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Helmand Capital Under Pressure from Taliban; Danny Willett Wins The Masters; John Kerry Visits Hiroshima; High Ranking North Korean Military Official Defects; 109 Dead After Deadly Fireworks Accident In India. Aired 8a-9a ET

Aired April 11, 2016 - 08:00   ET

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

[08:00:21] KRISTIE LU STOUT, HOST: I'm Kristie Lu Stout in Hong Kong, and welcome to News Stream.

Now, the Taliban continue to make gains in Afghanistan. And we hear exclusively from Afghan army troops who defected to the militant group.

The unlikely champion of one of golf's biggest events, Danny Willett wins The Masters after Jordan Spieth incredible collapse.

And 20 years of Pokemon. The video game's director tells us why the series is still a hit two decades after making its debut on the original Gameboy.

Well, fresh gains by the Taliban in Afghanistan this hour. The insurgent group is seizing new territory in Helmand, the southern province that

hundreds of NATO troops died fighting for.

And now some say the militants are closer than ever to taking control.

Now, after 15 years, the U.S. special inspector general for Afghanistan reconstruction John Sopko says efforts to rebuild the country are in a

perilous state.

Now, the Afghan army is losing troops to more than desertion. Death is rife within the ranks. U.S. officials estimate that some 5,500 Afghan

soldiers died last year alone. That is far more than NATO lost in its entire decade-long campaign.

Now, the Taliban land grab also troubling. The insurgent group is said to control more territory now than at any time since 2001. The year was

ousted by a U.S.-led intervention.

And despite $7 billion spent on counter narcotics operations, Sopko says that even the illicit drug market is thriving with opium production back to

levels not seen since the year 2000.

Now, some of the forces fighting under the Taliban flag are U.S.-trained troops who have defected from the Afghan army.

Now in a report exclusive to CNN, senior international correspondent Nick Paton Walsh speaks to a couple of defectors.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

NICK PATON WALSH, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): You know a war's going badly when an enemy's right in front of you. This white

flag is the Taliban's. They really are that close to these Afghans, defending one of the last government holdouts in Heldman Province. It used

to be NATO that shot from these positions near the vulnerable city.

(GUNFIRE)

WALSH: Hundreds of Americans and British died, many in the town where these pictures show the Afghan Army recently in heavy clashes.

(EXPLOSION)

(SHOUTING)

WALSH: But now Afghanistan is quite quickly watching Helmand fall.

(SHOUTING)

WALSH: The Taliban are winning partly because of men like these. This is a rare window into the Afghan government's worst nightmare. Soldiers from the

Afghan army, who America spent billions training, who say they've defected and joined the Taliban. They never dreamed they'd change sides.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translation): I did 18 months of army training and took an oath to serve this country, but the situation changed. The army

let us down, so we had to come to the Taliban. They treat us like guests.

WALSH: They carry their old uniforms, I.D.s, and bank cards used to get their old army wages.

They fight where these pictures were more recently filmed. But now they use their training and experience to train the Taliban.

UNIDENTIFIED SOLDIER (through translation): I decided to leave the army when my dad and injured comrades lay in our base, but nobody took them to

hospital. My army training is very useful now, as I am now training Taliban fighters with the same knowledge.

WALSH: Men who've seen the tide turn and voted with their feet.

(on camera): Helmand's the indisputable heartland of the south. And they've worked so hard to push the Taliban back. And here in Kabul, you can speak

to many who say it could fall at any day. That gives you a sense of how much on the offensive the Taliban are and what could happen in the summer

fighting season ahead.

(voice-over): This is the center of the key town in the Taliban's sights. Tense, yet teeming. Some visit briefly from areas the Taliban now control.

"It's a bit too soon to say whether people are happy with the Taliban. The bazaar is now full of people. That was because the security was bad. And

some people avoided the government's forces." Others fled to its outskirts from the fighting and flash points.

[08:05:13] UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translation): My worst memory from Sangin (ph) is how a wedding party was hit by mortar, killing a large

number of people.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translation): The bullets and rocket the followed, so I fled here.

WALSH: Just over a year since NATO stopped fighting, and here, the Taliban's white flags are closer than ever.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LU STOUT: Now for more, senior international correspondent Nick Paton Walsh joins me now from the capital Kabul live.

And Nick, the Afghan army, as we saw in that report clearly struggling in Helmand. Is there any hope that Afghan forces can match Taliban tactics?

WALSH: Well, Afghan and U.S. officials are quite clear. They don't share the pessimism you heard in that report saying they don't think Lashkar Gah

is in fact itself that much under threat.

In fact, this is what the Afghan active defense minister said when I asked him about Helmand and Lashkar Gah.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

WALSH: Helmand is the key battleground now. And frankly people can see the Taliban's flag from the outskirts of Lashkar Gah. People say to me so

regularly Lashkar Gah could fall any day.

MOHAMMAD MANSOOM TANEKZAI, AFGHAN ACTING DEFENSE MINISTER: It will not fall.

WALSH: At all.

TANEKZAI: At all.

WALSH: If it does, would you resign?

TANEKZAI: It will not fall. If it falls, there is no doubt I will resign, but it will not fall.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WALSH: That's the level of optimism. It obviously show you how key Helmand and Lashkar Gah really are.

But, yes, can the Afghan army change their tactics here? Get thesmelves together? It's a real uphill struggle, frankly. I mean, even the U.S.

accept that about two-thirds of their personnel losses have been caused simply by desertion, by soldiers not turning up to work.

And Helmand, of course, if it falls the Taliban is potentially a large resource of cash with the poppy and opium crop there being harvested pretty

much as we speak.

And we still haven't got into the summer fighting season, which is traditionally sadly here when violence significantly rises.

The Taliban have a new leader. They have what's called a renewed partnership, quoting U.S. officials, with al Qaeda. They put one of their

key facilitators as the main deputy here. They're increasingly radical, increasingly strident. They're turning their back on what is basically the

key plank of the U.S. policy here in Afghan policy: peace talks between the government and the Taliban. The Taliban at this stage publicly at least

want nothing to do with that.

The challenges are mounting here. And even Afghan officials accept there is a perception, perhaps that they're not winning. They need to change

that. They are giving the message out that they will. But the question is, what are we going to see on the ground? And a police officer we spoke

to in Helmand just yesterday said, look, Lashkar Gah is under pressure from two sides from the Taliban here. The Taliban hold five districts entirely

in Helmand. It doesn't look anything like U.S. and NATO officials assured people it would be when Afghan security forces took over the job, Krisite.

LU STOUT: Nick, the challenges are indeed mounting. Afghan soldiers, as you have been reporting, they have defected because they lost faith in the

government. but what about the people in Afghanistan. What is their perception of this war?

WALSH: Well, I think most people in Afghanistan really after decades of war -- remember, this didn't just start when NATO came to get bin Laden.

Before that, there was the Taliban's brief spell in power. And before that the civil war that they won. And before that the soviet's presence here

and occupation.

So, this is a country that's been traumatized over decades. Many people here have never

known peace.

So, yes, People just simply want the violence to stop frankly. In the minds of some, even if it that does involve some kind of a combination

between the Taliban. I think that's that's fair to say people increasingly exhausted to that stage.

But there is a crisis I think in the eyes of many.

LU STOUT: All right. Our apologies for the technical issue there. But that was our Nick Paton Walsh reporting live from Kabul just then.

Now, a stunning new discovery in the Belgian terror probe. Investigators say the same terror cell behind the bombings in Brussels had originally

planned to target France. But officials say once the attackers knew investigators were closing in on them, they changed plans.

A laptop recovered by investigators revealed their potential targets in Paris.

Now, CNN affiliate BFM says that they include the Paris financial district and the Catholic Association. Also, authorities say terror suspect Mohamed

Abrini who was arrested on Friday has admitted that he is the so-called man in the hat. Now, police have been trying to identify the man seen on

airport surveillance video alongside the two men they say were suicide bombers.

Indian authorities are on the hunt for at least 10 people who may be partly responsible for a temple fire that killed more than 100 people on Sunday.

In this hospital, victims are still fighting for their lives. They are among more than 500 who

were injured.

The disaster happened during Hindu New Year's celebrations. And apparently some stray fireworks ignited a stockpile of other fireworks nearby sending

flames just raging through the compound.

And police say that the temple did not have permission for the fireworks display. And several people have been detained.

Now, let's bring in CNN's Mallika Kapur. She joins us live from Mumbai.

And Mallika, relatives of the victims, they want answers. So, what is the latest on the investigation into this fire?

[08:10:38] MALLIKA KAPUR, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: We have been able to confirm from police officials in Kullum Town (ph) where this

terrible tragedy took place that they have detained five people for questioning. These five people work for the company that supplied the

fireworks to the temple. And they are also trying to track down at least 10 people who are temple trustees and who are now on the run.

We are hearing, yes, there was a van in place, a ban which prevented anyone from lighting fireworks at night. But as we know that that ban, that

order was -- was nobody paid attention to that. And we've seen what the result is: 109 people have lost their lives. We just got official

confirmation of that higher death toll a few minutes ago. 109 people lost their lives, Kristie. And as you said, many, many more still battling for

their lives in hospitals.

We do know that a team of doctors, at least 30 doctors and nurses, including burn specialists, flew into this area in southern India along

with Prime Minister Narendra Modi yesterday when he rushed to the scene. And they are working with across a group of 11 hospitals to provide these

people the best possible medical care possible.

LU STOUT: This temple fire, as you just reported there, has killed at least 109 people. What more have you learned about the explosion, its

aftermath and just the scale of this disaster?

KAPUR: The scale was enormous. As you mentioned earlier, it was caused by fireworks. It was supposed to be a night of worship, of prayer, of

celebration. And a local group ignited the fireworks, but there were also a bunch of fireworks stored in a shed close by. And when one of the sparks

from these fireworks that were ignited fell on that shed, within minutes the entire shed and the neighboring structures were just engulfed in

massive flames. And the impact was so strong that several of the buildings close by just crumbled within minutes. And that's why when you look at the

footage of this tragedy you see mounds and mounds of rubble.

So the impact was absolutely huge. And 109 people are dead. And some of the bodies, Kristie, were so badly burned, charred beyond recognition. In

fact, police officials told us today that of the 109 people who have lost their lives, 14 bodies are so badly charred they're going to have to use

DNA testing to determine the identifies of these bodies.

LU STOUT: A horrific event in India. Such tragic devastation and loss. Mallika Kapur reporting live for us. Thank you, Mallika.

Now, protesters in Bangladesh, they took to the streets over the weekend demanding government action after the murder of a secular blogger.

Now Nazimuddin Samad was hacked, then shot to death last week. And it was just the latest in a string of killings targeting atheist writers.

And now there are conflicting claims about who is responsible. Ivan Watson has more.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE0

IVAN WATSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: The government of Bangladesh is denying a claim of responsibility by al Qaeda that its militants in

South Asia purportedly carried out the murder of atheist blogger Nizamuddin Samad on Wednesday.

Bangladesh's home minister insists neither al Qaeda nor ISIS are active in his country.

ASADUZZAMAN KHAN, BANGLADESHI HOME MINISTER: The al Qaeda and other what you are mentioning, you see, in

our country, there are terrorists, there are terrorists, but they're homemade terrorists, homegrown terrorists, they are not coming from al

Qaeda or coming from IS.

WATSON: This is at least the second time a group claiming to be al Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent has claimed responsibility for the murder of an

atheist. Last August, the group claimed it killed the writer known as Niloy Neel, and again after Wednesday night's murder when several men with machetes ambushed 26-year-old Samad on his way

home from classes at a university in Dhaka.

In fact, this is part of a deadly trend, unknown attackers murdered at least six secular writers and publishers in the Bangladeshi capital. In

the last 14 months, members of this frightened community accuse the authorities of not doing enough to target the killers.

[08:15:01] IMRAN SARKER, BANGLADESHI BLOGGER: They are giving (inaudible) and just saying, giving a briefing, that these killers are not from a group

or any other thing. OK, you say this is from homegrown. Why? What they are doing and why they are not going to arrest these killers, these

extremists group.

WATSON: In its lengthy statement, al Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent is extending its threat, pledging to attack doctors, engineers, judges and

lawyers who prevent the spread of Islamic sharia law in Bangladesh.

Ivan Watson, CNN.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LU STOUT: You're watching News Stream. And coming up, England's Danny Willett rises to the challenge to win The Masters tournament.

And White House hopeful Donald Trump cries foul after rival Ted Cruz hands him a resounding defeat in Colorado.

And the British royals tour India. We'll check in on the Duke and Duchess of Canbridge. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

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

Now, there is a changing of the guard at golf's hallowed turf, Augusta National. Now, England's Danny Willett played the round of his life to

emerge as this year's Masters champion. He shot to the top of the leaderboard by firing a 5 under par 67 on Sunday. But as he rocketed

toward victory, defending champ Jordan Spieth crumbled, blowing a huge lead on the back nine.

Now, Willett is the first Englishman to win the Green Jacket in 20 years.

Now, it is fair to say that Willett will never forget this past week. His wife gave birth a few days before the tournament. And their son was

originally due on Sunday so the would-be champ almost didn't make the trip.

Now Willett told CNN's Don Riddell about the moment he knew it was his tournament to lose.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DANNY WILLETT, 2016 MASTERS CHAMPION: Just walked off 15. I had made a -- I thought I did some good golf shots in there, made par. Westy (ph) just

tipped in for eagle to get to three and then we had the moment where I was walking to 15. I turned back. And I obviously saw that Jordan had gone

from five to one. And then, you know, I nipped to the bathroom. And on the way obviously was shouting and screaming saying, look up, you know,

you're leading The Masters.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LU STOUT: Now, do stay with CNN for a full wrap-up of the 2016 Masters, including more of that interview with the champion Danny Willett. It's

coming up on World Sport starting in about 25 minutes from now.

Now, in the race for the White House, the Republican front-runner Donald Trump is back after an unusual hiatus from the campaign trail. And he's

come out swinging, calling Colorado's process for selecting delegates, quote, totally unfair, and accusing rival Ted Cruz's campaign of using

bullying tactics.

Now, of course all of this, it comes after Cruz's big win in Colorado. And our Phil Mattingly is live for us in New York with the latest. And Phil,

Donald Trump is filing a protest. He calls Colorado's process for selecting delegates unfair. How much truth is there to that?

PHIL MATTINGLY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Not a lot. And here's why, Kristie, the rules are arcane, no question about it, complicated, complex, and state

by state they differ. But they are the rules. And what Ted Cruz's campaign has done is figure out what they are and take full advantage of

them over the last couple of weeks, much to the detriment of Donald Trump's very successful up to this point campaign.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

TRUMP: We've got a corrupt system. It's not right. We're supposed to be a democracy.

MATTINGLY (voice-over): Donald Trump back on the campaign trail in New York after spending four days laying low.

TRUMP: We've got to have a system where voting means something. Doesn't it have to mean something?

MATTINGLY: Criticizing the delegate system after a string of losses and state battles dominated by Ted Cruz's campaign organization and issuing a

warning to the Republican National Committee.

TRUMP: You're going to have a big problem, folks, because there are people that don't like what's going on.

MATTINGLY: Trump's top adviser, Paul Manafort, echoing his boss's concerns, alleging that the Cruz campaign is threatening Trump's delegates.

PAUL MANAFORT, TRUMP CONVENTION MANAGER: You go to these kind of conventions, and you see the tactic, Gestapo tactics. We're going to be

filing several protests, because the reality is, they are not playing by the rules.

MATTINGLY: The Cruz campaign calls it sour grapes, writing in a statement, quote, "It's no surprise that Trump's team will lash out with falsehoods

when facing a loss to distract from their failure."

Trump taking to social media to express his frustration with the delegate fight, tweeting, "The people of Colorado had their vote taken away from

them by phony politicians. Biggest story in politics. This will not be allowed!" This back and forth coming just a day after Cruz went after Trump

over electability while courting top donors in Las Vegas.

CRUZ: If Donald is the nominee, poll after poll after poll shows him losing by double digits. We're looking at a bloodbath of Walter Mondale

proportions.

MATTINGLY: These attacks coming as Trump tries out a new strategy: playing it safe. The Republican front-runner was absent from the Sunday talk shows

yesterday for the first time in four months.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

MATTINGLY: Now, Kristie, while Donald Trump has publicly attacked the delegate system, behind the scenes he and his team very cognizant of how

important it is. Part of the reason you haven't seen him over the last couple of days he has been huddling with his top advisers trying to figure

out a way to counter the ground game that Ted Cruz has used so efficiently in so many contests over these last couple of weeks, Kristie.

LU STOUT: And now he's emerging from that huddle. And Phil, we know that Colorado hurt

Donald Trump. Wisconsin definitely hurt Trump. His comments on women and abortion not helping the Trump campaign. Is this the most politically

vulnerable we have seen Donald Trump on the campaign trail?

MATTINGLY: I don't think there's any question about it, Kristie. But he has one advantage, and that advantage is the math going forward. Obviously

the next primary it's in New York, his home state. 95 delegates at stake here. And his team thinks they might be able to win as many as 90 of them.

But it's not just New York. Going forward, there are a series of states both in the northeast and the mid-Atlantic part of the United States that

really look positive for Donald Trump, but more importantly are not friendly territory for Ted Cruz. So, while the last couple of weeks have

been without question the most difficult of Donald Trump's campaign, and really the most damaging to his prospects to be the nominee, he is now on

much friendlier turf and there is an opportunity to rebound, Kristie.

LU STOUT: Yeah, and you're referring to the next primary contest in New York. What should we expect there?

[08:25:01] MATTINGLY: Well, Donald Trump is the clear favorite, no question about it. But the question right now is all about allocation of

delegates. Again, you you talk about what Donald Trump was complaining about, how confusing some of the rules are. That goes to how states work

through their primaries and caucuses as well.

In New York, it's not a winner take all state, so while Donald Trump will unquestionably do very well, both rival campaigns willing to concede that

Donald Trump will win this state, they can still pick up delegates. So, what you have seen out of Ted Cruz and John Kasich is a very targeted

approach to certain congressional districts where they are trying to not only pick up delegates of their own, but

really depress the number of delegates Donald Trump can take out of this state.

Kristie, the entire goal here, keep Donald Trump from the magic 1,237 delegate number before the convention, that's how many delegates Donald

Trump needs to secure the Republican nomination. If they can keep him under that number, that means we're going to Cleveland in July with an open

convention and that means both Ted Cruz and John Kasich have a very real shot, Kristie.

LU STOUT: It is all about math and momentum, isn't it? Phil Mattingly reporting for us live. Thank you, Phil.

And now to the Democrats. Bernie Sanders may have picked up momentum with his weekend win in Wyoming, but he made no gain on rival Hillary Clinton's

delegate lead.

The next big contest is just over a week away in New York State. And in conversations with CNN, Sanders is promising a more aggressive stance while

Clinton is sounding confident.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. BERNIE SANDERS, 2016 DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Ever since Wisconsin, when that became the six out of seven states that we have won in

either caucuses or primaries, I think the Clinton campaign has made it public. Basically they told the media that here in New York they're about

to become very negative, about to beat us up. And I just want them to understand that we have tried to run an issue-oriented campaign. But we

are not going to be attacked every single day. Our record is not going to be distorted. We are going to fight back.

JAKE TAPPER, CNN ANCHOR: Are you preparing for the scenario where you -- neither of you enter the convention with the exact number of pledged

delegates you need and there might be something of a floor fight or a contested convention? Are you getting ready for that just in case?

HILLARY CLINTON, 2016 DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: No. I intend to have the number of delegates that are required to be nominated.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LU STOUT: Now, the Democratic rivals will face each other in a CNN debate on Thursday. You can go to CNN Politics.com for the latest on the delegate

race for both parties. You'll find results in upcoming contests state by state. That's at CNN Politics.com/election.

Now, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge met with India's biggest sports legends. And they got to play a bit of cricket themselves. We got more on

their first visit to India next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(HEADLINES)

[08:31:13] LU STOUT: In a highly unusual move, officials in Seoul say a senior intelligence officer with the North Korean military has defected to

South Korea.

Now to follow last week's defections of more than a dozen North Korean nationals. Paula Hancocks has details.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

PAULA HANCOCKS, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: It is a rare defection of a senior military official from North Korea. It's also a rare confirmation

from the South Korean side.

The Defense and Unification Ministries here in Seoul have confirmed that the defector is a senior colonel North Korea's reconnaissance general

bureau.

Now, that bureau is believed to be behind espionage operations against the South, against other countries, as well as intelligence gathering, and

cyberwarfare.

Now, any defector that arrives in the south is questioned by authorities for information and also to check that they are not a spy. This defector

is potentially a treasure trove of information for South Korean intelligence. The defector may know something about leader Kim Jong-un,

about his operations, about his intentions, even about his inner circle.

It's not known at this point, though, exactly when this defector arrived in South Korea or when

they left North Korea.

Now, Yonhap news agency is saying that it is the highest level military official ever to have defected from North Korea. And certainly it is

leading to questions being asked about what that says about the stability of Kim Jong-un's leadership.

Now, this news comes just a few days after the south confirmed 13 workers from an overseas North Korean restaurant arrived in South Korea after

defecting en masse.

Now, these two rare confirmations coming just ahead of Wednesday's local elections here in South Korea have led some local journalists to ask

whether or not there's a political motivation behind authorities announcing these and whether or not it is intended as a boost to the ruling party.

The government has rejected those suggestions.

Paula Hancocks, CNN, Seoul.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LU STOUT: And now to a remarkable scene that played out in Japan on Monday. John Kerry became the first U.S. secretary of state to visit

Hiroshima, the city decimated by the first atomic bomb the U.S. dropped on Japan in 1945.

Now, Kerry paid his respects at a memorial to the victims. That's a number about 140,000.

But he hasn't there to apologize.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOHN KERRY, U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE: It is a stunning display. It is a gut-wrenching display. It tugs at all your sensibilities as a human being.

It reminds everybody of the extraordinary complexity of choices in war and of what war does to people, communities, the world.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LU STOUT: John Kerry and foreign ministers from the G7 countries are in Japan for talks on

denuclearization and terrorism.

Now, British royals William and Catherine on the second day of their week long tour of India and Bhutan. They are in New Delhi this hour.

Now earlier, they visited the India gate to pay respects to soldiers from Indian regiments who served in World War I.

And there's more on their itinerary this Monday. Sumnima Udas is in the Indian capital. She joins us now live. And Sumnima, today the royal

couple, they moved their official visit to New Delhi. What have they seen and what's next on their agenda?

SUNIMA UDAS, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well Kristie, as you mentioned, the Delhi leg of their visit began at the India Gate, which is

one of the main war memorials here. And in particular, the duke and duchess were honoring the 17,000 Indian soldiers who lost their lives at

World War I when they were still fighting for the British army.

Then they headed to Gandhi Smriti, which is the home where Mahatma Gandhi, the founder of modern India, spent the last 144 days of his life.

So, they followed in his footsteps from his house to the garden where he was assassinated in 1948. And the symbolism and the irony, Kristie, hasn't

really been lost on anyone here. The fact that they are honoring the man who led the independence movement against the British empire. This is what

a lot of people here are talking about.

But as the palace has been careful to stress all along, this visit is a celebration of Britain and

India's historical ties. But more importantly perhaps this is an attempt by the duke and duchess to build a new kind of relationship with modern

India -- Kristie.

[08:36:04] LU STOUT: Now, Sumnima the photo-ops during this visit have been extraordinary from the royal couple standing next to some of the

biggest stars in Bollywood to even seeing Kate playing cricket in heels.

How has the visit been covered by the media there in India? And also received by the people of India?

UDAS: That's right.

There's one fool-proof way to catch India's attention, and that is to play cricket with none other

than the cricketing legend here Sachin Tendulkar. And that's exactly what they did.

Those images of the duchess wielding the bat and whacking the ball as Sachin Tendulkar bowled, those are the images that everyone is talking

about, those are the -- that's what got a lot of people excited about this trip.

Now, before they arrived there was a lot of talk about whether Indians actually even care about the royals anymore because of that colonial past.

It's a 200 -- more than 200 long history that many Indians actually want to forget about.

But still from the reception that we are seeing here, and from how the local media is covering, it seems that a lot of antagonism and resentment

has now diminished. And people are really just focusing now on the couple as they are today -- the charming young emissaries of the United Kingdom

looking to build a new kind of relationship with the world's biggest democracy -- Kristie.

LU STOUT: And Sumnima, this is a seven-day tour to the region. So after India, where will he duke and duchess of Cambridge travel next?

UDAS: Well, tomorrow they will be having lunch with the prime minister here. And then eventually they will be headed to the state of Assam (ph)

where they will be visiting a national park there. They will be talking to conservationists there and going on a tour of the park as well looking

really into the human/animal conflict. And then they will head to Bhutan, and that's really a way of the

royal family of Britain building a relationship with another royal family in Asia, and that is the king and queen of Bhutan, that's going to be two-

day-long trip.

And after that, they come back here to India, to Agra. They'll be visiting the Taj Mahal. And that is certainly going to be the highlight of this

trip. They want to see the duke and duchess in front of the Taj Mahal, taking pictures exactly where Princess Diana did quite some time ago.

Taking those iconic pictures there on that bench -- Kristie.

LU STOUT: All right, Sumnima Udas reporting live from the Indian capital for us on the royal visit. Many thanks indeed for that.

Now, it has been 20 years since the journey to catch them all began. Pokemon still attracts gamers from all generaions with its whimsical

creates and ever evolving universe.

More on game faces next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[11:40:33] LU STOUT: welcome back.

Now, it started as just another game for Nintendo's Gameboy back in 1996, and 20 years later Pokemon is one of the most popular video game series of

all time, spawning a cartoon, a card game and a whole legion of toys.

Now, in the latest in our game faces series, a man who has been working on Pokemon since the beginning tells about the game's enduring appeal.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I am (inaudible) Pokemon.

(through translator): Pokemon are creatures, magical creatures. You train your team by fighting

with other Pokemon. You choose from three types of Pokemon when you start the adventure. The three times are water, grass, and fire. It is actually

the same structure as rock, paper, scissors.

There might be different names for it, but this game exists everywhere in the world. It's the simplest type of game, and even children can

understand rock, paper, scissors.

It's been 20 years since the first Pokemon game made its debut. The first game was made by eight staff members. Our president Satashi Jajiri (ph)

asked me, hey, Matsuda (ph) the Gameboy has this communication cable. What do you think about exchanging something like monsters between machines.

That's how it all started.

Connecting with friends is the theme of this game. With the first game, trading took place with two Gameboys connected by linked cable. But as

technology advanced you could trade your Pokemon through wireless transfer and now through the internet. It's a way to connect people. You might

meet with a Pokemon owned by someone in another country somewhere else in the world.

We are in the middle of developing Pokemon sun and moon right now. The biggest feature is that we are adding Chinese to the language selection.

We added this language because we want as many people as possible to enjoy our game.

My favorite in Pokemon is Psyduck. this character has tiny dots for eyes and holds its head because it has a headache. I like this Pokemon best.

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LU STOUT: I like that Pokemon too.

Now, that was Junichi Matsuda (ph), the director of Pokemon. Now Matsuda (ph) also told us us that they never expected the original Pokemon game to

be a hit, any he credits word of mouth among Japanese schoolchildren for turning it into a nationwide success, setting the stage for Pokemon's

introduction worldwide.

And that is News Stream. I'm Kristie Lu Stout. But don't go anywhere. We have more on The Masters next on World Sport with Alex Thomas.

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