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NEWS STREAM

Typhoon Soulik Heading Toward Taiwan; Edward Snowden Calls Meeting With Human Rights Advocates; Sichuan Province Recovering From Monsoonal Floods; Anonymous Donor Bails Out Texas Teen; Swat Valley Girls Determined To Get Education

Aired July 12, 2013 - 08:00   ET

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

KRISTIE LU STOUT: I'm Kristie Lu Stout in Hong Kong. And welcome to News Stream where news and technology meet.

A powerful storm heads straight for Taiwan. We'll be live with a storm chaser on the island.

And who started the fight that left dozens of Muslim Brotherhood supporters dead in Egypt? CNN investigates.

And in just a few hours, a Pakistani girl shot by the Taliban for speaking out about education will address the United Nations.

Now Typhoon Soulik is whipping up massive 12 meter waves as it heads across the East China Sea toward Taiwan. And preparations for the storm are underway.

Now government offices and schools in the typhoons path on the island's northern tip were closed on Friday afternoon.

Now the government also evacuated more than 2,000 tourists from Green Island, it's off the south coast of Taiwan, on Thursday.

And some airlines are warning of disruptions. Cafe Pacific says it expects all its flights between Hong Kong and Taipei to be canceled until early on Saturday afternoon.

Now China's national forecasting center has issued a red alert as Typhoon Soulik approaches. Now that is the highest level in the country's four tier weather warning system.

And storm chaser James Reynolds joins us now live from Taiwan's northeast coast. And James, have you been seeing the effects of the storm?

JAMES REYNOLDS, STORM CHASER: Absolutely, Kristie. Just in the last three hours or so, it really have started to feel like there is a typhoon coming ashore very soon. The winds have really picked up. We're getting kind of small tree branches lying around now.

But this is really only the beginning. Things are going to get a lot worse as the night progresses. And then we're expecting the full force of the typhoon to hit tomorrow morning at around 5:00 am here -- Kristie.

LU STOUT: You're saying things are likely to get a lot worse. Just how bad is it going to get? Because there are memories, fresh memories, of what happened in 2009 when hundreds of people were killed there in Taiwan from Typhoon Morakot. Could there be a repeat with this typhoon?

REYNOLDS: It's always the main concern with typhoons in Taiwan, all these flash floods and mud slides. But the very high mountains here just squeeze all the rain out of these typhoons. So obviously the greatest concern will be how much rain is going to fall.

The typhoon itself is very large, which means it's going to be affecting Taiwan for a longer period of time than, say, a smaller system. But really that's just the case of everyone doing what they can to stay safe and then hoping for the best -- Kristie.

LU STOUT: Yeah, as you mentioned, flash flooding. That's the danger here.

Now the residents, they seem to be prepared. There have been some evacuations. How are they riding out the storm? How prepared are they?

REYNOLDS: Well, I would say there's quite what I'll call a typhoon culture here. Taiwan does get hit very often. And as I mentioned before, it's not really the winds which are the problem, it's the rain. So even tonight I can still see people on the street. I have seen local residents taping up their windows, putting down the storm shutters.

But really a lot of times it is a case of people try and keep a day to day life for as long as possible until the winds whip up so dangerously that it's just not possible to be on the street -- Kristie.

LU STOUT: Now of course there's concern not just in Taiwan, but across the region, about the path of this super typhoon and where the storm could move next. You know, after making landfall, really hitting and slamming Taiwan early on Saturday, where will Typhoon Soulik move next? And will it remain just as big, just as strong?

REYNOLDS: Well, China is under the gun after Taiwan. When typhoons do make landfall on Taiwan, the mountains here really do take the -- most of the energy out of the storm. Having said that, the infrastructure in China is liable to having problems when these storms come ashore. So obviously, it'll be a weakened storm by the time it does get to China, but it will still pose a threat. They've had recent floods in eastern China, so this will no doubt only exacerbate the situation there. So it needs to be watched very closely for those who are in China and under the gun from this storm -- Kristie.

LU STOUT: Yeah. Well, James, you're looking at this meteorological image of this storm, it is a big one. Thank you so much for your reporting. And do stay safe.

James Reynolds joining us on the line from Taipei, thank you.

And as Taiwan hunkers down, parts of China's Sichuan province remains submerged by flood waters. And rescue workers are helping residents in the hardest hit areas to relocate to safety. Jaime Florcruz has more.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JAIME FLORCRUZ, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Monsoon rains have turned roads into muddy rivers, leaving scores of people dead and many more missing. Continuous downpours washed out homes, roads and bridges. Parts of Sichuan Province saw the heaviest rainfall in decades, the state media reported.

Wenshuan (ph), the epicenter of a massive earthquake in 2008, was hit hard too.

Rescue workers, led by Chinese soldiers, rushed to help residents evacuate to safer ground.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): We're also helping people move their valuable belongings.

FLORCRUZ: Some manage to retrieve sofas and beds.

Across the flood zones, crops have been destroyed, traffic is at a standstill, and power is out, even animals who are stranded on rooftops.

In Sichuan's Jintao (ph) City, the nearby North River has swollen to a dangerous level, inundating houses, roads and bridges.

Millions of people have been affected so far as waterways swell higher and higher.

Tens of thousands of homes have collapsed and water is lapping at the doorsteps of many more.

Chinese officials say the floods have caused more than a billion dollars in damage so far. And more storms are moving in.

(on camera): The rainy season is always a problem this time of the year, but this season is expected to be extraordinary as China braces for more storms and more rainfall.

Jaime Florcruz, CNN, Beijing.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LU STOUT: And the heavy rains in Sichuan Province caused a massive and deadly landslide earlier this week. And the rescuers now say they have pulled 31 bodies from beneath the mud and the wreckage. Now, state run TV reports that 166 people are missing near the city of Dujianyen (ph). And flooding in the area has destroyed more than 5,000 houses and damaged 90,000 more.

Let's cross over to the world weather center now to find out if there will be any let up in the rains as the rescue efforts go on. And meteorologist Jennifer Delgado is standing by -- Jen.

JENNIFER DELGADO, CNN WEATHER CORRESPONDENT: Hi there, Kristie.

Well, the next 48 hours, it is going to be rough for parts of Taiwan as well as into China. Yes, we are tracking Typhoon Soulik. And right now, it's located about 200 kilometers off the coast of Taiwan. You can start to see the eye. And it's really kind of battering the southern parts of Ryukyu Island.

The winds right now sustained at 165 kph with some gusts up to 205. It's moving to the west right around 19. Some of those outer bands already affecting parts of Taiwan.

Now, as I hop over and I show you on radar, it kind of gives you an idea of some of the rainfall that's coming down as James mentioned the heavier rainfall and how it really affects some of those high elevations in the mountains. And we worry about landslides as well as mudslides. Well, this is kind of showing you exactly what we're talking about.

This comes to us from the Taiwan weather bureau center. And this image right here showing you Taiwan is already starting to feel the effects, certainly, of Typhoon Soulik.

Back over to our weather graphics here.

And we talk a bit more about what's happening all across the region. Now, as we step out of the way for you and kind of give you an idea of what's happening in the track of this system, what we're looking at, the winds right now at 165 kph. As we move 24 hours out, it's going to be heading right along the coastline of China very close to Fuzhou. But before that, as we move into the overnight hours into the early morning, the brunt of this typhoon is going to be hammering the northern part of Taiwan and that includes Taipei. This gives you an idea and helps you track and visualize at that center of circulation makes its way from Taiwan into the Taiwan Strait and then essentially into China.

Now keep in mind, we're expecting it to hang on to its typhoon status over the next 24 to 36 hours. And then it will eventually weaken into an area of low pressure. But it's still going to be bringing some very heavy rainfall as well as very strong winds.

Now as we track this for you, as we look at the track of this system and the center of Typhoon Soulik -- you can see the center of circulation - - bringing winds at times up to 117. These are some gusts that we estimate to go through the future. And then as it moves into the Taiwan Strait for Taipei, even though the center is to the west of you, but we are still going to see those winds being stronger even on the back side of that and then for Fuzhou.

Your winds of 126 kilometers still very impressive there. Of course, that is going to be enough to take down trees, power lines, and of course some of those buildings in those higher elevations the winds are even going to be stronger there.

Now we talk about some of the rainfall totals -- more than 350 millimeters. That's why we're worried so much about the flooding there. And that's why we do have the warning out for the extremely torrential rainfall that is expected through Saturday. Again, that is from the Taiwan center weather bureau.

And then the winds as we go through -- as I said to you, with winds up to 200 kph.

Some of these rainfall totals, Kristie, are going to be impressive -- 180 or more. And of course Sichuan Province, they're still trying to recover from all the flooding that's been happening there and more rain is just creeping in from the west.

LU STOUT: Yeah. Indeed, throughout the region a lot of concern about the strength and the path of this typhoon.

Jen, thank you so much for that.

Now to Russia now where a meeting is expected to take place in less than an hour between human rights activists and the U.S. fugitive Edward Snowden. And no one has actually reported seeing Snowden since he arrived in Moscow's international airport nearly three weeks ago. But someone claiming to be him has emailed several human rights groups, inviting them to the airport for a meeting.

Now a staffer from Russian Human Rights Watch posted the email on her Facebook page. And in it, Snowden refers to his request for asylum, which had been accepted in three Latin American countries. And he claims he is being blocked from taking those offers. And he calls it, quote, "an unlawful campaign by officials in the U.S. government to deny my right to seek and enjoy this asylum."

Now we will bring you more on that meeting if and when it happens.

Now Snowden is wanted by the U.S. for leaking information about the government's Prism program. And today, the Guardian Newspaper published an article citing top secret documents that it obtained showing Microsoft has been actively helping the U.S. with its intelligence gathering. And among the revelations, Microsoft allowed the NSA to bypass its encryption to intercept Outlook and Hotmail messages.

Now the NSA also had access to people's Skype conversations.

Now Microsoft and other companies have denied knowing about the Prism program. But the Guardian says the documents it obtained suggest differently.

Now you're watching News Stream. And still ahead, we'll be looking at Egypt where supporters of deposed President Mohamed Morsy have gathered to protest. And we'll also examine what caused Monday's deadly clashes.

Also ahead, all the residents in the village of Hogewey have severe dementia, but they can still cook, go shopping, even grab a beer at the pub. Dr. Sanjay Gupta tells us more about this one of a kind community.

Plus, Pakistani activist Malala Yousafzai celebrates her 16th birthday today. And she is set to address the UN in her first public speech since she survived a Taliban attempt on her life.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LU STOUT: All right. We'll take you now to Egypt where supporters of the Muslim Brotherhood are protesting this hour. They have come out in force to reassert their view that Mohamed Morsy is still the country's legitimate leader. Now protesters are marching -- they are marching to Republican Guard headquarters in Cairo where they believe Morsy is being held.

Now that is also where clashes between Morsy supporters and security forces turned deadly earlier this week. Some 51 people were killed in those clashes. And the two sides are blaming each other for starting the violence.

And as Karl Penhaul shows us now, each is backing up its own claim using video. But they're being selective about the images they show.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KARL PENHAUL, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: These images shot by CNN show the bloody aftermath of Monday's shootings close to the army's Republican Guard compound. The health ministry says 51 civilians and two members of the armed forces were shot dead.

In the last two days, both the military and Morsy supporters provided edited videos to CNN, making the case the other side was responsible.

These were provided by supporters of deposed president Mohamed Morsy. An Egyptian soldier repeatedly takes aim from between other soldiers carrying riot shields. The slow motion video shows him firing through barbed wire.

In this edited clip, demonstrators chant, "god is great." In another portion, without audio, this soldier fires three shots.

In each case, independent military experts consulted by CNN say the soldiers appear to be firing live ammunition, not blanks.

Here, uniformed soldiers fire from rooftops near where crowds are gathered. The Morsy supporters say the videos are evidence of what they call a massacre by the Egyptian armed forces. The National Salvation Front, the main political coalition that backed the July 3rd military coup has called for a judicial inquiry into the shootings, but it insists the Muslim Broterhood, Morsy's power base, instigated events.

KHALED DAWOUD, SPOKESMAN, NATIONAL SALVATION FRONT: At this time I felt that there was an intentional incitement by the Muslim Brotherhood to create a major massacre, a major scandal in front of the world in which they display blood in order to convince the outside world that there is a new dictatorship.

PENHAUL: The military provided CNN with these edited videos to make its case the military was attacked first.

This video, taken from an army helicopter, captures images of men tossing gasoline bombs off a high rise. This grainy frame, shows a man with what the army says is a pistol.

We do not see him fire it.

Images taken from ground level show a pro-Morsy protester cocking what the army says is a sawed-off shot gun. The video does not show him firing it.

Other video shows the muzzle flash of a gun being fired.

MOHAMMED AL-BELTAGY, MUSLIM BROTHERHOOD LEADER (through translator): I challenge the army to a public debate in front of the whole world, but there's no need. The blood spilled on the streets paints a complete picture that speaks for itself.

PENHAUL: Despite repeated requests, neither side has given CNN the original raw footage, only edited material, sometimes without audio, sometimes slow motion with audio.

In an off camera briefing, army spokesman Colonel Ahmed Ali alleged 15 gunmen on motorcycles fired on the heavily fortified guard headquarters.

But the earliest video clip the army offered was this gun camera image from 4:01 am Monday morning.

Tear gas clouds are seen down the street.

Multiple pro-Morsy eyewitnesses told CNN the army opened fire while many of them were performing pre-dawn prayers. The army adamantly denies that and said the shooting started later.

This video was recorded by a man who lives in an apartment building half a block from the guard headquarters. The photographer said he is not affiliated to either side. And he declined to speak on camera for fear of reprisals. But he told CNN the camera time code showed he started recording at 3:26 a.m.

In all, he provided 28 minutes of video to CNN.

The first of five prayers was scheduled for 3:20 am, according to the Islamic calendar for Cairo. If the camera was accurately calibrated, it would mean that clashes began in the middle of prayer time.

About one minute into the video shot from the apartment block, about 3:27 am, sustained gunfire can be heard.

The photographer says the shooting was in front of the Republican Guard building. At 1:29, we see a single flash among a small crowd of Morsy supporters, possibly a shot being fired.

With the military firmly in control of Egyptian politics, it's unclear how far a judicial inquiry will clarify what happened.

But what neither side is arguing, the massive casualties, almost all of them were civilians.

Karl Penhaul, CNN, Cairo.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LU STOUT: And now I want to show you the scene at Moscow's airport right now. Media have been called to the airport for a statement. Live pictures there on your screen. And this statement is widely expected to address the fate of NSA leaker Edward Snowden.

Now Snowden, again, is believed to be holed up in a transit area of the airport since leaving Hong Kong for Russia on June 23. So there is a lot of interest in this upcoming press conference at the airport. You can see just the media -- journalists all there gathering to wait to see what will be announced.

We are not sure who will be speaking, but CNN's Phil Black is there. And we'll bring you the latest when someone does emerge to speak.

Now fugitive U.S. leaker Edward Snowden is set to meet with Moscow based human rights activists shortly. And we'll keep you posted on this expected announcement at the Moscow Airport here on CNN.

Now you're watching News Stream. And still to come, a Texas teenager jailed for making a terroristic threat on Facebook is out on bail all thanks to an anonymous donor. Justin Carter's story is just ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LU STOUT: Coming to you live from Hong Kong, you are back watching News Stream.

And this right next to me is a visual version of all the stories we've got in the show today. We started with the heavy flooding in China. And a little bit later, we'll take you to a special village where all of the residents have dementia.

But now we want to tell you about a court case in Texas about a Facebook post. Justin Carter says it was just a joke. Now prosecutors are calling it a terroristic threat. And the 19-year-old has spent months behind bars because his parents could not afford to post bail.

Kate Bolduan reports.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KATE BOLDUAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: After nearly four months behind bars, Justin Carter is out of jail. His bail was set at $500,000 and the Carter family couldn't afford it but an anonymous donor could, posting the bail and getting Justin released this week.

JENNIFER CARTER, JUSTIN'S MOTHER: It's very hard to hear your child hopeless.

BOLDUAN: The 19-year-old is charged with making a terroristic threat, a felony, after comments he made online. His parents call it a misunderstanding.

JACK CARTER, JUSTIN'S FATHER: I just want my kid back. He's my best friend. And I miss him so much.

BOLDUAN: Carter's troubles began after playing an online video game. In a post-game conversation on Facebook, another player called him, quote "f'd up in the head." Justin then wrote the following, "I'm f'd in the head, all right. I think I'm-a shoot up a kindergarten and watch the blood of the innocent rain down, and eat the beating heart of one of them."

JENNIFER CATER: He has consistently stood by the fact that he was just joking. He had no intent of harming anyone.

BOLDUAN: Justin is now home instead of being in solitary confinement, but he still faces a long legal battle ahead and up to ten years in jail.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LU STOUT: Now, Justin Carter's comment. It came about two months after the mass shooting at a Connecticut elementary school. And his parents have said that he followed up with LOL and J/K to indicate that he wasn't serious. And authorities did not find weapons in their home.

Now CNN has reached out to the district attorney who cannot comment, because it is a pending case.

Now civil liberties advocates say that while Carter's post was distasteful, it was protected by the first amendment.

And just a short time ago, Justin Carter, he spoke exclusively to CNN USA. He says he will take a different approach to social media now.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JUSTIN CARTER: Well, I certainly would have thought a lot more about what I said and how permanent my writing is and everyone's writing. And I just want to make it clear that people should be very, very careful of what they say and it's being recorded all the time if you say it on any website anywhere. And you can get in trouble for something that's not something you should get in trouble for. And I just want people to be warned.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LU STOUT: Justin Carter there.

Now Microsoft has announced a major reorganization again. The tech giant says it wants to transition into being a devices and services company. It's a reflection of the fact that Microsoft is now not just a software company, they are also a hardware company thanks to their Windows Surface tablets. But critics say that Microsoft has tried to do this many times before and that its corporate culture is so competitive, it's hard to get different units to even cooperate.

And there's also that complaint that some of Microsoft's best work never actually makes it to customers.

Now, you're looking at a prototype for a Microsoft device, it's called Courier. And Gadget obtained this video supposedly showing a dual screens tablet from Microsoft. You could use it with a stylus or with your finger. And the most amazing thing about this video, this video is from 2009, a full year before the iPad was announced.

But Courier was never officially announced by Microsoft. It took them until late last year to release their own tablet.

Now one of Microsoft's more successful pieces of hardware is their gaming console, the Xbox. And the Xbox One is due out later this year. And Microsoft is pitching the console at a curious audience: small businesses.

In this open letter on Microsoft.com the company says that the Xbox One makes a great business expense because companies can use its built-in camera for Skype calls. And the letter also boasts about the Xbox One's ability to use internet explorer and Microsoft office. But curiously, there is no mention of its ability to play games.

You're watching News Stream. And still to come, the Taliban, they tried to silence her, but today Malala speaks at the United Nations. Coming up next on News Stream, we'll go there live and tell you about the day proclaimed in her honor.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

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

Now media have been called to Moscow's Sheremetyevo Airport where Edward Snowden is believed to have been holed up in a transit area since leaving Hong Kong for Russia on June 23. You're looking at live pictures on your screen. Russian official we don't have an identity of him just yet speaking right now. We're working to find out what is being discussed at this moment, but we do know that Snowden this day in the coming hours is set to meet with Moscow based human rights activists this Friday.

Now he could face espionage charges if he returns to the United States. And we'll continue to monitor that press conference underway at the Moscow airport.

Now meanwhile, here in the region Typhoon Soulik is whipping up massive 12 meter waves as it heads for Taiwan. An orange wave warning has been raised to red and the preparations for the storm are fully underway.

Now government offices and schools in the Typhoons path on the island's northern tip, they were all closed on Friday afternoon.

Now pro-Morsy protesters are out on the streets of Cairo once again. The Muslim Brotherhood called for a million man march to demand the deposed president be reinstated. Now opponents also called rival rallies to support the formation of a new interim government.

And authorities in Indonesia, they are trying to track down prisoners who got away in a huge jail break on the island of Sumatra. More than 200 inmates escaped from the prison after a power outage led to a riot. Authorities say prisoners, they lit fires and stole guns from guards. At least five people were killed: two guards and three inmates.

Now just nine months ago, it looked as though this young Pakistani activist had been silenced by a viscious Taliban attack. But Malala Yousafzai is celebrating her 16th birthday today. And her voice is louder than ever.

Now Fionnuala Sweeney reminds us of this school girl's remarkable courage.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MALALA YOUSAFZAI, PAKISTANI WOMEN'S RIGHTS ADVOCATE: I have rights. I have the right of education. I have the right to play. I have the right to sing. I have the right to talk. I have the right to go to market. I have the right to speak up.

FIONNUALA SWEENEY, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: She's become the voice for girls around the world. In 2011, CNN interviewed Malala Yousafzai, a Pakistani girl who gained international headlines two years earlier for speaking out for girl's education through a blog she wrote under a pseudonym.

YOUSAFZAI: When I see my name in the newspaper, I feel that, yeah, god has given this honor to me and I should accept it.

SWEENEY: Malala's life changed forever on October 9, 2012 when on her way home from school in Pakistan's Swat Valley, a group of armed Taliban boarded her school bus, asked for her by name, and shot her in the head.

Two of her classmates were also wounded in the attack.

But Malala's injuries were so severe doctors didn't think she's survive.

She was airlifted to a military hospital in Peshawar where she had surgery to remove the bullet lodged in her shoulder.

From the UAE to Germany to the U.S., doctors from around the world offered to treat the young girl. But ultimately Malala flew to the UK where she continued treatment at Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham.

When hearing about the attack, people around the world were inspired by her courage. Many attended prayer vigils and lit candles, others stood in support of her efforts through rallies, holding up her picture and demanding change.

Malala was discharged from the hospital in January and underwent reconstructive surgery a month later.

In 2011, when asked why it was important for her to take up this cause, she told our Reza Sayah...

YOUSAFZAI: When I looked at my people and my school fellows and the ban on the girl's education and the Taliban, so I thought that I must stand up for my rights -- the right of education, the right for peace.

SWEENEY: Malala is attending school in the UK, but she continues her fight for education. And worldwide support for her continues despite threats from the Taliban.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LU STOUT: Now just over an hour from now, Malala is due to make her first public speech since the attack. It is about the importance of global access to education. And it happens at the United Nations. And CNN's Fionnuala Sweeney is there. She joins us live. And Fionnuala, Malala set to make this address shortly. What will she be asking for?

SWEENEY: Well, the purpose of her speech here at the United Nations in just over an hour Kristie is to petition the world body that is the United Nations to make sure that global education is provided for every child by 2015, that's just the year after next, that is quite a tall order.

She's also bringing a petition of some 3 million children who are behind her, because this young lady has really become the focal point for this movement behind getting global education.

It's Malala day. It's her birthday, her 16th birthday. And if the Taliban had had their way, she wouldn't be seeing it -- Kristie.

LU STOUT: Now millions you mentioned have signed Malala's petition. And I can assume that many are also there in New York to see her speak and to join her on this Malala Day. Who is there to take part in this historic day?

SWEENEY: Well, she's going to be joined by 500 young people from something like 85 countries. They'll be in the hall supporting her. But also the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon who will be affirming global education for children as part of the Millenium goals of the United Nations.

Also there, will be the UN envoy for education globally Gordon Brown, the former British prime minister. And we hope to be talking to him a little later today.

But a lot of the focus will be on this young lady. She has her own autobiography coming out at the age of 16. She's lead a very filled life. And the autobiography will be titled, "I Am Malala." And as I say she really has galvanized everyone's hope for education around the world.

There have been disparate lonely voices in the past, but this young lady has really through coming so close to tragedy in her own life, almost losing her own life, has now become that focal point to try and have global education for the 57 million young people who do not have access to it today.

LU STOUT: You know, UN leaders, the UN chief himself, will all be there to listen to her urgent appeal. And Malala calls it an education emergency. Girls around the world under pressure, under threat around the world. The right for an education for both boys and girls.

Is there a sense of urgency at the UN to do something to answer her call?

SWEENEY: There's absolutely a sense of urgency which is why Malala day is being held today, being called for by the United Nations. But as many people have often said in the past, the UN is only as good or as strong as its member countries. And while many developing countries -- look at South Korea for example -- decided many years ago that they were a developing country, they would put an emphasis on education. It hasn't been replicated in other developing countries around the world.

There are different reasons in different countries why children aren't getting access to education. For example, you have the Taliban in Pakistan, as Malala only knows too well herself from her own experience. In Africa, you have different reasons. Some of it is conflict such as you have in Syria.

There are many different reasons. But usually they go hand-in-hand with economic development and how well a country is doing and how much emphasis they want to place on education

So, yes, here at the United Nations, there's definitely a sense of urgency about it, but whether or not that is replicated right now around the world, well that's something Malala is going to try to achieve today.

LU STOUT: All right. Fionnuala Sweeney joining us live from the UN, thank you so much for that.

And ahead of Malala's speech at UN headquarters in New York, we want to look at the state of education in Pakistan. Now Malala is from Swat Valley. And students there risked their lives to go to school. And some fear further attacks like the one on Malala.

But Saima Mohsin found that many are still determined to get an education.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SAIMA MOHSIN, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: The Swat Valley, a peaceful, beautiful town where holiday makers once flocked to, until the Taliban stormed in.

The group ran a ruthless campaign bombing girl schools and carrying out public executions. The military fought them back, but last year Malala Yousafzai, just 15 at the time, was shot at pointblank range for encouraging young girls to get an education.

UZMA SAJAD, AGE 17: Firstly, we were scared. All of my friends and us, we were so sad, too, because she was a little girl. She was junior than us. and we had sympathy for her.

But you know slowly, slowly everything just changed. We started going to our (inaudible), our schools, and that (inaudible) that just -- there was finished slowly, slowly.

SARA SAJAD, AGE 17: We should not stop this education, because of someone else or because of the scare of something.

MOHSIN: These young girls are all defying the Taliban by going to school, breaking new ground for their families, breaking cultural taboos.

ANUM SHAH, AGE 17 (through translator): Yes, there was a time when young girls couldn't get an education, but women didn't give up hope or strength. We studied in our homes, we hid and came to school in secret. Pakistan's females are very strong and brave.

S. SAJAD: I want to be an engineer (inaudible). I love engineering. I don't know why, but I hope to be an engineer.

U. SAJAD: I want to be independent. I want to be myself. I don't want to get to be dependent on somebody else -- my parents, anybody else, I want to be myself. And that's why I want to be educated.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: From the lungs into the blood.

MOHSIN: There are male teachers at this all women's college. Their female teachers didn't want to be filmed or interviewed, a sign of a different generation. The students faces covered here only for the camera.

(on camera): Malala's shooting put the spotlight on Swat and girl's education. And there's been a mixed response. While many, like the girls I met today, are determined to gain an education, others are reluctant to speak out. A number of the schools I contacted didn't want to be filmed because they simply don't want the attention. The threat of another Taliban attack a constant concern.

(voice-over): CNN asked to film at Malala's old school, but the principle declined. She wants to encourage young girls to continue going to school. She doesn't want them to become a target.

I visited a girl's college in Swat soon after Malala's shooting last October. They were adamant to continue with their education. It was due to be renamed the Malala Yousafzai College in her honor. Days later, authorities changed their mind after parents said their daughters would be scared to study there.

And last week, Shazia (ph), the teenager sitting next to Malala on the school bus when she was shot, left Swat to study in the UK.

But the brave young girls that remain in Swat are determined and confident they will not give in to extremist threats.

U. SAJAD: We are not scared now. We want to seek knowledge. We want to learn more and more. And in our life, god is with us, we'll do it. I'll materialize my dreams as it is my parents' dream. I'm strong. My friends are strong. And I think all women, all girls of Pakistan are strong. And we prove it.

MOHSIN: Saima Mohsin, CNN, Swat, Pakistan.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LU STOUT: Such a brave young woman. And inspiring words there from Pakistan.

And we will bring you Malala's speech when it happens. CNN has special coverage from the United Nations. And it starts in the next hour.

Now let's take you back to Russia now where there is an update on the NSA leaker Edward Snowden. He had apparently invited human rights activists to meet him at the airport where he's believed to have been staying nearly three weeks.

Now a news conference just took place. A statement was made. Phil Black joins us on the line now.

And Phil, just what was announced?

PHIL BLACK, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: So, what we've been seeing here, Kristie -- this is terminal S, Moscow Sheremetyevo Airport. There's been a huge media pack of Russian and international journalists here, because Edward Snowden invited a group of Russian-based human rights activists and representatives to come here to this terminal today and meet him in the transit area.

What we've been seeing over the last 15 minutes or so are some of those representatives arriving here for that meeting. They've been speaking to the media as they were waiting, explaining why they have come here and agreed to this meeting. Many of them simply just curious to hear the circumstances of this man's case from himself, the opportunity to speak with him to hear specifically why he is here, why he has done what he has done, what he hopes to do, and his future plans from this point.

And they're also very interested in why he has been unable to leave the country up until this point.

Now just a few moments ago, that group of around -- I think there may have been six or so of these human rights activists were just led away to where we believe this meeting is taking place. It is taking place somewhere within the transit area in secure area of the airport. And we're not sure where precisely where, but we've been told it will not be taking place in public view. And journalists will not be allowed to witness it.

So it will be very interesting to wait, to hear and listen to these people. Once they come back from this meeting, precisely what their impressions are, and precisely what Edward Snowden had to say to them -- Kristie.

LU STOUT: All right, so this meeting with Snowden is still yet to come, this meeting with human rights activists there at the Moscow Airport and perhaps in the transit area.

You've been keeping tabs on Snowden ever since he touched down there in Moscow. What is the latest thinking about his next move?

BLACK: Well, I think the decision to call this meeting is an interesting one. He's clearly -- he's unhappy. The letter of invitation that he sent out to these various activists spoke very critically of what he called an unlawful campaign by the United States, and unprecedented campaign, to stop a political refugee seeking asylum.

And he made specific reference to the European countries that closed their airspace to the Bolivian president recently because there was a suspicion that Snowden may have been on that aircraft as well.

I think what it shows is kind of what we've suspected up until this point, that is that despite the fact he has received offers of asylum from a number of Latin American countries, as it stands at the moment, largely because of the apparent determination of the United States and its allies, he has no viable way of traveling there, no viable way without some risk of him being intercepted, no way that can guarantee of his continued freedom.

So, his need to call this meeting to vent his frustration, if you like, I think shows that he has no option for leaving this airport any time soon -- Kristie.

LU STOUT: So, a sign of desperation.

Phil Black joining us live on the line from Moscow, thank you very much indeed for giving us that briefing.

Now you're watching News Stream. And coming up next, the latest in Dr. Sanjay Gupta's special report on dealing with dementia. We go back to the village designed especially for those who severely suffer from the condition.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LU STOUT: Now, all this week we've been bringing you stories from a special village in the Netherlands that was especially built with people with severe dementia. Now the private, gated community of Hogewey rarely grants access to the media, but CNN was allowed in to get a glimpse at its unconventional approach to a difficult condition.

Now our chief medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta spoke to caregivers and residents about their lives there. And he joins me now live from CNN Center. And Sanjay, you were able to spend a good few days there inside the village. Could you tell us a little bit more about what daily life is like for the residents?

DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Yeah, it was a pretty remarkable place, Kristie, again because every resident there does have severe dementia. But when you walk into the village you couldn't necessarily tell right away who were the caregivers, who were the people with dementia. The caregivers are about two to one, so there are a lot of caregivers there as well.

I can tell you, it becomes abundantly clear after you spend some time just how profound an impact this dementia has on their lives. I talk to this one woman named Jo and really started to get an idea of what she was experiencing. Just take a listen to a small part of that conversation.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GUPTA: How old are you?

JO VERHOEF, HOGEWEY RESIDENT: I am been born in -- oh, what -- I've been...

(LAUGHTER)

GUPTA: Hard to remember.

VERHOEF: 1926, I mean.

GUPTA: 1926?

VERHOEF: I mean -- I don't know exactly.

GUPTA: I don't know exactly. You hear that a lot around here. As time goes by, the grasp on reality fades for residents like Jo Verhoef.

VERHOEF: Yes.

GUPTA: What do you do?

VERHOEF: I get some (inaudible) -- I don't know. Tomorrow, I know it when I have to go to it.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

GUPTA: It's -- these are tough conversations, Kristie, as you might imagine. But one of the tips I heard from the caregivers there as well was that, you know, a lot of the logic is also gone along with the memory so don't try and correct people with dementia. If she says she's going to see her parents tomorrow and said you remind them how old they are and would their parents still be living?

And so those are a lot of the types of conversations that we had, Kristie.

LU STOUT: Yeah. Such a touching exchange there. Now, there were also families, friends, even school children visiting the residents while you were there. What sorts of things did they tell you about how Hogewey has changed their lives?

GUPTA: Yeah, you know, that's a really important point. And I'll tell you, when you think about what life is like for a lot of people around the world with severe dementia, it often means anonymous buildings, anonymous wards, lots of television, medications. People -- family members, I should say don't -- I mean, they don't want to visit those places as much. To your question, to your point, they wanted to visit a place like Hogewey much more so. It's a much more welcoming environment. The residents there are up walking around. We know that they take fewer medications. We know that they eat better. We know they get more exercise. And we also know that they seem happier, at least according to the people who founded this place.

So as a result, I think family members are more likely to visit.

LU STOUT: Thanks to your reporting, viewers from all over the world have been learning about Hogewey and how it is such an innovative way to help those with severe dementia and help them to lead better lives. And a lot of people must be asking the question, can Hogewey be repeated in my neighborhood? Do you think this model could be replicated, it can be built outside the Netherlands?

GUPTA: Yeah, you know, I've been asking the same thing as I've been starting to report this.

You know, I think that this is a uniquely Dutch model, what we're specifically showing here with Hogewey. But the idea of recognizing that the number of people with severe dementia is just going to grow exponentially over the next 30, 40 years has gotten everyone sort of thinking about better ways to deal with the end of the lives with people with severe dementia. But while it may not be this exact model, the idea that it just wouldn't be a hospital setting, but more of a town setting or something that would be familiar to people may start to catch on.

It's also a government run healthcare system in the Netherlands and that helps to fray a lot of the costs for the individuals, that's going to be something that will need to be addressed as well, because it's expensive, you know, $70,000 to $80,000, for example, a year in the United States to take care of something with severe dementia.

LU STOUT: Oh, Dr. Sanjay Gupta, thank you so much for your reporting. You've really kicked off a global conversation about humane caregiving. Thank you so much and take care.

GUPTA: You too. Thank you.

LU STOUT: And you can watch the full documentary about three hours from now, in fact. It is the premiere of World's Untold Stories: Dementia Village. It's at 4:30 in the afternoon in London, 7:30 pm in Abu Dhabi, and 11:30 here in Hong Kong.

And Sanjay has also shared five things he learned in Hogewey from the calming effect of the hair salon to the power of simply holding hands. You can read it at CNN.com/

Now you are watching News Stream. And up next, Google's Street View trekker team has made it to the top of Mount Fuji in their quest to digitally map the path up the volcano. And we will take you to the summit.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LU STOUT: Now, what happens when you combine a tornado with sharks? Well, you get the made for TV movie that people just can't stop talking about. I present "Sharknado."

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The storm is coming and it's coming fast.

(SCREAMS)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The tornado, we need to destroy it, because it gets...

Watch out.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Can't just wait here and wait for sharks to rain down on us.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Too many of them. We're going to need a bigger chopper.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LU STOUT: Yep. "Sharknado," it is about a super tornado that sucks up sharks and rains them down on Los Angeles. It aired on the Syfy Channel, which is also behind the titles "Aracnoquake," "Sharktopus" and "Pirahnaconda." Now some say the Twitter comments about the "Sharknado" may be better than the movie itself. And we think that may have been the point.

Now, as we told you on Thursday, Google is in the process of mapping Japan's Mount Fuji. And the trekker team has now climbed to the summit carrying a special camera that's nearly 3,800 meters. And the camera weighs some 18 kilos. Diana Magnay brings us the view from the top.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DIANA MAGNAY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Kristie, Google is on a mission to produce a perfect digital map of the world. And part of that is its Street View technology, the technology which provides us with a 360 degree panoramic view of the world as you and I see it.

And we've joined the Street View trekking team right to the top of Mount Fuji, all 3,776 meters of it, to find out how this technology works and what it means for you.

There are 300,000 tourists who climb up Fuji each year. And those numbers are expected to rise given the fact that Fuji just acquired UNESCO listed heritage status.

And it's worth it. Look at that view. It is absolutely fantastic.

But I tell you what, if you make that climb before sunrise, be aware that it is extremely congested. There are a lot of people trying to do the same thing too.

A bit of insight, if you, too, are planning on making this trek -- and a look at what you're missing out on if you're not -- Kristie. (END VIDEOTAPE)

LU STOUT: All right. Thank you Diana.

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

END