Return to Transcripts main page
NEWS STREAM
CNN Witnesses North Korea's Tunnel Destruction; Pyongyang Has Some Strong Words to U.S. Vice President Mike Pence; Donald Trump's Spy Accusations Without Any Evidence; U.S. Uninvited the Chinese Navy to Major International Military Drills; China Has No Leads Yet in Investigation on Possible Sonic Attack on U.S. Embassy; Emanuel Macron to Meet with Vladimir Putin to Salvage the Iran Deal; Elon Musk Wants to Make a Ratings Site for Credibility; World Headlines; Appeal Failed For Sudan Teen; Hawaii Volcano; Time To Go, Son. Aired at 8-8:45a ET
Aired May 24, 2018 - 08:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[08:00:00] (COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KRISTIE LU STOUT, CNN HOST: I'm Kristie Lu Stout in Hong Kong and welcome to NEWS STREAM.
Tunnel destruction, CNN witnesses North Korea blowing up significant parts of its Punggye-ri nuclear test site.
Political dummy, Pyongyang issues some stinging words to U.S. Vice President Mike Pence.
And Donald Trump's spy accusations, the U.S. president keeps up his flames of a conspiracy theory without any evidence.
And we begin with breaking news. North Korea claims it has blown up its Punggye-ri nuclear test site. Our CNN team was there on the ground watching
as the three tunnels along with several buildings in the site were said to have been destroyed. Now our team along with other journalists was then
taken to see the ruble, but it is important to note who was not there, any kind of weapons inspectors or experts. Will Ripley has more of what he
witnessed.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
WILL RIPLEY, CNN INTERNTATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Right now we're on a train making the 12-hour journey from the Punggye-ri nuclear
test site back to the coastal city of Wonsan. We spent about 10 hours on the ground of the nuclear test site. A lot more time frankly than we were
expecting. And what the North Korean did was they took us to three of the four tunnels on the site.
They allowed us to open up the tunnel doors, take a look inside. We couldn't actually step inside the tunnels, but we saw that as far as the
eye could see they were rigged with explosives. They say the fourth tunnel on the site, a tunnel that was used for just one nuclear test back in 2006,
they say that tunnel has already been shut down and closed until what we saw was the apparent demolition of the remaining three tunnels including
tunnel number two, which has been used for the previous five North Korean nuclear test including that test last September that triggered a 6.3
magnitude earthquake.
They also showed us two additional tunnels that they say have never been used before and were, until today, ready to conduct a high-powered nuclear
test at any moment. This the North Korean say, is evident of their commitment to transparency, to denuclearization ahead of the crucial
planned summit in Singapore which the North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and President Donald Trump scheduled to happen on June 12th (inaudible) there
happens new questions raised recently as (inaudible) is actually going to happen on that date.
The North Koreans invited about two dozen of us -- more than two dozen of us witnessed the explosions. They also destroyed a number of different
building on site, barracks, observation building, that sort of thing. But it's noteworthy that there were no international experts with us in these
groups. There were no -- there was nobody who could actually look at the explosion in tell us if they're actually deep enough to destroy the tunnel.
So what they were simply just closing up the entrances to the tunnel.
Those are the kind of questions that we as journalists, untrained observers can't really answer, but we took many, many pictures, lots of video and as
soon as we get back within range, our communications are kind of in and out, but when we can get back and start to feed this in, hopefully global
experts will be able to take a look and tell us exactly what we saw. I'm Will Ripley reporting on a train inside North Korean near the Punggye-ri
nuclear test site.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LU STOUT: Meanwhile, we just -- three weeks to go until the planned summit between Donald Trump and Kim Jong-un. A high ranking North Korean official
has a sharp warning for the U.S. Pyongyang's ready for nuclear showdown if the negotiations don't workout. The official also lashed out at U.S. Vice
President Mike Pence calling him a political dummy. He said this comparison of Libya and North Korea is ignorant and stupid. This returns North Korea's
fiery rhetoric is just adding the worries of President Trump and Kim Jong- un, I mean, meeting at all.
Let's get the latest update now from CNN's Ivan Watson in Seoul. Ivan, I mean given the new tension, the new uncertainties, the war of words, are
summit preparations still underway?
IVAN WATSON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes. Well you've got some U.S. officials or White House officials on their way to Singapore were
told this weekend to work on the summit as if it was still underway. But first, let me talk about the latest that we've heard from President Trump
talking about North Korea where he seems to give some wiggle room about kind of the pacing of a possible nuclear deal with North Korea.
[08:05:10] Take a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I'd like to have it done immediately, but you know, physically, phase-in may be a little bit
necessary. It would have to be a rapid phase-in, but I'd like to see it done at one time.
(END VIDEO CLIP_
WATSON: So he's suggesting something that the Trump administration has not been in favor of it and that is the kind of negotiations that have taken
place in the past, Kristie, step-by-step which the Trump administration is a failure of past U.S. administrations. We'll just have to look and see.
In the meantime, you do have this very unusual and public spat between senior U.S. and North Korean officials where on Monday, Vice President
Pence of the U.S. basically issued a thinly veiled threat against North Korea saying that if doesn't make a deal with President Trump, it could go
the way of Libya where you had Muammar Gaddafi killed by U.S. backed rebels in 2011.
A senior North Korean diplomat fired back calling Vice President Pence a political dummy and saying he made unbridled and impudent remarks and
argued that North Korea has worked to develop nuclear weapons precisely to prevent following Libya in its same footsteps. And then went on to issue
some pretty harsh threats. Take a look at this, quote, whether the U.S. will meet us at a meeting room or encounter us at nuclear to nuclear
showdown is entirely dependent upon the decision and behavior of the United States, so, a remarkable warning there.
You asked about summit preparations, another message were getting from a senior administration official is that the Trump administration, Kristie,
would like to have another round of high-level talks between somebody at the level of Mike Pompeo, the Secretary of State, or someone else like that
and the North Koreans before the possible summit in Singapore on June 12th to hear once again some kind of confirmation that North Korea is in fact
ready to give up its nuclear weapons, Kristie.
LU STOUT: So, plans are still underway for the summit in June between Trump and Kim Jong-un despite the return of some pretty harsh rhetoric.
Ivan Watson reporting live from Seoul. Thank you so much. In Washington, back to back classified briefings are on tap today over the FBI's
investigation into Russian election meddling including the viewer's use of a confidential source to investigate possible collusion within the Trump
campaign. Meanwhile, the president continues to repeat his unproven claim that the Obama administration planted a spy in his team.
CNN's Kaitlan Collins is live in Washington. She joins us now, and Kaitlan, you know, how are Trump and his allies pushing this campaign spy theory and
how much traction is it gaining?
KAITLAN COLLINS, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well they certainly have been pushing it and among the president's allies, it has definitely gained
some traction but there are a lot of questions about the president making a claim like this with no evidence, no proof, no corroboration, yet he is
continuing to push this, stating it as fact for the first time yesterday that the FBI did spy on his campaign.
But back to these briefing today, it is a very long and complicated way that we got here because 24 hours ago, it was just going to be a briefing
for two Republican lawmakers and despite all of these changes overnight, there have been multiple of those. There will now be two briefings today.
One of those to Republican lawmakers, one that is going to be bipartisan and that is because the president got involved saying he didn't want
Democrats to be excluded because he didn't want them to be able to make the allegation that the White House was playing games with this and he didn't
want it to overshadow his larger overall theory, which is that there are law enforcement officials who the president believes are out to get him.
The Justice Department announcing that it will hold two back-to-back meetings today about the Russia probe. The first with Republican chairman
Devin Nunes and Trey Gowdy, and the second with Gowdy and the bipartisan Gang of Eight. A spokesperson for House Speaker Paul Ryan telling CNN he
won't be at the meeting due to a long-standing schedule commitment. White House Chief of Staff John Kelly however will be in attendance despite this
statement from Press Secretary Sarah Sanders.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SARAH HUCKABEE SANDERS, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETATRY: The president asked Chief of Staff Kelly to set up the meeting and no one from the White House
staff will attend.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COLLINS (voice-over): The decision to hold two briefings coming after sharp criticism from Democrats for being excluded from the first proposed
meeting.
REP. NANCY PELOSI (D-CA), U.S. HOUSE MINORITY LEADER: I've never seen anything like this. This is highly unusual that you would have such a
briefing in the middle of an investigation. Highly unusual, and that it should be partisan is just totally unacceptable.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
[08:10:04] COLLINS (voice-over): The White House initially proposing a Gang of Eight briefing next month then moving the date up to next week
before conceding to hold both meetings today. A notable change after the White House repeatedly said that Democrats didn't want to be invited.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
HOGAN GIDLEY, WHITE HOUSE DEPUTY PRESS SECRETARY: But they are asking for the information. For whatever reason, it appears they don't want to see
light shed on this particular investigation.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COLLINS (voice-over): President Trump pushing back on the charge from Democrats that the briefing is politically motivated.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: What I want from Rod, from the FBI, from everybody, we want transparency.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COLLINS (voice-over): But continuing to push his unproven claim that a quote, spy infiltrated his campaign.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: All you have to do is look at the basics and you'll see. It looks like a very serious event, but we'll find out what. When they look at the
documents I think people are going to see a lot of bad things happen.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COLLINS (voice-over): Government official telling CNN that Trump's allegation isn't true, but that hasn't stopped the president and his allies
from repeating it.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: If they ran a spy ring that is an absolute redline.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm shocked to hear that they put a spy in the campaign.
SEAN HANNITY, FOX NEWS HOST: This is a deep state political hit job now spying on an opposition party campaign.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COLLINS (voice-over): President Trump pushing the deep state conspiracy on twitter Wednesday, a characterization his own Secretary of State has
rejected.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MIKE POMPEO, U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE: I don't believe there is this deep state at the State Department.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COLLINS (voice-over): The president also misquoting the former director of national intelligence James Clapper to push his narrative.
(BGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: I think if you look at Clapper, he sort of admitted that they had spies in the campaign yesterday inadvertently.
JAMES CLAPPER, FOMER DIRECTOR, NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE: They were spying on -- at term I don't particularly like but -- on what the Russians were
doing, trying to understand were the Russians infiltrating trying to gain access, trying to gain leverage and influence --
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: So what did he --
CLAPPER: -- which is what they do.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COLLINS: So you could see there, Kristie, the president clearly twisting James Clapper's words in order to fit these allegation that there was a spy
inside of his campaign on behalf of the FBI even though multiple intelligence officials have told CNN that that just simply isn't the case.
LU STOUT: The U.S. president doubling down on the allegation but no proof to back it up. Kaitlan Collins reporting live from the White House. Thank
you.
President Trump can and does tweet whatever he wants, but a U.S. federal judge says he can no longer block users from his twitter feed. In the New
York ruling, the judge says that no government official including the president is above the law and the blocking of the plaintiffs based on
their political speech constitutes viewpoint discrimination that violates the First Amendment. The Justice Department defended Mr. Trump's twitter
activity and says they are considering their next steps.
The U.S. is uninviting the Chinese navy to participate in major international military drills. They are held every two years in Hawaii and
involve more than 20 countries including Australia, India, South Korea, Japan and the U.K. CNN's Matt Rivers tells us why China is no longer
invited.
MATT RIVERS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well Kristie, this move by the United States is largely symbolic not inviting the Chinese military to join in on
these military exercises but it is sending a clear message that the United States is unhappy with some of the recent moves that China has conducted in
its ongoing militarization, as the U.S. would put it, in the South China Sea. Just to remind our viewers this RIMPAC exercises are often called the
largest military exercises in the world.
They involve multiple countries. They happen on a biannual basis and the United States leads them. China was invited to attend these exercises in
2014 and 2016, but this year a U.S. official told CNN that recent Chinese activity has precluded their involvement and what they've pointed to as a
couple things.
One, they pointed to Chinese military forces deploying new sets of missile batteries to these artificial islands that they have built up over the last
several years in the South China Sea. And also, in a move that was widely publicized by Chinese state media, the Chinese military landed bombers on
one of these airstrips that they built on these islands a very provocative move in the eyes of the U.S. military.
And so that leads us to China not being invited to the party, if you will, during these exercises. Foreign Minister Wang Yi of China actually happen
to be in Washington, D.C. yesterday on his way back from a trip in Argentina before he comes back to China. He met with Secretary of State
Mike Pompeo when he was asked about this decision to not allow China to join these drills. Here's what he had to say.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
WANG YI, CHINES FOREIGN MINISTER (through translation): We find that a very unconstructive move. It is unhelpful to mutual understanding between
China and the United States. We hope the United States will change such a negative mindset.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
[08:15:03] RIVERS: And following up on the Foreign Minister's comments there, a spokesperson with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs this afternoon
said that China's normal construction and military training as they put it in its own territory are within its sovereign rights and the U.S. should
stop making irresponsible remarks on this issue.
But nonetheless the United States remains unhappy here. They have conducted a series of Freedom of Navigation operations challenging the territorial
claims that China makes my sailing U.S. Navy ships close to those artificial islands and this latest move largely symbolic but still a very
clear message from the United States.
And it's a good reminder, Kristie, that with all the headlines generated about North Korea, about trade and rightly so, those are big issues in the
news right now, that it is the South China Sea that is one area in the world with the U.S. and Chinese militaries regularly come very close to one
another and that it is an issue that we should be watching very closely in the months and years to come, Kristie.
LU STOUT: Matt Rivers there. Now, China says it has no lead so far in its investigation on what's being described as a possible sonic attack. The
U.S. government staffer was found to have symptoms matching a mild traumatic brain injury. The U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo says that
staffer's medical symptoms are, quote, entirely consistent with those reported by U.S. diplomats in Havana.
The U.S. has issued a health alert in China following the incident. Still to come, right here on "News Stream," the French president, Emanuel Macron,
heads to Russia with meetings to Vladimir Putin and the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum and we're going to be live there, next.
We know the Facebook CEO and founder Mark Zuckerberg stays in Paris after meeting the French president on Wednesday, with the latest from Viva Tech,
France's biggest tech conference.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LU STOUT: Coming to you live from Hong Kong, welcome back. You're watching NEWS STREAM.
The daughter of a former Russian spy poisoned along with her father in the U.K., she has finally spoken out. From an undisclosed location in the U.K.,
Yulia Skripal said that she was lucky to be alive and is still trying to come to terms with what happened.
(BEGIN VIDEO)
YULIA SKRIPAL, POISON VICTIM (through translation): I still find it difficult to come to terms with the fact that both of us were attacked in
such a way. The fact that a nerve agent was used to do this is shocking. Our recovery has been slow and extremely painful. As I try to come to terms
with the devastating changes thrust upon me both physically and emotionally, I take one day at a time and want to help care for my father
until his full recovery.
In the longer term, I hope to return home to my country. I wish to address a couple of issues directly and have chosen to interrupt my rehabilitation
to make this short statement.
[08:20:01] I ask that everyone respects the privacy of me and my father. We need time to recover and come to terms with everything that has happened.
I'm grateful for the offers of assistance from the Russian Embassy, but at the moment I do not wish to avail myself of their services.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LU STOUT: The Russian Embassy in London said that Yulia Skripal's appearance only strengthens its concerns about her welfare. The French
president, Emanuel Macron, will head to Russia today for talks with Vladimir Putin. The two-day visit coincides with the St. Petersburg
International economic Forum and comes amid strained relations between the U.S. and Europe over Washington's withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal.
And Mr. Macron is expected to ask for Moscow's help to save the deal. Matthew Chance is in St. Petersburg. He joins us now, and Matt, when this
two leaders meet, are they going to focus on trying to salvage the Iran deal or something else?
MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, they're going to focus on that, yes, because that's the area trying to salvage the
Iran nuclear deal of where both leaders see eye to eye. They see that deal as the best way possible of preventing Iran from getting nuclear weapons.
That's why they signed it in the first place. And they're both equally concerned I'd say with perhaps the Russians moving (ph) the French about
what the American plan B might be. Is it regime change? That's something the French are opposed to in Iran and it's something that the Russians are
fundamentally opposed to.
Remember Iran is an ally of Russia that it fights side-by-side with in Syria, and so yes, I expect the talks are going to focus on that area where
they overlap in their interest, but that doesn't mean that they're going to be no kind of conflicting discussions. I mean, they are at odds, Russia and
France, over two important issues. The first one is Ukraine, Russia's involvement in eastern Ukraine of course, supporting separatist rebels
there and also, its annexation of Crimea in 2014.
That is sort of open wound in the relationship between Russia and France specifically for Russian and the west in general. As is Russia's continued
backing of Bashar al-Assad, the Syrian president. And so, they're going to be having hard discussions about that, but I think you're right. I expect
the focus of their talks are going to be on the areas where they overlap, and that comes to their joint opposition to America's unilateral withdrawal
from the Iran nuclear deal, Kristie.
LU STOUT: Also at this forum where you are in St. Petersburg, a Russian oligarch who has made payments to Michael Cohen, Donald Trump's personal
lawyer, you managed to speak to him. Give us a background. What did he tell you?
CHANCE: Well, you know, Kristie, it's always very difficult. Pinning these sorts of individuals stand, we've seen it time and again. People have been
implicated in another inquiry, find themselves at the center of the collusion allegations in the United States. They just don't want to talk to
media.
Well, Viktor Vekselberg is one of Russia's richest men. He is sanctioned by the United States and he's at the center of allegations that a company that
is affiliated with him paid hundreds of thousands of dollars to the lawyer of President Trump, Michael Cohen. We don't know why that was. I asked him
questions about what that money was for.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CHANCE: Quick question from CNN. Mr. Vekselberg, why did your company pay hundreds of thousands of dollars to President Trump's lawyer.
VIKTOR VEKSELBERG, RUSSIAN BUSINESSMAN: Not now. We really appreciate. Just later, OK.
CHANCE: Yes.
VEKSELBER: Really appreciate. We are disturbed. I am disturbed. You're so aggressive.
CHANCE: No I'm not.
VEKSELBERG: No, no, no. Please later.
CHANCE: -- to buy access to the president.
VEKSELBERG: Please, later.
CHANCE: What did you get for the money.
VEKSELBERG: Please, later.
CHANCE: A couple of questions sir.
(CROSSTALK)
CHANCE: What did the FBI question (inaudible).
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CHANCE: Well, Viktor Vekselberg there being very reluctant to answer any of the questions, but you know, as Russia -- it's interesting because as
Russia at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, its annual economic event in the country is trying to -- the country is trying to
portray itself as an image -- with an image of a country that's open for business.
People like Viktor Vekselberg at the moment and the controversy that he is embroiled in the United States to remind them that there are still a lot of
simmering tensions with the West, Kristie.
LU STOUT: Absolutely, and Matthew, you are persistent and we thank you for that. Matthew Chance, reporting live from St. Petersburg. Take care.
President Macron's trip to Russia it follows a keynote speech to open France's biggest tech conference. It's called VivaTech. Facebook CEO also
there, also attending the event. Now Mark Zuckerberg just met with Mr. Macron on Wednesday to talk about data privacy, fake news, and taxes.
[08:25:03] It came one day after Mark Zuckerberg apologized to E.U. lawmakers for not doing enough to prevent security breaches.
Melissa Bell joins me now live from Paris this morning. Melissa, you know, Emanuel Macron, he may position himself as sort of a startup friendly
president, a champion (ph) technology, but he's been taking a pretty tough line with companies and leaders like Mark Zuckerberg. Tell us how.
MELISSA BELL, CNN PARIS CORRESPONDENT: That's right Kristie. It was really interesting to see how he navigated these last few days. This is VivaTech
just behind me, the conference center in which thousands of start-ups have gathered to try and boost this idea that is very much at the heart of
Emanuel Macron stands for the idea that France can be a start-up nation that it can become a gateway for start-ups to the rest of Europe and that
it is becoming increasingly business friendly.
But even as he sort of tries to get this message about receiving yesterday several CEOs, not just Mark Zuckerberg, but also the heads of Uber, IBM,
and so on. Fifty CEO's in all were gathered at the Elysee to talk about not just the idea of what France could do for them but what they should be
doing for Europe. And this is really the heart of it. He kicked off inviting them to lunch by sayings to them, look, there is no free lunch.
You guys are simply going to have to contribute more than you have, and this is something that the E.U. feels very strongly about, Kristie, and
Emanuel Macron is campaigning for the idea of a digital tax on turn over that would be applied to these companies and a very different from what
we've seen so far. Already, these companies are being made to comply with this new legislation, the strictest that's ever been introduced anywhere
that comes into effect from the E.U. tomorrow.
And that really protects the consumer with regard to things like their data whether or not they give it. How long it is kept? How they can control it?
And this is also something that those tech giants are having to grapple with. So this was very much at the heart of Emanuel Macrons message. On one
hand trying to tell them that they're going to face up with their obligations fast, more than they had, all the while encouraging start-ups
to choose France over other countries as a place to begin doing business, Kristie.
LU STOUT: Yes, and there are key things for Emanuel Macron will come to the floor when he gives that keynote speech there at the VivaTech
Conference in a couple of hours time. Melissa Bell, reporting live from Paris for us. Thank you.
Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk doesn't always take to all the criticism from the media or others. Following critical coverage of model three,
missing production goals, losing top execs, clashing with the government over an autopilot crash investigation, Musk has been and on a twitter
tirade. He says he wants to make a ratings site to assess the credibility of individual journalist and news outlets.
He says that he's thinking of calling this site Pravda, that's Russian for truth. Also happens to be the name of the Soviet Unions communist party
newspaper. Musk is conducting a poll whether to go forward within a poll on twitter. His suggestion has brought criticism and praise. A media studies
professor, University of Virginia put it this way, quote, it's not a crackpot idea. The question is why should Eli Musk be the one running it
and how trustworthy would it be if he ran it? Good questions sir.
Now, there has been an outpouring of support for Sydney's teenager sentenced to die and her deadline to appeal is now only hours away. An
update on her face (ph) is next.
[08:30:00] (COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LU STOUT: I'm Kristie Lu Stout in Hong Kong. You're watching NEWS STREAM and these are your world headlines.
North Korea says that it has blown up its Punggye-ri nuclear test site. Our CNN team is there watching as the three nuclear tunnels and several
buildings were apparently destroyed. Our team along with other journalists were then taken to see the rubble although no weapons inspectors, no
experts were there.
Meanwhile, North Korea is stepping up its rhetoric less than three weeks ahead of a planned summit with the U.S. A high-ranking official lashed out
at U.S. Vice President Mike Pence, calling him a political dummy for comparing North Korea to Libya. He said North Korea stands ready for a
nuclear showdown.
Iran has issued a set of demands to remain in the nuclear deal, expressing skepticism that European powers remain committed to the agreement after
U.S. withdrawal. Iran's supreme leader said it could only continue if six conditions were met, including not asking Iran about its ballistic missile
program or regional activities.
An appeal had just been filed for the Sudanese teenager sentenced to death. Noura Hussein was convicted of killing the man she was forced to marry, but
then allegedly raped her. The appeal was followed by a group of government- appointed lawyers, which is drawing concern from human rights activists. There has been international outcry to save Noura Hussein.
We're now learning new details of the deadly struggle from that night when Hussein fought her husband. Let's hear more now from Nima Elbagir. She
joins us now from Khartoum in Sudan. Nima, new horrific details about Noura Hussein and what she endured before the killing. What have you learned?
NIMA ELBAGIR, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: If the story wasn't harrowing enough, Kristie, we're now learning some visceral descriptions of
that night. The medical examiner's report outlines the defensive wounds that Noura sustained. Slashed hands, bite marks on her shoulder, and broken
back (ph).
It is clear that this was an incredibly brutal struggle that ended in the death of her husband. You were just talking there about this appeal that
has been filed. Consent is growing that those details are part of that appeal because although Noura has a legal team that she has been working
with, when they have been allowed an access to her, there is another group of government-appointed lawyers that went ahead and put in an appeal.
And it is unclear whether this group is working with Noura's consent and whether any of the details that we're talking to, any of those really
pressing important details are part of that appeal.
And of course, we're all aware of the absolute extent of international outcry, the outrage that Noura's case has rightly triggered around the
world and the pressure that the Sudanese government is under. So those close to Noura, those advocating for Noura are really worried about this
latest development, Kristie.
LU STOUT: This case as you point out has rightfully generated international condemnation. Widespread attention on social media with the
hashtag "Justice for Noura." Will this international pressure make any difference in her appeal and ultimately her fate?
ELBAGIR: We have been here before, back in 2014, Meriam Ibrahim was sentenced to death accused of apostasy because she had rejected the Muslim
faith of her father and maintained Christian faith. In the end, the pope himself intervened and Noura (ph) was granted right to remain in the United
States.
So there is a precedent for this. But there are so many that we speak to who are concerned that this international approach (ph) will result in
greater pressure on those advocating on Noura's behalf here. The lead lawyer on her legal defense team had his office raided.
Many of those that we've been speaking to, Kristie, just in the few days that I've been here in Sudan are scared to appear on camera. They're scared
to give us their names.
There are literally a handful of people who are willing to be quoted by name, incredibly extraordinarily brave activists willing to come forward.
But so many others say that they have been interrogated by Sudan's National Security Forces for daring to speak out on Noura's case, Kristie.
[08:35:01] LU STOUT: Nima Elbagir, we thank you for reporting. We thank you for there live for us in Khartoum, Sudan.
You're watching NEWS STREAM. And still ahead right here on the program, we keep a close eye on Kilauea. Fresh lava from Kilauea has entered the see,
which means more toxic flames could fill the air. We will track it all, next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LU STOUT: Three weeks on and there is still no end in sight to the volcanic eruptions from Kilauea in Hawaii. You're looking at live pictures
on your screen of just a fountain spewing hot lava at one of the fissures of this volcano. New lava flows have entered the ocean, which presents more
dangerous fumes and particles into the air.
Meteorologist Chad Myers joins me now. Chad, thank you for joining us here once again. I know you've been closely tracking the volcano and the lava
flows especially as it creeps toward a geothermal power plant on the island. What's the latest?
CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST AND SCIENCE REPORTER: Well the rift, one of the fissures, is right there by the power plant. And luckily it didn't open
up under the power plant and surprise everyone. Now the power plant is shut down. It is a geothermal plant. They drilled into the core, into the warm
part of the earth here below the volcano, and they're making power from that.
All those geothermal wells now were shut down and so there's no real threat of this thing affecting the plant. At least it could destroy it, but it's
not going to make any additional problems if it does get over the wells.
What we have going on here though is this is uphill from this fissure and the lava is going down toward the ocean. That's good news. But if we would
build up a lot of lava here and then it would flow backwards, that's what we're most concerned about. Now, the good news is we're building the other
way. We're actually getting it higher on the side that's closest to the geothermal plant.
Here is what it looks like right now, building up with just fountains of lava as you saw there. The rift zone itself though kind of goes east to
west and there's the power plant right here. We kind of look at this, we'll tilt it down, you can see it's slightly uphill here, so that's the good
news, because the lava is going to go downhill.
Here is the rift and here is where all the lava has already come out and here is where it is hitting the ocean. You talked about that, a place where
it is hitting the ocean. That's significant because it's making something called laze. Laze is really obsidian because it is hitting the water and
making the glass particles.
So volcanic glass is in the air. You get the sulfur dioxide, you get other things, you get hydrochloric acid in the air as well. Certainly not a good
news, you need to stay away from that. Here is what is going on. I want you to show you. This is the east rift right through here. The east rift is
significant because it's nowhere near where Kilauea's crater is. In fact, it is 23 miles away from the summit crater.
But right down here, that is the only place we're actually seeing any significant things getting into the ocean. The problem with this, Kristie,
people live there. And you think, well, why would you live on a volcano? Well, they're 23 miles from what they thought was the crater of the
volcano, not the (INAUDIBLE) then which is about 30 miles away.
But the real risk is that this gets into the neighborhoods and runs through people's yards and houses and destroys everything in its path. This thing
has been going on since 1983. Don't get me wrong. This Kilauea has been spewing lava continuously. This is episode 62 of the 1983 eruption. It just
hasn't done it for a while and the pictures are spectacular.
[08:40:01] LU STOUT: Yeah, the pictures are amazing. People know that they're living next to an active volcano. But when you talk about threats
like the laze or lava haze, that is dangerous stuff, you don't want to be near it.
Chad Myers reporting. Thank you so much and take care.
MYERS: You're welcome.
LU STOUT: Now, last stop, right here on the program, five eviction notices. A promise of cash, even an order from a judge has not been enough
to convince a 30-year-old man to leave his parents' home. Here is CNN's Lynda Kinkade.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
LYNDA KINKADE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: While mom and dad looked on, Michael Rotondo demanded in court that he be allowed to continue living in his
parents' home.
MICHAEL ROTONDO, EVICTED BY PARENTS: I'm not a burden to them in the home. They don't provide laundry or food.
KINKADE: But the judge told the 30-year-old who has been living rent-free at his parents' house for eight years, it is time to move out.
Rotondo's parents gave their son five written notices since February, telling him to leave their home in upstate New York. They even gave Rotondo
money to help him get his own place. When he still didn't leave, the parents started legal proceedings.
The 30-year-old said he wasn't given enough time to start living on his own, but the judge said that's plenty.
DONALD GREENWOOD, NEW YORK STATE SUPREME COURT JUDGE: Granting the eviction. I think the notice is sufficient.
KINKADE: Rotondo says the eviction warnings began after he lost custody of his own son, which he claims is unfair. He called the ruling outrageous.
And in an interview with CNN, Rotondo says he is trying to strike a deal with his parents' lawyer so he won't have to move out right away.
ROTONDO: I'm saying to the attorney, if you put this proposal for three months in or proposed order for three months in, I won't fight any more for
the case.
KINKADE: Despite the ruling, he doesn't seem to be in a big hurry to leave or to find a job.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: One of the things your parents asked of you, there are jobs available even for those with a poor work history like you. Get
one. You have to work. Are you working on that?
ROTONDO: I have plans to be able to provide for myself with the income I need to support myself but it is not something that is going to come
together tomorrow.
KINKADE: While it remains to be see if the court ruling will be enforced, the court of public opinion is drawing conclusions of its own. The story
becoming a water pool of fodder (ph) for talk shows.
WHOOPI GOLDBERG, TV HOST: Dude, you're 30 years old, OK?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Come on.
GOLDBERG: Your parents look tired. You know?
(LAUGHTER)
KINKADE: And some are drawing comparisons to the 2006 comedy "Failure to Launch."
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You live with your parents?
MATTHEW MCCONAUGHEY, ACTOR: Is that a problem?
KINKADE: Lynda Kinkade, CNN.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LU STOUT: Got to wish him well with his new life. And that is "News Stream." I'm Kristie Lu Stout. Don't go anywhere. "World Sport" with
Christina Macfarlane is next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[08:45:00] (WORLD SPORTS)
END
