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How Smartphones Are Helping Refugees Navigate Through Europe; Nintendo's Mario Turns 30; Pope Francis Delivers Climate Change Address; Rescuers in Japan Work to Reach People Stranded. Aired 8:00a-9:00a ET

Aired September 11, 2015 - 8:00   ET

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

[08:00:38] KRISTIE LU STOUT, HOST: I'm Kristie Lu Stout in Hong Kong. And welcome to News Stream.

Ramping up help to refugees and migrants in Europe. We'll tell you what's being done as the weather turns colder.

Plus, rescuers in Japan work to reach people stranded by flood water after another levy breaks.

And Pope Francis says our climate is under serious threat. We'll have more on his comments from Rome.

And we begin in Europe where the United Nations is ramping up efforts to tackle the influx of migrants. Emergency aid is being sent in for

nearly 100,000 people. Reuters reports that the UN is delivering hundreds of housing units to Hungary where people have been living in flimsy tents.

Now some of that aid will go to those who are passing into Macedonia from Greece. There are reports that in 24 hours more than 7,000 people

have crossed that border.

Now other people are trying to make it out of Hungary and get into Austria and Germany.

Now for more, let's bring in Arwa Damon. And Arwa, let's first talk about those dire and dehumanizing conditions at a migrant transit camp in

Hungary, that facility right behind you. What have you learned?

ARWA DAMON, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, Kristie, over the last few weeks almost every single refugee we have spoken to has told us

about the conditions in this particular transit camp.

Many of them have described in detail how they were treated in a very inhumane way and saying that food and water was being thrown at them and

that they were effectively being treated like animals.

And now there is video seemingly to that effect. This is video that was shot two days ago on September 9 by an activist and shows Hungarian

police throwing sandwiches wrapped in plastic at a group of migrants and refugees. And you see them having to scramble for these few sandwiches.

It is incredibly unpleasant and disturbing to watch.

And we did speak to a spokesman for the Hungarian government who in his interpretation of it said that this video was showing the police trying

to bring a group of migrants and refugees under control saying that they were not waiting in line for food to be properly distributed to them.

Every single person we have spoken to have been through here, has not just been talking about the way that food and water has been distributed in

this very degrading manner, but also spoken to us about the cramped conditions, about how there is not enough water that is being handed out so

they have to drink water from the taps and about the lack of access to adequate medical care.

Kristie, this really underscores a number of things: the fact that the Hungarian authorities are unable or unwilling to properly handle this

crisis. They are dealing with some 3,000 individuals crossing their borders on a daily basis. They can't fit them all in here. This is a

facility that is only meant to have a person go through it for about two to three hours, but instead people end up spending days here in these

incredible abysmal conditions.

And it is at this stage where when we talk about Europe needing to rally, international community needing to rally, seeing these examples of

people being treated like this, that really underscores the urgency that is needed here, because the longer people debate and try to make decisions,

the longer people are being treated in a way that shows absolutely no regard for their very basic human rights.

ANDERSON: Yeah, the conditions are so abysmal, so deplorable there in Hungary and other places like Macedonia where we saw that horrific video,

police beating migrants. The perspective from the migrants and refugees themselves, I mean, how do they take in what's happening to them? How do

they make sense of the neglect and also of the brutality?

[08:05:05] DAMON: Well, Kristie, it's very difficult for many of them to reconcile what is happening to them (inaudible) European Union, but yes

at many stages along this journey they have been through so much. Remember, most of them have fled the wars in Syria and Iraq, Afghanistan.

They've seen death with their own eyes. They've fled from death in many instances. They've had everything taken away from them by violence in

their homelands. And they do come here. And the bear minimum that they expect is at least to be treated with a little bit of respect, a little bit

of dignity.

And they're not seeing that. And that is very bitter for many. It's very sad for many to have to go through this. And they're really

struggling, especially when it comes to the parents who are having to see the children languish in these various different conditions. And that is

why increasingly along the way we do see them taking pretty drastic measures such as breaking through police lines and rioting, because they do

feel as if they have to begin taking matters into their own hands, rather than wait for the authorities and the governments to come up with some sort

of decision as to how they need to handle the overarching broader situation.

LU STOUT: Arwa Damon reporting live for us there at the Hungarian/Serbian border. Reporting on the despair of the refugees and

migrants there in Europe. Thank you for your reporting, Arwa.

And we have links on our website to organizations who are helping on the ground. Some are dedicating to rescuing migrants in the Mediterranean,

others are providing shelter and medical care to the young. You can find it at CNN.com/Impact.

Now, nightfall has indeed descended on Japan, making crucial search and rescue efforts more difficult. As of this afternoon, officials say

military forces and firefighters had rescued more than 100 people threatened by floods in the northeast.

Now it comes after a tropical storm and weeks of recordbreaking rainfall.

Now three people are known dead, some 22 are missing. Thousands have been ordered to evacuate their homes.

Will Ripley has a look at he damage in hard hit Joso City.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

WILL RIPLEY, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: The water is receding here in Joso City, but as the water goes down the damage becomes more

evident. The real destructive force when these floods moved through here. You can see they picked up a lot of debris and just kept floating different

items through the streets into buildings and what not.

Look at what happened to this car. It was floating at one point. And then water went down and the car just kind of landed there.

There are countless cars like this in this town in eastern Japan, home to 65,000 people. There are thousands of buildings that have been flooded,

many of them destroyed. And there are people who are displaced, thousands of people who don't have a home right now because the place where they live

was underwater just some 24 hours ago, even though the sun is shining right now.

You can see from this fence here just how high the water went up. It was well over that fence level all of the dried grass that you see there.

So anybody living in a first floor unit, say in this apartment building behind me here, their living space is not habitable at the moment. And

there are a lot of people in that situation.

You might remember seeing some of the video from the height of the flooding where people had to run up to their second story balconies and

they were standing up there waving for the rescue helicopters. There were even people that had to spend the night at a local supermarket. We met up

with some of those people at these emergency shelters.

They were of course very happy to be safe and dry. But then they were left with the reality of what to do next, what to do if they weren't able

to salvage their possessions and all they have are a few clothes that they could grab from the shelter and a bottle of water that they're holding on

to along with a handout lunch.

When are they going to be able to come home to find this, their cars and their homes damaged or destroyed and wondering just how long it's going

to take to put their lives back together, even as the sun is shining here and the water continues to go down. Will Ripley, CNN, Joso City, Japan.

(END VIDEOATPE)

LU STOUT: A dire situation there in Japan.

Now after the break right here on News Stream, we'll go live to Singapore where the polls closed just minutes ago. And we'll have the

latest on the city-state's elections.

Later in the hour, we go to Rome where the outspoken pontiff is taking on his next cause: the environment. We've got details on his landmark

comments.

And one of the most iconic faces in the world of gaming turns 30 today. We'll take a look at the enduring popularity of the plumber with

the mustache, Mario, later in the program.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[08:11:18] LU STOUT: Coming to you live from Hong Kong you're back watching News Stream.

Now polls in Singapore have just closed in what's said to be the most competitive election in the city-state's history. Opposition parties are

contesting all 89 seats in parliament for the first time since independence.

Now current prime minister Lee Hsien Loong and his People's Action Party are expected to win the election. But opposition parties have been

gaining momentum and growing discontent over the economy and the high cost of living, those are factors as well in the background.

Now for more on today's landmark election, former U.S. ambassador to Singapore Frank Levin joins me now live. Frank, good to see you, thank you

for joining us.

The ruling party, we know, is expected to stay in power, but how much strength did the opposition gain in this election?

FRANK LAVIN, FRM. U.S. AMBASSADOR TO SINGAPORE: Well, I think the opposition is definitely going to pick up seats. This is -- you know that

this is the first time in 50 years that the opposition parties are contesting every single seat. And some of the candidates are pretty good -

- high energy, good enthusiasm, and there's always a kick the incumbents out sentiment in every society around the world. So that plays that anti-

incumbency mood plays to the challengers as well.

LU STOUT: And tell us more about the other factors. Why we're seeing increasing gains by the opposition parties over the years, not just the

quality of the opposition, but perhaps the fault of the ruling government, or a sign of a changing electorate in Singapore.

LAVIN: Yeah, I think all those factors put together -- remember, the governing party, the PAP, had been in power 50 years and I think by all

accounts they've done a good job over those 50 years. But some of the issues that originally propelled them to power -- the need for domestic

stability, the need for economic growth, external perceptions of threat, some of those issues have been perceived to be very well settled to such an

extent that voters now are more comfortable voting for opposition parties.

So in a sense, the PAP is victims of their own success.

LU STOUT: This is the first election since the death of Lee Kuan Yew, the founding father of Singapore. Have you been seeing the legacy of Lee

Kuan Yew invoked during campaigning there by the ruling party?

LAVIN: Yeah, absolutely. And I suspect when we look at these results as they come in tonight, what we'll see is the older generation will be

overwhelmingly for the PAP. There is an emotional dimension, there is sentiment. Remember, also, Kristie, Singapore celebrated its 50th

anniversary this year, so it was sort of a national evocation of the early days of struggle and of independence. That does make people appreciate his

legacy.

LU STOUT: Now, you, I understand it, went to both a government rally and an opposition rally. How would you compare the messaging and the

energy on both sides?

LAVIN: I've got to tell you, the energy was higher at the opposition rally we went to. The government rally was good. The speakers were very

authoritative, but they were also a bit clinical, a bit dispassionate. If you wanted to see where the passion was, I saw more of that at the

opposition rally.

LU STOUT: The biggest challenger for the ruling party is the Worker's Party. What is its appeal?

LAVIN: Well, one, they are the largest of the opposition parties. They already have seven seats in parliament. So they're running with some

degree of credibility. They're not simply a protest vote, or they're not viewed as a bunch of malcontents. So I think that's -- they are working

within the system. And that's enormously helpful.

I think what their real message is, is a call for greater spending on social issues, social equality kinds of issues. There, I think what we

might say a more typical left of center party, a populist sort of left party.

LU STOUT: And a final question for you, Singapore and the rest of the world. Will this election and the changing domestic political scene affect

Singapore's relationship with its neighbors or with the United States?

[08:15:12] LAVIN: Well, I think it helps. I think it helps, because the more that Singapore builds that democratic ethos, Kristie, the easier

it is for all other parties, including the United States, to work with Singapore. And if Singapore is viewed as only authoritarian or heavy

handed, or locks up political dissidents, it is more difficult for other democracies to work with Singapore. So I think this is a step for better

international connectivity.

LU STOUT: Thank you very much indeed for giving us this very interesting picture of this critical moment for Singapore.

That was Frank Lavin, former U.S. ambassador to Singapore and chairman of Export Now. Thank you, Frank, and take care.

Now a court in Venezuela has sentenced opposition leader Leopoldo Lopez to almost 14 years in prison. Now he was convicted of inciting

violent protests in which dozens of people died last year. His supporters cried after the sentence was announced.

Human Rights Watch says Lopez's trial was a sham and called his conviction baseless.

Now Lopez is a longstanding opponent of President Nicholas Maduro and his predecessor Hugo Chavez. Chavez's government banned Lopez from running

for office in 2008.

Local elections are being held across Russia this weekend where pro- Kremlin parties are set to dominate. In fact, there was only one anti- Putin candidate in the entire country who was allowed to run.

He is in the small city of Kostroma (ph) just a few 100 kilometers north of Moscow.

Our senior international correspondent Matthew Chance went to check out his campaign.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: You won't see him on Russian state television, nor on many of the election posters that festoon

Kostroma (ph).

But Ilya Yashin is determined to deliver his anti-Kremlin, anti- corruption message even to the handful of pensioners who turn up to listen.

ILYA YASHIN, OPPOSITION CANDIDATE (through translator): I understand we won't be able to change anything with this election.. We won't be able

to change the government. And the government doesn't want to do anything, but that's why you need the opposition, to hold the government to account

and to make officials work.

CHANCE: Well, very little captures the plight of Russia's beleaguered opposition than this right here: a lone candidate with a strong anti-

government message trying to convince a skeptical Russian public of his cause.

And the problems here in Kostroma (ph) are repeated for the Russian opposition across the country.

It's been a hard campaign. And a frustrated Yashin (ph) accuses us of scaring off his voters. People aren't used to these big cameras in their

faces in the provinces, he snaps. His sensitivities are real. Opposition campaigners here say they've been physically attacked and accused of being

secretly funded by Russia's so-called enemies in the west.

YASHIN (through translator): People are scared of even talking to me because there's propaganda, police harassment, administrative pressure.

I'm cut off from appearing on TV. I'm cutoff from the radio. So my goal is to talk face to face with as many voters as possible and to shake as

many hands as possible.

CHANCE: For some, the anti-Kremlin stance is being well received. There are Russians willing to listen to this opposition message. But with

pro-Kremlin parties fielding tens of thousands of candidates across Russia to this one from the main opposition, it is an absurdly uneven political

battle.

Matthew Chance, CNN, Kostroma (ph) in western Russia.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LU STOUT: You're watching News Stream. And still to come, the pope speaks out on climate change as he hosts a team of scientists at The

Vatican. Details of his message straight ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[08:22:47] LU STOUT: Now Pope Francis wrapped up an address to a group of scientists at a climate change conference at the Vatican a short

time ago. It is the first time the Pontiff has spoken out on climate change in a formal address. And it comes after he released that landmark

letter earlier this year, throwing his moral weight behind those fighting climate change.

Now let's get the very latest from our Vatican correspondent Delia Gallagher. She joins us now live from Rome. And Delia, this was a long

awaited formal address by the pope on climate change. could you walk us through his message?

DELIA GALLAGHER, CNN VATICAN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Krisie, one of the main messages for Pope Francis is it's not just about the environment. The

pope connects the issue of climate change to a question of social justice for the poor. He says those are the ones who are going to be most affected

by climate change and by exploitation of natural resources.

Let's take a listen to some of what he had to say this morning.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

POPE FRANCIS (through translator): We cannot forget the grave social implications behind climate change. It is the poorest who suffer with

greater harshness the consequences of it; therefore, as the title of this meeting highlights, the issue of climate is a question of justice as well

as of solidarity, which must never be divorced from justice.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

GALLAGHER: And Kristie, the pope said, you know, that mother earth is one of those, like the poor, who is excluded and who cries out to heaven

for help -- Kristie.

LU STOUT: Yeah, the pope says mother earth has a voice. He's also all along emphasized the voice of the poor, because they are the ones who

are really getting hurt by climate change.

What has been the reaction in the church? What is the feeling in the Catholic community, about the pontiff staging -- taking such bold action on

this issue: climate change?

GALLAGHER: There's no doubt there has been criticism, many of it very vocal coming, for example, from the United States where they think that the

science on climate change is not yet certain.

The pope addressed that in his talk. He said there is wide consensus on the science, although it is not unanimous. Here's a little bit more of

what he had to say on that issue.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

[08:25:02] POPE FRANCIS (through translator): We do not have any one size fits all recipes, nobody does. Nobody has any one size fits all

recipe. We need to offer what we have understood into a dialogue and accept that everybody's view is discussed and perhaps doubted. Each and

every one of us is asked for a contribution which is the result, must be the result of common work.

The true enemy here is hypocrisy.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

GALLAGHER: And, Kristie, the pope also spoke a bout the importance of two upcoming international conferences on climate, one in Paris in December

and the other in New York City where he will be in about a week-and-a-half to address the UN on this issue and other issues -- Kristie.

LU STOUT: Yeah, so more papal statements expected on this issue of climate change. Delia Gallagher reporting live for us from very rainy

Rome. Thank you, take care.

Now as part of our continuing series of two degrees, the series on climate change, we will be answering viewer's questions every day. You can

submit your questions on our website. And you can vote on topics that you would like to see covered. You can find it at CNN.com/twodegrees.

Now the U.S. President Barack Obama is calling it victory for diplomacy. The Senate Democrats, they were able to block a motion that

would have set up a yes or no vote on the Iran nuclear agreement and so now it appears the deal will go forward despite Republican opposition.

And President Obama won't have to use a threatened veto.

Michelle Kosinski has the details.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MICHELLE KOSINSKI, CNN WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT (voice- over): After all this time, debate, and emotion, the White House gets that vote they

have been waiting for, getting enough support among Democrats in the Senate, just enough support, in fact, for them to filibuster and block the

vote of disapproval that Republicans had been pushing so hard for. This means now that the deal can begin to be implemented. Almost immediately,

the president put out a statement calling it a victory for diplomacy, for national security, and for the safety and security of the world.

Not everybody in Congress is willing to give up so quickly. There are some in the Senate. Republicans talking about possibly doing a revote on

this next week in the hopes of getting a few Democrat to change their mind. Republicans in the House passed a resolution shortly afterwards saying they

believe the president violated the law by not providing enough information about what they call secret side deals between Iran and the international

atomic energy agency. Now that could potentially, down the road, be used as a basis for a legal challenge to the deal.

What does the White House say, and the fact that they'll get their deal implemented, a majority of the U.S. Congress is still opposed to it?

The White House called these attempts a gambit and said Republicans in Congress had set themselves up to be a spoiler to a deal that the world

supports.

Michelle Kosinski, CNN, the White House.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LU STOUT: You're watching News Stream. And after the break, smartphones are proving essential for migrants crossing through Europe.

We'll show you how social media apps are helping them chart unknown territory.

And Americans are remembering 14 years since the worst terrorist attack in U.S. history. We'll have the details of today's memorial events

straight ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[08:30:56] LU STOUT: I'm Kristie Lu Stout in Hong Kong. You're watching News Stream. And these are your world headlines.

The United Nations is ramping up its effort to help Europe cope with an influx of migrants. Reuters reports that the UN is delivering hundreds

of housing units to accommodate those who have arrived in Hungary. It's also said to be sending in emergency aid for nearly 100,000 people across

Europe.

Now, crews have rescued more than 100 people threatened by floods across northeastern Japan. These are images from earlier today. Three

people are known dead, dozens more are missing. Thousands have had to evacuate their homes.

Now polls in Singapore have just closed in what's said to be the most competitive election in the city-state's history. Opposition parties are

contesting all 89 seats in parliament for the first time since independence.

Now the current prime minister Lee Hsien Loong and his People's Action Party are expected to win the election.

A day of remembrance in the United States. 14 years after the September 11 terrorist attacks that claimed nearly 3,000 lives.

Now a series of events are to get underway in the coming hours, starting with a moment of silence in New York at 8:46 local time, about

half an hour from now. That was the time when American Airlines flight 11 hit the north tower of the World Trade Center.

An unprecedented number of migrants is arriving on Europe's doorstep, but this crisis did not come out of nowhere. Now just take a look at the

number of people who have crossed the Mediterranean over the years. This data is from the UN refugee agency and the number spike last year. It's

approaching 400,000 this year.

Now that steady stream of people moving through Europe has generated very different responses among and within nations.

Now let's go straight to CNN's Atika Shubert in Berlin for more. And Atika, there is a growing row in Europe over migrant and refugee quotas in

Europe. How will this be resolved?

ATIKA SHUBERT, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: There is. And there seems to be a sort of east-west divide happening with a lot of countries

like Germany and France, for example, accepting many more refugees. Germany saying it will accept 800,000 refugee application.

But with countries in eastern Europe, particularly Hungary, the Czech Republic and Slovakia saying they don't want quotas. They don't want to be

forced to take in more refugees.

Take a listen to what the Czech government position is on why they say they shouldn't be taking in more refugees.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BOHUSLAV SOBOTKA, CZECH REPUBLIC PRIME MINISTER: It is very likely that the agents of Islamic State and its runners are present in the refugee

camps.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SHUBERT: So, by that reasoning, it's a security risk. According to the Czech Republic they fear that ISIS agents could be infiltrating among

the waves of refugees coming in. And while that's certainly a possibility, here are thousand of people coming in every day. The fact is there are

plenty of ISIS sympathizers in other countries throughout Europe that wouldn't have to travel those extreme measures to get across the borders of

Europe.

The vast majority of the people coming across are Syrian or Iraqi refugees, this is according t the United Nations. And they are traveling

illegally because there's no other way to get across. And with rain like we have in Berlin all across eastern Europe. They are now traveling

through these incredibly muddy, awful conditions. And this is why a solution really needs to happen quite soon.

LU STOUT: Yeah, a solution is desperately needed.

And as policy is being debated between EU member states, the fate of refugees, Atika, often hinges on the kindness and the largess of

individuals in Europe. Could you tell us about the people you've met in Berlin who are helping new arrivals there.

SHUBERT: Absolutely. In fact, some would argue that the German government and other governments in Europe are really reacting to public

sentiment, which has come out ahead of the government saying we should allow more refugees in. And it's just incredible the amount of volunteer

organizations here, every single day people come in and they are just swamped with donations, of clothing, of money, but also of time. People

saying we want to help whatever way we can.

We've spoken to one woman who had -- you know, she had a room in her house that she would normally rent to, let's say an American exchange

student. She said, you know, this year I decided to rent it to somebody who is starting a new life. And so now she's volunteered it as a home for

a Syrian refugee.

So, it's these kinds of initiatives, on a very private level, that are really moving the refugee welcome movement, as it is, forward. And it's

not just that, people are also doing private enterprises. For example, like a website called refugees welcome that sets up refugees looking for

homes. It's being called the AirBNB of refugees.

So, there's all kinds of innovative things that are happening to help not only the government take care of the refugees that are coming in.

[08:35:57] LU STOUT: Yeah, and it's so heartening to hear of these individual stories of compassion during this time.

Atika Shubert reporting live for us from Berlin. Thank you so much Atika.

Now some refugees making their way to Europe are turning to social media for help. CNN's Ivan Watson shows us how.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

IVAN WATSON, CNN INTERNATOINAL CORRESPONDENT: Setting out to sea, motoring out from the Turkish coast on what could be a relaxing cruise,

except we're following the trail of tens of thousands of migrants and refugees trying to reach Europe.

Here's what's crazy about the economics of this wave of human migration. It cost us 600 euros to charter this private sail boat to carry

out entire CNN team from Turkey to Greece. Smugglers are charging Syrian refugees exactly double that per person, 1,200 euros, to board overcrowded

rubber dinghies to take them to that Greek island.

This is what the migrant voyage to Greece looks like. It isn't just more expensive, it's also dangerous. We find floating in the Aegean Sea, a

lone life jacket, the unofficial uniform of migrants headed to Greece.

Below crumbling fortifications that once guarded the Greek Island of Lesbos, newly arrived migrants washed clothes on the beach and pitched

tents in the park.

The Greek authorities are processing migrants as fast as they can, starting with refugees from Syria. This is where we find seven young

Syrians who have just arrived on a raft from Turkey. When their boat ran into trouble, 19 year old Kenan says they were ready with their cell

phones.

KENAN ALBENI, SYRIAN REFUGEE: We just call the police -- the police in the sea. So they come...

WATSON: Which police? The Greek police?

ALBENI: Yeah, the Greek police.

WATSON: How do you call them?

ALBENI: We have all the numbers. Yeah, we have GPS on our cellphones. We send them in WhatsApp and they come to save us.

WATSON: The police came to save you.

ALBENI: Yes.

WATSON: Kenan shows me a Facebook page full of advice for Syrians on the migrant trail to Europe.

And what is this?

ALBENI: This is advice like you know we go to another country. You know we (inaudible). So we need to get a tent.

WATSON: So, all the instructions...

ALBENI: Yes. Everything, everything you need.

WATSON: Some of the refugees are so organized, they've taken to putting out distress calls at sea on Facebook with GPS coordinates to help

guide the Greek coast guard.

ALESSANDRA MORELLI, UNHCR: Facebook indeed is playing an incredible role.

WATSON: The United Nations Alessandra Morelli (ph), a veteran aid worker, says she's never seen such tech savvy coordination among refugees

before.

MORELLI: When they arrive, they know exactly where they have to go, who they have to talk to. They know what to buy.

WATSON: United Nations says there are around 50 boats a day landing here on Lesbos, that's from one to 3,000 refugees and migrants daily using

this place as an unofficial gateway to Europe, an island with beaches now littered with life jackets.

Ivan Watson, CNN, Lesbos, Greece.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LU STOUT: Wow, incredible story there.

Now officials in Cuba, they say that they will pardon more than 3,500 prisoners ahead of a visit by Pope Francis next week. That is according to

the country's state run newspaper.

The decision is due to be carried out within the next 72 hours.

Now you're watching News Stream. And coming up next on the program, the gaming world's most famous plumber is hitting an important milestone.

We'll take a look at the past 30 years of Super Mario Brothers and how Mario came to be.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[08:41:22] LU STOUT: Welcome back.

Now fans of Super Mario Brothers can all relate to the challenges or dodging and jumping through levels. And now Nintendo is encouraging

players to create their own challenges using the Super Mario maker game. Now players all over the world will be able to create levels and upload

them for others to beat.

I love hearing that.

Super Mario Brothers, it is one of the most iconic video games of all time. It was one of the first platform games to give players a world to

explore form the open air, to the underground, even under water.

Now, it was released in Japan in September of 1985 for Nintendo's Famicom, which would later become the NES in the United States.

Now the gaming industry in the U.S. was recovering from a crash just two years earlier. But Super Mario Brothers and Nintendo sparked another

video game boom and launched the industry's most successful franchise.

Now Mario's adventures weren't limited to running and jumping. I mean, today the Mario series includes cart racing, fighting games, even

sports like tennis and golf, all, of course, starring Nintendo's famous plumber.

Now Mario was created by Shigeru Miyomoto. And his design owes everything to the technical limitations at the time.

Now he wears a hat, because Miyamoto couldn't animate hair. He has a mustache, because there wasn't enough space to draw a mouth. And he wears

overalls so you can see his arms when he walked.

And 30 years on, this incredibly simple character has become a cultural phenomenon and an enduring icon for the video game industry.

And that is News Stream. I'm Kristie Lu Stout. I'll be back in just a moment, though, for special coverage from the United States.

END