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NEWS STREAM

Mystery Woman In Indian Delegation Discovered; Syrian Rebels Claim Syrian Checkpoint Outside Aleppo; Pair of Storms Threaten Southeast China Coast

Aired July 30, 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. And we begin in Syria where rebel fighters are claiming a prize in the battle for Aleppo.

Plus, seats to unused and stadium keys go missing in London. We'll bring you the Olympic controversies amid the athletic competition.

And a court ruling in Namibia could affect HIV positive women across the region.

The relentless battle rages on to control Syria's largest city Aleppo. And rebels say that they have captured a government military base on the outskirts of the city. The base had about 200 Syrian troops.

Meanwhile Turkey says a Syrian brigadier general and 11 Syrian officers defected overnight. Opposition activists say at least 17 people have been killed nationwide so far on Monday, including eight in Aleppo.

And rebels say the battle for the military base lasted about nine hours. Ivan Watson reports from inside Syria on how that fight unfolded.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

IVAN WATSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: It look like a battle, a rebel offensive against a Syrian army base located north of Aleppo. It started around sunset and began with artillery and rockets being fired from several directions by the Syrian rebels.

Now we're told by the brigade that is carrying out this attack on the army checkpoint is the unity, or towheed (ph) brigade, and some of their men are headquartered in a town north of Aleppo, northwest of it, called Anadan (ph) which we visited previously. It is deserted of inhabitants and bears the scares of many artillery strikes.

You can see the Syrian army troops firing out from their base at sometimes in three separate direction simultaneously, which really suggests they truly are surrounded by the rebels. Judging by the tracer fire we see and the direction of it, it looks like the Syrian army has outgunned the rebels, but they are surrounded. And I imagine it's a terrifying night to be inside that army base.

We have also witnessed what appears to be heavy artillery called in from the direction of Aleppo itself lobbing miles, kilometers and hitting - - that was just an artillery launch -- and hitting the town of Anadan (ph).

One final observation, in the towns around and outside the field of fire, there is electricity. Families are out. You can hear the screams of children playing. And it's a surprising juxtaposition against the fierce battle that is raging just a few miles away.

Ivan Watson, CNN, on the outskirts of Aleppo.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LU STOUT: Incredible reporting there.

Let's get the very latest on the crisis in Syria. Mohammed Jamjoom has been monitoring the situation from Abu Dhabi. He joins us now live.

And first Mohammed, what is the latest in this ongoing battle for Aleppo?

MOHAMMED JAMJOOM, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Kristie, opposition activists telling us that fierce clashes still going on in Aleppo all day today. We've heard on Syrian state television claims from the Syrian regime that the neighborhood of Salahadin (ph), which had been a stronghold for the rebels there. Syrian state TV claiming that it has been cleansed of what they're calling armed terrorist groups and that it is now back in the hands of the Syrian regime and the government forces there.

We've seen video of government soldiers supposedly in that area trying to show that they've taken control.

In the meantime, we've seen from a Free Syrian Army commander who disputes those claims and says that Salahadin (ph), despite the onslaught from regime forces the past couple of days that it's still in the hands of rebel forces and not just Salahadin (ph), but also nearby neighborhoods of el-Sukari (ph) and el-Sahur (ph). So the rebel Free Syrian Army disputing the claims from the Syrian regime saying that they are still in control of these neighborhoods and that they are continuing to repel the onslaught of those regime forces that are trying to retake control of those neighborhoods in Aleppo.

In the meantime, Krisite, we heard just last night from Nabil Elaraby, the head of the Arab League, saying that they believed that war crimes were being committed in Aleppo. And they said that they support calls from the Syrian opposition to have an emergency meeting held by the UN security council to address the deteriorating situation in Aleppo -- Kristie.

LU STOUT: Yeah, a dire humanitarian situation inside the city there.

Now if the regime loses Aleppo, what would that mean? Is Aleppo a crucial battle for both sides?

JAMJOOM: It's very crucial, Kristie. Aleppo is the largest city in Syria. It is the commercial hub, traditionally a stronghold for Bashar al- Assad and his regime, also the cultural capital of the north of Syria. We cannot stress enough how important strategically the city of Aleppo is for both the regime and for the rebel forces.

And in fact earlier today, U.S. Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta on a military aircraft heading to North Africa talked about the situation in Aleppo and told reporters that he believed if the regime continued to attack Aleppo, more and more Syrians would be turning against Bashar al- Assad. Here is more of what Secretary of Defense Panetta had to say.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LEON PANETTA, U.S. SECRETARY OF DEFENSE: I think if they continue this kind of tragic attack on their own people in Aleppo, I think it ultimately will be a nail in Assad's coffin, that he's just assuring that the Assad regime will come to an end by virtue of the kind of violence that they're committing against their own people.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

JAMJOOM: Aleppo, a key strategic city, extremely important for both sides in this conflict going on in Syria and that's why the battle in that city has been unrelenting and hasn't stopped -- Kristie.

LU STOUT: And more on the civilians who have been suffering through all this. The United Nations says some 200,000 people have fled the fighting in Aleppo in the last two days alone. Mohammed, where did they flee to? And for those who are still there, what are they facing, what are they up against?

JAMJOOM: There is mounting concern, grave concern for the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Aleppo. We've gotten reports and seen pictures of families fleeing by whatever means necessary, sometimes six people on a motorcycle trying to get out of the city. At other times we've seen videos of families being shepherded through alleyways as shelling is coming closer and closer, rebels trying to protect them, trying to get out of those towns inside or on the outskirts of Aleppo.

We've heard that many people are fleeing to the countryside and that others are trying to get across the border. Many of them have made it across to Turkey where they are no refugees.

But the UN is saying that they believe at least 200,000 people have fled just in the last two days. And they've also said the people that are there, they're extremely worried about the conditions that they're in. They say that there are food shortages, there are fuel shortages, there are water shortages. There are reports of people huddled in public buildings trying to take shelter from this onslaught that has just been unending this last week -- Kristie.

LU STOUT: Mohammed Jamjoom reporting. Thank you very much indeed for that Mohammed.

Now you're watching News Stream. And coming up next, the verdict is in in a landmark case in Namibia. Our Nkepile Mabuse reports on several women who say they were sterilized against their will because they are HIV positive. Find out how the court ruled.

And Mitt Romney is talking tough on Iran, but it's what he said about Jerusalem that's sparking controversy.

And empty seats at the Olympics. What is going on in the biggest sporting event in the world?

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LU STOUT: Welcome back.

Well, it is day three of the Olympic games in London. And all eyes are on the aquatic center at the Olympic park. A total of four gold medals are at stake in the men's and women's swimming categories. And sports fans, in particular American ones, are watching the movements of this man very closely. Michael Phelps is getting closer to the all-time medal count after winning the 17th of his career in London.

Now 14 gold medals were handed out on day two of the Olympic games. Pedro Pinto joins us for a look at the top stories from London 2012 -- Pedro.

PEDRO PINTO, CNN SPORTS CORRESPONDENT: Hey Kristie, I can tell you that the first gold medal of today at the Olympics was handed out in Romania in the men's 10-air meter rifle, that's in shooting. As far as the overall medal count is concerned, it's turning into quite a battle between the United States and China. And we can have a look at the overall medals table as well with China so far boasting six gold medals, a total of 12. The United States with three and 11 respectively.

Italy, one of the surprises so far in third place. And look at France in fifth place. They're doing very well so far.

And as far as France are concerned, I can tell you that one of their gold medals was won in spectacular fashion in the pool as they upset the American men who had Ryan Lochte and also Michael Phelps in their line-up in the 4x100 meter freestyle event. Yannick Agnel overtook Lochte on the final leg to record a famous victory for the French with a time of 3:09.93 seconds.

Also at the London aquatic center, South Africa's Cameron Vanderberg set a new world record in the men's 100 meters breast stroke. The 24-year- old from Pretoria led from start to finish. He clocked a time of 58.46 seconds.

Now Japan's Kosuke Kitajima, who was looking for a historic third straight gold in this event finished fifth. He'll still take part in a couple in a couple more events in London, so we'll definitely be looking to make amends.

Onto one of the most shocking piece of news from the games so far, Spain, the reigning world and European football champions were knocked out of the Olympics after losing to Honduras. A goal from Bengston sank the Spaniards who lost their second straight Group D match and now have no chances for qualifying for the next round.

Well, there's no doubt the Olympic games are not just about the athletes. The fans also play a big role. Our Atika Schubert is in the Olympic fan zone in Victoria Park in London. Atika, tell me about the mood there and what are fans most looking forward to seeing today?

ATIKA SCHUBERT, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Pretty upbeat mood. We've got some sunshine today and that's definitely helping the spirits. I think the most anticipated event definitely at this point, especially for British fans, men's synchronized 10 meter diving. This is of course the main event for Tom Daley. He is one of the biggest hopes for Britain to win gold. But that is a lot of pressure on a young athlete. Here's what he had to say about it.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TOM DALEY, OLYMPIC DIVER: Whenever you are walking through the streets and anyone comes up to you they're just like oh yeah, bring home the gold. Go and do it. Go and grab it. Bring it back, you know, just thinking it's the easiest thing. You walk into the pool and you automatically assume that you're going to come back with a gold medal around your neck.

And any athlete will tell you that it's not that easy.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SCHUBERT: Now that event will be screened here in Victoria Park, also in Hyde Park, those are the two designated fan zones. We'll be seeing them in one of the main event screens here. And you can bet the fans will be gathering in a little under two hours to watch.

PINTO: Atika with the latest from the Olympic fan zone. And we'll have more from the Olympics later on CNN.

That's all for now, Kristie. Back to you.

LU STOUT: All right, Pedro, thank you.

You're watching News Stream. And up next, fighting for their rights. Some HIV positive women in Namibia say that they were sterilized without proper consent. Now the high court has weighed in. Nkepile Mabuse will have the ruling in this landmark case after the break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LU STOUT: Live from Hong Kong, you are back watching News Stream.

And you're looking at a visual rundown of all the stories in today's shows. Now we've told you about the battle for Aleppo in Syria and the latest on the London Olympics, all eyes on aquatics today. But now, we want to turn to Africa where a court ruling has just been issued in a disturbing human rights case in Namibia. Now it involves HIV positive women who say that they were sterilized without their informed consent.

Now first, some background on the story. Nkepile Mabuse has more.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

NKEPILE MABUSE, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: When I met Amelia Handuma (ph) last year she told me that in 2008 she was diagnosed with HIV. Thanks to anti-AIDS drugs, she gave birth to a healthy HIV negative baby.

But then the letters BTL appeared on her hospital passport. Bilateral tubal ligation is a form a sterilization.

"When I was in labor and about to give birth," she tells me through a translator, "I was given documents to sign. I thought they were papers for the cesarean, but then the nurse said to me I think they're going to close you."

CORINNA VAN WYK, LEGAL ASSISTANCE CENTER: Doctors are taking advantage of them.

MABUSE: Corinna Van Wyk is part of a team of lawyers suing the Namibian government on behalf of 18 women on grounds that public hospitals sterilized them without their informed consent.

VAN WYK: These cases that we've taken up are so severe that it cannot be reversed.

MABUSE: Three of the 18 cases are awaiting judgment from the high court.

Human rights groups tell us the high profile nature of the case currently before this court has done little to change the conduct of some health care workers here. More HIV positive women, claiming they have been forcibly sterilized, are still coming forward.

A study by an international NGO unearthed 40 cases in three of the country's regions. AIDS activist Jenny Gatsi-Mallet helped conduct the research. She says doctors working for the state have told her they're just following guidelines.

JENNIFER GATSI-MALLET, AIDS ACTIVIST: And it was a -- a directive to say any woman who tests positive for HIV should be sterilized straight away.

MABUSE: Is the sterilization of HIV positive women policy, government policy in Namibia?

DR. NORBERT FORSTER, NAMIBIAN HEALTH DEPARTMENT: No. It's not at all.

MABUSE: But the allegation is that many of these women were made to sign papers giving consent for sterilization while they were in labor. Do you think that is ethical?

FORSTER: If that's so, then that is not ethical. It's very clear that's not our position. We have the court case going at this stage. It really revolves around that clarifying what really was the situation in these particular cases.

MABUSE: Everything hinges on the high court case. If the judge rules in the women's favor, a flurry of claims are likely to follow. And there are many like Handumbo (ph) who would want to see the doctors involved, if found guilty, punished.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LU STOUT: And that was our Nkepile Mabuse reporting there. And we will get more on the verdict of this controversial court case in a few moments when we check in with Nkepile later on here on News Stream.

Now meanwhile Spain has been hit hard by a massive collapse in the property market and hundreds of thousands have been unable to repay their mortgages, but can't simply walk away from their debt. Isa Soares has more.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ISA SOARES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: In Caran Shelbajo (ph), one of Madrid's working class districts, three generations of women are fighting a war on their very doorstep. As her granddaughter plays with our pen and pad, Noemi, the eldest at 62 years of age, tells me she bought this three bedroom apartment in 2007 for 255,000 euros.

NOEMI SARANGO, FACING EVICTION (through translator): What I wanted was to rent. I did not want to buy, because I thought how am I going to pay so much money? But they put all those things in your head. They tell you, you're going to have a flat, by it little by little like renting. And then you keep the flat. It will be yours.

SOARES: Together with her daughter Monica, they have worked hard to make mortgage payments of more than 1,000 euros every month.

But the economic crisis here in Spain and the job cuts that have come with it have turned a financial sense of achievement into a burden.

SARANGO (through translator): I stopped paying the mortgage because I could no longer afford it. I didn't even have money to eat.

SOARES: As she wipes away her tears...

SARANGO (through translator): I don't wish this on anyone.

SOARES: She tells me they will be evicted from their own home on the 29th of September. And if that weren't bad enough, she will be thrown out with 80,000 euros of debt in her name.

Under Spanish law, home buyers cannot simply hand the keys back to their lenders and walk away. If the house is not sold for more than its worth, they remain liable for any outstanding debt, leaving people like Noemi and Monica not only homeless, but financially ruined.

There are 350,000 cases like Noemi's in Spain. Vicente Perez runs a support group for those facing property repossessions.

VICENTE PEREZ, PLATFORM FOR PEOPLE AFFECTED BY MORTGAGES (through translator): We have cases of older people, some in their 80s that lose their homes because they act as guarantors for their children. They weren't the ones buying, they were getting second mortgages to help their children out.

SOARES: Noemi enjoys the last few months taking care of her home, knowing all too well that dreaded day will come.

SARANGO (through translator): I'm scared they'll come from the bank, open the door, take away my things, my desk, everything I have here.

SOARES: Noemi may have lost this battle, her granddaughter's generation will face economic challenges of its own. She can only hope they will live in happier times.

Isa Soares, CNN, Madrid.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LU STOUT: Now let's return to the forced sterilization case in Namibia. It involved HIV positive women who say that they were sterilized without their informed consent. Nkepile Mabuse joins us now from CNN Johannesburg with the court ruling. And Nkepile, the verdict is out, what can you tell us.

MABUSE: The verdict has just been handed down, Kristie. And the big victory, basically, is that the judge found that these women were sterilized without their informed consent. Now the whole case hinges on this. What constitutes informed consent as the health department in Namibia saying that these women did give the go ahead to be sterilized and the women saying that some of them were given forms while they were in labor just before a cesarean was conducted on them. And they considered that not informed consent. So the judge agreeing with them on that point, Kristie.

But the loss today is the judge has found that the women did not give enough evidence to convince him that they were sterilized because they were HIV positive. And when I spoke to one of their lawyers, they say, you know that's a big disappointment from this case. But they are celebrating the fact that they have been able to prove that there was no informed consent. So this was illegal. And it is considered a crime against humanity by the ICC, Kristie.

LU STOUT: So not a complete victory for the women involved here. Nkepile, what kind of justice will be given to the women. Will they receive compensation? What will happen?

MABUSE: You know, when I spoke to the lawyer, you know, shortly after the judge handed down his judgment, he said the issue of compensation has not been dealt with at this point in time. They are still going to meet and discuss whether they are going to take this case further and try to prove that indeed these women were sterilized because they are HIV positive and therefore they were discriminated against and need to be compensated. But the compensation issue, he says at this point they have not dealt with.

So we'll get more information as they meet and they discuss further about this step from now on, Kristie.

LU STOUT: And the wider ramifications here, the women's lawyers have told you that similar cases have been reported elsewhere in Africa. How widespread are these types of forced sterilizations? And what kind of impact with this case have on this trend?

MABUSE: You know, human rights organizations say that they have recorded anecdotal evidence in South Africa, in Swaziland, Zambia there were even rumors in Rwanda that there were some women who were forcibly sterilized. So this has far reaching implications, that's why many human rights organizations on the continent were watching this case very, very closely.

The fact that the judge felt that the link between the forced sterilization and their HIV status was not proven is going to be a huge problem. We'll hear, you know, what further steps are going to be taken from now on by these lawyers and any other lawyers looking into this matter wanting to take the different cases that they know of on the continent, Kristie.

LU STOUT: Well, Nkepile, thank you so much for reporting on this story and also explaining this mixed verdict for us. Nkepile Mabuse reporting live from Johannesburg.

Now coming up next here on News Stream, Mitt Romney visits the Western Wall and takes on Iran, but it's what he said about Jerusalem that has angered many Palestinians.

And the mysterious woman in red, she gate crashed the Olympics opening ceremony. And now Olympics organizers say they know who she is, but are they telling?

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

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

Now France plans to call for a UN security council meeting on Syria. This as government forces and opposition fighters fight for control of Aleppo. Rebels say that they have captured a military base on the outskirts of the city. Meanwhile the head of the Arab League says war crimes are being committed in Aleppo.

In southern India, at least 27 people were killed when a fire swept through the car of a passenger train. Authorities fear the death toll could rise. It is believed an electrical short circuit may have caused the fire.

Now James Holmes is scheduled to be formally charged today in the U.S. movie theater massacre. 12 people were killed and 58 wounded. A hearing is also scheduled on a defense request for police to return a package that Holmes sent to his university psychiatrist.

Now Mitt Romney has just arrived in Gdansk, Poland. Now the U.S. Republican presidential candidate will meet Monday with Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk and with the former president Lech Walesa. Now Romney's visit follows his weekend trip to Israel where he promised to support, quote, "any and all measures to keep Iran from developing a nuclear weapon.

Now before leaving Israel for Poland earlier today, Mitt Romney waded into one of the thorniest issues of the Middle East peace process. He referred to Jerusalem as Israel's capital. Now that is controversial, because Palestinians want east Jerusalem as the capital of a future independent state.

Now Romney spoke with CNN's Wolf Blitzer.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: Do you consider Jerusalem to be the capital of Israel?

MITT ROMNEY, REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE: Yes, of course. A nation has the capacity to choose its own capital city and Jerusalem is Israel's capital.

BLITZER: If you become president of the United States would you move the U.S. embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem?

ROMNEY: I think it's long been the policy of our country to ultimately have our embassy in the nation's capital of Jerusalem. The decision to actually make the move is one, if I were president I would want to take in consultation with the leadership of the government which exists at that time. So I would follow the same policy we have in the past. Our embassy would be in the capital. But that's -- the timing of that is something I would want to work out with the government.

BLITZER: With the government of Israel?

ROMNEY: With the government of Israel.

BLITZER: But every Israeli government has always asked every U.S. government to recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital and to move the embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.

ROMNEY: Well, that would make the decision easy. But I would still want to have that communication...

BLITZER: So just be precise, if you are president, you would consult with the Israeli government and if they said please move the embassy you would do that?

ROMNEY: I'm not going to make foreign policy for my nation particularly while I'm on foreign soil. My understanding is the policy of our nation has been a desire to move our embassy ultimately to the capital, that's something which I would agree with, but I would only want to do so and to select the timing in accordance with the government of Israel.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LU STOUT: Now Mitt Romney's reference to Jerusalem as Israel's capital prompted a swift response from Palestinians. Let's go to Sara Sidner in Jerusalem for more on that. And Sara, we heard it just then, Mitt Romney calling Jerusalem the capital of Israel. What has been the reaction to that among Palestinians and others in the region?

SARA SIDNER, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, they're certainly not happy about it. And there are some, of course, in the international community who have long considered east Jerusalem disputed territory, territory that Israel annexed after the 1967 war. And it is the place where Palestinians really believe their capital should be in any kind of two state solution. It's been a sticking point. And so Palestinians very unhappy to hear that from Romney.

But we should put that in context. He is not -- certainly not -- the first U.S. presidential candidate who has come to Israel and uttered those words saying that Jerusalem should be the capital of Israel. There have been many others, including President Obama, but since 1967 no sitting U.S. president has actually recognized Jerusalem as Israel's capital. So, once they get into the presidency what you see is a backtrack from the comments.

So we'll have to wait and see what happens in this case.

LU STOUT: And, Sara, we also heard some tough talk from Mitt Romney on Iran and Iranian nuclear threat. What did he say?

SIDNER: Yeah, before he got here he talked of Iran being -- if it ever was to get a nuclear weapon the greatest danger in the world. That is something that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli Prime Minister, was very happy to hear. He praised Mitt Romney on the comments that he made several days ago.

And then Mitt Romney was quite hawkish at first when he was talking about Iran and what Israel should -- or what he thought that he would back Israel if it decided to do a preemptive strike on Iran to keep it from getting nuclear weapons. But then he backed up a little bit from that and said that he would respect Israel's decision if it decided to take military action against Iran.

And so you can then see him being hawkish, pulling back just a bit, but certainly showing a great deal of support for Israel.

LU STOUT: Now Israel is firmly in the U.S. election spotlight. And I'm curious here. I mean, what do Israeli officials and analysts make of that/

SIDNER: Well, the leadership here was very happy to hear what Mitt Romney said. Some of the media here is saying that he is basically parroting the Netanyahu government in his comments, talking about if Israel needs to defend itself that he would respect their decisions for a preemptive strike, some very strong words. And as you know, the Obama administration has been trying to cool the rhetoric between Iran and Israel when it comes to the subject of nuclear weapons saying that they should let diplomacy proceed. They should let the sanctions do the work. And that the talk of preemptive strikes or any sort of a strike should be kept on the back burner.

There have been a long list of people from the U.S. administration -- Obama administration, excuse me -- who have come through here in what many are calling the "don't bomb Iran tour" with the members of the U.S. presidential administration king of trying to tamp down those tensions between Iran and Israel.

But Romney firmly standing by Israel. And -- when it comes to the possibility of Iran getting a nuclear weapon saying it is absolutely Israel's right to go after them, and if they deem it necessary, to defend themselves.

LU STOUT: Sara Sidner reporting for us live from Jerusalem, thank you.

Now Mitt Romney, he began his international tour in London where he, of course, attended the Olympic opening ceremony on Friday. And the games are now in their third day. And getting to see an Olympic event in person is for many a once in a lifetime experience, which is why the controversy over empty seats at some games is refusing to go away.

And now, 3,000 seats have been taken away from VIP areas to be sold to the public, but is it too little, too late? Ben Wyatt reports on how fans have reacted to the fiasco.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BEN WYATT, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: It's a problem that's dogged many previous Olympic games: how to ensure venues are full of spectators when there are so many events.

London 2012 organizers were hoping to buck this trend after ticket sales were initially very brisk, but not all has gone to plan even the showdown between American swimming superstars Michael Phelps and Ryan Lochte saw empty rows of seats despite being one of the highlights of the games.

So why given the expectations for sold out crowds was attendance so low? And who was to blame?

MARK ADAMS, INTERNATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEE: It's a range of people. There are four or five different groups ranging from as we heard from the federations, the actual sports organizations involved, athletes as well, some media tickets there as well, by the way. And actually what I would say is a handful of sponsors.

WYATT: Local organizers will now investigate the empty seats at the swimming, tennis and volleyball events, but maintain that corporate ticket holders have shown good attendance so far. Consequently, other means are being considered to boost attendance.

SEBASTIAN COE, CHAIRMAN, LONDON OLYMPIC ORGANIZING COMMITTEE: I don't think there's a single person out there that would -- thinks it is shambolic asking the -- they would like to watch sport. I don't think it's shambolic to ask local teachers and students that we'd always planned to do this anyway.

WYATT: Assurances that did little to quell the frustrations of the British Olympic Association.

COLIN MOYNIHAN, CHAIRMAN OF THE BRITISH OLYMPIC ASSOCIATION: We owe it to the team. We owe it to British sports fans then length and breadth of the country to make sure they get the opportunity to come on this unique occasion at the Olympic games.

WYATT: And among those lucky enough to be in the park, opinions were divided over how much of an opportunity was being missed.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It is very disappointing, because so many people are interested and obviously want to be there and support their team.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: These things happen. You know, if corporates are paying big money for these empty seats, so be it.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's disappointing, because I know many of my friends and work colleagues also applied and haven't got anything, so they haven't been able to get here today and experience what we're experiencing now.

WYATT: The hope now remains by those competing that either way a solution will be found.

SANYA RICHARDS-ROSS, U.S. 400M RUNNER: The atmosphere is everything. I hope that the venues that aren't sold out will sell. I hope that the fans will come out and support, because it really helps the athletes to give their best performance and it makes our experience even more memorable.

WYATT: Ben Wyatt, CNN, the Olympic Park.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LU STOUT: Now the opening ceremony on Friday, it was planned down to the second, but people are still buzzing about the unplanned addition to India's athletic team. And of course you saw the photos just now the empty seats fiasco with soldiers drafted in to fill them.

Now Dan Rivers has all those developments and more. He joins us now live. And Dan, first of all, you have new information about arrests related to ticket touts. What can you tell us?

DAN RIVERS, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: That's right. Yeah, this has just broken in the last hour or so here in London. 29 arrests, according to the police in connection with ticket touting under a new act of law that was introduced specifically for the Olympic games. 11 of those people have now been charged with ticket touting. This is all relating to selling tickets illegally for the games.

Now I've been trying to get clarity from the police as to whether this is about selling fake tickets or illegally reselling genuine tickets. And they're not able to tell me at the moment which of those two it is. But it goes to show just how seriously they're taking the issue of ticket touting around London 2012.

LU STOUT: Some swift action there. And also, Dan, the mystery woman who crashed the Olympic parade, the woman in red, who is she?

RIVERS: Right. Well, she was apparently part of the cast of the opening ceremony. Her name is being reported as Madhura Nagendra. She is from Bangalore, so she is Indian, but she had absolutely no right to be there right at the front of the Olympic team for India right by the guy holding the flag, rather embarrassing.

The Olympic organizers are saying it's not a security breach because she was accredited to be in the stadium during the opening ceremony earlier on, but whether it's just a mix-up or whether she's just deliberately got a bit over excited and decided to wander out is not quite clear.

The police are saying she hasn't broken any laws, so it's not a matter for her, but obviously the Indians are very upset because they felt it took the shine off their -- what should have been a very proud moment as they walked into the stadium. And there, right at the front, was a completely random Indian citizen who had no right to be there and was, as you say, dressed in completely the wrong uniform.

LU STOUT: Yeah, in the quite conspicuous red. And she seemed to enjoy every moment of it.

Anyway, Dan, one more question for you, the security keys for Wembley stadium have apparently been lost, what happened here and has security been compromised?

RIVERS: Well, again, you know, I think this is one of those, you know, fairly minor stories, but because it's under the magnifying glass of the Olympics has been blown up a lot bigger than it would have been otherwise. But basically the police lost a set of keys for Wembley which is where some of the Olympic football games, soccer games, are being played.

No suggestion they've been stolen or by, you know, criminals or terrorists or anything like that, simply mislaid. But they've gone and sort of done the only thing they could do, really, which is change all of the internal locks within Wembley stadium to the cost of several tens of thousands of dollars, it must be added.

But they are absolutely insisting that there is no compromise of security. They realized very quickly from detectives who were sent down there to double check. There was nothing untoward. They've simply mislaid them. It's highly embarrassing obviously for the police, but they maintain they dealt with this very quickly. The locks were changed. And there's no security lapse.

LU STOUT: All right. Dan Rivers on the Olympic security beat for us. Thank you.

Now the father of a Saudi Arabian female athlete due to compete in the 2012 Olympics says that she will withdraw if she is not allowed to where the hijab or head scarf during her event. Now she is due to compete in the judo category on Friday. Now Saudi officials have stated that all female athletes must obey Islamic dress codes, but last week the president of the International Judo Association said that Wodjad Ali Seraj Shaherkani will have to fight without a head scarf to comply with the principles and spirit of judo.

Now the weather has been less than golden in London. We'll have that in more in our check of the world weather ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LU STOUT: Welcome back.

And we have a tropical storm headed into the region right over here. Tom Sater is at the world weather center. He joins us now. And Tom, what does it look like?

TOM SATER, CNN WEATHER CORRESPONDENT: Well, Kristie, 24 hours ago we had twin tropical storms. Well, they're no longer twins, they're now like brothers. And one is a big brother, massive in its size. Typhoon Saola is a Vietnamese term, actually, for a forest dwelling bovine.

Now this is Damrey here. Damrey is really still just a tropical strom, but it's Saola that's really causing big problems. And will continue in the hours ahead. This is a massive storm.

Already out of Manila reports of one fatality. Terrible flooding inside Manila. The storm surge, even this is 100 kilometers away, has been shoving the water and pushing merchant ships and barges just crushing homes in a shanty town in Manila Bay.

We have a storm system number three for northern parts of Luzon. We have the outer bands already moving in towards Taiwan. In fact, sea warnings are in effect. This storm system most likely will continue to keep its strength as a typhoon.

Now 48 ago, the Joint Typhoon Warning Center had the track well to the left here, well to the west. It's been shifting it eastward as the hours progress. This is a mountainous part of Taiwan. And of course landslides, mudslides we're most likely going to have devastating amounts of rainfall.

Our very own computer models here at CNN world weather center kick it more toward the west. This could be devastating with the amount and the strength of the winds. The core, the environment here is favorable to continue to strengthen the storm system. The water temperatures are extremely high. It's not undergoing any sheer. So the strength of this could be devastating. Already we've seen in about 48 hours heavy amounts of rainfall in northern portions.

Now tropical storm force winds could start affecting this area in about 24 hours. So we're going to watch this one closely.

Then we shift our attention to Damrey here. This is a Cambodian term, actually, for an elephant. But it has a lot of dry air with it. So it's going to continue to keep its strength as a tropical storm. It should not develop to typhoon strength, but it doesn't have to keep that kind of strength, it's already going to do damage staying just south, brushing the south Japan Island Kyushu and then heading toward the coast of China possibly very close to Shanghai.

My concern is after the next couple of days what happens. Notice how the paths, typhoon, tropical storm, if they merge and continue to play a role affecting each other's environments, it could drag Damrey a little bit closer toward Shanghai. If the Joint Typhoon Warning Center continues to find the computer models shifting this track a little bit further to the right, the system could really create devastation on the coast of China as both storm systems meet in the same area.

Craziness. We're going to watch them over the next couple of days.

That's just the forecast for one area of our world. Let's take a look at our forecast for other locations as well.

All right. Welcome back.

Hey, let's do justice now for London. I love the CNN Olympic theme here. As we roll into the satellite picture, notice the circulation. It's been occurring around this area of low pressure for days now. It does look like it may be moving off. But with this broad circulation we're finding waves of good weather and then intermittent bad weather.

The current radar showing a pleasant day today. It was a beautiful Saturday. Then the rain moved in. We had thunderstorms, in fact we even have video of lightning. In fact it was miserable. And a number of crashes yesterday in the women's road race. And it's not just for the -- you know, the athletes, the lightning is -- could be devastating for the thousands that are in transit in between, of course, the venues, for the merchants and those that just want to have a British cup of coffee on the seaside cafe.

But besides the lightning that moved out, it did clear up. And we're looking at a dry pattern now. You come back to the radar picture. Things are going to be pleasant for the day today. I need to leave just a 20 percent of a shower in and maybe a 30 percent chance tomorrow. The visibility is good. And things, Kristie, in London look absolutely perfect for the day today. And good news, maybe the second week of the Olympics. High pressure, it looks like it may be moving in to provide nice, dry weather.

LU STOUT: Perfect and pleasant. Sounds like a very good forecast. Thank you very much indeed. Tom Sater there.

Now still to come here on News Stream, in the middle of summer the debate over air conditioning heats up, raising the temperature to help the environment. And we'll take you inside Hong Kong's chilly shopping malls.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

LU STOUT: Welcome back.

Now every Hong Kong resident knows even in the sweltering summer heat a sweater is a must, that's because shopping malls have their air conditioning on at full blast.

Now Remy Inocencio tells us why it does not pay to be icy cold.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

REMY INOCENCIO, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Did you ever, yourself, bring sweaters or jackets in because it was so cold.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Occasionally, I have to admit.

INOCENCIO: Even Donald Ng says shopping used to make him shiver. Now Hong Kong's secretary of energy at the city's environmental department boasts that many of the city's malls like this, he high end International Finance Center, have pledged to turn the thermostat up from a crisp 18 degrees.

DONALD NG, ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION DEPARTMENT: The range that we have set is 24 to 26 degrees Celsius in that range. The reasons for that is that, you know, according to some international studies, you know, normally most people would feel comfortable. And I'm sure that you don't feel particularly hot.

INOCENCIO: The reason for this rise, to lower electricity use, energy bills, and greenhouse gas emissions.

NG: The electricity consumption actually accounts for about two- thirds of the greenhouse gas emissions in Hong Kong. Over the past decade, I think that it counts for about one-third of the overall electricity consumption.

INOCENCIO: Now about 100 of Hong Kong's malls have taken the step in the energy saving direction.

While Hong Kong shopping malls are part of the energy saving solution, they make up just a fraction of all the buildings and skyscrapers that make the city truly famous. And it's those others that are part of the problem.

MELONIE CHAU, FRIENDS OF THE EARTH: I'd say it's a long, long, long way to go.

INOCENCIO: Melonie Chau with Friends of the Earth, an environmental activist group in Hong Kong, says the shopping mall pledge is just PR.

CHAU: There is no law enforcement to force people to energy saving. And there's no any incentive to encourage people to save more energy.

INOCENCIO: And armed with an instant heat censor, Chau shows me how small businesses coax in customers with their ice box inclinations.

And now it's at about 22.5 degrees. We've fallen about 10 degrees from the outside, and about 3 degrees lower than the pledge that shopping malls have taken here in Hong Kong.

CHAU: I suggest that the owner of the restaurant should switch off one of the air conditioners.

INOCENCIO: Chau further claims that an agreement between Hong Kong politics and industry encourages more energy use.

CHAU: In other countries, the more you use, the more the electricity you consume. You have to pay more. But the (inaudible) than the more you use then the bigger the discount you can enjoy, that means the more they use less you have to pay.

INOCENCIO: Chau says that residents are charged more than $13 per unit of electricity used. But industrial super users pay as little as $7 per unit, nearly a 50 percent discount, all in an effort to bring more business to this Asian financial hub.

CHAU: I don't think that there are any big change in the power structure, but the new and environmental minister have said that they will try to have the look at the power structure. I hope that will be true soon.

INOCENCIO: In the meantime, small-scale retailers will still blast cold air while keeping their doors flung open. For Ng, that's more reason to forge ahead.

NG: That only reflex the importance of creating a general awareness of the importance of energy saving. This energy saving in (inaudible) is only one of the many initiatives that we have launched. And we just count on one.

INOCENCIO: To be sure, Hong Kong's shopping mall pledge isn't a perfect end-all solution, it's not going to save tons of money or lower greenhouse gas emissions, but it is showing good leadership and it is a good start.

Remy Inocencio, CNN, Hong Kong.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LU STOUT: Now we have been covering the worldwide legal dispute between Apple and Samsung here on News Stream pretty much since the show started. And today, it marks the start of a U.S. jury trial in the case. And it essentially comes down to one thing: patents.

Now among other things Apple maintains that Samsung has infringed on the interface it uses for the iPhone and iPad. For example, in theory Apple's voice operated answering device. And it's been tough going for Samsung so far. In fact, just last month a U.S. district court judge ordered a halt to Galaxy Nexus sales in America.

Now Samsung, in turn, says Apple is trying to stifle legitimate competition.

But whatever the outcome, billions of dollars are at stake here. And the case will have major repercussions for the global smartphone market.

And that is News Stream, but the news continues at CNN. World Business Today is next.

END