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Phase two for the rescue of the trapped football team; Former Malaysian prime minister Najib Razak arrested; Another town mayor in the Philippines shot dead; North Korea not to fully denuclearize; Angela Merkel averts coalition and government split; Artificial Intelligence in UAE. Aired at 8-8:30a ET

Aired July 03, 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)

LYNDA KINKADE, CNN ANCHOR: Hello. I'm Lynda Kinkade live in Atlanta. Welcome to "News Stream."

Thai rescue operation phase two. They found the boys but now the hard part is getting them out of the cave. One official tells us as soon as they see

a chance, they'll take it.

Ten days in darkness, the boys are in good health but have already endured a long time underground. Doctors' perspective is to come.

Plus, former Malaysian prime minister arrested. The latest on Najib Razak and the scandal involving billions of dollars in state funds.

We'll have more on those stories in just a moment, but first, news just in to us. CNN Philippines reports that a second man has been shot dead there

in two days this time north of Manila, that is according to a police report. The victim is said to be Ferdinand Bote mayor of the municipality

of General Tinio in the province of Nueva Ecija. He was reportedly shot by someone on a motorcycle and was declared dead on arrival at the hospital.

Bote's murder came a day after another mayor was killed by a sniper bullet. Mayor Antonio Halili was known for parading suspected drug dealers around

in a walk of shame. That was, of course, part of President Rodrigo Duterte's drug war. It's not yet known who killed Halili or if his death is

part of the drug war. We will have more on this story as details become available.

We're turning now to Thailand and potential stunning development in a multi-national effort to rescue 12 boys and their football coach trapped

deep inside a cave. They were found alive on Monday after missing for more than 10 days. Rescuers are urgently working on a plan to get them out as

quickly and as safely as possible, a situation that is both complicated and dangerous.

Well now there's word if there is an opportunity that it could potentially happen in the coming hours, before bad weather sets in later this week.

Let's get straight to our correspondent Anna Coren, who is near the cave entrance in Thailand. Good to have you with us, Anna. Now, the team, as I

said, has been in this cave for 10 days, but we're hearing that it could take months before they're rescued. But there is a new development. What

are you learning?

ANNA COREN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yeah, that's absolutely right. Now, we'll get to that shortly because Lynda, when these boys are finally brought out

of this cave, it will be directly behind me, 150 meters in that direction is the mouth of the cave. That is the only way out of the cave so far. But

there is a sense of urgency now to get these boys, these 12 boy, and their coach out as soon as possible.

Remember, they were only found less than 24 hours ago. Well, that stunning development that you mentioned, that is the deputy governor speaking to the

media here in Chian Rai about an hour ago and he said that if it's appropriate, if they get the opportunity, they will take the boys out

tonight. They will start taking the boys out tonight.

Now, this would be absolutely incredible. Certainly there are hundreds of journalists, dozens of media outlets, a huge contingent of international

media are here to follow every single development of this extraordinary story, but what we are hearing about the boys today is that they are with

seven Navy SEALS. These Navy SEALS have not left their side all day.

One of them is a doctor. One of them is a nurse. They are providing them with food. Remember, they haven't eaten for nine days. So it's gently,

gently giving them digestible food. There were reports there were request of pork and rice so, obviously, their appetites are returning.

But these boys, they were also in the water. They were doing some diving. Some swimming with these Navy SEALS so, obviously preparations are under

way to try and get these boys out as soon as possible, Lynda. But let's first recap on an extraordinary 24 hours.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: How many of you?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: 13.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: 13?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, 13.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Brilliant.

COREN (voice-over): Ten days and nights in total darkness. Cold, wet and starving. Then rescuers shine a light.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Ten days. Ten days. You are very strong.

COREN (voice-over): There is no celebration. The boys, the youngest just 11, sit still.

[08:05:04] Their strength, gone. We're hungry, the boys cry out. Divers have now brought them pork and rice. A medic has evaluated their light

injuries. Quickly they will be asked to regain their energy. Their nightmare, however, is not over.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translation): Our mission is not accomplished yet. It will be over after we've brought all the kids out.

COREN (voice-over): This is how rescuers fought to reach them. Navy SEALS, experienced cavers, forcing themselves through flooded holes deep in a

network of tunnels that stretch on for kilometers. The trapped teenagers know these caves well. As muddy currents surge at their feet, the boys

clung on to life, collecting droplets of water from the roof of the limestone cave, a natural filtration system. Surely they are all too aware

how hard it's going to be to get them out.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We are coming. It's okay.

COREN (voice-over): The tunnels that these boys squeezed through to get here 10 days ago are now swept with water. Some of the boys cannot swim.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (trough translation): Actually, there are scuba masks that they can use for breathing and then getting out. But they have to be

trained and to practice inside. Let's see what they're capable of.

COREN (voice-over): The next step is to put in a phone line so that these families can hear their sons' voices. Relief for parents, many haven't

slept as the clock just ticks for their boys.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translation): I was happy to hear the cheering from rescue workers. It gave me hope that I was going to see my son alive.

COREN (voice-over): But time remains the enemy. Heavy rain is forecast to resume in the next few days. Too much water and this already grueling path

out of the cave will again be closed off completely.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COREN: Well joining me now to discuss these extraordinary developments is U.S. Air Force Captain Jessica Tate. She has now been here in Chiang Rai

for the last six days. Jessica, I first want to ask your impressions when you heard those boys and their coach was alive.

JEESICA TATE, PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICER, U.S. AIR FORCE: Honestly I had chills. It felt straight of a movie. When you really think about it, it

felt like all of Thailand was here supporting this, you know, when it came from the medics to the volunteers providing food. So it came to the

military, to civilian rescue authorities.

I felt amazed to be a part of this. You know, the Royal Thai government requested the United States support and through U.S. Indo-Pacific Command,

our unit which is the 353rd Special Operations Group as well as the 33rd Rescue Squadron based out of Okinawa, Japan, we came here. And it really

has been an advisement this mission since we've hit the ground running.

COREN: And it's far from over. I mean, really it's just beginning. I want to talk about your involvement, I mean, the Americans are here. Obviously

the Brits, the Australian, the Chinese. It's a huge international contingent of specialists helping the Thai military, those Thai Navy SEALS

find these boys and now get them out.

TATE: Absolutely. I think, you know, you alluded to it, but this is a Thai-led multinational rescue operation. Having the opportunity to work

side-by-side with our Thai partners who, you know, United States and Thailand longstanding allies and friends from a region, we constantly

exercise with them.

But to see this translate to a real world operation and see the interoperability and how there was friendship that we have developed over

the years translate to being able to work together here and for it to be so successful. And I also love to note the fact that, you know, working with

the Australian partners, the Chinese are here, the British divers. I mean, that video footage, amazing.

COREN: Yes. They were the ones.

TATE: Amazing. I mean, they're expert, they're expert divers and this is like a really challenging dive. It's just amazing.

COREN: Yes, tell us a bit more about that. Your guys were going in. What sort of conditions are they going through, are they dealing with?

TATE: Great. I mean, so you're dealing with darkness. You're dealing with water, you know? You're dealing with mud and I think the taxing on the

body, too. These guys have been working long days. And so were our Thai partners and so were the international forces to, but they're pushing

through. To see that turn to motivation, it kind of makes sense because when you think about it, these children as well as the coach, they have

been in for nine days, when I didn't see like motivation dwindle and we were working long hours, I think it's because you keep in the back of your

mind that, hey listen, you're working for something greater. And the fact that it had such a positive outcome like straight out of a movie. It's

amazing.

COREN: And as we say, it's not over yet.

TATE: It's not, no.

COREN: Captain Jessica Tate, thank you so much for joining us here on "News Stream."

TATE: Thank you.

COREN: So Lynda, as we say, this is far from over. Only just really beginning, but it could be a very interesting couple of days ahead. Back to

you.

KINKADE: Yes, no doubt. An absolutely extraordinary story. Anna Coren, good to have you there for us. We will come back to you shortly. Thanks so

much.

[08:10:00] Well Malaysia's foreign minister has been arrested over a corruption probe and authorities say Najib Razak will be charged in court

on Wednesday. It comes a week after police seized $225 million worth of cash and goods from six properties linked to Najib. It's part of an

investigation into a state investment vehicle which Najib is accused of skimming billions of dollars from.

He has denied any wrongdoing. Well for more on this let's bring in "Wall Street Journal's" Tom Wright. He is in Bali, Indonesia and joins us via

Skype. Great to have you with us, Tom. I understand you were one of the first to break this initial story and, of course, no surprise that he was

finally arrested.

TOM WRIGHT, REPORTER, WALL STREET JOURNAL: Yes. A big surprise to us. It was exactly three years ago today that we broke a story about the prime

minister receiving $681 million into this private bank account. And over the last three years he's done all he could to stop investigations into the

scandal.

He fired his attorney general. He removed his cabinet. He got rid of critics and he called the "Wall Street Journal" -- basically called us

liars. He said we were a disgrace to journalism. So, I would say it was quite a surprise, but he's been building it since he lost a month ago in

elections in Malaysia.

KINKADE: Incredible reporting Tom. Prosecutors in at least six countries have been investigating this. Just talk to us about the charges he's facing

and if convicted what sort of punishment he could face.

WRIGHT: Well, what they decided to do in Malaysia is to investigate him on some narrow (ph) charges, just a small amount of money. Don't forget, this

is a billion dollar scandal and he's facing charges globally of taking hundreds of millions of dollars into his account. But they're looking at

just a small $14 million sliver. And just for that he could face 10 to 15 years is what we've been told.

KINKADE: And of course, a scandal of this size when you've got one man, a former prime minister skimming potentially billions of dollars, it does not

involve just one person. Essentially this goes to the heart of the government. Could we see more arrests?

WRIGHT: Yes. Well, the big question now is where is this Malaysian financier who's name is Jho Low or Low Taek Jho. He is the -- the time when

this scandal went down which was 2015, he was only in his late 20s. He got the prime minister's -- he got the prime minister to back him to run this

fund and is believed to be in either Macau or Hong Kong or mainland China, possibly even in Taiwan.

Malaysia has put out an arrest warrant out for him and they've also put out and Interpol red notice for him. Also, the prime minister's wife who

received a $27 million jewel and other assets and a stepson also is believed to be a possible arrest.

KINKADE: All right. Tom Wright, we'll have to leave it there but we appreciate you joining us today and some incredible work as a journalist.

Thank you so much for your time.

Well in the last hour, President Trump has tweeted an update on the North Korean disarmament talks. He says there have been many good conversations,

adding, were it not for me we would now be at war with North Korea. U.S. Secretary of State Michael Pompeo is due to return to Pyongyang on Thursday

with more talks on dismantling the country's nuclear program.

It is his first visit since the summit in Singapore between President Trump and Kim Jong-un three weeks ago. A U.S. intelligence reports late yesterday

cast doubt on North Korea's commitment to full nuclear disarmament. CNN's Will Ripley joins me now from Beijing with more details on all of this.

Will, a few developments to get across, but interesting to know that after the summit took place three weeks ago, the U.S. president was saying we can

all sleep easy now. The nuclear threat is gone. It sounds like that is far from reality?

WILL RIPLEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, if you listen to what the United States intelligence is saying, including the National Defense Intelligence

Agency which tells CNN that they believe Kim Jong-un has no intention to denuclearize, at least not anytime soon. And that intelligence report,

which was compiled after analyzing satellite data, electronic intercepts, and on the ground intelligence is now being circulated amongst all U.S.

intelligence agencies.

And if they all come to an agreement, then that would essentially be a complete intelligence assessment formally presented to the Trump

administration and President Trump himself. But President Trump has been skeptical of the U.S. intelligence community in the past including their

work on the Russia investigation.

And given the tone of the president's tweet, it is unclear whether he would accept what the intelligence community is telling him, that they believe

North Korea may be secretly enriching uranium and plutonium and may have nuclear and missile facilities that are undeclared, maybe even preparing to

try to deceive the United States and not reveal the full extent of their nuclear weapons program including the number of warheads and the location

of their facilities and whatnot.

[08:15:07] But nonetheless, the president is optimistic saying it's only the opposition party including the fake news media complaining and so that

does give you a sense that at least inside the Trump administration there is still great optimism. And you heard the national security adviser John

Bolton who really has traditionally been a longtime North Korea hawk saying that they believe in the administration.

That full denuclearization could happen in a time frame of 12 months if the North Koreans are prepared when Secretary Pompeo visits Pyongyang on

Thursday to provide a full inventory of their nuclear weapons program and a timetable for when denuclearization will take place.

So, obviously there is a lot at stake. These talks arguably, there's even more at stake now than there was in Singapore when President Trump and Kim

Jong-un got together. That meeting, by all accounts, went very well. The two leaders developed a warm relationship. President Trump said he trusted

Kim Jong-un. But now all of that is going to be put to the test later this week, Lynda.

KINKADE: Yes. And speaking of that meeting later this week, Will, this will be mike pompeo's third trip to North Korea. What does he need to do to

ensure that this is a success?

RIPLEY: Well, look, I've had many meetings over the years with the North Koreas and I can tell you that trust is very slowly built and easily torn

down. And so this is going to be the continuation of the trust building of the relationship building that we know has been improving with each

interaction.

I mean, Secretary Pompeo, if you look at the pictures of his first meeting with Kim Jong-un where they were kind of stone faced. Then the second

meeting in Pyongyang -- they were smiling, they were joking with each other. They were very friendly when they saw each other in Singapore.

You know, we'll see how the North Korean state media covers Secretary Pompeo's visit. He's been getting a lot of favorable press inside the

country. But it's going to come down to the Americans telling the North Koreans what they expect. And then the North Koreans responding with what

they're willing to do and the time frame with which they're willing to do it.

Secretary Pompeo has traditionally stated the Koryo Hotel. It's a hotel that we normally stay out when we travel to the country. It's a five-star

hotel in the middle of the city. He'll be driven to a separate location for his meetings with the North Korean leader. There likely be large banquets,

lots of celebration over the historic summit. I think the North Koreans have called this a historic turning point and new opportunity.

But the question that's going to remain, they need to get down to substance and Secretary Pompeo needs to leave Pyongyang with a substantive set of

steps the have been agreed upon that the North Koreans are going to take. And we know that after he leaves Pyongyang on Saturday, he'll be flying to

Tokyo where he'll be meeting with his Japanese and South Korean counterparts and then later he'll be going to the NATO summit in Brussels

where he'll brief President Trump.

And Lynda, the big question that we don't know, will there be a Trump/Kim summit round two in September in New York like Axios is reporting. That

would certainly be something if they can come away with a date for that.

KINKADE: Yes, that would be incredible. We will see you if we see some substance coming out of these latest talks. Will Ripley, good to have you

with us. Thanks so much.

Well, the world celebrated when rescuers found the missing Thai football team and their coach, but there are still major fears for the group. We'll

tell you more about that next.

Plus, a big compromise, Angela Merkel, Germany's leader has managed to salvage her government with a compromise, but receives an ultimatum from

U.S. President Donald Trump.

[08:20:00] (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KINKADE: Welcome back. All back to our top story. News that rescue divers in northern Thailand located the boys trapped in a cave brought huge relief

and fresh hope to their families. One father shared his reaction with CNN.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translation): I want to hug my son. Usually our family sleeps in the same bed. We're a very close family. I was happy to

hear the cheering from the rescue workers. It gave me hope that I was going to see my son alive.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KINKADE: Well, by spending more than a week deep underground in a flooded cave system. Thai Special Forces say the boys and their coach appear to

have only sustained light injuries. It's possible the group will not be rescued for months until the end of the monsoon season. John Vause spoke to

CNN medical analyst Dr. Seema Yasmin about the psychological impact.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEEMA YASMIN, CNN MEDICAL ANALYST: When you think about things like being starved of light -- light is really important biologically. It dictates

what we call our circadian rhythms so, hormones and different parts of our body really function on knowing the difference between light and day and

sleeping during the night and being awake during the day.

And they have not had that and that could really impede that way that you process a traumatic event like this. You think about being sleep deprived

and you think about that being deprived of the difference between light and day. That's a form of torture as used to psychologically harm people. The

good thing is that we know that there are therapeutic interventions and medical ones, also speaking to counselors that can undo this damage if they

are given.

My concern always is that people that have suffered trauma won't get the right care. And with the Chilean miners, we followed up a few years after

the traumatic event, and they were anxious, depressed, having problems forming relationships. So, it can have long-lasting effects.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KINKADE: Well, we're going to have more on this epic rescue attempt in just a few moments.

And now to Germany where Chancellor Angela Merkel will be in office to lead Germany another day. Ms. Merkel have been facing a significant threat to

her leadership when her interior minister, Horst Sehofer, said he would resign if she didn't change how the country controls its border.

The chancellor managed to find a compromise that has stopped Seehofer from quitting and she has secured her government. But it seems the challenges

won't end for the German chancellor. Ahead of a NATO summit next week, U.S. President Trump has sent letters to several NATO allied leaders demanding

they increase defense spending. That's according to the "New York Times."

It said that the letter to Chancellor Merkel was particularly critical. Mr. Trump said the U.S. could alter its own global military presence if those

allies don't increase defense spending. With the details, Atika Shubert joins us from Berlin, and Atika this of course is not the first time we've

heard U.S. President Trump complain about other countries not contributing enough to the NATO defense budget. These letters sounded particularly

terse.

ATIKA SHUBERT, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes, and the sharpest one perhaps to Germany according to the "New York Times." You saw

the text to some of those letters saying that Germany in particular should raise its defense spending because other countries see it as a role model.

Now, we called the chancellor for comment, they said they will not discuss confidential letters exchanged with President Trump.,

But we know already that this is a source really of anxiety for German diplomats who are wondering what will President Trump do when he shows up

at the NATO summit next week. There has been talk about reorganizing U.S. military assets around the world. I mean, consider that there are 30,000

U.S. military personnel, more than 30,000 here in Germany. Ramstein Air Base for example which has specialized medical facilities, all of these now

suddenly in question.

Now, Germany itself absolutely spends less than it should in NATO. There is a voluntary defense spending of 2 percent of it's GDP to defense. That's

what members are supposed to pay. Germany pays about 1.2 percent and will continue to do that, at least for the next few years. Although it has

promised in the long term to eventually get that up to 2 percent.

Clearly that is not fast enough for President Trump. So the question is going to be when they meet in Brussels next week, what will he do? Will he

say, listen, I'm pulling troops out or I'm threatening to do something else, unless you get the defense spending up? It will be interesting to

watch, Lynda.

[08:25:07] KINKADE: Yes. Certainly an awkward sort of a meeting. Atika Shubert, good to have you with us. Thank you.

Well, now to Dubai where more than 2,000 students are taking part in the region's first artificial intelligence summit camp. The technology is said

to contribute billions to the UAE's economy over the next few years. CNN's Samuel Berk has more on Dubai's innovations in the A.I. sector.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SAMUEL BERK, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Could these young people have a future in developing artificial intelligence technology? Dubai is betting

on it. Over the next eight weeks, they're taking part in the region's first A.I. summer camp. More than 2,000 high school and university students has

signed up for the information sessions organized by the government and delivered by global high-tech companies.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think it's a great initiative for Dubai. One of the biggest challenges today in the field and other emergent technology fields

is talent and availability of talent. So for IBM or an organization like IBM, you know, it helps us acquire talent. So as these young students learn

and understand how to use this technology, we'd be very happy to hire them.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We want to ensure that at least 1 percent of these will go in the start-up that's going to be the next Google or next Facebook and

it's possible. So it's win-win situation for us as a government and for these companies specifically.

BERK (voice-over): Artificial Intelligence involves machines that learn from data and Dubai is already developing innovative technology in this

field. From this police robot, which is being fed data that will allow it to identify criminals on the city's most wanted list by 2020, to an online

virtual assistant called Rashid (ph), which answers users questions about services across the city and can also be used to pay fines, bills and learn

how to set up a business. And virtual health pods performing scans that can provide results within minutes.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The A.I. pod is a non-invasive, fully automated machine that looks at all your major vitals. They've been building it and

assembling it in the UAE. They look at bone density. They look at respiratory things -- it's multiple -- different multiple vitals.

BERK (voice-over): They plan to start rolling out these pods in malls and office spots across Dubai later this year. It's all part of a developing

A.I. sector that global consulting firm Accenture (ph) claims by 2035 will contribute $182 billion to the UAE economy. Samuel Berk, CNN.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KINKADE: Well, dark, muddy and narrow. That's how a team of expert divers describe the journey to reach 12 boys and a football coach trapped deep

inside a flooded cave. Just ahead, we'll talk about the physical and mental obstacles of this mission with an expert cave diver who is there helping.

[08:30:00] (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LYNDA KINKADE, CNN ANCHOR: Hello. I'm Lynda Kinkade live from Atlanta. You're watching "News Stream" and these are your world headlines. A second

mayor has been shot dead in three days in the Philippines this time north of Manila. The mayor of the municipality of General Tinio in the province

of Nueva Ecija was killed in an apparent drive-by shooting on Tuesday. Bote's murder came a day after another man was killed by a sniper bullet.

Rescuers in Thailand scrambling to find a way to pull 12 boys and their football coach out from deep inside a flooded cage. We are told seven Thai

navy divers are staying in the cave with the boys and the coach. Rescuers were able to deliver food to the team, mostly sticky rice, pork, and milk.

Malaysia's former prime minister has been arrested on graft charges. Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission which has been investigating billions

of dollars in state funds that went missing while he was in power. Najib denies any wrongdoing.

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo returns to North Korea for more nuclear talks. It comes in doubts over the North Korea's commitment to complete

disarmament. In the last hour, Mr. Trump tweeted that there have been many good conversations with North Korea and were it not for me, we would now be

at war.

Returning to our top story now. Thai Navy SEAL have been preparing scuba gear outside a cave where 12 players and their coach went missing. They may

also have to teach the young boys and the coach to scuba dive.

Joining me now is our correspondent Anna Coren from nearby the cave entrance. Anna, we initially heard it was going to take months, potentially

four months, before all these boys could be rescued but it could come as soon as tonight. Tell us about what you are hearing.

ANNA COREN, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yeah, look, it was quite a shock when we heard those words come out of the mouth of the deputy

governor here in Chiang Rai. He was asked by journalists, could these boys be brought out tonight? He said, if the conditions are right, if it's

appropriate, if we get the chance, we will do it.

He said it has to be, however, 100 percent safe. Obviously, the safety for these boys is paramount. They have been through so much already. Obviously,

they are weak and malnourished, but they are working very hard to boost their levels, build their energy.

We know that they have access now to food. They were given protein gels, soft food that they could easily digest. And, as you mentioned, the pork,

the sticky rice, even the milk. So they seem to be getting their appetites back.

But if this does happen, you know, some of these boys, Lynda, they can't swim. So perhaps these divers, and mind you, there is an international

contingent of specialist divers here from countries all over the world lending their expertise.

Perhaps they have thought of some way, creative way of getting these boys out and getting them out safely, because there definitely does seem to be a

sense of urgency and it has been only less than 24 hours since they were found. Lynda?

KINKADE: And quite incredibly, sounds like they're using a lot of incredible technology as well. This international contingent using drones

and 3D imaging to try and help navigate their way through these kilometers of cave?

COREN: Yeah, that's right. We also heard that Israeli -- a specialist Israeli telecommunications company was here lending walkie-talkies that can

work at crazy depths for very long distances. So, you know, this is now an international effort. You know, obviously the people of Thailand elated and

so relieved that these boys were found, but it goes beyond that.

This is such a good-news story. You know, Lynda, if you would ask me this time yesterday, would these boys be found, I would have told you the

chances are so slim. And that is what everybody was thinking. That's what they were feeling.

They certainly weren't saying that. Thai authorities obviously very positive. But now that these boys and their coach have been found and they

are in good spirits, you know, one of them said, can we get out tonight? Can we get out today?

[08:35:02] It really just hits home that these boys are fighters. And, you know, they just want to be reunited with their parents. One last thing,

Lynda. We understand the telecommunications cables, these communications cables, they are being put into the cave as we speak, and hopefully

sometime tonight these kids will be able to speak to their parents.

KINKADE: That is wonderful news. Really great. Especially given the emotional feelings we are seeing from their parents waiting to hear from

them. Anna Coren, great to have you with us. Thanks so much.

We've been talking about this multinational search effort. I want to bring in Claus Rasmussen, a Danish cave diving instructor. He is part of the

support team working with the Thai Navy SEALS, helping with the setup of this search to rescue these boys. He joins us now on the line.

Good to have you with us. We have got British, Aussies, Chinese, Thais, so many countries involved in the search. Give us a sense of the challenges

trying to get each of these boys out safely.

CLAUS RASMUSSEN, DANISH CAVE DIVING INSTRUCTOR (via telephone): Well, I mean, the way that we see it on the ground is that it's obviously been a

hard work and a hard case for us to even get in there and for anybody to go in there, and that was a huge challenge.

Great support from both the Americans, Australians, the Chinese, doing systems and everything else but the driving force that was the -- the Thai

navy obviously pushed hard. Now, it's easy for somebody who is trained in the environment or comfortable with the water and the equipment to get back

out, but it's not as easy as it sounds because it's almost as challenging as it was going in there.

KINKADE: Right. I heard the water is coffee-colored, visibility is poor. Some suggested, why can't they just strap these boys to the back of one of

the divers and swim out, but it's not that easy, is it? There are very narrow crevices around the cave.

RASMUSSEN: It's not easy. There are a lot of very narrow passages which are of quite a lot distance. Right now there is good amount of flow in the

water, but still obstructions. Obviously, if the rain starts coming in, well that could make it even more challenging than what it is right now.

KINKADE: That's right. Those monsoon rains are expected.

RASMUSSEN: Yes. I mean, there's many different ways. And right now, all the way through today, there's been a lot of debating back and forth in

what is the best way, which ways and which approaches are the Navy SEALS would actually attempt to use, because most of us now have taken quite a

bit of a step back.

And are now truly just support for it because they can now do everything themselves and obviously are better at dealing with the Thai kids in

Thailand than any of us other support divers are.

KINKADE: Certainly some difficult challenges ahead. Claus Rasmussen, good to have your perspective. All the very best with this rescue. We will be

following it closely. Thank you.

Still ahead, a man in the U.K. is taking on plastic waste pollution. In CNN's "Going Green," we will meet the innovator who is helping to solve the

environmental epidemic.

[08:40:00] (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KINKADE: Welcome back. It's estimated that by the year 2050, there will be more plastics than fish in the world's oceans. One man in Scotland is

trying to help by creating a way to combat the plastic waste epidemic. As part of our series, "Going Green," meet Toby McCartney (ph), one of the

innovators creating sustainable solutions.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

TOBY MCCARTNEY, INNOVATOR: In every ton of asphalt that is used, we would use around 20,000 one-time use plastic bottles and around 70,000 one-time

use plastic bags in one ton of asphalt.

My name is Toby McCartney and I have worked out how to take waste plastics and mix them in with asphalt to create a stronger, longer-lasting road.

We are wanting to solve two world problems. On one side, we call it the waste plastic epidemic. And on the other side, the poor quality of roads

that we have to drive on today.

We take the polymers, the plastics that you and I throw away every single day. The bottles, the bags, the nappies, you name it. We then pelletize

them and then with those pellets, we then sell those pellets on to the asphalt manufacturers that use them to replace parts of the bitumen, the

black, oily stuff that you see in a road. And it's that that form a stronger seal, just like a super-glue rather than a pritt stick kind of

glue.

We have to go through UKAS-accredited labs to meet the British and European standards. What we found with those lab test results when compared to other

asphalt, the fact we were 60 percent stronger than the current asphalt that we see down on our roads today.

We now have done trials and tests out in the U.S., in the states, over in Canada, Bahrain and places like Saudi Arabia. It took us quite a long time,

certainly in the U.K., to convince councils, local authorities and our asphalt manufacturers that what we have actually does work.

Wonderful to be here. We started in a tiny little place, actually my kitchen, in a place called Lockerbie in Scotland. Here we are. This is

another road going down. We got roads going down all over the world. It's great to be a part of this journey.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KINKADE: Wonderful innovation. That is "News Stream." Thanks for joining us. I'm Lynda Kinkade. Don't go anywhere. "World Sport" with Christina

MacFarlane is next.

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[08:45:00] (WORLD SPORT)

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