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Iraqi Troops Continues Push to Retake Mosul; CCTV Footage Purporedtly Shows Kim Jong-nam Moments Before Death; Forced into Slavery in Scotland; Sweden Questioning Donald Trump's Remarks in Florida. Aired 8-9a ET

Aired February 20, 2017 - 08:00   ET

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


[08:00:00] KRISTIE LU STOUT, HOST: Trump defends himself after the U.S. President makes a strange reference to an incident in Sweden that never

happened.

And forced into slavery in Scotland, we'll tell you how a group of Bangladeshi men found themselves working in a remote hotel.

There is new information about the mysterious death of Kim Jong-un's half brother Kim Jong-nam. Now, Japan's Fuji TV aired dramatic footage that

seems to show the moments before he died.

You can see a woman approaching Kim Jong-nam at the airport apparently reaching over his head and then walking away.

Another video shows Kim asking for help.

Now, authorities in Malaysia say that they have arrested four suspects in the investigation. They are looking for four more people.

Now, meanwhile, Malaysia is also dealing with a diplomatic spat with North Korea. A lot to get to with our Saima Mohsin who has been monitoring all

this for us in Kuala Lumpur. She joins us now. And Saima, we have this chilling footage. It appears to show the moment Kim Jong-nam was attacked

in the airport. What can we take away from this video?

SAIMA MOHSIN, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Kristie. And it's the first time that we've seen anything of its kind. We've been trying to

confirm with police the authenticity of this video. This was run, as you say, by Japanese television which we felt it was important to share.

Now, as you say, it seems to show the alleged point of attack and very clearly there is a woman in a white top approaching him and accosting him,

and then it flips immediately to Kim Jong-nam approaching the customer service counter.

Now, this actually corroborates with what police have told us in a press conference this weekend, that Kim Jong-nam reported that he was approached

by two unidentified women who touched his face with some kind of liquid. He felt liquid on his face apparently, and actually you see

him going up to the counter in the CCTV footage and doing this and then he walks away with the staff there and they take him to the clinic onto the

hospital. Within two hours he was dead, Kristie.

LU STOUT: And Malaysia, which is investigating what happens to Kim Jong- nam actually has diplomatic relations with North Korean, but how is this incident and the investigation straining the relationship between these two

countries?

MOHSIN: Strained is perhaps a very diplomatic way of putting it, Kristie. It's been an extraordinary unraveling of affairs over the weekend starting

with the North Korea's ambassador's impromptu statement outside the mortuary, culminating in today where Malaysia summoned North Korea's

ambassador to Kuala Lumpur to the foreign ministry to explain himself, why he accused them of colluding with hostile forces. They say they have been

completely transparent in their investigation and then recalling their ambassador back to Pyongyang back to Kuala Lumpur for what they say is

consultations. And this afternoon I was at the North Korean embassy in Kuala Lumpur where there was yet another statement from the ambassador from

North Korea to Malaysia, again, condemning Malaysian authorities handling of the issue and the most extraordinary part

of that, Kristie, the North Koreans claiming they never identified the body as Kim Jong-nam, Kim Jong-un's half brother but

instead saying he's Kim Chol as the passport on him claimed to be - Kristie.

LU STOUT: And another development over the weekend that I'm very, very keen to get your

thoughts on Saima, was that incredible claim by the Indonesian woman who was arrested. She thought

that she was part of some sort of a comedy prank show. Is that right?

MOHSIN: Yeah. This is just another extraordinary detail in what has been an extra extraordinary murder investigation to follow here in Kuala Lumpur,

Kristie.

Now, this is according to the Indonesian national police chief. He spoke to our Jakarta bureau. We've got teams right across Asia right now working

on this murder investigation, helping me cover this.

Now, our Jakarta bureau spoke to the police chief who says to his knowledge the Indonesian citizen in custody says that she was duped into taking part

in this assassination attempt as we now know it to be because she has previously taken part in the prank TV shows.

She thought she was doing the same and she was paid to do so, this coming from the Indonesians.

The Malaysian police would not confirm that with us, but this is a national police chief telling us this - Kristie?

[08:05:05] LU STOUT: Yeah, so many perplexing details in the mysterious death of Kim Jong-nam. Saima Mohsin reporting on all angles. Thank you,

Saima.

Now, meanwhile, North Korea is also being hit with some harsh economic news. China is cutting its coal imports from the secretive nation for the

rest of the year, but there may actually be an upside for this for North Koreans.

Will Ripley has more from Pyongyang.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

WILL RIPLEY, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: The news out of China that they won't be buying any more North Korean coal for the rest of the

year is a blow to this country's government. Selling coal to China is one of the main ways the North Korea generates currency, currency that pays for

things like their nuclear program and missile program. Here on the streets of Pyongyang, there may be a silver lining to the announcement. Over the

past year since coal exports have been restricted, people have more electricity in the morning when they're getting ready for work, in the

evening when they're cooking dinner. If you look at the skyline now versus a year or two ago, you see a lot more lights on than you did before. And

so, the fact that there's more coal being kept inside the country may be a good thing in regard to the people's living standards here.

I spoke with a North Korean economist who says China accounts for 70 percent of North Korean trade, but he says the suspension of coal exports

will not have a dramatic effect on life in North Korea.

RI GI SONG, NORTH KOREAN INSTITUTE OF ECONOMICS (through translation): The sanctions are not slowing down or nuclear and missile develop. In fact,

we're going faster, increasing our national defense with nuclear at the core.

RIPLEY: They say this country has lived under heavy sanctions were decades and yet slow economic growth has continued. You look at people on the

streets of Pyongyang, they are carrying smart phones. Their living standards are improving. The question moving forward, is this growth

sustainable as the economic news continues to tighten. They say nothing be stop them from developing their missile and nuclear programs.

Will Ripley, CNN, Pyongyang, North Korea.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LU STOUT: Now, in just a few hours British lawmakers will debate whether U.S. president Donald Trump should be honored with the state visit to the

UK. 1.8 million people signed a non-binding petition calling for Mr. Trump's visit to be called off or downgraded. Now, despite the debate, the

British government insists the state visit will go forward later this year.

Now, Max Foster is outside the houses of parliament. He joins us now live. And Max, when this debate begins, what kind of arguments are we going to

hear from British lawmakers?

MAX FOSTER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, it's going to be interesting. As you say it's non-binding, so it really is just an opportunity for politicians

to vent their feelings about Trump and there are certainly two views on that. There are many who feel that he shouldn't be invited here on a

state visit, because those sorts of views he's expressed aren't reflective of how the UK feels and we shouldn't be supporting that, but there's also

the view that America is Britain's closest ally, and out of respect for the office of the presidency, then this invitation should go ahead and he

should be accorded all the honors that come with a state visit.

So, I think you're really going to hear the counter arguments of that. But there's nothing necessarily substantive that is going to come out of it

apart from perhaps the fact that it is going to make a state visit more likely because Theresa May and Downing Street have made it very clear that

this invitation stands.

They are not going to respond to parliament saying it shouldn't stand so, therefore, it will make it more likely so I think it's going to be an

opportunity really to hear why a key ally like the United Kingdom has some issues with Donald Trump and you're going to hear some very colorful

language, I'm sure, because they are protected by parliamentary privilege.

They can effectively say what they like without risking being taken to court by Donald Trump.

LU STOUT: OK. So expect colorful language inside the halls of parliament. What about the scene on the streets of London? Have demonstrators against

the state visit already started to gather around parliament?

FOSTER: There are a few sites gathered but nothing in substantial numbers right now. There have been demonstrations in the past in London over

Donald Trump so there will be some groups coming out. There are lots of left wing groups who have really jumped on top of this as well so they are

beginning to express a range of opinions, but they unite around the fact that they don't support Donald Trump and what he represents particularly

and particularly that refugee ban, that's been a big issue that many of the left wing groups have had with Donald Trump.

So, there may well be some demonstrations here, but they are not big numbers expected based

on previous events.

LU STOUT: OK. Max Foster reporting for us. Many thanks indeed for that.

Now, Mr. Trump also generating controversy in another part of Europe. A bizarre comment he made about Sweden has people there baffled. A former

prime minister in fact tweeted "what has been smoking?"

Plus, Iraqi forces move in on western Mosul, the last ISIS stronghold in the country. And we'll tell you why there are warnings the toll on

civilians could be the worst in the conflict.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[08:12:24] LU STOUT: Coming to you live from News Stream, welcome back, you're watching News Stream.

Now, Donald Trump is spending part of this president's day in Florida doing a little bit of damage control there. He is trying to clear up a bizarre

comment he made about Sweden. And there's fresh concern about where the president gets his facts.

Athena Jones tells us what happened.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ATHENA JONES, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): President Donald Trump doing damage control after seemingly suggesting a terror incident occurred in

Sweden during his campaign-style rally in Florida.

DONALD TRUMP (R), PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: You look at what's happening last night in Sweden. Sweden -- who would believe this? --

Sweden, they took in large numbers. They're having problems like they never thought possible.

JONES: The comments sparking confusion worldwide.

The president later explaining it was something he saw on TV, tweeting, "My statement as to what's happening in Sweden was in reference to a story that

was broadcast on FOX News concerning immigrants and Sweden." That FOX News report, an interview with a conservative filmmaker who accused the Swedish

government of covering up violent crimes committed by refugees, aired the night before the president's rally.

AMI HOROWITZ, FILMMAKER: There was an absolute surge in both gun violence and rape in Sweden...

TUCKER CARLSON, FOX NEWS HOST: Yes.

HOROWITZ: ... once they began this open-door policy.

JONES: Swedish officials outraged, the Swedish embassy tweeting, "We look forward to informing the U.S. administration about Swedish immigration and

integration policies."

The White House telling reporters the president was "talking about rising crime in general and not referring to a specific incident." Meanwhile, Vice

President Mike Pence trying to reassure European allies of the U.S.'s support for NATO.

This as the Senate Intelligence Committee tells the Trump administration to preserve all records related to Russia as they investigate Russian meddling

in the U.S. election.

REP. NANCY PELOSI (D-CA), MINORITY LEADER: I'm afraid they're going to destroy the documents.

JONES: FBI Director James Comey holding a classified briefing on Russia with senators on Friday. White House chief of staff Reince Priebus denying

any collusion between the Trump campaign and Russian operatives before the election and knocking down reports that Trump aides were in constant

contact with Russians.

REINCE PRIEBUS, WHITE HOUSE CHIEF OF STAFF: The top levels of the intelligence community have assured me that that story is not only

inaccurate but it's grossly overstated; and it was wrong.

JONES: All as President Trump is still searching for a new national security adviser after firing Michael Flynn for misleading the vice

president about his communications with Russian officials. The president meeting with several candidates for the job over the weekend. Amid stories

of dysfunction and chaos in the first month of his administration, President Trump escalating his war with the media.

TRUMP: I also want to speak to you without the filter of the fake news.

JONES: Suggesting on Twitter that the media is the enemy of the American people. The president's incessant attacks on the free press drawing sharp

rebuke from politicians on both sides.

[08:15:30] MCCAIN: If you want to preserve democracy as we know it, you have to have a free and, many times, adversarial press. That's how

dictators get started.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LU STOUT: That was CNN's Athena Jones reporting. Now Mr. Trump's reference to last

night in Sweden had many people scratching their heads, especially those who live there. Now, CNN's Ivan Watson is in Stockholm looking at the

reaction. He joins us now live. Ivan, how are the people of Sweden making sense of what have President Trump said?

IVAN WATSON, CNN CORRESPODENT: You know, it sounds like people have been laughing about it frankly, you know. I asked one man and he said when we

heard this, we started making jokes about did somebody take away all our Swedish meatballs?

It's front page news here on Monday. If you take a look at two of the local newspapers, you know, questions here on this broad sheet, the

headline, you know, about Donald Trump's statement about Sweden. This one, you know, trying to explain this is a tabloid why Trump attacked Sweden,

and it had to do with the movie, according to this paper.

But on a more serious note, the Swedish embassy in the U.S., in Washington, did reach out to the U.S. State Department seeking clarification. I've

spoken with the spokesperson for the ministry of foreign affairs here who says, well, some of our questions were resolved

when the U.S. president put out a tweet saying that he wasn't referring to one specific incident on Friday night, he was referring to a segment that

he had watched on Fox News.

But this has triggered a lot of mockery online with hashtag #Swedishincident and hashtag #lastnightinsweden. People putting up images

of the '70s and '80s band ABBA from Sweden, people showing the Swedish chef from the show The Muppets and alleging that he's a terrorist attacker.

So, it gives you a sense of how some people have responded to this.

When you look at the incidents that took place that took place having to do with crime in Stockholm, for instance, in Sweden on Friday night, there was

an incident of a police chase in the capital here, because somebody was -- was driving under the influence, but nothing that would suggest any kind of

major terror incident.

There was an incident in January that involved reports of three, and it involved in arrest of

three men, accused of having extremist right wing views who made an exclusive homemade device against a refugee hostel here. But this is a

country that hasn't really seen a very serious terror attack in years. And I want to read a tweet from Carl Bildt, he's a formerly foreign minister

and prime minister of Sweden. He just recently tweeted, quote, last year there were approximately 50 percent more murders only in Orlando, orange in

Florida where Trump spoke the other day than in all of Sweden. Bad - Krsitie.

LU STOUT: So, people there in Sweden baffled. Swedish officials are seeking greater clarification. A White House spokeswoman attempted to do

just that on Sunday. She said that Trump had been referring to a general rise in crime there, not a specific incident in Sweden, but, again, the

reality on the ground there, what is known about the level ofcrime there?

WATSON: Well, you know, Sweden is of the European Union countries. Next to Germany, it has taken in more refugees and migrants in the last couple of

years than any other country with the exclusion of Germany.

So, you've got a population, a total population of about 10 million people. And, yes, this is a

country that has taken in more than 100,000 refugees and migrants in recent years. And it is a political issue here. And it is something that has

helped drive support to a right ring party here, the Swedish Democrats, which has been campaigning on an anti-immigrant approach here.

And there is discussion about crime in this country and allegations and suggestions and that perhaps some of the new arrivals could be linked to an

increase in statistics of rape and sexual harassment, for example.

But there have also been cases of right wing-style attacks on some of these immigrant populations. So this is an issue, just as it is everywhere

across Europe, and it is an issue that is driving the right-wing populism that we're seeing in other countries in Europe. But, again, the comments

from the U.S. president are such that they did leave people here confused or just outright making fun of him - Kristie.

[08:20:25] LU STOUT: Ivan Watson reporting live from Sweden. Thank you.

Now, as you know, President Trump has repeatedly attacked the media questioning the sources

that journalists use, et cetera. Now, some are criticizing the sources that the president himself uses.

Now, for more Brian Stelter, host of CNN's Reliable Sources joins me from New York. Brian, thank you for joining us here on the program.

BRIAN STELTER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Thank you.

LU STOUT: In the case of what Ivan was just reporting live from Stockholm about what happened in Sweden, what does it reveal about Donald Trump's

media diet and the influence it has on him?

STELTER: Yeah, you know, I don't want to root for the home team here, but Fox News was interviewing a filmmaker who went to Stockholm with a

political agenda.

On the other hand, CNN sent Ivan Watson to actually go find out what was going on. I think we're seeing the different types of media right here in

this segment.

What really sparked President Trump's strange comment about Sweden, according to the president himself, was this Friday night segment on Fox

News. This conservative filmmaker was interviewed about what he says is a surge of violence in Sweden caused by

refugees and migrants to the country.

The segment was accompanied by scary pictures. Images of fires, things like that. I'm not here to say there's no issue at all in Sweden. Ivan

was just saying that there are political tensions there, but the Fox News segment seemed to exaggerate it quite a bit. And the president, apparently

saw that on Friday night, says he saw it on Friday night, and then mentioned it on Saturday.

LU STOUT: And also I want to ask you about that tweet that President Trump sent over the weekend. And let's try to bring it up for our viewers here.

It said, quote, "the fake news media, failing New York Times, NBC News, ABC, CBS, CNN, our own news network also there on the list, is not my

enemy, it is the enemy of the American people," unquote.

So, Brian, I mean, when something like that goes out from the president of the United States, what kind of impact does it have on his followers on

Twitter, the American people, and how people around the world view the media?

STELTER: Trump is continuing to encourage his loyal fans to distrust the press, to distrust

real reporting from outlets like The New York Times, and CNN and others. We know he's been doing this, of course, all throughout his campaign and

then as president-elect. But it does take on more significance now that he's president.

I think of his words as a verbal form of poison, because he's injecting this idea that you can't trust real reporting and that you can only trust

what he and his administration are saying instead.

That doesn't work among a majority of the public. If you look at the polling data in America, it shows most Americans are wary of President

Trump, are not convinced they can trust him. We see record levels of viewership and readership for outlet's like The New York Times right now.

So a lot of people that are seeking information from the media.

But this is part of a drum beat. The president is continuing to push and you know what I would say, Kristie, is it's been four weeks for this

president. What's he going to be saying four months from now if he's already calling the press the enemy. I've got to wonder how much more

he'll ratchet it up.

The counterargument, by the way, he's just huffing and puffing, right, he's just talking smack as our colleague Chris Cuomo said today. He's not

actually doing anything against the press, he just complaining about it.

LU STOUT: That's right. Because at the end of the day the free press is not an enemy, it's a privilege. It's also a public service. Brian Stelter

reporting for us live. As always, thank you very much. Take care.

Now, the U.S. vice president is in Europe to reassure allies as Russian aggression is driving up

anxiety there. And he is there to tell them that the U.S. has their backs. Just a short time ago in Brussels, Pence also promised U.S. solidarity in

the fight against terrorism.

Support for NATO in Poland and the Baltics and said that the U.S. would hold Russia accountable for its actions in Ukraine.

And it is in Ukraine where a recent move by the Russian president has threatened to derail a crease fire that has just begun. A Ukrainian

military spokesman says shelling has diminished but the front line remains tense.

Mr. Putin signed an executive order recognizing travel documents issued by the de facto

separatist authorities in the region. Ukraine's president calls that a violation of international law.

A Putin spokesman says Russia has recognized the documents for humanitarian reasons. And now to Iraq where a fierce closed quarters battle is under

way on western side of Mosul. Now, the area west of the Tigris area is the last major ISIS stronghold in the country.

It is filled with narrow streets. And humanitarian groups warn that we could see the worst civilian casualties in the conflict so far.

Just a short time ago, the U.S. defense secretary arrived in Baghdad. He says that he wants to

get a better sense of the situation on the ground. Now, CNN's Ben Wedeman is following developments from Istanbul. He joins us now live.

And Ben, before we get to Secretary Mattis and his visit there, what is the latest from the

battlefield? How far have Iraqi forces pushed toward Mosul in this new offensive?

BEN WEDEMAN, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yeah, Kristie. They are pushing from the south and southwest. Now, their focusing at the moment is

gaining control of Mosul airport. Now, we understand from the Iraqi military that they have seized

at least a dozen villages, some of them quite small on the outskirts of the city. Now one strategic village they have seized is the village of Abu

Sayyef (ph) which overlooks from elevated ground the airport. It's just about 1.7 kilometers, just over a mile from there to the airport. So they

are in view of really their first major objective.

But as you mentioned, that's really just the beginning of the fight. The really intense, difficult potentially bloody fighting, not only for the

combatants, but also for the civilians is when they get into the old city where the streets are narrow and where it's going to be very

difficult for Iraqi armor to navigate and, of course, they are going to be as many as, according to the UN, 800,000 civilians caught in the crossfire

- Kristie.

LU STOUT: Yes, so this ISIS offensive is now under way. It could be a very bloody battle. We know the U.S. defense secretary, James Mattis, is

now on the ground in Baghdad. Unannounced trip.

What can he achieve there?

WEDEMAN: Well, he's melt with coalition officials. He met with his Iraqi counterpart. And he may be meeting later in the day with the prime

minister.

Obviously, this is important just to signal the continued U.S. support for the operation in Mosul and to see basically what's the situation on the

ground, keeping in mind, of course, there are more than 5,000 U.S. military personnel in Iraq, many of them advisers on the ground

and near the front line, though not on it, fighting with -- helping the Iraqis in the fight against ISIS. So definitely, you know, the United

States is in the game and it's important, of course, for the Iraqis to see that this new administration will carry on the support of the United States

for Iraq in this fight - Kristie.

LU STOUT: Absolutely.

It's a very critical moment in Mosul being the last major ISIS stronghold there.

Ben Wedeman reporting live for us. Thank you so much. Take care, Ben.

You're watching News Stream. And still ahead right here on the program, a hotel in remote Scotland that became a hub for human trafficking.

Now, the men forced to work there finally escaped.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(HEADLINES)

[08:31:14] LU STOUT: Western Scotland is known for its scenic tourist destinations, but to 12 Bangladeshi men. It's also where they were forced

into slave labor.

Now, the men are now free, but their fight is not over. Isa Soares has this latest installment of

our CNN Freedom Project.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ISA SOARES, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The snowcapped mountains in Scotland attract hundreds of tourists every year. Up until recently, many

would have stayed at the 37-bedroom Stuart Hotel that now lies in ruins and the former owner serving a three-year labor prison sentence for

trafficking.

Local charity worker Gene Lair (ph) remembers when he first learned of the case.

GENE LAIR (ph), CHARITY WORKER: It got my attention late in 2009. It was in a terrible state. There were victims of human trafficking. They had to pay

a lot of money to come here. They weren't paid properly and weren't paid to do the job they were contracted for, working long hours, sometimes up to 23

hours a day and forced to do all the work and not just be chefs, they were brought over to do.

SOARES: Abdul was a chef in his family's business back home. He was attracted by an advert by a local paper.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I am a greedy man? Because I wanted more money. Actually, no, this is -- I wanted a better life. Every human and my

country's conditions, everybody knows.

SOARES: Once they realized the work was different, they felt bound to the man who paid thousands of dollars of sponsorship visas.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He said, "If you don't do this, I can cancel. Some police will arrest you." We don't shout at all, we don't say nothing, he is

a sponsor. He like a master, he is a master.

SOARES: After a year of labor abuse, he and three other victims found help at a charity who put them in touch where a Gene Lair (ph) was working at

the time.

LAIR (ph): There was only four of them who had agreed to be supportive of my help and to go to the plays and have the case prosecuted.

SOARES: The trafficked men said they were able to stay on short term temporary work visas after agreeing to testify as witnesses into the

criminal investigation where they face deportation back to Bangladesh.

Despite him being in prison he feels his life would still be under threat at home.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yeah, I can't go back.

SOARES: In response to the story, the home office said they do not routinely comment on the individual cases. But they issued a statement:

"The U.K. has a proud history of providing protection to any who need it. Any who feels threat before returning home can apply for asylum. Each claim

is carefully considering on its merits."

They are renegotiating their appeal to the U.K. and to bring their families.

[08:35:29] UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is my life. I want to bring my family. He wanted to come with me and play with the snow.

SOARES: Isa Soares, CNN, Scotland.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LU STOUT: On Tuesday, the CNN Freedom Project will introduce you to a trafficking victim here in Hong Kong. And the shocking reality he and

others like him are facing.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE My bosses treated me worse than an animal. It was physical torture, mental torture. I would work 24 hours a day, he says.

He didn't exactly fall through the cracks in a system, human rights attorney Patricia Ho argues

here there is no system. Hong Kong has no specific laws criminalizing forced labor or human trafficking.

PATRICIA HO, HUMAN RIGHTS ATTORNEY: Even the Philippines, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan they all have human trafficking and forced labor laws.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LU STOUT: Well, see what's being done to change the system Tuesday on the CNN Freedom Project.

Now, CNN is also teaming up with young people around the world for unique student-led day of action against modern day slavery with the launch of My

Freedom Day on March 14.

Now, driving My Freedom Day is a simple question. What does freedom mean to you?

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

QUINCY JONES, MUSIC PRODUCER: I'm Quincy Jones. And to me the meaning of freedom is life unhindered by the unfettered restrictions that society

creates.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: To me freedom means I'm able to provide for my family.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: To me, freedom means the ability to make your own choices.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE; Freedom to me means do whatever I want at my own convenience.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Sacred Heart will be participating in this year's My Freedom Day.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LU STOUT: I am loving all of these submissions. And, please, send us your answer via text, photo, video, across social media. Just use the My

Freedom Day hashtag.

Now, coming up next here on News Stream, a unique Thai twist on beauty. We'll introduce you to the company hoping to become a household name with

its luxurious, yet sustainable products.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LU STOUT: Welcome back.

Now a company in Thailand is building an international reputation with its premium personal care products. As our Saima Mohsin reports, the business

emphasis Thai heritage and organic ingredients.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SAIMA MOHSIN, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Tradition is also at the heart of organic lifestyle brand, Panpuri.

I'm meeting up with Vorravit Siripark who started the business at the age of 28. At the beginning, he secured partnerships with hotel spas in both

Asia and Europe to carry his line of luxury skincare and aroma therapy products.

(on-camera): Tradition plays a really big part in Panpuri and your story including making things with your grandmother when you were a child.

[08:40:15] VORRAVIT SIRIPARK, PANPURI FOUNDER: Yes. She would teach me how to make jasmine scented water. We would go to her garden and we would pick

jasmine, you know, floral buds. So jasmine always a special meaning to me. And for Panpuri, we use jasmine a lot.

MOHSIN (voice-over): And now you mentioned picking the flowers yourself. Organic products are very important to Panpuri, aren't they?

SIRIPARK: Yes. Organic is very important to us. And personally because I'm allergic to chemical ingredients and I always seek for natural, organic

products. And I believe we are one of the first brands in Thailand to use organic ingredients in cosmetics. And that's because it's gentle for your

skin. It's also good for the environment.

MOHSIN: But it's not just about organic ingredients. Vorravit says eco- friendly packaging is important to him. The brand utilizes chlorine-free

paper and soy ink. And his in-house design team carefully considers the message sent by those boxes.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's important now for niche brands like us as well to hit that balance between being global, but still conveying the heritage of

being Thai.

One of the challenges, I think, is really playing on the strength of Thailand being a hub for wellness. How we redefine it so that it's seen in

the modern way.

MOHSIN: Another evolution of the brand is in the works, including a cleaner aesthetic. Panpuri is currently sold in 20 countries. It's planning to open

another flagship store in Tokyo this year.

(on-camera): And what's your vision for the future for growing a Thai brand on the international market?

SIRIPARK: I want Panpuri to be a reference brand on a global scale and that when people think of organic and natural products from the east, they will

think of Panpuri as a the first brand that comes to their mind.

So, we have a lot of work to do. We've come quite a way in about 14 years. And we still have a long way to go. And I'm very excited to be on this

journey.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LU STOUT: All right. Wish them a lot of luck. And I love the smell of jasmine flowers, by the way.

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

END