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Dolce and Gabbana Under Fire Over IVF Comments; Benjamin Netanyahu Declares Victory in Parliamentary Elections; Anti-Austerity Protesters Clash With Police in Frankfurt. Aired 8-9:00A ET

Aired March 18, 2015 - 8:00   ET

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


[8:01:07] KRISTIE LU STOUT, HOST: I'm Kristie Lu Stout in Hong Kong and welcome to News Stream where news and technology meet.

Now Benjamin Netanyahu declares victory in the Israeli elections (inaudible) better than expected results at the polls.

Plus, fury in Frankfurt. Anti-austerity protesters clash with police at the opening of the new European Central Bank headquarters.

And, a new CNN exclusive, designers Dolche and Gabbana explain their controversial comments about Elton John so angry.

Benjamin Netanyahu is planning to work quickly to form a new government after a resounding victory for his party in Israeli elections in

Tuesday. Unofficial numbers from the election committee show Mr. Netanyahu's Likud Party will emerge as the biggest party in the Israeli

knesset with at least 29 seats. That is a stunning turnaround from pre- election polls, which had his party trailing.

Now Isaac Herzog, the leader of the next biggest group Zionist Union called Mr. Netanyahu earlier to concede defeat, but he added in a televised

statement that his party will remain strong alternative voice in Israel.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ISAAC HERZOG, ZIONIST UNION PARTY LEADER (through translator): A few minutes ago, I spoke with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and

congratulated him on his achievement and wished him luck. But now I would like to make it clear to the Israeli people the challenges are the same

challenges, the problems are the same problems. Nothing has changed. Therefore, Tzipi Livni and I will continue leading the Zionist Union with

force and pride and as an alternative in each and every aspect.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: Now, analysts say that part of that 11th hour push in the polls had to do with Mr. Netanyahu appealing loudly to the right in the

days before the ballot. Now he said he would refuse to accept an independent Palestinian state and Hamas is now weighing in on the vote.

A spokesperson for the group says this, quote, "Hamas does not see any difference between the Israeli parties because they all share the denial of

our people's rights and keep assaulting them."

Now Mr. Netanyahu says he plans to form a new government within three weeks. And CNN's Oren Lieberman is following developments from Jerusalem.

He joins me now live.

And Oren, Mr. Netanyahu's next move what is it going to be? How is he going to put together a governing coalition?

OREN LIEBERMAN, CNN CIRRESPONDENT: Well, it looks like it won't be all that hard for him at this point. He has a lot of options. He had a

very, very strong showing, especially when we started to get actual results.

The polls and the surveys showed it to be a very close election, but now that we saw what the ballot boxes showed, not that we saw actual

numbers, it looks like Benjamin Netanyahu has a commanding lead here and a very strong showing from right-wing parties. So he has a lot of options at

his disposal. He has a lot of parties he can work with.

And it'll really be up to him how he wants to create this government, who he wants in his cabinet. Kristie, the ball is in his court at this

point, because of this very strong showing and the big lead.

LU STOUT: And Oren, in the runup to the election, Benjamin Netanyahu, he took that hard right turn on Iran, on peace in the Middle East, on a two

state solution, can he dial any of that back now?

LIEBERMAN: It's really up to him, and it's up to him how he wants to create that government. He certainly did push to the right and play to

right-wing voters, especially in the day before the election saying under his premiership there would be no Palestinian State. And he was also at a

right-wing rally just a couple of days earlier, urging right-wing supporters to vote for him.

Now it's up to him. He could dial that back a little bit. He could work with some of the center parties, or he could move his entire coalition

to the right, and he has that option because of the strong showing. Again, up to Netanyahu what he wants to do here.

LU STOUT: All right, CNN's Oren Lieberman reporting live from Jerusalem for us. Thank you.

Now you can find complete coverage of the Israeli election on our website, including this look at the challenges for the new leader.

Now one year ago, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that Russia would be taking control of Crimea from Ukraine. It was seen as a

combative move by much of the world, but inside Russia, the annexation of Crimea was wildly popular.

People are turning out to show their support, huge celebrations are being held to mark the anniversary, including a pop concert in Moscow's Red

Square.

Now our Matthew Chance is following the events in Russia. And he brings us the view from Moscow.

(BEGIN VDIEOTAPE)

[08:05:04] MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, the concert is called the We Are Together concert to celebrate a year since

Crimea was brought into the Russian Federation since it was annexed last March.

And we're expecting thousands of people to attend to hear a gala concert of Russian pop stars. It's even said that the contestants from the

Russian version of The Voice will be performing. So quite a treat.

It's also possible that Vladimir Putin, the Russian president will attend. The issue of Crimea's annexation associated very much with him

personally. He gave a recent television interview in which he said he came up with the idea of bringing, as he said, Crimea back home. And it was a

very popular move. In fact, opinion polls published today suggest that there is overwhelming support for that move amongst the Russian population,

69 percent according to the polls, favor the annexation of Crimea. They see it as a positive thing that it is now back in the Russian Federation.

That figure rises to 82 percent in the cities of Moscow and St. Petersburg.

The same poll indicates that only 5 percent of Russians nationwide believe that Crimea should be handed back to Ukraine in order to get

sanctions relief. Of course there are international sanctions that have been imposed on Russia because of its annexation of Crimea.

So, a very popular move a year ago. And that move, and that popularity will be reaffirmed today, I expect, at this Red Square concert.

Matthew Chance, CNN, Moscow.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LU STOUT: And we have this breaking story just into CNN. The Reuters News Agency is reporting that three gunmen have attacked Tunisia's

parliament building. It says that the gunmen may also be holding a hostage taken from a museum that shares grounds with the parliament.

Now the Reuters report, its citing local radio, which says that one of its reporters is at the scene.

We'll continue to update you on the situation there in Tunisia as we learn more.

Now you're watching News Stream right here on CNN. And coming up, violence erupts in Frankfurt. Policemen were pelted with stones, cars set

on fire, hundreds detained. We have a live update for you after the break.

Plus, the British government soon reveals its new budget and we'll have a live report from London.

And outrage on social media D&G's synthetic children comment. We have an exclusive interview with the designers about the backlash. Stay with

us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LU STOUT: Welcome back. You're watching News stream. And you're looking at a visual version of all the news we have for you today.

Now we've already told you about the Israeli prime minister's larger than expected margin in Tuesday's elections. And later on, we'll be

hearing from the designers Dolce and Gabbana. They will explain their controversial comments on IVF in a CNN exclusive interview.

But now a violent start to anti-austerity protests in Frankurt. Nearly 90 police officers were injured in clashes with protesters near the

opening of the new European Central Bank headquarters.

Now thousands of demonstrators converged on the city for rallies taking place throughout the day. And earlier, some of those protesters set

fire to police cars, smashed windows and threw stones. And that is how eight of those police officers were injured. Now the others were doused

with some kind of irritant that the police haven't identified yet.

Now five protesters were arrested, and about 500 detained. And police say the worst of the violence is over.

Now despite the protest, the opening ceremony for the bank's new headquarters, that went on as planned.

Now CNN senior international correspondent Fred Pleitgen joins us now live from the German capital, Berlin. And Fred major protests today there

in Frankfurt at the new ECB headquarters. How did they get so violent?

[08:10:36] FRED PLEITGEN, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, and how did they get so violent so early? That's the big question that police

is asking right now.

I was actually just talking to them very recently. And they said that have new updated numbers and now it's over 90 police officers who have been

injured in some way, shape, or form in these clashes. They currently put the number of injured at 94 police officers, but again they do say all of

this is still ongoing.

Even though at this point in time it seems as though there's somewhat of a lull in the violence, they do say there are still isolated clashes

going on, there's also some standoffs going on where apparently some people are starting to conduct sit-ins or something, and they are being carried

away by police officers. So by no means has the situation there in Frankfurt been cleared up.

Now, as I said the Frankfurt police told us that they believed that there would be violence today, that would be a large protest today. They

new that was going on. The thing that surprised them, they say, is the fact that all this turned violent so early, all of this started around 8:00

a.m. German time. And that's a very early time for something like this to start.

Also, several hours before that inauguration ceremony happened at the European Central Bank.

And the other thing that apparently happened was that the police put a cordon around the ECB area, but most of the clashes actually took away --

took place a little bit away from that in central Frankfurt near some bridges across the local river there, across the Main River. And they say

that's where the main clashes happened between the police officers. And as you said, a lot of police officers injured. And there was that incident

where some sort of substance was used to douse police officers, several of them saying they have respiratory issues as well as issues with their eyes

as well. That situation apparently has been cleared up.

However, the police says that there could be more to come in the evening hours. The main protest against the ECB is not set to take place

until the afternoon hours German time, so we do have to keep an eye on the situation there, Kristie.

LU STOUT: Yeah, so this protest not over yet.

The group behind this anti-austerity rally there in Germany is Blockupy. What is Blockupy and who makes up the ranks of this movement?

PLEITGEN: Well, it is a very diverse movement. It is one that consists of more than 90 groups, most of which have an issue with European

monetary policies. They've been conducting protests especially against the European Central Bank since 2012. Time and again, they've called on

protests. There has been a smaller clashes at their protests in the past. It's organizations that come from all over Europe.

Interestingly enough, one of the organizations that's actually a member of Blockupy is the Syriza Party, which is of course the one that's

actually in power in Greece right now. And of course one of the main issues that Blockupy has it says that the policies of the European Central

Banks help only banks, don't help the actual people who are getting loans from these banks. They say that a lot of the policies of the ECB are

cutting off growth in Europe, are cutting off -- trying to calm that unemployment in Europe. So they basically say that this is an institution

for the banks rather than for the people, that's the major beef that they have.

And of course one of their main points is the policy towards Greece. And that's one of the main protest -- one of the main things that they've

been protesting against in the past, and certainly also one of the main issues there today.

So it's a movement that's been around. It's a movement that's conducted protests in the past. And they've also said they put out a press

release earlier and they said that they didn't, of course, want any violence to take place, but they say that this is a sign that so many

people are angered by the policies of the European Central Bank -- Kristie.

LU STOUT: Got it. CNN's Fred Pleitgen reporting live from Berlin for us. Thank you, Fred.

Now CNN got an exclusive look behind the Dolce and Gabbana controversy. The Italian fashion designers had a war of words with singer

Elton John over their remarks that IVF, in vitro fertilization babies, are, quote, "synthetic children." Now that led Elton John to call for a boycott

of the Dolce and Gabbana label.

Now in an exclusive interview with CNN, the duo now say they respect how all people live.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ANNA COREN, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: As you know, there's been a great deal of criticism and backlash regarding your comments about

IVF. There's been calls to boycott Dolce and Gabbana. Do you still stand by those comments?

STEFANO GABBANA, DESIGNER: We love gay couple. We are gay. We love a gay adoption. We love everything. It's just -- Domenico is express...

[08:15:04] DOMENICO DOLCE, DESIGNER: My point of view. It's my private point of view.

I'm like (inaudible). I'm Sicilian. I grew in the family. We have a sense of the family very strong for myself. My company is a family

company. And I believe in the tradition of family. This (inaudible) change today in my count of four (inaudible) different. Every people's is

freedom for just what you want.

This for me is democracy.

GABBANA: But the problem is the people attach us for this. This is not -- and it was not nice because I think in a different way from

Domenico.

COREN: When you say you think in a different way. In what way?

GABBANA: I believe in in vitro, for example. I don't have anything about this.

COREN; So you support IVF.

GABBANA: Yeah...

COREN: Domenico, you don't support IVF.

(CROSSTALK)

DOLCE: I think today we don't need to support or no support. You think what you think.

I think today there's too much...

GABBANA: There's not supporting. It's just to believe.

COREN: But you don't judge people who use IVF, who have children through the process of IVF like Elton John. Elton John has come out. He's

angry. He's called for a boycott of your brand.

DOLCE: I don't buy (inaudible). I love them (inaudible) I see them every day. I don't care. I'm freedom.

GABBANA: So, maybe we used the wrong word. Synthentic is not synthetic for sure, because it's not plastic.

COREN: Sure. Sure.

(CROSSTALK)

COREN: Has it been blown out of proportion? Has it been...

(CROSSTALK)

GABBANA: This is true. This is true.

(CROSSTALK)

GABBANA: ...but we don't like the attached on the say boycott Dolce & Gabbana for what? Because I don't think like you? Is this correct? This

is not correct. We are in 2015.

COREN: What would you say to Elton John and other celebrities who rally behind him.

GABBANA: I want to say face forward.

DOLCE: The life is long...

GABBANA: And people chose what you want.

You don't need to be angry for nothing.

You need just to look our collection. And you understand we are not like this.

DOLCE: Because you don't -- the people (inaudible) the last award, the last thing, because...

GABBANA: No, the people wait you -- if you make an error in two second they -- and attack you. I know...

COREN: So just for my clarification, you're just saying you wouldn't choose to have children through IVF, but you don't judge people who do?

GABBANA: No, no, for sure.

COREN: Is that fair?

GABBANA: Yeah. Of course, you choose what you want in your life.

But you need to respect the different idea.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ANDERSON: Now, that was the designers Dolce and Gabbana saying we don't judge on IVF speaking to CNN's Anna Coren.

Now you're watching News Stream. Still to come, counting down to Britain's big budget reveal. We head to London for the latest. Stick

around.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[08:21:40] LU STOUT: Coming to you live from Hong Kong, you're back watching News Stream.

And some news just in to CNN, Japanese police are investigating death threats made in Japan against the U.S. ambassador Carolyn Kennedy and

another American diplomat.

Now Kennedy has been serving in that post for about 18 months now. And of course she is from one of the most powerful political dynasties in

American history.

Now CNN's White House correspondent Michelle Kosinski joins us now with more on this story.

And Michelle, what have you learned about the nature of these death threats?

MICHELLE KOSINSKI, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Kristie.

Well, this is what's being reported in Asian news outlets saying that this happened last month and that there were multiple death threats phoned

in to the U.S. embassy in Tokyo. A male English speaker, as its been described, threatening to kill U.S. Ambassador Carolyn Kennedy.

Also allegedly he threatened the life of a U.S. consulate general based in Okinawa.

So, this is just what's being reported. The U.S. so far is not confirming this. We're not hearing anything from the White House, the

national security council, the U.S. embassy in Tokyo isn't saying anything about this. And it's a sensitive topic because it involves security.

However, we are expecting to hear something some time soon from the State Department.

Also, we were asking, you know, the first lady landed in Japan today. She's going to be spending the next two days there. Is this going to

affect her travels at all. We don't expect so.

But again we're waiting to hear more information even a confirmation from U.S. authorities, because it appears that authorities in Japan have

already been investigating this, Kristie.

LU STOUT: Yeah, these death threats very concerning and the fact that the first lady of the United States now in Tokyo just adding to the

concern. And Michelle Kosinski joining us live from the White House, thank you.

Now let's return to that breaking news on Tunisia's parliament attack. And for the latest, Atika Shubert joins us now from London.

And Atika, this is an attack on the government of Tunisia. And it's a hostage situation as well.

ATIKA SHUBERT, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: That's what we understand.

A lot of different reports coming in, so the details are still pretty fluid. But what we do know from both Tunisian media and from members of

parliament who are there tweeting on the scene is that there has been an exchange of gunfire believed to be automatic gunfire in the parliament

complex there of Tunisia.

Now next to the parliament complex is also the Bardeaux (ph) museum. And there have been reports that a number of tourists may be caught in this

as well. It's not clear whether or not they have been taken hostage as been reported by some local media, or if they're simply in the area.

So it's all very fluid at the moment.

But a member of parliament has just put out statements saying that they have been evacuated from the building. Originally, they were in

lockdown. Everyone seems to be in quite a bit of panic. But there may be more than one shooter at this point. And there are security there trying

to encircle the gunmen and figure out what's going on, but obviously still very fluid and so we'll have more details for you as they come in, Kristie.

LU STOUT: All right, Atika Shubert reporting for us. Many thanks indeed for that update.

Now you're watching News Stream. Keep it here, because after the break we go live to London where the government is laying out its economic

plan for the country just weeks away from election day.

Also ahead, a Myanmar court sends three to prison. We'll explain why an online add added up to a multi-year sentence.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[08:27:30] LU STOUT: I'm Kristie Lu Stout in Hong Kong. You're watching News Stream. And these are your world headlines.

Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says he will work quickly to form a new government. And he aims to do it within three weeks. Now

with 99 percent of the votes counted, the Israeli election committee says Mr. Netanayahu's Likud will emerge as the biggest party in the Israeli

knesset with at least 29 seats.

Now police in Frankfurt say more than 90 police officers have been injured in an anti-austerity protest at the opening of the European Central

Bank headquarters. Now some police were hit by stones thrown by protesters, but most were dosed with a substance and police have not said

what it was. Now five people were arrested and hundreds were detained.

Russia is celebrating the anniversary of its annexation of Crimea. A pop concert in Red Square marks the occasion less than two hours from now.

It was year ago this week that Russia took control of the peninsula.

And the Italian fashion designers Domenica Dolce and Stefano Gabbana spoke exclusively to CNN on their controversial comments in an Italian

magazine. Dolce said babies born by in vitro fertilization were synthetic children born from rented wombs. Dolce says his views on IVF are personal

and not meant to judge.

Now the British government is set to present its new budget before parliament in a matter of minutes. It will be closely watched with less

than two months to go before the general election.

For more, now, CNN's Max Foster is live outside the houses of parliament in London.

And Max, I mean, given the timing, General election just weeks away, should we expect politically motivated giveaways in this budget?

MAX FOSTER, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, the chancellor George Osborne says no giveaways, but undoubtedly. This is largely about

the election, which is so close. And the economy often defines elections, doesn't it, in so many different ways. So it is about really pushing

forward to the election and creating a feel good sense towards that.

He's helped enormously, George Osborne, by great economic circumstances at the moment. You've got low interest rates. You've got

low inflation. You've got oil prices falling, dragging down inflation, that's meaning -- that means the welfare benefits bill has come down,

leaving some extra cash. So there's money coming in and there's less going out.

At the same time there is a huge amount of debt in this country, because as they've gone through an austerity program, they still racked up

huge amounts of debt, over a trillion pounds now. That wasn't the case when this government came into power. But borrowing costs are lower,

because interest rates are lower.

So, overall a very positive picture. And the city, it has to be said, of London quite positive about the government right now because it's such a

spending promises. It's cut back spending and done so quite successfully, although the opposition Labor Party will say it's just gone too far and

actually people are suffering as a result of that.

If you look at the pictures now, we've got the prime minister currently speaking in his weekly address, prime minister's questions. When

he finishes, Kristie, the chancellor will stand up and go through his budget. What we're looking for is how he's going to increase taxation, how

he's going to increase some spending. This has got some slack through that. Who he's going to target, probably older voters, because they often

have a huge turnout in elections, so give them something. Just trying to make everyone feel good about the economy and therefore good about the

current leadership, which is led by David Cameron's conservatives and coalition with the (inaudible).

[8:30:53] LU STOUT: And we are waiting for that moment for the Chancellor George Osborne to stand up and just deliver that pre-election

budget.

And you mentioned austerity and the theme of austerity really looming large in people's minds this day as we've been following reporting on these

violent anti-austerity protests in Germany. Just what is the contrast here, the situation there in the EuroZone and Germany, the mood and the

message from the British government about austerity there?

FOSTER: Well, it's interesting, because in the past Britain and Greece have been compared to each other going into austerity programs. But

you've got a situation where Greece has turned really nasty as a result, the economy has collapsed, whereas Britain has grown with its austerity

program.

So you see these demonstrations in Frankfurt, which are anti- austerity, and very visual sign of how people are feeling in many parts of the EuroZone, feeling that they are suffering, particularly in Greece, as a

result of austerity, whereas the message today will be that Britain has benefited from austerity and is coming out the other side of it.

So there are two very contrasting pictures.

Of course, Britain benefits by not being in the EuroZone, so it hasn't been dragged into it in the same way as Germany has, for example, and

there's been a huge cost to Germany.

But these images in Europe say so much about the current environment: a lot of debt, a lot of cutbacks, a lot of suffering as a result of it, but

somehow I think Gordon -- I think the chancellor, the exchequer, will argue that his austerity program, his handling of the budgets over the last few

years, has actually been a benefit, so he can survive these things. It doesn't have to be what happened in Greece.

Actually, it's quite useful comparison for him probably.

LU STOUT: Yeah, very compelling contrast and comparison. Max Foster, we'll leave it at that for now. Thank you very much indeed for your

reporting.

Max joining us live from outside the houses of parliament there in London.

And we are waiting for that moment for the chancellor of the exchequer, George Osborne, to stand and deliver the UK budget. When it

happens, we'll bring it to you live.

Now Microsoft is betting big on Microsoft Band. Now until now the fitness wearable, that's what it is, could only be purchased in the

company's stores, but now you could buy it at three other retail outlets in the U.S. And next month, it is slated to make its first foray overseas

going on sale in the UK.

Now Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, he spoke to our Maggie Lake about what he thinks about wearables and why their value lies in the cloud.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SATYA NADELLA, MICROSOFT CEO: I think that there is going to be many different types. When I think about wearables, I look at it in a very

broad sense, like the one I'm wearing here is a band. In fact, I think it's a sense, a framework. It collects all kinds of interesting data. In

fact, it rendezvous all the data into a cloud service that we can even integrate with our emergency medical record.

So there's a lot of interesting things you do not just on the wearable, but with the cloud service that in fact tethers to the wearable.

The most salient interesting aspect of those devices is data. In other words, how can we add intelligence on top of the data that's been

collected from all of these devices, so that you as an individual can get more out of all of this computing power.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LU STOUT: All right, Satya Nadella there.

Now Britain's Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne is right now laying out the government's new budget for parliament. Let's listen in.

(BRITAIN'S CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER SPEECH)

[08:42:09] LU STOUT; And you've been listening to Britain's Chancellor of the Exchequer's finance minister George Osborne unveil the

government's new pre-election budget delivering what he calls a plan to move from austerity to prosperity.

We continue to monitor his address to parliament. And World News Today will wrap up the highlights for you in the next hour.

And that is News Stream. I'm Kristie Lu Stout. Don't go anywhere because world sport with Patrick Snell is up next.

END