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FIFA Set to Vote for New President; Questions, Intrigue As Super Tuesday Approaches in U.S.; Turnout Reportedly High In Iran for Elections. Aired 8:00a-9:00a ET

Aired February 26, 2016 - 08:00:00   ET

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


[08:00:41] KRISTIE LU STOUT, HOST: I'm Kristie Lu Stout in Hong Kong. And welcome to News Stream.

Now, we are tracking three key elections across the globe: world football's governing body is set to choose a new president of FIFA soon.

And U.S. Republican presidential candidates trade insults in a feisty debate ahead of Super Tuesday next week.

And Iranians are casting their votes in a critical election seen as a referendum on the historic nuclear deal.

This hour, FIFA will begin to choose a new president, the first time world football will have a new leader in 18 years, and an opportunity for

FIFA to restore the public's faith after a year of scandals.

Now remember, that FIFA's troubles began shortly before their last presidential election nine months ago. Now, several officials were

arrested amid allegations of corruption. Sepp Blatter was re-elected as FIFA president for a fifth time before standing down just days later.

Now these four are standing to replace Sepp Blatter, but most expected to come down to just two men: Gianni Infantino and Sheikh Salman. But both

have question marks against them. Infantino is seen as the right-hand man of disgraced UEFA President Michel Platini, while Sheikh Salman has

rejected accusation of human rights abuses in his native Bahrain.

Now for more on the candidates and the reforms Alex Thomas joins me live from

Zurich. And Alex, any read on how the vote for president will go?

ALEX THOMAS, CNN SPORTS CORRESPONDENT: Voting is under way, Kristie. There's a secret ballot. We may be four hours away from knowing who will

be the next leader of the planet's most popular sport's governing bodyb, FIFA.

But it could be years before whoever that person is restores FIFA's reputation.

A little bit earlier, we had one of the five candidates here on this Friday in Zurich pull out. Tokyo Sexwale, the South African who was

instrumental in organizing the first ever African World Cup back in 2010 and hosted that country's

version of the apprentice TV show like Donald Trump does in the United States, pulled out using his 15 minute speech to say he has suspended his

bid, and in all honesty it's probably going to save him the embarrassment of recording maybe one or even no votes at all.

So, that won't have a huge impact on an election where as you say Gianni Infantino and Sheikh Salman are the front runners. All four of the

candidates gave good speeches in their different ways. Prince Ali, certainly improved his public

speaking since losing to Blatter last May. He says actually the game of football has been carrying the governing body, not the other way around.

Sheikh Salman really borrowed a chapter from the Sepp Blatter playbook to mention the smaller nations by name. He had a dig at Gianni Infantino

saying he doesn't want to mortgage FIFA's future.

Infantino promising more money to each of the national associations. And actually he was the only one to have his speech interrupted by applause

when he talked about it being your money as he addressed the congress.

And Jerome Champagne, the outsider in this campaign, says I've had no smoke and mirrors in my campaign. Well, some of his ideas are much closer

to many of the critics outside of FIFA when he said there's not enough stakeholders included, like fans groups or players or clubs involvement.

So, an interesting decision for the congress members, Kristie. And the point is that the 200 plus national bosses are very different to us in

the media or the pressure groups from outside who have been so critical of FIFA.

LU STOUT: All right, CNN's Alex Thomas reporting live from Zurich. Thank you. And Alex will be back in about 45 minutes for world sport right

here on CNN.

Now, turning now to U.S. politics and Thursday night's contentious Republican presidential Republican presidential debate, is an indication

that the pressure is on as March 1 approaches. That is when voters in several

states decide on their party's nominee.

Marco Rubio and Ted Cruz headed up the offensive on the front-runner Donald Trump while he played defense.

Now, with the highlights here's Sunlen Serfaty..

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SUNLEN SERFATY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: An all-out war of insults and putdowns breaking out in the final GOP debate before super Tuesday.

[08:05:09] SEN. MARCO RUBIO, (R) FLORIDA: You're the only person on this stage that's ever been fined for hiring people to work on your

projects illegally. You hired...

DONALD TRUMP, 2016 REPUBLCIAN PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: No, no. I'm the only one on the stage that's hired people. You haven't hired anybody.

(APPLAUSE)

SERFATY: Marco Rubio and Ted Cruz worried about Donald Trump's trifecta of wins in the last three Republican contests, unleashing an

onslaught of attacks against the frontrunner, from illegal immigration...

CRUZ: When I was leading the fight against the gang of eight amnesty Bill, where was Donald? He was firing Dennis Rodman on "Celebrity

Apprentice."

RUBIO: If he builds the wall the way he built Trump Tower he'll be using immigrant labor to do it.

SERFATY: To U.S. trade relations with China and Mexico.

RUBIO: The second thing about the trade war, I don't understand, because your ties and the clothes you make is made in Mexico and China. So

you're going to be starting a trade war against your own ties and suits.

TRUMP: They devalue their currency to such an extent our businesses cannot compete with them. Our workers lose their jobs.

RUBIO: And that's why you make them in Russia.

TRUMP: But you wouldn't know anything about it because you a lousy...

RUBIO: I don't know anything about bankrupting four companies.

You lied about the polish workers.

TRUMP: Yes, yes, 38 years ago.

RUBIO: You lied 38 years ago. I guess there's a statute of limitations on lies.

SERFATY: To Obama care.

TRUMP: You'll have many different plans. You'll have competition. You'll have so many different plans.

RUBIO: Now he's repeating himself.

TRUMP: No, I'm not repeat -- no, no, no. No.

(APPLAUSE)

TRUMP: I watched him repeat himself five times four weeks ago.

RUBIO: I heard you repeat yourself five times five seconds ago.

(APPLAUSE)

TRUMP: I watched him melt down on a stage like I've never seen anybody. I thought he came out of a swimming pool.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Let talk about your plans...

RUBIO: I see him almost every night. He says five things -- everyone's dumb, he's going to make America great again, we're going to win, win, win,

we're winning in the polls, and the lines...

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Senator, Rubio, please, please stop.

(APPLAUSE)

SERFATY: And Hillary Clinton.

TRUMP: First of all, talking about the polls, I'm beating him awfully badly in the polls.

CRUZ: But you're not beating Hillary.

TRUMP: I don't know. Then -- if I can't beat her you're really going to get killed, aren't you?

(APPLAUSE)

TRUMP: So let me ask you this, because you're really getting beaten badly. I know you're embarrassed, I know you're embarrassed, but keep

fighting, keep swinging. Swing for the fences.

SERFATY: Trump eventually lashing out at both of the freshman senators at the same time. TRUMP: You are all talk and no action. What I've seen up

here, first of all, this guy's a joke artist are and this guy's a liar.

RUBIO: This guy always goes...

TRUMP: You have a combination of factors. He can't do it for the obvious reason and he can't do it because he doesn't mow how to tell the

truth. I know politicians, believe it or not, better than you do, and it's not good.

CRUZ: Oh, I believe it. No, no, I believe you know politicians much better than I do because for 40 years you've been funding liberal

democratic politicians.

TRUMP: I funded you. I funded him.

CRUZ: You're welcome to have the check back, because let's get it clear.

Donald, relax.

TRUMP: Go ahead. I'm relaxed. You're the basket case. Go ahead. Go ahead. Don't get nervous.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LU STOUT: Wow, the fireworks there. That was CNN's Sunlen Serfaty reporting.

Now for Democrats, the next big contest is in the southern state of South Carolina. Hillary Clinton had a busy day of campaigning, reaching

out to South Carolina's African-American voters who make up around 30 percent of the state's population.

Meanwhile, Bernie Sanders has focused on Super Tuesday states and beyond. On Thursday, he made his first visit to Flint, Michigan as a

presidential candidate where he attended a community forum on the city's toxic drinking water.

Now, CNN is the place to be for up to the minute coverage of the South Carolina democratic primary as Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders fight for

every vote. That begins 7:00 a.m. in Hong Kong, 8:00 a.m. in Tokyo.

Now, let's turn now to Iran where ballots are being cast in one of the most critical elections

there in decades. Now, voters will have their say on the makeup of two institutions: the parliament and the assembly of experts. Now, it's a

battle pitting reformers against hard liners who are wary of closer ties with the west.

Now, this is Iran's first vote since the nuclear deal with world powers. I want to bring in Fred Pleitgen who joins me live from Tehran.

And Fred, it is finally election day there in Iran. Who is turning out to vote?

FREDERIK PLEITGEN, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Kristie, up to the

last minute, both their reformists and the conservatives did everything they could to get their voters out and from we saw on the polling

stations, it seems like both sides were fairly successful. The polling stations that we went to were absolutely jam-packed with people signing up

and then casting their ballot.

Both sides displayed confidence that they believed that they would do well in this election. When we went to these polls, we saw many, many

people who said that they believe that these elections are going to be absolutely important for the future of this

country. Let's have a look.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

[08:10:04] PLEITGEN: Many stood in line for hours waiting to go get in to the polling stations looking to cast their ballot in what both

supporters of Iran's moderates and conservatives say is a key election.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: As soon as the sanctions are lifted, everything is going to be changed. Of course, we cannot expect whole country changes

overnight. But I believe that we are going to have a very good future.

PLEITGEN: "I like the conservatives," this man says. They have proven themselves when

they were in power and we really like what they do.

Many of the polling stations are inside mosques where voters fill out forms to register and

then cast their ballots. In many ways, this election is seen as a referendum on President Hassan Rouhani's course of opening Iran up to the

west and on the recent nuclear agreement.

One of Rouhani's vice presidents tells me a strong turnout for the Rouhani camp would help them continue their course.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's very important because the parliament has both oversight and legislation authority. So they play an important role

in providing the necessary laws that we need to implement in the executive branch.

PLEITGEN: But conservative forces around Iran's powerful clergy accuse the moderates of opening the door for what they believe is dangerous

western and especially U.S. influence in the Islamic Republic.

Iran's supreme leader warned of alleged American infiltration into Iranian affairs when he

cast his own ballot. Despite all the controversy and the fierce rhetoric between the political factions, Iran's supreme leader has defined these

elections as decisive ones and has called on all Iranians to come out and cast their votes.

And authorities say turnout is high. As many people in this country see the vote they cast this Friday as one that could do a lot to shape the

future of their nation.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PLEITGEN: It's interesting, Kristie, because the Iranian President Hassan Rouhani when he cast his ballot also said that the early indications

here in Iran are that there is massive voter turnout here for these elections.

Another indication of that as well is that the polling places were actually supposed to close

in about an hour and 20 minutes from now, however that has already been extended by another two-and-a-half hours to 8:30 p.m. local time because so

many people are going to the polls, Kristie.

LU STOUT: And Fred, more than half the people in Iran are under the age of 35. We talked about this before, the youth vote there very

significant. Have you been talking to them at polling stations? How do they plan to vote today?

PLEITGEN: Well, we've been speaking to a lot of young people over the past couple of days. And most of them, the ones that we've been speaking

to, and it probably shouldn't come as a surprise, do side with the reformists here in this country. And I think one of the things to keep in

mind is that many of the young people here in this country are very, very well-educated and many of them have felt that they've been shackled by the

sanctions that have been in place over the past couple of years.

And now they feel that sanctions relief is in place, that they see sort of the fledgling economy here start to really rev up. They believe

that in the future those shackles could be gone and so many of them believe that the reformist course is correct.

However, we always have to point out there are of course also conservatives among the young

people as well and they are also quite vocal at campaign events that we have been to as well.

So, it is very interesting to see the youth vote here, because you're absolutely right it is a very, very important demographic in a country

where over 60 percent of the population is under the age of 30, Kristie.

LU STOUT: All right, Fred Pleitgen there reporting on these pivotal elections in Iran live from Tehran. Thank you Fred.

Now, one of the biggest names in technology is siding with Apple in its encryption fight against the FBI. And we'll tell you why the president

of Microsoft is coming to the aid of a long time rival.

And praying their way to the U.S. Now word is quickly spreading across India about a

500-year-old shrine that some are now calling the visa temple. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[08:15:50] LU STOUT: In just a few hours from now, a cease-fire is set to go into effect in Syria, but questions remain whether all who have

agreed will respect the truce.

Let's bring in Nick Paton Walsh live from Beirut for more on this. And Nick, Russia says that it will assist the Syrian army even after the

ceasefire. So what does that mean for the planned truce?

NICK PATON WALSH, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, eight hours, 45 minutes, roughly, Kristie, away from the beginning of a time when these

guns should fall silent.

One of the key questions has almost been answered, and that was after we'd heard from Syrian government that they would, with some caveats that

seem to mostly adhere with the spirit of the agreement, the Syrian government would go along with the ceasefire, the Russians always said they

would as well.

We've also now heard from the armed elements of the Syrian opposition through the political body that represents them, the high negotiating

committee, the HNC. They released a statement in which they said 97 opposition groups, including armed factions, had agreed

to join the cease-fire as of midnight tonight, just over eight hours away from now.

Now, one name -- we didn't get a list of names, no yet anyway. But one name we were told by member of the HNC was part of that Syrian

opposition group of 97 was was Jaysh al-Islam. They are a large opposition group indeed. One actually that Russians consider, quote, to be

terrorists, but that's not a view shared by the west or by the United Nations security council.

That's a big name that potentially lends some imminent success to this.

There are some big names who we have not heard from yet. One notably Ahrar al-Sham (ph). You might possibly argue that they could give private

assurances to the HNC that they're going to go along with this. But there's a lot still moving here. And I have to say, a lot of mistrust as

well.

The bombing is intense at this stage. Certainly in Daraa (ph) in the south where we spoke to one activist who is concerned, in fact, the Syrian

government may try to retake the area entirely in the days ahead or hours ahead.

Certainly another element of suspicion cast by a map published by a Russian state media in the last few hours appears to show, and we don't

verify it, we don't know if it represents an official position, but it appears to show in six incredibly small areas across the country which

would be affected by the cease-fire.

All of this casts into doubt exactly what's going to happen at midnight. But as of this stage, there are some question marks over some

key opposition groups who haven't publicly said they're for it. They may have done so privately. Everyone seems to be on the page, but the violence

is unrelenting as is the sense of mistrust, Kristie.

LU STOUT: All right, CNN's Nick Paton Walsh reporting for us live from Beirut. Thank you for that update.

Now North Korea is looking down the barrel of tough new sanctions from the UN security council. The U.S. says that they would be the strongest

imposed in decades and are designed to punish Pyongyang for continuing to develop its nuclear and ballistic missile programs.

Now, Paula Hancocks has the latest from Seoul.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

PAULA HANCOCKS, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, Kristie, up until the end of January, we could see that China was dragging its feet on

any stronger sanctions against North Korea. The U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry visited Beijing, visited his Chinese counterpart. And we could

see there was significant distance between the two sides.

There was no agreement between Washington and Beijing.

But then on February 7, North Korea carried out that satellite launch, which is widely seen as

a long-range missile test. And that really played into Washington's hands. That may be argument for the U.S. that North Korea was blatantly ignoring

previous resolutions.

So, certainly now we are seeing that China is on board. It follows also weeks of discussions between the U.S. and China.

And also, another factor that could have played into this is the fact that China and North Korea

have very poor relations at this point. China is North Korea's largest trading partner, it's its biggest ally, one of its very few allies in the

world. And yet Kim Jong un, the North Korean leader, has been in power for four years and he still hasn't met President Xi Jinping. He

hasn't met the leader of the country that is effectively helping his country to get by on a daily basis.

So that could certainly have had an impact as well. So, even though China is concerned about a destabilized North Korea, it doesn't want the

regime to collapse. And it doesn't want millions of refugees to be crossing into the China side of that border, it is also going to be very

concerned that North Korea at this point is blatantly disregarding China's calls to show restraint -- Kristie.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LU STOUT: Paula Hancocks there. Thank you.

Now, Apple's senior vice president general counsel will testify before U.S. lawmakers over the company's privacy battle with the FBI.

Now, Bruce Sewell is to appear before the House judiciary committee on Tuesday. It'll be the first time lawmakers are able to quiz a high ranking

Apple representative over the encryption dispute.

Now, the company is still firmly fighting a court order to help unlock the iPhone of one of the San Bernadino terrorists.

Now, the biggest names in tech, they are putting rivalries aside to support Apple in its encryption fight.

Now the Wall Street Journal reports that Google's parent company and Facebook will file a joint

motion backing the iPhone maker. Even long-time competitor Microsoft, which had previously been quiet on the matter, now says it wholeheartedly

supports the case against the FBI.

Now, its president even went one step further during a committee hearing on Thursday using decades old technology to make his point.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BRAD SMITH, MICROSOFT PRESIDENT: We do not believe that courts should seek to resolve issues of 21st Century technology with law that was written

in the era of the adding machine.

We need 21st Century laws that address 21st Century technology issues. And we need these laws to be written by congress. We, therefore, agree

wholeheartedly with Apple that the right place to bring this discussion is here to the House of Representatives and the Senate, so the people who are

elected by the people can make these decisions.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LU STOUT: That's a powerful prop there.

Now, each year, millions of Indians want to go to the U.S. to work, but they need a visa. After the break, we take you to a temple where it is

believed there is divine intervention for visa seekers.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[08:25:52] LU STOUT: Coming to you live from Hong KOng, you're back watching News Stream. Now, the U.S. is a popular destination for job

seekers worldwide. Just last year, record 233,000 foreigners applied for a visa with a success rate of only one in three.

Now to beat the odds, some are heading for a temple to seek the help of a Hindu god.

Alexandra Field takes us there.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ALEXANDRA FIELD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Every dawn, every day they come by the hundreds. Thousands will pass through. They're so close, they can

almost touch it. They can practically taste it. It's a dream worth going the distance for. And they'll try everything.

So, you want to come to America?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, that's right.

FIELD: In southern India, a place where people pray to get there with passports in hand.

How many friends of yours have come here and prayed for a visa and gotten it?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, I wouldn't have the number, per se. But my sister. My one sister, she's in Brussels right now.

FIELD: So it works.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, it does work.

FIELD: This is not science, just have some faith. Follow a few steps, offer your prayer and take 11 laps around the temple.

When the wish comes true, take 108 laps to say thank you.

I went inside and I made a wish. And if you see me back here, you'll know it came true.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I will be happy.

FIELD: Me too.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yeah.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Our lord is answering the prayer for different types of prayers.

FIELD: For children, for success, for health, for visas.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: If you put a plug and then you put a fan, the wire is in between.

FIELD: This is the wire.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: So, we feel over here a part of this transmission line.

FIELD: This little temple has a big reputation for connecting Indians to the rest of the world.

It started decades ago, mostly with students praying to get to the U.S. They would make the rounds and seemingly get luckier in visa

lotteries.

FIELD: This is his voice of temples and they've got some testimonials in here. Visa rejected. Visa granted. My friend tried for a visa four

times and rejected. I brought him here, this time the visa was granted without any hindrance.

It was word-of-mouth, now word has spread.

Among thousands of people still dreaming of getting to America.

We're on the fourth lap now, are you starting to feel luckier?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I don't know. Let's hope I do.

FIELD: And you're prepared to come back here and do how many laps if you get a visa?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: 108.

FIELD: All right. Well, I'll do a few of them with you maybe.

Alexandra Field, CNN, Hyderabad.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LU STOUT: Now, we are just a couple of days away from this year's Academy Awards. And one topic that's getting a lot of attention, diversity

among the acting nominees. We have more on the debate that has twitter buzzing with the #oscarssowhite. Just ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(HEADLINES)

[08:32:17] LU STOUT: Now, this year's Academy Awards are nearly upon us. And one topic that has been getting a lot of attention,

#oscarssowhite.

Now that began trending on Twitter last year. It's back again this year. It refers to a lack of

people of color among acting nominees.

And joining us with more is CNN's Michaela Pereira. Michaela, thank you for joining us.

Is the lack of diversity issue, is that still dominating discussion there ahead of the Oscars?

MICHAELA PEREIRA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Kristie, I would say in a word, yes, it is a big topic of discussion here in Hollywood and around the

nation. Obviously, a lot of eyes are on how the Academy is going to handle this broadcast on Sunday. A lot of the pressure, I would argue, rests on

the host, Chris Rock. This is not his first time hosting the Oscars. The second time he did it, the first time he did it was in 2005, a very

different time in our world, a different time in America. And arguably, a different time for the Academy.

This year, we're told that he is practicing some of his material in stand-up routines around the

country and around L.A., but you can imagine that this is a guy who has been known for really slicing controversy.

He delves into it. He's not afraid of it. He courts controversy often. So, it seems to me that he is not going to avoid the topic. How

will he handle it? That's the question everybody will be tuning in to watch and find out.

LU STOUT: Yeah, Hollywood and the world will be closely watching Chris Rock.

And in terms much nominees, Leonardo Di Caprio as well, only because he's been nominated

so many times but he has yet to win his Oscar. Is he finally going to score one on Sunday?

PEREIRA: Well, that's the question, right. This guy has been nominated five times for acting, once as a producer. It's really

interesting. Because he has done such a variety of roles.

There are a lot of people thinking that maybe this might be his year. This is a really taxing role for him both emotionally and physically. Not

a lot of dialog in this film. It's a very gripping film. He really had to throw himself into it.

The question is, will it be his turn? You can't just vote for whose turn it is to win. It has to be about the work, obviously. And some are

saying that this work could garner him that support. So, we'll have to see.

LU STOUT: All right.

The Revenant, as well as Spotlight, Martian, The Big Short, Mad Max, et cetera are all in the running for best picture. Which film will most

likely take home the Oscar?

PEREIRA: Well, you know, it's interesting. We saw -- my producer and I saw -- almost all of the films. And it is a big year for big films,

really interesting, really topical. Almost some of them torn right from the headlines -- obviously like Spotlight.

It seems to be sort of a three-way horse race, if you will: The Revenant, Spotlight and The Big Short. But there are possibilities that

there could be others in there. Maybe The Martian. Maybe some of the other films that have been garnering some success, a lot of them have been

campaigning to see if they can get the attention of those Academy voters.

But again, it will come down to how effective those campaigns are and how those movies move the Academy voters.

[08:35:11] LU STOUT: All right, Michaela Pereira live in Hollywood with the Oscars preview. Thank you. Enjoy the weekend. Take care.

Now, CNN is the place to turn before and after the Academy Awards and for all the glamor from the red carpet. Just tune in to Hollywood's

biggest night, 7:00 a.m. Monday morning in Hong Kong and once the Oscars wrap up, join Don Lemon and Isha Sesay for And the Winner Is only on CNN.

Now, he has been called the most powerful Chinese leader since Mao Zedong. Chinese President Xi Jinping has wielded his power to crack down

on corruption while also reigning in dissent.

Now this month for CNN's On China, we explore the growing power of China's leader. In this clip, the Hong Kong-based political cartoonist

Harry Harrison shows us how he illustrates Xi.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

HARRY HARRISON, POLITICAL CARTOONIST: I think I kept getting his nose wrong. His nose starts (inaudible) and then ends up very bulbous. I

wasn't drawing broad enough before, or something. I think his chin is a bit weak there, I think.

Xi Jinping's physical characteristics quite robust: Chunky, solid. He looks powerful. For the first time actually looks like someone could lead

a country the size of China.

You wouldn't really want to mess with him physically. But I always imagine he could handle himself in a cage fight with Putin if it came to

it.

He's got huge power, because of his position, but he also looks very powerful...

His characteristics actually suit the panda really rather I use to represent China a lot of the time.

Similar expression. The way I draw the panda and similar sort of body mass in there. He's a bit chunky, robust, cuddly, a dictator.

He's like an unstoppable force. Does try to put himself off across as they respect people's sovereign territory. They don't like to interfere in

other people's business and (inaudible) fluffy, cuddly, he's interested in business really, but of course he's into everything when it comes to pass

you find out.

Does that look like him?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LU STOUT: Long time political cartoonist and South China Morning Post contributor Harry Harrison there, calling Xi Jinping a, quote, chunky,

robust and cuddly dictator.

Don't miss the next On China as we examine the power and the fragility of the Chinese leader. It debuts tomorrow, 11:00 a.m. Hong Kong time.

Now, you're watching News Stream. And still to come on the program. We are on the road in India where we meet a teacher whose passion is dance.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LU STOUT: Welcome back.

Now all this week, we are on the road in India, a country with more children and young people than anywhere in the world. Now today, Paula

Newton journeys east to Kolkata to meet a pioneer of modern Indian dance and the young students hoping to follow in her footsteps.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

[08:40:14] PAULA NEWTON, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: It can be a downright dizzying place. Kolkata has a vibe all its own. And the

(inaudible) that is the lifeblood here seems to harness an artistic legacy lavishing the world with an impressive

endowment of art and culture.

The more we learned, the more we were intrigued. How could we not come? We listened. we watched, then we understood. More than anything,

we felt the emotion that inspires a special brand of Indian dance.

The Shankar technique, fluid, graceful,each movement composed as if to touch the spirit.

Tanusree Shankar is its passionate champion.

TANUSREE SHANKAR, DANCE INSTRUCTOR Our body is just like an instrument. So if you train the body in a fashion where the body can take

in any of the form of dance.

NEWTON: These are commanding performances and while marred, they were profoundly influenced by Indian dance, that's something that can be tough

to explain to those whose cultural reference point is Bollywood.

SHANKAR: Whenever I want to do a workshop, they would say, what are you going to do a workshop? Are you going to do Bollywood?

I said no. I won't be doing Bollywood.

NEWTON: Like these children, Tanusree herself was once a young student. She met her late husband learning these very steps from his

parents.

What so drives her is carrying on their legacy and inspiring a new generation.

Milana Senz (ph) started dancing here six years ago at the age of ten.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Actually dance from heart.

NEWTON: Dance from your heart.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: From your heart. I just want to dance because I feel wonderful in dance.

NEWTON: The little ones, this dance combines the modern energy they so love with the Indian identity their parents so want to preserve.

Do you worry sometimes that the finer arts in India will be left behind?

SHANKAR: Yes and no. Yes, because if a child wants to take up dance as a profession, they will not encourage them in the first place. If

you're a doctor, you're a lawyer, I'm a dancer. So, that dignity has to be brought on by the dancer him or herself.

NEWTON: The Shankar technique has played to audiences all over the world as its influence extends throughout India and beyond. Tanusree

Shankar's dream is that it helps break cultural barriers not just outside of India but within.

Paula Newton, CNN, Kolkata.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LUS TOUT: Such a beautiful form of expression. And that is News Stream. I'm Kristie Lu Stout. But don't go anywhere. World Sport is next.

END