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NEWS STREAM

Ben Affleck Takes On Role Of Batman; Two Explosions Rock Tripoli, Lebanon; Bo Xilai's Wife Testifies Against Him; Gareth Bale's Possible Move To Real Madrid; North, South Korea Discussing Family Reunions; Interview with Antoinette Tuff

Aired August 23, 2013 - 08:00   ET

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


PAULINE CHIOU, HOST: I'm Pauline Chiou in Hong Kong. And welcome to New Stream where news and technology meet.

President Obama tells CNN that Syria's alleged use of chemical weapons is of grave concern.

The wife of disgraced Chinese politician Bo Xilai testifies via video at his trial.

And you're looking at the man set to take up one of the biggest roles in Hollywood. Ben Affleck is the next Batman.

Deadly explosions have been reported in Lebanon. They happened in the northern city of Tripoli. The country's state news agency says both blasts happened near mosques. Friday is the Muslim day of prayer. At least 12 deaths have been reported.

Mohammed Jamjoom is following developments from Beirut. And Mohammed, I know this has just happened so details are probably still pretty fuzzy, but what have you learned so far?

MOHAMMED JAMJOOM, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yeah, Pauline, you're absolutely right. We're still waiting on more details to emerge. But we've heard there were two powerful blasts, one outside the al-Taqma (ph) mosque, one outside of the al-Salaa (ph) mosque in the (inaudible) section of Tripoli, that's the northern port city here in Lebanon.

Now there have been tensions in Tripoli for some time now. Tripoli is a predominantly Sunni city, but it's a city where there is a divide there. There is a sectarian divide. There are supporters there of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. And there are opponents of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. And because of that, and because of the spillover of violence from the Syrian civil war in the last two years since the onset of the Syrian civil war, we've seen intermittently more and more attacks and more and more violence happening sporadically in Tripoli.

This -- the indication we're getting so far from these attacks today is that this is most likely an occurrence because of the spillover of the violence from the Syrian civil war.

But we must add that at this point there has been no claim of responsibility. Nobody is claiming any fingers yet as who might be behind this. The concern right now is that the casualty count may rise in the hours to come.

As you said, right now NNA, the state news agency reporting at least 12 people killed. We're hearing reports from people here in Lebanon saying that these were powerful explosions, there's quite a bit of concern that this may continue. There is worry that violence might get worse in Tripoli. As I said, Tripoli is a volatile city. There are sections of that city where you see violence on -- I wouldn't say a regular basis, but on an intermittent basis.

The flareups there happen more regularly than you might think. And again, a lot of that is due to the sectarian split and due to the spillover of violence from the Syrian civil war -- Pauline.

CHIOU: And Mohammed, one of the blasts happened near the home of the prime minister. Do you have any update on where he was and whether he was harmed?

JAMJOOM: We've heard from the state news agency that the prime minister, Mikati, the caretaker prime minister rather Mikati, that he was not harmed, that he was not in Tripoli, not near his home of the time of his explosion. That did raise quite a few alarm bells when it was reported that there was a blast somewhat close to his home.

But again, details still particularly sketchy at this hour. We're still waiting for a fuller picture to emerge to try to figure out who exactly may have been behind this.

In the last couple of months, you've seen more attacks going on in different parts of Lebanon. Last month and this month you had car bombs going off in the southern part of Beirut. This is in a neighborhood called Dahiyeh (ph) which is considered to be a stronghold of Hezbollah, but is also a residential neighborhood, that is very densely populated.

Just last week you had over 30 people killed in that blast. Many people attributed that blast again to the effective spillover of violence from the Syrian civil war. Many people figured that that happened because of the anger that's being directed toward Hezbollah, because Hezbollah sent fighters into Syria to help bolster the forces of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

So that's just one aspect of the mounting violence and the frequency of the attacks that's going on here in Lebanon.

Today, you have Tripoli. But again in Tripoli, these attacks are intermittent. These look to be quite spectacular attacks. The indications we're getting right now is that they were really big. And many people do believe the casualty count will go up in the hours to come -- Pauline.

CHIOU: All right, Mohammed, thank you very much for the update on this developing story of these two blasts within minutes apart in northern Lebanon.

Now to the search for truth in Syria. The United Nations and leaders around the world are demanding that Damascus allow a UN team to investigate claims of a chemical weapons attack. Opposition activists say more than 1,300 people were poisoned to death by government forces on Wednesday.

U.S. President Barack Obama spoke about this alleged massacre in an exclusive interview on New Day with CNN's Chris Cuomo.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Well, we are right now gathering information about this particular event, but I can say that unlike some of the evidence we were trying to get earlier that led to a U.N. investigator going into Syria, what we've seen indicates clearly this is a big event, of grave concern, and we are already in communications with the entire international community. We're moving through the U.N. to try to prompt better action from them, and we've called on the Syrian government to allow an investigation of the site because U.N. inspectors are on the ground now. We don't expect cooperation given their past history and what I do believe is that although the situation in Syria is very difficult and the notion that the U.S. can somehow solve what is a sectarian complex problem inside of Syria, sometimes it is overstated.

CUOMO: But delay can be deadly, right, Mr. President?

OBAMA: There is no doubt that when you start seeing chemical weapons used on a large scale and, again, we're still gathering information about this particular event, but it is very troublesome.

CUOMO: There's strong proof they used them already in the past.

OBAMA: That starts getting to some core national interests that the United States has both in terms of us making sure that weapons of mass destruction are not proliferating, as well as needing to protect our allies, our bases in the region. This is something that is going to require America's attention, hopefully the entire international community's attention.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHIOU: Syria's ally, Russia, is also calling on the Assad government to cooperate with the United Nations, but it says the Syrian opposition must also let UN inspectors into the area of this alleged chemical attack since they control that region.

And speaking in Seoul, South Korea, the United Nations secretary general had this to say.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BAN KI-MOON, UN SECRETARY GENERAL: I'm especially troubled by reports of that chemical weapons might have been used against the civilian populations. Any use of chemical weapons anywhere by anybody under any circumstances would violate international law. Such a crime humanity should result in serious consequences for the perpetrator.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHIOU: Shocking videos posted online purport to show the victims of a chemical attack. But on the streets of Damascus, Fred Pleitgen talked to many people who are actually skeptical. And we want to warn you the images in this report are disturbing.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

FRED PLEITGEN, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): These images continue to shock the world. Syrian opposition groups say the videos are evidence the Assad regime used chemical weapons in a Damascus suburb. And many around the world are calling for tougher action.

But here in the streets of government-controlled Damascus, many say they don't believe their military resorted to the use of nerve agents. "The government would never use chemical weapons," this man tells me, "because Bashar Al-Assad is part of the country. He's grown up here. They're Syrians."

"I believe that if anything was hit, it was the Free Syrian Army," this man says.

Those we spoke to confirmed there appeared to be a massive military operation underway early Wednesday, with war planes dropping bombs and artillery firing for hours.

But staff at this hospital say the patients they treated suffered only from wounds from conventional weapons.

(on camera): This is the Mezzah University hospital. They wouldn't let us film inside, but staff members told us they did receive a large number of casualties on Wednesday from the areas where attacks allegedly took place. But they also said none of these casualties had any signs of being subjected to chemicals.

(voice-over): Images like these, however, indicate that some form of chemicals seem to have been used, many experts say. The U.N. secretary- general is calling on the Assad regime to allow weapons inspectors fast access to the sites.

EDUARDO DEL BUEY, DEPUTY SPOKESPERSON FOR THE SECRETARY-GENERAL: A formal request is being sent by the United Nations to the government of Syria in this regard. He expects to receive a positive response without delay.

PLEITGEN: U.N. teams have been on the ground in Damascus for several days. But when I tried to ask the chief U.N. chemical weapons inspector, Ake Sellstrom, if his team would visit the site of Wednesday's alleged attack, he wouldn't answer.

(on camera): And are you going to be able to investigate the chemical weapons claims...

(CROSSTALK)

AKE SELLSTROM, CHIEF U.N. WEAPONS INSPECTOR: I cannot talk to you. I'm sorry.

PLEITGEN (voice-over): The Assad government denies using chemical weapons, a claim many in the international community want to see verified by the U.N. teams on the ground.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CHIOU: And that was Fred Pleitgen reporting.

You're watching News Stream. And coming up, the wife of fallen Chinese politician Bo Xilai testifies against him via video. We'll tell you what she said.

In India, word of an arrest after police say a photographer is gang raped in the financial capital of Mumbai. We'll bring you the latest.

And in Egypt, we'll show you what Cairo is like under curfew.

Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

CHIOU: You're watching News Stream. And you're looking at a visual version of all the stories we've got in the show today.

A few minutes ago, we brought you part of an interview with President Obama where he spoke out about the alleged use of chemical weapons in Syria. A little later, we'll tell you what's next for Bradley Manning after he says he wants to live as a woman.

And now let's update you on the trial of former Chinese politician Bo Xilai. The high profile proceeding has delivered more surprises. Bo has kept up his vigorous defense against corruption charges. And he will get at least one more chance to challenge the prosecution's case. Court is scheduled to reconvene tomorrow on Saturday. And that will be day three of Bo Xilai's trial.

Many analysts had expected it to be over today, but David McKenzie joins us now with more details from Jinan.

David, there was videotape testimony today from Bo Xlai's wife What did she say? And what was his reaction to it?

DAVID MCKENZIE, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, Pauline, very interesting that Gu Kailai, Bo Xilai's wife, had that video testimony. In some ways, the star witness thus far by the prosecution, the state prosecution, of Bo Xilai, this former high flying politician here in China who has been brought down by a very complicated and salacious scandal.

Gu Kailai came across saying that she was involved in dodgy business dealings in Europe, particularly, and that she was also -- that her son -- her son Bo Guagua was threatened by the British businessman Neil Heywood which resulted in his murder.

She said that Bo Xilai knew about all of those dodgy dealings. His response was that she was, quote, insane, mad, and really not fit to give testimony.

And so a lot of dirty laundry being aired in this case of a family that was once considered one of the top powerful families here in China, a shoe-in for Bo Xilai to be in the highest level of leadership in the land with the Communist Party and all of this being played out in public to a certain extent with a court releasing the information of what's going on in the trial to the general public here in China. Very unusual -- Pauline.

CHIOU: David, most China watchers say the verdict has been predetermined, but the trial really hasn't gone as planned, because Bo Xilai has been quite defiant.

So could this possibly change the outcome of the trial?

MCKENZIE: I don't think it will change the outcome in terms of Bo Xilai being found guilty. And certainly we don't really know if it's just part of the whole plan that they wanted to give Bo Xilai the opportunity to defend himself or perhaps even that this is on some level a more fair trial than usual in China.

It's all speculation at this point. But one thing we do know is that the community party rules the court. There's no separation between the judicial system and the party and government, so they will effectively do what they like, most analysts believe. And there's a 99.9 percent conviction rate for criminals here in China, according to the U.S. State Department.

So we do believe he'll be found guilty. It will be very surprising if he's not.

Perhaps, though, this will effect the level of sentencing. And also one thing to bear in mind, Pauline, is Bo Xilai might be on some level at least willing in the court of public opinion here in China, with these transcripts being released, the general public can see what a spirited defense he's been putting up and potentially some could get swayed to his side -- Pauline.

CHIOU: David, I also understand that some of Bo's family members may be in that court room. What do you know about them? And are they speaking out?

MCKENZIE: They're not speaking out directly. Certainly several family members of Bo Xilai are there, including, actually the son of his first wife is there. Of course, Bo Guagua, the other son who is from the marriage of Gu Kailai and Bo, is in the U.S. and has questioned the validity already of these proceedings from where he is studying there in New York.

There hasn't been direct comments. Certainly CNN from our sources inside the court, because we are not allowed in there to report freely, are saying that Bo Xilai appears confident. He does seem somewhat more frail than he was when he went in to his confinement. But it's interesting we haven't seen or heard from Bo Xilai since he was stripped from his party credentials way back in march last year. When the party goes against one of their own, they go hard and they go swiftly, but they have taken their time to get to this court proceeding and so with that methodical gathering of evidence and the fact that they're having this court proceeding here in Jinan now.

We do believe, still, that they think they have the proceedings under control, moving into a second, in fact a third day, excuse me, tomorrow where they'll hear further evidence and perhaps more salacious details of the formerly powerful family which is being brought down to size in a big way in the last few days.

CHIOU: It certainly has been a fascinating and a very revealing trial so far.

David, thank you very much for the latest on the Bo Xilai trial. That's David McKenzie reporting from eastern China.

Meanwhile in India, there's another report of sexual assault, this time in the financial capital of Mumbai. Police say as 23-year-old photojournalist was gang raped by five men. The young woman is now at a hospital in stable condition. Police say they've arrested one suspect and identified several others in connection with this attack.

And this latest incident comes as a shock to many people in Mumbai, which is the city considered to be one of the safest in India for women. And it definitely brings to mind a deadly gang rape case that happened eight months ago in New Delhi.

CNN's Mallika Kapur is following the developments from Mumbai. Let's go to her now live.

Mallika, this is just another horrific story. What other details have you learned about this particular case?

MALLIKA KAPURE, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, at the moment the latest information we have is from Mumbai's chief police commissioner and he gave us an update on the investigation. He says the one arrest has been made, four people have been detained.

He did recently tell reporters that there will be another press conference in about two hours from now. So the feeling is that they might be announcing some further arrests. So we will have that information for you in about two hours from now. But as of now, one arrest has been made and four men have been detained.

He says that the girl's testimony has played a very important role in leading to these men being detained and to the one arrest. She's cooperated with the police. She was in a condition where she was able to tell them very clearly about what happened to her. She was able to describe the men and it was her description that lead to them being able to come up with sketches of these men.

He said there was a good 80 to 85 percent likeness of the sketches to these men and that played a really important part in helping them detain these five suspects.

As far as the girl is concerned, we have information from the hospital. She is in stable condition, obviously very, very traumatized, but in a position to talk to doctors and to the police.

And an update on the city, as you said, Pauline, you know every body here in Mumbai is absolutely outraged, deeply disappointed, because Mumbai definitely has had a reputation of being a really safe city for women. Women have been able to travel here, commute, go to work, come back without ever having to worry about their personal safety. And after this incident, that has unfortunately changed.

CHIOU: Yeah. It's just been horrible to hear the details about this. And it's one of those stories that makes you say it happened again?

Well, the government recently passed tougher new laws after that December incident that I mentioned. And then there was that awful incident with a 7-year-old girl who was raped on a train recently.

Is there a feeling that these new laws are not enough?

KAPUR: Yes. I think it's fair to say that the general feeling in India is that these new laws are not enough. At the same time, there is a sense of satisfaction that there are new laws and that the new laws call for much stricter punishment. Under the new laws, if a victim dies after she's been raped, then the rapist can get the death penalty. So these are some very serious punishments that have been introduced as a result of the new laws.

But clearly it's not enough, because the number of crimes against women has not come down since these laws are introduced. It has only been a few months.

I think what will be interesting to see is the verdict when it comes to the December gang rape that you talked about. That was a turning point for India, that December gang rape. Since then, women's safety has been under the spotlight so much in India.

So we're just a few weeks away from the verdict. We'll see what the verdict says. And the country is waiting to see what kind of punishment, what sentencing those rapists get. And I think that will be a very interesting one to see, because as of now, at the moment, you know, the new law -- the punishment in India just isn't serious enough to deter men from committing these atrocious acts against women.

CHIOU: And Mallika, we'll be coming back to you when those sentences do get handed down.

Thank you very much, Mallika Kapur. Mallika Kapur there live from Mumbai.

And you're watching News Stream. Coming up, this 89-year-old man has been searching for his relatives for 60 years. Talks begin between North and South Korea to help him and thousands of others find their families.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

CHIOU: Here's a beautiful skyline shot of Hong Kong over Victoria harbor on this Friday night. You see some clouds there. A little bit of haze. But it's a different story over parts of China where there is a storm brewing.

Mari Ramos is live at the world weather center with more -- Mari.

MARI RAMOS, CNN WEATHER CORRESPONDENT: Yeah, the storm has been around for quite awhile. It's actually the remnants of what was Typhoon Trami after it made landfall.

There's not much left of that particular storm, but it is still bringing some heavy rain at times across portions of China.

Look at this picture, this is from the Philippines. And that area is still also recovering, of course, from that monsoon surge, which was a combination of the heavy rain from the monsoon, enhanced by Typhoon Trami - - or Tropical Storm Trami at the time that was to the north.

This is one little girl, one in 500,000 you could say, because she is one of the people living in temporary shelters out of almost 500,000 people, half a million people, across the Philippines that are still in shelters because of the high water.

There's another half a million that are still in their homes, that stayed in their homes, that didn't evacuate and they're still living in areas like this. Overall, about 1.2 million people have been affected by the flooding, by that serious flooding across that area.

Now, I know you guys are very concerned about the potential for more rain. And we are still going to see rain over the weekend. There is another area of low pressure that's over here, well out here into the Philippine Sea. This will bring probably some rainfall across this eastern side of the central Philippines, but as we head into next week -- and this is far away -- but possibly into next week, if that weather system does develop and heads again here north parallel to the coastline, we could be looking at another scenario where the potential for more heavy rain is possible.

So be on the lookout for this and be prepared early next week to see what's going to happen with this storm. So watch out for that.

And, you know, going back to China now, there's the remnants of the storm and you can see a lot of heavy rain into these areas. Overall, beneficial rainfall there, because they have been into such dry conditions into that region, we just don't want all the rain to happen at once.

Now a little bit of a different story that I want to end up with here, Pauline. Maybe you're looking for something to do this weekend. It's not too far away, right? We're going to go ahead and head to just south of Shanghai. And this time of year you tend to see a very large tidal bore. What's a tidal bore? Well, take a look at this. What happens is when the -- this happens in areas typically where they have very large tidal ranges. So the water goes out, but when it comes in, that's what it looks like. And what happens is when you have the full moon, these tidal surges, or these waves that come in can be as high as 9 meters.

In this case, they were not that high. They tend to get the highest as we head into the equinox. So as we head into September for the autumnal equinox, that's when the largest tides tend to be. You know, literally hundreds and hundreds of people, sometimes thousands gather to see this kind of phenomenon happen.

And it does happen in different places around the world. In this place, in Hanzhou Bay (ph), it's actually the largest tidal bore in the world. They have them in other parts of the world -- oh, not a good place to be, you've got to not get washed way by the waves. But it is something people really, really love to see.

It happens in Canada, everywhere -- every continent in the world has a tidal bore. But that's the biggest one.

CHIOU: Interesting. And they were a little bit too close for comfort there.

I'm happy watching it on video instead.

All right, thank so much, Mari.

Now we move over to the Korean peninsula where North and South Korea held talks today on resuming reunions for families from both sides of the border.

A South Korean official said that session focused on details, such as the date and venue of a possible reunion and the number of family members who might be selected to take part.

Paula Hancocks meets one man who is hoping to see his family again.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

PAULA HANCOCKS, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: At the age of 89, Kim Wu Wang (ph) knows this may be his last chance to meet his two daughters he last saw 60 years ago. Applying to the Red Cross to be part of an upcoming reunion, Kim says he left 20 family members when he defected in 1950 during the Korean War to avoid fighting for his native North Korea.

"I always assumed my family was sent to a prison camp," Kim says. "But it appears you can survive and be released if you work hard and behave well. Of course those who resist don't survive."

He's had no contact with his family, but knows his parents and possibly his wife would already have passed away.

"Of course, I feel guilty," he says. "I'm only human. But this is inevitable in Korea. It's the grief of an entire nation, not just one individual."

More than 120,000 people have applied to be part of these reunions over the years. And that's just here in South Korea. There are no figures for the North.

The time is running out. Many of those applying are in their 80s and 90s. And more than 50,000 Koreans have since passed away without seeing their families one last time.

Millions of Koreans became refugees during and after the Korean War of 1950 to 1953. Many fled from one side or the other, dividing families in the process. For most families, there's been little or no contact ever since.

There have been emotional scenes at previous reunions, the last of which was held three years ago. The very fact Pyongyang and Seoul are trying to organize another meeting shows how relations have thawed between the two Koreas over recent months.

Kim knows the chances of seeing his family again are still slim. Of the thousands of families wanting to be reunited, the Korean Red Cross says only 100 families would be chosen this time around.

Paula Hancocks, CNN, Seoul.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LU STOUT: Coming up next on News Stream, Egypt's new curfew brings a heavier police presence to central Cairo.

And an emotional meeting in the United States. The woman who talked down a gunman at an elementary school meets the 911 dispatcher who took her call. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

CHIOU: I'm Pauline Chiou in Hong Kong. You're watching News Stream and these are your world headlines.

Two explosions have rocked the northern Lebanese city of Tripoli. The state news agency reports at least 13 people dead and 80 wounded. This is the latest violence amid sectarian tensions heightened by the civil war in Syria.

U.S. President Barack Obama says Washington is still trying to verify an alleged chemical weapons attack in Syria, but says early signs point to a big event of grave concern. These pictures of the alleged attack aftermath were obtained by ITV News. In an exclusive interview with CNN, Mr. Obama said the international community is working to determine exactly what happened and respond.

Chinese politician Bo Xilai has attacked the courtroom testimony of his own wife. At his trial on corruption charges, he called her mad and a liar after the court was shown a recorded interview with her. Bo rejects the accusation that he knowingly took bribes.

In Egypt, ever since the recent crackdown on supporters of ousted President Mohamed Morsy, the streets of Cairo have been calmer. That is in no small part due to a 7:00 p.m. curfew put in place in recent days.

CNN's Ian Lee takes us on a ride through Cairo's streets at night.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

IAN LEE, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Police sirens pierce the humid air in downtown Cairo, an echoing warning to curfew violators. The police and army are on patrol in the darkness. More than a dozen officers are on guard, guns at the ready.

Everyone out after 7 p.m. is stopped and questioned; their IDs carefully scrutinized while their cars are thoroughly searched.

Brigadier General Hani Girgis tells me, these are tense times.

"Sometimes we are attacked while apprehending thieves. Our night patrols are spread throughout Egypt. We've confiscated a lot of weapons, drugs and faced criminals."

The police have long been despised by the public; accused of using- heavy handed tactics but now say they are out to win hearts and minds.

"The situation has improved immensely. The wall between the police and people is broken. They realize the sacrifices the police have made to secure the country."

But tensions remain and people at checkpoints know they are under heavy scrutiny. Most don't complain about being stopped.

TAMAR MUSTAFA, CAIRO RESIDENT: I've been on the streets three hours, being stopped every 10 meters or something. And I am not at the least angry.

Egypt has had curfews before but this one is different, the streets are noticeably quieter, the police are out in force searching cars and people for anything illegal and making arrests.

Four violators were detained during one night's operation. This man returning from a hospital with his child was let go.

Two years after the revolution, authorities here on the street are sending a very strong message. "If anybody thinks about committing a crime, they'll be met by the full force of the law." A stern warning in another new Egypt.

Ian Lee, CNN, Cairo.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CHIOU: Japan's nuclear watchdog agency has lashed out at Tepco, the company responsible for running the cleanup at the devastated Fukushima nuclear power plant. A team from the regulator is inspecting the facility after the threat level at the plant was raised to three recently, representing a serious incident.

300 tons of toxic water are estimated to have leaked from holding tanks.

In unusually frank comments on Friday, the head of Japan's nuclear regulation authority sternly criticized that Tokyo Electric Power company.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TOYOSHI FUKETA, JAPANESE NUCLEAR REGULATION AUTHORITY COMMISSIONER (through translator): I have to say that Tepco's inspections have been nothing but careless. There's just so much we have to worry about. It struck me again that if we're to assume there are going to be leaks, then we can't just focus on the bolted water storage tanks, but we've also got to consider measures for the other welded ones. I want Tepco to tell us when they're out of their depth. Far more important than just telling us we're doing the best we can, or we're following correct procedure. It's for Tepco to admit we're doing our best, but we can't handle it.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHIOU: Tepco has this week asked for help from experts outside of Japan to stabilize and safely decommission damaged reactors at the Fukushima plant.

Now, let's turn to the United States. And this woman is credited with calming down gunmen who walked into a Georgia elementary school this week. Even President Barack Obama has personally thanked Antoinette Tuff for preventing a potential tragedy.

Some shots were fired on Tuesday. You can hear in this amateur video from the scene. But in the end, no one was hurt and police arrested the suspect.

Here's part of the 911 call where Tuff acted as an intermediary between the operator and the gunmen.

(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)

ANTOINETTE TUFF, TALKED DOWN GUNMAN: I can let them know that you have not tried to harm me or do anything with me or anything. If you want your -- but that doesn't make any difference, you didn't hit anybody. OK. Let me ask you this, ma'am, he didn't hit anybody. He just shot outside the door. If I walk out there with him -- if I walk out there with him so they won't shoot him or anything like that?

(END AUDIO CLIP)

CHIOU: On the other end of that call was 911 dispatcher Kendra McCray. She and Tuff finally met face-to-face on CNN's Anderson Cooper 360. And here's what Tuff had to say about the ordeal.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ANDERSON COOPER, CNN ANCHOR: How did you remain so calm throughout this?

TUFF: I was actually praying on the inside. I was terrified, but I just started praying, knowing that if I got as hysterical as I was on the inside on the outside, that he would wind up panicking.

COOPER: So inside, you were feeling -- you were feeling hysterical?

You were feeling the panic?

TUFF: Well, I was terrified on the inside, very scared.

COOPER: Where that at the end of the recording a little bit, where -- when once it's finally all over, you sort of -- this flood of emotion comes out.

TUFF: Yes, because I knew then he was -- you know, he -- I know that they already catched to him, and so I knew that at that point in time, I could actually just take a breather.

COOPER: I've heard you say that your pastor had talked about being anchored in the lord.

Is that something that got you through?

TUFF: Yes. He had just started this actual series that Sunday on being anchored. And I had told my pant -- I had told myself Monday morning that I was going to get up and start studying that morning.

So I studied Monday morning and I also studied on Tuesday. And he had been just talking about how you anchored yourself, not actually allowing life -- the cares of the world to overwhelm you, but allowing yourself to be anchored. And...

COOPER: So -- and that's what it means to be anchored, to be -- to be rooted?

TUFF: To be rooted and grounded in the world.

COOPER: Um-hmm.

TUFF: And that allows the situations that you're to dictate your actions.

COOPER: That was good timing of that sermon.

TUFF: Very good timing.

COOPER: I want to just start -- I want to play some of the 911 recordings and get your thoughts on them. This is -- this first excerpt that we're going to play is when the gunman basically has first entered the room.

Let's listen.

TUFF: OK.

I'm in the front office. Ooh, he just went outside and started shooting.

Ooh, can I run?

MCCRAY: Where -- can you get somewhere safe?

TUFF: Yes, I've got to go. No, he's going to see me running. He's coming back. Oh, hold on.

MCCRAY: Put the phone down.

TUFF: Bye. OK. She said that she is -- she is getting the policeman to tell them to back off for you, OK?

HILL: (INAUDIBLE).

TUFF: OK. OK.

HILL: (INAUDIBLE).

TUFF: Stop all movement now on the ground. Stop all movement on the ground.

COOPER: What's it like to hear that?

TUFF: I realize now how terrified I was. And that was not his actual first entrance in the building. He had been in the building for a minute by the time that actual incident happened. He had already shot before that.

COOPER: And that's when -- he left the office you were in. We heard those shots firing and then he came back in.

TUFF: That was the second time shooting.

COOPER: The second time shooting?

TUFF: Yes. He actually shot the first time in the office with me.

COOPER: And when -- when -- that first time, when he shot, I mean did you think this could be it?

TUFF: Well, what he did is he actually took the shot to allow me and the other person that was in there to know that this was not a game and that he was not playing and that he was serious.

So then I knew then that it was that for -- I knew then it was for real and that I could lose my life so.

COOPER: How did he appear to you?

I mean did he seem -- I mean when you first saw him, and he's got his AK-47.

How did he seem?

What was the look in his eyes?

TUFF: Like he didn't care. And he made it clear to me multiple times that he didn't care. He knew that he was going to die that day. And he came in purposely knowing that he was going to die and take lives with him.

COOPER: Um.

TUFF: So he let me know that from the minute that he entered the building.

COOPER: And when somebody says that to you who's heavily armed -- and later we now know he had almost 500 rounds of ammunition with him -- did you -- what do you do?

What did -- what did you think?

TUFF: Well, when he said that, I actually was like OK. And so I just kind of started really getting afraid when he actually shot the gun, because at first I was like, OK, maybe he's just playing.

But when he shot the gun and then pointed the gun up to us, you know, up toward the -- you know, to allow us to know and made gestures with the gun, then I knew he wasn't playing.

So at that point in time, I just started praying on the inside.

COOPER: Were you afraid that he was going to go in some of the classrooms, go after the kids?

TUFF: Well, he actually did go to the door. He went to the door leading up to -- when the first person actually left out, he told him to go and let everybody know that this was not a drill, that this was for real. When that person went out, other people went out with her, because they didn't -- he didn't know that other people was in the -- it was another room around the corner. And he didn't know people was there.

So he started seeing all this movement. And he actually went to that door with the gun drawn to start shooting. And the media person was there and he looked him dead in his face and started drawing his gun out.

And so I -- then I started talking to him and saying, come back in, you know, just stay in here with me. Don't go anyway. Stay in here. You know, it's going to be OK. You know, don't worry about anybody out there. You told her to go and do that, so she's doing what you told her to do.

So I just started talking to him and all that. But he was unrational at that time, because he was agitated with everything that was going on.

COOPER: We hear in the 911 call, at one point, he's talking about wanting to shoot police officers.

And I want to play that part.

TUFF: He said to tell them to back off. He doesn't want the kids, he wants the police. So back off and, um, and what else, sir?

HILL: (INAUDIBLE).

TUFF: He said he don't care if he die, he don't have nothing to live for.

HILL: (INAUDIBLE).

TUFF: And he said he's not mentally stable.

COOPER: I mean that's the last thing you want to hear somebody say when they're armed to the teeth like that. He also talked about saying that he should have gone to a mental hospital, that he was off his medication.

TUFF: Correct.

COOPER: Did that make you even more worried about who you're dealing with?

TUFF: Yes, because by the time he made that statement, he had already fired all of his rounds in his gun for the first time. And I didn't know what was in the book bag at that time. But he had then got the book bag and was filling up the magazines in front of me.

COOPER: So he was reloading?

TUFF: He reloaded every magazine he had in the book bag and put them all in his pockets.

COOPER: I was amazed, too, how kind you were to him and how compassionate you were to him.

Is that something you really felt?

TUFF: Yes, it was. I -- at one point, I just started feeling sorry from -- for him. I -- when he got to telling me that he wasn't on his medicine and everything that was going on with him and all that, I really began to feel sorry for him. I knew that where he was at mentally was not a good place, but I knew that he was there for whatever particular reason that it was in life. And he started talking to me and telling me that, you know, he wasn't on his medicine, he -- you know, he should have went to the hospital and, you know, he hadn't taken his medicine in a while.

So I knew that I wasn't actually speaking to someone that was in their right state of mind.

COOPER: I want to play that portion.

TUFF: It's going to be all right, sweetie. I just want you to know that I love you, though, OK?

And I'm proud of you. That's a good thing that you've just given up. And don't worry about it. We all go through something in life, you know. You don't want that. You're going to be OK. I thought the same thing. You know, I tried to commit suicide last year after my husband left me, but look at me now. I'm still working and everything is OK.

COOPER: It seemed that really connected with him. I mean you're willingness to share personal details of your own life really con -- made an impact on him.

TUFF: Yes, by that time, he had actually called one of his family members and he was talking to them. And then they was telling him some things and things like that, what was going on.

So I knew that -- I knew how he felt. I had been in that situation. I had been in that devastating moment when all of the things happened to me.

So I knew that that could have been my story. But because of God's grace and mercy, it wasn't.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CHIOU: Incredibly Tuff was originally scheduled to be off on that day, but she ended up at work because of a shift change. Tuff is one of three staff members at the school specifically trained in hostile situations.

Turning now to the Bradley Manning case, the U.S. soldier who was convicted of leaking classified documents to WikiLeaks says he wants to live the rest of his life as a woman. But army officials say he will remain a male in the eyes of the military. And a prison official says the army does not provide hormone therapy or sex reassignment surgery in these kind of cases.

Manning has been sentenced to 35 years in prison.

Manning's lawyer has indicated he will fight to get the medical care his client needs. Pentagon correspondent Chris Lawrence has more.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CHRIS LAWRENCE, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The battle lines are drawn. Bradley Manning wants hormone therapy and his friends say he needs it.

LAUREN MCNAMARA, BRADLEY MANNING'S FRIEND: This is a medical necessity.

LAWRENCE: Lauren McNamara chatted online with Manning and testified in his defense. She also transitioned from male to female.

MCNAMARA: To deny someone treatment for this, just because they are in prison, is similar to denying them treatment for depression.

LAWRENCE: But the Army has never provided hormone replacement therapy to any soldier. Prison officials tell us Manning will wear the standard prison uniform at the all male Ft. Leavenworth and he will not receive the hormones he says he needs to transition to a woman.

NEAL MINAHAN, PRO-LGBT ATTORNEY: He would have a better shot theoretically in a federal prison or even in a state prison.

LAWRENCE: Attorney Neal Minahan fought and won the right for one of his clients to get hormones in Massachusetts.

State and federal prisons don't have a blanket ban on the therapy like the military.

Consistent injections can cost thousands of dollars. Taxpayers have been paying for prisoners therapy for years.

MINAHAN: It can't be just him stating he wants to get this medication. There needs to be a prescription.

LAWRENCE: But several military doctors have already diagnosed him with gender identity disorder. While he was deployed to Iraq, Manning e-mailed this photo to his sergeant and described her inner struggle over wanting to live as woman.

MCNAMARA: And yet, this was often pushed to the side because the unit was underpowered and they could not lose any analysts.

LAWRENCE (on camera): So, Manning stayed in Iraq and later became the man behind the largest leak of classified material in U.S. history. Legal experts tell us it's that crime and Manning's behavior while he's being held at Ft. Leavenworth that will ultimately determine whether he's paroled. They don't believe his gender identity issues will be a huge factor.

Chris Lawrence, CNN, the Pentagon.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CHIOU: Still to come right here on News Stream, Gareth Bale could be set for a recordbreaking move to Real Madrid. World Sport's Amanda Davies will have the very latest in just over 1 minute.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

CHIOU: You're watching News Stream. And let's go back to our visual rundown. In a few minutes, we'll tell you about the big role that actor Ben Affleck has just landed. But now to football and why this man could soon be the world's most expensive player.

Reports say Gareth Bale is set to complete a world record transfer from Tottenham to Real Madrid. CNN's Amanda Davies joins me now live from London with more.

Amanda, is the deal done?

AMANDA DAVIES, CNN SPORTS CORRESPONDENT: That is the big question. We are all watching and waiting, Pauline. People checking websites, making phone calls to both clubs. Unofficially, some reports do say the deal has been done. Indeed, if you look on the Real Madrid official club website the shop section late on Thursday night you could even buy a Gareth Bale number 11 Real Madrid shirt for the measly sum of 80 euros. But I have to say that was quickly taken down.

And there are now other reports that are saying the deal has actually been held up by Spurs' search of Willian, the exciting new talent from Anzhi. And the fact that Chelsea have come in for him. So that deal is actually holding up this one.

Now we understand that Jose Mourinho, the Chelsea boss, has just given a press conference saying that, in fact, Willian is on his way to Chelsea instead.

There is always one transfer that dominates these transfer windows, isn't there Pauline? This Gareth Bale deal has certainly been that. Real Madrid have been pursuing him for a very long time, for the last two months or so it's been stealing the headlines. The Spurs boss, Andres Villas Boas has said very publicly he's very disappointed at the way Real Madrid have gone about this deal, making it so public.

Gareth Bale himself has told the London club he wants to leave, he wants a move to Spain. And he hasn't, in fact, been seeing playing for Spurs since this transaction has been in the pipeline. He's apparently got an ankle injury.

But as we understand, the talks are very much ongoing. And both sides expect the deal will be done before the September 2 deadline.

Spurs have certainly been strengthening their ranks to make way for time when Gareth Bale is no longer with them.

CHIOU: The amount of money these athletes make is always staggering. So, Amanda, do you think he's really worth all the money?

DAVIES: Well, as they say, Pauline, he's worth exactly what somebody is prepared to pay for him. But this sum of money is astronomical here with Real Madrid.

There are stories we're looking at a figure of about $145 million. That is about 20 million more than the current world record transfer fee, that was paid by Real Madrid, as well, to Manchester United when they signed Christiano Ronaldo back in 2009.

Bale is undoubtedly a very talented young footballer. He's a forward who brings a lot to a team. He's got great movement on the ball. He's got fantastic free kicks. He's got great goal scoring. He was Spurs' club record Premier League scorer last season, scoring 21 goals.

And he's only 24 years of age, which is the other interesting point here. You would expect him to be playing for another eight or nine years, at least.

But what's quite interesting when you look at him moving to Real Madrid, he might be the most expensive transfer, but is he the club's best player, their biggest name? Christiano Ronaldo would certainly have something to say about that. And how Bale will fit in with Ronaldo, the likes of Mezut Ozil, the likes of Angel di Maria, is certainly an interesting one to watch, but if he was to lead Real Madrid to that elusive 10th European Crown, the Champion's League title, then frankly the amount of money on that check is pretty irrelevant for them.

CHIOU: All right. And when the word finally comes down, we will check back in with you.

Thank you very much, Amanda. Amanda Davies there live from London.

And now we want to update you on a story we've been following closely here right on News Stream. American Michael Boatwright was found unconscious back in February. And when he woke up he had no memory and could only speak Swedish.

Well, Boatwright has been piecing together clues about his life ever since.

Paula Newton has the latest on his search for answers.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

PAULA NEWTON, CNN CORREPSONDENT: American Michael Boatwright receives a warm hug upon his arrival in Sweden. He's returning to a country he has no memory of, but hoping to rediscover his past.

MICHAEL BOATWRIGHT, SUFFERING FROM AMNESIA (through translator): There are no words for how it feels, or perhaps there are, but I'm so tired.

NEWTON: Boatwright's bizarre story began five months ago when he was found unconscious in a Palm Spring, California hotel. Rushed to a nearby hospital, when he awoke Boatwright says he had lost his memory and forgotten how to speak English.

BOATWRIGHT (through translator): I was shaking as if I had an epileptic fit, which it wasn't, but I was shaking badly and I didn't know where I was or who I was. And suddenly there was a nurse asking who are you? Who are you? What are you saying? I don't understand what you're saying?

NEWTON: Doctors diagnosed the 61-year-old with dissociative amnesia, a rare psychiatric condition typically associated with a traumatic event.

A hospital social worker discovered that Boatwright had spent years living abroad, in the 80s and 90s in China, Japan and Sweden.

Last week, Boatwright was released from the hospital to live at this homeless shelter. In an interview with CNN, Boatwright said he had been in contact with Eva, a former girlfriend who lives in Sweden. It's been nearly 30 years since they've seen each other. And even though he can't remember her, she invited him to visit.

BOATWRIGHT (through translator): I'm just glad that I've arrived.

NEWTON: Now, back in Sweden, Boatwright seems more at ease. He's working on regaining his memory with the help of doctors and his story has been scene around the world with many people reaching out to him online.

BOATWRIGHT (through translator): Many people have written to me on Facebook saying I know you, I know you. But...

NEWTON: Boatwright says he still doesn't really know who he is, but he thinks traveling halfway around the world will help him find out.

BOATWRIGHT (through translator): I don't know. I know a little, but I want to know it all, the whole me. And I think here I can get the answers and that's the aim, to get the answers here.

NEWTON: Paula Newton, CNN.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CHIOU: Coming up next, he played a super hero in the box office flop Daredevil. Now, Ben Affleck is putting on a cape once again. We'll take a look at the online reaction to his new role.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

CHIOU: By now you've probably heard the big Batman news, Ben Affleck has been cast as the next caped crusader. And the surprising super hero selection has the internet buzzing. Tori Dunan examines Affleck's crime fighter credentials.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TORI DUNNAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: The last time we saw Ben Affleck in the role of a superhero was in the 2003 box office flop "Dare Devil". Now he's taking on the role of Batman ending weeks of rumors about who would play the caped crusader in the yet to be named action movie pairing Superman and Batman with a big caped cowl and utility belt to fill, to say the least worn by the likes of Adam West, Michael Keaton, Val Kilmer and George Clooney.

GEORGE CLOONEY, ACTOR: This is why Superman works alone.

DUNNAN: Christian Bale also played Batman --

CHRISTIAN BALE, ACTOR: You made a serious mistake.

DUNNAN: -- in three different flicks.

BALE: And you've got the genuine you know rage-filled monster that becomes Batman.

DUNNAN: In a news release from Warner Brothers filmmaker Zach Schneider says Affleck has quote, "The acting chops to create a layered portrayal of a man who is older and wiser than Clark Kent and bears the scars of a seasoned crime fighter, but retains the charm that the world sees in billionaire Bruce Wayne.

Opposite "Man of Steel" Henry Cavill who will reprise his role as Clark Kent and Superman.

HENRY CAVIL, ACTOR: A lot of it is standard timing. I was kind of right age, I had the right look and I fit into this particular director's vision of what the story was.

DUNNAN: But in this case some especially in the Twitter verse think the Affleck casting comes straight out of left field. Entertainer Will Wheaton (ph) tweets "Really looking forward to seeing Affleck bring the depth and gravitate to Batman that he brought to "Dare Devil" and "Gigli". The next question is who will be the villain?

Tori Dunnan, CNN, Los Angeles.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHIOU: And you'll have to wait until 2015 to see Batman and Superman face off. And a disclosure, Warner Brothers and CNN are part of the same parent company Time Warner.

That is News Stream. But the news continues right here at CNN. World Business Today is next.

END