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University of Maryland Students Break Record For Human Powered Helicopter; Turkish Prime Minister: Military Will Respond To All Violations On Syrian Border; U.S. Supreme Court Strikes Down Most Of Arizona Immigration Law; Tropical Storm Debby Continues To Pound Florida
Aired June 26, 2012 - 8:00 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. Welcome to News Stream where news and technology meet. And we begin in Turkey where the rhetoric is rising. The prime minister says any military approach from Syria will not be treated as a threat.
Plus, Egypt's president-elect walks into his new office and new responsibilities. But some members of the nation's minorities are worried.
And it may not look like much, but you're looking at a new record holder in the quest for a human powered helicopter.
And first to Syria on a day it's coming under greater diplomatic scrutiny. In a few hours the UN security council is going to get an update on its observer mission in the country, that's after Turkey's prime minister has said its military rules of engagement are now changing and it's ready to respond to any violations of its border by Syria. Now the change in Turkey's military stance comes after its prime minister said that there was no excuse for Syria's shooting down of a Turkish fighter jet last week.
CNN's Ivan Watson is in Istanbul. He joins us now live. And Ivan, Mr. Erdogan, he said Turkey's armed forces will respond to all violations on the Syrian border. This is a significant shift in tone and strategy.
IVAN WATSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Already the relations between these two neighbors were dismal, but yeah this suggests that there could be further flashpoints along the already turbulent border between these two countries. Syria, of course, maintaining its position that it shot down the Turkish reconnaissance jet in self defense at it crossed into Syrian territorial airspace on Friday. The Turks and the Turkish prime minister addressing parliament -- parliamentarians on Friday in Ankara -- rather today in Ankara saying that this was a disgusting, hostile act and that Turkey was going to respond by changing its rules of engagement. Take a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
RECEP TAYYIP ERDOGAN, TURKISH PRIME MINISTER (through translator): The engagement rules for the Turkish armed forces have been changed. Any military approach seem to be a risk to the Turkish border from the Syrian side will be perceived as a threat and will be dealt with accordingly.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WATSON: And Kristie, that border -- you know, I've been up and down it over the course of the past year-and-a-half, there are refugees by the thousands fleeing Syria across that border, there have been raging firefights between rebels and Syrian security forces right up until the edge of the border. In the past year-and-a-half the Syrian army has started to mine stretches of the borders with anti-personnel mines and there have been incidents where the Syrian security forces have fired into Turkish territory and actually wounded Turks while the Syrians accuse Turkey of allowing weapons to be smuggled into the Syrian rebels across that border as well.
So it's very turbulent. And now that in fact the Turks will raise their defense posture implies that we could see a direct Syrian on Turkish military engagements in the future when these tense moments arise -- Kristie.
LU STOUT: Yeah, there have been violations on the border. Now Turkey says it will respond to those violations.
Now Ivan, what more do we know about the downed Turkish plane itself, it's original mission, the status of the wreckage and the status of the crew?
WATSON: Well, it was an RF-4 U.S. made Phantom reconnaissance plane. The Turks say that it was performing testing of the country's radar system. It had flown out of an airbase in Malatya, which also hosts a controversial U.S./NATO radar base which is opposed by Syria's patron Russia just to give you a sense of the geopolitics at play here.
The jet was shot down on Friday. The Turks say that it crossed into Syrian airspace for just a few minutes and we outside of airspace at a distance of 13 nautical miles from the Syrian coast when Syrian anti- aircraft defenses shot it down and then it crashed eight nautical miles from the Syrian coast within Syrian territorial waters and that is where the search operation is underway with the jet and the wreckage believed to be more than a 1,000 meters beneath the surface of the Mediterranean.
The Syrians have counted by arguing that it was much closer to the Syrian coast and they actually shot it down with anti-aircraft cannons which would have required the jet to really only be a matter of perhaps a 1,000 meters off of the coastline. So we have two contradictory explanations for what happened there.
The Turks have sent a letter to the United Nations security council with the exact coordinates they say of where the jet was, again in international airspace, they argue, when it was shot down. And we'll just have to see where this plays out in the international court of opinion.
Of course, the NATO military alliance has come down firmly on the side of their long time NATO military partner Turkey denouncing Syria's shoot down of the Turkish war plane. But it does not appear that NATO was ready to invoke article five which would call it an attack on one NATO member an attack on all and thus require some kind of potential military response -- Kristie.
LU STOUT: Ivan Watson reporting live from Isanbul, thank you. And as Ivan was just mentioning then, NATO has condemned Syria's attack on a Turkish jet, but it hasn't committed itself to any further action.
Now Matthew Chance has been monitoring NATO and this side of the story from CNN London. He joins us now.
And Matthew, why is NATO playing down any talk of retaliation?
MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, I think Kristie there's a couple of reasons for that. One of them is there's not much appetite at all amongst NATO member states, including the United States, the European countries and Turkey itself for any kind of serious military confrontation with Syria at this moment. The alliance is already of course fighting in Afghanistan. It's already got commitments elsewhere and it doesn't really feel that it can first of all stretch to Syria and secondly that it would be the right thing to do given the complicated situation on the ground there.
But I think the most important reason at this point is that with Turkey, which is a full NATO member, of course, invoked not clause five as Ivan was saying there which provokes military action from the NATO alliance, but it's specifically invoked clause four of the NATO alliance treaty which is just a call for consultations.
And that's exactly were taking place today at NATO headquarters in Brussels. The Turkish -- from the Turkish point of view, they wanted some kind of statement from their NATO allies for their own public domestic ears back at home in Turkey that their allies would stand squarely behind them and that's exactly what they got from the NATO secretary general Anders Fogh Rasmussen. Take a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERS FOGH RASMUSSEN, NATO SECRETARY GENERAL: And let me make this clear, the security of the alliance is indivisible. We stand together with Turkey in the spirit of strong solidarity.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CHANCE: Well, the secretary general there making the point that NATO was standing behind Turkey, but as you say are staying well away from any idea that NATO was going to get involved in military action against Syria any time soon -- Kristie.
LU STOUT: Matthew Chance reporting, thank you very much indeed for that.
Now Japan's political leadership is under pressure once again after the lower house of parliament drew plans to double the country's sales tax. Now Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda risked his popularity and his position in an effort to tackle the world's highest national debt. As the Japanese population rapidly ages, caring for the elderly is proving unaffordable. Mr. Noda plans to gradually raise the sales tax from its current rate of 5 percent to 10 percent by 2015.
Now the proposal won the backing of 363 members of the house, but of the 96 that opposed it 57 were members of Noda's ruling party. And the key figure among them is the party founder, Ichiro Ozawa. Now he has suggested he could step down and form a new party if the tax hike went ahead. If his supporters follow him there, so would a new election and the possibility of Japan's seventh new leader in just six years.
Whatever the results, Japanese consumers won't feel the pinch right away.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JESPER KOLL, JAPAN DIRECTOR OF RESEARCH AT JP MORGAN: The good news is the consumption tax would only go up on April 1, 2014. So that's still quite a ways off. So the risk of the hike in taxes cutting short the purchasing power of the people right now is quite limited.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LU STOUT: Now Japan's NIKKEI was the worst performer among Asia's major stock indexes this Tuesday, dropping .8 percent.
And the picture in Europe is largely flat so far this trading day. After heavy losses both there and on Wall Street on Monday. Investors are still weighing out the possible fallout from a barrage of bad news out of the EuroZone.
And we have been here before. Just ahead of a European summit designed to tackle the regions financial problems, those problems have mounted. And solutions, they seem ever more elusive. Problem number one is Spain. On Monday, the Spanish government asked for billions of dollars to bailout its banking sector, but not in time to stop Moody's rating agency downgrading 28 of its leading lenders.
Now problem number two, Cyprus. The island nation has followed Spain's lead in asking the EU to prop up its crippled banks. That makes it the fifth EuroZone member to ask for financial assistance.
Now the first was of course Greece. Now if its new government had offered hope to a nation on its knees, the health of its politicians is sadly reflecting the health of the economy. Now former banker Yannis Stournaras after his predecessor resigned due to illness before a single day on the job. And the new prime minister won't be at Thursday crucial meeting in Brussels because he is recovering from eye surgery. No wonder that few analysts are expecting immediate resolution to this crisis.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ANGUS CAMPBELL, HEAD OF MARKET ANALYSIS, CAPITOL SPREADS: Politicians always leave things until the last minute. We've seen that in history. It's playing out now. But when you're seeing the crisis really escalate something has to be done. It's in no one's interest really, German in particular -- Germany in particular, to see the EuroZone break up. And the more likely that becomes then you're more likely to actually see a resolution.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LU STOUT: Analyst Angus Campbell there not the only person who expects this European crisis to go on and on.
Now still to come here on News Stream, Egypt's president-elect Mohamed Morsi is set to take up office, but that leaves some wondering what his links to the Muslim Brotherhood means for them.
The U.S. Supreme Court takes on the hot button issue of illegal immigration. We'll have a look at their ruling and its implications.
And raising the bar, find out how these women stay true to themselves as they excel in their fields as part of our Leading Women series.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LU STOUT: Welcome back.
Now its parliament dissolved, Egypt's president-elect Mohamed Morsi has agreed to be sworn in before its high constitutional court. Now it's no word yet, however, exactly when Morsi will take his oath of office. Now on Monday, Morsi met with Egypt's ruling military leaders and moved into the presidential offices. He's now working to put together a new government.
Now some Egyptians have expressed some concern over Morsi's religious beliefs and his connection to the Muslim Brotherhood.
Dan Rivers joins us now live from Cairo with more on that. And Dan, just how are minorities in Egypt reacting to Morsi's win?
DAN RIVERS, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: They're obviously very concerned. Yes of course his powers have been constrained by the power grab of the military in the last few days, but nevertheless he's beginning to think about putting together his cabinet and he's trying, he says, to be as inclusive as possible. His spokespeople are talking possibly a Coptic Christian being included maybe as a vice president, perhaps the former nuclear watchdog chief Mohamed el-Baradei being touted possibly as prime minister, women represented in the cabinet as well.
So he's trying to reach out to sections of society who are deeply worried about the direction that Egypt is heading in.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
RIVERS: It's easy to view the scenes in Tahrir Square as a country celebrating the defeat of an old regime. But now that the party is over in Cairo many people are wondering what the Muslim Brotherhood's victory means for them, especially some sections of society which feel threatened by their agenda.
About 10 percent of Egyptians are Coptic Christians. They've suffered years of persecution under Mubarak's regime. And things haven't got better since his fall last year. These clashes in 2011 highlighted the tensions. Some in the Coptic community are worried they'll be marginalized even further, despite President Morsi promised equality for Coptics in his inaugural speech.
Najeeb Jabril is a Coptic leader. He said the Coptic community is skeptical about the promises.
NAJEEB JIBRIL, HUMAN RIGHTS COPTIC ASSOCIATION: We feel afraid. And I can move to that silence of the Coptic -- of the Coptic people that left Egypt from the last march to abroad.
RIVERS: The exodus from Egypt isn't confined to Copts. The educated liberal elite is also worried amid concerns women will have their rights curtailed.
Last year there were confrontations between feminists and religious conservatives who want to control who women dress and behave. Nirvanne Mortagy is a business woman who fears the Muslim Brotherhood's victory will only increase pressure on women.
NIRVANNE MORTAGY, BUSINESSWOMAN: I do not want somebody to tell me that I should cover up. Many of our friends and many of our community have their plan Bs to exit Egypt and they've already begun immigration processes to other countries.
RIVERS: Ahmed Rasem heads the Al-Tarir party (ph) followed by many Shia Muslims. He's also fearful about the future.
AHMED RASEM, SHIA EGYPTIAN: Egypt and the area entered a dark tunnel and we'll not get out of it very easy -- getting out of this dark tunnel will be accompanied by bloodshed, huge, heavy economic losses.
RIVERS: It's a glimmer of hope that Egypt will somehow step back from the Muslim Brotherhood's Islamist agenda, but for some that hope has already been extinguished.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
RIVERS: Well, we haven't heard much, or anything really, from Ahmed Shafik the loser in this presidential runoff. Confirmation this morning, though, that he has left Egypt for the United Arab Emirates. We've spoken to his lawyer. He's confirmed he's gone to Abu Dhabi and has confirmed that there were petitions filed against him back in April, but no legal action has been taken. And he's insisting that Ahmed Shafik has not sort of fled the country because of concern about legal cases coming down the line such as some of the rumors swirling around Cairo at the moment insisting it's a private trip and that he has not fled Egypt.
But we're yet to hear him speak about that presidential runoff and what he makes of Dr. Morsi's victory.
LU STOUT: Well, thank you for keeping tabs on his movements and of course the new government that is being formed right now in Egypt. Dan Rivers reporting live from Cairo, thank you.
And now an update on a story that's caused an outcry in China and it's shocking the world. Now the husband of this woman went public with this picture of his wife and a horrifying tale. Deng Jiyuan revealed his wife was forced to abort their seven month old fetus earlier this month under China's single child family policy. And he said his wife Feng Jianmei, pregnant with her second child, was arrested, taken to a hospital and given an injection after she could not pay a $6,200 fine.
Now the husband, Deng, he is missing. And his family is terrified that something has happened to him.
After Deng went public with what happened to his wife earlier this month, he and his family were greeted with banners like these calling them traitors and demanding they leave their hometown. Now his family says other residents of local officials followed Deng constantly and the harrassment reportedly intensified after Deng gave an interview to a German magazine last week. And now the 29-year-old husband and father, again he has not been seen since Sunday.
Now you are watching News Stream and we are keeping an eye on the top sports stories out there. It's day two of the world's most famous tennis tournament. And after defending champion Novak Djokovic sailed through his first round match-up, last year's runner up Rafa Nadal starts his Wimbledon campaign this Tuesday. Got a preview ahead.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LU STOUT: Live from Hong Kong, you are back watching News Stream. And there were few surprises on the opening day of the Wimbledon tennis championship, so what has the tournament got in store for us today?
Let's go to Alex Thomas in London to look ahead -- Alex.
ALEX THOMAS, CNN SPORTS CORRESPONDENT: Yeah, hi Kristie, the record seven-time French Open champion Rafa Nadal is hoping to use the momentum he gained at Roland Garos to reclaim his Wimbledon crown. The Spaniard who was beaten by Novak Djokovic 12 months ago begins his campaign at the All England Club against Thomaz Bellucci of Brazil.
First up on Center Court, the defending ladies champion Petra Kvitova is playing a lowly ranked opponent from Uzbekistan Akgul Amanmuradova and actually it's Amanmuradova who is leading the Wimbledon champion by 3-0. This is a player who has never got beyond the first round before, would you believe.
Well, Kvitova's triumph 12 months ago was her first grand slam tournament victory, but certainly not a unique achievement for Czech Republic tennis. The most famous player from that country Martina Navratilova was a Wimbledon champion on nine occasions. And earlier this year exclusively for CNN, the two ladies singles winners took a stroll around the All England Club.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MARTINA NAVRATILOVA, 9-TIME WIMBLEDON CHAMPION: So how old were you when you started?
PETRA KVITOVA, 2011 WIMBLEDON CHAMPION: (INAUDIBLE) around four or five when I have the first time the racket in my hands but when the brother practiced, I was there like when I'm born so I was there all the time with my mom.
NAVRATILOVA: So where you a club brat? I mean, you hanging out at the club all day and just played with whoever or --?
KVITOVA: Well, actually no. It's not really many people who is playing there so I play only with my father and my two brothers.
NAVRATILOVA: Did you ever play against the wall 'cause I grew up -- for the first two years, I just hit against the wall.
KVITOVA: Me too.
NAVRATILOVA: Did you play at the wall?
KVITOVA: Yes, and I practiced my (INAUDIBLE) like on the wall and it was really, really fun. But actually, I didn't like it too much to play against the wall. It was boring for me.
NAVRATILOVA: The ball always comes back.
(MUSIC)
Well, I'm so glad that I get to do this (INAUDIBLE) with you 'cause I've never been to this museum. First time down this steps, you feel like a champion when you come here. I mean, now you're like part of history, you know?
KVITOVA: Yes, I know.
NAVRATILOVA: Nobody can take it away from you.
(MUSIC)
NAVRATILOVA: Oh, there's my clothes. Oh, there's yours.
KVITOVA: Yes. And my headband and everything.
NAVRATILOVA: And what does it say?
KVITOVA: Six times in a row.
NAVRATILOVA: (INAUDIBLE) 80s were very good for me.
KVITOVA: I said too...
NAVRATILOVA: You're going to do six in a row?
KVITOVA: Yes. Yes. I tell you this year.
NAVRATILOVA: It started and done so you just have to repeat. It's OK.
(MUSIC)
NAVRATILOVA: Well, there's the plate.
KVITOVA: Yes.
NAVRATILOVA: So what was the feeling when you finally got your hands on it?
KVITOVA: I can't find the words. I mean, it was special and I mean I had the trophy before from the tournament but it's -- this was a unbelievable, really. I mean, I was like surprised and happy and I didn't know what I had to do and--.
NAVRATILOVA: Well, thankfully, there is -- there is somebody to tell you, "OK, you stand here and you hold it there and you smile (INAUDIBLE)".
KVITOVA: Yes. And you have to go there and there. And you? What do you remember?
NAVRATILOVA: I held it (INAUDIBLE) and I forgot to put on my sweater. All I could think about afterwards, I'm like "Oh no. I forgot to put my sweater on and there's this big muscles." My mom always told me, "Cover up your arms. You have too big muscles. You have to cover up your arms." So I'm like "I forgot to put my sweater on!" And then I'm always worried about the hair. Was that -- what does the hair look like? But no. But really, the feeling of holding that for the first time, it's pretty cool.
(MUSIC)
NAVRATILOVA: So how many more of those -- are we going to see there? How many would you be happy with?
KVITOVA: You have nine. I have to be ten.
NAVRATILOVA: Nine. OK. That's a good number to aim for.
KVITOVA: But I will have to play a long time.
NAVRATILOVA: Well, I expect to see that name more than one, that's for sure.
KVITOVA: Yes.
NAVRATILOVA: Once is definitely not enough.
(MUSIC)
NAVRATILOVA: So you have your racket. Your heart starts beating. And now, we get the OK--
KVITOVA: Wow.
NAVRATILOVA: --to come on. And there's your friends in the box.
KVITOVA: It's nice to see the court without the mess.
NAVRATILOVA: And no lines. It looks like an electrified fence. Oh, but it's -- oops, I got zapped. Not too bad, though. It's nice to get back here again.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
THOMAS: Wimbledon champions past and present relishing their tour around the All England Club a little bit earlier this year when it's slightly colder, its fair to say. English summer is not a great shake at times, but I can tell you the latest that Kvitova in her opening round match on Center Court. She was broken by little known player from Uzbekisan Amanmuradova, but she has pulled a game back. It's 3-1 to Amanmuradova in the opening set.
Now football fans have more than 24 hours to wait before Euro 2012 resumes with the semifinals from Ukraine and Poland on Wednesday night. We'll see the clash of Iberian nations Portugal against defending European champions Spain. The Spanish with a comfortable winning record over their neighbors down the years, but the Portugese won their last encounter 4-0.
On Thursday, Euro 2008 runners up Germany playing England's conquerors Italy. Spain's coach Vicente del Bosque admits they'll have to be wary of Portugal's Real Madrid star Christiano Ronaldo when the two sides face each other on Wednesday. However, the players disagree with some critics who suggest the world champions have a little been boring to watch.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
VICENTE DEL BOSQUE, SPAIN COACH (through translator): That's their opinion. And just as valid as any other. Whatever people say I don't think we're going to change. I am pretty sure that most of the fans are enjoying great football games and great football teams. I think that it's great not just for the present, but also for the future of this tournament.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
THOMAS: Kristie, that's all the sport for now. Back to you in Hong Kong.
LU STOUT: All right, Alex, thank you.
Ahead here on News Stream the U.S. Supreme Court strikes down much of a controversial state law. And we'll look at what it means for the country's immigration and for the U.S. presidential election.
Plus, flooding in now widespread in the U.S. state of Florida. Now Tropical Storm Debby isn't done yet. We'll have the latest.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LU STOUT: I'm Kristie Lu Stout in Hong Kong. You're watching News Stream. And these are your world headlines.
Now Turkey's prime minister says that starting now he will treat any military approach from Syria as a potential threat. Turkish prime minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan addressed parliament following the shooting down of a Turkish fighter jet by Syria last week. Now NATO also held an emergency meeting to coordinate a response to last Friday's incident. NATO's secretary general called Syria's actions unacceptable.
Now Russian President Vladimir Putin is talking with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas a day after he met with Israeli leaders. On the agenda, the stalled Middle East peace process as well as Syria and Iran. Mr. Putin then travels to Jordan for talks with King Abdullah II.
Now Egypt's president-elect is working to form a government. Mohamed Morsi met with the country's top generals on Monday, the day after he was elected. State media reports that Egypt's military appointed cabinet has offered its resignation, but it's still not clear how much power the military is willing to give up.
Now in less than five months, Americans vote for a new president. In this election year there are few issues that are more divisive than illegal immigration. It has taken center stage at the U.S. Supreme Court. And in a 5-3 ruling on Monday, the court struck down much of a controversial Arizona law aimed at stopping people from crossing the border into the U.S. illegally. But it upheld the laws most disputed section, the so-called show me your papers provision that allows police to check someone's immigration status while enforcing other laws if they reasonably suspect that person is in the country illegally.
Now supports, including Arizona governor Jan Brewer who signed legislation say the provision's survival is a victory for the American people. Critics say it leaves the door open to racial profiling. And those critics include U.S. President Barack Obama. After the court's ruling he said, quote, no American should ever live under a cloud of suspicion just because of what they look like.
Now Jessica Yellin takes a closer look at how the U.S. president and candidate is using immigration to appeal to a core group of voters.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JESSICA YELLIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Just before heading out for a day of campaigning, the president touted most of the Supreme Court's immigration ruling and called on Congress to act on comprehensive immigration reform, saying a patchwork of state laws is not a solution. But the president has not made immigration reform his top priority in office either. One reason the Obama campaign is working so hard to please frustrated Latino voters now.
BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: We are a nation of strivers and climbers and entrepreneurs, the hardest working people on Earth. And nobody personifies these American values, these American traits more than the Latino community.
YELLIN: Recent polling shows 75 percent of Americans support the Arizona law. Still, the courts ruling overturning most of that law is largely being seen as a political win for the president. Why? Two reasons. First, the president has consistently opposed the law.
OBAMA: I think this puts American citizens who look Hispanic, are Hispanic potentially in a unfair situation. I don't approve of the Arizona law. I think it's the wrong approach.
YELLIN: Second, his campaign believes turning out the Latino vote could make the difference in November, especially in four battleground states: Colorado, Nevada, Virginia and Florida where there's a growing number of potential Latino voters.
But many of the president's would be Latino supporters are angry that he has not prioritized immigration reform until now. The president just announced a new policy that certain kids brought here illegally by their parents are now safe from deportation for two years.
OBAMA: It is the right thing to do.
YELLIN: And with the Arizona ruling the president can now tell Latino audiences he fought for them in the nation's highest court.
OBAMA: We said yes we can. We said si, se puede.
YELLIN: The president expressed concern that the one part of the law the court left standing could lead to civil rights violations. But he also emphasized that he's committed to tight border security. It's a careful balancing act for a tricky political issue.
Jessica Yellin, CNN, Washington.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LU STOUT: Now President Obama's rival for the White House is also weighing in. Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney slammed Mr. Obama for what he said as a, quote, muddle left in the wake of the Supreme Court's ruling.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
MITT ROMNEY, U.S. REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: You probably heard today there was a Supreme Court decision related to immigration, and given the failure of the immigration policy of this country I was -- I would have preferred to see the Supreme Court give more latitude to the states, not less. And the states now under this decision now have less authority, less latitude to enforce immigration laws.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
LU STOUT: On Thursday, the Supreme Court is set to rule on the Obama administration's signature health care reform law. And the court could toss the most controversial aspect of the law, the individual mandate, that requires almost every American to have health insurance or pay a penalty.
Now to the weather in Florida where Tropical Storm Debby is wrecking havoc. George Howell is in Wakulla County, that's near Tallahassee, Florida. And he joins us now live. And George, can you describe the kind of conditions you're seeing?
GEORGE HOWELL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Kristie, good day.
Take a look here. A lot of rain fell in a short amount of time. And this is what people woke up to in the state of Florida, the northern part of Florida, a lot of water here in this parking lot for this convenience store. In fact, we were here earlier. And I want to show you the water has been receding quite quickly, in fact it was about up to here earlier. We've seen it drop pretty significantly.
But a lot of -- a lot to clean up here for people who are dealing with this flooding. And also on the eastern part of the state, it's still happening as this tropical storm basically sits over the state of Florida people are dealing with flooding along Interstate 10, parts of that interstate just east of Interstate 75 here in the state of Florida were shut down just as a safety precaution.
Also here in Wakulla County, this was one of the hardest counties hit, Kristie. This county saw at least 25 inches of rain in the last several days, also the possibility of tornadic activity and flash flood warnings continue until this storm moves off into the Atlantic.
LU STOUT: And George, people are dealing with flooding and there could be more on the way. I mean, just how prepared are people there in Florida for more rain, more flooding and possible tornadoes?
HOWELL: Well, you do see officials here alone the roads as far as the flooding in concerned making sure that drivers are not surprised when they run into these low lying areas. And again perhaps a foot, perhaps six inches of water just to make sure people are prepared for that.
Also, we know that there were seven rescues here in Wakulla County, possibly more rescues happening just to get people out of the way of these flood waters that they're waking up to.
LU STOUT: And also we know that the governor of Florida, he declared a state of emergency. What does that mean? What's being mobilized to respond to the storm?
HOWELL: You do see officials out -- first of all surveying the situation, dealing with situations like this to make sure that people are safe. Also, problems with power. In fact, just about an hour ago a transformer blew here and we see these crews that are already in position - - you can't see them here from where you are, but I can see them here, just to make sure that the power gets restored. The state of emergency basically puts the people in place to remedy the situations caused by the storm.
LU STOUT: All right. George Howell live on the scene for us. Thank you very much indeed.
Quite a picture there in the aftermath of the storm. But will the (inaudible) change over the coming days? More rain ahead? Let's get the forecast. Mari Ramos joins us. She's got that. She joins us from the World Weather Center -- Mari.
MARI RAMOS, CNN WEATHER CORRESPONDENT: Hey, Kristie, you know the main problem with the storm as George was mentioning there, is the rain, because it has been so persistent. It has been sitting over the same general area. And unfortunately we're not seeing too much of a change with that.
There are some slight changes, though. First of all, look at these rainfall totals. Very significant, especially in the Florida panhandle. We're seeing that rain shift a bit more across this north and central portion of Florida, that's where the heaviest downpours are expected as we head through the next 24 hours. Where George was reporting from, by the way, is in this area right in here. So they're in the middle portion of northern. George almost getting a little closer to Jacksonville, which by the way had almost 260 millimeters of rain as this storm has been dumping all of that water over that same region.
The center of circulation is still out over the water. So it spins around, it picks up moisture, and it dumps it over the state of Florida. This little area right in here is going to be the one that's going to get - - it's not a little area, but it's going to be the one that's going to get the heaviest rain over the next probably two to three days. So it's still a long ways to go.
You also have the very strong winds that causing beach erosion not only on the Gulf side, but also on the Atlantic side on that return flow from the storm. Very rough seas across that entire region.
The storm itself is expected to slowly, very slowly cross the northern portion of the state over the next 24 to 48 hours. There's a wide margin of error here as it moves across this area, probably weaken, moves back out into the Atlantic, and it could again strengthen to tropical storm strength.
The main concern right now, though, is going to be the rain. 25 centimeters of rain additional not out of the question across some of these areas. And it has been raining heavily before, so the flooding has been tremendous there.
I want to take you to the western portions of the United States. Here conditions are very dry, so the situation is different. High fire warnings.
I want to show you some pictures of what's been going on. This is called -- this is one of the fires in the state of Colorado. It's the worst fire season for them. And if you see these pictures you can see these billowing clouds of smoke just over that area, fire as far as the eye can see in many cases. And can you imagine that that was one of your homes?
Well, let's go ahead and listen to one of the people evacuated had to say.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DENIS WILDERMUTH, EVACUEE: I know where the fire was. I've seen it up close, close to my home. And I'm thinking there's no way that we don't have any structure damage done unless some miracle happened. And that's what I keep praying for.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
RAMOS: Yeah, they keep praying for some kind of miracle there, but it's been very hot, very dry, and hot -- record high temperatures across this portion of the U.S. Those high temperatures will continue spreading south to Texas and all the way up even into the border with Canada. Near record high temperatures, low humidity, and of course wind.
Let's go ahead and take a look at more cities now around the world.
And Kristie these terrifying pictures are from eastern Uganda. You can see here people in some cases crawling on their hands and knees with hatchets trying to break through the thick mud and debris from deadly landslides that struck this part of the country. It is still unclear how many people may actually be buried in the rubble here. Several villages were completely obliterated. And the fear -- this is really heartbreaking, it could be hundreds of people that are buried in this.
Come back over to the weather map over here. Let me go ahead and show you the area that we're talking about. We're still expecting some scattered rain showers across this area. This is the rainy season here. And where this happened is in the coffee growing area bordering Kenya.
The rain showers, like I said, expected to persist. We're just hoping their not going to be as heavy as what we saw in those images. So sad pictures there coming out of Uganda.
We're going to take a break right here on News Stream. But don't go away, more news in just a moment.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LU STOUT: Welcome back.
Now be true to yourself and work hard to get what you want. Now these are the lessons from two of the leading women we've profiled this month. And in just a moment, race car driver Milka Duno talks about the importance of giving back. But first listen to internet executive Jennifer Li on how to succeed and have a good time doing it.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
LU STOUT: Baidu CFO Jennifer Li says she spends on average 10 hours a day at the office. But she's figured out how to create a pleasant work environment -- family photos, a dart board from her 11-year-old daughter, model cars from her years at General Motors, art work from her husband all help to keep her balanced.
JENNIFER LI, BAIDU CFO: Just imagine the walls without paintings. It's just bland. No character, right. It makes the whole place more lively, that's how I feel.
LU STOUT: After years spent climbing the corporate ladder, Li is at a good place in her life and doesn't mind sharing the lessons learned along the way.
LI: You know, everything is just doesn't happen because of luck. You know, it is work that you put along and you know it doesn't -- if things happen mostly because you worked on it and it's, you know, there is some level of expectations.
I had a session around March 8 the women's day, a session to all the women employees. I was anticipating questions about what about your life- work balance? How do you find a good husband, you know things like that, because this is a woman to woman talk, right? I get none of that questions.
(SPEAKING IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE)
LI: These are all women that are very driven, very motivated. What they asked me about is how do you succeed? How do you -- when you encounter issues you know how do you think about it? You know, what factors you put into to making decisions.
So I was very impressed by the questions.
LU STOUT: It's the end of the work day and Li is heading out to meet some old friends.
LI: Two girlfriends from way back. I knew these friends for decades.
Good to see you.
LU STOUT: Four years after returning home to Beijing from the U.S., Li has settled into a comfortable professional, family and social life.
LI: Stay true to yourself. You know, always be true to yourself. Never pretend to be somebody you are not. You know, I saw -- I mean, this is the most comfortable place that I'm at. So just be true to yourself.
FELICIA TAYLOR, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I'm Felicia Taylor. Like Jennifer Li, race car driver Milka Duno stays true to herself.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I didn't think you would sign a shirt. I'm so excited about meeting you.
MILKA DUNO, RACE CAR DRIVER: OK. I will do it.
TAYLOR: Succeeding in her profession even when some thought she wouldn't.
Have you ever felt any kind of discrimination, though? Have you ever felt like a man is sort of thinking, aw, a woman?
DUNO: If there was discrimination, no. Really, I don't know, because I didn't pay attention.
TAYLOR: Instead, she tuned out the naysayers. The Indianapolis 500, the LeMans Series, the 24 Hours at Daytona, all races where Milka Duno broke new ground and made history. Next, she has her sights set on competing in NASCAR.
DUNO: You have to put the expectations very high, you know, because you have to work thinking that you can win races.
TAYLOR: Duno has inspired children for many years, drawing from lessons she learned from her parents.
DUNO: When I go to the school and talk with the parents, they need to do everything that they can to get the education to the kids.
TAYLOR: Through her Milka Way educational outreach program, which she founded in 2004, Duno makes it a point to motivate school children like on this visit to a U.S. elementary school last year.
DUNO: What is the most important thing (inaudible) in your life?
KIDS: Get an education.
DUNO: They see (inaudible) I'm an inspiration for them. And we have to give to them a good example, a good message, a strong message that help them to find everything that they want in their life.
TAYLOR: Her outreach is not limited to children. She also encourages women every chance she gets.
DUNO: I was invited for the queen of Malaysia to do motivational speech for like 500 women. And when I did the speech all the 500 women stand up and give applause and you say Milka you're my hero, because sometimes you need somebody make you think that you can win, you can be successful, you have to have confidence in yourself.
When I decide to do something it's because I'm sure they can be good there. Oh, I work so hard to be good in anything that I'm doing.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LU STOUT: And if you go to our website CNN.com/leadingwomen to find out more about some of the world's most powerful female tech professionals. And they include Cheryl Sandberg, Facebook's chief operating officer. And Facebook has just appointed her to its board, making her the company's first female director.
Now ahead on News Stream, aiming high: university students take on the lofty goal of human powered flight. Now check out what heights they're reaching.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LU STOUT: Now if you've logged on to Facebook over the past few days you might not have thought it looks different, but if you check out your contact info you'll see something you might not have even realized you had or ever used, a Facebook.com email address. And that's causing a backlash from some users who say it's annoying and pointless. But don't panic, here is how you can change it. You just go to your timeline and then you click about and then this box comes up after you hit edit under your contact info. And then basically use this to hide your @facebook.com email address option and then be sure to click save.
All right. Now students at the University of Maryland, they have built a human powered helicopter. And their mission is to make it fly for one entire minute. So did they do it? Jeanne Moos finds out.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JEANNE MOOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Sure, liftoff is easy with engines. But the quest to build a human powered helicopter is littered with letdowns. Though this Japanese craft may not look like a helicopter. And now Americans using rotors powered by pedaling have broken the world's record, a whopping 50 seconds.
Engineering students at the University of Maryland have been chasing the $250,000 Sikorsky prize for three-and-a-half years.
It doesn't sound that hard to win the prize. The flight just has to last 1 minute and reach an altitude of 10 feet. Afterall, Pippy Longstocking can do it with a plane-chopper hybrid.
For more than three decades no one has been able to win the Sikorsky prize offered by the American Helicopter Society. In 1989, California Polytechnic students were airborne for seven seconds. The Japanese made it to 19 seconds. And now the University of Maryland team got within 10 seconds of the goal with Kyle Gluesenkamp in the cockpit.
KYLE GLUESENKAMP, PILOT: Yeah, at the end of the 50 second flight I was definitely burnt out.
MOOS: Pilots have to be light, yet powerful. They use their arms and their legs. Kyle answered an ad he saw posted.
GLUESENKAMP: Are you strong but lightweight? And do you want to break a world record?
MOOS: Now he's done that. But the 50 second flight only made it a foot and a half or so in altitude. Still Kyle says.
GLUESENKAMP: It feels like floating on air.
MOOS: Maybe it's not as dramatic as the flight of Birdman a few months ago. He was an internet sensation. Until the Dutch filmmaker admitted flying by flapping his arms was all a hoax.
The University of Maryland team calls its craft Gaaara 2 after the Japanese movie monster, a giant flying turtle. At least no one has had to duck from this Gamara. At least no one's had to duck from this Gamara.
GLUESENKAMP: So far no one's been hurt by it.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: So far.
MOOS: What do you guys want to be when you grow up?
GLUESENKAMP: World record holder.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yeah, baby.
MOOS: Jeanne Moos, CNN, New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LU STOUT: Now let's go over and out there this Tuesday with a tale of ultimate girl power. Now when two trouble making teens approach Priscilla Dang as she jogged along a Washington State path she knew exactly what to do. Now the pair had messed with the wrong lady, an 18 year student of Kung Fu to be precise. Now the would-be attackers groped Priscilla and she sprang into action.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PRISCILLA DANG, MARTIAL ARTIST: He started coming in for a few and I was lucky enough to dodge you know his shots. And I came in for another one and I got him good. And I think that upsetted him.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LU STOUT: Now one teenager pulled out a knife and then witnesses had to step in and the two are now nursing black eyes and bruised egos.
And that is News Stream, but the news continues at CNN. World Business Today is next.
END
