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Protests in Iceland over Prime Ministers Implication In Panama Papers; Donald Trump Under Pressure As Wisconsin Vote Looms; China Silent on Panama Papers Revelations. Aired 8:00a-9:00a ET

Aired April 5, 2016 - 08:00:00   ET

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


[08:00:17] KRISTIE LU STOUT, HOST: I'm Kristie Lu Stout in Hong Kong and welcome to News Stream.

Now, protests on the streets of Iceland, fallout from the Panama Papers leak of financial documents

Donald trump under pressure: could controversial comments on abortion cost him in the Wisconsin primary taking place right now?

And a giant diamond with a giant price tag. We'll tell you how much this blue diamond went for at auction here in Hong Kong.

No end to the unrest from the Panama Papers, the biggest leak of secret financial documents ever.

Now, mass street demonstrations are soon expected to return to the capital of Iceland. And protesters are demanding the prime minister

resign, accusing him of hiding assets in an offshore account.

He is now one of several powerful people denying any wrongdoing for owning or controlling secret companies or accounts containing billions in

hidden assets.

Now, Iceland's prime minister is not the only one combating claims of wrongdoing. The documents reference some 12 current or former world

leaders as well as 128 other politicians and public officials.

Now, the papers allegedly reveal a clandestine network involving associates of Russian President Vladimir Putin, though Mr. Putin is never

named.

Now, the Kremlin dismisses the allegations as a series of fibs.

Now, prominent Chinese are also linked to offshore assets. And Beijing describes the reports as, quote, pulled out of nowhere.

And the spokesman for Argentina's president says that he has never owned a stake in the firm that he has been linked to.

Now, governments around the world have promised to investigate. Now, Panama's prosecutor is among them, but Mossack Fonseca, the law firm in

Panama where the more than 11 million documents originated says it hasn't done anything illegal.

Now, according to the firm's director, they are not responsible for the actions of the companies it creates.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

RAMON FONSECA, DIRECTOR, MOSSACK FONSECA (through translator): We are a firm in existence of nearly 40 years. We have formed more than 250,000

anonymous corporations throughout our history. And we take care only of the legal part. We do not participate in the activities of the company,

nor do we have any responsibility over what the company does.

We are not responsible for the activities of the 240,000 companies we have established throughout our history.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LU STOUT: All right. Let's bring in CNN Money Europe editor Nina Dos Santos in London for more on this story. And Nina, first we have to talk

about the situation in Iceland. I mean, the scale of the protests there, extraordinary. Protesters are angry. They are calling for the prime

minister to go. What is the latest on the political fallout there in Iceland?

NINA DOS SANTOS, CNN MONEY: Well, for the moment the prime minister staunchly refused to step down. In fact, he stormed out of a TV interview

with a Swedish news crew a couple of days ago when they specifically confronted him with these allegations that have since emerged as part of

that massive leak that is part of the Panama Papers.

And let's just remind you exactly what has been alleged here. he seems to be among the camp of those politicians who actually held

directorships in some of these offshore firms. Now in his case, what's particularly contentious is that he

allegedly held a directorship in a company that was founded and owned by his wife,

specifically set up offshore, so through Mossack Fonseca's offices in Panama, to hold her stakes in various banks in Iceland. And the banking

sector is particularly unpopular in this particular island nation after it helped to precipitate their financial meltdown about eight or so years ago.

So, it's linked to banks, apparently he allegedly didn't declare it, and as you can see there from those pictures, a couple thousand people hit

the streets of Reykjavik, which is the main city, the capital city of Iceland. And I've been to Iceland myself and reported on the financial

crisis when it struck a number of years ago.

This is an awfully small island, Kristie, a population of just over 330,000 people. So for thousands of people to hit the streets and demand

his resignation is significant.

LU STOUT: Yeah, a very significant response as we see there on our screens there.

Is this going to lead to change? I mean, could the leak lead to change, especially across the EU? Is there a sense of momentum for the

EuroZone to take action to make sure that offshore companies won't be used for stuff like tax evasion or money laundering?

DOS SANTOS: The Eurozone, and indeed the world, Kristie, because what we are talking about here is the biggest leak ever of offshore documents.

It's not just many times bigger, 1,500 times bigger, than WikiLeaks, but it is actually the nature of the kind of sensitive document that we are seeing

being unearthed here.

This is a realm of finance that you rarely get to see. We're talking about shell companies, specifically set is up to try and hide the

beneficiaries of some of these companies, a number of them, as we now have known, are very high profile individuals.

But what journalists are saying now is that there really needs to be some public momentum behind institutions to crack this problem once and

for all. What this will hopefully do will help give some impetus to the campaign that politicians have been trying to get going for some time now

to try and eradicate tax avoidance.

This is what one expert had to say about the movement that we are seeing so far among political circles.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE TURNER, INVESTIGATIVE DIRECTOR, FINANCE UNCOVERED: David Cameron is holding an international summit next month to deal with the

corruption issue. That's being planned for over a year. They didn't know this was going to happen when they planned this conference.

But this certainly puts pressure on more action coming, and outcomes coming from that conference. So, this is the kind of news story that can

redefine how the international system works if the pressure translates into action.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

DOS SANTOS: So, a leak of unprecedented size and scope, Kristie. And as you could hear there, a number of experts who have helped to uncover

some of this information have said, well, really it is into the government's hands now to make and make sure that once and for all, they

don't waste this opportunity of this massive leak of information to try to close the tax loopholes. Panama, for one, says that it's investigating

other countries like the UK, France, Australia and also Mexico will be following suit, including the United States.

LU STOUT: Yeah, the heat is certainly on government in Europe and around the world. Nina Dos Santos reporting, thank you.

And some news coming in, as we just heard that report from Nina Dos Santos, the in a Facebook pst, the prime minister of Iceland said that he

will step down as head of government and call for an election as soon as possible if MPs in the coalition do not support his government.

Now, the prime minister is currently meeting with the president of Iceland.

Now, the Panama Papers leak is also raising questions for leaders here in

Asia, namely in China. As Chinese President Xi Jinping is leading leading his anti-corruption campaign.

Now joining us now is CNN's Will Ripley who joins us live from Beijing.

And Will, tell us more. Just how is Beijing micromanaging news of the leak?

WILL RIPLEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, they are certainly trying to scrub not only the airways, but social media as well. I want you to take a

look at a live picture from inside the CNN Beijing bureau. And any moment now you will see our signal go to black as it has every hour as we start

talking about Chinese President Xi Jinping and other named once again by -- there we go to black just now -

- named once again in another investigation by the ICIJ.

By the way, this is the second time that ICIJ has named China. They had another investigation back in 2014 where they said more than a dozen of

China's richest and most elite citizens had ties to these shady offshore accounts. This time it is at least seven with links to offshore firms,

ties to Mossack Fonseca, the Panamanian firm at the center of all of this.

Now, when you search on social media for Panama, Panama Paper, this is what you see, error messages on WeChat, on Weibo, on China's version of

Google Baidu. You can't find much information, although if search in Chinese, there is one thing that pop up prominently, it's an editorial that

appeared in this major state-run newspaper and also posted online stating essentially that all of this, Kristie, is the result of some sort of

international conspiracy by the western media to paint non-western leaders in a bad light.

They mentioned specifically Russian President Vladimir Putin saying hundreds of international journalists are unfairly focused on him. Never

once, though, did they mentioned the Chinese officials implicated in this. And when we tried to ask questions today at the ministry of foreign affairs

briefly, three different times, three different questions, and one very similar answer.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

HONG LEI, CHINESE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS (through translator): For such

groundless accusations, I have no comment. As for the Panama Papers, I have no comment. I have no comment on this.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

RIPLEY: Obviously, this is embarrassing for the Chinese Communist Party to be named once again by the international media with some of the

highest levels of government, their relatives, tied to these secretive offshore accounts,

because President Xi Jinping has been very publicly launching an anti- corruption campaign, thousands of government officials have been punished for corruption, including financial corruption, offshore accounts and

whatnot. But this revelation leads many outside observers to believe that those who are closest to the top of China's Communist Party remain

untouchable, and we're seeing evidence of that being scrubbed as we speak from the internet and from television, Kristie.

LU STOUT: Yeah, China's no comment and censorship of covering this story is definitely a litmus test of just how embarrassing the Panama

Papers is for China's leadership.

Just as Xi Jinping continues to wage his war on corruption, what is the latest on that front?

[08:10:11] RIPLEY: Well, the latest is simply that the war on corruption publicly continues. And while it is aggressive, it is also

believed to be selective by many observers who have been following this. There has been news of more arrests that have been made. Even just today,

another high-ranking official tied to this arrested as well.

But again, all of this very publicly announced here in China even while the other information that the government doesn't want released stays

hidden.

So, you have definitely a bit of scrubbing of information here which is why

messages from the international media continue to be shut out, internet search terms blocked.

LU STOUT: All right, Will Ripley reporting live for us from Beijing. Many thanks indeed for that.

Now, a number of radical Islamists with possible links to the Brussels and Paris terror attacks have said to be still on the run. Now, eight of

the fugitives are suspected of having ties to the terror networks behind the attacks. At least a dozen others were tried in absentia in Belgium as

foreign fighters.

And police are still searching for two suspects in last month's Brussels bombings. One of them was seen on surveillance camera at the

airport, the other is wanted in the metro station bombing.

A monitoring group says new satellite imagery of North Korea shows suspicious activity at a nuclear enrichment site. This follows recent

warnings by the U.S. intelligence chief that Pyongyang wants to restart its nuclear facilities.

Paula Hancocks has more.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

PAULA HANCOCKS, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Recent activity spotted at North Korea's nuclear complex has been described as both

suspicious and unusual.

38 North, a U.S. website that monitors the North very closely says that satellite imagery over the past five weeks shows plumes of exhaust

steam from a thermal plant used to heat the Yongbyon radio chemical laboratory.

38 North says it's not clear if Pyongyang is trying to harvest weapons grade plutonium from spent nuclear fuel, but U.S. intelligence chief James

Clapper testified in February that North Korea has been operating the plutonium production reactor long enough that it could begin to recover

plutonium within a matter of weeks to months.

38 North also says Pyongyang is making progress in construction of a light water nuclear reactor, but says it is unclear if that will become

operational this year.

This analysis comes just three months after North Korea carried out a nuclear test, which it claims was a hydrogen test. And the North Korean

leader Kim Jung-un says that he has every intention of continuing to develop and test his nuclear program.

Paula Hancocks, CNN, Seoul.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LU STOUT: You're watching News Stream.

And still ahead in the program, polls are open in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. We are live as voters cast their ballots in the latest high

stakes contest in the race for U.S. president.

Plus, this is now the most expensive diamond ever sold at auction in Asia. We'll tell you the record amount it brought in when we come back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[08:16:59] LU STOUT: All right, coming to you live from Hong Kong. A dramatic scene outside.

You're back watching News Stream.

Now, Reuters is reporting that the Greek coast guards rescued more migrants from smugglers at sea early on Tuesday morning. In fact, one of

the boats was full of children.

Now, the migrants, they keep coming even though Greece began reporting migrants back to Turkey on Monday as part of a new EU deal. Government

figures show 187 migrants have arrived in the Greek Island of Lesbos in the past 24 hours. While on Monday, the country deported just over 200 people.

Now, CNN's Erin McLaughlin joins me now live from the Greek island of Lesbos, and Erin these controversial deportations that began yesterday.

Since then, what have you seen?

ERIN MCLAUGHLIN, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Kristie.

Well, I'm here outside the Moria (ph) detention center. This is where they are sending the migrants who arrived here in Lesbos. Now, let me let

you take a look at the scene behind me.

They've been sending them here, and the migrants who are here are telling me that this is for them a desperate situation. They're beginning

to realize that they are -- it is very likely that they will face a similar fate to what other migrants have experienced, those deportations, and this

has been response. They are staging a protest near the entrance of this detention facility chanting I want freedom, pleading to the media for

help.

They passed a note to the media as well that reads in part, we will accept death, but not return back. We will all commit suicide if they

deport us. It's clear that they are desperately trying to avoid the fate of their fellow who were migrants deported yesterday.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MCLAUGHLIN (voice-over): Under the cover of darkness, the buses arrive full of disappointment and disbelief. These are the first migrants to be

deported from Greece back to Turkey, part of a deal meant to discourage migrants from making the deadly sea crossing that's wreaked havoc on

Europe's borders.

Authorities are taking no chances. There's a heavy police presence. One border officer for every migrant. Some migrants even handcuffed.

For now, they are deporting men. Not a woman or child to be found. From places from Pakistan and Afghanistan. Migrants looking for a better

life.

A sad end to a journey once fueled by hope.

They were bused in from the detention center. Here, morale is at an all-time low. After all, these people face a similar fate. Migrants aren't

allowed to leave. And journalists aren't allowed in. We talked to them through a wire fence.

(on camera): So that's your number?

UNIDENTIFIED MIGRANT: Yes.

MCLAUGHLIN (voice-over): This Afghan migrant sold all of his possessions in Kabul towel fund his trip from Turkey.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think it's better to go back to Turkey or Afghanistan.

MCLAUGHLIN: These men say they'll get to Europe no matter what the price.

(on camera): Will you try to come back to Europe if you get sent to Turkey?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, we'll come back to Europe if they deport us.

[08:20:09] MCLAUGHLIN (voice-over): Authorities intervene to stop us from talking further. We are asked to leave.

(SHOUTING)

MCLAUGHLIN: That determination we saw at the detention center still evident in the waters off Greece.

(on camera): NATO boats patrol these waters. Those efforts are not enough. Dotting the coastline you still see life jackets from migrants who

just arrived.

(voice-over): On this day, more life jackets than the number of migrants deported. That's a problem for E.U. and Turkish officials. Their

deal depends on stopping that flow.

As the first boat loads leave for Turkey, the Greek Coast Guard arrives. New migrants on board, ready to take their place.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

MCLAUGHLIN: And those migrants continue to arrive. Now, there were no deportations today, though we do expect some tomorrow. So still some

57 migrants arriving overnight here in Lesbos, that according to the UNHCR. There are still more migrants

arriving than being deported.

But authorities say that those numbers have dropped somewhat. The arrivals have dropped

somewhat. And they are going to continue to monitor that. That is the hope at least for EU officials for this deal to hold -- Kristie.

LU STOUT: All right, CNN's Erin McLaughlin reporting live for us from Lesbos, Greece, a scene of both deportations and protests. Thank you,

Erin.

Now, it is a big day in Wisconsin. White House hopefuls are vying for a win in the state primaries, and in both parties, the front-runners they

are under pressure. The GOP establishment is hoping to take down Donald Trump.

And polls show that he is trailing Ted Cruz.

On the Democratic side, Hillary Clinton is hoping to prevent another win by Bernie Sanders. They are polling nearly neck and neck.

Now campaign watchers say the Wisconsin race could be pivotal.

Now, let's bring in Chris Frates. He joins us live from the U.S. state of Wisconsin. And Chris, let's talk about Bernie Sanders first. As

voters head to the polls today, just how much momentum, how much support, is there for Sanders?

CHRIS FRATES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, I'll tell, Kristie, Bernie Sanders of course is

leading in the polls, and he really wants to run up the score here in Wisconsin and grab as many of

those 86 delegates that are at stake as possible.

But Hillary Clinton has been lowering expectations all week long. The Clinton campaign essentially pointing out the fact that she lost the state

to then Senator Barack Obama in 2008 by double digits. And they like to point out that this state is a majority white and that favors Bernie

Sanders.

So, they're not all that worried about losing here in Wisconsin, because they have such a big delegate lead. They're leading Bernie Sanders

by about 240 delegates. In fact, the campaign manager yesterday putting out a memo to supporters trying to make the case that it's almost an

insurmountable lead for Bernie Sanders to try to take on Hillary Clinton.

So, even if she loses here today, if she can keep it close -- because remember, there's no winner take all on the Democratic side, it's all

proportional. And Bernie Sanders needs to win 75 percent of the pledged delegates remaining in order to clinch the nomination.

Hillary Clinton, for her part, she needs just 35 percent.

So, the Clinton people are feeling very good even though they are likely to lose the state.

they are turning their attention to New York, that's Hillary Clinton's adopted home state. There is about 250 delegates in play there, that's

second only to the state of California. So that is going to be a very, very big state.

Bernie Sanders hoping that he can upset Hillary Clinton in New York, the Clinton people feeling very good. She's leading by double digits in

polls there.

And on April 14, both Clinton and Bernie Sanders going to come on CNN to debate head to head. That's the first time those two have matched up in

more than a month, Kristie.

LU STOUT: Yeah, just five days before that crucial primary election in New York State. Chris Frates reporting live for us from Wisconsin.

Thank you.

Now, Republican Ted Cruz is eyeing a big win. the establishment's best chance to hand Donald Trump a major loss before the race shifts to the

east coast.

Now, today's primaries follow a rocky week for Trump. Jason Carroll filed this report on the eve of the vote.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JASON CARROLL, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): GOP candidates making their final sprint to Wisconsin's primary tomorrow, barnstorming the

battleground state. Trump admitting to having a rough week leading up to primary day after a slew of missteps in his campaign.

DONALD TRUMP (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I took that answer. And I -- I didn't like it, because I think a lot of people didn't understand it.

CARROLL: At a town hall Sunday, the front-runner still struggling to articulate his shifting stance on abortion, after saying that, if abortion

were outlawed, women who get the procedure should be punished.

TRUMP: Women go through a lot. They go through a tremendous punishment of themselves. And I didn't like it, because I wasn't sure people would

understand it. So I clarified it, but it was just a clarification. And I think it was well-accepted.

CARROLL: In a move to stem disapproval from women voters, Trump also saying he regrets retweeting a mean-spirited photo of Ted Cruz's wife. But

Cruz, who leads Trump in Wisconsin, says he's over it.

[08:25:14] SEN. TED CRUZ (R-TX), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: It's gotten to the point where I could not care less about Donald Trump.

CARROLL: Fueling the firestorm, Trump still standing by his campaign manager, facing battery charges for an alleged assault on a reporter. The

billionaire fighting to make last-minute gains, state with an aggressive anti-Trump movement. Trump taking aim at rivals Cruz...

TRUMP: He's a cheater. He's a cheater. He's a dirty, rotten cheat. Remember that.

CARROLL: ... and John Kasich.

TRUMP: Everyone says he's such a nice guy. He's not a nice guy. He's a nasty guy, if you want to know the truth.

CARROLL: Trump doubling down on calls for the Ohio governor to leave the race, arguing that Kasich is taking his votes and has no chance of

winning the nomination.

TRUMP: The problem is he's in the way of me. Not Cruz. He hurts me more than he hurts Cruz.

CARROLL: Another lingering issues: controversy over Trump's suggestion Japan and South Korea develop nuclear arms to protect themselves.

KASICH: You don't go running around talking about using nuclear weapons, period, end of story.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LU STOUT: All right. Now do stay with us all day here on CNN. We have got the latest on these pivotal primaries in Wisconsin. We will have

full coverage starting at 8:00 a.m. Wednesday here in Hong Kong, that's 9:00 a.m. in Tokyo, only on CNN.

Now, $32 million, that's how much a rare blue diamond just sold for here in Hong Kong. It is now the most expensive gemstone to be sold at

auction in Asia. And I got the rare chance to wear the 10.10 carat rock before the bidding started.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

LU STOUT: I'm here at the Hong Kong convention and exhibition center to see a stone, it's called the De Beers Millennium Jewel 4. And despite

its rather clunky name, it is a remarkable piece. It is the largest oval blue diamond to ever appear at auction. And Sotheby's is is cracking open

the case to give us a rare chance to experience the stone.

And joining me now for more is Patty Wang, the chairwoman of Sotheby's here in Asia. And Patty, tell me, what makes this such a significant gem?

PATTY WANG, SOTHEBY'S: Blue diamonds -- the color is caused by the the boron, that's an impurity in the diamond itself, in its formation. So,

it is a rarity of nature.

LU STOUT: Now, you promised me that I'm going to get a chance to handle the diamondl

WANG: Yes, you will.

LU STOUT: Without not knowing how accident prone I am. Just a warning. So, let's do it right now.

WANG: Everything is insured. Don't worry.

LU STOUT: When you buy that perfect stone that is worth tens of millions of dollars, what do you do with it? Do you just put it in

storage?

WANG: You can do various things. You can admire it. You can wear it on a special occasion, put it in the safe. And it is something that is an

heirloom for your children.

LU STOUT: And you have got to tell me about that jewel heist in year 2000 that involved this diamond, and how is this diamond recovered?

WANG: This gang of robbers had planned to rob the Millennium Dome when these 11 fabulous blue diamonds and the white diamond, the millennium

style, were on show. I don't know how they got tipped off, but somebody did. And the police did not want to catch the thief in action, so they

actually had to replace the stones with replicas and set the robbers up. So they went through the motions and they got caught.

LU STOUT: So this is a highly coveted piece with quite a remarkable history. And how it sparkles.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LU STOUT: That was Sotheby's Asia chair Patty Wang speaking to me earlier.

As you may have noticed in that report, that multi, multi, multimillion dollar blue diamond was in a ring setting where the prongs

were open and loose, now that was intentional so potential buyers could admire the stone with or without the ring.

Now, the NFL has picked a surprising new partner to stream games online: Twitter. So, why is the social network showing live sports? We're

going to break down the deal with CNN's Brian Stelter after the break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(HEADLINES)

[08:32:49] LU STOUT: Twitter has just pulled off a digital coup, winning the rights to stream the NFL's Thursday Night football. We're not

talking short clips here.

Now this deal is for entire games.

Let's go straight to Brian Stelter in New York. He has more on this developing story. And Brian, what a surprise this deal. Could you tell us

just how would it work? How would sports live streaming work on Twitter?

BRIAN STELTER, CNN MEDIA CORRESPONENT: Yeah, my source confirming that just in the past few minutes that Twitter has won the bidding here.

And it is unclear exactly how it will work, because the company is not quite ready to announce it publicly yet. It is still working with the NFL

on the announcement.

But I think what we will see here is the integration of live Twitter commentary with live video of the games. This is for the the Thursday

night football package, 10 games this fall. And the television rights had already been sold to CBS and NBC in the United States.

So, this digital deal took a while longer to complete. And there were a number of heavyweights in the bidding.

Now, we know that Facebook was interested in these rights, Amazon and Verizon were also reportedly interested. So, it comes as a surprise that

Twitter was able to get these rights. And perhaps it's a new way forward for the beleaguered social networking company, perhaps they can use this

really valuable programming in order to show off the Twitter platform to really demonstrate the power of the

combination of live TV plus live tweeting. We all know that watching an award show or a football game or any other kind of live event is more fun

when you're watching it via Twitter -- when you're watching it with Twitter and Facebook, you know, with your mobile phone in your hand reading all the

responses.

Well, now Twitter has a chance to really more fully integrate the experience.

LU STOUT: Yeah, Twitter can definitely capitalize on this, and Twitter really needs this. But we know, Brian, that sports rights are

very, very expensive. And financially speaking, Twitter has been under a lot of pressure.

So, is this the sort of Twitter Hail Mary to save itself?

STELTER: That's the big question I have right now. And I haven't heard back yet from the source that I've been asking about the price tag

for this deal.

Now perhaps that will come out in the next few hours when these two parties are ready to announce it. But you think about the television part

of this deal, the price tag worked out to $45 million per game. CBS and NBC splitting rights those right in the U.S.

Now, I would imagine Twitter is paying less per game, because it is going to reach a smaller audience online than it does on television.

However, it is still going to be a very expensive deal for Twitter, and that is something that they are going to have to recoup via advertising

sales and via other sorts of -- revenue sources.

You think about the halo effect of this for Twitter as well. It is a big marketing moment for them to be in business with the NFL in this way.

You know, keeping in mind, these are some of the most valuable sorts of programs or entertainment programs in the world. You know, these sporting

events are watched by millions of people on TV. They are increasingly watched online we well.

And the NFL is also looking to expand internationally. So, of course they have played a couple of games in London. They're looking to play more

games in other countries in the future, and those streaming rights may also be a part of this deal.

Remember that Yahoo did that live test of an NFL game in London last fall. It went pretty well. It didn't have a huge audience online, but it

was a success from a technical standpoint.

So, the NFL is interested in experimenting with live streaming. And with Twitter they found a

surprising partner.

LU SOUT: Yeah, an incredible deal. It definitely offers, as you put it, a halo effect for Twitter, but we have got to find out how much they

paid for it.

Brian Stelter on the story for us. Thank you so much. Take care.

Now, it is the episode 27 seasons in the making. Coming up next here on News Stream, the big announcement from one of these Simpsons characters.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LU STOUT: Welcome back.

Now, when it comes to the economy in Cambodia, small to medium sized enterprises have become key to its growth. They are an estimated half

million of these companies in the country, but despite their importance they still have challenges.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

LU STOUT: Cambodian company Cam-Paint has worked for the last 12 years to become the leading local paint manufacturer.

Now, with nearly 150 employees and enough money to keep growing the business, its success shows the potential of small-medium enterprises, or

SMEs both in Cambodia and in the broader ASEAN region.

In Cambodia, SMEs make up the bulk of the business in the country. Estimates put their number at half a million.

But executive director Soum Sambath knows the challenges that still stand in the way.

SOUM SAMBATH, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, CAM-PAINT: 12 years back when we started the business, we could not get a loan from the bank, because in

order to get a loan from the bank you have to have a business set up. And the collateral. So it is very hard, it was troubling the first few years.

LU STOUT: Cambodia's largest bank, ACLEDA, wants to ease the struggle, making financial services available to everyone.

N. CHANNY, PRESIDENT, ACLEDA BANK: the bank is the backbone of the economy. So, we look to service low (inaudible) for more inclusive

finance. It doesn't mean that if you are low-income people you are better off, or your are high income people, but all of them will have access

to our financial services.

LU STOUT: With locations now in Laos and Myanmar, it's an approach ACLEDA is hoping to apply throughout ASEAN.

CHANNY: Our strategy is to become the regional bank and then grow whatever customer from low segment to like to upper segment.

LU STOUT: ACLEDA is not alone in this strategy. Thai bank Kasikorn alreayd has 60 locations worldwide and is now setting up shop here in

Cambodia.

PAKAPONG POOMARPORN, CHIEF REPRESENTATIVE, KASIKORNBANK: In Thailand it is quite tough now, GDP growth is only 2 percent or 3 percent compared

to Cambodia is 7 percent -- at least 7 percent for many consecutive years. It is a benefit for Thai investor to come here.

LU STOUT: Now with the resent establishment of the ASEAN economic community, ASEAN is the seventh largest economy in the world, giving

Cambodia new opportunities, but they have to be ready.

SAMBATH: We have to acknowledge that the Cambodian national media at the moment are still in the state one and state two. If you compare to the

neighboring country, Thailand or Vietnam, where most of the enterprise are moving to the third state, the fourth state. We have to move quicker,

because otherwise when it comes to the (inaudible), the integration, we will be far behind.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LU STOUT: Now he has dropped hints for 27 years, and now a much loved Simpsons character has come out as gay.

Now, in Sunday's episode Walen Smithers finally admitted his feelings for his boss and one true love after a skydiving adventure gone wrong.

But Mr. Byrnes just doesn't feel the same way.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Mr. Byrnes, coming down, I thought we weren't going to make it. And I thought I would never get to say something I've

always wanted to. The truth is, sir, I'm in love with...

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The sound of your own voice, yes.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LU STOUT: Now, of course, the revelation and it won't come as a surprise to hardcore Simpsons fans who have long watched Smithers pine over

his elderly crush.

Now, the show's writer says this episode was inspired by his relationship with his gay son and describes it as a, quote, big embrace.

Now, if you are a Star Wars fan, you know Admiral Ackbar. And even if you're not, you are sure to recognize the Rebel Alliance commander's famous

line.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ERIC BOWERSFELD, ACTOR: It's a trap.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LU STOUT: now sadly, Eric Bowersfeld, the actor who turned those three words into pop culture fame, has died. He was 93.

In 2011, he told the San Francisco Chronicle he couldn't believe the line's legendary status and admitted he barely remembered how he said it.

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

END