 90 tons of twisted metal retrieved from the debris.

Now, he recently staged an exhibition at San Francisco's infamous Alcatraz jail. It featured prisoners of conscience from around the world,

including the Nobel Peace Prize winner Liu Xiaobo.

But some say it's not his art that made him a target of Chinese authorities, instead that point to his online activity and interviews. Now

one biographer put it this way, quote, "in a society where all official media are subject to censorship it's an incredibly subversive thing to be

able to connect to people."

Now, to the latest territorial flare-up between China and Japan. The Japanese foreign ministry says it has spotted Chinese off-shore

construction near disputed waters. It claims China has built a series of oil and gas exploration platforms in the East China Sea near the median

line between the two countries.

Now, Japan has released aerial photos to back up its claims. In response, China says it has the right to develop oil and gas resources in

undisputed territory. It urges Japan to stop provoking tension.

You're watching News Stream.

And coming up next, Donald Trump defends his campaign by saying he's only acting in self-defense. His explanation for giving out a senator's

private phone number.

And U.S. authorities have called El Chapo a public enemy, but in Mexico the drug lord enjoys a very different reputation. Could that be the

reason he is still at-large?

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LU STOUT: Welcome back. You're watching News Stream. And you're looking at a visual version of all the news we're covering today.

We've already told you about security concerns around the U.S. president's trip to Kenya. And later, we'll tell you about Uber's victory

against authorities in New York City. But now, Donald Trump takes his controversial campaign to the U.S.-Mexico border just a week after the

billionaire sparked a fierce debate when he referred to illegal Mexican immigrants as, quote, rapists and criminals.

Now the trip comes as the businessman dominates the Republican presidential contest both in the polls and in the headlines. And as CNN's

Jeff Zeleny reports, his popularity may not last.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JEFF ZELENY, CNN SENIOR WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Donald Trump is heading to the border. He's trying to stay on top of the

Republican field by doubling down on immigration during a Thursday tour in Laredo, Texas, with the Border Patrol agents.

[08:15:02] DONALD TRUMP, (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE & CEO, TRUMP GROUP: With the border and border security and lack of border security and

illegal immigrants, it's a huge problem.

ZELENY: But tonight, a new poll shows fresh vulnerabilities for Trump, not in the GOP president but if he would ever become the party's nominee.

TRUMP: We have to make America great again.

ZELENY: In three key general election battlegrounds, Colorado, Iowa, and Virginia, nearly six in 10 voters hold unfavorable views for Trump. For

now, he is resonating for primary voters looking for a tough-talking candidate. But party leaders say he is talking too tough, specifically

about fellow Republicans.

TRUMP: Rick Perry, he put glasses on to look smart. You have this guy Lindsey Graham, a total lightweight. You have people that are stupid.

ZELENY: It was Rick Perry's turn today to be single out on social media. Trump released this picture and tweeted, "Perry was once begging for

my support and money. Hypocrite."

The former Texas governor fired back, urging conservatives to dump Trump.

RICK PERRY, (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE & FORMER TEXAS GOVERNOR: He offers a barking carnival act that can be best described as Trumpism, a

toxic mix of demagoguery and mean-spiritedness and nonsense. Donald Trump's candidacy is a cancer on conservativism and it must be diagnosed, excised

and discarded.

ZELENY: While the GOP free-for-all has Democrats smiling, the poll shows Hillary is in trouble.

HILLARY CLINTON, (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE & FORMER SECRETARY OF STATE: I am going to keep going. I believe it's so important for all of us.

(APPLAUSE)

ZELENY: In those same three general election swing states, majorities of voters had an unfavorable view of her. The survey also shows Clinton

trailing Republicans Jeb Bush, Marco Rubio and Scott Walker in hypothetical matchups in those three states.

Jeff Zeleny, CNN, Washington

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LU STOUT: Donald Trump sat down with CNN's Anderson Cooper. And the presidential hopeful, he didn't hold back. On his criticism of other

Republican candidates, Trump says it's merely self-defense.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TRUMP: They're saying horrible things. Like, I don't even know these people and they're saying these -- now am I supposed to, you know, just

say, oh, it's OK for them to say -- one guy, I guess, it was Lindsey Graham called me a jackass. So, am I supposed to say, oh, it's OK if I'm called -

- I'm called a jackass. You have to fight back.

The country has to fight back. Everyone is pushing our country around. We can't allow that, Anderson.

ANDERSON COOPER, CNN ANCHOR: Is it presidential, though?

TRUMP: I think it's presidential to fight back...

COOPER: To give out somebody's -- to give out a personal phone number of...

TRUMP: Well, that was a long story. I mean, you have to see the whole story the way if warped, OK. That was a whole story where he wanted

to get on Fox and Friends and he called me up out of the blue -- I never met the guy -- then he wanted to come in for a campaign contributions. He

gave me his -- and then he starts hitting me years later and I happened to have this crazy phone number, and I held it up. I said this guy was over

here and actually -- as you probably know, the room was packed. It was standing room only. In fact, they had other theaters -- there was overflow

crowds. They had all sorts of closed circuit television into other rooms.

The place went wild. We all had a good time.

COOPER: But is that presidential?

TRUMP: I think so. I think it's fine.

COOPER: As president, when you are (inaudible) by somebody in congress you would give out their personal phone number?

TRUMP: I was hit by somebody unfairly. I was called names by somebody, so he was up -- this somebody that's hitting me saying what a bad

guy I am was up in my office was asking for money and asking if I can get him on television.

COOPER: ...if you are president by the United States, you're going to be hit by half the country is probably not going to like.

TRUMP: That's true...

COOPER: Are you going to call them dumb and stupid?

TRUMP: No, I think it's a little bit different. Right now I'm trying to do something to make the country great again. Politicians will never

make this country great again.

COOPER: As president, you would change your tone?

TRUMP: Oh, I think so.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LU STOUT: Donald Trump, he went on to say that the truly divisive character in Washington right now is already in the Oval Office.

Now, to Mexico where a multimillion dollar reward has been posted for the recapture of Joaquin Guzman. But, El Chapo's escape from a maximum

security prison has only furthered his notoriety. And as Polo Sandoval reports, that means the locals may not want to give him up.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

POLO SANDOVAL, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): On the streets of Mexico City, everyone knows the name of Joaquin Guzman. At this market, we

found that cartel boss known as el Chapo.

About $8 will get you a t-shirt that bears the face of Mexico's most- wanted man.

The shopkeeper here says that his Chapo tees became the hottest item after the bold escape.

(on camera): He says people of all walks of life and economic backgrounds come here to buy this shirt.

(voice-over): He says it's not about the face on the shirt. He tells me he is just filling demand.

(on camera): Money and even drugs.

It's interesting, they also have the custom-made T-shirts like this one here. It's a plane white T-shirt but they have the machine to print el

Chapo's face on there. Even has the FBI on top. This is the wanted poster that has been circulating in Mexico.

(SINGING)

[08:20:16] SANDOVAL: Then there are the musical tributes to el Chapo. Narco ballads flood the Internet telling the story of the so-called great

escape.

(SINGING)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: People are saying it was epic. The escape was epic. It's amazing. It's incredible. Like el Chapo is a hero and it's not

true. This guy is a terrible criminal.

SANDOVAL: Mexican journalist Sanibel Hernandez (ph) says that el Chapo is admired and seen like a Robin Hood-like figure.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: OK, let's be like el Chapo.

SANDOVAL: She says it's this glorification of the narco culture that allows Guzman to remain camouflaged among the people that revere him.

(SINGING)

SANDOVAL: Polo Sandoval, CNN, Mexico City.

(SINGING)

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LU STOUT: You're watching News Stream. And up next, revenge porn, it's a terrible violation of privacy with devastating effects. But now

Microsoft says it is taking a stand against it by giving victims a chance to take back control.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LU STOUT: Coming to you live from Hong Kong, you're back watching News Stream.

Microsoft is taking a stand against revenge porn, that's when sexual images of someone are posted online without consent, usually by a former

partner.

Now Microsoft is removing links to material flagged as revenge porn from their search engine Bing. It's making it easier for victims to report

images as well.

Now the company also says it will delete reported content shared through OneDrive or XBox Live.

Google, Facebook and Twitter have similar policies in place. And while this doesn't wipe revenge porn off the internet, removing links and

search results can restrict access to the images.

Now, British pay television service Sky TV and six major Hollywood studios are targeted in Europe's latest anti-trust probe. They were

accused of curbing access to pay TV services. The EU says viewers across Europe are being prevented from accessing services that are available

inside the UK and Ireland. And the studios that are charged include Disney, NBC/Universal, Paramount Pictures, Sony, 20th Century Fox and

Warner Brothers, whose parent company Time Warner also owns CNN.

The CNN's Freedom Project is dedicated to the fight against slavery. And this week, we're airing our new documentary children for sale. Now in

this excerpt, a look at just how vicious human trafficking is inside the United States.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

[08:25:39] JADA PINKETT SMITH, ACTRESS: The unwritten rules of the streets can be as bewildering as they are brutal. This undercover footage

shows a young woman arguing with a suspected exploiter.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Whose the hoe?

SMITH: Other men sense her weakness and surround her.

According to Rebecca (ph), a trafficking survivor, a girl can be taken as property simply by making eye contact with one of these men.

REBECCA, TRAFFICKING SURVIVOR: If you look at him, you can be taken from who you're with. And he can't do anything about it, because you

looked at another person.

SMITH: On this night, this woman made it to safety. But so many others, do not.

BROCK NICHOLSON, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY: It's happening every day, every neighborhood, every socioeconomic status. These guys

trade women like kids trade baseball cards.

SMITH: He's taking their bags, putting it in the car. You coming with me.

Coming with them to any place that clients are waiting and willing to pay for sex.

NICHOLSON: One of places they utilized was a field where a woman serviced over 50 men in a field. And you can -- you can -- people can say,

well, she -- nobody, nobody chooses to do that.

SMITH: Right.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LU STOUT: And join us all this week for an in depth look at this global problem. And be sure to watch the CNN Freedom Project documentary,

again it's called "Children for Sale: The Fight to End Human Trafficking." You can see it Friday, 10:00 a.m. in Hong Kong, 12:00 p.m. in Tokyo only on

CNN.

Now a top U.S. envoy is in the Middle East trying to sell regional allies on the nuclear deal with Iran. And after the break, a look at

what's behind his surprise detour to Baghdad.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[08:30:18] LU STOUT: I'm Kristie Lu Stout in Hong Kong. You're watching News Stream. And these are your world headlines.

Now Barack Obama on Friday will visit Kenya where his father was born and where many of his relatives still live. Now parts of his itinerary

that are normally kept secret have gotten out, but officials say his security has not been jeopardized.

Greece will begin talks with international debtors on a new bailout on Friday. And that comes after Greek lawmakers pass an economic reform

package, a precondition for those talks. Athens now has a month to work out the details with its debtors and secure its rescue money.

U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter is in Baghdad this hour on a previously unannounced trip to Iraq. He's meeting with U.S. commanders,

Sunni leaders and Iraqi officials. Among them, Prime Minister Haider al Abadi. Now one of the expected objectives of this visit is to push for the

inclusion of more Sunni forces in the fight against ISIS.

Now this is Carter's latest stop in a Middle East tour aimed at reassuring regional allies about the Iran nuclear deal. Now Carter also

met leaders in Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Israel earlier this week.

Now CNN's Jomana Karadsheh joins me now live from the Jordanian capital of Amman. And Jomana, first, let's talk about the surprise visit

to Baghdad. It also happens to be Mr. Carter's first visit to Iraq as defense secretary and no doubt the war against ISIS is at the very top of

his agenda there.

JOMANA KARADSHEH, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Absolutely, Kristie. As you mentioned earlier today, the secretary of defense making

that previously unannounced visit to Baghdad.

He began that trip with a visit to a counterterrorism training facility near Baghdad's international airport. There he saw Iraqi forces

demonstrating what they've been recently trained on, target shooting in that area.

Now after that, he is meeting now with Iraqi officials. As you mentioned, that includes the prime minister, Haider al-Abadi and also a

number of other Iraqi officials including his Iraqi counterpart, the Minister of Defense al-Obeidi and also key Sunni leaders in the country.

As you mentioned, while the rest of his regional tour has really focused on the deal with Iran, the nuclear deal, and reassuring allies in

the region -- Jordan, Saudi Arabia and Israel when it comes to Iran and the deal, the main focus, we would expect, that the talks in Baghdad would be

dominated by the fight against ISIS.

We've heard Iraqi officials, Kristie, for months now saying that they need more when it comes to the fight against ISIS. They feel that they are

fighting this battle on behalf of the world. While they are grateful for having the international coalition and that support when it comes to

airstrikes, they say they need more. And it's a very long list of what Iraqi officials say they need.

But it's topped with weapons. They say they need more weapons and more training, more intelligence sharing. And of course we've heard them

say that they needed weapons shipments expedited, something we're starting to see the U.S. starting to do for Iraq with the arrival of a new batch --

the first batch, really, of F16 fighter jets that the Iraqis for years had requested from the United States and only received in the past couple of

weeks.

And at the same time Kristie, as you mentioned, we would expect here that Secretary Carter will also be pushing the Iraqis on what we've heard

from the U.S. a lot is that they want to see the inclusion of the Sunnis. This is a very important thing for the United States, it's an important key

part of its strategy when it comes to the battle against ISIS on the ground that is being led by the Iraqi forces on the ground. They want to see

Sunnis as being a big part of this fight.

They believe if you replicate what we saw back in 2006 and 2007 in Iraq with the Sunnis leading the fight in Sunni areas in that time -- it

was against al Qaeda in Iraq -- that that could change the situation on the ground, something they would want to see.

And of course during this visit, Kristie, he will also be meeting with U.S. officials there and the troops in Iraq. There are 3,500 mainly

trainers and advisers there who are overseeing this fight against ISIS.

And we would expect that they are going to tell him the same thing that they told General Martin Dempsey earlier this week during his visit

that so far they don't think they need more troops on the ground or troops to be embedded with Iraqi forces on the ground, not just yet -- Kristie.

LU STOUT: Got it. So battle strategy against ISIS front and center for Secretary Carter there in Iraq on the surprise visit. Jomana Karadsheh

reporting. Thank you.

Now pressure is mounting to save the Palestinian village of Susya. Israel is to demolish it after court battles. Now U.S. and European

officials say the evictions would be harmful.

Erin McLaughlin visited the small village in the West Bank.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

[08:35:15] ERIN MCLAUGHLIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Situated in a rocky valley in the southern part of the West Bank just below a controversial

Israeli settlement of the same name, sits the Palestinian village of Susya.

It's really just a small cluster of tents that is now the subject of an international dispute.

Here the villagers pass the time in the hot sun waiting, worried Israel may destroy their homes.

RABBI ARIK ASCHERMAN, RABBBIS FOR HUMAN RIGHTS: At any time, the bulldozers could come and wipe this place off the map.

MCLAUGHLIN: For years, Rabbis for Human Rights has been working to prevent that. Rabbi Ascherman says he's lost count of how many times Susya

has either been demolished or partially demolished.

Villagers don't want to leave what they say is their land. But Israel has denied them permission to build, in part because it says the village

does not have proper infrastructure, and the villagers don't own the land.

The village was recently denied a court injunction to stop the latest leveling. Nassr Nawaja (ph) shows us what is slated to be bulldozed.

And this is on the list to be demolished.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yeah, and the kitchen.

MCLAUGHLIN: He tells me 150 Palestinians, including some 45 children, will be homeless if the village is razed.

Many of this community's most important structures were donated by EU member states. For example, these solar panels were a gift from Germany.

And now the international community is trying to save the village.

The European Union called on Israel to halt plans for the, quote, "forced transfer of population and demolition of Palestinian housing."

And now the United States is weighing in with a rare visit from the U.S. consul general to signal opposition to the Israelis's plans.

JOHN KIRBY, U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN: Demolition of this Palestinian village or of parts of it and evictions of Palestinians from

their homes, would be harmful and provocative.

SILVAN SHALOM, ISRAELI FOREIGN MINISTER: If something like that would happen it all would be only after it was authorized by our courts.

MCLAUGHLIN: Israeli authorities say they've met with residents to look at alternative solutions. Villagers say the proposed alternative, to

move to a nearby Palestinian town, won't work.

"The property and land proposed by the state already belongs to other Palestinians," resident Azem Nawaja (ph) says. "How are we supposed to

live on the ruins of others."

If Susya is ultimately bulldozed, these villagers vow to build again.

Erin McLaughlin, CNN, the Palestinian village of Susya on the West Bank.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LU STOUT: You're watching News Stream. And up next, after weeks of intense campaigning it looks like Uber has won the first round against New

York. But the fight isn't over yet. We'll explain.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LU STOUT: Welcome back.

Now Uber just scored a big victory even if it's just a temporary one. New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio has agreed to drop his controversial

bill to regulate Uber's expansion and said the city will conduct a four month study on the effect Uber and other for-hire vehicle operators have on

traffic.

Now the bill was originally slated for a Thursday vote by the city council. If passed, it would eliminate the number of cars that for-hire

services can add to their fleet.

Uber had blasted the proposal saying it was politically motivated.

Now in China, conspicuous consumption is now politically incorrect thanks to Chinese President Xi Jinping and his war on corruption. So, what

are China's ultra rich now willing to splurge on?

Now for the latest On China, I spoke to a panel of guests about the latest spending habits of Chinese billionaires.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

[08:40:25] UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The new luxury in China right now is traveling and sharing your experiences on WeChat with your friends. It's

not about buying a Louis Vuitton bag.

So a great example is I just traveled recently with a Chinese billionaire to South Africa. And we went on safari together. And we took

this small 20 person jet where we were going to fly into different lodges. And we thought we'd be in the middle of nowhere. And as soon as we got on

the plane we found that everybody else on the plane was from China. And they were all the Chinese ultra wealthy.

So, the Chinese right now, they want to travel. They want to experience something new. They want to go to South Africa. They want to

go to Alaska. They want to go to Canada, scenes of natural beauty and exercise are really big.

LU STOUT: So, it's not about buying bags or cars or art or even football clubs, it's about buying experiences.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yeah, bling is gone, experiences is in. People are really going low profile.

MICHAEL FORSYTHE, NEW YORK TIMES: Although, some people are going low profile, some people are not. Obviously, the art market is really hot

right now. And, you know, Picassos are going for, you know, absolutely obscene amounts of money.

But the bling is still here. Just a few weeks ago, we saw pictures, and millions of Chinese saw pictures on the internet, of a dog in China

with two Apple Watches on it. That dog belonged to actually by way of his son or his daughter, to the son of the richest person in China Wang Jinlin

(ph). So he thought that that was perfectly OK, I guess, to post a picture on social media with two Apple Watches.

That's, you know, speaks to another side, you know, maybe to the remaining bling dynasty. Maybe if you're from a family who feels that

they're untouchable you can still remain, you know, blingish.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LU STOUT: Now you can watch the rest of the episode of On China this weekend. It's airing Friday, 11:30 a.m. in Hong Kong, 12:30 p.m. in Tokyo,

and again on Saturday, 1:30 p.m. Tokyo, 12:30 p.m. Hong Kong.

And for more be sure to head to CNN.com/China.

And that is News Stream. I'm Kristie Lu Stout. But don't go anywhere. World Sport with Alex Thomas is next.

END