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Worldwide Delta Airlines Shutdown Leaves Thousands Stranded; Michael Phelps Wins 19th Gold; Japanese Emporer Makes Rare Address on Television; Concerns Over Philippines President's Tactics. Aired 8-9a ET

Aired August 08, 2016 - 08:00   ET

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

[08:00:13] KRISTIE LU STOUT, CNN HOST: I'm Kristie Lu Stout in Hong Kong, and welcome to News Stream.

Now, worldwide delays: a computer outage brings Delta Airlines to its knees, grounding flights and leaves tens of thousands stranded.

Also another piece of Olympic history for Michael Phelps. How the swimming star stole the

show on day two in Rio.

And a rare address from Japan's aging emperor who expresses concern about his ability to serve. We take you to Tokyo for a live report.

Global aviation is in for a rough time, because of a worldwide computer failure at Delta Airlines. All outgoing Delta flights have been grounded,

thousands of passengers around the world are affected. And some already have been stranded for hours. The cause? It's blamed on a power outage

overnight in Atlanta.

Now Delta has not said when the computer system will be back online.

Now for more on this, let's go straight to CNN Money correspondent Samuel Burke. He who joins us from Heathrow Airport in London.

And Samuel, how is this global system outage affecting passengers, and flights there? Describe the scene.

SAMUEL BURKE, CNN MONEY: Kristie, you will not see any flights of Delta leaving from

Heathrow Airport right behind me.

Just a few minutes ago, we did see a Delta airplane arrive here. So flights were already up

in the air when this outage happened, this power problem at 2:30 a.m. Eastern. And of course right now it's just after 8:00 a.m. Eastern.

If the flights were already up in the air they can land, but they are not leaving. We're not seeing a single plane of Delta coming out of here.

We already know that here at Heathrow, for example, which is one of the biggest hubs for Delta in Europe, that three flights going to Boston,

Philadelphia, and JFK, have already been delayed. Seven other flights that are supposed to be leaving, they say on the board that they're on time, but

here's part of the problem, because these computer systems are out they can't update these flights to say that they're either delayed or canceled.

Now, right now Delta is saying that people can call up the airline -- although that might be very

difficult, so I would suggest using Twitter, because I'm seeing Delta Airlines reply on Twitter.

They can call up and get a waiver so they can fly out in the next few days. So, what that tells us is we believe there's going to be a big knock-on

effect -- airplanes around the world can't leave from places like London and get to New York, and then to other places like Rio, well then it's

going to be a huge knock-on effect over the next couple of days.

LU STOUT: Yeah, so it sounds like options are pretty limited for Delta passengers. Delta flights simply not leaving Heathrow and other airports,

major ones all around the world.

You just said that Delta is turning to Twitter to reach out to stranded passengers. Is that the only form of support that stranded passengers are

getting from the airline?

BURKE: And of course, the stranded passengers reaching out to Delta themselves on Twitter.

What we're hearing is that people are trying to call up and they're finding it very hard to get through. So we see people tweeting all the different

airports around the world, and specifically Delta, as well. And from there we are seeing customers, we're watching tweet after tweet as they get

response from Delta, helping them trying to get onto other flights.

Keep in mind that Delta has partnerships with Virgin Atlantic, for example. So even if you have a Delta ticket right now for a Virgin flight, because

of that partnership you may find it chaotic just like people are finding it here at Heathrow when you walk in that Delta gate, but you're able to get

on to Virgin flights. Those continue to go even if they have the Delta name on

them.

So the social media, even if you don't have an account, today might be the day that you join Twitter because we're seeing them reply to people, and

reply very quickly with useful information -- Kristie.

LU STOUT: All right, Samuel Burke reporting live from Heathrow. Thank you.

For some additional insight into those, let's bring in CNN aviation analyst Mary Schiavo. And Mary, we have learned what caused the global computer

system outage was a power outage in Atlanta. How is it that Delta could be so vulnerable because of this -- this issue of this one place?

MARY SCHIAVO, CNN AVIATION ANALYST: Well, they really aren't. So there's got to be more to the story, because their computer system is backed up

with generators. All major computer systems are. And so something had to happen. Often what happens is there is just a momentary -- it doesn't take

long, but a glitch between the power supplies if it leaves the computer unpowered for eve n a little bit of time, then the computer when it comes

up on the second power source has a hard time recognizing, to put it in layman's terms real-time.

So, the power outage if there was a break in the power, so there shouldn't have been a time when it was without power at all because of the

generators. So I think it might be a little more complicated than Delta's letting on.

But other than a few pilot tweets, there's been no indication of a hack.

[08:05:14] LU STOUT: Got you. And and should this global outage reflect poorly on Delta? Or is this something that could have happened to any

major airline?

SCHIAVO: Well, in the last year, we've had -- this will be the fourth one. We've had an American computer outage that grounded planes, and a United

Airlines one, and two Southwest.

So it's very common, but it's not common to have it completely systemwide. Sometimes it's regional, sometimes it only affects one thing.

But the problem here is because now aircraft are flying computers, as are airlines, if your system is down literally worldwide, you simply can't

operate. Everything from moving the baggage, to having the boarding process is all computerized. So it's going to be very difficult for Delta

to recover. because there's just no excess seats. They can't put people on other carriers because they're all full. This is high season.

LU STOUT: Yeah, and how long will it take for Delta to recover? I mean you have stranded

passengers all over the world waiting to get on their flights. Delta says it hopes to get systems up and running soon. But what is the approximate

time frame on that?

SCHIAVO: Oh, for some people it could probably take five days to get all the passengers back on the planes. I mean when you have a problem like

this, and you have to re-book people, even on a simple re-booking, it can take 24 hours, because there just aren't available seats.

In the old days, airlines flew around with, you know, they were half full. Now it's not uncommon to have, you know, 85 percent, 90 percent, 95 percent

full planes because, obviously, the airlines make more money when the planes are full.

LU STOUT: All right, Mary Schiavo joining us saying it could take about five days for systems

to be back up and running. Thank you very much for joining us, Mary, and take care.

SCHIAVO: Thanks.

LU STOUT: An explosion has rocked a hospital in western Pakistan killing at least 63 people. This huge blast, it ripped through an emergency ward.

Dozens of people are injured. And before this explosion, the hospital had received the body of a prominent activist lawyer. He was killed earlier on

Monday, and colleagues and reporters had been gathered there.

Now for more on the story, let's get straight to Saeed Shah of The Wall Street Journal. He joins

us live from the Pakistani capital. And Said, thank you for joining us here on CNN. And just looking at the death toll, the number of people

wounded, we know that this was a huge and monstrous attack. Who is responsible?

SAEED SHAH, THE WALL STREET JOURNAL: Well, so far there's been no claim of responsibility, but it bears the hallmarks of one of the jihadist groups

who have been active in terrorist violence in Pakistan for the last decade or so. The scene of the attack was utter horror.

I mean, they assassinated a lawyer, they then waited for lawyers to gather at the hospital to receive his body from the mortuary, before sending in a

suicide bomber and you know, who detonated himself among the throng. And then there were bodies, mostly of lawyers,

lying strewn across the courtyard of this hospital.

And bleeding lawyers, struggling to get up, you know. It really was something out of a horror film.

LU STOUT: It was a horrific attack. And the apparent target here were supporters of Bilal Kassi (ph) this lawyer, this activist, who died earlier

on Monday. What more do we know about him and why his associates or reporters trying to report on this story and his death, why would they be

targeted in such a way?

SHAH: Well, it seems, I mean the Pakistani authorities are now thinking that the terrorists are moving their focus from the northwest of Pakistan

to the southwest provinces Balochistan where this happened. And this is very sensitive strategically for Pakistan because this is the route of this

planned trade corridor between Pakistan and China. And so they're now thinking that terrorists are now focusing on trying to disrupt and

destabilize Balochistan to try and damage this thing which Pakistan sees as its economic lifeline with this port and a road link through to China.

And so, you know, we have seen attacks before, but you know, this is one of the worst in recent times in Balochistan.

LU STOUT: That's right. There had been similar attacks like this before in Quetta.

So, is the latest understanding the reason why this took place is that it was not necessarily

another targeted killing in Pakistan, but, a killing, an attack designed to destabilize the region and to demoralize local security?

SHAH: I think very much so. I mean, it's very, very cunningly planned. I mean, they clearly set out to attack the hospital once the body got there.

And they wiped out basically the cream of lawyers in this provincial capital Quetta, many young lawyers among them. And so you know it will be

felt as a very devastating blow in that part of Pakistan including, you know, leading human rights lawyers.

And so this really is the terrorists saying we're still here, despite all these counterterrorism operations over the last couple of years, which

have had a big effect, the terrorists are very much saying with this marker that we're still around and we can still hit you.

[08:10:37] LU STOUT: All right. Saeed Shah reporting for us with The Wall Street Journal

joining us live. Thank you very much, indeed.

Now, turning now to Syria, where these intense battles are raging in two cities. In Aleppo government forces are trying to push back an advance by

rebels. Insurgents broke through Syrian army lines over the weekend. And the army had surrounded rebel-held areas

for almost a month.

And to the east, ISIS is on the verge of losing a prized possession after two months of fighting militia backed by the U.S. have recaptured most of

Manbij.

Now the city has been key for is to smuggle weapons and foreign fighters in and out of

its territory.

All right. The city of Rio de Janeiro is waking up to another day of competition at the summer games. It is day three, and several events are

just getting under way. But let's take a look at what you may have missed on Sunday.

Now American swimmer Michael Phelps took him his 19th gold medal, this time in a freestyle relay.

And in tennis, two major shocks, world number one Novak Djokovic lost to Juan Martin del Potro in men's singles, while Serena and Venus Williams

they were defeated in the first round of women's doubles.

Yet, all of this has been overshadowed by yet more allegations of doping. Russia is now banned from competing in the upcoming Paralympic games.

Now, Kenya also sent home an athletics manager over allegations that he solicited a bribe in connection with doping tests while Brazil is taking

heat over the number of drug test samples its team submitted. And we've got more on that in a moment, but first CNN's Amanda Davies joins us now

live from Copacabana and Rio. And Amanda, the preview of what to expect later today. We know that 14 gold medals are up for grabs on Monday. What

are some of the big events you'll be looking out for?

AMANDA DAVIES, CNN WORLD SPORT: It is -- despite the fact there is still a bit of wind around today, the rowing events, which were canceled so

controversially on Saturday are going ahead, the men's and women's eight heats that are getting under way at the Lagoa just behind us here on

Copacabana, Australia women looking to repeat their gold medal success there.

But there's a historic first today. We'll see the first rugby medal awarded at the Olympic games since 1924. The women's sevens comes to its

conclusion. The semifinals, and the finals taking place today, and it's Australia and New Zealand very much the favorites to win gold in that one.

A big day over at the gymnastics center, as well. The men's team competition getting under way. KoUchimura, the ten-time world champion

will be taking part for Japan. They very much the team to beat. Russia also top contenders, and GB's men have been slowly climbing the ranks over

the lastcouple of years.

But I think you have to say, particularly given the events of Sunday night at the aquatics center, it is going to be another fantastic day in the

swimming pool. We saw three world records yesterday -- Adam Peaty for team GB in the 100 meters breastroke. We saw Katie Ledecky absolutely smash her

world record in the 400 freestyle. She is back in action in the 200 a little bit later on.

This one perhaps the weakest of her events, but given what we saw yesterday, you wouldn't think she'll be too concerned.

And Michael Phelps is back in action as well, celebrating his 19th Olympic gold on Sunday night, absolutely as if it was his first. He's back in

action again and ready to extend that medal winning haul even further.

LU STOUT: Some sterling Olympic performances. No doubt there will be more to come. And yet, Amanda, doping scandals continue to mar the games.

We've learned that the entire Russian Paralympic team has been banned. There's a dark cloud over Brazil's Olympic team as well. How is that

affecting the mood, especially among the athletes, there in Rio?

[08:15:04] DAVIES: Well, Kristie, I think the athletes who are here are very much getting on with their events. It's no doubt tough for the

Russian athletes who are here Yulia Efimova, one of Russia's swimmers who is actually competing in the 100 breastroke final a little bit later today,

she was booed as she walked out at the aquatic center for her heat. A similar situation for the Russian's men's volleyball pair as they went out

at the volleyball venue on Sunday.

But away from the games, the fight really goes on for the Russian Paralympic team. They're absolutely not going to take this ruling lying

down. The Paralympics due to start a month from now, and there's been that news conference in Russia today from the Russian Paralympic team where they

say it is a breach of human rights to ban the whole team, of course, a step much further than that that we saw the International Olympic Committee

take.

The IOC felt that it was unfair to ban athletes innocently, but the IPC have taken the decision that the blame needs to be laid at the door of the

Russian government. They very strongly said it's the Russian government that failed their Paralympians not the sporting system. And they feel that the sporting integrity needs to be upheld.

We've had a quote actually from a Russian Paralympian from London 2012, gold medalist, Mikhail Zimin (ph). He said we will keep on training, and

won't give up.

And Russia have said that they will take the appeal of the Paralympic team to the Court of

Arbitration for Sport.

LU STOUT: All right, Amanda Davies, live for us in Rio. Thank you. Take care.

Now with day two of Olympic competition now in the books, let's take a look at the medal

standings so far. And it is a three-way tie for first. You've got the United States, China, and Australia all with three gold medals each.

Italy, South Korea and Hungary round out the top six with two gold medals apiece. When it comes to total number of medals the U.S. leads with 12.

Now, the World Anti-Doping Agency is now questioning the host nation Brazil saying that the

team didn't provide enough drug test samples in the month leading up to the games.

CNN's Nick Paton Walsh has more.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

NICK PATON WALSH, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Drugs in sport: a pleague. Russian Paralympians banned, many other Russian athletes, as

well. One Kenyan official sent home. What next?

Well, CNN can reveal the record of the host team, Brazil, is now under renewed criticism, as they gave only about a third as many samples to their

own anti-doping agency as would be normal in the crucial month leading up to the games.

Brazil's ministry of sport has told CNN they gave 110 samples between the first and 24th of

July. Mormally, they admitted, they would give about 300 for their team of 477 athletes, the second biggest of the games.

They say they had problems because this laboratory, the only one in Brazil accredited by

the world anti-doping watchdog to test Olympic samples, was closed down for about a month in

late June, because anti-doping officials said it wasn't performing well enough.

While Brazilian officials admit this means testing slowed, even stopped for a bit, it is now

apparent they also stopped collecting samples from their athletes at the level they normally would. That could leave a permanent hole in their

record of what anti-doping officials have called, quote, the most crucial period. That just before the games.

Doping is overshadowed these Olympics, strange as that sounds in a setting stunning like this but what's key is that this is the home team, the hosts.

They want to avoid scandal at all costs. So it is remarkable that in the crucial months before this city opened its arms to the athletes,Brazilian

officials seemed to have allowed their doping testing program to have slipped this much.

Brazil's ministry of sport denies any wrongdoing and says the reduction in samples collected was partly because the laboratory was unable to process

them and had its accreditation suspended.

A spokesman blamed the doping watchdog for closing the laboratory and said Brazil is doing, quote, a very good job against doping.

Nick Paton Walsh, CNN, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LU STOUT: Is the Japanese emperor ready to leave the throne? Well, coming up on News Stream, we break down a rare public address by the aging

monarch.

Also dozens of officials named and shamed by the Philippines president turned themselves in

as his war on drugs continues.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[08:21:50] LU STOUT: Lovely scene here in Hong Kong. You're back watching News

Stream.

And this was the scene on the busy streets of Tokyo just a few hours ago, people pausing to watch an historic address by emperor Akihito. The 82-

year-old monarch spoke about his age, and health, but did not directly address any wish to step down.

Now this is only the second time he has made a televised speech to the nation, the last time was just after the Fukushima nuclear disaster in

2011.

Now, let's get more from Will Ripley. He's standing by live for us in Tokyo. And will, this was an extremely rare address by the emperor, but an

indirectly but deeply significant message. What was it?

WILL RIPLEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It was remarkable when everybody here in Tokyo,

you saw that video from Shinjuku, people stopped and watched and listened to the emperor speak. And what he said in many ways was quite powerful,

because of what he didn't say. He didn't say directly that he wants to abdicate, but he very strongly hinted that he feels as if as the years

advance he just simply doesn't have it in him to continue as the emperor much longer, but

is bound under current Japanese law to continue serving until he dies. And perhaps now, the public is really rallying, perhaps

lawmakers will rally, as well, to try to allow this emperor to do what he's been hinting he wants to do.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

RIPLEY: Japanese emperor Akihito speaks on television for the second time ever, rare enough to stop people in their tracks, even in Tokyo, a city

full of distractions.

Akihito spoke not as the 125th emperor of the ancient chrysanthemum throne, he spoke as an 82-year-old man growing tired after cancer and heart

surgery.

"I'm worried that it might become difficult for me to carry out my duties as the symbol of the

state with my whole being, as I've done until now,"he says.

Akihito can't actually say he wants to abdicate. Japan's post-war constitution says the emperor's once absolute power is purely ceremonial

and he must not influence the law. The law says an emperor must serve until he dies. Many who watched the speech say, let the emperor retire.

"I strongly support his intention to step down. The law needs to be changed. If he thinks it's too much for him, he should hand over his

duties like a company CEO," this man says.

"I understand he's getting old. It must be hard for him to perform his public duties," he says.

Within minutes of his speech, sympathy for the much-loved emperor started sweeping across

Japanese social media. People calling for the government to change the law, let him rest.

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was quick to respond.

"I think we must give thought to the strain on the emperor and thoroughly consider what we can

do," Abe said.

Akihito's eldest son, Crown Prince Naruhito is next in line, but changing succession law

could re-ignite a contentious debate in parliament over whether the crown prince's daughter should be allowed to ascend to power in the world's

oldest hereditary monarchy.

JEFFREY KINGSTON, TEMPLE UNIVERSITY: It's a very big deal. I mean, the mass media here is paying a great deal of attention to his talk. And

really, you know, there is no legal provision for the emperor to abdicate.

[08:25:05] RIPLEY: After taking the throne nearly 30 years ago, Akihito became known as the

people's emperor. He showed his compassion after Japan's devastating earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear meltdown in 2011 when he sat on the floor,

comforting the victims, something previous emperors would never have done.

Now, it seems that compassion is shared by many Japanese who feel it's time to let their aging

emperor step down.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

RIPLEY: Some people on social media, Kristie, were saying they were crying as they watched the emperor speak. A particularly poignant moment was when

he talked about his death, and the mourning period traditionally for a Japanese emperor lasts for a full year. He said he thinks that's too

long. He doesn't want to inconvenience the people in that way and thinks that that period of time should be shortened. So the real message that's

resonating with people here is that he wants to serve as emperor as full as possible, and he just doesn't feel he can do that anymore. But is bound by

current law. In this aging society, there are a lot of people who know exactly what he means, and there are

growing calls here in Japan for lawmakers to do something to allow him to retire like everyone else,

Kristie?

A rare speech and a revealing one, and a stirring emotional day for the people of Japan. Will Ripley reporting, thank you.

Now, the Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte's crackdown on the illegal drug trade has taken a new turn. A spokesman for the national police says

almost 50 officials, including mayors and police officers, have surrendered after being named and shamed in a speech by the

president on Sunday.

Now the president called out over 150 officials as being involved in the drug trade giving them 24 hours to give themselves up. Now, that deadline

has now expired. CNN's Ivan Watson has been following developments and he joins me now. And that was a chilling ultimatum given by Rodrigo Duterte.

He is just ramping up this crackdown on drugs.

IVAN WATSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: He's following through on a campaign promise he made, using some rather unconventional methods here.

Let's take a listen to an excerpt from that speech he gave on Sunday where he named and

shamed more than 150 officials.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

RODRIGO DUTERTE, PRESIDENT OF PHILIPPINES: I would like to just give you the advice, once you hear your name mentioned here, you are someone -- you are now relieved of your present assignment. Report for the PNP within 24

hours or I will order the entire armed forces and the police to hunt for you.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WATSON: The PNP being the Philippines National Police.

So, we've heard as of midday on Monday, that at least 18 mayors and 31 police had surrendered, but this has raised some real questions. One of

the mayors who turned himself in, he published this long article basically declaring himself innocent of all charges of being linked to any illegal

drugs trade.

And some of the critics of the new president say that he's basically ignoring due process. There are no official arrest warrants that have been

issued. There is no evidence that has been distributed. And he has broken with the separation of powers in the Philippines constitution by calling on

judges to turn themselves in. Well, he's from the executive branch. He's not supposed to be able to tell a judge from the judicial branch of

government what to do.

And in one of these cases, one of these officials, who was named, has been dead for eight

years it turns out.

LU STOUT: And as sort of a symptom of this crackdown on drugs by Duterte, something that's called the Duterte effect, the rise of extra judicial

killings, vigilante killings in the Philippines. Just how bad has it become?

WATSON: not just vigilante killings, killings by the police. duterte has instructed his police multiple times to shoot to kill if a suspect resists

arrest. So you've had this skyrocketing of police killings taking place, more than 420 since his inauguration in office, more than 420 people killed

by police.

And you've had these images that have emerged. We have to warn viewers that this is going to show graphic video of people who've been killed.

This remarkable series of photos of just one person who showed up dead on a Manila street last week with a cardboard sign next to his body saying that

he was a pusher, as in a drug pusher, as in a drug pusher, and then embraced by his wife, and not clear who killed him.

So, basically the number of these murders, either these killings carried out by police, or unexplained extrajudicial killings, have skyrocketed.

And the president continues to call on his security forces to use lethal force if anybody resists arrest.

LU STOUT: Ivan Watson reporting on Duterte's war on drugs. Thank you, Ivan.

Now, still to come right here on News Stream, Donald Trump, his support in the U.S., it may be slipping, but he's doing well with some Russians. We

have a report from Moscow that you don't want to miss.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(HEADLINES)

[08:33:44] LU STOUT: Now it is a new week of campaigning in the U.S, and Hillary Clinton is starting out with an expanded lead over Donald Trump.

Now, according to an ABC News/Washington Post poll, the Democrat leads her Republican

rival by eight percentage points. So, that is double the lead she had four weeks ago before the Republican and Democratic conventions.

And Clinton is to lay out her economic plan on Thursday while Trump unveils his economic

policy in just a few hours from now.

Now, his support may be waning on American soil, but in Russia some in the media embrace Trump's candidacy.

Matthew Chance has more.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN INTERNAITONAL CORRESPONDENT: Is he really the Kremlin's candidate? Certainly Russian state television is loaded with

positive coverage of The Donald.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The eccentric candidate Donald Trump.

CHANCE: This TV news anchor explains that Trump's just an eccentric billionaire who wants to make America great and normalize relations with

Russia. He's often painted here as a brave political maverick who shares Russian concerns over American foreign policy, and is willing to find

common language in Russia's President Putin whom he's praised.

[08:35:01] VICTORIA ZHURAVLLYOVA, POLITICAL ANALYST: Between Hillary and Trump, Trump is the only one who sounds friendly, so maybe we can hope

that he will be more friendly, and more positive for towards Russia.

DONALD TRUMP, REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: And by the way, wouldn't it be nice if we actually got along with Russia? Wouldn't that be nice?

CHANCE: Much of what Trump says about Russia has left U.S. allies aghast. But finds a welcoming audience in Moscow. Donald Trump's own foreign

policy pronouncements have won him plenty of friends here in Russia. His recent suggestion that he wouldn't necessarily defend NATO

allies in the event of a Russian attack raised eyebrows both in the U.S. and here.

And he's vowed to look again at recognizing annexed Crimea as part of Russia also put a smile on the faces of many Kremlin supporters.

Of course, not everyone in Russia thinks Trump is their best bet. Some political analysts say his

Democratic rival Hillary Clinton would benefit the Kremlin even more, at least she's predictable, they

say, in her tough Russian stance.

But it's the unpredictability of Trump that may have most endeared him to the Kremlin-controlled media.

KONSTANTIN VON EGGERT, POLITICAL ANALYST: He will either be more inclined to do a deal with the Kremlin, or he will mess up life in the White House,

and on Capitol Hill so much by his erratic behavior that the American political cloth, the American system, will be in permanent crisis. And that

is what actually Russia wants.

TRUMP: Russia if you're listening, I hope you're able to find the 30,000 emails that are missing.

CHANCE: He may not be the Kremlin's man, in other words, but he might prove a useful distraction from what the Kremlin does.

Matthew Chance, CNN, Moscow.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LU STOUT: Now the world's first refugee team is competing in the Rio summer Olympic games. And hear the incredible story of a young swimmer who

once saved the lives of other refugees, by pushing their stranded bolt to Greece. Her story straight ahead right here on News Stream.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LU STOUT: A historic first for the country of Kosovo at Rio. 25-year-old Majlinda Kelmendi became the first athlete from Kosovo to win an Olympic

medal taking gold in a women's judo event. Now, she won a bronze medal four years ago representing Albania. But since then Kosovo has become a

member of the International Olympic Committee. Well done.

And for the first time an Olympic refugee team is competing, and each and every member of the ten person team has an incredible back story, but the

one that you're about to see may just take your breath away.

Here is CNN's Atika Shubert.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ATIKA SHUBERT, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yusra Mardini was a teenager in Damascus who loved to swim. In 2015 she and her family to flee for Germany crossing

from Turkey to Greece by boat. Halfway there, the engine broke.

MARDINI: After a few minutes, the motor stopped, everyone was praying.

SHUBERT: Eszra, her sister and a friend jumped into the water and pushed the boat ashore.

MARDINI: I lost my glasses and it's like minus 2 and it took us like three hours in the water.

[08:40:04] SHUBERT: And then after that you still had the journey to go all the way from Greece to Germany.

MARDINI: Greece, Macedonia, Serbia, Hungary, Vienna.

SHUBERT: How long did it take you to get to Germany?

MARDINI: 29 days.

SHUBERT: In Germany, Yusra listed swimming as her hobby. She was introduced to Coach Sven Spannekrebs.

SHUBERT: How did you hear about Eszra and what was your first impressions?

SVEN SPANNEKREBS, SWIMMING COACH: They have a good education swimming. They technical foundation is really good. And they had a lot of kilometers.

Normally she's really focused. She's a normal teenager too, but...

MARDINI: A normal teenager but I don't do what teenagers do.

SPANNEKREBS: She's a normal teenager.

SHUBERT: Yusra is beginning to qualify for the real Olympics. She would compete on the first team of refugee athletes in Olympic history.

MARDINI: First you wake up think and go to the school. I have two classes or two like hours in the school, and then I have swim two hours then I

continue the school, then I have food. Then after food I have second training or before I have one hour of lessons, I'll be done at 7 or 8pm.

And then I go back eat and sleep.

SPANNEKREBS: To do this, this Olympics in Rio (inaudible) to three six's.

SHUBERT: And what are you swimming at now?

MARDINI: Two 12's

SHUBERT: But you're working to shave off 11 seconds or so.

MARDINI: Yes. It's hard.

SHUBERT: Yes.

MARDINI: It's hard to stop 11 seconds in the games.

SHUBERT: For Yursa, swimming is not a game. It's her life.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LU STOUT: Oh, I can't wait to see her compete.

And finally, this is American swimmer Michael Phelps. Earlier, we told you about his victory on Sunday, but do you notice those red circles along his

back there? Now, those are the results of cupping. It's an ancient therapy used in the Middle East and Asia, especially in China. And

therapists, what they do is they warm up glass suction cups. They put them on sore parts of the body. And it's believed that the partial vacuum

inside the cups stimulates muscles and bloodflow.

And that is New Stream. I'm Kristie Lu Stout. But don't go anywhere, World Sport with Amanda Davies, who is live from Rio, is next.

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