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NEWS STREAM
Critical Trade Talks - China's Top Negotiator Arrives In Washington As The Diplomatic Battle Over Huawei Hits Alarming New Heights; Mass Protests, Venezuela Braces For Outrage On The Streets As President Nicolas Maduro Tells Russian Media He Is Ready To Talk To The Opposition; The Deep Freeze, How People In The U.S. Are Preparing For Historic And Life- Threatening Temperatures. Aired: 8:00-9a ET
Aired January 30, 2019 - 08:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KRISTIE LU STOUT, HOST, "NEWS STREAM": I'm Kristi Lu Stout in Hong Kong and welcome to "News Stream." Critical trade talks - China's top
negotiator arrives in Washington as the diplomatic battle over Huawei hits alarming new heights. Mass protests, Venezuela braces for outrage on the
streets as President Nicolas Maduro tells Russian media he is ready to talk to the opposition; and the deep freeze, how people in the U.S. are
preparing for historic and life-threatening temperatures.
At a time on of dramatically escalating tension between the United States and China, crucial trade talks are beginning today. Beijing's top trade
negotiator, Liu He is in Washington for two days of critical meetings with a deadline to reach a trade agreement just over a month away. If a deal
isn't reached, there is a risk that the U.S. will impose tariffs on $200 billion worth of U.S. China imports, but hanging over those talks are U.S.
charges against Huawei alleging the Chinese telecom company tried to steal trade secrets and violated sanctions on Iran.
The U.S. has now formally requested the extradition of its CFO, Meng Wanzhou, who appeared in a Canadian court on Tuesday on a separate set of
charges. But let's not ignore the elephant in the room. Could President Donald Trump get involved in the case against Huawei? A reminder, here is
what he told Reuters last month, quote, "If I think it's good for what will be certainly the largest trade deal ever made, which is a very important
thing, what's good for national security, I would certainly intervene if I thought it was necessary," unquote.
Now, CNN's Matt Rivers joins us now from Beijing, but first, let's go to our Paula Newton. She is standing by at the New York Stock Exchange. And
Paula, ahead of these talks, Steven Mnuchin, the U.S. Treasury Secretary has been making the rounds saying that the Huawei case is separate from the
trade talks and also adding that there will be significant progress, but not everyone shares that optimism.
PAULA NEWTON, CORRESPONDENT, CNN: No, and we're dealing with a deadline where at the beginning of March -- and you highlighted what President Trump
said. Not only did the Chinese take the President at his word, but also even Canadian officials took the President at his word.
The fact that unfortunately, this Huawei case has become far too politicized and politicized, Kristi, because it goes to the heart of the
issue that will be at the negotiating table today and that's the way China conducts itself in the United States and around the world when it comes to
intellectual property. And it is not just the deal that they can arrive at the table, but how they can trust that kind of deal, how they can trust
China to not go back on its word at the table.
And I have to tell you, Kristi, that at this point in time this market that I'm sitting in right now has not priced in an escalation to this trade war
and that is what has a lot of American companies worried. If we go back to where Steven Mnuchin talked about the fact that the trade is separate from
national security issues, there are companies even here in the United States who just don't believe that.
You had Christopher Wray, who is the Director of the FBI, stating very bluntly and very clearly that these Chinese companies are beholden to the
Chinese government, a government that does not hold the same values as the American government, and that is very stark. It will be something that
will be top of mind, not necessarily for American negotiators, but certainly for Chinese ones.
LU STOUT: These are high level negotiations. These are high stakes talks. Let's go to Matt in Beijing, and Matt, these talks take place against this
backdrop of rising tension other Huawei. So there must be deep skepticism there in China about what these talks can achieve.
MATT RIVERS, CORRESPONDENT, CNN: Yes, I mean, if you're pessimistic about these talks, one thing you can point to in addition to the Huawei case,
which of course is a point of national pride for China. It is going to be interesting to see how much that case influences these talks, but the other
thing, we're talking about companies that are beholden to the Chinese government.
You know, you can certainly make the case that private Chinese companies are, but you can definitely make the case that state-run companies are, and
if you're looking for some intransigence on the part of the Chinese government, what the United States wants to see, for example, is China to
stop giving preferential treatment to its state-run companies, to give all kinds of subsidies in key industries that the United States believes makes
for an un-level playing field in addition - or when you combine that with a lack of market access here to China for U.S. firms. But China's government
has basically made that a priority.
Over the last couple of years under Xi Jinping's guidance, China's government has prioritized state-run firms by basically giving them
preferential loans and all kinds of subsidies.
So if China's government has made that a core policy and the United States wants to change that policy, where is the middle ground there?
[08:05:09]
RIVERS: And that is going to be a big reason for pessimism here is that you've got the United States wanting to see structural changes to China's
economy that would essentially require an about face in a lot of ways from what from what we've seen in China's government over the past couple of
years.
LU STOUT: Got it, so let's take things back to Paula, and Paula, the U.S., they want to see structural changes, they want free trade, they want better
IP protection. Do they have the leverage in negotiations to gain that? Because as you know, companies like Apple are reporting falling sales. We
know that the government shutdown there in America has caused the country billions of dollars -- is the U.S. losing leverage in these talks?
NEWTON: Certainly not in the short-term. One has to say that this is hurting China, as well, in terms of these trade talks and the United States
continually says that in this strong economy that we have right now, we can suffer through a little bit of pain to get that ultimate gain that Matt was
talking about, to be able to push the Chinese government to the point where they're saying that Made in China 2025, a point where they prioritize
subsidies for those state-run enterprises will be off the table.
The thing here, though, Kristi is the fact that when you look at the Trump administration, people are wondering what does a win take? And I can tell
you, Kristi, having followed the NAFTA re-negotiations quite closely, you could have Robert Lighthizer who is the U.S. Trade Representative who is at
the table today thinking one thing, you take that same package back to the White House and the thinking changes, I wouldn't say daily, but at least,
weekly in terms of what a win looks like and what an enforceable win looks like against China.
So that will be another dynamic at play today during those talks in Washington.
LU STOUT: Yes, it's going to be really hard to secure a win, a win that is definable and enforceable, let alone happening this week. Paula Newton
live for us in New York. Matt Rivers live for us in Beijing. A big thank you to you both.
Now to Venezuela now where more massive protests against the country's President Nicolas Maduro are expected in the coming hours. The U.N. says
at least 40 people have been killed in recent clashes between authorities and supporters of the opposition leader Juan Guaido. But there are signs
that the embattled President, Nicolas Maduro, might be ready to talk.
In fact, he told Russian state news that he is willing to meet with the opposition, but he ruled out new presidential elections until 2025. Maduro
was re-elected last year, but the U.S. and more than a dozen other countries don't recognize his presidency as legitimate.
Now, in a moment, we're going to be hearing from Nick Paton Walsh from Bogota in neighboring Colombia, but first let's go to Fred Pleitgen in
Moscow. And Fred, Nicolas Maduro, he has turned to Russian state media to broadcast his message to the world and he's effectively saying "I'm ready
to talk."
FREDERIK PLEITGEN, SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT, CNN: Yes, that's exactly what he is saying, Kristi and it certainly is quite interesting
that he would be sending that message through Russian media. Obviously, the Russians - the big ally of Nicolas Maduro in Venezuela, they keep
saying they're firmly in the corner of Nicolas Maduro.
They say they believe that he is the legitimate President of Venezuela and they will continue to stand by him. Now, you're absolutely right, in that
interview with the RIA news agency, he said that yes, he was willing to negotiate with the opposition for the good of Venezuela and as he put it,
for the good of the world, as well.
He also did rule out those Presidential elections saying, "Anybody who was calling for him to step down for new elections to take place, that that is
neo-colonialism on the part of the Americans and on the part of the Europeans, as well."
He said he would be willing to conduct early Parliamentary elections, but a lot of the things that he said in that interview was basically praising the
Russians saying the Russians are the true allies of his own government and of Venezuela as he put it, but then also ripping into the Americans and
specifically the Trump administration saying essentially that he believes that the U.S. is behind all the troubles that he's facing in Venezuela
right now.
Let's listen in to some of what Nicolas Maduro had to say in that interview.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
NICOLAS MADURO, PRESIDENT-ELECT OF VENEZUELA (Through a translator): First time that this happened, this is simply the frustration in the White House
because they cannot take Venezuela. It is very sensitive. What am I doing? I'm exercising my leadership. I'm being the Commander-in-Chief
constitutionally.
We have Russia's full support at every level and we welcome it gladly and gratefully. What did I ask President Putin? To stay in permanent contact.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PLEITGEN: So as we know, President Putin and Nicolas Maduro have been in touch over the days since the uprisings there started in Venezuela. Also
quite interesting to see that setting there, quite informal setting that Nicolas Maduro was giving that interview in.
One of the other things that he also said to RIA and this was quite interesting is that he believed that President Trump was flat out, out to
kill him that he said that all of this was being done in conjunction with the Colombians and what he called the Colombian mafia. And that if
something happens to me, he believes that that would be on President Trump.
[08:10:04]
PLEITGEN: It's interesting, of course, Kristi, also because there were some questions about whether or not the Russians may have sent some
contractors to try and protect Maduro. Over here, the Russians were denying that. Maduro was asked that question, as well, his comment to that
was, "No comment," Kristi.
LU STOUT: Fred Pleitgen reporting live from Moscow. Thank you. Let's go to Nick Paton Walsh standing by in Bogota. He is keeping a close eye on
the situation inside Venezuela and Nick, the opposition leader is under pressure. We've got the Attorney General of Venezuela, the Supreme Court
making moves against Guaido. How are they trying to limit his power?
NICK PATON WALSH, SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT, CNN: Well, I mean, essentially, Juan Guaido is in a complicated position now because he has
been recognized by external powers as the President of the country, but he doesn't really have any power over the government inside the country.
The U.S. wants to get him to be able to distribute some of the billions potentially in Venezuelan state bank accounts that are currently held under
sanctions, but quite practically, how you do that, we simply don't know.
He is barred, it seems, by the Attorney General from leaving the country. He's had his bank accounts frozen. But they've stopped short of calling
for his arrest and that's part of a delicate balance, frankly, here that the Venezuelan government has held with a man who has declared himself a
rival government entirely.
They have not had him arrested. He briefly was arrested over a week ago and then released owing to popular outcry, and Nicolas Maduro saying the
whole thing had been a terrible mistake. Not quite clear of the accuracy of that.
But, he, today is calling Venezuelans into the streets in large numbers, potentially. The last time we saw this on the 23rd of January, it was
peaceful. It lasted a number of hours. There were clashes with riot police on the fray, on the edges of those protests with sort of young
protesters who quite regularly have faced off with riot police in that kind of way.
We have to see if today is really different and quite how Juan Guaido takes himself from this position as sort of being the figure head that some
critics in the Trump administration say they prematurely recognized as the President before he really had any actual grip on the leaves of power.
I have to stress again while he is still appointing diplomats abroad, some of them went to the White House to meet U.S. Vice President Mike Pence
yesterday. There is another parallel institution that when you're inside Venezuela, it's very much the one that is running the country and so the
essential question moving forward is does Nicolas Maduro still have enough money at his disposal in order to keep the military and the elite around
him happy? To keep them fed and in power? And, therefore, willing to keep their subordinates in check or does that start to fray?
Or do the numbers of people on the street we see today and everyone is hoping for no bloodshed or violence here, but that could tip people's
opinions, too. Do the numbers on the streets make the military's generals who are key here begin to change their mind.
Nicolas Maduro from the beginning has said he'll talk to the opposition, but he's also had caveats there where he is simply not going to relinquish
the presidency. The important point today is quite how Juan Guiado will take this show of support on the streets and see whether or not he can turn
it into some effective control inside the country.
At the moment, he's a fresh face man offering a very positive message with a lot of international support and potentially, billions at his disposal to
get the country out of an economic crisis. But that's a long jump away from practically actually having something he can do to ease the plight of
ordinary Venezuelans -- Kristi.
LU STOUT: Got it. We have to follow the turnout of this expected mass protest in the streets of Venezuela today and also follow the money to
figure out how this leadership crisis and political crisis is going to pay out. Nick Paton Walsh reporting live for us. Nick, thank you.
The British Prime Minister Theresa May will push ahead with new Brexit talks in the next couple of hours. She was given a mandate to reopen
discussions with Brussels by a Parliament vote on Tuesday.
European leaders have repeated that they will not renegotiate the deal. Mrs. May will meet with opposition leader, Jeremy Corbyn shortly before
talking to the European Council President, Donald Tusk.
Erin McLaughlin is in Brussels for us. But first, let's go to Nic Robertson, he is standing by at 10 Downing Street, and Nic, in the end,
Parliament was not able to wrestle control of the Brexit process. It is still in the hands of Theresa May.
NIC ROBERTSON, INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMATIC EDITOR, CNN: It is and on the basis that she says she wants to go to Brussels and switch the backstop,
the contentious backstop for alternate arrangements. She was pressed today by the leader of the opposition, Jeremy Corbyn during Prime Minister's
Question Time. Of course, this coming ahead of what will be a private discussion between the pair expected later in the day.
But Jeremy Corbyn asked her very specifically, what are these alternate arrangements? And she indicated that this would be essentially a
potentially time limited backstop, essentially a backstop that Britain could unilaterally step out of. All ideas that the European Union has shot
down. Nevertheless, Theresa May said that the E.U. does want to get a deal with her. This is what she said.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
THERESA MAY, BRITISH PRIME MINISTER: What has been absolutely clear is my contacts with the European Union leaders is that they want a deal. What
this House voted for last night is to leave the European Union ...
[08:15:10]
MAY: ... with a deal, but it also crucially showed what it will take to see support in this House for a deal in the future. I think the plan that
was set out last night shows that we can attain a substantial and sustainable majority in this House.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROBERTSON: I think the expectation here in Britain at the moment is that Theresa May will have these conversations with E.U. leaders when they go to
Brussels, but in a couple of weeks' time, the U.K. is going to be back where it was with her plan, having essentially not got what she needed in
Brussels to convince the hardliners who she got on board yesterday, and to push the withdrawal agreement through.
I think that the sense here that what she goes for in Brussels is beyond her reach.
LU STOUT: All right, thank you. Let's go to Erin now in Brussels. And Erin, what are the chances that the E.U. is willing to negotiate and what
are her chances - for Theresa May to get a better Brexit deal?
ERIN MCLAUGHLIN, CORRESPONDENT, CNN: Well, you know, Kristi, ever since the Brexit deal was signed off at a Brexit Summit here in Brussels over and
over and over again, we've heard from E.U. leaders say that this is the best and final deal, that this is the best agreement that both sides were
able to reach in some two years of tense negotiations.
The issue here is British lawmakers don't seem to believe them. And we heard again this morning from Michel Barnier in European Parliament saying
explicitly that this is the best deal on the table. Take a listen to what he had to say.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MICHEL BARNIER, CHIEF E.U. BREXIT NEGOTIATOR: The only part I want to make is to confirm that the E.U. Institution remain united and we stand by the
agreement we have negotiated with the U.K.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MCLAUGHLIN: We also heard today from the Spanish Foreign Affairs Minister, Josep Borell say that last night, the E.U. learned three things from
Westminster. First and foremost that Westminster does not want a no-deal scenario, that Westminster does not want to extend the Brexit deadline, and
that Westminster wants Theresa May to negotiate.
The problem is, March 29th is right around the corner. He said it takes two to tango and at this point, he says he believes the U.K. will come
around to Barnier's thinking on this and that the best deal is the deal on the table -- Kristi.
LU STOUT: All right, Erin, thank you. And let's take it back to Nic Robertson. And Nic, we're just learning that Theresa May will be speaking
with her Irish counterpart later on Wednesday and of course, that includes talking about the backstop and talking about alternative arrangements to
the backstop. What is meant by that?
ROBERTSON: Yes, Leo Varadkar, the Taoiseach, the Irish Prime Minister. We heard from the Foreign Minister in Dublin over the weekend, Simon Coveney,
he indicated where there may be some latitude. He was very clear as have all the European Union officials who have spoken that the E.U. is not ready
to open up the withdrawal agreement, that the backstop was the result of many, many months, indeed, a couple of years of negotiations where various
ideas were put forward, various technical solutions, potential technical solutions were talked about, but nothing was forthcoming.
And, therefore, from the Irish perspective and undoubtedly, it is what Theresa May will hear from Leo Varadkar this afternoon when they talk via
the phone. From the Irish perspective, they are in lock step with the European Union, that the backstop cannot be opened up.
But listening to what the Irish Foreign Minister said at the weekend, these alternate arrangements, he indicated that if Britain does want some help on
its position with the backstop, it could look to the future relationship, the political agreement that will come between Britain and the European
Union, remembering the withdrawal agreement is the divorce, the future relationship is how the relationship looks going forward.
And within that, he indicated that there might be some help for Britain if Theresa May doesn't change her red lines on the Customs Union and single
market and these issues. So potentially, that's what may come up in the conversation. We don't know. But I don't think anyone expects it to be an
easy conversation -- Kristi.
LU STOUT: Not an easy conversation, but definitely, a critical one. Nic Robertson reporting live for us from 10 Downing Street. Erin McLaughlin
live from Brussels, a big thank you to you both.
You are watching "News Stream" and still to come right here on the program, disgraced former Nissan Chief Carlos Ghosn is laying out what he says led
to his detention in the first interview since his arrest. Tens of millions of Americans are being warned to stay indoors as a deep freeze grips the
middle of the country.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LU STOUT: Disgraced ex-Nissan Chief Carlos Ghosn says plot and treason led to his detention in his first interview since being arrested. Ghosn tells
NIKKEI that he has no doubt that charges against him are the result of a concerted effort by Nissan executives who opposed his plan for more
integration with the French automaker, Renault.
The former Chairman has been confined to a small jail cell in Tokyo for more than two months. He has been indicted on allegations he understated
his income at Nissan by around $80 million.
Akito Tanaka is one of the NIKKEI reporters who interviewed Carlos Ghosn. He joins us now from Tokyo and thank you for joining us and congratulations
on your exclusive interview. What did Carlos Ghosn tell you about why he was arrested? Who is he blaming for this arrest?
AKITO TANAKA, NIKKEI STAFF WRITER: He believes that there was a connection between the people - or one group within Nissan that was opposing a
potential integration with Renault, and these people were, in a sense, related to the secret investigation team. And he did mention in the
interview that it was a plot how he was arrested.
LU STOUT: Now, Carlos Ghosn has been in detention for over two months now. Were you able to get a sense of his mental condition and his physical
condition? How did he appear to you?
TANAKA: Yes, so we had about 20 minutes interview and the interview was done and conducted at this meeting, it was in the detention house where all
the people in the detention house meet outside people and he was behind the sort of glass wall, so to speak.
He came in with a fleece sweat jacket - I mean, fleece jacket and sweatpants and he did - I've interviewed him quite a lot of time in the
past, but -- and he did lose quite a lot of weight and he was very focused on what he wanted to say in the interview. And he was using gestures and
his conversations were strong and he acted as Carlos Ghosn as usual before he was arrested.
LU STOUT: Got it. Now, he is facing some serious charges here, underreporting his salary, breach of trust. He is also accused of
receiving improper payments. He denies it all.
TANAKA: Yes. He did deny all the accusations that has been charged by the prosecutors. And yes, stated very clearly that all the - I mean, pretty
much all the documents that has been questioned in a sense has been signed and processed by either a legal specialist or all the specialists within
the companies.
[08:25:07]
TANAKA: And he claims that he had no idea that all these things could be charged.
LU STOUT: Got it. Akito Tanaka of NIKKEI, thank you so much for sharing your reporting with us. Take care.
TANKA: Thank you.
LU STOUT: Now, a Nissan spokesperson has responded to Ghosn's interview saying quote, "The sole cause of the chain of events is the misconduct led
by Ghosn." Now, U.S. weather forecasters are warning millions of Americans in the Midwest to stay inside or to bundle up if they dare go outside.
Temperatures will be below zero for about a quarter of the population. It is so cold in some states that the U.S. Postal Service is suspending
deliveries and thousands of flights have been canceled.
Chicago is right in the middle of it and that is where our Ryan Young is right now. He joins us live. And Ryan, what does it feel like? What does
this arctic blast feel like? Hey, Ryan, it's Kristi in Hong Kong, don't know if you could hear me. Could you describe the conditions around you?
RYAN YOUNG, U.S. CORRESPONDENT, CNN: Kristi, I don't have any sound right now, but I'll tell you what's going on here in Chicago. It's a cold day
here and temperatures have dropped significantly. It is brutal in terms of the winds. If you look out this direction, this is the iconic Chicago
River. It is frozen over. They are taking this very seriously.
In fact, schools are closed and there are more than 24 warming stations around this area. This is quite a winter punch.
(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)
YOUNG (voice over): Nearly three quarters of the U.S. bracing for bitter cold.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's like I'm going into a freezer.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
YOUNG (voice over): Digging out, as life threatening low temperatures and ferocious winds grip the Midwest.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's hard to take a breath in. It's affecting my lungs a little bit.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
YOUNG (voice over): In Wisconsin, a 55-year-old man found frozen in his garage after authorities say he apparently collapsed while shoveling snow.
Slippery roads making travel a nightmare. This dash cam video capturing the treacherous driving conditions in Minnesota where police say 193
crashes were reported on Tuesday. The wind chill at the Benson Minnesota Airport clocking in at 62 degrees below zero.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's really, really dangerous out right now.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
YOUNG (voice over): This 13-vehicle pileup in Michigan bringing the highway to a standstill for hours.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SGT. ERIC WESTVEER, OTTAWA COUNTY SHERIFF: Slow down and leave a space between you and the vehicle in front of you and be prepared for whiteout
conditions.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
YOUNG (voice over): In Illinois, giant patches of ice blanketing the Chicago River. Residents insisting they're ready for the deep freeze.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm dressed in layers, so I have two pairs of pants on.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: As long as I bundle up, have a hat, have a coat, I think I'll be fine.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
YOUNG (voice over): Dangerously cold air predicted to make temperatures here feel like 50 below.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
J.B. PRITZKER, GOVERNOR, ILLINOIS, DEMOCRAT: These conditions are and can be life-threatening. Even short periods of exposure to this type of
weather can be dangerous.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
YOUNG (voice over): Winds also whipping in North Dakota where it's expected to be negative 20 degrees. Across the nation, airlines cancelling
thousands of flights because of the deep freeze.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They are putting the de-icer on and the de-icer froze on the plane.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
YOUNG (voice over): And for Amtrak customers, all Chicago trains suspended. The flames on these tracks intentional. Crews setting them on
fire to keep commuter trains going.
The weather so cold, the United States Postal Service suspending deliveries in multiple states across the country.
(END VIDEO TAPE)
YOUNG (on camera): Now, the sad news is five people have already lost their lives across the Midwest because of the cold temperatures. If you
look up here, you can see the steady wind that's blowing. Right now, normally during this time, this bridge would be full of people on their
commute to work. One of the things that we've noticed is people are sort of heeding the warnings right now and they are staying inside. We did see
one jogger, though, running in these temperatures. Something that they said they didn't want to see people do because, obviously, with all this
cold on your skin, the temperatures are not good so far.
LU STOUT: No, not a time to go out running. Ryan, to you and crew, we're going to let you go right now. Thank you so much for your reporting, but
do stay warm and do stay safe. Ryan Young there reporting live for us from Chicago. Wow, what an age of extreme weather.
Now, you're watching "News Stream" and still to come right here on the program, we have got the latest on an extradition battle involving a
refugee football player. We're going to be speaking with Australia's former captain who was lobbying FIFA to intervene.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LU STOUT: I'm Kristi Lu Stout in Hong Kong. You're watching "News Stream" and these are your world headlines. In the next hour, China's top trade
negotiator begins two days of talks with senior White House officials in Washington, but reaching any kind of deal to end their trade war just got
more complicated. This week, the U.S. filed criminal charges against the Chinese telecom giant, Huawei and formally requested the extradition of its
CFO, Meng Wanzhou from Canada.
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro tells Russian state news that he is ready for talks with the opposition, but is ruling out new presidential
elections until 2025. It comes as Venezuela braces for another day of mass protests. Maduro has appealed for calm and urged Venezuelans no not to
allow the U.S. to turn the country into, quote, "A Vietnam in Latin America."
The British Prime Minister Theresa May will push ahead with new Brexit talks in the next couple of hours. She was given a mandate to reopen
discussions with Brussels by a Parliament vote on Tuesday. European leaders have repeated that they will not renegotiate the deal.
In Thailand, pressure is mounting on the government to release a football player who is being held on an extradition request from Bahrain. Hakeem
al-Araibi was detained in November after he and his wife traveled to Bangkok for their honeymoon. He fled Bahrain in 2014 and was later granted
asylum in Australia where he plays semi-professional football. His wife is pleading with Thailand's Prime Minister to make sure that he is not
extradited to Bahrain where she fears he could face torture or even worse.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
NADTHASIRI BERGMAN, LAWYER FOR HAKEEM AL-ARAIBI: His wife want to say that please continue help her on this case. They have to flee to Australia
because they were afraid of persecution and it was dangerous in Bahrain. I visited him yesterday, yes, two days ago and his spirit is down because
he's in prison for quite a while, for a long time now. And he hopes that he gets released.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LU STOUT: Now in recent days, Australia's Prime Minister has stepped up efforts to secure al-Araibi's return, calling on his Thai counterpart to
release the footballer who has been languishing in jail, again, for more than two months.
Joining us now is Craig Foster, a former Australian football player who has been lobbying FIFA on behalf of al-Araibi. And thank you so much for
joining us here on the program. Let's talk more about the pressure campaign to save Hakeem. You met with FIFA officials this week. Are they
making moves to secure the release of Hakeem al-Araibi?
CRAIG FOSTER, FORMER AUSTRALIAN FOOTBALL CAPTAIN: We were delighted with the response in part. We've gone to FIFA on a really urgent matter, based
on some of the information, Kristi that we had coming out of Thailand that Bahrain was trying to expedite this process and skip some of the levels of
legalities.
And we went to Fatma Samoura and FIFA and asked them to do much more. They called it an emergency, it was their language and they want to step up ...
[08:35:10 ]
FOSTER: ... advocacy with immediate meetings on both sides. FIFA had issued a letter directly to the Thai Prime Minister but we urged them to do
likewise to Bahrain. Ultimately, it's Bahrain, as well here who are contravening international law trying to extradite a refugee who is being
granted protection by Australia.
So FIFA and the Olympic Movement have been very strong in recent days as you say, it has the Australian Prime Minister now and our government, and
in fact, almost 24 million Australians are on board and we communicated to Fatma and FIFA that we expect to see absolute accountability from FIFA in
this regard. We want to see public statements and that this human rights policy that FIFA has only over the last 18 months implemented is really on
the line here.
This is the litmus test, the case that is going to prove whether sport and human rights is substantive and that the political and huge economic
implications coming out of the Middle East region cannot play any role in what is a very basic case of a refugee law and that the Thai Prime Minister
should simply release Hakeem and allow him to get home to his wife.
LU STOUT: Now, Craig, there are parallels between this case and the recent case involving -- I know you've been following the Saudi teenager, Rahaf
Alqunun, but very, very different outcomes here. Within weeks for Rahaf, she went from barricading herself in a hotel room in Bangkok to gaining
asylum in Canada.
Hakeem has been detained in Thailand for more than two months. So what is going on here? Why is it that the same concern is not being applied?
FOSTER: Pretty straightforward really because Hakeem is a political prisoner of football and of the government and the Royal family of Bahrain,
that's a simple fact. You know, he was tortured. This is a survivor of torture back in 2011-2012. There are around 150 athletes who were rounded
up, incarcerated and some of them tortured. Hakeem was one of those. That's the reason why Australia has granted him protection.
The head of the Asian Football Confederation, Sheikh Salman in Al Khalifa was implicated in those actions at that time and only a couple of years ago
when Sheikh Salman ran for the FIFA Presidency against Gianni Infantino. Hakeem, feeling safe back in Melbourne in Australia spoke out against that
candidacy of Salman and talked about the fact that he had been involved, or allegedly at least in this incarceration of athletes.
And Hakeem, all of us and everyone in the football community in Australia, and many around the world believe that he is nothing more than a political
prisoner, and this is about retribution from the government and the Royal family of Bahrain and all Australians are saying that we will not stand for
it. He is a fellow footballer, as an ex-player, ex-chairman of our players association, we feel a very strong responsibility to stand up for our
colleague, but also around the injustice of this matter.
This is about a refugee's safety of travel through Thailand. And so the U.N. has been very strong in their language. The U.N. High Commissioner
for Refugees, as I said, Olympics, FIFA, the international condemnation is massive now and it's - we're imploring the Thai Prime Minister, General
Prayut and the government of Thailand to simply do the right thing and let Hakeem come home.
LU STOUT: Yes, and the calls are indeed growing, thanks to the activism by you and your cohorts. Craig, we'll leave it at that, but thank you for
joining us. Craig Foster joining us to talk about the case involving Hakeem and efforts to secure his release. You're watching "News Stream"
and we'll be back right after the break.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LU STOUT: South Korean authorities are getting tougher on what has become a national scandal. The abuse of lead athletes by their coaches, one
prominent speed skating coach who was convicted of abuse has had his sentence increased today. Let's go to CNN's Paula Hancocks in Seoul for
the latest.
PAULA HANCOCKS, CORRESPONDENT, CNN: Well, Kristi, there was a sign this Wednesday that the courts are going to be taking the issue of sporting
abuse very seriously. We did hear that that sentencing was increased from ten months to 18 months. That's the sentencing of the coach of Shim Suk-
Hee, a household name here in South Korea, an Olympiad and a speed skater.
But, of course, the question is how much more widespread is this abuse? One victim that we spoke to said physical abuse is commonplace.
(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)
HANCOCKS (voice over): This former speed skater says she was beaten by her coach from the age of 11. She wants to hide her identity for fear of
retaliation. She claims physical and verbal assaults were a regular part of training and her female coach beat her once a week.
"I used to get called into my coach's room," she says, "Where she used to hit me with a skate blade sleeve 10 or 20 times."
HANCOCKS (on camera): How does the coach have so much control over an athlete here?
"There's a small and powerful clique," she says. "If I criticize my coach, my career as a skater is over. If I accuse my coach of crimes, I won't be
accepted to a university or professional team. That's how it works."
HANCOCKS (voice over): At age 15, training with a new male coach, she says physical abuse changed to sexual harassment.
"He kept kissing me on the cheek and close to my lips," she says, "Hugging me all the time. Because I felt he was doing it to everyone and i was
young, I didn't tell anybody even though I felt humiliated."
She was inspired by this woman to break her silence. Shim Suk-Hee, a gold- medalist and a household name in South Korea, her coach seen her is serving time in prison for physically assaulting her. She now says she was
repeatedly raped Cho Jae-beom since the age of 17. Cho is being questioned by police, but denies the new allegations.
Outside the court last month, she told reporters she hoped no one else would be victimized as she has been in sports saying the violence must end.
A national star comes forward, people in power have no choice but to take notice.
President Moon Jae-in has spoken of the Korean shame hidden shake under sporting glory. The head of the Korean Sport and Olympic Committee has
apologized. There are calls for his resignation.
One lawmaker is working with the skating support group to fight for the victims. "The solidarity for young skaters," she says, "Has identified six
cases of sexual assault, including shim's Shim's case. The victims are afraid of retaliation. They're worried about whether they can continue to
compete after going public."
(END VIDEO TAPE)
HANCOCKS (on camera): The National Human Rights Commission has launched a year-long investigation. They say that they're going to survey 130,000
athletes and athletic students around the country to figure out just how widespread the issue is. We already know that potentially this goes beyond
skating as there have been allegations of abuse in judo and taekwondo -- Kristi.
LU STOUT: Paula, thank you and that is "News Stream." "World Sport" with Amanda Davies is next.
(SPORTS)
[09:00:00]
