Return to Transcripts main page
NEWS STREAM
Pushing For Democracy In Sudan; Red Cross Says It Has Reason To Believe One Of Those Staff Members May Still Be Alive; A Unique Portrayal Of U.S. President Donald Trump in Hong Kong. Aired: 8-9a ET
Aired April 15, 2019 - 08:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
WILL RIPLEY, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Pushing for democracy in Sudan.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: A kind of fatigue has set in, especially after the victory of opposing Omar Al-Bashir and Al-Bashir's Vice President.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
RIPLEY (voice over): Neighboring countries are now supporting a Military Transitional Council.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
FARAI SEVENZO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It leaves these participants in an isolated and fringed disposition.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
RIPLEY (voice over): A desperate call.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We are making a public plea for three of our staff members who are abducted in Syria.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
RIPLEY (voice over): The Red Cross says it has reason to believe one of those staff members may still be alive.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We miss Louisa very much. We just want her home.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
RIPLEY (voice over): And a wild imagination.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Mr. Donald Trump.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
RIPLEY (voice over): A Hong Kong opera wonders what if President Donald Trump had a twin brother living in China.
RIPLEY (on camera): Hey, I'm Will Ripley in Hong Kong, in for Kristie Lu Stout on this Monday. Welcome to NEWS STREAM and we begin in Sudan where
the ousted President will face charges as protesters vow to keep up pressure on the ruling military council.
CNN has learned that Omar Al-Bashir, along with the head of the ruling party and the former Interior Minister will be charged with corruption and
the deaths of protesters. All three are wanted by the International Criminal Court for alleged war crimes. The announcement comes as activist
groups call for new protests outside Army Headquarters in Khartoum. They are demanding a quick transition to a civilian government.
For all of this, we go now to CNN Senior International Correspondent, Nima Elbagir Barber, who joins me from Khartoum. Nima, just extraordinary
developments, breaking just in the last few hours. Tell us what this means for the people of Sudan and for you personally covering this story in your
home country.
ELBAGIR: What's been interesting really to witness up close, Will, is how people are very much committed to what they see as the necessary end result
of this process. So while even just a few weeks ago, when I was here having to report undercover, unable to be open about being a journalist,
because it risked the death penalty. So there are already huge changes.
The reality is that the protesters believe that this isn't enough. As extraordinary as it is to try and assimilate the thought that Al-Bashir and
senior regime figures could be facing serious charges. What people want here is democracy. And in fact, the numbers at the sit-in are growing
well. There was an attempt by some Armed Forces offices, by the Deputy Head of the Military Transitional Council this morning to convince
protesters to clear their barricades and they refused.
In fact, immediately a chart was taken up to him saying, "You clean this country of the criminals that ran it and we will clean up when we are
done." So, Will, real emotional sense of mission here on the ground, Will.
RIPLEY: And yet the similarities is, as you know well, Nima, to the Arab Spring uprisings in 2011 are pretty striking. And from what I've read, in
some ways, deliberate, but you know, that they didn't end well in democracy for a lot of the people who were protesting in those countries. So where
does this seem to be headed there?
ELBAGIR: And that's absolutely what we hear time and time again. We hear the people drawing comparisons with Libya, with Syria and with neighboring
Egypt. And that really is what's fueling the persistence of the demonstrators on the ground. They say we don't want, as they see it, a
similar situation to Egypt, where you have the military -- the infrastructure of rule remaining in place, even if Hosni Mubarak, the
leader was deposed. What we want here is a clean sweep, and that's why they say they are unwilling to accept military rule even if it is just
being put to them as a transitional option.
Because they say these are the same people who led the infrastructure of our oppression, the Vice President Commander Mohamed Hamdan, he had
something now called the Rapid Support Forces, but for most people, his troops will be more familiar as part of the so-called Janjaweed militias
that terrorize people in Darfur.
The person now leading the Military Transitional Council was the Inspector General of the Army. There are real concerns that they don't want to end
up with just the infrastructure and a new face heading it and that's why they say, they are going to stay on the ground. They are going to continue
to occupy this space and they are tens of thousands, Will, until they are given what they feel they deserve, and that is free and fair elections.
[08:05:05] RIPLEY: Nima Elbagir just quite a moment for you to follow personally and we will have you there on the ground. We will be checking
in with you, as this all unfolds, appreciate it, Nima.
For years, the Sudanese people have been organizing, they've been resisting, and even as world powers took steps to legitimize the regime,
accused of everything from state sponsored brutality to rampant corruption, protesters felt that they were the ones standing alone up against it.
One of them joins me now, Hamid Murtada Khalafallah joins me now live from Khartoum. Hamid, I want to know what it was like to live for decades under
the Bashir regime and tell me how that compares to the mood in your country now.
HAMID MURTADA KHALAFALLAH, ACTIVIST, KHARTOUM, SUDAN (via phone): It was terrible, like I was born in the age of Omar Al-Bashir and had my whole
life under this same President, 29 years of my life, the most important 29 years of my life, being oppressed, being deprived of my basic rights,
feeling like I do not belong to this place. Feeling like this place is not welcoming for me. It doesn't allow me to be myself to do the thing that I
want to do.
It was really bad and terrible, like living with such a toxic environment that makes you feel like you're an outsider and that you need to do certain
things and believe in certain beliefs and act in certain ways. And now finally, you can see like, there is hope. There is room for you to exist
and to be yourself?
RIPLEY: Is there a feeling on the ground there that this is all part of a real transition to a civilian government? Or, you know, is there a concern
that this regime is just perpetuating itself and switching out some of the figures at the top?
KHALAFALLAH: There are major concerns -- many concerns. We cannot trust the military. We cannot trust anyone at this moment after this 30 years of
just believing on promises that really were empty, but literally empty promises, so we cannot trust anyone.
We have a lot of concerns and the Military Council hasn't shown any fears at the moment in like answering our demands and actually implementing
everything that we want. So, yes, we do have our concerns, but we do have a lot of hope and belief that we are still being able to remove Bashir who
was ruling for 30 years, we are able to get all of our demands met.
RIPLEY: All right, Hamid Murdad Khalafallah, thank you so much for your perspective on the ground there and we'll keep watching this story.
A New Zealand nurse kidnapped by ISIS five years ago may still be alive. This is according to the International Committee for the Red Cross. Louisa
Akiva, who who you see right here and her two Syrian drivers were abducted in Northern Syria. That was back in October of 2013, more than five years
ago.
CNN's Andrew Stevens CNN Sandra Stevens tells us we have not heard much publicly about her case, but there's been plenty happening behind the
scenes.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ANDREW STEVENS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Will, for five and a half years, the abduction of New Zealand nurse, Louisa Akiva by ISIS in Syria was kept
tightly under wraps. Her family, the New Zealand government and her employer, the Red Cross, all enforced a strict media blackout. They feared
that her life could be in danger if the news of her abduction was made public.
Now the 62-year-old humanitarian and her Syrian drivers, Alaa Rajab and Nabil Bakdounes were captured in October 2013 when their convoy was stopped
at a checkpoint near Idlib in Northwestern Syria. They just delivered medical supplies. But after failing to negotiate her release, and with
ISIS defeated and as the Caliphate broken up, the International Committee of the Red Cross, the ICRC decided to go public.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
NIAHM LAWLESS, SECRETARY GENERAL, NEW ZEALAND RED CROSS: Our number one priority all along has been Louisa's safety and as you say, decisions have
been taken always with that in mind, and one of those decisions was to keep the information as far out of the public eye as possible. The ICRC has
taken the lead and we've worked collectively together around when is -- there is no right or wrong time. The assessment is made that with the fall
of the Caliphate that the risk we really need to seek by calling for action whether we can find out any more information at this point.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
STEVENS: It was a decision that did not have the support of the government and that sparked an immediate backlash from New Zealand Prime Minister,
Jacinda Ardern.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JACINDA ARDERN, NEW ZEALAND PRIME MINISTER: You'll forgive me, I hope for not commenting on that case. It absolutely remains the government's view
that it would be preferable if this case were not in the public domain.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
STEVENS: The ICRC has reason to believe that Louisa Arkiva is still live.
[08:10:00] STEVEN: According to the Red Cross, she was credibly identified by two people in December last year in the Syrian town of Souza. That's
one of the last towns that was held by ISIS. There's also been reports that she's been working for her captives at ISIS-controlled medical
facilities in Syria.
Her family described her as having true goodness in her heart. She has been with the Red Cross for 32 years and has worked in many conflict zones,
including Afghanistan, Iraq and Bosnia.
She is also the recipient of the Florence Nightingale medal. That is the highest honor by the Red Cross. It is awarded to nurses for their courage
and devotion to victims of armed conflicts and natural disasters -- Will.
RIPLEY: For context, I want to bring in CNN senior international correspondent, Arwa Damon, she has spent a lot of time reporting in Syria.
She has extensively covered the war against ISIS and she joins me now live from Istanbul. Arwa, you've spoken with former prisoners, you know what
they go through in many cases? What would it take for a Western woman to survive five years in captivity?
ARWA DAMON, CNN, SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: You know, Will, reading through this whole story, I was actually thinking to myself, as I'm
sure a lot of people who hear about this are, exactly how it is that she would have managed to survive? What must have gone through her head? What
was she trying to do perhaps to attempt to escape? What was her health like? Who was taking care of her?
Look, officially speaking, according to the ICRC, they are saying that they know very little about what her actual day-to-day was, but as you heard
Andrew reporting there at one point, they do believe that she was at the very least allowed to get out of her jail cell and begin tending to
patients in ISIS-controlled territories.
From those who have managed to escape ISIS captivity, we do know of some horrific conditions under which they are being held. We do know, at least
in the case of some of the Western ISIS detainees who did manage to get out after their respective governments did pay ransom, that they were often
pulled out for things like mock executions.
In the case of female detainees, it's much more difficult, it's much more challenging. Some of them, although it does not seem to be the case with
Louisa, did end up being forced into some sort of sexual slavery. In her case, based on some reports that we're hearing, it does seem that she was
at the very least spared that, but just this compounded daily fear of not knowing -- not knowing if you're going to survive, not knowing if you're
ever going to see your loved ones, not knowing how it is that you're going to get through every single moment, especially since based on these
reports, the areas where she was in, at the very least towards the end of December, were the areas that were some of ISIS's last held territories,
areas that would have already been under very heavy bombardment, surrounded by the constant sounds of war.
Presumably she would have had to have been moved around over and over again, as ISIS' territory was shrinking, then there's the fear of all of
that on top of everything else. I mean, truly, it takes extraordinary strength just to get through a single day not to even begin to imagine what
it must have been through to eventually have perhaps gone through this five-year ordeal.
RIPLEY: And how does one even begin to heal from an ordeal like that and transition back into society, in their in their old life? Can they heal?
DAMON: You know, Will, it would be pure speculation on my part, I have to say that when you speak to experts and analysts, they tell you that it does
take an extraordinary amount of strength. It takes an extraordinary amount of support.
When you speak to former captives, they do talk about how difficult it is be able to go back to, I guess, the best way to phrase it is something of a
normal life. They have severe oftentimes symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder, understandably, so many of them deal with nightmares. They
struggle trying to process, I guess, regular emotions. A lot of them feel a lot of rage, a lot of sorrow, but really, a lot of them have said in the
past that to be able to get through the post captivity period, it is all about the support system that exists around you.
And it's about really having to go through an entire emotional cycle and allow yourself to go through that entire emotional cycle to be able to
continue to function. Many people really end up isolating themselves from their loved ones because they find it so hard to be able to relate to them.
They find it very difficult to constantly have to relive these traumas that they went through whereas others actually find it to be fairly therapeutic
to be able to talk through everything that it is that they went through.
[08:15:03] DAMON: But again, you know, Will, it's not just people that were held captive by ISIS that had these severe psychological scars.
You're basically talking about an entire population in both Iraq and Syria that lived under ISIS for so many years that saw their brutality firsthand,
that don't have access to this kind of support.
And in Syria, of course, that's even further compounded by the brutalities that were brought down on opposition held areas by the Assad regime itself,
but it really is an enormous effort that the individual themselves have to undertake, but also their community needs to come around them and help them
through this incredibly difficult process.
RIPLEY: Arwa Damon in Istanbul. Thank you. I want to take you to Venezuela now where America's top diplomat says the situation there really
cannot be compared to other problems in parts of Central and South America, and he's pointing a finger at Venezuela's embattled President.
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo says that Nicolas Maduro is denying his people food and he is urging him to open his country's borders to
international relief aid. His comments came during a trip to the border town of Cucuta and neighboring Columbia on Sunday.
Secretary Pompeo toured a warehouse filled with relief supplies for Venezuela, and he also met with refugees. CNN's David McKenzie has been
following all the developments and he has more from the Venezuelan capital of Caracas.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DAVID MCKENZIE, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: The U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo made a brief but highly significant visit to Cucuta on
the border of Colombia and Venezuela. He visited with families -- struggling Venezuelan families -- in migrant centers at that border, as
well as viewing the aid, the considerable aid that is ready to come into this country to help people in the humanitarian crisis.
The Secretary of State and other U.S. officials have repeatedly blamed the government of Nicolas Maduro for stopping aid from coming in here, to help
people with life-saving support. Pompeo said over this four-nation trip that Russia and Cuba, as well as China are helping to prop up Maduro's
government. He said that more needs to be done to get Maduro out.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MIKE POMPEO, U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE: We've made clear that all options are on the table and you watch, you watch the political and diplomatic
noose tightening around Maduro's deck. We will begin to do the same thing.
The Cubans must understand, too, that there will be a cost associated with their continued support of Nicolas Maduro. We're going to have that same
conversation with the Russians as well.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MCKENZIE: Opposition leader Juan Guaido who is recognized as the Interim President of Venezuela by more than 50 countries was in the west of the
country this weekend, addressing thousands in Maracaibo, a city that has been hit by blackouts and water shortages.
But the opposition is saying to us that over the weeks, they felt a bit of the momentum slip as they tried to push the military and others to turn it
back on Maduro. Maduro himself was addressing thousands of civilian militia.
Over the weekend here in Caracas, he said he wants a million poor people to join those civilian militia to help prop up his regime. We visited a rally
supporting the President and people had some strong words for the Secretary of State.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (Through a translator): To Pompeo, take your hands out of here. Stop with the conspiracy. Stop with the conspiracies and let us
deal with our things on our own. To the people of the U.S., we love you, but we don't want any imperialist.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (Through a translator): These people are respected. Venezuela is respected. We don't want anyone to get into our internal
problems. We are in solidarity with all the countries in the world.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (Through a translator): Thinking that South America will give up, we will keep fighting to the end, Pompeo. Don't think we are
scared.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MCKENZIE: Pompeo's visit underscores the importance of Venezuela to the Trump administration. But even U.S. officials are saying that this could
be a long struggle. David McKenzie, CNN, Caracas, Venezuela.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
RIPLEY: Yet another Democrat is entering the already crowded field of Democrats for the U.S. presidential race. We will tell you all about him
and another candidate who held his first rally. Plus Ivanka Trump is in Ethiopia. We'll tell you what she's doing, why she's there and where she's
headed next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[08:21:34] RIPLEY: Twenty one minutes past eight o'clock on a Monday night here in Hong Kong, you're watching NEWS STREAM. And Tiger Woods -- he is
talking with CNN after what many are calling the greatest sporting comeback of all time.
The world's most famous golfer overcame career threatening back surgery and a slew of personal problems to win his first Masters title since 2005, and
his first major in 11 years. This happened on Sunday, just in case you're living under a rock and didn't see it.
Following the victory, which he celebrated with his family. Tiger sat down with CNN Andy Scholes.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ANDY SCHOLES, CNN SPORTS ANCHOR: Your kids, your mom, your girlfriend -- were they waiting for you on 18. What was that moment like when your son,
Charlie, jumped in your arms?
TIGER WOODS, PROFESSIONAL GOLF PLAYER: Surreal. You know, I did the same thing with my dad. And now I'm the dad with my son doing the same thing.
So it's amazing how life evolves. It changes. That was 22 years ago when my dad was there. And then now my son's there. My daughter was there. My
mom's there. My mom was there 22 years ago. And the fact that she's still around, still kicking, still fighting. It goes to show you her resiliency.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
RIPLEY: And yes, by the way, this is the fifth time Tiger Woods has won the Masters. Remember, he was just 21 years old the first time. We will
have much more on this remarkable comeback, coming up in "World Sport" in about 20 minutes.
Well, even though the U.S. presidential election is still more than a year and a half away, the campaigns, they are gearing up. President Trump's
reelection campaign says it is already raised $30 million and that's just during the first three months of this year. That's about as much as his
top two Democratic challengers combined.
Meanwhile, the field of Democratic candidates got even bigger over the weekend on Sunday, when U.S. Representative Eric Swalwell of California
entered the race running on a gun control platform. Also on Sunday, Democratic candidate Pete Buttigieg officially launched his campaign. He
held a rally in South Bend, Indiana, where he has served as mayor since 2011. Now, if elected, he will be the youngest ever U.S. President and
also the first who is openly gay.
So far, 18 Democrats have thrown their hat into the ring for the 2020 race. And you know, there's a very crowded field. I mean, you could see all of
these faces up here. Remember the Republican field pretty crowded as well at the beginning of that campaign, and President Trump eventually became
the nominee and the President.
And you know, as big as this group is, we are expecting this list to grow even more, including by the way former Vice President Joe Biden who is
expected to declare his candidacy.
With the deadline for Americans to pay their income taxes just a few hours away now, Democrats are stepping up their demands for information about
President Trump's own taxes and the White House Press Secretary, Sarah Sanders, well, she is just adding fuel to this controversy. She is
suggesting that members of Congress just aren't smart enough to understand the President's tax returns. CNN's Joe Johns reports the response from
some Democrats, try us.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JOE JOHNS, CNN SENIOR WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT (voice over): The White House going to new lengths to discredit demands for the President's tax
returns.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SARAH SANDERS, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: I don't think Congress, particularly not this group of congressmen and women, are smart enough to
look through the thousands of pages that I would assume that President Trump's taxes will be. My guess is, most of them don't do their own taxes.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
JOHNS (voice over): Sarah Sanders' harsh words dismissing Congress' oversight role as the legal battle to obtain Mr. Trump's records
intensifies.
[08:25:09] JOHNS: Ten members of Congress are certified accountants, including members of both parties. This comes after House Ways and Means
Chairman Richard Neal sent a new letter to the IRS Commissioner, demanding six years of the President's tax returns by next Tuesday. The Treasury
Department missed Neal's first deadline last week. Sanders also addressing the possibility of releasing undocumented immigrants to sanctuary cities.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SANDERS: We're looking to see if there are options that make it possible. The President likes the idea.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
JOHNS (voice over): Democrats say the President is using people claiming asylum as political pawns. The controversial plan is shining the spotlight
on the President's hardline adviser, Stephen Miller, who is behind the push.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REP. JERRY NADLER (D-NY): Steve Miller, who seems to be the boss of everybody on immigration, ought to come before Congress and explain some of
these policies.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
JOHNS (voice over): Meanwhile, tensions rising over the latest controversy surrounding Congresswoman Ilhan Omar after comments she made about 9/11.
The President tweeted a video showing select portions of comments Omar made in a recent speech, spliced together with horrific images of the terror
attack.
Omar says she's seen a spike in death threats after the President's tweet. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi says she's talked to Capitol officials about the
Congresswoman's safety.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
RIPLEY: Ivanka Trump stopped in Ethiopia as part of her four-day tour of Africa. She's there promoting the Trump administration's Women's Global
Development Initiative, which is aimed at boosting the economic empowerment of women. While there, she also honored the victims of last month
Ethiopian Airlines crash. Everyone on board was killed when the plane went down just after takeoff.
Journalist Robyn Kriel joins me now live from Addis Ababa and Robyn, obviously, the dateline of Africa is a sensitive topic when it comes to
President Trump and some of the comments that he made earlier in his presidency. What about these more recent controversies? Is any of it
following Ivanka as she makes this trip?
ROBYN KRIEL, JOURNALIST: I can't say that, Will. Really we haven't seen anything but positivity coming from this trip. And I mean, even when you
speak to sort of skeptical business owners here in Ethiopia, everyone is extremely flattered that this would be the first stop for the Senior
Adviser to the President, also the President's daughter, not just because of who she is, but also because of these direct line really access now to
President Trump that Ethiopia will have, and Ethiopia desperately needs.
Under Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, we've seen enormous democratic reforms here on the ground, but he is looking for friends with influence that he
has said several times that they cannot have a close circle of friends, meaning it can only be the Chinese for example that they look for
investment on the ground here. Really this is all part, we believe have a strategic plan from the White House to counter Chinese influence and
there's nowhere really about better for someone like Ivanka Trump to start that on the ground here in Addis Ababa.
You mentioned Women's Empowerment Initiatives. She's hosted, Will, a couple of these dialogues earlier today talking with the Ethiopian
President who is female, the only female President on the continent. She also has done some more Instagram worthy events such as a coffee tasting
yesterday, as well as visiting textiles.
But all female-led female initiatives working really on looking at breaking down those cultural legal barriers so many women on this continent face
when going into a business.
RIPLEY: Robyn Kriel following Ivanka Trump in Ethiopia. Thank you. And you are watching NEWS STREAM live from Hong Kong. Still ahead. Have you
ever wanted to learn more about China's Communist Party? The secret of Chinese President? Well, guess what? There's an app for that.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[08:31:20] RIPLEY: I'm Will Ripley in Hong Kong. You're watching NEWS STREAM on this Monday and these are your world headlines. CNN has learned
Sudan's ruling Military Council will formally charge the ousted President, Omar Al-Bashir with corruption and the deaths of protesters. The head of
the ruling party and the former interior minister are also facing charges. Demonstrations outside Army Headquarters continue at this hour as
protesters call for a quick transition to civilian rule.
A New Zealand nurse kidnapped by ISIS five years ago, may remarkably still be alive. This is according to the International Committee for the Red
Cross. Louisa Akavi and two Syrian drivers were abducted. They were delivering medical supplies in Northern Syria back in October of 2013. The
Red Cross is asking anyone with information about her whereabouts to come forward.
Climate change protesters are on the streets of London to support the global movement, Extinction Rebellion, and they plan on causing disruption
to the British capital. They plan to block four famous locations around the city, including Oxford Circus and Parliament Square.
There's a new smartphone app that seems to be China's modern version of Chairman Mao's famous Little Red Book. That's the app right there. It's
part of a campaign promoting the understanding of socialism and President Xi Jinping. Steven Jiang from our Beijing bureau explains the app actually
has a cult following.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
STEVEN JIANG, CNN PRODUCER: The red hot app is called Xuexi Qiangguo. The word Xi means studying in Chinese. But of course that's also the family
name of the country's most powerful leader in decades, President Xi Jinping, with a name that can be translated as "Study Xi strengthen the
nation," the app is but the latest high tech tool for political indoctrination launched by the authorities early this year.
When you open the app you're bombarded with slickly produced multimedia content about Xi, his political philosophy, daily activities and personal
quotes. Critics say it's another step in building a personality cult around Xi, something not seen since the days of the late Supreme Leader Mao
Zedong.
For the newly 90 million members of China's ruling Communist Party, the app is increasingly a must have in their smartphones and a must use in their
daily lives. Users can text call or video chat from inside the app, prompting worries that the authorities could use it for even more digital
surveillance in the tightly controlled Chinese cyberspace.
The app encourages users to take interactive tests to earn points that can be redeemed for gifts. But many users are said to be under pressure from
their Party bosses to score dozens of points every day. The app is not the propaganda authorities' only modern day tool, but it seems to be the most
blatant brainwashing efforts so far in the age of smartphones.
Analysts say that's something increasingly important for President Xi as he demands political loyalty and social stability amid a slowing economy at
home and rising tensions with Western governments abroad.
But the apps' effectiveness remains an open question. Already savvy users are able to find ways to cheat the system. One popular tip found online,
play a half hour video of a state TV newscast while taking a shower. Credits earned 13 points. Steven Jiang, CNN, Beijing.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
RIPLEY: The world's largest aircraft could prove to be the future of the space industry. The Stratolaunch launch plane had its first successful
test flight over the weekend. It is powered by six engines, two cockpits and has a wingspan the length of an American football field, look at that.
[08:35:06] RIPLEY: It's meant to be a sort of flying launch pad where rockets can launch satellites into orbit. The Stratolaunch Company says
they want to make satellite deployment as easy as booking an airline flight.
You are watching NEWS STREAM live from Hong Kong and still to come, an invaluable contribution, how the helpers in this city are assisting in
homes and adding billions of dollars to the economy.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
RIPLEY: NEWS STREAM continues with a bizarre story out of the United States, a tragedy in Florida where a man was attacked and killed by a giant
bird, a cassowary. It is closely related to the emu and it has long, dagger-like claws on each foot. It's considered the most dangerous bird in
the world. They've placed it in the same category as alligators, clouded leopards, and honey badgers. The bird killed its owner, a professional
breeder after he fell in his backyard.
Having domestic helpers to help out around your house is not particularly common around the world, but it is here in Hong Kong where they are part of
really an indispensable part of everyday life. As CNN's Alexandra Field reports, they earn meager wages, and that poultry pay doesn't really say
enough about how important and vital their roles are.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ALEXANDRA FIELD, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Their work is big business in one of the world's leading financial centers. Hong Kong has
385,000 migrant domestic workers, mostly women, and they're adding a lot more than you might have known to the economy.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
LUCINDA PIKE, ENRICH: The reality that in a household, a working mother who might have a child or elderly care can enter the workforce because
there's another woman at home fulfilling those care duties is a number that's never really been explored.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
FIELD (voice over): A first time study shows migrant domestic workers contributed about $12.6 billion dollars or 3.6% of Hong Kong's GDP in 2018.
The women doing that work don't necessarily see much of the returns. Hong Kong's minimum monthly wage is about $575.00. Better pay than some migrant
workers say they could make in their home countries, which is where a lot of the money they earn will go.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
LESTARI ANGGOROWATI, DOMESTIC HELPER (Through a translator): I came to Hong Kong to support my family. My family isn't rich, so I need to help
them financially.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
FIELD (voice over); After 10 years working in Hong Kong, Lestari Anggorowati believes she will soon have enough money to go home to
Indonesia and start a business. That would put her among just six percent of domestic workers who return home after years away feeling they've saved
enough money. Remigration is common, so is sending a daughter back in one's place.
Marivic Castilla was in debt to the agency that brought her here from the time she arrived. She had trouble climbing out of it.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MARIVIC CASTILLA, DOMESTIC HELPER: I need to pay for that debt also and I didn't save.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We keep on learning and then we just spend our money, and then we want to get rich.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
FIELD (voice over): This financial literacy class aims to protect workers from the most common financial traps like high interest loans and pyramid
schemes and to teach them how to budget. The goal, to help more workers who fuel a significant part of Hong Kong's economy to really benefit from it.
Alexandra Field, CNN, Hong Kong.
[08:40:14] RIPLEY: And a movie about the relationship between a Filipino migrant worker and her employer received high praise at Hong Kong's 38th
Film Awards. Filipino actress Crisel Consunji and Hong Kong actor Anthony Wong took home the awards for Best New Performer and Best Actor. "Still
Human" is a dramedy that looks at the challenges migrant workers frequently face here in Hong Kong.
A Cantonese opera now playing in Hong Kong may not win any awards, but it sure is raising a few eyebrows for, I guess, you could call it a unique
portrayal of U.S. President Donald Trump. And if the opera's creator gets his way, the President himself might one day see it.
(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Mr. Donald Trump.
RIPLEY (voice over): Imagine Donald Trump singing in Cantonese. It's one of many surreal moments in a new show in Hong Kong, which sees a local
opera star play the U.S. President.
If the idea sounds crazy, wait until you hear the storyline. It envisions what could happen if Trump had a long lost twin who was raised in China.
And it also features Chairman Mao Zedong, Communist China's founding father.
Known for its colorful costumes and exaggerated hand gestures, Cantonese opera was once one of Hong Kong's most popular past times. But since the
1960s its popularity here, as in much of the world has plummeted.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
EDWARD LI KUI MING, WRITER, DIRECTOR AND PRODUCER "TRUMP ON SHOW": Cantonese opera in Hong Kong already die, because nobody will want to see
an old stuff.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
RIPLEY (voice over): Writer and director Edward Li Kui Ming hopes his modern twist can revive this century's old art form. And in Trump's public
persona, he sees a character right for this stage.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
LI KUI MING: The words he used should -- Donald Trump always use. Just like, "You are fired."
(END VIDEO CLIP)
RIPLEY (voice over): Actor Loong Koon-tin plays all three main characters. With the help of the actress playing, Ivanka, he is ready within minutes to
greet another member of the cast, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. Li hopes to one day take his show on the road to Japan, Singapore, even
Broadway.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
LI KUI MING: In front of Trump, I want to do the show to him.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
RIPLEY (voice over): As for that, well, it depends if Trump can make Cantonese opera great again.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
RIPLEY: The long awaited final season of "The Game of Thrones" has finally arrived and I will be leaving the studio to go watch it and about one
minute. HBO aired the first episode after an almost two year hiatus. Now, we're going to give you a spoiler alert here. This is a very, very quick
portion of a scene from the season premiere, so just turn away.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Queen Daenerys of House Targaryen. My sister, Sansa Stark, the Lady of Winterfell.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Thank you for inviting us into your home, Lady Stark.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
RIPLEY: Five seconds, that's all you get. Okay, that was an opening scene from this episode, "Winterfell" and as you just saw, there are a few major
characters finally meeting face-to-face for the first time. HBO and CNN do share a parent company, Warner Media. Okay, avoid social media until you
see the show. I've been doing it all day.
That is NEWS STREAM on this Monday. I'm Will Ripley. "World Sport" with Amanda Davies is next.
[SPORTS]
(09:00:00)
END
