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NEWS STREAM
ISIS Claims Responsibility for France Attack; French Election Update; Korea Tensions Examined; Truymp First 100 Days; Iraq Fighting Continues; Venezuela Unrest
Aired April 21, 2017 - 08:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KRISTIE LU STOUT, ANCHOR: I'm Kristie Lu Stout in Hong Kong and welcome to Newstream. ISIS claims responsibility for an attack on the iconic Champs-
Elysees in Paris just days ahead of French's presidential election happening this weekend.
A U.S. official says China has put bombers on high alert as fears grow over what North Korea's next move could be. And, Donald Trump is hunting for a
win to mark his first 100 days in office.
Reviving plans to overhaul healthcare just weeks after his first effort was defeated. Now, it happened just meters from the Arc de Triomphe. An
attack on the famous Champs-Elysees and with just days to go until a pivotal presidential election. Terror has shaken the people of France once
again.
On Thursday evening a gunman opened fire on police, killing gone of them and wounding two others before officers returned fire and killed the
attacker. Authorities say the killer was a French citizen. ISIS has claimed responsibility.
The attack has jolted the French presidential election now just a few days away. And top candidates have suspended their campaigns. They are voicing
outrage. The far right candidate Marine Le Pen vowed to close certain mosques linked to extremism.
And, in the last hour, French's Prime Minister accused Le Pen of capitalizing on people's fears.
BERNARD CAZENEUVE, FRENCH PRIME MINISTER (SPEAKING THROUGH TRANSLATOR): The candidate of the personal (ph) like every drama seeks to profit from
and to control the situation to divide. She seeks to benefit from fear more exclusively political ends.
LU STOUT: And, we are learning new details about the gunman and a second suspect who turned himself in in Belgium. CNN's Hala Gorani is live for us
from Paris. She joins us now.
And, Hala, terror has returned to Paris. A suspect we've learned was known to security services there. What's the latest on the investigation?
HALA GORANI, CNN ANCHOR: He was known to security services but not on the terror watch list here in France. He had been, we understand according to
reports, in facts, detained by police in February but let go because there was not enough to hold him any longer.
He was named as Karim Cheurfi. He is a French national. Born in France, 39 or 40 years old. ISIS claimed responsibly for the attack but named
someone else. Someone that goes by another name Abu Yousef Al-Balijiki.
We know that there is an individual who turned himself in in Belgium. We believe in connection with the attack. But, we're also hearing there that
perhaps there is no relation between that individual and Belgium.
And, the attack that took place just a few meters away here on the Champs- Elysees. So, either ISIS got the name wrong or potentially there is someone else on the loose. All these details are still yet to be cleared
up.
But I have a guest here with me. The deputy mayor of Paris, Patrick Klugman. A very tense, tense time right now in the capital city. Thanks
for being with us. What are you telling people who might be watching us now all around the world about how safe Paris is.
PATRICK KLUGMAN, DEPUTY MAYOR OF PARIS: Well, obviously, Paris is safe. And, of course, we have suffered causality last night with the death of
police officer but there have been many, many, many avoided attacks last week.
Even the past week, two terrorists were arrested before committing any attacks. There were many others. Paris is a safe city and .
GORGANI: But, this happened on the Champs-Elysees. The famous Champs- Elysees.
KLUGMAN: This happened on the Champs-Elysees, of course, can happen anywhere. But, you cannot avoid the possibility of an attack. You can
just limit the maximum damages. And, that's what happened we are doing.
And, enhance security wherever we can. In every touristic site, in every public institution we have the security. And, even the Parisians. We all
know, I mean, used to moving (ph) around. To be very cautious and so the city remains (ph) itself very livable that most security is for.
GORGANI: So, have you added since yesterday's attack any police on the streets? Are there any measures to secure the key sensitive areas more
now?
KLUGMAN: The key sensitive areas are always secured as they were before the attack. But, there will be stress you know that on Sunday we'll be
having our national elections, presidential elections.
GORGANI: Yes. The first round.
KLUGMAN: The first round. And, of course they are very specific measures to allow anyone who want to vote to go and make it very (inaudible).
GORGANI: And how - what are those measures?
KLUGMAN: Many agents around every voting site in the - in the city and districts and the public schools where we have the vote happening.
GORGANI: So, you've added more police .
KLUGMAN: Yes.
GORGANI: . more security to the voting stations.
KLUGMAN: Yes, of course. Because, we know that this election is under threat and we want it to be safe because the vote is the most important
response to any terror attack. Democracy is a response.
GORGANI: Do you think there is an active threat now against voting stations, voters on this important day on Sunday?
KLUGMAN: There is no active threat but there is no possibility that we can leave (ph) a risk like that. So, we want to secure the vote because voting
is our response and all the city is already secure. And, you know, effects (ph) are credited (ph) all over the world now.
It can be Canada, it can be in England, it can be in Paris. So, though we to respond. And, to people living very quietly but also be more focused
than ever.
GORGANI: The candidates that are running for president here in France all have responded to this. Obviously, they have no choice. This has become a
campaign issue as well. Marine Le Pen is saying close all the Islamic mosques. You must deport dual nationals who are on the terror watch list.
And then, others like Emmanuel Macron who is the centrist candidate saying this is a clash of civilizations. I will protect you if I'm elected
president. What do you think is the solution?
KLUGMAN: Well, there are many solutions but the first of all is to keep on being a democracy, fighting terror. This is the key element and, by the
way, it's also fighting back in Syria and the demolish the square (ph).
But, right now, our (inaudible) is to have the election going on normally. Not let the terrorists .
GORGANI: Disrupt.
KLUGMAN: Disrupt this process.
GORGANI: How concerned are you? You must be concerned that something is going to happen.
KLUGMAN: Of course. Of course we are concerened. But, my concern is to fight and to remain a democratic livable city in a democratic livable
country fighting terror.
GORGANI: Does it keep you up at night?
KLUGMAN: (Inaudible) up at night, everyday and every night. But, we will keep on going.
GORGANI: When you heard the news did you think, not again?
KLUGMAN: Of course. But, when I hear the news anywhere in the world, not only in Paris.
GORGANI: Well, it's your city, though.
KLUGMAN: Of course it's my city. But, we are facing a global threat. Not a Paris threat. And, I think also, we have to (inaudible) globally.
GORGANI: Patrick Klugman, thank you very much for joining us on CNN. We appreciate your time.
KLUGMAN: My pleasure. Thank you.
GORGANI: And, there you have it. Kristi, there a high level official here in the city of Paris responding to that terrorist attack on the Champs-
Elysees. All the voting stations will have extra security so that this very important day on Sunday goes ahead without incident. Back to you.
LU STOUT: And, the deputy mayor of Paris telling you just then that Paris is safe. Hala Gorgani reporting for us live. Thank you. And now, to
Germany where we are getting new information about the man arrested in the bombing of the Borussia Dortmund soccer team bus.
Now, last week three explosive devices went off near the bus injuring a player and shattering windows. The suspect is 28 years old and has both
German and Russian citizenship.
Prosecutors say his motive appears to have been financial. They say that he purchased options to short sell the clubs stock hoping that the attack
would cause share prices to fall so he could make a profit.
Now, to the escalating tension on the Korean Peninsula, in the last few hours, sailors (ph) of the Pyongyang could launch some kind of military
action at any moment as the North prepares to mark its annual Military Foundation Day.
Meanwhile, a U.S. Defense official tells CNN the Chinese Air Force has put bombers capable of carrying cruise missiles on high alert. Let's go to
Beijing. Dave McKenzie standing by.
And, David, again, American officials are saying China is putting these bombers on high alert but what are Chinese officials saying?
DAVID MCKENZIE, CNN ANCHOR: Well, Kristie, as you may know the Chinese very, very rarely speak publicly about their military operations and in
this case, they yet again done that.
Both, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Defense Ministry not commenting in any way on those reports from CNN. Our colleagues in
Washington speaking to U.S. officials saying that these bombers are on high alert.
Now, it could be, of course, that they are on high alert for some other reason other than the tensions on the Korean Peninsula. But, it does add
to the general anxiety about those raising tensions and the possibility of a possible nuclear test in North Korea.
There is also the sense that Donald Trump is really focusing on China as the country to solve the Korean Peninsula's problems.
DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I have great respect for the President of China. As you know, we had a great summit in Florida.
MCKENZIE: Since the Mar-a-Lago meeting President Trump has had nothing but praise for President Xi Jinping. Though the budding bromance seems
transactional.
TRUMP: I actually told him. I said you'll make a much better deal on trade if you get rid of trade if you get rid of this menace or do something
about the menace of North Korea. Because that's what it is. It's a menace right now.
MCKENZIE: Satellite images show that North Koreas is prepping for a sixth nuclear test and they continue to test and parade ballistic missiles.
Their aim in bombastic propaganda films like this at least is to destroy the United States.
Trump is calling on China to fix the problem. And, recently China is taking a tougher stand. Halting coat (ph) imports a major source of income
for North Korea and tightly enforcing sanctions.
But, experts say that China doesn't have the sway they used to in Pyongyang. For years Kim Jong-un has ignored China's demands to stop their
nuclear program.
And, Kim knows that China will resist drastic steps like cutting off all trade because it could collapse its dictatorship, cause the flood of
refugees in to China and strengthen America's hand in the region. So, for now, China is likely to do only so much.
LU STOUT: That was David McKenzie reporting there. Now, President Trump may be talking tough on North Korea but he may need to brush up his
knowledge about the region to earn points with the South Koreans. Ivan Watson is in Seoul to explain. Ivan?
IVAN WATSON, CNN ANCHOR: Kristie, recent comments by U.S. President Donald Trump have attracted significant controversy here in South Korea. He
described in an interview with the "Wall Street Journal" a conversation that he had with the Chinese leader Xi Jingpin in Florida.
In which he said quote, "Xi then went into the history of China and Korea not North Korea, Korea. And, you know you're talking about thousands of
years and may wars and Korea actually used to be a part of China".
Well that has been rejected by many Koreans we've talked to. The South Korean Foreign Ministry says it has reached out to both China and the U.S.
to try to clarify this. Insisting that Korea never was in its history part of China.
And, here's what some people here on the streets have been telling us as well.
UNKNOWN: It is unreasonable to say that. It is nuts. Nonsense.
UNKNOWN: I was furious to learn the news this morning. He lacks understanding of the Korean Peninsula.
UNKNOWN: I don't know what President Xi actually said but I think Trump has misunderstood Korean history.
WATSON: And, Kristi, it's election season right now. Here are some campaign posters from some of the candidates for upcoming May 9
presidential elections. And, several of them have been weighing in as well challenging the American president.
UNKNOWN: For the past 5,000 years we have never been part of China. So, I want to tell President Trump that is not true.
WATSON: The South Korean Foreign Ministry says it's still waiting for an answer from the U.S. and Chinese governments about this dispute over this
country's history. Kristi?
LU STOUT: All right. CNN's Ivan Watson reporting there. Now, the U.S. Vice President is at the fourth stop of his Asia Pacific tour. He's in
Australia and he's to meet Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull in the coming hours.
They're expected to talk trade and regional security. It is the first visit by senior Trump administration officials since a phone call between
President Trump and Prime Minister Turnbull made international headlines.
Mr. Trump berated the prime minister over a refugee resettlement program that had been negotiated with the former U.S. president. (Inaudible)
reports that deal is likely to be discussed. The vice president is also to meet Australian business executives in Sydney.
U.S. officials insist that in Syria, Syria still has chemical weapons. We have more on what that means for the group trying to end the civil war just
ahead. Also ahead in the program, Venezuela is on edge.
Anti government protesters are expected back out again on Friday. Where all this could be headed next ahead in the program.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
DAVID MCKENZIE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: the general anxiety about those raising tensions and the possibility of a possible nuclear test in North Korea.
There is also the sense that the Donald Trump is really focusing on China as the country to solve the Korean Peninsula's problems.
TRUMP: I have great respect for the president of China. As you know, we had a great summit in Florida.
MCKENZIE: Since the Mar-a-Lago meeting, President Trump has had nothing but praise for President Xi Jinping though the budding bromance seems
transactional.
TRUMP: I actually told him, I said "you'll make a much better deal on trade if you get rid of this menace or do something about the menace of
North Korea because that's what it is; it's a menace right now.
MCKENZIE: Satellite images show that North Korea is prepping for a sixth nuclear test and they continue to test and parade ballistic missiles.
Their aim in bombastic propaganda films like this at least is to destroy the United States. Trump is calling on China to fix the problem. And
recently China is taking a tougher stand, halting coal imports, a major source of income for North Korea and tightly enforcing sanctions.
But experts say that China doesn't have the sway they used to in Pyongyang. For years, Kim Jong Un has ignored China's demands to stop their nuclear
program and Kim knows that China will resist drastic steps like cutting off all trade because it could collapse his dictatorship, cause a flood of
refugees into China, and strengthen America's hand in the region. So for now, China is likely to do only so much.
KRISTIE LU STOUT, HOST OF CNN NEWS STREAM: That was CNN's Dave McKenzie reporting there. Now president Trump may be talking tough on
North Korea but he may need to brush up his knowledge about the region to earn points with the South Koreans. Ivan Watson is Seoul to explain.
Ivan?
IVAN WATSON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Kristie, recent comments by U.S. President Donald Trump have attracted significant
controversy here in South Korea. He described in an interview with the "Wall Street Journal" a conversation he had with the Chinese leader Xi
Jinping in Florida in which he said, quote, "Xi then went into the history of China and Korea. Not North Korea, Korea. And you know you're talking
about thousands of years and many wars and Korea actually used to be a part of China."
Well, that has been rejected by many Koreans we've talked to. The South Korean foreign ministry says it has reached out to both China and the U.S.
to try to clarify this, insisting that Korea never was in its history part of China. And here's what some people here on the streets have been
telling us as well.
UNKNOWN (THROUGH TRANSLATOR): It is unreasonable to say that. It is nuts, nonsense.
UNKNOWN (THROUGH TRANSLATOR): I was furious to learn the news this morning. He lacks understanding of the Korean Peninsula.
UNKNOWN (THROUGH TRANSLATOR): I don't know what President Xi actually said but I think Trump has misunderstood Korean history.
WATSON: And Kristie, it's election season right now. Here are some campaign posters from some of the candidates for upcoming May 9
presidential elections and several of them have been weighing in as well, challenging the American president.
YOO SEONG-MIN, BAREUN PARTY'S PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE: For the past 5,000 years, we have never been part of China so I want to tell President Trump
that it is not true.
WATSON: The South Korean Foreign Ministry says it's still waiting for an answer from the U.S. and Chinese governments about this dispute over this
country's history. Kristie?
LU STOUT: All right, CNN's Ivan Watson reporting there. Now the U.S. vice president is at the fourth stop of his Asia-Pacific tour. He's in
Australia and he's to meet Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull in the coming hours. They're expected to talk trade and regional security. It is the
first visit by senior Trump administration officials since a phone call between President Trump and Prime Minister Turnbull made international
headlines.
Mr. Trump berated the prime minister over a refugee resettlement program that had been negotiated with the former U.S. president. Reuters reports
that deal is likely to be discussed. The vice president is also to meet Australian business executives in Sydney. U.S. officials insist that in
Syria, Syria still has chemical weapons. We have more on what that means for the groups trying to end the civil war just ahead.
Also in the program, Venezuela is on edge. Antigovernment protesters are expected back out again on Friday. Where all this could be headed next,
ahead on the program.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LU STOUT: Coming to you live from Hong Kong, welcome back, you're watching News Stream. Now with his 100th day as president fast approaching, Donald
Trump is already playing down the media's assessment of his opening weeks in office. In the last hour, Trump tweeted this; quote, "no matter how
much I accomplish during the ridiculous standard of the first 100 days, it has been a lot including the Supreme Court. Media will kill."
From Washington, CNN's Joe Johns has more on the president's push for a big win before that crucial 100 day mark.
TRUMP: We have a good chance of getting it soon. I'd like to say next week.
JOE JOHNS, CNN SENIOR WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT: President Trump pushing hard for a legislative win before his 100th day in office next week;
reviving his healthcare effort that failed just weeks ago.
TRUMP: The plan gets better and better and better and it's gotten really, really good and a lot of people are liking it a lot.
JOHNS: Republicans want to help the president deliver on one of his key campaign promises as Democrats remain skeptical that a deal will be
reached.
NANCY PELOSI, HOUSE MINORITY LEADER: You can put lipstick on a sow and call her Monique and she's still a pig.
(LAUGHTER)
That's what this bill is. It's the same terrible bill.
JOHNS: A draft proposal published Thursday by Politico maintains several provisions of Obamacare including the ban on rejecting patients with
preexisting conditions and guaranteed coverage for maternity care. But it would allow states to seek waivers for many of these mandates if they show
it would be in the public interest; concessions aimed at placating both moderates and conservatives.
PAUL RYAN, HOUSE SPEAKER: It's difficult to do. We're very close and it's basically, make good on the promises that were made.
JOHNS: This effort comes at the same time Congress faces a deadline next week to pass a massive spending bill to avert a government shutdown.
TRUMP: OK, I want to get both. Are you shocked to hear that? I think we want to keep the government open, don't you agree? So yeah, I think we'll
get both.
JOHNS: President Trump asking Congress to include $1.4 billion to begin building his controversial border wall. The Trump White House does have
one victory they will celebrate today. The "Washington Post" reporting that the Trump administration was instrumental in securing the release of
an Egyptian-American aid worker in prison for three years on unproven charges along with her husband and several other humanitarian workers.
The news comes after Trump publicly embraced Egypt's president at the White House despite the authoritarian leader's history of human rights abuses.
TRUMP: We are very much behind President el-Sisi. He's done a fantastic job in a very difficult situation.
LU STOUT: And that was CNN's Joe Johns reporting. Turning to the crisis in Syria, the U.S. Secretary of Defense James Mattis says that there is no
doubt Syria still has chemical weapons.
He told reporters in Israel that he doesn't want to get into the amount they might have but Reuters quotes an Israeli official as saying Syria
still has a few tons. Mattis said Syria moved its war planes from the base of the U.S. bombs in retaliation for a chemical attack earlier this month.
And meanwhile, across the border in Northern Iraq, the battle to retake the city of Mosul has entered its final stages.
Iraqi forces and ISIS are fighting in the narrow streets of the historic center. It's called the Old City. But, countless of civilians are trapped
in the fighting and they're desperate for food, for access to supplies, even water. Nick Paton Walsh is in Erbil, southeast of Mosul. He joins us
now live. And Nick, this battle is raging there in the historic heart of Mosul. Civilians are trapped. They're terrified. What's the latest?
NICK PATON WALSH, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, the most troubling element is at that front line we visited is so extraordinarily
fluid. At one minute it appears possible for Federal police there to advance forward hundreds of meters, then they're pushed back. And that
just continues the torture, the deprivation, the loss of life amongst the possibly hundreds of thousands of civilians caught in Mosul's Old City, as
we saw.
Ground down to its bones, Mosul is so quiet. A specter where once bustled. You ask yourself, where are its people? Where have ISIS taken them? The
answer is here. Trapped in the war(ph) on front(ph) of Old City, a density populated final holdout of ISIS here.
Gives(ph) a stalemate(ph) a few who(ph) waits now, we're(ph) told(ph) are a few alleyways down.
(INAUDIBLE)
WALSH: Tens of thousands of civilians held as human shields. You can see from these drone pictures, filmed during a massive ISIS counterattack,
exactly how tight the streets are packed. In every one, Hell could await. The al-Nuri mosque from where ISIS leader, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi gave his
only real public speech. Its central prize.
Each street window, a bloody slog. But now, abhorrent truth clear that ISIS leaves nothing intact behind it. There in the distance is the reason
why ISIS are fighting so hard in these dense winding streets. To hold the Iraqi police and military back. That is the al-Nuri mosque. Very much the
ideological heart and rock of their self-declared caliphate.
They want more American precision fire power. Up until now, their help is weak, he says. They have advanced precise weapons, and with intelligence,
they can help us better. So far astonishingly, Star(ph) Brooke(ph) aged four, has both stayed in her home and survived. And does not flinch once.
There is no life under ISIS, her father says. No food, no water, no electricity. We had to dig a well to pull water. The first thing she's
really known is the police. She loves them like kids in her school. And there, as the shells still rain down, are those who will never leave. And
those who do, as fast as they can.
Far enough out, they are ferried to camps. Brimming with stories of ISIS using human shields, of herding civilians into kill zones to make them die
with them.
UNIDENTIFIED SPEAKER: They would besiege us and use us as a human shields. Take people and families as they withdraw.
UNIDENTIFIED SPEAKER: My brother and the rest of his family are besieged. ISIS hit them with sticks, dragging him away. He's crippled. He can't go
anywhere.
WALSH: These voices, a fraction of the cacophony of suffering inside in a fight that may take months more yet. Preferred(ph) the U.N. have warned at
one point, they believe possibly as many as 400,000 civilians were trapped inside that old city of Mosul. The fight for that always going to be the
hardest, most bloody chapter of the nasty(ph) last chapter of putting ISIS out of Iraq.
The fight for Mosul itself. The Iraqi military have said they believe that ISIS now only control about seven percent of Iraq, from a higher(ph) about
40 percent too and all eyes now focusing as this battle gets to a nasty nightmare-ish crescendo round the Old City. Could take weeks or a month,
it's the simultaneous operation beginning to wind up around the de facto capital, the self-declared caliphate of ISIS and that's Raqqa in Northern
Syria. Back to you.
LU STOUT: All right, Nick Paton Walsh reporting live for us from Erbil, many thanks indeed for that. You're watching "News Stream." Still to
come, right here in the program, a show of defiance and an image that we won't soon forget. This woman refusing to back down during the violent
protest gripping Venezuela.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LU STOUT: I'm Kristie Lu Stout in Hong Kong. You're watching "News Stream," and these are your world headlines. Authorities say a French
national with a long criminal record was behind Thursday's deadly shooting in Paris. A police officer was killed when the gunman opened fire on the
famed Champs-Elysees.
Two other officers were wounded. The gun man was killed when police returned fire. ISIS has claimed responsibility. Authorities have arrested
a 28-year-old German Russian citizen in the bombing of the Borussia Dortmund team bus. They say that he was staying in the team hotel on the
day of the attack. The motive may have been financial. Prosecutors say the suspect have purchased options to short to sell the club stock, hoping
that the attack would cause share prices to fall so he could make a profit.
The U.S. Vice President just landed at the fourth stop on his Asia-Pacific tour on Australia. He is to meet Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull in the
coming hours. They're expected to talk trade and regional security. It is the first visit by a senior Trump administration official since President
Trump lambasted the prime minister over the phone on a refugee resettlement agreement.
Antigovernment protesters in Venezuela are not letting up the pressure. Opposition leaders are calling for more demonstrations against President
Maduro on Friday after weeks of unrest. This scene of an unidentified woman blocking advancing armored trucks. It shows just how determined
these protesters are.
An incredible scene there. It has been a tumultuous period for Venezuela. And Shasta Darlington is tracking it all from Rio de Janeiro in neighboring
Brazil. She joins us live. Shasta, I mean, all out anger there on the streets of Venezuela. The protests continue. What's the latest?
SHASTA DARLINGTON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's right, Kristie. I think what's just so remarkable about this latest wave of demonstrations is just
how sustained it's been. We haven't seen this for a couple of years. So, the protests really begin at the - at the beginning of the month. But,
they just aren't letting up. Demonstrators are back on the streets yesterday.
They're keeping up the pressure on President Nicolas Maduro. The groups were smaller than the massive marches on Wednesday, but they ended in the
same violent clashes with security forces firing tear gra(ph) - - tear gas on the protestors. The protestors themselves lobbing
(file 210830)
DARLINGTON: Pressure on President Nicolas Maduro. The groups were smaller than the massive marches on Wednesday, but they ended in the same violent
clashes with security forces firing tear gra(ph) - - tear gas on the protestors. The protestors themselves lobbing rocks. Many covering their
faces carrying signs that say no more dictatorship.
And that's because this is exactly what they're accusing Maduro of doing. And trying to turn the country into a dictatorship. And they have some
pretty clear demands, starting with a timetable for regional elections, which have been repeatedly delayed. And now as you mentioned, they say
they're going to keep up these protests for at least another three days.
This will be crucial if they can maintain the numbers. If they can maintain that fury, there really does seem to be a chance that they could
get Maduro to at lease concede in some of the areas like these regional elections, Kristie.
LU STOUT: Shasta, the tension is rising in Venezuela as is the pressure on the president, Nicolas Madura. The protestors have issued their list of
demands, including holding elections. How is Nicolas Maduro responding and managing this growing unrest there?
DARLINGTON: Kristie, so far we really seen defiance from President Maduro. He's had the army out on the streets. And remember, this was all kicked
off at the end of last month when the Supreme Court, which is stacked with judges that actually were appointed by Maduro, tried to assume the
responsibilities of congress, which is controlled by opposition lawmakers.
There was such huge backlash against that, that they reversed some of the really key decisions there so the congress does have some of its powers
back. But we've seen these kind of moves by Maduro and his supporters really trying to keep their handle on power, but at the same time they're
coming under pressure from neighboring countries like Brazil, like Argentina, which traditionally, have tried to hold back and call these
internal affairs.
Well, they're now speaking out saying this crisis has to be solved, but the government, the opposition, have to sit down, restart negotiations, and
especially figure out that timetable for the regional elections, which would be a first step towards resolving this crisis, Kristie.
LU STOUT: Yes, and it seems that there are multiple factors that are driving this crisis. Their protests have been on going for quite sometime
in Venezuela, not only the issues over governance, calling for new elections, the leadership of Nicolas Madura, but also the severe economic
crisis in Venezuela. Is that playing a role as well behind the scenes?
DARLINGTON: Kristie, this is - it's the fundamental role. This is why really political tensions have been on the rise for a couple of years now.
Why areas that for more than a decade have supported the left wing and former President Hugo Chavez and then Maduro are actually beginning to
shift.
They're beginning to feel forgotten. To feel not taken care of because of this secure - severe economic crisis. There's a shortage of even the most
basic foods and medicines. You're seeing thousands of people flooding across the borders into Colombia and Brazil just trying to get into
hospitals. Trying to get jobs. So this definitely plays a role and it is eroding support for Maduro. Just - you know - a little - just a key part
of it, but we even saw General Motors announcing yesterday that they're going to halt all operations in Venezuela after authorities seized one of
the their plants, even, they say, removing some vehicles from the facility. Well, that's a couple thousand jobs that are now going to be put on hold.
It's not good news, Kristie.
LU STOUT: Shasta Darlington, reporting live for us from Rio. Thank you, Shasta.
Officials in Washington tell CNN that the U.S. authorities are stepping up efforts to arrest the founder of Wikileaks, Julian Assange. As Pamela
Brown reports, the U.S. Attorney General says arresting Assange is a priority.
PAMELA BROWN, CNNI: U.S. authorities have prepared to seek arrest of Wikileaks founder Julian Assange. U.S. officials familiar with the matter
tell CNN that the justice department probe Assange in Wikileaks dates back to at least 2010 when the site first gained widespread attention for
posting thousands of files stolen by the formed U.S. Army intelligence analyst now known as Chelsea Manning.
Now prosecutors have struggled with whether the first amendment concluded the prosecution of Assange, but now they believe they have found a way to
move forward. During President Barrack Obama's administration, Attorney General Eric Holder and officials of the justice department determined that
it would difficult to bring charges.
Because Wikileaks wasn't alone in publishing documents stolen by Manning, several newspapers, including The New York Times, did as well. The U.S.
view of Wikileaks though and Assange began to evolve after investigators found what they believe was proof that Wikileaks played an active role in
helping Edward Snowden.
The former NSA Analyst disclose a massive cash of classified documents, Wikileaks has well defended itself as publishing in the public's interest
and compares itself to media organizations. Now, as we know Assange is sitting in the Ecuadorian embassy in London, so this move is seen more to
be a political message now more than anything, we're told Pamela Brown CNN, Washington.
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STOUT: Coming up next right here on Newstream, furniture with a humane touch. We speak to Ikea about a new project, giving Syrian refugees a
chance to embrace their creativity, up next.
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STOUT: Welcome back, now, Ikea is giving dozens of Syrian refugees who have fled the horrors of war a chance to make a living. It's rolling out a
line of rugs and textiles crafted by refugees. I spoke earlier with Ikea's Jesper Brodin about the project and asked about the inspiration behind it.
JESPER BRODIN, RANGE & SUPPLY MANAGER, IKEA: Based on the tragedy in Syria and all the refugees that have been accepted in Jordan, we went down and
had a look and discussed with people whether we could contribute in any way to provide jobs, because after shelter and the basic humanities that is
needed, the next thing is really helping integrate people in society.
STOUT: And how many jobs do you create for Syrian refugees as a result of this initiative?
BRODIN: It's going to be fairly small, it is about 200 people to start with. And we think it could involve about 2,000 people. But it's
something that we need to develop over the years to come. Our starting point has been to go and get started with fewer people and learn, and then
we can see if we an accelerate this to a large audience.
STOUT: Absolutely, and how much of the artistry that goes into these rugs and textiles is from the Syrian refugees, is from Ikea's own designers?
BRODIN: This is not really about charity, but it is about creating jobs and support. And as such we think it's important to bring along both the
local artisans and their skills and crafts and techniques. Together with Ikea's knowledge about design, but also a number of regional designers that
will be included into the project.
So the ambition is really not to create something expected but actually to create something new that also our customers can be excited about. And
their people can be really proud about.
STOUT: Please describe the working conditions of the Syrian refugees who are involved in this project.
BRODIN: When it comes to working conditions, Ikea has a set of a number of codes that is important in any type of production. And this regulates, for
example, working hours, minimum pay, safety, et cetera.
It's quite a high standard. Now this standard will apply also in this project, so as we speak actually we have people in Jordan looking into the
practicalities of how we can set that up in a good way.
STOUT: This initiative, it was announced before President Trump made that executive order on immigration, but I understand Ikea does have a response
to that order?
BRODIN: To be honest. This has very little to do with politics of the world, but more to look at what we can do as company in order to support
people in the next phase, being refugees. The important thing here is today the world is supporting in different ways, refugees, with the basic
humanities.
And also Ikea in this respect is active through the partners that we have in the Ikea foundation. The next step is how do you actually integrate
people in society? How do you provide jobs? And that's what this is all about.
STOUT: When will this range of textiles and rugs be available to the public for purchase? And also, could this be the beginning of something else for
other projects involving other displaced peoples around the world?
BRODIN: We hope to launch(ph) the collection in 2019. And that can sound like a long time from now but the most important for us is really to make
sure that people get jobs. And we hope that already by September the first group of people will be put to work.
We have got to know Jordan much better. We have a store in Amman. We have great connections with the local authorities. The Jordan authorities are
providing a one-door entry for collaboration that is highly professional and really service oriented. So what we hope is that not only for us in
IKEA to provide jobs and be part of society. But we can inspire other companies and challenge them to also do a similar setup in Jordan.
STOUT: And that was IDEA's Range and Supply Manager, Jesper Brodin speaking with me earlier about the landmark project to sell rugs and
textiles made by Syrian refugees. Before we go, the death of Diana, the Princess of Wales, left the royals dealing with a terrible tragedy and they
hid their feelings. But now, her sons are trying to shatter any stigma about opening up about mental health. In a new film series, we spoke with
the Duchess of Cambridge about how they coped with the death of their mother.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CATHERINE MIDDLETON, PRINCESS OF WALES, DUTCHESS OF CAMBRIDGE: I do think it's incredible how strong and how you've been able to able to cope really.
I put that down to your really early years, childhood experience, but also the relationship you've got, you're amazingly close.
WILLIAM ARTHUR PHILIP LOUIS, PRINCE OF WALES, DUKE OF CAMBRIDGE: Most of the time.
MIDDLETON: Some families aren't as lucky as you guys have been and being able to share things.
LOUIS: But we have been brought closer because of the circumstances as well. That's the thing. You are uniquely bonded because of what we've
been through. But even Henry and I, over the years, are not taught enough about our mother.
HENRY CHARLES ALBERT DAVID, PRINCE OF WALES: No, never enough.
MIDDLETON: Has doing this campaign made you realize that to a certain extent?
DAVID: I think so. I always thought to myself, what's the point in bringing up the past? What's the point in bringing up something that's
only going to make you sad? It ain't going to change it; it ain't going to bring her back. And when you start thinking like that, it can be really
damaging. But you always said to me, you've got to sit down and think about those memories. But for me it was like -- don't want to think about
it.
LOUIS: Yes. I think what happened with us and what's happened with others as well, you have to prioritize your own mental health. You have to say to
yourself at some point -- because it's very easy to run away from it, to walk away from it and avoid it. Someone has to take the lead and has to be
brave enough to force that conversation.
(END VIDEO TAPE)
STOUT: And it is such a valuable conversation to have. And that is "News Stream" I'm Kristie Lu Stout and "World Sport" with Alex Thomas is next.
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