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In U.K., Two People Collapse Near Russian Spy Poisoning Site; Rescue Teams Exploring New Options To Get The Thai Football Team Out; EPA Head Asked Trump To Fire Jeff Sessions; U.S. Senate Backs Intelligence Agencies On Russia-Trump; Former Malaysian Prime Minister Pleads Not Guilty; Security Situation In The Philippines; World Headlines; Thailand Cave Rescue; Going Green. Aired 8-9a ET

Aired July 04, 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)

IVAN WATSON, CNN ANCHOR: I'm Ivan Watson in Atlanta. Welcome to "News Stream."

Alternative routes, rescue teams are exploring new options for getting a Thai football team and their coach trapped in a cave from above.

Charged with criminal breach of trust and corruption, the former Malaysian prime minister pleads not guilty.

And two mayors killed in days in the Philippines. We analyze the security situation at a time of a war on drugs.

All right, everyone, we'll have those stories in a moment. But first, U.K. counterterrorism police are now involved in the investigation into what

made two people critically ill. And our Erin McLaughlin is at the scene in the town of Amesbury and she has the latest. Why are the authorities in

Britain on edge right now, Erin?

ERIN MCLAUGHLIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, they're on edge right now, Ivan, because of the proximity of where this event that unfolded on Saturday

night to place six miles away from Salisbury. And as you know, in Salisbury some four months ago, that is where an ex-Russian double agent, Sergei

Skripal and his daughter Yulia were found unconscious, later deemed poisoned by a weapons grade military nerve agent.

And the U.K. subsequently pointed the finger blaming Russia for that attack. At this point, though, this morning, the police commissioner for

this area saying they found no obvious links between what unfolded there in Salisbury, some six miles away, and the incident that happened here on

Saturday evening.

Let me just step out of the shot here and show you the scene. On Saturday night, a couple in their 40s, a man and a woman, were found unconscious

inside of this property. You can see since that time they have placed a police presence here, although it's a minimal police presence. One police

officer standing there, but they're not allowing anyone in or -- they're not allowing anyone out. They have since declared this a serious incident

that currently is being investigated.

Initially police thought that this could have been a drug overdose. They suspected heroin or cocaine, but now they are saying they're keeping an

open mind. They've also cordoned off a nearby Boots pharmacy, a pharmacy here in the area as well as a Baptist church where locals tell us that this

couple, which has yet to be identified by authorities, attended a fun fair just hours before being found unconscious.

Now, authorities clearly taking this extremely seriously, but at the same time being very tight-lipped with information. We do know that they have

brought a counterterrorism police in, and as you say, Ivan, to investigate exactly what went on here. And they took a similar step when the Skripals'

were poisoned some four months ago. Counterterrorism police there were also brought in the days following that attack.

WATSON: All right, Erin McLaughlin with the update from Amesbury in the United Kingdom. Thank you very much and keep us updated if you learn more

from the authorities there about this mystery.

We now move to Thailand now and to this dramatic rescue effort because the authorities are frantically trying to find a way to get a young football

team and their coach back above ground. The boys are said to be in good health after being trapped in a cave for nearly two weeks. Now rescue teams

are debating whether to try to bring them to the surface now or wait possibly for months until they are certain it is safe.

But there is no easy way out. The boys are stranded around four kilometers -- four kilometers inside the cave, an area that can only be accessed for

now through a narrow flooded channel. CNN's Anna Coren joins us now from the cave site. Very nice to see you my friend. I see the sun is starting to

set there.

Tell me about the rescue effort and try to explain why is it that after this miraculous discovery, that the boys and their coach are alive, that

they may have to wait for months to be reunited with their families?

[08:05:00] ANNA CORENN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes. The figure that was thrown around was four months. That is how long the monsoon season will last.

These boys, Ivan, do not want to sit it out inside that cave. They have now been trapped inside for 11 days. They want out yesterday.

Now, we are at the mouth of the cave. There is a hive (ph) of activity. The reason being is because a very famous monk from Myanmar -- remember, we are

in northern Thailand in Chiang Rai. So basically the Myanmar border is literally over there. He is a famous Myanmar monk. He has just arrived. He

has gone to the cave which is 150 meters to the entrance to say prayers.

Now, he was here shortly after the boys disappeared. He predicted they would be found. Sure enough, several days later, they were found. Let's

hope that he has -- his prayers are answered, and that is that these boys are released very soon. But Ivan, as far as authorities are concerned, they

are seriously looking at this diving option for extracting this football team.

We know how dangerous that will be. You just described the conditions inside that cave, but we are understanding that the boys would wear these

full masks. They'll have oxygen pumped into them by the Navy SEALS. They literally have to just cling on to a Navy SEAL as they were dragged through

these chambers, through these narrow passageways.

But from a diver that we spoke to, a foreign diver who is part of this rescue team, he said that it could be very dangerous and the kids could get

injured. Bu Ivan, we've got a glimpse's these gorgeous 12 boys and their coach earlier today. The Thai Navy releasing new footage. Let's take a

listen.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

COREN (voice-over): A day after the boys were reached, a very different atmosphere underground. Warming space blankets, well fed with pork and

sticky rice. And cared for, watched and entertained by these crack military personnel, a doctor and a nurse.

The dolphin emblem of the Thai Navy SEAL scratched into stone -- another crest, England's three lions on a muddy football shirt. While other kids

have watched the World Cup, they have huddled in this dark cave for 11 days now. Their families watched the feed from a tent in the jungle outside.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (through translation): I am dying to see him. I miss my son.

COREN (voice-over): The mood lighter after over a week of no sleep and mental health support.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (through translation): I am so glad he is still alive and safe. I'm speechless. I want to thank everyone who helped. Thank you

very much.

COREN (voice-over): Police have waved away suggestions that the 25-year- old coach was negligent in leading the boys into the cave on a weekend day out. Exploring was something that all the boys loved doing, their families

say, they know that.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (through translation): I want to tell him that you did your best taking care of the boys. Please, don't be worried.

COREN (voice-over): While the sun shines here, pumps drain hundreds of thousand of liters per hour from the flooded cave tunnels.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translation): They don't have to all come out at the same time because all of them are in different situations.

COREN (voice-over): Officials say the children will come out one by one as each grow strong enough to escape. Outside the cave, soldiers link arms to

create a road through the jungle for ambulances to arrive. A practice drill, but perhaps an early glimpse of a coming miracle. The rescue that

seemed almost impossible just days ago.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COREN: Now, while the focus is getting these boys to exit the cave from this entrance, that being the only entrance at this stage, there has been a

development late this afternoon, Ivan. We understand that the boys have told the divers that they have heard the noises of dogs barking, roosters

crowing and even heard the choices of children. Now, the Navy divers they question the kids but they say this is what they've heard over several

days.

That would indicate that there are air holes close by within the vicinity of where these boys are seeking refuge, deep within the boughs of this

cave. So as a result of that information, the focus has now really changed. They have sent teams of rescuers up into the mountains to start looking for

those chimneys, those access points, those air holes.

One of the men involved in that team, he said we're looking for signs that the mountain, that the cave, is breathing. So, if they can find that air

hole, Ivan it would make it so much easier obviously to get these boys out safe and sound.

[08:10:00] WATSON: Yes, that's a fascinating and potentially very hopeful development there, Anna. I'm going to ask you and your team to stand by

there at dusk in Chiang Rai, Thailand because we're going to come back to you in about 20 minutes for more on this incredible rescue effort up there

in northern Thailand. Thanks a lot.

We're going to turn now to the U.S. and the embattled head of the Environmental Protection Agency. CNN has learned that Scott Pruitt urged

President Trump to fire Attorney General Jeff Sessions while offering to take powerful position himself. Sources say Pruitt made the request this

spring when President Trump's frustration with Sessions' recusal from the Russia investigation resurfaced.

And the Senate Intelligence Committee has affirmed findings by the U.S. intelligence committee that Russia wanted to help President Trump win the

2016 election in a report that breaks with House Republicans and the president. Our Abby Phillip has the details.

ABBY PHILLIP, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The Republican- led Senate Intelligence Committee breaking with their counterparts in the House, concluding that the intelligence community was correct in its

assessment that Russia intervened in the 2016 election to help President Trump.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JAMES COMEY, FORMER FBI DIRECTOR: They wanted to hurt our democracy, hurt her, help him.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIP (voice-over): The Senate report calling the intelligence community's analysis a sound intelligence product whose conclusions were

reached in a professional and transparent manner. Republican committee chairman Richard Burr adding that their conclusions were well supported and

the trade craft was strong.

The highly politicized House Intelligence Committee chaired by Trump ally Devin Nunes concluded the opposite earlier this year writing that they

found a significant intelligence trade craft failings in the assessment of Putin's objectives.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. ADAM SCHIFF (D), CALIFORNIA: Their real object was protecting the president. It wasn't doing a credible investigation.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIP (voice-over): President Trump's entire national security team saying last year they supported the intelligence community's report.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. MARK WARNER (D), VIRGINIA: Do you believe that the January 2017 intelligence committee assessment accurately characterized the extent of

Russian activities in the 2016 election?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I do, yes, sir.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, senator.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, I do.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, I do.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIP (voice-over): But the president himself has repeatedly refused to accept the findings of his own government.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CHRIS WALLACE, FOX NEWS HOST: The CIA has concluded that Russia intervened in the election to help you win the presidency. Your reaction.

DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I think it's ridiculous. I think it's just another excuse. I don't believe it.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIP (voice-over): Just last week, the president continued to cast doubt that Russia interfered in the election.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOHN BOLTON, U.S. NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER: I'll tell you what President Putin said to me through the translator, of course, that -- she said there

was no meddling in the 2016 election by the Russian state.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIP (voice-over): Despite this, the White House insists President Trump will bring up this issue when he meets with Putin in their first

official summit on July 16th.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TRUMP: We're going to talk about Ukraine. We're going to be talking about Syria. We'll be talking about elections and we don't want anybody tampering

with elections.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIP (voice-over): A Republican congressional delegation is currently in Moscow preparing for the summit.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Was election meddling addressed in the meeting --

SEN. RICHARD SHELBY (R), ALABAMA: -- including that, that what we we're -- we haven't settled anything. This is day one.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WATSON: Well that's CNN's Abby Phillip there. Now, despite the tensions over election meddling, there seems to be some warmer dialogue coming from

Russia ahead of Donald Trump's meeting expected later this month with Vladimir Putin. You heard Abby Phillip mention the group of U.S. Republican

lawmakers holding critical conversations with Moscow.

The Russian foreign minister says he hopes their visit would help restore relations between the two legislatures. That's according to Reuters, citing

Interfax. It's a contrast though to Monday's statement from the Kremlin spokesman who said it was too early to speak of a thaw in U.S. relations.

Now, CNN's Matthew Chance is in the Russian capital in Moscow. Good to see you, Matthew. So this U.S. Congressional delegation is there. I believe it

is all comprised of Republicans from President Trump's ruling party. What kind of welcome has the Kremlin offered these lawmakers?

MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, the Kremlin has offered them a very warm welcome, Ivan, not least because this is the

first high-level congressional; delegation from any party that's made the trip from Washington to Russia in several years. And the Russians are

seeing this as positive sign that when you combine it with the visit last week of John Bolton, U.S. National Security adviser and the prospects or

the scheduling of a high-profile summit between President Trump and president Putin in Helsinki in a week and a half from now.

[08:15:00] They are seeing it as a sign that things are getting better between Moscow and Washington and this very sketchy relationship that's

existed over the past couple years is finally starting to mend. There has been some criticism made by the senators. One of the senators who spoke to

CNN, Neely Kennedy, is a Republican from Louisiana, saying that he asked people in Russia not to interfere with our elections this year.

So, a reference to the fact that they've been found to have interfered in the 2016 presidential elections. He also said he asked them to exit Ukraine

and allow Ukraine to be self-determine. He asked them to do the same thing in Krimea and for their help in bringing peace in Syria. So, you know, some

hints that some of these difficult issues were raised by this congressional delegation in Moscow.

But the sort of leader of the delegation, Senator Shelby from Alabama are saying, look, you know, we haven't come here -- I'm paraphrasing a little

bit -- to accuse Russia and so forth. He says that we don't need to be -- we can be competitors, he said, but we don't need to be adversaries. And so

Senator Shelby striking a much more conciliatory tone and that generally seems to be the message of this delegation. There are problems in the

relationship, but maybe there are areas where they can cooperate.

WATSON: And continuing with dialogue that was prolonged by Trump's national security adviser, John Bolton, who is there in Moscow meeting with

the Russian leadership just days ago. All right, Matthew Chance, live in Moscow. Thanks very much for that update.

Last week, Malaysian police found more than $200 million worth of luxury goods at the home of the former prime minister. And now through a crush of

cameras he's made his first appearance in court on corruption charges.

Plus, two brazen slayings in the Philippines, both targeting town mayors. The questions their deaths are raising and the latest on the investigation

just ahead. Stay with CNN.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WATSON: Welcome back to "News Stream." Former Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak has pleaded not guilty to a series of corruption charges on

Wednesday. Najib is accused of embezzling hundreds of millions of dollars from a state investment fund that he created. If convicted, he faces up to

20 years in prison and a maximum fine of five times the value of any bribe he took. After his arrest on Tuesday, he issued an apology but denied the

charges.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

NAJIB RAZAK, FORMER MALAYSIAN PRIME MINISTER (through translation): If you're listening to this, then action has been taken on me. I would like to

offer my apology to the Malaysian people. They deserve to get the best leadership and I have tried my best but I realized that it is not enough.

Admittedly, there has been a lot of weaknesses.

[08:20:04] Nonetheless, I would like to voice out my heart's content to the people of Malaysia that I cherish deeply. Yes, I am not perfect. I am just

a normal person. But believe me, all these accusations made against me and my family are not all true. Yes, our homes were ransacked for days. Yes, I

was investigated and some items were confiscated, but all this are not conclusive.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WATSON: In fact, there are allegations that there were an awful lot of weaknesses because last week the Malaysian police found a treasure-trove of

luxury goods when they raided Najib's properties including millions of dollars of foreign currencies, $100 million of jewelry and 423 watches

worth more than $19 million. That's more watches than there are days in the year. All right.

Let's go to the Philippines now because the investigators there are searching for the killer of yet another town mayor, the second to be shot

in two days. On Tuesday, Mayor Ferdinand Bote of the town General Tinio was gunned down by a suspect riding a motorcycle in a nearby city. And it had

been just over 24 hours since the mayor of Tanauan city, Antonio Halili, was assassinated by a sniper in broad daylight.

Halili was known for parading drug suspects out on the streets of his city and I spoke with him two years ago shortly after President Duterte launched

his controversial war on drugs. A warning what you're about to see has disturbing images right of the top.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

WATSON: Human rights groups are sounding the alarm about the growing body count and what that means for the rule of law. While some local government

officials are worried about other new logistical problems.

ANTONIO HALILI, TOWN MAYOR, TANAUAN, BATANGAS: I never thought that this would happen. We never thought that this will be overpopulated.

WATSON: Cells in the brand new Tanauan city jail built to hold 30 prisoners now holding more than 50. Many of whom were recently arrested on

drug charges.

(END VIDEO CLIP

WATSON: Okay, I'm pleased to now invite political scientist and author of the book "Rise of Duterte," Richard Heydarian -- very nice to see you

Richard. Let's start by -- can you tell me a little bit more about the two mayors? How high is their profile in the Philippines? Is there anything

that links these two victims, since the methods of assassination were quite different?

RICHARD, HEYDARIAN, POLITICAL SCIENTIST: Right. I mean, up until now, Ivan, we are not sure about what are the circumstances that led to their

assassination or killing. Were this related to the drug trade? Were this politically motivated? In fact, up until today, we are up to 23,000 deaths

in this country and we don't know what exactly were the circumstances behind them. Now, if --

WATSON: 23,000 since President Duterte started his war on drugs?

HEYDARIAN: This is according to the figures by the Philippines National Police. Now, it's hard to attribute all of them to the drug war, or whether

they are related to them, but this is the number of dead bodies that have been piling up in the country over the last two years and we're yet to get

to the bottom of this.

So these last killings are just adding to the sheer magnitude of mystery that has been piling up over of the past two years. Now, Mayor Halili of

course, is the more known one because he was known for parading the drug suspects. And then of course, there were some rumors about whether he

himself was involved in drug trade.

President Duterte has made that accusation, but the Philippine National Police has been singing to a completely different tune condemning the

killing and calling for a very strong investigation and holding those who were accountable to justice. So -- but what's important here to keep in

mind that these are mayors. Up until now I think 14 mayors and vice mayors have been killed since Duterte has taken over and we don't know exactly why

this has been happening.

And these two mayors that were killed recently, I think there was another one, Neuva Ecija, farther than Metro Manila recently, but these two ones

are from towns (inaudible) surrounding Metro Manila. So they are closer to the centers of power and we're not seeing much in the peripheries.

I mean, we know that much of the drug-related killings happen in the slums, in the peripheries of the countries, but this time we see mayors even in

some (inaudible) major towns around Metro Manila also being targeted right now. So I think it just talks about the depth of the climate of impunity

and of course fear that has taken over the country over the past few years.

WATSON: Well, I mean, the carnage that you were describing, that's absolute carnage, this death toll. And it's all the more striking when you

consider that President Duterte was elected in 2016 on this tough guy law and order platform. He's led this war, this deadly war on drugs. So what do

these two murders in broad daylight within a matter of days of each other - - what do they say about President Duterte's pledge to restore law and order in the Philippines?

[08:25:05] HEYDARIAN: Well, critics will definitely claim that this is quite ironic for a president who promised order as his major platform to

actually oversee a corrosive erosion in rule of law in the country. But on the other hand, I think the partisans (ph) of the president himself would

say, well, in order to get into light of order you have to go through some valley of tears and all of these kinds of deaths that you're seeing right

now are probably a part of the process of purge.

WATSON: A valley of blood.

HEYDARIAN: Or valley of blood for that matter. So, that's the way that they try to justify it, but I think the more important political

implication is this. I mean, as the "Game of Thrones" character said, the chaos is a ladder. In reality is that, the more there is disorder in

country, the more there is a climate of fear, the more actually this empowers President Duterte because he drives more and more people towards a

strongman figure to find a sense of security.

So ironically, rather than undermining the president's popularity, which is very high right now still two years into his office -- actually third year

already. This is actually rallying more and more people behind the president because they feel that they need a strong president. Remember,

the president is also pushing for a change in the Philippine constitution and that could also have long-term ramification for how much power the

president will have over the Philippine state institutions.

WATSON: Richard, what has President Duterte said about these brazen daylight assassinations?

HEYDARIAN: Well, on the Halili case, the president actually implied that perhaps, you know, he himself was involved in the drug dealing and perhaps

this was, you know, a response to that, but he didn't confirm whether this was carried out by government forces or vigilante groups or his political

enemies.

But that kind of plan of argument has been rejected by other people including by the police where they are saying, you know, we have to

investigate this and this is something that is unacceptable in our country. So you see contradictory message between the president and the Philippine

National Police themselves.

But the fact of the matter is that, you know, what's happening over the past two years is that you're having also erosion of state institutions. I

think the president tried to promise order even possibly in contravention of law, but what they're realizing right now is that you can only bring

order by rule of law, by strengthening institutions of the state.

And the realities right now, the Philippines National Police is paying the price for that because they themselves sometimes are not clear what exactly

is the command of the president or the president is going to stand by them. And there are many instances where the president says something based

before and then when something horrible happens, he suddenly disowns those commands.

So, this is where you also see demoralization with the Philippine law enforcement agencies and that's going to have long-term implications for

the country's institutions.

WATSON: All right. Richard Heydarian with the view -- with your view from Manila. Thank you very much for that conversation and we'll be in touch and

hopefully see an end to this carnage in the Philippines. Thank you.

Still ahead, now that Thailand's missing boys have been found, rescuers are weighing options to get them out safely. But heavy rain could force them to

act sooner rather than later. We'll have more on that.

[08:30:00] (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

IVAN WATSON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Welcome back to the program. I'm Ivan Watson in Atlanta. You're watching "News Stream" and

these are your world headlines.

U.K. counter-terror officers are involved in the investigation of a major incident after two people were exposed to an unknown substance. A man and a

woman in their 40s were found unconscious on Saturday just a few kilometers from where Russian double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia were

poisoned with a suspected nerve agent in March.

The chairman of a high-profile Chinese conglomerate HNA has died in an accident in France. Wang Jian suffered fatal injuries after falling from a

wall while taking a photograph. Wang was one of the founders of the company which had stakes in major U.S. and European companies including Deutsche

Bank and Hilton.

Thirty-four people have died after a ferry capsized off the coast of South Sulawesi in Indonesia Tuesday. One hundred fifty-five people survived. The

country's disaster spokesman says evacuation efforts are now complete. Indonesian state media say a leak on board is believed to be the cause of

the accident.

In a landmark decision, a Hong Kong court has ordered immigration officials to grant spousal visas to a same-sex ex-patriot couple. One of the women, a

British citizen, had been denied a dependent visa when her civil partner was offered employment in 2014. The court ruled unanimously that excluding

same-sex married or civil partners did not work towards the goal of effective and stringent immigration control.

I want to return now to Thailand. That is where rescue teams are racing to figure out the best way to get those 12 boys and their football coach out

of a deep, deep cave.

CNN's Anna Coren joins us once again from the cave site where clearly the sun has set. Good to see you again, Anna. Just one detail that we weren't

able to get to before, can you tell me about the efforts to set up communications between the trapped children and their families?

ANNA COREN, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: They set up the communication cable. It was in place as of last night. When they tested it, they found

that there was some water damage to a part of the cable. So, they've had to replace that. They were hoping to get it up and running.

However, we're yet to receive word whether or not the parents have been able to speak to the children. That is obviously something, Ivan, they so

desperately want to do.

WATSON: Can you imagine what that first phone call might be like? Let's move on, because not only are the conditions to reach the kids four

kilometers in the mountain underground, not only are those just incredibly difficult, but just getting to where you are right now to where the rescue

effort is being staged from is not easy. Can you explain?

COREN: For sure. I want to take you on a bit of a tour. It is, as you can see, it is pretty manic here. The monk has left. So there's a bit of a

media frenzy, but there are also cavers and divers and everybody who's been inside that cave. That shift has been coming out.

So many, many media here. Hundreds of media. But look, I just want to show you the mud, Ivan. This mud is absolutely everywhere. And Steve, my

cameraman, will come for a bit of a walk with me. Everyone is in boots. Everybody is covered in mud. But this is irrelevant, right? This is a small

inconvenience. This mud is all throughout that cave.

With those flash floods, that sentiment -- sediment, I should say, has raced into those caves. So, this is what the divers are dealing with. One

diver said to me, it is like swimming through a cafe latte. It is so thick. They can't see in front of their hand, in front of their face.

So it is really causing huge problems. And, you know, we're in monsoon season here in Northern Thailand and we expecting more rain in the coming

days. They have pumped out almost two million liters of water. You're talking about 200,000 liters every single hour. They can't pump it out any

faster. They've reached maximum capacity.

[08:35:01] If it rains, it's going to undo all of that hard work. That is why the clock is ticking. That is why these divers are doing everything

possible to work out a safe route for these boys. Otherwise, they are going to have to find an access point from the top, Ivan. That is the only way to

get these boys out safely.

WATSON: Anna, we were seeing some images that our team has sent us. This is not an area of paved roads. It's kind of remote. People have to hike.

That must complicate getting the equipment in -- the rescue equipment and potentially heavy construction machinery you might need if you try to dig a

separate passage to the children.

COREN: Yeah, absolutely. I mean, this is jungle, right? And in actual fact, if it wasn't pitch black, we'd be able to show you the mountain. I

mean, it is a stunning scenery. We have to hike a kilometer into this area which is normally a national park. People come here, it's a tourist

attraction, to go to the caves. It's a very famous landmark here in Chiang Rai.

Look, fortunately enough, they've been able to set up the staging area. They've been able to get the trucks through. They've been able to get the

equipment in to this point. But if they are going to hike up into the jungle which is what they are doing to find these points, these access

points, which they had already done, they had focused, they had zeroed in on these six chimneys, that all of them had sort of come to a bit of a dead

end.

They have now realized they have to find this new -- this new spot which the boys have talked about, these noises coming in, because if they can do

that, if they can pinpoint it, then it is going to make everyone's life so much easier.

WATSON: All right. Anna Coren, to you and your team there in the ankle- deep mud, thank very much for conducting this vigil.

Now, a big issue, of course, that Anna has talked about that is hampering the rescue efforts are the huge volumes of water pouring in to the caves

and the threat of more rain that could further flood the chamber.

So, CNN meteorologist Chad Myers joins us now from Atlanta. Hi. Great to see you, Chad. I mean, the downpours there that we've seen in past days,

what is the forecast for the rescue effort? Are they going to face another deluge?

CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST AND SCIENCE REPORTER: In 72 hours. There is a window, Ivan, of literally no rain for the next 72 hours. And no rain, I

mean, five millimeters. That is still considered no rain. Because after that, after Sunday and Monday, we will pick up 150 millimeters of rain in

the following five days after that.

This mountain is porous. Talking about these chimneys or these cracks in the mountain. This is the problem. This is the problem. The water just runs

right down in to the cave, not even through the mouth of the cave, but from the top down. And so for the next couple of days, we're only going to see

about 20 to 25 millimeters of rain.

But then after than, Chiang Rai, you are back right in the middle of what's called monsoon season. It doesn't mean rain. It means wind shifts. But when

the wind shifts, Ivan, that's when the rain comes. Back to you.

WATSON: Yeah. And those downpours are no joke in that part of the world. Chad Myers, thanks very much for the update there. All right. Can

ecotourism and environmentalism co-exist? We traveled to Mauritius to find out. Stay with us.

[08:40:00] (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WATSON: Welcome back. Can ecotourism and environmentalism co-exist? Find out in this next piece in our series, "Going Green," where we profile the

innovative heroes creating sustainable solutions around the world. Our team traveled to waters off Mauritius where a group of conservationists are

working to protect some of its most valued inhabitants.

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UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The most important thing I think is to educate people because like me, a lot of Mauritian people are not aware of the treasures

we have here like, for example, the dolphins and the whales.

My name is Sheksi Tekea (ph) and I work for the Mauritius Marine Conservation Society. The MMCS is an NGO working in the marine conservation

and it has been involved in marine mammal protection for about 40 years now. And a large part of our job was with dolphins.

In 2006, with the rapid growth of the dolphin watching activity, the MMCS started a project for the successful development of dolphin watching

through training, (INAUDIBLE), and public awareness.

This project was innovative for Mauritius because we included all the stakeholders involved in the dolphin watching activity. And we worked

together with them to lobby for the implementation of a law that regulates the dolphin watching activity.

On a typical day here for the dolphin project, we go out on the boat three times a week when the weather is good. We monitor the dolphins. We identify

the species. We -- the size of the population. We analyze their behavior. And then we go back to the office and we analyze all the data we have

taken.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: This one is good.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We look at the picture to see if we know all of these dolphins or we have new individuals in the groups.

This is an overall indicator for the health of the population.

We should be aware of what's in the sea and how to behave, how to live in harmony with the marine diversity. We can help with education. When we know

something, we should tell to the others. And also we need enforcement because sometimes, we can have very bad behavior in the sea, and it can be

because we don't know or it can be because we don't care. So, now it's time to care.

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WATSON: That is "News Stream." I'm Ivan Watson. But don't go anywhere because "World Sport" with Christina Macfarlane who is still celebrating

England's World Cup win, that's coming up next.

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