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Australian Tech Claims to Have Invented Bitcoin; Bangladeshi Hindu Tailor Hacked to Death in Latest Attack; Ted Cruz Making Last Stand in Indiana. Aired 8:00a-9:00a ET

Aired May 02, 2016 - 08:00   ET

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

[08:00:17] KRISTIE LU STOUT, HOST: I'm Kristie Lu Stout in Hong Kong and welcome to News Stream.

Destroyed in seconds: dramatic images emerge from inside a Syrian hospital as it's hit by a deadly air strike, this as diplomats try to reach

a truce.

ISIS claims responsibility for yet another killing in Bangladesh: a Hindu tailor hacked to death.

And is this the face of one of the world's biggest online currencies? More on the man who claims he is the inventor of BitCoin.

A high-level meeting is under way right now in Geneva to try and salvage an all but decimated cease-fire in Syria. The U.S. Secretary of

State John Kerry is brokering talks over the so-called cessation of hostilities that began in February and has already fallen apart in the city

of Aleppo.

There was deadly evidence of that last week when an airstrike hit a hospital in a rebel-held neighborhood.

This surveillance by Channel 4 News, shows the moments before, during and after that hospital attack.

Matt Frye reports.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MATT FRYE, CHANNEL 4 NEWS: This is a silent film, but you begin to imagine the sounds. The CCTV cameras outside the hospital in the rain, and

inside, are unflinching observers of what is about to unfold. The clocks on the screen are an hour out. It is 9:38 on Wednesday evening, and the Al

Quds Hospital is shaken by an explosion nearby.

Some people head downstairs expecting casualties to arrive, that turns out to be a deadly mistake. No one you can see here has any idea that this

hospital is seconds away from becoming a target itself. The choice of where to go left or right up or down seals their fate.

The man in green is a Doctor Mohammed Moaz (ph), leaving the intensive care unit. He is 36 years old and he's the last pediatrician in Aleppo.

He's already done one day shift at another hospital, and is in the middle of the night shift in this one. He is single and his parents have fled to

Turkey. He was looking forward to visiting them a few days later.

We don't know exactly where he has now gone, but we do know his fate.

At 9:42 and 12 seconds, the hospital is hit -- same explosion, different camera. Minutes after the dust clears, the survivors emerge.

The ghostly image of a nurse carrying a child or a baby from the maternity ward. Civilians milling around in a daze, taking on the

tasks of the nurses, who have been killed or injured.

Doctor Moaz (ph) is now dead, and so are 50 others -- nurses, patients, visitors.

As the smoke clears the road outside emerges as field of rubble. Since then, two more hospitals

have been hit and yesterday one of Aleppo's main medical storage facilities. In this case, four CCTV cameras bear talent witness.

(END VIDEOTAPE).

LU STOUT: And that chilling surveillance video was from inside the children's hospital bombed in Aleppo last week. And media reports say that

Russia is now stepping up its efforts to restore calm in that city.

The Kremlin reportedly saying on Sunday the talks are under way to include Aleppo in a temporary halt to fighting.

Now, Fred Pleitgen joins me now live . We know that the United States want Russia to put more pressure on Damascus to stop the airstrikes, but

how much pressure is the Kremlin applying?

FREDERIK PLEITGEN, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, at this point in time, it's unclear. It was interesting, Kristie, because at the

beginning of the weekend, the Russians apparently said that they didn't want to put pressure on the Assad regime to halt any of its aerial bombings

there in Aleppo, however as Sunday rolled around, the word was that the Russians were saying that they are indeed in negotiations to try and get

the cease-fire that, of course, is supposed to apply to the entire country back on track.

It's unclear at this point in time who exactly the Russians are talking to, whether or not it's any groups on the ground or whether or not

it's the other international players that are also trying to get the cease-fire back on track.

One of the things that Secretary of State Kerry said right after landing in Geneva is, he said

that while the Russians don't have any representatives in Geneva at this point in time, that the U.S. is in constant contact with its Russian

counterparts, to try and get this cease-fire in Aleppo back on track, because, of course, that is so very important with some 250 civilians being

killed in the last two days alone and then, of course that bombing in the hospital.

And while the U.S. says it holds both sides accountable for the situation in Aleppo getting back

out of control, Secretary of State Kerry did squarely point the finger of blame at the Assad regime for the bombing of that hospital. Let's listen

in to what he said just a couple of moments ago.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOHN KERRY, U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE: Aleppo was particularly disturbing to everybody for what has happened there. There are three

health clinics now, one major hospital, that have been attacked, from the air, by bombs. There are only two air forces flying in that particular

area. And the Russians are clear that they were not engaged or flying at that time.

The regime has clearly indicated a willingness over a period of time now to attack first responders, to attack health care workers, and

rescuers, and the attack on this hospital is unconscionable under any standard, anywhere. It has to stop.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PLEITGEN: Now, the Syrian government for its part has said that it's not behind the bombing of the hospital, but you heard there's some very

clear words from Secretary of State John Kerry clearly stating who the U.S. believes is behind the bombing of that particular hospital. And as he

said, two other clinics as well.

It's interesting because in that news conference, Kristie, he also said that in many ways he believes that the situation in Syria is very much

out of control. He also said he's hopeful that possibly some sort of renewal of the cessation of hostilities for the whole country can be

achieved in the next couple of days, but he also says there's still a lot of negotiation that needs to be done -- Kristie.

[08:07:20] LU STOUT: Yeah, and a renewal of the cessation of hostilities is needed to end these attacks on hospitals and also to get

access for aid, so aid can get to the Syrians who desperately need.

I mean, what's the latest word on the humanitarian situation, especially in Aleppo?

PLEITGEN: Well, it's still very difficult. Certainly in the rebel- held parts of Aleppo. If you look at some of the aerial bombings that have taken place over the past couple of days, some of them have apparently been

very close to the only supply route that the rebels still have from the Turkish border into the rebel-held part of Aleppo. So, certainly while it

would be very difficult, of course, for them to funnel weapons in there, it would also be very difficult for any sort of humanitarian access

to take place.

And humanitarian access really since the cessation of hostilities has gone into effect has been a big issue. Staffan de Mistura, the UN envoy

for the conflict in Syria said it's very difficult for UN convoys to not only get to places like that in Aleppo, but also to get to other places

that are under siege both by the rebels and by government as well. So, that's one big thing.

The other thing that Secretary of State Kerry also said is that there can't be any movement forward on the political fronts to get a more lasting

political transition going if both sides are not signed up to the cease- fire.

Of course, at this point in time that's looking pretty dire, even though on a, if you will, somewhat positive note, it seems as though Sunday

was a little more quiet in Aleppo than the days before, Kristie.

LU STOUT: All right. CNN's Fred Pleitgen reporting for us live from Moscow. Thank you, Fred.

And now to the violence in Iraq. Police tell CNN at least four people have been killed and ten were wounded when a booby-trapped car detonated on

the side of the road in southwest Baghdad. It was on a road that Shiites use on their annual pilgrimage.

Now, meanwhile, the southern city of Somawa (ph) is mourning lives lost in two suicide bombings the day before.

News agencies report at least 30 people were killed, dozens were wounded. ISIS has claimed responsibility saying that it was targeting

security forces.

Now, the country's deepening political crisis is only making it more difficult to battle ISIS. On Sunday, Protestors left the fortified

government area in Baghdad called the green zone.

Now, supporters of powerful Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr ransacked parliament and demanded lawmakers be dismissed for corruption. Now,

they've now put the protests on hold until Friday out of respect for the annual Shiite pilgrimage.

An investigation is under way in Bangladesh over the killing of a Hindu tailor hacked to death with machetes. Now, police say they have

detained three people who filed a legal case against the victim four years ago accusing him of making derogatory comments about the Prophet Muhammad.

Now, earlier I spoke with senior international correspondent Ivan Watson about the case.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

[08:10:13] IVAN WATSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: One of the possible motives is he was charged in 2012 with blasphemy. And police say

they have detained at least three men for questioning now, two of them are described as members of -- local members, of

opposition parties who were involved in taking this man to court in the first place on these allegations of blasphemy.

But the point is, that just in the month of April, you had these machete murders of a

professor, two gay rights activists, an atheist blogger and now a Hindu tailor, part of a much broader trend of killings that have been taking

place.

And what really looks like just a systemic attack attack on members of civil society all across the country in Bangladesh.

LU STOUT: So, what is the latest from Bangladeshi authorities about this wave of killings in the country?

WATSON: Well, first of all, in the case of the Hindu tailor, ISIS has claimed responsibility for that attack, but consistently, the Bangladeshi

government has denied that ISIS or al Qaeda are involved in any of these killings, despite

multiple claims of responsibility from both organizations suggesting that these actually competition in

trying to kill more victims.

But the Bangladeshi prime minister came out over the course of last week, over the weekend, condemning the attacks and taking one step further

saying, quote, "there is no place for terrorism in the country and no terrorist would be allowed to use Bangladesh's soil. We want to establish

Bangladesh as a peaceful nation in the world."

But she also directly accused the two main opposition parties in the country of being behind the killings calling them planned murders.

These are very serious accusations to make. We've spoken with a spokesperson of the biggest opposition party, the Bangladesh Nationalist

Party and they have denied these accusations, saying they are baseless and being used for political points, basically.

LU STOUT: In the last few years, we've seen a wave of killings in Bangladesh. We have political bickering going on over who is responsible.

I mean, this surely isn't conducive to creating an environment to prevent more attacks from taking place?

WATSON: No. And what's really striking is that as the prime minister was giving a speech denouncing terrorism -- and she'd really been called

out by the U.S. ambassador in the country to do that on your program, on Thursday, as she was giving this speech that same day, this Hindu tailor

was murdered.

So, despite statements from the government that they're going to crack down, that they're hunting down the killers, the killings continue. And

they spread this climate of fear across the country, where you have different sectors of society literally going into

hiding or simply fleeing the country.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LU STOUT: CNN's Ivan Watson there.

Now, Taiwan has filed a formal objection against Malaysia after Malaysian authorities deported

dozens of Taiwan citizens to mainland China.

Now, the group is among more than 100 people China and Malaysia are accusing of fraud. Beijing says the suspects should be sent to China,

because the victims of the scam are all mainland residents. this Now, follows a similar case last month when Kenya deported 45 Taiwan

citizens to China.

Now, last week China passed a law that will require foreign non- governmental organizations to submit to police supervision. Human rights groups and the U.S.

government have criticized the new law calling it a crackdown on civil society.

The director of China Labor Bulletin, Han Dongfang has worked extensively with foreign NGOs in China and he spoke to me earlier about

their future in light of the new law.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

HAN DONGFANG, DIRECTOR, CHINA LABOR BULLETIN: Well, I mean, the police definitely came not in peace, and they come with the controlling

kind of intention. They want to control. Of course, the NGOs should be prepared to get hit at the beginning, but in the same time,

I wouldn't suggest to think about this as the end of the world.

And if you look back, the last 30 years -- and China went through the reform, every step they tried to make, there's always back and forth

struggle. Civil society and people always, you know, facing to this kind of internal intention, try to control every step towards reform, but every

time we're able to pass through.

LU STOUT: So how will foreign NGOs be able to pass through this time? Because now they can be treated like criminal organizations under this new

law. How does one maneuver in this new environment in China?

DONGFANG: The basic fact is, China needs NGOs, it's not NGOs need China, because the

economy developments, the crazy markets, and capitalists developments. Really produce this side effect, a side product like inequality,

environmental damage and many other things. You need NGOs to clean it up. Government cannot clean it up, and police cannot clean up, especially a

corrupted government cannot clean it up. But that causes huge and worse and worse reaction, anger from people. Only NGO is able to clean this up,

therefore, I would say NGOs should really trust ourselves and we are, our existence is China need, it's not the other way around.

LU STOUT: You work with a number of foreign NGOs in China. Have you been able to contact them since the passage of this new law? How are they

feeling? And are they afraid?

DONGFANG: My understanding is most NGOs, of course you are afraid, especially foreign NGOs and you have a big operation, how you're going to

deal with it?

I would say, be fearful is not the solution, and be careful is the solution. But be hopeful is even the ultimate solution, because, again,

China's fuller developments needs a social solution, and the social solution comes from China's domestic NGOs, involved in the social

development. And China's social NGOs need foreign NGOs to support, because the funding within China is not available, most place still depends on

foreign NGOs.

So therefore, I would say, not panicking but be prepared there will be a period of time difficult, but after the law passed that underground

readjustment, the reality and the law will take some time.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LU STOUT: And that was veteran activist in China Labor Bulletin founder Han Dongfang speaking to me earlier.

You're watching News Stream. And still to come on the program, Donald Trump is ramping up

rhetoric on the U.S. trade deficit with China. Now he calls it a brutal crime. I'll tell you exactly what what he told a crowd in Indiana just

ahead.

And speaking of Indiana, U.S. Republicans and Democrats are about to go head-to-head there. How the numbers are stacking up ahead of the

crucial contests.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[11:21:18] LU STOUT: Coming to you live from Hong Kong you're back watching News Stream. Now, Donald Trump is comparing what he views as

China's dominance in trade with the U.S. to rape. He spoke at a rally in Indiana ahead of that state's vote. And he was referring to China's high

number of exports to the U.S. He said he isn't angry with China, but with U.S. leaders who he accuses of being grossly incompetent.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP, 2016 REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: We can't continue to allow China to rape our country, and that's what they're doing.

It's the greatest theft in the history of the world.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LU STOUT: Now, Tuesday's Indiana primary, it could be a make or break contest for Ted Cruz. He needs a win to bolster his chances for a

contested Republican National Convention in July, but the latest poll from that state shows he faces an uphill fight.

The new Wall Street Journal/NBC/Marist poll shows his rival Republican front-runner Donald

Trump is 15 points ahead of him in Indiana. John Kasich trails both of them significantly with just 13 percent support.

Now, I want to bring in Phil Mattingly who joins us live from New York now. And Phil, I understand that you've learned the governor of Indiana is

endorsing Ted Cruz, but, I mean is that enough? What impact is that going to have on the race?

PHIL MATTINGLY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It certainly hasn't moved the needle in the way that the Cruz campaign would like it to.

Now, Mike Pence is a popular Republican governor, really a conservative standard bearer in

the state. The type of individual the Cruz campaign desperately wanted to come onboard. And Mike Pence will be campaigning throughout the state with

Ted Cruz today, but Kristie, you pointed out kind of the key problem here. The numbers have been moving away from Ted Cruz in the state. And the

reality is this, without Ted Cruz winning Indiana or polling a significant number of delegates from the state, Donald Trump's path to the nomination

begins a lot clearer, a lot easier to pull off. When Ted Cruz made very clear that this was going to be the state he needed to win, he set the

stakes very high.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MATTINGLY: Time running out on the Stop Trump movement?

TRUMP: I mean, the two last ones are like hanging by their fingertips. They're joking. Don't let me fall. Don't let me fall.

MATTINGLY: Donald Trump, confident that a big win in the Indiana primary tomorrow will cement his path to the GOP nomination, effectively

knock out Senator Ted Cruz and Governor John Kasich.

TRUMP: If we win Indiana it's over, OK? And then we can focus on crooked Hillary. Please, let's focus on Hillary.

MATTINGLY: Trump kicking off the week by ramping up against Democratic frontrunner Hillary Clinton.

TRUMP: If she were not a woman she wouldn't even be in this race.

MATTINGLY: And he is refusing to tone it down.

TRUMP: She's a strong person. She's going to have to be able to take it. The fact is, the only card she has is the woman's card. She has done

a lousy job in so many ways and even women don't like her.

MATTINGLY: Ted Cruz pinning his hopes for besting Trump in Indiana, even though the latest

poll in the state shows him trailing Trump by 15 points.

SEN. TED CRUZ, (R) TEXAS: I have to tell you, I have faith in Hoosiers, in the common sense good judgment of the men and women of this

great state.

MATTINGLY: Over the weekend, Donald Trump saying he's being cheated of delegates he won in Arizona.

TRUMP: It's all a rigged system. For instance, I won in Arizona. I won everything, but these guys are trying to go in and get votes on the

second ballot.

MATTINGLY: The Cruz campaign trying to outmaneuver the front-runner, courting delegates country wide to come his way at a contested convention,

all if Trump isn't able to lock up the nomination on the first ballot.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

MATTINGLY: And Kristie, a contested convention is now literally the only place where Ted Cruz could win this nomination. Obviously, Trump's

campaign very cognizant of the fact that Cruz's team has done a lot of behind-the-scenes work to set them up for just that event. That's why

they're trying to knock this out on the first ballot, Kristie.

[08:25:10] LU STOUT: Yeah, and as Donald Trump continues to power on, especially with the popular vote, what is the mood and thinking inside the

establishment GOP? Resistance, rebellion or evolving into a sense of resignation about Donald Trump?

MATTINGLY: Some sense of all three, I think, would be the right answer. But the latter, the final point is the one that we've started to

head towards. And I think that's most problematic for Ted Cruz, for John Kasich, for candidates that were expecting the establishment Republicans to

stick behind them, to be willing to give money, to be willing to give time, to be willing to get endorsements to block Donald Trump.

As that starts to wither away -- and Kristie, I think if you see Donald Trump win Indiana it will just be decimated over the next couple of

weeks, all that leads to is a Trump nomination and the real ability for Republicans to have to accept the fact that they either coalesce behind

Donald Trump or figure out a way to, some other way to beat Hillary Clinton if one actually

exists, Kristie?

LU STOUT: All right. Phil Mattingly reporting for us live from New York. Thank you, Phil. Take care.

Now, the Democrats are also focused on Tuesday's contest in Indiana. And right it looks like it will be a tight race there between the front-

runner Hillary Clinton and rival Bernie Sanders. The Wall Street Journal/NBC/Marist poll, it shows Clinton with only a narrow four-point

lead over Sanders in the state.

Now, Bernie Sanders admits he has a tough road ahead to best Hillary Clinton for the Democratic nomination, but he insists it is not impossible.

Out speaking at an event in Washington over the weekend, he said he is staying in the race

all the way through to the convention.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BERNIE SANDERS, 2016 DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: It is virtually impossible for Secretary Clinton to reach the majority of

convention delegates by June 14th with pledged delegates alone. She will need super delegates to take her over the top at the convention in

Philadelphia. In other words, the convention will be a contested contest.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LU STOUT: Now, Sanders' campaign has announced it raised just over $25 million in April, down about 40 percent from its haul in March.

You're watching News Stream. And still to come on the program, an American cruise ship docks in Havana. And we'll tell you why it wasn't all

smooth sailing.

And could this man be the mysterious creator behind BitCoin? We'll take a closer look at his claim.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(HEADLINES)

[08:31:43] LU STOUT: And now to a historic moment between the U.S. and Cuba. The first U.C. cruise ship in nearly 40 years is about to dock

in Havana. Right now, it is just a dot on the horizon. It's carrying huge political implications, but not everyone is

happy about it.

In fact, a small group of protesters gathered outside the port in Miami before it set sail and so did some people on a nearby boat who held

up a sign critical of Castro.

Now, Patrick Oppmann joins us now live from Havana. And Patrick, I understand that the American cruise ship has arrived there. Talk us

through this historic moment.

PATRICK OPPMANN, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: It's entering the Bay of Havana. As you were saying, it's a dot on the horizon, but a dot.

Every time we look just on my right shoulder there it gets a little bit larger. The Carnival Cruise Line ship is just behind the Havana skyline

right now, but in a minute we think it will peak out.

And I'll just walk you through where it's going to come. It'll first enter in to the Bay of Havana. There was an old Spanish fort there that

was actually used centuries ago to defend this bay against pirates. It will then come into the bay. We expect people along Havana's (inaudible)

sea front probably to stop and wave.

You know, the cruise ships that do come in here with some regularity, but they're all from Europe or from the other islands of the Caribbean or

they're full of Ccanadian visitors. This is the first time in nearly 40 years that you have a cruise ship with American visitors. And it's just so

significant. The United States and Cuba having this tortured relationship over the years. Cuba being so close but just off limits to American

visitors. That's changing today. This cruise ship, it is only the first, but it's a first of many.

Carnival has said that they will be regularly coming to Havana. Yesterday, Carnival officials

said they'd actually like to home port a ship in the near future. Other cruise lines fighting to get into this new market for American cruise

lines. they

And this is where the ship will end up here in the port of Havana. There are only two slips, Kristie, for cruise ships right now. It's not

nearly enough. This is a pretty small ship for Carnival, only 700 passengers can fit into this ship. They have other ships that can fit

3,000 more passengers than that, but they're just too big to fit into this antiquated port.

So the Cuban government is talking with cruise lines about modernizing this port, about creating conditions where you could have the mega cruise

ships here. That's years off and many millions of dollars of investments to come, but today is the first step, and it's a big one, and in just a few

hours we'll see Americans coming off the cruise ship right behind me into the port of Havana -- Krsitie.

LU STOUT: Yeah, a historic day indeed. We know that there was a protest outside the port in Miami, just as this cruise ship set sail. s

there also resistance there in Cuba?

OPPMANN: Those kinds of protests, public protests are just not permitted in Cuba.

But Cubans here at least don't feel that way, they welcome this as a symbol of the two countries moving closer together. They're excited about

this.

Of course, there was a lot of controversy, because initially Carnival said the Cuban-Americans who were born in Cuba could not come. Cuba had

restrictions decades old that did not allow Cubans either to board ships leaving the country or come back on ships to their

own country. That has been scrapped.

So there are people in Miami that are not happy about this cruise ship, but people who are

backers of this engagement say, listen, just with one cruise, Carnival Cruise Lines negotiating with the Cuban government has already affected

some pretty significant changes, which is not only are they scrapping the law that are preventing Cubans from coming on cruise ships

soon Cubans will be able to come on private yachts, the Cuban government says. So, that is the kind

of engagement and advances we are seeing taking place on a daily basis here in Cuba -- Krsitie.

LU STOUT: Yeah, that big change takes root there in Cuba. Patrick Oppmann reporting live from Havana. Thank you. Take care.

Now, over the years, there have been theories floating around the world over who

created BitCoin. And now this man claims that he did. The Australian computer scientist Craig Wright has published what he says is technical

proof, that includes data linked to transactions made in the early days of Bitcoin. But some say important questions remain unanswered.

Now, Bitcoin, it was created in 2009 by somebody using a pseudonym. It is an entirely digital currency. And you can make transactions with no

middlemen at all, which means no banks and no fees. And you never have to give up your real name. So that makes it

the currency of choice for those who want to make anonymous purchases online.

So, how do people get Bitcoins? Well, one way is to buy from marketplaces known at Bitcoin

exchanges. Another way involves a process called mining.

Now, each Bitcoin is the product of an incredibly complicated math puzzle. It is so complicated that only powerful computers can solve it.

And once it's solved, the winner is rewarded with Bitcoins.

Now, it's all-out war between Captain America and Iron Man. And fans are called to pick a side

in the latest Marvel blockbuster. We'll have more on the movie and the comic that inspired this superhero battle.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LU STOUT: Welcome back. Now, it is the ultimate superhero showdown. Marvel's "Captain America: Civil War" is scoring big at the international

box office earning over $200 million in just five days. And it hasn't even been released in the two biggest film markets

yet.

Now the battle between former allies Captain America and Iron Man will open in the U.S. on

Friday.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ROBERT DOWNEY, JR., ACTOR: You just started a war.

Stay down. Final warning.

CHRIS EVANS, ACTOR: I could do this all day.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LU STOUT: Now, the latest Marvel film is based on this landmark comic from about ten years ago. Now, the events there shook up and changed the

face of the Marvel Universe.

And our resident comics expert Ivan Watson discussed the powerful story with Marvel's C.B. Cebulski.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

WATSON: First of all, let's talk, of course, about "Captain America: Civil War."

C.B. CEBULSKI, MARVEL COMICS: Yep.

WATSON: This is a movie that deals with some pretty heavy, dark ethical and political dilemmas, doesn't it?

CEBULSKI: Yeah. It's interesting, because the original comic series came out in 2006 when it was -- the similar political climate. You know,

there was a lot going on -- mistrust of government, not just in the States, but worldwide. The original miniseries just kind of struck a cord.

Captain America versus Iron Man over, you know, their rights to freedom.

WATSON: C.B., I'm an unabashed comic book fan. I remember reading those comics, that crossover series in 2006. And I just couldn't believe

that you had two super heroes, Captain America and Iron Man literally fighting a war over an issue. This is civil liberties versus national

security. You were at Marvel Comics in 2006. Did you know, did you sense that something very special and very topical and political was being

produced at that time when the initial comic books were starting to come out?

CEBULSKI: You know, I was in the original meeting when the idea got pitched by the writer, Mark Miller. And at that time, we were just looking

it as a superhero story. What can we do that's different? Superheroes versus Superheroes. And as the development of the comic book series went

on, from the plot, to some of the scripts coming in, and then everything going on in the world around us we saw a natural connection developing,

like, wow, this is a lot more relevant than we originally thought it was going to be.

WATSON: And you really have something remarkable, because Captain America literally wears the American flag as his uniform, and in the

original comic book series, he effectively becomes the leader of an insurgency against forces led by Iron Man that are allied with the U.S.

government.

CEBULSKI: Yeah. And that was what was so surprising about the original comic series, was everyone expected Cap to toe the line and do

whatever the government told him. He is the Patriot. He does wear the flag. So people said, oh, Captain America, he can't go against the

government. He is the one who would be first in line to agree with the presidential mandate, who would be the one to support the registration of

the superheroes.

And when that twist -- when that twist came out that he was the one who was going to go on the run and rebel against the government, that

really caused fans to take notice.

WATSON: C.B., in the interests of full disclosure we are have to reveal that you and I have known each other basically since we were

children.

CEBULSKI: Yep.

WATSON: In the same home town in the U.S. I remember looking at your phenomenal comic book collection when I was probably only 13 in your

basement. Aat that time, could you ever have imagined that comic books, Marvel, these superheroes, could become such a mainstream form of

entertainment and industry?

CEBULSKI: You know, when we were kids reading comics growing up, it was, you know, entertainment. We knew that they are superheroes. We read

them for the big action, for the different kind of adventures that they went on and we didn't see the real world political ramifications or some of

the real-life stories that were behind these comics that we loved when we were kids.

Even looking back in the '70s and '80s when we were growing up, you know, the X-Men was kind of a metaphor for racism.

But that, all told, would anyone thought that Marvel would come this far? That I would go from a kid reading comic books under my bed sheets

with a flashlight to being here in Bangkok promoting a big budget movie, one that is be the biggest blockbuster of the year? No. No one would have

imagined. I think it just goes to good characters, good content and good storytelling.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LU STOUT: It's all about good storytelling and super fans like Ivan.

And that is News Stream. I'm Kristie Lu Stout. But don't go anywhere. World Sport is next.

END