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NEWS STREAM

Lonmin Ultimatum To South African Miners: Return To Work Or Be Fired; Gu Kailai Avoids Death Penalty; 11 Year Old Arrested In Pakistan On Blasphemy Charges; Jury To Hear Closing Arguments in Apple Vs Samsung Case

Aired August 20, 2012 - 08:00   ET

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

KRISITE LU STOUT, HOST: I'm Kristie Lu Stout in Hong Kong. And welcome to News Stream where news and technology meet. We begin in China where the wife of a disgraced politician is spared the death penalty in one of the country's biggest ever murder trials.

Also ahead, a state-of-the-art statement. Apple and Samsung prepare to make their closing arguments in their massive patent case.

And a Hollywood tragedy, the director of Top Gun and True Romance is dead. Los Angeles officials say Tony Scott jumped to his death on Sunday.

From fallen politician's wife to convicted murderer, Gu Kailai has been found guilty of poisoning British businessman Neil Haywood. And the court suspended her death sentence. The result came as little surprise. China's state run Xinua news agency reported Gu confessed during her one day trial earlier this month. Her aide was also found guilty and sentenced to nine years in prison. Now separately four police officers were convicted of covering up the murder.

Now Gu's death sentence will likely be commuted to life imprisonment. That's if she does not commit any crimes during her two year reprieve. And her punishment could be further reduced for good behavior. Some analysts say she might even be eligible for medical parole in a few years, meaning she could serve most of her sentence at home.

Her confession, it was crucial to the court's leniency. She had to plead guilty and to show remorse. And the testimony during the trial said she suffered from a mental disorder that weakened her power of self control. And the court also found that Haywood threatened her son. A friend to the businessman has disputed that accusation. Some of them say that Haywood has been slandered to get Gu off the hook. His family has not commented.

Now Gu's seven hour trial, it glossed over some big questions. Stan Grant joins us now live from CNN Beijing. And Stan, your thoughts on why she was spared the death penalty and on her sentencing?

STAN GRANT, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Kristie. It's a unique sort of sentencing this. It's unique to China this idea of suspending the death penalty. It means that as you pointed out it's an essentially a two year reprieve where her behavior will be monitored. And then at the end of that perhaps it'll be commuted, the death sentence, and she will then be given a term in prison expected to be the rest of her life, but there are other factors that could play into that as well.

But there's been so much scrutiny of this. And so much riding on this, not just Gu Kailai and her trial and the murder of Neil Heywood, but this goes to the very heart of the political system here in China. It's all come down in the end to a woman standing in a court being convicted of murder.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

GRANT: A woman alone in court, a long way from a life of privilege and power, Gu Kailai convicted of murder now resigned to her fate.

GU KAILAI, CONVICTED OF MURDERING NEIL HAYWOOD (through translator): I think this verdict is fair. It fully reflects the court's respect for law, reality, and especially human life.

GRANT: Gu Kailai was one half of China's ultimate power couple. Her husband, Bo Xilai, charismatic, once touted a future president of China.

To Chinese scholars like Wu Donming (ph), this was a story played out in the political heavens.

"This is a fight between the gods," he says, "way beyond the reach of ordinary people."

Bo Xilai styled himself as the spiritual heir of Mao Zedong. Bo staged cultural, revolution style mass rallies. Crowds sang revolutionary songs and chanted red slogans. All of this bolstering his power base as party chief of the massive metropolis of Chongqing. But analysts say Bo made enemies in the Communist Party wary of his redder than red rhetoric.

"He's been playing the role of Mao's successor," says Wong Kung (ph). "He was visiting PLA camps and giving the soldiers Mao's busts as gifts. None of the other politicians has ever done that. I think this has been a huge misjudgment of Bo. Going back to Mao's path is not an option, that's been proven to be a dead end. Now led a road to ruin."

It was an enemy within that lead to Bo's ruin. Wong Linjun was Bo's top cop. He carried out Bo's smash black campaign, a brutal crackdown on crime gangs and corruption. But the trusted insider himself fled to a U.S. consulate with an explosive story. Bo's wife, Gu Kailai had murdered a British businessman Neil Haywood.

In the months since, this saga has played out in rumor and innuendo, lifting the veil of secrecy at the top of Chinese politics.

Gu Kailai in her trial admitted to poisoning Heywood. She said that a business deal had gone wrong. He feared for the safety of her son and had suffered a nervous breakdown.

Gu Kailai is now behind bars convicted of murder. Her death sentence suspended, her accomplice sentenced to nine years jail. There will be no appeal. The other players in this saga await their fate.

Wong Lijun will go to trial potentially for treason. Bo Xilai, the man once destined for the top remains out of sight and silenced.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

GRANT: A tale of political intrigue, of business dealings, of threats and counter threats. And of course at the end of it all murder as well. This is a story that truly has had everything. And that is why the country here has been so interested in the outcome and has captured the attention of the rest of the world as well -- Kristie.

LU STOUT: And what has been the reaction inside China to the sentencing of Gu Kailai? Has it been seen as being too lenient, not harsh enough for someone who is guilty of murder?

GRANT: This was always seen very much as a political process. So much riding on this. Bo Xilai obviously was a high profile figure, a very divisive figure, but one who also had a lot of support, particularly in his area of Chongqing. He's also the son of a revolutionary hero. And between the two of them, Gu Kailai and Bo Xilai represented so much about the political elite here.

There was a lot riding on this outcome. People are wondering just how hard the justice system would come down on one of their own, on political Communist Party royalty. If they went too far, what would the risks be then to the supporters of Bo Xilai? What would that do to the political structure here as well? And all of this being played out, Kristie, at a time of leadership transition in China.

It hasn't bee widely reported. It has been reported very strictly according to the facts, but no one is any doubt about just how significant this trial has been.

LU STOUT: Yeah, the verdict, it finally calibrated the decision by the leadership.

All eyes now, though Stan, on the fate of Bo Xilai, the husband of Gu Kailai. He's being investigated for disciplinary violations. What will happen to him?

GRANT: Very intriguing, this as well isn't it? You know China's history, Kristie, you look back at the past. There are many past leaders who have been purged from the party and later rehabilitated. There's also a tradition here going back to imperial times of women taking the fall for more powerful men. All of that has been speculated on here in China as well.

All we know at the moment is that Bo Xilai, a man who had risen so high, a man with such a high profile, has been silenced. He's been unsighted ever since this whole saga started to play out. And his hopes of entering the upper echelon, the standing committee of the politburo, the most powerful nine men in the country, certainly look in tatters.

As to the future, well, China, you always expect the unexpected -- Kristie.

LU STOUT: Stan Grant reporting live from Beijing for us. Thank you very much indeed for that, Stan.

Now the president of Syria has made a rare public appearance as the fighting continues to rage across his country. Now Bashar al-Assad, he attended prayers at a Damascus mosque on Sunday to mark the Muslim holiday of Eid. He was accompanied by his prime minister and his foreign minister, but not by his vice president. Now there are conflicting reports that Farouk al-Sharaa may have defected.

Meanwhile, a weekend of deadly fighting and shelling has continued into Monday. Opposition activists say dozens of people have been killed already today.

Now Saudi Arabia has been one of the leading critics in the Arab world of the Syrian regime's harsh crackdown. And Saudis are providing an estimated $150 million in aid for the opposition and Syria's people. Now Nic Robertson takes a closer look at just where that money is going.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Hosting an Islamic summit in Mecca last week, Saudi Arabia's Kind Abdullah demanded and got backing for Syria's rebels from almost all 57 member states. It's not the only way his wealthy, desert kingdom is trying to undermine Syria's president.

Over the past few months Saudi residents have raised almost half a billion Saudi reals in cash, that's almost $150 million dollars for the Syrian cause, much of it during a five day telethon. A lot of the rest placed in a bank account here at this Saudi bank. It's all carefully monitored by the Saudi Ministry of Interior so that none of the money falls into the hands of extremists.

And that's where these Syrian men I meet come in, all members of the rebel Syrian National Council, SNC, all residents in Saudi, all trying to help the cause back home.

MOHAMMED ALTERKAWI, SYRIAN NATIONAL COUNCIL: We are asking to support the Free Syrian Army with the weapons.

ROBERTSON: But even they are ringing alarm bells. Controlling who gets what of the aid money among the myriad rebel groups is getting harder.

ALTERKAWI: And the feeling now inside Syria that those extremists they are coming here to help us, OK. And this feeling, let's make this extremist my friend, OK. So it's -- it's not enemy now, it's my friend.

ROBERTSON: Among Assad's targets, hospitals figure high: 38 destroyed, 149 clinics too according to a UN report. Saudi's Syrians sending in medical supplies are working hard to show transparency.

MOHAMMED YASSER TABBAA, SYRIAN EXPAT MEDICAL ASSOCIATION: We ask for video tapes, for pictures, for some kind of documentation. They cannot really send receipts and bills.

ROBERTSON: Inside Saudi, government monitored donation centers like this are at the start of the accountability chain. The Syrians can't go ask Saudis for money themselves.

TABBAA: So whoever comes to us, we refer them to those groups, to those organizations or the relief groups and they help us. We met with medical companies that produce or make or collect the field hospitals. We present those projects to the local or government organizations here in the country.

ROBERTSON: The system is working, over 50 medical clinics inside Syria already up and running. Now, the move to light mobile trauma kits as fixed hospitals are increasingly hit. But their most pressing need no amount of money can fix.

TABBAA: The newest trend that we're having, or seeing is that they do get some supplies over there, but they need physicians. At the beginning they didn't ask for physicians, but now they ask us, please, we need people to come and help.

ROBERTSON: But, even here, the Saudis king's men are stepping up. Activists say they are told the kingdom's doctors will come help them.

Nic Robertson, CNN, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LU STOUT: Now coming up on News Stream, workers of one of the world's largest platinum mines face an ultimatum: return to work where 34 of their colleagues died in a police shooting, or lose their jobs.

And a beautiful British teen had her entire life ahead of her, but a court found that she was killed by her own parents because they thought she was too westernized. Are so-called honor murders on the rise?

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LU STOUT: Around three-quarters of striking union workers at Lonmin mine in South Africa did not return to work on Monday, that's according to a spokesperson for the firm. Now Lonmin had given an ultimatum to 3,000 employees taking part in the walkout either return to work on Monday or risk losing your jobs. Now workers have been calling for their basic wage to be tripled. Police say the current situation at the site is stable, but tense.

Now today is the first day in a week of national mourning declared by South Africa's president. The country is marking the deaths of 34 miners killed when police opened fire on armed striking miners on Thursday.

Nkepile Mabuse joins me now from outside the Marikana mine with the latest. And Nkepile, police there, they say it is stable, but tense. But tell us what you're seeing. What is the situation at the mine today?

NKEPILE MABUSE, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, Kristie, as I speak to you now thousands of striking miners have gathered in an open field not very far from where the 34 colleagues were shot dead by police last Thursday. They remain defiant in the face of a threat by their employer that they must return to work today or face being fired. They say they are not going to go back to work until their demands have been met. Many of these miners earn about 500 US dollars a month. They're demanding 1,500 US dollars. And the employer has said, look, we've already got an agreement. That agreement only expires next year. And that's only when you can start talking about wage increases.

They've just been addressed by a very controversial character, the president of this new union that has really been blamed for the violence that has come with this wage dispute. He stood up there and he said it's not only his members that are disgruntled with what's going on at Lonmin platinum mine. He says that he is representing the interests of workers across the board. He says workers work very hard under difficult conditions and their salary is just not good enough. He says that during apartheid miners were exploited. And in a democratic South Africa they expect different treatment, Kristie.

LU STOUT: You know, the majority of the miners they are defiant. They are ignoring this ultimatum to go back to work today. Nkepile, have you been able to talk to the mine operator to get their thoughts to the miner's actions today, their thoughts on the killing of dozens of workers last week. And why have they felt compelled to force a return to work today?

MABUSE: Exactly, a lot of South Africans are asking whether that ultimatum was appropriate. And the mines saying that this -- maintaining that this is an illegal strike, that this has been confirmed by the courts. They have a court order. And the miners were supposed to work on Friday. They've extended this deadline to Monday. They say they cannot discuss wage issues right now. This is outside the wage negotiations.

They actually say the majority of these miners are represented by a union that the company itself does not recognize. This controversial union that I was talking about earlier whose president just addressed the miners.

So they're sticking to their guns, the company. They're saying that some workers have called in saying they want to come to work, but they feel intimidated. Of course there was so much violence leading up to that shootout with the police that people are scared to go back, because they may be killed, Kristie.

LU STOUT: Nkepile Mabuse joining us live on the scene of the Marikana mine in South Africa. Thank you.

Now you're watching News Stream and still ahead they're called honor murders, but there is nothing honorable about them. We look back at the death of a British teenager who was murdered by her own parents because prosecutors say she chose a different path. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LU STOUT: Welcome back.

Now she was described as an intelligent and popular girl with a bright future ahead of her. But Shafilea Ahmed was murdered by both her parents because prosecutors say she did not fit the image of who they wanted her to be. And it did not happen in a country where so-called honor murders are more widely known. It took place in the UK in 2003. Now the judge suggested it came down to the fact that this British 17 year old did not agree with the conservative traditions of her Pakistani born parents.

Now Shafilea's death, it put a spotlight on honor murders. And all this week, CNN is taking a closer look at this disturbing crime. In a series of reports we explore the roots of so-called honor murders and examine why they are spreading to many parts of the world.

Now let's get more now from Atika Schubert in London. And she has been closely monitoring Shafilea's case. She joins us now.

And Atika, what have you learned?

ATIKA SCHUBERT, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, we traveled to Warrington, England which is where Shafilea grew up to try and get some more answers, specifically whether or not there are any warning signs before she was killed. Take a look at what we found.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SCHUBERT: There is no sound on this wedding video, making it all the more eerie. The bride is barely able to keep her head up and no one in the wedding party looks happy. British police provided this video to CNN. It is the date stamp that's crucial, February 2003, and the teenager behind the bride, Shafilea Ahmed, proof that she was brought to Pakistan for an arranged marriage.

This was the future that awaited the British 17 year old. Her parents had told her she would be married off and left in Pakistan like it or not.

Shortly after this video was shot, Shafilea drank a bottle of bleach in this bathroom. She was hospitalized and then flown back to Britain, viewed as an embarrassment by her parents.

Shafilea Ahmed was born in Britain, her parents Farzana and Iftikhar Ahmed raised her and her siblings in the small town of Warrington where Iftikhar worked as a taxi driver.

Plenty of people in Warrington knew the family, but no one was willing to talk to us on camera as though the entire town wanted to put the tragedy behind them. One taxi driver who worked with the father described him as an ordinary man with a temper.

Neighbors describe Shafilea as a quiet girl that would slip out of her high heel shoes and cover up her short sleeve tops a block before reaching home.

But it was at school that the first warning signs emerged.

This is where Shafilea went to school and it was her teachers who repeatedly raised the alarm calling social services when she missed class, when she showed up to school with bruises on her arms, once with bruises around her neck and a cut on her face. And it was her teacher, not her parents, who reported her missing to police in September 2003.

After months of searching, her body was found in the River Kent badly decomposed and dismembered. No cause of death could be determined.

Her parents held press conferences complaining about police delays, breaking down in tears. And in this interview with local ITN News denying any involvement in her death.

IFTIKHA AHMED, SHAFILEA'S FATHER: Would we kill our own daughter?

UNIDNETIFIED MALE: Well, would you?

AHMED: Never.

SCHUBERT: The truth came seven years later from Shafilea's younger sister Alicia, seen in this wedding video, her identity protected. Shafilea had endured years of beatings and abuse by both her parents, Alicia said, but it was after this trip to Pakistan that things got much worse.

The day she went missing, Alicia said, both parents held Shafilea down and stuff a plastic bag down her throat until she stopped struggling. In court, Alicia testified that her mother Farzana had ordered, quote, just finish it here.

It happened at their home, immaculate from the outside, hiding the family's dark secret within.

This is where Shafilea grew up, it's the family home. It's where Shafilea lived and died. Up until recently it's where her parents still lived. It's where her brother and sister still are, in fact I spoke to her sister briefly, but neither her nor her brother want to talk about it.

Farzana and Iftikhar Ahmed have now been convicted and sentenced to life in prison, last seen lead away in hand cuffs.

Shafilea's death has been recognized by the British court as an honor killing. Their fear of being shamed, the judge noted, was greater than their love for their child.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SCHUBERT: And in the particularly tragic case. And Shafilea actually had three sisters and one brother. Two of her siblings, a brother and a sister, remain at the house and are hoping to appeal their parents conviction. The other two sisters, one of them Alicia who testified against her parents, are now estranged from their family and have been -- their identities are not protected by the court.

LU STOUT: Now also in your reporting, Atika, we learned that the warning signs were there. Shafilea, she was seen with bruises on her neck as you reported, cuts on her face at school. In the wake of her death, are educators and social workers there in the UK more aware of the threat and the warning signs of so-called honor violence?

SCHUBERT: They are becoming more aware. And one of the concerns is specifically as in Shafilea's case where she apparently told social workers that there was the possibility of her parents forcing her into a marriage. She insisted, however, that it was a problem she would take care on her own, and that is why at the time apparently social workers didn't press further. But it was one of the main warning signs.

And one of the things that campaigners pointed out is that in this case perhaps those who noticed the warning signs first should not contact, necessarily, the family to try and mediate a solution between them, because it is the family itself, of course, which is actually doing the crime.

LU STOUT: And just how prevalent are honor murders and crimes involving alleged honor violence there in the UK?

SCHUBERT: Obviously this is a crime that's very rare, but it's a very disturbing one. And unfortunately Shafilea's case is not the only one. And it may surprise people to find that it does happen to those British -- some British born citizens here. And this is why there is more of a campaign to raise awareness.

LU STOUT: All right, Atika Schubert, thank you very much indeed for raising awareness with your reporting. Atika Schubert, live in London for us.

You're watching News Stream. And still ahead we have a disturbing report from Pakistan. Why an 11 year old girl has been arrested under the country's blasphemy law. The details are next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

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

Now the wife of a disgraced Chinese politician has been spared the death penalty after she admitted murdering a British businessman. Gu Kailai, the wife of former Communist Party official Bo Xilai was given a suspended death sentence, meaning she could spend the rest of her life in prison. Now Xinua admitted Gu admitted poisoning Neil Haywood last November.

Now Syrian President Bashar al-Assad made a rare public appearance at a mosque in Damascus on Sunday to mark the first day of the Muslim holiday of Eid ul-Fitr. He was accompanied by his foreign minister and prime minister, but not by his vice president. There are conflicting reports that the vice president may have defected.

A deadline has passed for striking miners in South Africa to go back to work or face the possibility of being sacked. Over the last several hours Lonmin, the British company that owns the mine told CNN just over a quarter of the strikers had returned to work. Now last week, police opened fire on a crowd of strikers who were demanding a pay raise killing 34 people.

Now Britain's Prince Philip, the husband of Queen Elizabeth has left the hospital after receiving treatment for a bladder infection. The 91 year old Duke of Edinburgh was admitted to the Aberdeen Royal Infirmary in Scotland last Thursday. It was the third time he had been hospitalized in eight months.

A dramatic story, meanwhile, is unfolding in Pakistan. An 11 year old Christian girl is in police custody for allegedly burning pages of the Muslim holy book the Koran. And some reports say that the girl has down syndrome.

Let's find out more from Reza Sayah who joins us from Islamabad. And Reza, tell us more about the incident that led to the arrest of this little girl.

REZA SAYAH, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Before we get to that, Kristie, we should point out that those reports that this girl was mentally disabled, had down syndrome, have not been verified. In fact, one police official telling us she did not have down syndrome and she was illiterate. And they're still trying to work out the details, but they tell us they have this young girl in custody. She's being accused, suspected of burning pages of the Koran, which of course is a violation of Pakistan's blasphemy law.

Some reports are saying she's 12, other reports saying she's 16. Police say the incident happened last Thursday. Apparently witnesses in the neighborhood saw her burning what appeared to be pages of the Koran. In poorer neighborhoods in Pakistan, especially Christian neighborhoods, it's not unusual for families to burn scrap pieces of paper and use it as cooking fuel. That's apparently what she was doing.

Her family says she wasn't burning pages of the Koran. And it's not clear that she is, but apparently the neighbors, the witnesses were outraged. They demanded police to arrest her, and under pressure that's what police did. And that's where things stand.

It's an explosive issue that's going to be tough to solve. The girl is in jail right now. And police say they're investigating.

LU STOUT: Yep, many conflicting reports about the identity about who the little girl is and exactly what happened that led to her arrest. Thank you very much for clarifying the facts for us.

And Reza, let's talk about reform next. I mean, just how strong is the call inside Pakistan to reform the country's blasphemy laws?

SAYAH: There is a demand, especially a couple of years ago this issue came up again when there was a woman accused of blasphemy. She was sentenced to death. It was a very public and aggressive public campaign by the government to amend the blasphemy laws, but there was a push back by religious conservative Islamist group. It got violent. A governor was assassinated. A minister was a assassinated. Then the government backed down and they said they're not going to change the law. So that's where things stand right now.

It's going to be a dilemma for the government, how they're going to resolve this matter. I think it's going to take a lot of influential religious leaders to come to the table and somehow figure out where to move from here.

LU STOUT: And as the law stands today, if the girl arrested for blasphemy, the girl who could be as young as 11 years old, if she is convicted what could happen to her?

SAYAH: The law says she can be sentenced to death, but in cases here they are rarely if ever -- I don't think there's been a case where they've actually been sentenced to death.

But Kristie, one things that's critical to point out here with these blasphemy incidents that make a lot of headlines in western media, and they create the impression among westerners that there's systematically, the Muslims and the Pakistanis, are persecuting Christians. And that's not the case. And I've been here for nearly five years. I can tell you many Christians live here peacefully. And often what gets buried in these stories are problems that many call the root causes of these issues: gender discrimination, a corrupt government and ineffective law enforcement, class discrimination. And people say that's the root cause of these problems. And until you tackle those, you're not going to have any luck with these blasphemy issues.

But still, these are stories that are going to make a lot of headlines, especially in western media.

LU STOUT: All right, Reza Sayah reporting live from Islamabad, thank you so much for the context reporting this story for us. Reza Sayah there.

Now time for your global weather forecast. And there is a powerful typhoon that is taking aim at Taiwan right here in the region. Let's go straight to Mari Ramos. She joins us from the world weather center -- Mari.

MARI RAMOS, CNN WEATHER CORRESPONDENT: Yeah, these storms across east Asia keeping us quite busy here at CNN world weather, Kristie. Here we are again, another week and we have not one, but two storms. The one that you mentioned, that typhoon that is headed toward Taiwan, a very powerful storm indeed. And then another one that formed just in the last few hours a bit farther toward the east. So we have Typhoon Tembin right over here. This storm, just offshore from the Philippines, it is having some effect here over northern Luzon. I'll talk about that in just a moment.

And then we have Bolaven. This one forming in the last few hours is still several days away from impacting any landmasses. They have brought some rain across some of the islands -- outer islands way out here.

And both of these storms are tracking in that same general direction, generally toward the west/northwest.

So let's go ahead and start first of all with Tembin. We're not going to worry too much about this other one right now, because like I said it's still several days away.

What we're looking at here is at a very large storm. You can see these areas right here. The areas in yellow are the tropical storm force winds, and the areas in red are the typhoon force winds. Event both of these are expected to stay offshore from Luzon, expect very high seas here in that onshore flow that will be a concern again with the possibility for some rain.

But the main concern is going to be here for Taiwan. That track of the storm in the next couple of days will take it right over the area. And you can see the size comparison of the storm compared to Taiwan. It's a very large storm. And it's also a very powerful storm. Winds along that center of circulation, that area here in red could probably be as large or as strong, I should say, as maybe 200, 200 plus kilometers per hour. That's very significant weather system.

Right now winds are already at 176 kilometers per hour. The storm continues to advance generally to the north/northeast right now, but we're expecting a turn more toward the west as we head through the next couple of days. And you can see that first to the north and east and then begin to turn to the west, probably peaking at around 2020 kilometers per hour. It should be around 200 by the time it gets to Taiwan.

Preparations need to be underway now, because you know time is of the essence when you talk about such a large tropical cyclone, such a large storm as well.

When we see it moving to the north, you can see that the rain and the wind will remain Taiwan at least for the next two days. Day three will be the concern as we head to the middle portion of the week.

As far as the Philippines is concerned, as the storm continues to move to the north, I want you to see right over here off the South China Sea. You see that flow of water, again, continuing to come through here, Kristie? That is still going to be a concern over the Philippines with the threat for rain. Not expected to be as heavy as the other storms, but still a concern. And we'll have to watch for the possibility of flooding.

So, this is what's at the top of our radar right now. Back to you.

LU STOUT: Yeah, it's like non-stop rainmakers, storm makers here in the region. Mari Ramos on it. Thank you.

Now you're watching News Stream. And a huge tech battle is finally winding down. The Apple/Samsung trial will be handled to the jury this week. And their monumental decision could impact the entire industry.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LU STOUT: Welcome back.

Now later this week, a jury in the United States will rule on one of the biggest fights in the tech world: Apple versus Samsung. Now the courtroom rivalry is arguably more intense than their sales rivalry. Now in a nutshell, Apple accuses Samsung of copying products like the iPad. Samsung accuses Apple of infringing its patents on wireless technologies. And it is a legal battle that's being fought around the world as the two companies sue and countersue to try to force ban the sale of each other's devices. And what makes this global legal fight all the more remarkable is that Samsung and Apple are also partners. You're looking at the insides of an iPad and some of the chips you see there are made by Samsung.

Now with closing arguments due this week, let's get more on the case now from someone who has been following it very closely. Nilay Patel is the managing editor of the verge and a former copyright attorney. And he joins us now.

Nilay, good to see you. The jury will deliberate soon, so who has the easier job communicating to the jury and selling their case. Is it Apple or Samsung?

NILAY PATEL, MANAGING EDITOR, THE VERGE: Quite frankly it's Apple. You know they've had the same basic narrative throughout the entire case, which has been going on for about a year now. And it's a pretty simple story. It's, you know, we're Apple. We spent millions of dollars and lots of time developing the innovative iPhone and iPad. And it changed the market -- you know, the iPhone changed the market when it came out in 2007. And Samsung has copied us. It's a very simple story.

It's not that simple, but -- you know in reality, but the narrative presented to the jury has been very simple and very focused on that story from the very beginning.

LU STOUT: Yeah, the Narrative is simple, but it's technically very complex.

Now according to Apple, Samsung violated a slew of patents. And we're going to talk about one in particular, the bounce. Now if you look at a web browser in the iPad or the Galaxy tab and you scroll to the bottom, there's a little bounce. Now Apple had the bounce back patent. So how did it end up on a Samsung device? And how did Samsung explain itself?

We're looking at the bounce right now on our screen.

PATEL: Well, so, you know, how it ended up on a Samsung device is, you know, that's a complicated story that Samsung has had to explain. You know, there are documents that Apple has produced in the case so far showing the Samsung actually looked at Apple's devices and changed its own devices in response. And these documents range in the hundreds of pages -- 132 pages in one case. Where Samsung specifically looked at an Apple device, said this is the behavior, and now we're going to change our device to be more like that behavior.

Samsung's response is that the bounce back patent and several of the other patents are not only invalid, because of prior art, and they've been bringing in very old devices, you know, 15, 20 year old devices showing similar behaviors existed before Apple's patents were filed. And they're also saying that they're not infringed, because the specific implementation of the behavior is different.

And those are -- you know, those are very strong arguments in some cases. And in some cases it's hard to look at, you know, an Apple patent on something like tap to zoom, or one of the design patents on something like the iPhone -- you know, the general shape of the iPhone and the look of the icons and look at a Samsung device that looks very similar and say, well that's not infringed.

And the jury is going to have to decide whether or not these patents are either invalid or not infringed on a whole range of devices. Almost 20 Samsung devices are named in the lawsuit.

LU STOUT: And the jury must also rule on Samsung's counter claims. What have been some of Samsung's strongest arguments against Apple?

PATEL: Well, you know, Samsung actually has a very strong against Apple. Samsung has invested millions of dollars on its own into research and development of wireless technologies. The core technology stack that lets a cell phone connect to a wireless network involves some Samsung patents. And a part of -- since they're part of the standard, you can't connect to the network unless you make use of the patents.

You know, it's been a little dry for the jury, I think, Samsung explaining line by line how these patents are implemented in, you know, the 3G standard. But the reality of the matter is that, you know, to connect to the network you need to use that patents and the iPhone connects to the network.

So, you know, Samsung's case there isn't -- you know, it's strong, but you know the jury is going to have to get through the fact they heard hours upon hours of explanation of these patents and understand them to make -- you know, to make a final decision.

LU STOUT: Now, you're a former attorney. The 10 jurors, they're not. And this is, as you mentioned, a sort of very technical case. So how will they sift through all the arguments and how much confidence does the industry have in their ability to decide?

PATEL: You know, it's -- well, they're actually down to nine. One of them left because he was afraid of being fired. So they're down to nine.

You know, that's a really important question. And, you know, I always believed that Apple and Samsung, they don't -- at the executive level, they don't necessarily believe that this case will be decided by a jury and that there will be consequences at the end of it, because putting billions of dollars in the hands of nine people who have just gotten their first introduction to patent law and just gotten their first introduction to trade dress law and just gotten their first introduction to wireless standards and how they're implemented is an enormous risk.

You know, I believe -- and we'll see if this is true or not -- but I believe after closing arguments, when the jury goes in to deliberation the reality of the situation will hit both Samsung and Apple in a very real way and they will make further progress towards a settlement.

LU STOUT: Now the bottom line question, of course, and the question that the jurors will have to be answer is did Samsung rip off features of Apple's iPhone and iPad.

If you were on the jury, how would you decide?

PATEL: You know, I don't -- I think it's pretty clear that a set of Samsung products were made to appear to be as much like the iPhone as possible, particularly, you know, the set of Galaxy S 2 phones -- or the Galaxy S phones that appeared in the United states. The Verizon Fascinate, I believe that phone was engineered to appeal to iPhone customers. That was before Verizon had the iPhone. But I don't know if that crosses the line into this is illegal. And I think that is a very important question.

Did Samsung deliberately set out to confuse customers who wanted an iPhone, to confuse customers who wanted an iPad. You know, I think in some cases they set out to make those devices appear to be as similar as possible, whether or not they crossed the line into actually trying to confuse is a very, very hard question.

You know, I think Samsung in the -- the tech world moves so fast and innovation moves so fast, I think Samsung has learned its lesson and they are now making colorably different devices that are, you know, distinctive from the iPhone. And I think that's enough. I think Apple's goal has been reached. And the judge even said this to Apple and Samsung. You know, if your goal was to let people know how much money you've spent on research and how much IP you have and how far you're willing to go to protect it: mission accomplished. Now you should settle.

And the judge has pushing them to settle for some time. We'll see if it happens.

LU STOUT: All right. Nilay Patel of The Verge joining us live from New York City, thank you so much for joining us and letting us -- your insight on this fascinating case. Take care.

PATEL: Thank you.

LU STOUT: Now, in the English Premier League, the preseason favorites kick off their season later today. We'll talk to their big, blockbuster signing may be making his debut. Here's Amanda Davies with the sports -- Amanda.

AMANDA DAVIES, CNN SPORTS CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Kristie. I think Manchester City fans might have something to say with Manchester United as being described as preseason favorites, but there is definitely a seriously exciting prospect to look forward to in the English Premier League later on Monday. Robin Van Persie and Wayne Rooney lining up together for Manchester United as Sir Alex Ferguson's side kick off their campaign against Everton.

Van Persie, of course, signed from Arsenal last week. And Ferguson has said he'll wait until the last minute before deciding whether or not the Dutch international is fit enough to make his debut at Goodison Park. But will that addition make United favorites to go one better than last season and regain that title?

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

PEDRO PINTO, CNN SPORST CORRESPONDENT: RVP, three letters which have had a massive impact on the fortunes of two Premier League giants. I'm sure it hurts Arsenal fans to see this picture and realize that their best player and captain jumped ship to join Manchester United.

Now don't underestimate the effect Robin Van Persie's departure will have on the Gunners. He scored 30 goals last season that were worth 25 points. Without the flying Dutchman in the line-up, Arsenal would have finished 13th with the same points as Sunderland and Stoke. Yes, whoever replaces him in the lineup has some pretty big shoes to fill.

What about United? Well, Sir Alex Ferguson will be salivating at the prospect of linking up two of the most talented strikers in the world. The question is, will Wayne Rooney play behind Van Persie, or will Van Persie play behind Rooney?

This transfer taught us two things. First, Arsene Wenger's project at Arsenal is dead. Van Persie is the latest star to turn his back no the French manager following the likes of Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri. And rumors continue to intensify that players at the Emirates have simply become saturated of dealing with Wenger.

The second thing we learned is that Ferguson will spend money if he feels it is necessary to guarantee trophies. In my book, Manchester City are still the favorites to win the Premier League, but United will pose a bigger threat with RVP than without him.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

DAVIES: I should have given you a warning no need to adjust your television sets.

Back to normal now. We'll on to tennis news. And Roger Federer says he's looking forward to the U.S. Open after what he's described as a magical summer. The world number one showed some special sparkle this weekend, brushing aside Novak Djokovic to add the Cincinnati Masters title to his cabinet. Tournament organizers dream of having the top two seeds in the final, but you'd never have predicted how things panned out on Sunday. Within just 20 minutes, Federer had taken the first set 6-0. Djokovic barely had a look-in. So it was a credit to the reigning U.S. and Australian Open champion that he made such a fight of it in the second.

Djokovic had his chances, but it was Federer who ultimately prevailed. The set went to a tiebreak. Djokovic got the upper hand with a passing winner to up a mini break at 4-3, but Federer wouldn't give in and it wasn't long before he finished it off in straight sets.

He was 8-7 up on the serve, setting up a forehand winner to clinch the title.

And that's it from me for now. Back to you, Kristie.

LU STOUT: All right, Amanda, thank you, take care.

And you're watching News Stream. And up next we have some tragic news out of Hollywood. Police say Tony Scott, the director of Top Gun and other blockbusters apparently has taken his own life. We'll look back at his incredible career.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LU STOUT: Welcome back.

Now the Mars Curiosity rover began target practice for future experiments. The rover used a powerful laser beam to zap a piece of Martian rock 30 times over 10 seconds. Special cameras study the remnants of the rock to determine its chemical components. This is the first time a laser has been used on another planet. And scientists say after eight years building curiosity it's payoff time.

Now it is Japan's first summer without nuclear power in more than four decades. And companies are trying to cut their power consumption accordingly. Even the prime minister and his cabinet are on board.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

LU STOUT: Two quick sprays is all it takes says Yukinori Takahashi. It smells like mint and grapefuit, the sales rep tells us, it makes you feel cooler.

From sprays to fans to cooling scarves, Takahashi is cashing in on the summer heat, but he's also helping to sell an idea. In Japan's first summer since 1970 without nuclear power, every person can do their part to save energy all the way up to the prime minister and his cabinet. This year, the country kicked off its annual cool biz campaign the same way it's done in the past.

ATSUSHI KUNISHIGE, VICE PRESIDENT, RAKUTEN: Instead of formal wear, we're wearing Aloha. That means we can save energy.

LU STOUT: The idea is to dress cool to cut down on air conditioning, but internet retail giant Rakuten is taking it even further. A Hawaiian style fashion show may not be the best place to find cutting edge design, but for Rakuten it's an opportunity for employees to show support for the energy saving measures.

KUNISHIGE: We are abusing so much energy. So I think by reducing the light, by increasing the temperature of the room, it's quite possible for us to do it.

LU STOUT: In a post Fukushima Japan, companies like Rakuten have no choice but to look for creative ways to use less power. Last summer, Rakuten was able to cut overall energy usage by more than 40 percent, only at the expense of fashion.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LU STOUT: Now Hollywood has been shocked by the death of director Tony Scott. The Los Angeles coroner's office says that the British movie maker jumped from a bridge in southern California on Sunday. Now authorities have not confirmed an L.A. Times report that a suicide note was found in Scott's office.

Now Scott, he got his start working with his older brother, the director of Gladiator Ridley Scott. He frequently wore this faded baseball cap behind the camera and on the red carpet.

Now Tony Scott shot to fame with Top Gun in 1986. And that film helped make Tom Cruise a superstar. And Scott then directed Eddie Murphy in the sequel to Beverly Hills Cop.

He went on to develop a reputation for big budget action films.

Now his other blockbusters include Crimson Tide. And Scott worked with Denzel Washington in four other films. And most recent was Unstoppable in 2010. It is the last movie directed by Scott, though he continued to co-produce TV shows with his brother.

Now Tony Scott was 68.

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

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