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Controversy Over Russian Law Dealing with Homosexuality; Turkey Opens Tunnel Connecting Europe, Asia

Aired October 30, 2013 - 04:00   ET

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


CARL AZUZ, CNN ANCHOR: I`m Carl Azuz welcoming you to CNN STUDENT NEWS. Hosting an international event can come with an intense spotlight. Yesterday, we talked about some of the challenges that Russia is facing as it gets ready for next year`s Winter Olympics. There`s also been a focus on a controversial Russian law that deals with homosexuality. The law doesn`t make it illegal to be gay. But it prohibits distributing information to minors that promotes same sex relationships. The law had some people concerned about the upcoming Olympics. What kind of behavior would or wouldn`t be acceptable from athletes or fans. On Monday, Russian President Vladimir Putin said everyone would be welcomed at the games. Quote, "We are doing everything so that participants and guests feel comfortable in Sochi regardless of nationality, race or sexual orientation. What kind of impact could President Putin statement have?

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

PHIL BLACK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: President Putin`s comment is clearly an attempt to cook some of the international anger over Russia`s antigay propaganda law, which makes it illegal to tell children here that gay and straight relationships are equal. It`s being branded discriminatory. His words are unlikely to satisfy gay and human right activists around the world who aren`t just worried about what this law means during the Olympics, they are angry about its very existence. And it will mean for gay people in this country before, during and after the games.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

AZUZ: Next up today, advice and consent. It`s phrased right out of the U.S. Constitution, and it`s one of the responsibilities of the U.S. Senate. It works like this: the president nominates people to feel certain positions in the U.S. government. Then, the Senate advises and consents or it doesn`t. Senators consider the nominees, ask them questions, then they either confirm or deny the nominees for the jobs.

This is Senator Lindsey Graham. He is threatening to block every nomination from President Obama until he gets answers about an attack on the U.S. facility last year.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. LINDSEY GRAHAM (R ) SOUTH CAROLINA: To this date, we don`t have the FBI interviews of the survivors conducted one or two days after the attack. We don`t have the basic information about what was said of the night of the attack that`s been shared with Congress as of this day.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

AZUZ: The terrorists` attack Senator Graham is talking about is the one on the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi, Libya. Four Americans were killed, and Senator Graham says they died in a different way than the Obama administration says they did. He`s been pushing to get details on what happened and on the administration`s response. He wants the Senate to be able to question the survivors of the Benghazi attack.

So, what about Senator Graham`s plan to block the nominations? He can do that. The rules of the Senate allow members to hold up nominations through different methods. It`s something Democrats and Republicans have done. The goal is to force action or compromise.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ANNOUNCER: It`s time for "The Shoutout." Which country is part of two continents? If you think you know it, then shout it out! Is it Australia, Mexico, Turkey or there aren`t any. You`ve got three seconds, go.

Turkey spans continental lines, the Bosphorus Strait separates the Asian part from the European part. That`s your answer and that`s your "Shoutout."

(END VIDEO CLIP)

AZUZ: Turkey has been called a bridge between Europe and Asia. In fact, there`s an actual bridge over the Bosphorus that connects the continents. Now, there is a passage way underneath the Bosphorus, too. Yesterday, Turkish leaders and officials opened a new underwater railway tunnel. It`s a multibillion dollar project that engineers say can get you from one continent to the other in about four minutes.

You probably studied the Silk Road, the ancient trade route that linked China with the West. Officials are hoping this tunnel will be an important part of a modern Silk Road. This report looks at how it came together.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BECKY ANDERSON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Istanbul, a maritime city crippled by heavy traffic. The Bosphorus Bridge is one of just two road connections across the city`s strait. Cars, along with the city ferries carry the load of more than 1 million daily commuters.

I`m aboard one of the commuter ferries on the Bosphorus. And it is difficult to imagine when you are here that 60 meters below us works are ongoing on the world`s deepest submerged tunnel ever built.

This is the core of the Marmaray Project. The remarkable feet of engineering, this tunnel sits beneath one of the world`s busiest shipping lanes and about 16 kilometers from the nearest fault line.

(on camera): So where are we now?

MEHMET CHILINGIR, DEPUTY PROJECT MANAGER: We`re at the Sirkigi (ph) Station, which is the deepest station of the system.

ANDERSON: On the European side.

CHILINGIR: On the European side.

ANDERSON: This is an area of seismic activity, I understand. So, what are you doing to minimize the risks?

CHILINGIR: We have seismic joints in the tunnels. Those will act like a flexible joint between two tubes and will take the effects off seismic movement.

ANDERSON (voice over): The immersed tube tunnel was assembled from 11 concrete segments. And it`s part of an overhaul of the existing cross city railway system.

Works started in 2004, but construction is put on the hold following the discovery of an ancient Byzantine court.

BINALI YILDIRIM, TURKISH TRANSPORT MINISTER: The tunnel is going under very historical area, so every piece of soil is examined by expert. Because of that, believe me, we lost five years.

ANDERSON: THE Marmaray will take passengers across the strait in a little over two minutes. Easing congestion, while bringing Europe and Asia closer together.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ANNOUNCER: Time for a "Shoutout" extra credit. Which of these is not a medical vital sign? Is it breathing, consciousness, pulse or temperature? Rewind the clock to three seconds and go.

A vital sign check includes breathing, pulse, temperature and blood pressure. But not consciousness. That`s your answer and that`s your "Shoutout" extra credit.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

AZUZ: Checking vital signs is one of the first things a paramedic does in an emergency situation. And in a hospital emergency room, a patient`s vital signs are monitored continuously. When doctors are training, they don`t always work on live patients, and dummies don`t usually have vital signs. But technology is helping make training more real.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Alert, alert, (inaudible) wound.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Let`s get two liters of fluid ...

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Blood pressure 84 to 56.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Let`s go ahead and intubate.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The sites and sounds of an emergency room.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The body, who do you feel it?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Conditions the trauma doctors like Robert Benjamin are trained to handle. But this is not an average workday.

DR. ROBERT BENJAMIN, LAKELAND HOSPITAL: I had no idea that this was going to be that intense.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The trauma team is training. Their patient is bleeding, and has rapidly changing vital signs, but he is not in danger of dying because he is not real. This is a high-tech patient simulator.

BENJAMIN: You`re able to do a neuro check, moving extremities, looking at his eyes, breathing and respirations were very, very accurate.

DR. LUIS LLERENA, CAMLS: All right, we`re going to stop!

(on camera): Many times the learners know they are being trained! I just switched the scenario? I`ll drop its blood pressure. What are you going to do now?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: a control room teem monitors the training and the patient`s simulator`s vitals are manipulated by remote control.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: He lost a total amount of 1500 milliliters of blood. His respiratory rate is now back up to 45.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Everything is recorded, giving the team video to review and an experience that could help in real life.

BENJAMIN: We need to build up more trauma teams, and they need to get the training in order to, you know, become those (inaudible) ...

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We have another trauma on the way.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It`s all staged, but for trauma training, this is as real as it gets.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

AZUZ: It`s a worldwide Wednesday when the "Roll Call." Checks in with some of the schools watching CNN STUDENT NEWS from around the world. Today`s schools all have something in common.

First up, we have the Dragons from Kubasaki School in Okinawa, Japan. Then, we have the Dragons. This time, from Singapore International School in Danang (ph) Vietnam. And finally, guess what, we have the Dragons. Balboa Academy in Panama City, Panama. Welcome, one and all, to the "Roll Call."

These fishermen are showing off their big catch. But keep a close eye on the right side of your screen. There it was. Sea lion, just pokes the guy`s fish. It came right up over the side, snatching it out of his hands. Maybe he should have been more concerned with his grip than with his paws. Thanks to the YouTube video, at least there is evidence that at some point he had the fish. Most - there it is again - most stories about the one that got away are met with skepticism, and if he tries to tell this tale, you know how people would respond. See? Lying!

After all, without the video, the story sounds a little fishy. We are at a time today - that was easily, the worst pun we`ve had all year. And you know I ain`t lion. We`re back tomorrow with more CNN STUDENT NEWS. See you then.

END