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Queen Elizabeth's Diamond Jubilee Continues Today; Tiger Woods Ties Jack Nicholas with 73 Titles; Dana Airlines Plane Crashes in Lagos, Nigeria Killing Everyone on Board; Chinese Citizens Find Ways to Commemorate Anniversary of Tiananmen Square Massacre

Aired June 04, 2012 - 08:00   ET

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

KRISTIE LU STOUT, HOST: I'm Kristie Lu Stout in Hong Kong. And welcome to NEWS STREAM where news and technology meet.

Now still smoldering: crews search the wreckage of a plane crash in Nigeria that killed everyone in the aircraft as well as others on the ground.

23 years on, people in Hong Kong remember Tiananmen Square.

And 60 years on the throne: a milestone celebration for the United Kingdom's queen.

Now Nigeria is observing three days of mourning for the victims of a devastating plane crash in the heart of the city of Lagos. Now about 153 people on board the Dana air flight were killed when the plane went down in a densely populated neighborhood on Sunday. Witnesses say the plane appear to be having engine problems. They say it hit tail first, smashing into a two story residential building and then bursting into flames.

Now at least 10 people on the ground were killed. The police had to use batons to beat back huge crowds of onlookers so that emergency crews could get through.

Nigeria's president has ordered a full investigation.

And while we don't know yet why the plane went down, we want to take you through what happened. Now McDonnell Douglas MD-83 aircraft, it was heading from the capital of Abuja to the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, that located in Lagos. Now at 3:42 pm local time, the pilot radioed the control tower and declared an emergency. And a minute later the plane disappeared from radar. It plunged into a residential neighborhood 11 miles from the runway where it was supposed to land. And in that area a church, a printing shop, and homes and apartment buildings including the one that was hit.

Now crews continue to comb through the smoldering wreckage. And Vlad Duthiers joins us now live from Lagos. And Vlad, you managed to reach the crash site, what did you find there?

VLAD DUTHIERS, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Kristie.

Well, when we got here this morning approximately 6:00 am GMT, what we saw it was hundreds of professional operation workers on the site. If you look behind me, they're still there. Heavy equipment. This is a much better operation than what we saw yesterday. Yesterday night, this was a very chaotic scene, there are people just all around the crash site. There are people actually on the wreckage. Today, what we've seen is a very organized operation. We saw multiple bodies being carted out, being bagged. We saw operations -- rescue operations personnel, looking at personal effects that were located on the ground.

We've actually been able to tour the crash site with the person who is charge of the search and rescue operation. And then he then told us again that there are no survivors from the plane, Kristie.

LU STOUT: And what can you tell us about the victims? Who was on this flight?

DUTHIERS: They've actually been fairly reticent to say, to give us names. We do know that the passengers were mostly Nigerian, although there were some Chinese on the flight as well as some Indian passengers. The captain of the plane was an America. The first officer was Indian. And the flight engineer was an Indonesian man.

So that's all they've been able to tell us. We've asked if they could tell us to about confirmed or unconfirmed reports that some people that were in the oil industry were on that flight. They were unwilling to do so.

Right now what they're saying is they're focused on getting the bodies out of the wreckage. Again, right behind me there are still many bodies underneath the fuselage of the plane, because the way the plane came in it hit the ground tail first as you mentioned in your intro and one of the fuselage -- one of the fuel tanks is literally just maybe about 50 yards where we're standing, that's still smoldering, that's still right there.

There's another fuel tank that is much further past this house to my left here. That's sort of buried into the ground. And there are people still buried in the ground, I'm told. Along with all the luggage; we haven't actually spotted any luggage. We are told there are more bodies there. There is more luggage there. And so the rescue operation is going to be all day, probably into the night Kristie Lu.

LU STOUT: Yeah, grim operation. This recovery effort is still ongoing. And are we any closer to knowing what caused this disaster?

DUTHIERS: We spoke to the chief pilot for Dana Air. He, at the time that we spoke to him was unwilling to say exactly what had caused the crash. He mentioned that they had not recovered the flight's data recorder yet. All he told us was that there -- the pilot did signal to the control tower that they were declaring an emergency. Then witnesses told him on the ground that the plane hit tail first. They do believe that the plane was coming in low, lower than normal, about 11 miles away from the airport where it landed into this residential home behind me. And so that's not -- that's what witnesses have told Dana Air.

Right now all they're saying is that the pilot signaled there was an emergency. They haven't recovered the flight data recorder yet. And so what they're focused on right now is just getting the bodies out from underneath the records, Kristie Lu.

LU STOUT: All right. Vladimir Duthiers joining us live from the crash site there in Lagos, Nigeria. Thank you very much indeed for that update Vlad.

Now Syria is sure to be at the top of the agenda at the EU-Russia summit being held in St. Petersburg. Now Russia has refused to take action against Syria, resisting pressure from the international community.

Now meanwhile in Syria, new video shows people taking part in anti- government protests on the streets of Daraa. Opposition activists reported heavy shelling on Sunday in the city of Homs. They say at least 37 people were killed in fighting across the country, including five children.

Now Syrian president Bashar al-Assad addressed parliament on Sunday. And he again denied government troops are behind the massacre in Houla that killed more than 100 civilians.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BASHAR AL-ASSAD, PRESIDENT OF SYRIA (through translator): Last week after the outrageous Houla massacre, they blamed the armed forces initially and said that there were missiles and tanks involved. But they went back on their words immediately after feeling the people's embrace and realizing that blaming the security forces for the massacre is a charge on every Syrian citizen as a criminal and as a terrorist.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LU STOUT: Now President Assad also said that criminals were behind the attack and they could strike again. With more on what he said to the Syrian parliament, Rima Maktabi joins us now from our bureau in Abu Dhabi.

And Rima, Bashar al-Assad, you heard him just then, he was defiant and in denial.

RIMA MAKTABI, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Definitely in denial, Kristie. And that is how President Bashar al-Assad has been since the uprising started in Syria a year ago. And it has so far lead to nearly 10,000 people killed according to UN numbers.

It was 17 minute long speech, a long one relatively. And he all the time said that there's a conspiracy against Syria. He's trying to convince his people that all that is happening in Syria is done abroad by the international terrorists and it's not internal. And it's for the opposition, Syrian opposition they said that this speech was very weak. And that President Bashar al-Assad was in a tight position and he's trying to defend himself.

LU STOUT: And Rima, how are journalists across the region reacting to al-Assad's speech?

MAKTABI: Interesting headlines today. We looked all over the newspapers. There are many across the region, but I'll just list few.

Let's take a look at the Gulf News. I mean, they didn't even bother with a picture for President Bashar al-Assad. The top headline is about the Diamond Jubilee in the UK. And we see the dominant pictures here. But there's one small headline about the Assad speech. And they say "al-Assad Rhetoric Offers Nothing New." This is Gulf News.

And if we move to one of the major newspapers here al-Shaptal Ousot (ph). It's definitely in the headline. And one of the editors-in-chief Salah Lamai (ph), the Saudi writer, he said that basically President Bashar al-Assad is threatening his people, those who are opposing him, and the international community and he is promising revenge towards anyone who comes against him.

So it's quite interesting analysis today in Arab newspapers. Basically they say there's nothing new -- Kristie.

LU STOUT: And also as the president spoke and made those words, reports of heavy shelling inside Homs, what can you tell us. What is the latest on the violence inside Syria?

MAKTABI: Just as President Bashar al-Assad was speaking on Sunday, activists reports there are 37 people killed. Today, on Monday, so far we're hardly midday and activists are saying around 12 people have been killed, among them two army defectors. And the violence seems to be spreading across Syria also. And it's in Dara Zour (ph), and Hama, and Idlib, Aleppo, Homs and some Damascus suburbs like Zamalca (ph) and Kabul (ph).

So the unrest is not stopping. The army is still on the ground. And more and more we hear about thugs and Shabiha targeting civilians.

LU STOUT: So president in denial as the unrest drags on. Rima Maktabi on the story for us. Thank you.

Now hundreds of protesters have flooded Egypt's Tahrir Square for a third day, angry at the sentence of former President Hosni Mubarak. Now demonstrators want the ousted president to be given the death sentence for the killing of protesters during last year's Arab uprising. Instead, the court sentenced him to life in prison. His sons and his police commanders were cleared of all charges. Now the state prosecutor and Mubarak's defense team are both preparing appeals.

Now still to come on NEWS STREAM, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, he speaks out on the violence of Syria even as there are reports of fighting across the country. We'll give you an additional update on the situation there.

And it is all pomp and pageantry as Queen Elizabeth celebrates her Diamond Jubilee. We'll have the details on the festivities.

And as the debate over global warming rages on, the story of one man's fight to save the glaciers in the Himalayas. We've got a special report from CNN's ecosolutions series.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LU STOUT: Welcome back.

As if a river spectacle of 1,000 boats was not enough, London's Buckingham Palace is being transformed into a concert arena. Some of the biggest names in music are getting ready to perform for Queen Elizabeth's Diamond Jubilee. The British monarch is marking 60 years on the throne.

After the concert, people across the UK, the Commonwealth, and British territories will light thousands of beacons to honor their queen.

Now royal correspondent Max Foster joins us from outside Buckingham Palace. And Max, this will be a star-studded concert. Do set the scene for us.

MAX FOSTER, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORREPSONDENT: It really will be. And not everyone has been invited to the concert. About 10,000 of them, actually, have been invited to a garden party here in the garden of Buckingham Palace just before. We've not really been allowed in here apart from one other occasion, so it's quite an opportunity to see what it looks like here.

And the concert is going to be on the other side of the -- on the other side of the palace out there on the mall. And each of the guests arriving here a little bit later on will be given a hamper, a commemorative hamper in many ways. And here's a little sneak peak as to what's inside.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

FOSTER: 12,000 guests will feel this glorious garden here at Buckingham Palace. And they'll have a special treat, a hamper made not just by the royal chef, but by one of Britain's most famous experimental chefs, Heston Blumenthal.

HESTON BLUMENTHAL, CHEF: A diamond jubilee, to be involved in it is incredible. Choosing the dishes for this picnic was interesting, because you wanted to have a historical. So like the eat and mess (ph) or coronation chicken. We wanted to showcase British produce, so the strawberries for the dessert were from Sandringham, the salmon is Scottish. And then it was about tracing the vibrancy.

This is the potted salmon. So it's (inaudible) smoked salmon with some poached salmon, Scottish. And then that's bound with a creme fraiche lightly just again licked it with a few drops of lemon juice and some chives.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Coronation chicken is obviously something that was designed for coronation. And it's poached chicken with spices and good old mayonnaise and yogurt, really envelops the commonwealth feel.

FOSTER: What's one of your favorites?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think the mushroom parfait is probably my favorite, or the Sandringham strawberries. That's a sort of play on eat and mess. We've got a little Heston magic involved in it all.

BLUMENTHAL: The original recipe is strawberries and meringue cream. We've got strawberry, kumquat but we've also got some freeze dried strawberries. And there's some popping candy in there for good measure as well. I think that will set it apart from the crowd.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

FOSTER: And the big reveal, Kristie, here is the hamper in its full presentation glory in a basket and a freezer bag, whatever you call it, my fork, some wipes compulsory in this British weather, a mat, of course, and here's a sampling of some of the food for you. Looks pretty tasty. And I'm about to send it over to you, but it only lasted two hours, Kristie.

LU STOUT: Oh, my goodness, the best of British inside a hamper, including that beautiful round of cheese in there. I am so jealous. And you'll get to enjoy this along with the concert happening tonight. And your madness is performing, envy again.

Now the show will all end with the queen lighting these beacons across the world. And Max, can you tell us the significance of that tribute?

FOSTER: Well, beacons are a tradition, really. And they're basically big bonfires. And they were lit across Britain in the past at other commemorative events. And what they were planning to do was have 2,000 beacons around Britain and the commonwealth lit for this occasion. Actually they have more than 4,000 applications. So you've got beacons being lit everywhere from Uganda, Kenya, across the UK and America. And the idea is to link them all up.

And the very last beacon -- they've already started being lit today -- the last beacon is being lit by the queen up on the mall, a spectacular big fire really, gas powered for safety reasons. And the way she's going to start it is by lifting a huge crystal in the shape of a diamond and putting it into a pod, we're told. It will twist slowly and then it will light up. And that will light the beacon. So it should be a spectacular bit of theater to finish things off today, Kristie.

LU STOUT: That's right, the pomp and spectacle of it all is truly amazing.

I also wanted to ask you about that royal barge trip down the Thames to thousands cheering. Max, has the royal family made any comment on Sunday's events?

FOSTER: Yeah. I've just been told, actually, that the royal family feels touched by this spectacular display that they saw yesterday. The queen was standing out there in the driving rain, it has to be said. She did have the canopy. But she stood there, wanted to watch the whole flotilla go by, because everyone had put such an effort into it. And it really was a spectacular thing to see despite all of that rain. It did go incredibly well.

A huge logistical exercise to get 1,000 boats down that river without crashing. And I think it's safe to say that everyone in the building behind me is thrilled with how things have gone so far.

LU STOUT: Well, good to hear. Max Foster reporting. And do enjoy the festivities tonight Max.

Now hundreds of thousands, they braved the rain on Sunday to cheer on the queen, but what is the forecast ahead? Mari Ramos joins us now from the world weather center -- I believe so -- Mari?

MARI RAMOS, CNN WEATHER CORRESPONDENT: Kristie.

Well, you know what, it was pretty interesting to hear Max talking about the rain. It was really amazing. And it was quite a bit of rain, about 80 percent of the average precipitation for the entire month of June has fallen in the last two days across the UK, 37 millimeters in London proper. So about 80 percent of the entire month. So that just kind of gives you an idea of how wet just the last couple of days have been.

And of course if you missed the pictures of yesterday, it was pretty spectacular to see that driving rain and just how many people were out anyway there to greet the queen.

But today the concert, another outdoor activity, you know what it is London, it is June, and yeah there's a little bit of rain in the forecast. Right now we saw Max Foster live outside of there in the gardens of Buckingham Palace and it wasn't raining. And a little bit of dark skies behind him. I think that's going to be the threat throughout most of the day today, especially in the early afternoon hours, the chance for some rain. Hopefully that will be ending by night time, but the time the concert gets going and the beacon ceremony is lighting up.

And then for the big finale on Tuesday, again the chance for some rain showers, but I think it's going to be mostly an early morning kind of thing.

So kind of pinpoint your forecast a little bit more here in Buckingham Palace. I think what's going to happen is we're going to see some rain showers passing through. See, in the morning we have the highest chance of rain today and it diminishes slowly as we head into the late afternoon and then to the evening hours. So maybe we'll even see a few twinkling stars. Keep my fingers crossed for you guys there later today.

And then as we head to tomorrow, the better chance of rain comes later in the day. So we'll have to see how that turns out. The morning looking a little better. And then the likelihood of rain increases as we head into the later afternoon and evening. So maybe it'll hold off completely.

So here we have the drier weather, relatively drier weather, continuing to move in, quiet as we head back over toward France and Portugal and Spain. And then the chance for some stronger storms popping up here as we head anywhere from Hungary all the way down into the northern shores of the Adriatic all the way back into Corsica, Sardinia, and maybe even back over here to Sicily seeing a little bit of rain and thunderstorms popping up. Cloudy skies as we head back over toward the north and the east for you guys in Berlin, only 14 degrees, 17 in Warsaw, 16 in Moscow. 12 in London now. Not too bad. And 28 right now in Madrid. Hot in Athens. You're at 31 degrees.

Let's go ahead and take a quick peak over here at your weather in east Asia. This is in Beijing. They have quite a bit of rain in the last 24 hours. And flooded roadways reported, some travel delays as well. So that hasn't changed too much there. The rain is over and done with for now. Most of the action back over toward the Korean peninsula and over western parts of Japan. And of course we cannot ignore our tropical cyclone.

Yes, Mawar is still there. It is a typhoon. And you can see it right over here moving just parallel to the Ryukyu Islands continuing to just head north 176 kilometer per hour winds. It did cause some serious problems across the Philippines, but we think it should stay safely offshore the coast of Japan, but it could cause some heavy rain here across the islands. So we will be monitoring, of course, the storm in the next couple of days.

Kristie, let's go ahead and head back to you.

LU STOUT: OK, Mari, thank you very much indeed. Mari Ramos there.

Coming up right here on NEWS STREAM, buying time in the Himalayas. We'll look at one man's battle to preserve an ancient way of life from climate change.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LU STOUT: We're live from Hong Kong. You are back watching NEWS STREAM. And for generations, farmers in the cold, remote desert regions of India's Himalayas have relied on water from glaciers for irrigation, but those glaciers are receding. And the farmer's way of life is being threatened.

In today's ecosolution, Sumnima Udas shows us one man who is trying to solve the problem.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SUMNIMA UDAS, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORREPSONDENT: For decades, Chawan Norfeld (ph) watched these mountains change. While many politicians and even some scientists debate whether climate change is real, Norfeld (ph) says he is surrounded by its evidence. Glaciers in this remote corner of India are receding. And his awareness prompted him to act.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Actually, this village is facing a lot of problems with shortage of water, that's why we chose this village.

UDAS: Here, Norfeld (ph) is doing natures job creating glaciers. He taking us to one of his most successful projects. Months ago, Norfeld (ph) constructed a series of icy walls and channels on the shaded side of the mountain to capture runoff from the glaciers melting above. Trapped by Norfld's (ph) man-made glaciers, the water froze again. Now it's thawing, just in time for planting season.

So the walls are the key.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yeah. Yeah. Here we put seven walls in series, you know. So this is just to retain the ice and control the water.

SAMTEN CHOEPEL, GERGES: The annual precipitation in Ladakh is 100 milliliters, that's almost insignificant for an agriculture point of view, so that's why people have to rely mostly on glaciers.

UDAS: Samten Choepel is studying the impact of climate change on the local population for the French NGO Gerges.

CHOEPEL: Because of the receding glaciers, because of less precipitation in the winters, the water is just short in the springs and in the rivers and everything. So people are not getting enough water to irrigate.

UDAS: The 77-year-old Norfeld (ph) doesn't show his age as he bounds down rock strewn ravines to take a closer look at his glaciers. Flash floods sometimes destroy his work. In 2006, one of his largest projects, a glacier more than a mile long, was washed away by an unusual heavy week of rain.

He says government funding sometimes dries up too, yet he continues to experiment and build.

He takes us to the site of his newest project. What now looks like a pile of dirt will one day hold enough water to support an entire village. That day is a long way off.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): We have to clear all of this. We have to level it. It will take at least four to five years. After that, it will become a very beautiful place.

UDAS: He's lived among these mountains his entire life.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): the Himalayas are like the crown of this country, it's a place you can't see anywhere else, so I'm trying to find ways of preserving Ladakh for the future.

CHOEPEL: He has seen it in his own life that what is becoming a major problem to the farmers and they try to -- he's trying to solve this for those villages reach (inaudible) benefiting from the artificial glaciers. He's always welcome. He's a hero to them.

UDAS: Norfeld (ph) knows his simple solution won't save the ancient glaciers, but it's already buying time for farmers desperate to preserve their livelihood and more importantly they're way of life.

Sumnima Udas, Lay, India.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LU STOUT: Stunning images there.

Now you are watching NEWS STREAM. And after the break, a vicious killer on the run: international police expand the search for a Canadian man suspected of dismembering his victim.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LU STOUT: I'm Kristie Lu Stout in Hong Kong. You're watching NEWS STREAM. And these are your world headlines.

Nigeria's president has declared three days of mourning for the victims of Sunday's devastating plane crash. All 153 people on board and at least 10 on the ground were killed when the Dana Air jet crashed into a densely populated neighborhood in Lagos. Airline official tells CNN the plane's pilot declared an emergency on final approach to the airport.

Now Syrian president Bashar al-Assad told parliament on Sunday that Syria is facing a war from abroad. He denied his government had any involvement in last month's Houla massacre. Now the uprising is expected to dominate the EU-Russia summit in St. Petersburg today. Now commentary in China's state-run newspaper warns against western military intervention in Syria.

Now security officials say that there has been another U.S. drone strike in Pakistan. Local officials says the drone fired at least six missiles at the compound killing 15 militants. It was the third drone attack in as many days. The attack happened over night in North Waziristan, a stronghold of both the Taliban and al Qaeda.

In London, crowds turned out in force over the weekend to take part in the queen's diamond jubilee celebrations along the River Thames. Now more festivities are planned for today with a concert outside Buckingham Palace. The day's celebrations will include the lighting of 4,000 beacons across the UK and the world.

Now the manhunt is expanding for a Canadian murder suspect. The suspect, Luka Rocco Magnotta, may be in Europe. Now Interpol is looking for him and just released these images of the 29-year-old.

Now Magnotta is wanted for questioning in the killing and dismembering of a Chinese University student.

Now Paula Newton now with the latest on this grisly case.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

PAULA NEWTON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: The manhunt now focuses on Paris, with authorities in Canada telling CNN they believe their were credible sightings of the suspected killer there last week. They say they are working closely with French police, but 29-year-old Luka Rocco Magnotta is still a fugitive on the run. Police in Canada believe the suspect revels in his notoriety on the internet and won't stay underground for long.

COMMANDER IAN LAFRENIERE, MONTREAL POLICE DEPT: Been helping us again he's in a different country now, but we got a lot of help. I've been mentioning to people that he's been using the web to bring himself as a king to give him a good image, but I think it's going to catch him also.

NEWTON: The problem is now that Magnotta is likely here in Europe, it will be easy for him to disappear in busy train stations like this and bus stations, anywhere he doesn't have to flash his passport.

In fact, Magnotta was in Europe in the past year. And he's known to have links to France, Poland, and even London. In a chilling encounter with The Sun Newspaper in London, Magnotta showed up on the paper's doorstep just six months ago denying he was a suspect in an animal cruelty investigation. The Sun says it was trying to expose the person responsible for brutally torturing and killing a kitten on a video posted on the internet. The incident escalated when Magnotta sent an email to The Sun threatening to kill more than animals next time.

NEIL MILLARD, THE SUN NEWSPAPER: We're talking about a very, very strange, unhinged individual. When we get an email you know obviously convinced that he was responsible for these two videos, when we get an email when someone is obviously threatening to do far more and he's possibly talking about you know taking a human life, you know, we can't just sit idly by we have to do something about it. And obviously we did give those details to the police in this country to investigate.

NEWTON: But British police did not follow up, because it wasn't their jurisdiction.

Magnotta is now accused of premeditating a savage murder and dismemberment, mailing the body parts, and glorifying the crime on the internet video. Family and friends of the victim, 33-year-old Chinese student Jun Liu are still shocked Magnotta escaped, but add they do not want the character of the man now lost to them to be overshadowed by the depravity of the crime.

Paula Newton, CNN, London.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LU STOUT: Now the date passed without any mention in China's mainland press. And government censors are deleted Weibo posts that mention it, but here in Hong Kong thousands of people are gathering to mark the 23rd year since China's crackdown on pro-democracy activists in Tiananmen Square. In fact, you're looking at live pictures of a candlelight vigil taking place right now in Hong Kong's Victoria Park.

Now Chinese activist Chen Guangcheng, he sent a written message calling on the Chinese government to pursue democratic reforms.

Now meanwhile, in Beijing, China has criticized the U.S. after it called for all Tiananmen Square protesters to be freed. The U.S. State Department issued this statement ahead of today's commemoration.

Now Liu Weimin, he speaks for the Chinese foreign minister.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LIU WEIMIN, CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESMAN (through translator): The U.S. side has been ignoring the facts and issuing such statements year after year making baseless accusations against the Chinese government and arbitrarily interfering with China's internal affairs. The Chinese side expressed strong dissatisfaction and resolute opposition to such acts.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LU STOUT: In 1989 the protests against the Communist government were lead by students. But these days many are rushing to be Communists. Eunice Yoon has more.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

EUNICE YOON, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Out of the shadow of China's old guard, come the new faces of the Communist Party. Yong Hao (ph) and her classmates tapped to be among the next generation of Chinese leaders.

"Some people think of old government officials when they think of the Communist Party," she says, "but actually there are many young professionals just like us."

Since its founding, the Chinese Communist Party has been dominated by older men. One generation of veteran party functionaries giving way to the next. But it's always replenishing its ranks.

One of the Communist Party's greatest achievement is simply its survival. Today it's the world's largest political party with over 80 million members, many of them recruited from schools like this one.

For today's young cadres, the old ideologies and Marxism and Mao Zedong are taking a backseat to the need for social stability and national unity.

"One of the party's goals is sustain all economic development," this member says, "and sound political progress."

Thai Dong (ph) has only been a member for a month after taking exams in the tenants of the party and is responsible for meetings on the weekends, one way these young Communists network.

None of these students want to join the government, but membership is seen as prestigious and, they admit, it helps when shopping resumes for future jobs.

"Being a member still helps you in society," she says, "because party members are considered a higher caliber group of people."

A party card opens doors, says one veteran China watcher.

JIM MCGREGOR, CHINA ANALYST: The Communist Party today is the old boys network of China. I mean, if you're young and you want to be in business you join the party, because it's a combination of the Elks, the Lions, the optimists, the Rotary, the Democrats, the Republicans, it's all -- everything wrapped into one.

YOON: But in the wake of the Bo Xilai scandal, the new members are aware that the party has problems. Students like Yung (ph) need attention.

"I feel there are internal issues that need to be addressed, such as corruption which has affected the heart of our nation."

Outsiders say the young Communists have much to ponder.

MCGREGOR: The party's biggest challenge is staying relevant and figuring out how to democratize itself. Right now the social system and the economic system have surpassed the political system of China.

YOON: And as the future of the party, these young cadres will determine how and even if the Communist Party stays relevant.

Eunice Yoon, CNN, Beijing.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LU STOUT: Now to its most sensitive topics in China, people are discussing Tiananmen online by using alternative terms and word play. Now Chinese microblogs like Sina Weibo censor around certain words and phrases. So to get around it, people are using ordinary words like today and tonight to refer to June 4. Instead of saying something that could be blocked like Tiananmen.

And some are telling personal stories to get their message across. For instance, a father recounting a conversation with his son, saying this, quote, "I explain to him that years and years ago on the same day your dad was still young, poetic, energetic and passionate. But after that, your dad was no longer the same."

Now memory of Tiananmen veiled enough to escape the censors.

And you're watching NEWS STREAM. And still ahead, from controversy ahead of the European Championships to history for Tiger Woods. We've got a big sports update still ahead.

And could the Celtics even up their NBA playoff series with the Miami Heat? Alex Thomas will have that and more.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LU STOUT: Welcome back.

It's almost become one of sport's golden rules never write off Tiger Woods. And the golfer's latest victory has come at a crucial time. Let's join Alex Thomas in London. He's got more -- Alex.

ALEX THOMAS, CNN SPORTS CORRESPONDENT: Kristie, Tiger Woods hasn't been a major winner since 2008, but many joked he could -- he won the U.S. Open on one leg, lifting the title at Torrey Pines despite a severe knee injury. Now he has shown a timely return to form less than two weeks before the start of this year's U.S. Open.

Let's got an incredible shot at the 16 highlighted the two stroke victory at the memorial tournament in Ohio. Heading towards water, Tiger chipped in with a full swing flop shot through thick rough before to his upper cut celebration as the crowd roared.

Look at the replay, tournament host Jack Nicholas described this as the most unbelievably gutsy shot he'd ever seen. And it certainly evoked memories of Wood's chip-in at another 16th hole back at the 2006 Masters.

Well, Woods carted his 7th and final birdie of the day at the 18th, closing out at 5 under par, a round of 67. A tournament finish against South Africa's Rory Sabbatini and Argentina's Andres Romero.

You saw him speaking to Nicholas at the end. And Woods is now level with the Golden Bear on 73 career titles. Only slamming Sam Sneed has won more. It was Tiger's second tournament title for the season. After his victory at the Arnold Palmer Invitational. And the 14-time major winner is not a hot, hot contender for next week's U.S. Open.

Now there's some blockbuster matches on day nine at the French Open tennis championships. Rafael Nadal, Andy Murray, Maria Sharapova and Li Na all were in action.

Sharapova on court as we speak. And the women's singles is wide open after world number one Victoria Azarenka was dumped out of the tournament by Dominika Cibulkova, the 15th seed. Azarenka beaten 6-2, 7-6 admitting it was just a bad performance was how she described it.

The men's world number one almost suffered the same fate, but Novak Djokovic recovered from two sets to love down before squeezing past the number 22 seed Andreas Seppi.

Now Rio Ferdinand's agent has called the decision to leave the player out of England's football squad for Euro 2012 disgraceful. He was reacting to the news that a little known Liverpool player had been called up to replace Gary Cahill. Cahill will miss the tournament in Poland and Ukraine after breaking his jaw in the warm-up match against Belgium on Saturday.

England boss Roy Hodgson picked Martin Kelly to replace the Chelsea defender. And Ferdinand's agent said "to treat a player that has captained and served his country 81 times in this manner is nothing short of disgraceful, a total lack of respect from Hodgson and the FA as far as I'm concerned."

Well, Euro 2012 kicks off on Friday. And CNN's team is flying out there as I speak. We'll be previewing the tournament every day this week. Pedro Pinto has been speaking with UEFA president Michel Platini already. And this is what the Frenchman had to say about the vast distances some fans will need to travel to get to games in Poland and Ukraine.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MICHEL PLATINI, UEFA PRESIDENT: We are prepared to help the fans to reach Poland and Ukraine. We have many facilities. And we (inaudible) facilities that the fans have to come. They wanted the Poland and Ukraine have to make an effort for the fans. But we tell the fans that when we (inaudible) expensive to go, but then on (inaudible) we be Poland and Ukraine it will be a fantastic atmosphere.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

THOMAS: And Platini and Pedro discuss much more. You can hear the whole of the interview on World Sport at 6:00 this evening Central European Time.

Now it was supposed to be the star-studded team with too much Heat for the Celtics, but Miami have lost to Boston again in the NBA's Eastern Conference finals making the series 2-2. It was another all around team effort from the Celtics, although Rajon Rando had another double-double with 15 points and assists. Boston did throw away an 18 point lead at one stage as the Heat scorched back into contention. Chances of a remakrable comeback, though, was hit by LeBron James being fouled out of the game for the first time since 2008.

So it came down to a buzzer-beating three attempt from Dwayne Wade. He missed. And Boston hung on for a 93-91 win. Miami fans surely hoping Chris Bosh will be back from injury some time soon.

That's all the sport for now, Kristie. Back to you in Hong Kong.

LU STOUT: All right. Alex Thomas there. Thank you.

Now in honor of her 60 years as British monarch 1,000 boats have sailed the River Thames. Now what's next for the queen? We have the latest on the diamond jubilee celebrations worldwide. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LU STOUT: Welcome back.

And one day after 1,000 boats filled the River Thames in London, music will feel the air outside Buckingham Palace to mark Queen Elizabeth II's diamond jubilee. Now pop royalty, including Paul McCartney, Elton John, and Stevie Wonder will perform Monday evening for a sell-out crowd of some 18,000 people. And the concert will be broadcast live and shown on screens around London for those who could not get a coveted ticket.

Now it's not just Britain that's paying tribute to the queen's 60 year reign. The 54 nations that make up the commonwealth are also celebrating. And as Nick Glass reports, they have a personal and enduring relationship with their majesty.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

NICK GLASS, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: When the queen was born, the map was still substantially an imperial pink. That changed irrevocably after 1945. With the end of empire came a new role, head of the commonwealth. And she has absolutely reveled in it.

DAVID CANNADINE, HISTORIAN: I think she has always believed in this elaborate fraternal association, which when she was growing up was an empire and has gradually morphed into a commonwealth. That gives her a global role in a way that no other monarchy today has. She can kind of speak for a huge part of the world across the oceans and around the globe.

GLASS: There's a whole generation out there who used to collect commonwealth stamps. Many people still do. The stamps help tell the story.

Elizabeth's reign began with a marathon royal tour lasting six months -- Gibraltar, Ceylon, Fiji, New Zealand, and Australia.

The queen is simply the most traveled head of state in history. As her private secretary once said, she sleeps well. She's got very good legs. And she can stand for a long time. In short, she's as strong as a yak.

She's needed stamina and a strong stomach.

ANNOUNCER: The queen has been in Fiji before. And she knows what to expect as kava is served in a polished coconut shell. This is a trying moment for any visitor, where kava has been described as looking like muddy water and tasting like -- tasting like -- well, it's not exactly to a queen's taste.

JOHN MAJOR, FORMER BRITISH PRIME MINISTER: When the queen ascended the throne the commonwealth comprised about eight nations. It now comprises 54. The commonwealth and the queen had grown up together. She knows the commonwealth extremely well. She's very, very fond of it. You only have to see the queen on a commonwealth tour to see the empathy that exists between her and everybody in those 54 countries. It really is quite remarkable to see.

KAMALESH SHARMA, COMMONWEALTH SECRETARY-GENERAL: The queen is inseparable from the modern commonwealth. It is because she has been her own person throughout that you have this intensity and authenticity in everything that she does in which people sense, because it's not simply possible to keep up an act for 60 years.

GLASS: The queen opened the most recent gathering of commonwealth heads of government in Perth last year. Her words that day seemed unusually poignant, almost valedictory. She ended her speech with an aboriginal saying.

QUEEN ELIZABETH II: We are all visitors to this time, this place. We are just passing through. Our purpose here is to observe, to learn, to grow, to love, and then we return home.

Ladies and gentlemen, it gives me great pleasure to declare open this 21st meeting of the commonwealth heads of government.

(APPLAUSE)

GLASS: Nick Glass, CNN, London.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LU STOUT: Now more than 4,000 beacons are being lit around the commonwealth in honor of the diamond jubilee. And the queen herself will light the final diamond jubilee beacon at the mall in London following Monday's concert at Buckingham Palace.

Now the honor of receiving the first beacon went to one of the smallest schools in the UK. It's home to only a handful of students and is set on a mountain top.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ANNE COLLINS, FLASH PRIMARY SCHOOL TEACHER: This is a small school in the Staffordshire Moorlands and there are only eight children. It's really important for a small community like ourselves to have a place which is at the center and the heart of our village.

It's meant a great deal. It was one of the lights while the school was facing closure. So to be able to have a beacon and be the first place chosen to represent the queen with the diamond jubilee beacon is immensely important. We can celebrate and enjoy with the queen her diamond jubilee. And it's become the center of the village or the school activities this year.

All of the children here, the eight children from Flash will pres the button. And the firework will all from here to the top of the beacon. And the beacon will be lit. So that will be fantastic.

(CHILDREN SINGING)

COLLINS: We've made a cardboard queen. They've written books about the queen. They've written to the queen herself. And we've even had a reply, so that was really exciting.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Dear Queen Elizabeth...

COLLINS: Please, can you come to our special party.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Please can you come to our special party.

COLLINS: It will be nice if you can wear your crown.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It will be nice if you can wear your crown.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I don't mean to be rude, but how many hats have you got, because every time you're on TV you're always wearing different hats.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What would you like to eat when you come? What sandwiches do you like? Which kind of breads do you like? Please, may I come and visit you one day and see how many rooms you have and how many slaves you have if you have any.

COLLINS: I can remember growing up. And my grandmother talked to me about going to see Victoria visit her village. And I'm sure, you know, that 100 years later these children will have future generations that are talking about when we celebrated the diamond jubilee in Flash. So I think it's a really important occasion.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LU STOUT: Great artwork there.

Now we've seen some amazing pictures of the celebrations underway in London, but leave it to Twitter to give it all a funny twist. Oliver Burkeman of the Guardian tweeted this, quote, "in today's Pyongyang Times an exclusive peek inside Britain: the bizarre state where thousands take part in huge displays of leader worship." Nice one Oliver.

And that is NEWS STREAM, but the news continues at CNN. "WORLD BUSINESS TODAY" is next.

END