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Reuters: Trump Accuses Russia Of Helping North Korea; South Korea Military Conducts Drills Ahead Of Olympics; U.S. Lawmakers Face Shutdown Deadline; Donation Will Help Sent Students To U.S. Colleges; Senator Berates Trump Over Treatment Of Media; Winter Games; World Headlines; German Tech Company Trains and Hires Refugees; Tide Pod Challenge; Eco Solutions; New Zealand Prime Minister Pregnant. Aired at 8-9a ET

Aired January 19, 2018 - 08:00   ET

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


[08:00:00] (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KRISTIE LU STOUT, CNN ANCHOR: I'm Kristie Lu Stout in Hong Kong and welcome to News Stream.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LU STOUT: One year of Trump, how that's affected U.S. relations with other major powers and people around the world. Meanwhile, it is just hours away

until a possible shutdown of the U.S. government.

The sticking point, what to do about the DREAMers, and New Zealand's prime minister preparing for a new rule in 2018. Why the congratulations are

pouring in?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LU STOUT: We are coming up on one year since Donald Trump was inaugurated as President of the United States. We have special coverage this hour on

how he has, yet, shaped the world -- first, his impact here in Asia.

Mr. Trump has been cozying up to Chinese leader, Xi Jinping. But one volatile issue has threatened the relationship, North Korea, as well, over

12 months, the U.S. commander-in-chief promised to destroy ISIS.

We'll measure that promise and, on the domestic front, Mr. Trump fight for deregulation and reforms to immigration, and health care, while, Congress

faces a deadline on a government shutdown.

Now first, let's look at Mr. Trump's evolving relationship with China. CNN's Matt Rivers is in Dandong. That's on the border between China and

North Korea. He joins us now live.

And, Matt, during the last year of the Trump presidency, one issue define the relationship between the U.S. and China, North Korea. Where does all

this stand now?

MATT RIVERS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes. Well, I mean, you're absolutely right, Kristie. No issue dominated the U.S.-China relationship more than

North Korea over the first year of President Trump's administration.

And, frankly, a big outcome of that relationship -- a working relationship was three different rounds of sanctions lobbied against the Kim Jong-un

regime.

And nowhere were the effects of those sanctions felt more outside of North Korea, itself, than right here in the Chinese-North Korean border city of

Dandong.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

RIVERS: There are fewer trucks these days, the bridge, quieter than months and years past, and if bridge traffic is this light, it means trade between

China and North Korea is slowing down.

That's the word on the ground in Dandong, a key trading hub on Chinese- North Korean border, and the main reason comes from 7,000 miles ay in New York City.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The draft resolution shall has been adopted unanimously.

RIVERS: A series of increasingly tough sanctions approved by the U.N. Security Council in 2017 has put the squeeze on Korea. And as a result,

its largest trading partner, China.

These sanctions more than anything else, have come to define U.S.-China cooperation under President Donald Trump. And yet, few expected both sides

to work together after Trump's divisive on 2016 campaign.

DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Whether it's China with our trade agreements. No matter what it is, it seems that we don't seem to

have it.

RIVERS: China was a favorite target of the Republican candidate who accused China of, quote, raping the U.S. economically and for failing to

solve the North Korea problem. But in April meeting at Mar-a-Lago in Florida, changed the president's tune.

He got along well with Chinese President Xi Jinping and a calculation was made. The administration would back off on trade issue in the hopes of

Chinese help on pressuring the Kim Jong-un regime to stop developing nuclear weapons.

The result, three rounds of sanctions, all approved by the Chinese after different North Korean nuclear and missile tests. They targeted everything

from oil shipments to joint business ventures with North Korean companies.

And Dandong is one of the places where you come to see if they're being enforced. Popular businesses here like these restaurants, staffed, and run

by North Koreans have recently shuttered.

We've been to Dandong four times in the last two years and I can tell you that these streets used to be filled with North Koreans, buying items in

these stores to sell back home. But today, it's basically empty.

We spoke to six different business owners in this area who told us that since the sanctions went into effect, business has plummeted, though none

of them would talk to us on camera for fear of wading into a sensitive issue.

To be clear, trade is still happening. We still see trucks loaded down with goods arriving from North Korea, and the president recently told

Reuters, China could still be doing more to curb Pyongyang's ambitions.

One example, tackle smuggling still rampant all along the border, back in September, we saw illegal seafood being sold openly on Chinese streets.

But back at the bridge, the effects of American lobbying for tougher sanctions are clear.

[08:05:00] According to Chinese Customs Data, total trade between China and North Korea, fell by 50 percent in December 2017.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

RIVERS: And despite that trade volume going down, the Trump administration continues to say that Beijing should be doing more.

And if you figure like a lot of experts do, Kristie, that the North Korea are going to continue with these provocations, missile test, nuclear test

in 2018, then the Trump administration would probably ask for more sanction.

Will Beijing sign on to that? Like the Trump administration would want them to, it's an open question. Every time we ask the Chinese to answer

that question, they respond with the same answer by saying, we don't answer hypothetical questions.

LU STOUT: So for the time being, we know that Donald Trump on the issue of North Korea, this week, he's direct his fire against Russia, and not China.

But then this issue of trade ties -- Trump, this week in an interview with Reuters, he wanted potentially, big damages against China as a result of

intellectual property violations. What is the response there in China? Is there fear that Trump will take tough action?

RIVERS: Yes, absolutely. I mean, I know -- I know the Chinese government is preparing for that probability and perhaps eventuality.

We know the Trump administration is seriously considering, for example, lobbying tariffs on Chinese imports, numerous different types of goods,

everything from solar panels to aluminum foil in the next couple of weeks.

And if they do that, then the Chinese government will retaliate and they will likely retaliate against big U.S. industries that relay on China. So

think agricultural products for example, Kristie, worth over $10 billion a year to Heartland states.

The middle of the United States shipping soy, for example, from the United States to China, its biggest market. Could the Chinese government

retaliate against U.S. business? It's likely.

And then, many experts we have talked to here say, does that lead to some sort trade war? Yes, it's a bit of hyperbolic turn but of this tit-for-at

escalates, then the United States does something, if China does something, where does that leave us? And that has many experts here in China a bit

nervous.

LU STOUT: All right, Matt Rivers, on the U.S-China relationship one year after Trump's inauguration live from Dandong, China. Thank you, Matt. And

do stay with us. We'll take a closer look at preparations happening nearby in South Korea for next month's Winter Games.

And meanwhile, one of the things the President Trump promise on the campaign trail was aggressive fight against ISIS. The terror group was

losing ground when he came into office but since there, ISIS has been driven out of cities like Mosul and Raqqa.

But urban combat, that claimed many civilian lives, and much of the cities now lie in ruins. Now, CNN's Arwa Damon, has this look at what's left of

Mosul. And a warning, this report contains graphic images.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ARWA DAMON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Residents told this municipal claim the body of a little girl was buried under a layer of rubble. No one knows her

name or where her parents are. Her body is curled in the fetal position, little more than dried skin and bones next to a stuff, bunny.

Her photograph will be added to a growing collection of images of the unclaimed. She is almost unrecognizable. But the workers hope that her

family, if they are even alive, will recognize her toy.

In the Old City where ISIS made its final stance where the battle and bombardment were most intense, it's hard to imagine that any rules were

followed or how anyone survived.

When President Trump inherited this war a year ago, he did not change the rules of engagement. That is the actual steps and procedures to carry out

a military strike.

What he did do was give the U.S. military chain of command more authority, which then resulted in more aggressive strategy. Now what those words

actually me on the ground, that's this.

The U.S. and Iraqi governments declared victory against ISIS. But for the population here, the catastrophic cost is still unknown. Six months on,

the stench of death linger. Survivors walk around in a daze. And loved ones still search for their deaths.

With bare hands and a shovel, these young men are looking for the body of their great uncle. He was an intellectual. What they remember most about

him was his love. For a Christian woman whose family would not let them marry. But he yearned for her his entire life. They dig up his skeletal

remains on his bed.

[08:10:00] A lot of his neighbors find an old magazine with an article about another of America's devastating mores.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (Speaking Foreign Language)

DAMON: Then, like now, the U.S. has shied away from reporting overall civilian death tolls. Grim reality that only become apparent later.

A month-long investigation by the associated press found that 9,000 to 11,000 civilians were killed in Mosul, a third of them from coalition air

strikes. A local government official we spoke to says that matches the information he has.

The U.S. military says it does look into individual reports and is acknowledging around 300 civilian deaths caused by its air power, and Iraq,

which request or approves the strikes has established a committee to look into the overall death toll. What you get on the ground is a glimpse of

the scale of death here.

This is a mass grave that has 20 bodies it. This man, a grave digger, says he buried as many as 450 people in two months. Many of the graves

unmarked, the identities of those here unknown, but he says, mercy for civilians.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (Speaking Foreign Language)

DAMON: Those who remain are left with the agonizing memories of what they endured. In the ruins of his home, Saad (ph), cannot see how victory is

theirs.

To kill one ISIS man, they would fire a rocket worth millions, he tells us, and knock down ten homes. ISIS won by hurting us. And America won by

hurting us. Five-year-old Raja (ph), wants to find her toys, memories of a childhood gone.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: (Speaking Foreign Language)

DAMON: This is the one she wants. It's a dream house. Now the only home she has. But the population suffered here is not a numbers game. What

they want is accountability for all they lost. For the price they paid. Arwa Damon, CNN, Mosul, Iraq.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LU STOUT: Rubble and death everywhere in Mosul. A hear breaking report there. Now the Pentagon has responded to that associated press report

that, Arwa, mentioned in that report. The Pentagon say that the A.P. did not conduct an investigation in this case.

And based on news article on Unverified Data, the Pentagon says, unlike ISIS, the coalition works to reduce risk to civilians going so far as to

abort missions when there is unacceptable risk of civilian casualties.

Now for Donald Trump's first overseas trip, he broke with tradition, as you recall. He headed to Saudi Arabia where he sealed a major arms deal with

the country.

For more on how that relationship stands, let's go straight to Nic Robertson who joins us live from Riyadh. And, Nic, just how close is the

U.S.-Saudi relationship, and how has it shaken up an already polarized region?

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, you know, a year into President Trump's leadership at the United States, the relationship with Saudi Arabia

is one of perhaps the stronger ones across the world.

There is a -- certainly a seeing of eye to eye on the issue of tackling Al Qaeda and ISIS. There are joint efforts to counterterrorism in the region.

On the issue of Iran, certainly Saudi Arabia's leadership sees Iran as expansionist in the region, expanding their influence north of the border

in Iraq and Syrian, and to the South in Yemen.

And they see the White House as sharing a similar view or at least negative view of the Iranian leadership. They are sponsoring terror in this region.

So on that issue, on Iran, certainly they are aligned.

And when it comes to security, and when it comes to oil in terms of business, as you say, there's been significant -- there have been

significant arms deals between the United States and Saudi Arabia.

So, looking at that relationship in particular, across the -- across President Trump's first year of his presidency, the relationship is one

that seems to be very strong at the moment.

LU STOUT: Yes. And, Nic, more in Iran -- you mentioned Trump's negative view on Iran, and Trump has been at the podium and on Twitter consistently

critical of the government in Iran and the Iranian nuclear deal. In the next year of the Trump presidency, are we going to see the U.S. really go

after Iran?

ROBERTSON: Well, I mean if we gauge it by what we saw over the past week when President Trump had to decide on whether or not Iran was in compliance

with the JCPOA, the nuclear deal of 2015.

We saw all those nations the United States pummeled with, you know, Britain, France, Russia, China, the European Union, all talking, all having

officials saying very clearly, very loudly that this deal was important, that it was the best that could be had at a time and it was important to

maintain it.

[08:15:13] We saw essentially, despite his rhetoric, President Trump again go on and say that Iran was in compliance. Yes, he has come down firm

against them in other areas.

Yes, his rhetoric is much stronger against Iran than President Obama's rhetoric and yes, that certainly makes him more popular in nations like

Saudi Arabia, in the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Egypt, many other countries in this region.

But I think, you know, is he going to make good on some of the threats that he's made. We've seen President Trump speak very loudly on a number of

issues. North Korea would be another one where ultimately, the rhetoric dies off.

Maybe the tweets come up again, the rhetoric comes up and goes down. But oftentimes, the action -- the words aren't followed through by action. I

think at this stage, he seems to be listening at least to his allies when it comes to Iran.

LU STOUT: Yes, but his actions do reverberate, and have consequences. You know, just for example, Trump's recognition on Jerusalem as the Israeli

capital. You know, that announcement was made last year.

The after affects continue. Just this week, Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas called it the slap of the century. The PLO has urged to suspend

recognition of Israel. Is there going to be far more fall out to come?

ROBERTSON: It seems to be so. You know, absent of a follow-on strategy that, you know, some in the region hope for here that the Palestinian-

Israeli peace efforts really were going where. There was a recognition that it was going nowhere.

There's a lot of people on all sides of this in the region who want to see change and they saw Trump as a disrupter who could perhaps disrupt the

status quo and bring change.

That absent of him having a follow on the strategy to take advantage of the disruption so far, then the ball falls really in the court of the

Palestinians. And they've taken -- they've taken a very firm line to say you've made this move essentially that supports Israel.

And that's something we can't live with. We see this as well in the way that President Trump is dealing with Pakistan. He said that Pakistan must

either step up and fight terrorism the way the United States wants to, so that there can be peace in Afghanistan.

Otherwise, the United States threatens cutting military aid, and there were steps taken in that direction already. We've heard pushback from Pakistan

-- Pakistanis ally of the United States. National interests don't always intercept quite concisely and quite clearly.

It's been a troublesome relationship over many decades now. But in this case again, with an ally, President Trump's words and actions are pushing

that necessary partner to bring peace in that region, you know, Afghanistan.

And we're talking about Middle East peace as well, pushing people indulged in that equation away from the table if you will, and away from the

position he wants them in.

So, absent of a further strategic plan to bring them back and use that disruptive action to advantage, then, yes, at the moment -- you know, at

the moment the gap between Palestinians and Israelis, as far as bringing them together for talks, that seems wide at the moment.

LU STOUT: Nic Robertson reporting live for us from Riyadh. Thank you, Nic. Global confidence and U.S. leadership has fallen to a new low.

That's according to the latest survey from Gallup. It puts Mr. Trump's approval rating across 134 countries at a historic low of 30 percent. In

2008, under George W. Bush global approval of U.S. leadership was at 34 percent.

But it hit 48 percent in the last year of the Obama administration and it stayed in the upper 40 until Mr. Trump took office last year. Meanwhile,

Germany is now the top rated global power, China edges out the U.S. by a hair. Russia trails by three points.

U.S. lawmakers, they are facing a midnight deadline when the government could technically run out of money. How a shutdown would affect hundreds

of thousands of workers and some very important services in the U.S.

Also ahead, prosecutors say a dozen children were subjected to severe child abuse by their own parents. We'll have the latest on that horrific case

from California.

[08:20:00] (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LU STOUT: And that is Hong Kong on a Friday night. Welcome back. You're watching News Stream. Now U.S. lawmakers are scrambling to meet a midnight

deadline to prevent a government shutdown.

The U.S. House has passed a temporary spending measure. But the bill is facing huge obstacles in the Senate. So, what would a government shutdown

actually mean? Well, none essential federal employees would be placed on furlough.

That means they'd stay at home with no pay. National parks, zoos, museums, would all be closed. Even garbage collection in Washington, D.C., could

come to a halt.

But there are exceptions. For example, the military would still report for duty, and members of Congress would get their paychecks. Now meantime, the

clock, yes, is ticking.

Our Ryan Nobles is on Capitol Hill. He joins us now with the state in play. And, Ryan, the path ahead is not clear here. Can there be a deal to

avoid a shutdown?

RYAN NOBLES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, there certainly can be a deal but they're running o of time to make one happen. And the problem right now is

that deal that passed the House that would offer a short-term spending plan simply just does have the votes at this point to pass.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KING: I object.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Senator from Maine.

SEN. ANGUS KING, MAINE: I object. I don't understand why we are adjourning when we're on this urgent situation. This is irresponsible and

I just don't understand it. So, I object to the motion.

NOBLES: Tensions rising on the Senate floor as the government barrels towards a shutdown with a deadline at midnight tonight. A 60-vote majority

is needed in the Senate to pass the proposed short- term spending bill that Republicans passed in the House.

The future of the bill is uncertain as more than a dozen Democrats are ready to vote, no, because the bill does not protect DREAMers.

Republican Senators Lindsey Graham and Rand Paul also saying they'll vote, no. And Senator John McCain will be absent for the vote due to his cancer

treatments. But it's not all bad news for Republican leadership.

Democratic Senator Joe Manchin will break with his party and vote, yes, and Republican Senator Mike Rounds changing his vote to support the bill after

a late-night deal on defense appropriations.

SEN. CHUCK SCHUMER (D), NEW YORK: And we could get this done in a few short days and not kick the can down the road. This is the fourth C.R.

that we have done and accomplished nothing.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer tried to push for a vote last night but failed. Republican senators heckling Schumer, as he pitched a much

shorter continuing resolution to allow the Senate to continue debate over the next few days.

However, aides to Senate Majority Leader McConnell are skeptical of this proposal. With just hours left before the shutdown deadline, the blame

game is in full force.

SEN. MITCH MCCONNELL (R), KENTUCKY: Democratic senators' fixation on illegal immigration has already blocked us from making progress on long-

term spending talks. That plan fixation has been threatening to filibuster funding for the whole government.

NOBLES: Two Republican aides telling CNN Senator McConnell is already drawing up plans to bring forward a series of votes that could be

uncomfortable for Democrats leading into midterm elections, especially for the 10 Democrats up for reelection in the states President Trump won.

Democrats are holding their ground.

SEN. JON TESTER (D), MONTANA: I think we need to force the leadership on the other side of the aisle to take this issue seriously. And they

haven't for 110 days.

[08:25:00] If Mitch McConnell would have wanted a budget, we'd have had a budget.

REP. NANCY PELOSI (D), MINORITY LEADER: This is like giving you a bowl of doggie doo, put a cherry on top and call it a chocolate sundae.

NOBLES: A new national poll captures how deeply entrenched both sides are in their positions. Fifty-seven percent of Democrats believe it's worth

shutting down the government over DREAMers. Fifty-one percent of Republicans feel it's worth a shutdown to fund Trump's border wall.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

NOBLES: And the Senate is set to reconvene at 11:00 this morning eastern time. That means they only have 13 hours to come up with some sort of a

deal and keep in mind, this is the one true opportunity Democrats have to exert their leverage.

Yes, they do want a solution to protect those 700,000 DREAMers but they'd also like to see more funding for disaster relief. They would like to see

more done to deal with the opioid crisis.

And it's important to keep in mind, there are several Republican senators that aren't happy with this particular continuing resolution. They'd like

to see more funding for the military. Kristie.

LU STOUT: Yes, so much uncertainty and we're just hours away from a potential U.S. government shutdown. Ryan Nobles, reporting live for us.

Thank you so much.

Prosecutors in the U.S. State of California, they are painting a horrifying picture of years of physical and emotional abuse inside a suburban home.

And caught on Thursday, a couple was charged with 12 counts of torture, for prosecutors described as depraved conduct with their children.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MICHAEL HESTRIN, DISTRICT ATTORNEY, RIVERSIDE COUNTY: The parents would apparently buy food for themselves and not allow the children to eat it.

They would buy food, including pies, apple pies, pumpkin pies, leave it on the counter, lots of children look at it, but not eat the food.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LU STOUT: The prosecutor says the children were also beaten and chained up as punishment. The parents David and Louise Turpin have pleaded not

guilty. Stephanie Elam, filed this update from the court.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

STEPHANIE ELAM, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Listening to the Riverside County District Attorney list all of the things they say they've discovered in

this household, that almost seems too much to believe.

The district attorney saying that they have found that the children were being locked up for the most minor of offenses, even including washing

their hand above their wrists.

They were seen as playing in the water and they could be chained up for that. They said the treatment of the children has gotten progressively

worse. And they're starting these charges starting in 2010 but that's when they move to California.

We do know according to the district's attorney office that these abuse -- the abuse started earlier than that in Texas and then got worse when they

moved here to California.

Some of the things that they're saying about the children when the 17-year- old, the one who was bold enough to plan this escape with her siblings for over two years when she escaped she took one of her siblings with her.

That sibling got scared and ran back into the house. She stayed on plan and called the police, and when police got to the home, they said that the

defendants in this case, David and Louise Turpin were able to unchain the 11-year-old and the 14-year-old.

But the 22-year-old was still chained when the authorities made their way into the home. They said that they chained them there for weeks or months

at a time to the point that they wouldn't let them out, if they needed to use the restroom based on the evidence that they saw on the house.

As far as their appearance, they're saying the 17-year old, she didn't know what medicine was when the police first spoke to her. Some of the children

didn't know what a police officer was, so they're talking about the fact that they had cognitive impairment and nerve damage only allowed to shower

one time a year and that they suffered beatings and strangulations.

There are so many things in here that the list goes on. But today was the first time that we actually saw the Turpin couple in court today looking

stoically on as the judge went ahead and set their bail at $12 million each.

They are looking despite the fact -- despite the fact that they have pled not guilty to all charges. They are looking at spending 94 years to life

in prison if they are found guilty in this case. Stephanie Elam, CNN, Riverside, California.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LU STOUT: Just sickening picture of abuse. In Macau, police are on the hunt for $6 million in gambling chips that were stolen from the Wynn

Casino. A dealer and a person described as a potential accomplice have been arrested.

And police tell CNN Money that they're not looking for any other suspects. Local media report, the suspect stuff the chips into a bag in a VIP room

and carried them out of the casino right under the nose of security. But the loot has yet to be found.

Now, in next month's Winter Games, North and South Korea will form a joint women's ice hockey team and they will march together under one flag. The

South Korea women's hockey team coach Sarah Murray is speaking to reporters about that decision.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SARAH MURRAY, COACH, SOUTH KOREA WOMEN'S HOCKEY TEAM: I think that there is damage. Just to our players. Yes, they just -- they said in, June,

like not to make them a political statement.

[08:30:00] They just want to play the game, you know. And I kind of agree with them, but, again, like we can't control the situation, so we just need

to focus on what we need to do to be successful.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KRISTIE LU STOUT, CNN HOST: Earlier today, the Olympic flame passed by the demilitarized zone. Torchbearers (INAUDIBLE) South Korea as part of the

torch relay. Organizers say nearly 70 percent of the tickets for the Pyeongchang Winter Games have been sold so far.

You're watching "News Stream." Still to come, running a country is a full- time job. But some say New Zealand's prime minister is now headed for a real challenge. She's pregnant.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LU STOUT: I'm Kristie Lu Stout in Hong Kong. You're watching "News Stream" and these are your world headlines.

We have been assessing the year since Donald Trump was inaugurated as president of the United States. Here in Asia, Mr. Trump has been siding up

to Chinese Leader Xi Jinping, but his sanctions bore down on North Korea. Washington accuse Beijing of violations, straining China-U.S. relations.

Now back in Washington, the U.S. government is just hours away from a possible shutdown. The Senate does not pass a short-term spending bill. It

has already passed the House, but if faces huge obstacles in the Senate, where it is unlikely to win the needed Democratic support.

A couple in California is pleading not guilty to charges that they tortured a dozen of their children. David and Louise Turpin are accused of holding

their children captive in their suburban home, starving and beating up. The bail is set to $12 million each and if convicted of all charges, they could

be jailed for life.

In Germany, the economy keeps booming but there is a shortage of workers to meet the demand for labor. To combat this, some companies are looking at a

new source of talent. Refugees. Atika Shubert reports.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ATIKA SHUBERT, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice over): The city of Dresden is profiting from Germany's booming economy, home to a

thriving tech industry from semiconductor makers to software producers such as SAP.

The company is constantly trying to fill positions as it grows and it has tapped a new source of talent, refugees, such as (INAUDIBLE), who fled the

war in Syria.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They said welcome, I deserve you, I accepted you. It was so awesome.

SHUBERT (voice over): (INAUDIBLE) is among the 150 refugees taking part in SAP Germany's vocational training program. About one-third are likely to

end up with full-time jobs, says SAP, and other companies have began to ask SAP how they have done it, said the head of vocational training here.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: In Dresden, we have 700 people coming from over 20 nations worldwide. We are used to that amount.

[08:35:00] It's really an experience none of the other students have. I just would encourage all the other companies to just do it.

SHUBERT (voice over): Consider the numbers. Germany has enjoyed eight years of robust growth and 13 years of rising employment. According to the

German Institute for Employment Research, the country had a million unfilled jobs, mainly in tech in the last quarter of 2017.

Sixty percent of companies here cite labor shortages as their biggest concern, says Germany's Chamber of Commerce. In 2015, Germany took in as

many as a million refugees and continues to take in more. But can refugees and newly arrived immigrants fill the gab? Not entirely.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The bulk of the refugees are for the time being not meeting the qualification demand of the businesses. This is true when it

comes to the language skills, but this is even more true when it comes to the qualification requirements.

SHUBERT (voice over): It does cost more time and money. SAP invested an intensive language program to proactively tries to match skills.

(INAUDIBLE), for example, was an experienced operations engineer for Syrian Telecom in Damascus before he fled the war.

Now, he works as a programmer with SAP and has made Dresden his home with his wife and two children. He credits his colleagues for making him feel at

home.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I like so much here. My team helped me to integrate. Actually my team was my window to the language.

SHUBERT (voice over): (INAUDIBLE) admits their program is small and still won't fill all the gaps, but the company insists it's a start.

Atika Shubert, CNN, Dresden.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LU STOUT: The start of an incredible program. Now You Tube and Facebook are taking action to stop a dangerous craze that is apparently taking off

on social media. Now it involves eating laundry detergent packets known as "Tide Pod" on camera.

It's proven to be quite popular among teenagers despite urgent and obvious health warnings. You Tube and Facebook say that they will take down videos

of people taking the so-called "Tide Pod Challenge."

You're watching "News Stream." Still to come, we are going to show how a new battery is going to disrupt the role of traditional utility companies

and let home owners take their energy needs into their own hands.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LU STOUT: Welcome back. Many countries are looking at ways to better develop renewable energy sources and in Germany, a tech company is creating

a battery that would let homeowners store renewable energy to power their homes. Isa Soares has this look.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ISA SOARES, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Wind turbines and solar panels are part of the landscape in rural Germany. The country has long been a

renewable energy champion, but efficient storage for 24-hour use has been a challenge. Tech company (INAUDIBLE) are combining a battery with community

spirit to find a solution.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Our battery systems can be used for every kind of power generation, so we are using a very specific cell chemistry which is

(INAUDIBLE) iron phosphate and we have (INAUDIBLE) lifetime

[08:40:00] and our batteries can perform easily 10,000 cycles.

SOARES (voice-over): If the technology sounds familiar, it is because tech giants like Tesla and Hyundai have some of the biggest lithium battery

installations in the world, switched on and working in Australia and South Korea. The solar (ph) system is typically used in residential settings.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (voice-over): Tesla has announced to go also into the residential (INAUDIBLE) segment and to this hope the entire industry to get

more attention and awareness.

SOARES (voice-over): The company's battery system also connects to use of virtual power plant called the Sonnen Community, where members share their

excess energy with others, even if they don't generate their own renewable power.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (voice-over): This means that they are not only able to cover something like 70, 75 percent of the power consumption with cell

consumption, they are able to be 100 percent independent from the traditional utility and by also supplying each other with grit (ph) power.

SOARES (voice-over): There are 30,000 solar uses worldwide and 70 percent distributed in Germany, servicing rural and urban areas alike.

Here in Munich, six months ago, (INAUDIBLE) invested in a solar battery for his home.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I was immediately interested in the whole system. The motivation behind that is actually saving environment. You produce your own

electricity on the roof, but at the end of the day, it saves money.

SOARES (voice-over): Community members can monitor their clean power production and consumption through an app.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (voice-over): I can see the actual consumption of a certain equipment in the house, and that makes you aware of what is going

on and what might to be changed in the future.

SOARES (voice-over): Battery grid technology is maturing and small scale community systems are part of the puzzle when it comes to integrating more

renewable energy into global power mix.

Isa Soares, CNN.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LU STOUT: And finally, the prime minister of New Zealand announced that she and her partner are expecting their first child in June.

(START VIDEO CLIP)

JACINDA ARDERN, PRIME MINISTER OF NEW ZEALAND: I take very seriously the role of becoming a mom, as does Clarke becoming a dad. But we equally take

seriously the role taken on as prime minister of New Zealand. I will be taking six weeks of leave after the baby's arrival in mid-June.

I've already spoken to the deputy prime minister and asked that he take on the duties of the office of prime minister while I'm away. But we'll be

working together through that time as we do together now.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LU STOUT: Jacinda Ardern says she intends to continue as prime minister and her partner will be a stay-at-home dad. And she is the second female

leader to become pregnant while in office. The first was former Pakistan Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto.

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

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[08:45:00] (WORLD SPORT)

END