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World Headlines; War In Afghanistan; Family, Friends And Fans Rally Around Aretha Franklin; India's Independence Day; SpaceX Shows Off "Crew Dragon" Capsule; Top Eats. Aired 8-9a ET

Aired August 15, 2018 - 08:00   ET

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

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

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

Search and rescue in Italy a day after a deadly bridge collapse. An investigation is launched to find out how and why.

The Turkish lira rebounding slowly against the dollar after Ankara announces new tariffs on U.S. goods.

And the Catholic Church at center of an abuse scandal again. This time involving 300 so-called predator priests in Pennsylvania.

The city Genoa, Italy is observing two days of mourning as the death toll from Tuesday's bridge collapse climbs to 39. Search teams have been working

through the night and into the day digging through the rubble to look for survivors and for more victims. The police chief of Genoa tells CNN two

children are among those killed.

One of them was in a car with their parents who also died in the collapse. Barbie Nadeau joins me now live from Rome with more on the story. And

Barbie, we've been looking at this horrific footage of the aftermath of this bridge collapse in Genoa. Search and rescue teams are there working

the site. Could there still be survivors in the rubble?

BARBIE NADEAU, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, they haven't pulled out anyone alive since yesterday and they've lost all contact with any voice. For a

while they were talking to three people but they haven't had any sign of life from those three people yet.

Of course, they're going to remain optimistic. That's what in these situations, whether it's an earthquake or a situation like that, that's

what keeps the motivation alive for those search and rescue people who are exhausted and working under very dangerous situations themselves.

There's always concern that the bridge could collapse further or that pieces that are precariously stacked there could fall and they realize the

risk that they're under, but they really have looked through the cars that are visible right now. It's about those cars that are not visible that

could be underneath that heavy, heavy rubble, Kristie.

LU STOUT: Yes. Crews are dealing with these heavy slabs of concrete. It's a very, as you point out, unstable site and they're really risking a lot to

be able to find anymore survivors after this horrific disaster. And after this took place there in Genoa, are people across Italy, perhaps Rome as

well, raising concerns about bridges, about the integrity of other similar structures across the country?

NADEAU: Absolutely. There's a great concern and there has been concern for quite some time now. People warned about this bridge in Genoa and they have

warned about bridges in Sicily made by the same architect who designed this bridge that are very, very similar in structure and that are under similar

maintenance.

There are a number of bridge collapses over the last two years. There have been four smaller incidents in this country. It's been a focus to sort of

invest in infrastructure here, and people in Rome and Sicily, all across the country are a little bit nervous as they cross these bridges or drive

under them, Kristie.

LU STOUT: Absolutely. A concern they want answers. Are they getting any from Italy's new government? Has the government weighed in on this tragedy?

Has it made any pledges to improve road and highway infrastructure?

NADEAU: Well, one of their campaign promises, both the Lega and the Five Star Movement was to invest in infrastructure to avoid a situation like

this. You know, Matteo Salvini, the interior minister and the head of the Lega party was quick to blame Europe. He said that years of austerity is

what what's caused this particular lack of maintenance.

We've had all sorts of fingers being pointed. We've had all sorts of, you know, blame game going on, but I think it's going to take a long time and a

lot of investigation before they finally really realize what caused this particular bridge to collapse and what may be vulnerable areas in terms of

other bridges and structures across this country that need to be a priority right now, Kristie.

LU STOUT: Absolutely. Barbie Nadeau, reporting live for us from Tome. Thank you. And you can see just the scale of the disaster by comparing

images of the bridge before and after the collapse. Now, CNN matched up photographs from the scene today with Google Earth street view images from

the same angle. And there is another before and after sequence.

You could see a number of people with umbrellas looking up at what is left of the bridge. And another example for you, this one from a little bit

further away. The before and after pictures showed the dramatic disappearance and the rubble below.

Now, Italy's president says he wants a serious and severe examination into how this tragedy happened. Ian Firth joins me now from our London bureau.

He is a structural engineer and bridge designer. He joins us npw live. So, thank you for joining us here on the program.

[08:05:02] People need answers so, what do investigators need to look at? What do they need to examine to find out what caused this bridge to

collapse in Genoa?

IAN FIRTH, STRUCTURAL ENGINEER AND BRIDGE DESIGNER: Yes, well, it's a good question. I mean, firstly to say, this is an extremely a rare event. I

mean, thankfully. It's a sort of nightmare scenario for people like me who design bridges. And I think, you know, just to get some reassurance to

those understandably nervous traveling public, you know, this is very, very rare. Bridges don't generally do this.

But you're right, you know, what do we look at? You're going to need to go and have a look at the rubble. We're going to be looking for evidence for

what was it that caused this collapse. You know, what was the critical structural component that failed, shall we say, that triggered this

extraordinary collapse.

LU STOUT: You said bridges don't normally do this. So from what do you know about the history of this bridge in Genoa, what do you think made this

structure crumble apart?

FIRTH: Well, it's too early to speculate in detail. It will be irresponsible for me to sort of suggest any particular things, but this is

a concrete bridge. The bridge was held up by a diagonal cable-stays we call the. So, those diagonals that goes from the top of the towers down to the

bridge deck. Those were steel tendons inside a concrete sort of cladding, and I would certainly want to look very closely at the condition of those.

No doubt engineers have been doing that over the years anyway because, you know, the bridges had inspections and maintenances carried out. But that

obviously is a critical element. We understand there was work going on in the foundations and the supporting area underneath that bridge. We don't

know what the nature of that, but again, you'd want to look very closely of what they were doing.

But I think the point I'd want to make, Kristie, is that bridges of this nature need regular intervention by engineers, people like me, who have,

you know, the experience to know what to look for. And by all accounts, this bridge has had that. It's had people looking at it, maintaining the

bridge properly and responsibly over many years.

So, there are some big questions to be asked here. Again, I make the point. This is a very specific and unusual situation. This bridge is a very

unusual design. There are only two or three like it all designed by the same guy.

LU STOUT: Got it. So there are other bridges out there that are like the bridge that collapsed in Genoa. Could there be additional disasters in the

making here?

FIRTH: No. I mean, absolutely not. I don't want to give that impression at all, but the particularities of this particular structure are very, very

unusual. Yes, there are pre-stressed concrete bridges elsewhere but they are of a different kind and more modern bridges, you know, don't have this

sort of problems that we used to see in the bridges from the 1950s and `60s.

Bridges of that era certainly receive a lot of scrutiny and a lot of ongoing inspection and maintenance from people like me. So you know, again,

reassurance to people who are traveling on the roads. You know, this does not tend to happen, because engineers around the world look after bridges

and bridge owners make sure of that not happening.

So, we need to look very closely at what particularly happened in this case. It could be a number of things, probably a combination of things. A

tragic situation which, you know, as I say, nightmare scenario for all concerned.

LU STOUT: Yes, a nightmare scenario that requires just walking through and to examine what caused the structure to collapse. Thank you for just

guiding us through the process of what investigators will be looking at, of course, using your expertise as a structure engineer as well, as someone

who has built bridges in the past. Ian Firth, we'll leave it at that. Thank you for joining us here on the program. Take care.

FIRTH: My pleasure.

LU STOUT: Turning now to the U.K. And there in the U.K. we're learning more about the man accused in the suspected terror attack outside

parliament. And here, you see the car just moments before it plowed into pedestrians and security barriers. Police say the 29-year-old suspect is a

naturalized British citizen of Sudanese descent. He has been arrested on suspicion of terrorism and attempted murder.

Now, CNN's Erin McLaughlin joins us now from London with more on the story. And Erin, you've been getting more information about the suspect. We know

that he has been questioned since he was detained yesterday. How are investigators getting to the "why" -- why he did this?

ERIN MCLAUGHLIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, that is the critical question at this point, Kristie. Authorities have been able to piece together just how

it happened. They say they're now able to confirm the suspect's identity although they're not naming him other than to say that he's a 29-year-old

British citizen from Sudan.

But the question is, why? Why did he do this? And authorities are appealing to the public for more information about the Ford Fiesta. The silver car

that was apparently weaponized in this suspected terror attack.

[08:10:00] And they're tracing its whereabouts in the hours leading up to this incident. We know that it was driven from Birmingham, which is about

2.5 hours outside of London -- to London, in the evening before the incident took place, arriving just after midnight, and then it was seen

driving around the Westminster area at around 6:00 in the morning.

Driving around for about an hour and a half before plowing into that group of pedestrians as well as cyclists, injuring two individuals who have now

been discharged from the hospital, and then finally hitting that security barrier.

But key questions remain, why this suspects was driving around in the area for a prolonged period of time at that point in the day and why did he plow

the car into a security barrier that is sensibly (ph) designed to withstand that kind of impact. All questions currently at the heard of this

investigation now, Kristie.

LU STOUT: A day after yet another vehicular attack there in London, is it business as usual there?

MCLAUGHLIN: At the moment it is. Authorities have removed the security cordons around parliament though they say they have maintained an increased

police presence in that area. They've actually deployed specialized police officers who are able to detect facial recognition detection to be able to

tell if someone's in the area for the purposes of criminal purposes or terror purposes.

They have specialized officers there now. Other than that, the terror threat level here in the United Kingdom remains at severe. Authorities are

saying they are concerned about the overall situation here in the United Kingdom. Downing Street releasing figures just yesterday saying that there

were 676 live ongoing terror investigations occurring now in the United Kingdom as of June.

That number is up from March when there were more than 500 investigations ongoing. So terror is seen as a persistent threat throughout the United

Kingdom and people here, authorities here, are on alert.

LU STOUT: Okay. Erin McLaughlin, reporting live for us from CNN London. Thank you.

Two high-ranking military officers have been detained in an investigation into the alleged drone attack against Venezuela's president earlier the

month. Venezuela's attorney general says the two men appeared in court Monday. He said authorities have issued arrest warrants for 27 people

charged with taking part in an apparent assassination attempt. Video released at the time showed the President Nicolas Maduro reacting to an

explosion not far from where he was speaking. He was not harmed. And extreme hardship in Venezuela is fuelling a mass exodus. In fact, the

United Nations now says millions have fled for neighboring countries.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

STEPHANE DUJARRIC, UNITED NATION SPOKESMAN: Our humanitarian colleagues tell us that as of June 2018, an estimated 2.3 million Venezuelans out of

the 32.8 million people who live there have fled the country mainly to Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Brazil. People cite lack of food as the main

reason for fleeing.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LU STOUT: Lack of food, that's the main reason being cited as they flee. We know that food shortages can be a daily struggle for the average

Venezuelan. Around 80 percent of households are reported to be food insecure. And some 300,000 children are said to be at-risk of dying from

malnutrition.

Turkey is launching tit-for-tat tariffs against the United States after Washington doubled tariffs on Turkish steel and aluminum. Now the two

countries, they have been locked in a diplomatic rile for Turkey's continued jailing of an American pastor. And although his country has been

in a financial crisis for some time, President Erdogan is trying to put the blame on the U.S. for Turkey's economic problems.

Its currency, the lira, is currently up against the dollar and although it has taken a beating this year it is down over 45 percent since the start of

this year. Now, on Turkey's list of everyday goods, it is targeting in these new sanctions against the U.S. You have cars, tobacco and alcohol,

rice, paper and plastics as well as cosmetics. All that on the list.

Now, CNN's John Defterios joins us now live from Istanbul. And John, while Erdogan is certainly turning up the heat on the U.S. with these sanctions,

we got the Turkish lira giving a little bit of a rally. So, what's going on here?

JOHN DEFTERIOS, CNN EMERGING MARKETS EDITOR: Well, we have a confrontation between two very strong personalities in President Erdogan and President

Trump and these tit-for-tat tariffs. The lira rally was linked directly to bank board intervention here in Turkey to prevent short selling of the

lira. So, it's a stop gap measure but not a solution.

But as we have found out with the U.S.-China tariffs, there's no win-win here, Kristie. This is a reality. You talked about five core products here,

that's 22 items overall, just over a half a billion dollars.

[08:15:04] Not big to the United States, influential here in Turkey. More pain for the average consumers who is going to be paying more on the ground

particularly with the recent fall of the lira. We talked to one communications executive here on the ground and (inaudible) to got her

thoughts on this clash of the two personalities between the U.S. and Turkey. Let's take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): I am thinking the dollar rises because this country has not been governed. The economy is managed badly.

Because of that, the dollar rises.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): I think Turkish government does not know about economy because there are not real economists within the

government. The administration is based on family relations.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

DEFTERIOS: So an administration based on family relations, making reference to the finance minister and son-in-law of the president who's

following his economic policy. Just to give you a sense, Kristie, of what it's like on the ground. On the news bulletins across the board, they're

always watching this level of six Turkish lira to the dollar. It's hovering just above that level right now with that gain of about three percent.

We hit a low on Monday at 7.21, but everyone talks about it from the hotels to the coffee vendor on the street. So they'd like to see the recovery. The

government suggested today that the recovery can continue, but no major measures like interest rate rises or emergency measures outside of this

limiting of the trading of lira by investors to drive it down. Nothing drastic on the ground here to make that recovery happen.

LU STOUT: Yes, and then we have this additional event that occurred earlier today that jailed American pastor Andrew Brunson, his appeal to be

released has been rejected. So what does that mean for Turkey, its bout wit U.S. and the currency crisis going forward?

DEFTERIOS: Unfortunately, Andrew Brunson is (inaudible) of the challenge we have, the frosting of relations between the U.S. and Turkey right now.

His attorney told us he may seek appeal within 15 to 20 days but he is hoping for a breakthrough in between then. But overnight from Washington,

the National Security adviser, John Bolton after meeting with the Turkish ambassador earlier in the week said, this is a red line for us. He has to

be released.

But as you know, President Erdogan has at least a few items he'd like to bargain for. One is the extradition of Fethullah Gulen, the Islamic cleric

based in Pennsylvania, which President Trump hasn't considered. So you can see this push and pull, and right now it is the Turkish economy stuck.

They still have this high current account deficit, rising inflation and the pressure on the Turkish people here in Istanbul and other cities right

across the country. This is the reality, but right now President Erdogan is willing to go bull for blow with President Trump and it's a David versus

Goliath story.

LU STOUT: Yes, and it continues. The pressure is certainly on. John Defterios, reporting live for us from Istanbul. Thank you.

You're watching "News Stream." And still to come on the program, shocking allegations of sexual abuse over 70 years by Catholic priests in

Pennsylvania. How the Vatican is responding.

Plus, U.S. President Donald Trump is once again on the defensive over the issue of race as his war of words to the former aide escalates.

[08:20:00] (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LU STOUT: All right. Coming to you live from Hong Kong, welcome back. This is "News Stream."

Now, to the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. A stunning and frankly disturbing new report reveals widespread sexual abuse among clergy there and it goes

back more than 70 years. More than 300 priests from six Catholic dioceses have incredibly accused by a grand jury of sexually abusing more than 1,000

child victims.

Now, the state's attorney general wants changes to current laws. CNN's Jean Casarez joins me now to discuss this. And Jean, you've read through the

report. It is scathing. It has some deeply disturbing details. What does that reveal?

JEAN CASAREZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, it reveals much and a lot of it is redacted, but the attorney general's office is actually going to the

Supreme Court of Pennsylvania next month to say we want it all public. But it is a massive 884-page report that took two years to put together.

It was written by 23 Pennsylvania grand jurors and according to officials, it is the largest, most comprehensive investigation into child sexual abuse

within the Catholic Church that has ever been produced in the United States.

Grand jurors listened to testimony from dozens of witnesses. They studied half a million pages of internal documents about alleged child sex abuse in

Pennsylvania. The report states some credible allegations were found against over 300 priests.

Over 1,000 child victims were identifiable. Pennsylvania's attorney general, Josh Shapiro, says the church used words like "horseplay" and

"wrestling" to cover up what was actually rape and sexual abuse.

The report stated most of the victims were boys, but girls were also victims. Some were teens, some were much younger. Shapiro also said that

many of the bishops and priests that covered up the abuse are currently still in the church and have been promoted to cardinals and bishops.

(BEGINV VIDEO CLIP)

JOHN SHAPIRO, PENNSYLANIA ATTORNEY GENERAL: They wanted to cover up the cover-up. They sought to do the same thing that senior church leaders in

the diocese we investigated have done for decades. Bury the sexual abuse by priests upon children and cover it up forever.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CASAREZ: Grand jurors have recommended changes to Pennsylvania's laws and one of the most notable, being to eliminate statute of limitations for

sexual abuse of children. Now, two of the priest's outlines in the reports can still be prosecuted, but the others can not because of the cover-up

it's been so long the statute of limitations has run. But they do say the investigation is continuing.

You know, it's too graphic to describe what's in this report, but one thing they do say, they describe a priest who actually had many allegations

against him. He quit the priesthood actually to get married, but he asked on his way out if he could get a letter of recommendation to work at Disney

World. And the report states he got that recommendation and he worked at Disney World for the next 18 years.

LU STOUT: Jean, it is a catalog of horrors in this report. May there be justice for the victims. Thank you so much for reporting on it. Jean

Casarez, reporting live for us from New York. Jean, thank you.

CASAREZ: Thank you.

LU STOUT: Now in China, sex abuse allegations have led to the resignation of the country's highest ranking Buddhist monk. Last month, two longtime

colleagues of Shi Xuecheng submitted to the authorities a 95-page document accusing him of sexually assaulting and harassing multiple nuns. Xuecheng

denies the claims.

U.S. President Donald Trump will be out of the spotlight today with no public events on his schedule as his aides find themselves in a familiar

spot. Trying to contain a controversy involving their boss and race. Abby Phillip has more.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ABBY PHILLIP, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The White House taking on allegations of racism against President Trump. White House press

secretary Sarah Sanders unable to categorically deny the president has ever used the "N" word despite a direct denial from the president on twitter.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SARAH SANDERS, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: I can't guarantee anything but I can tell you that the president addressed this question directly. I can

tell you that I've never heard it.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Just to be clear, you can't guarantee it?

SANDERS: Look, I haven't been in every single room.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIP (voice-over): Former senior White House aide Omarosa Manigault- Newman claiming that she heard a recording of Mr. Trump using the racial slur during a taping of "The Apprentice."

[08:25:05] Omarosa says it isn't in her book because she heard it after it was written. Omarosa alleges that she discussed its existence in a 2016

conference call with former campaign aides Jason Miller, Lynne Patton and Katrina Pierson. Pierson initially denying the conversation took place.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

KATRINA PIERSON, FORMER TRUMP CAMPAIGN SPOKESPERSON: That did not happen. It sounds like she's writing a script for a movie.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIP (voice-over): Just hours later, Omarosa releasing a recording of the call.

(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)

LYNNE PATTON, ADMINISTRATOR, DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT: I said, Well, sir, can you think of any time that this might have happened?

And he said, "No."

OMAROSA MANIGAULT-NEWMAN, FORMER TRUMP SENIOR AIDE: Well, that's not true.

PATTON: He said, "Well, why don't you just go ahead and put it to bed?" I don't know what the scandal is.

PIERSON: He said it. He said -- No, he said it. He's embarrassed.

(END AUDIO CLIP)

PHILLIP (voice-over): Pierson now insists she was just placating Omarosa.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PIERSON: Your viewers, I'm pretty sure, have run into and individual that is the complete epitome of annoying to where you absolutely have to finally

give in, in order to get on about your day. That happened a number of times because Omarosa is a bully.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIP (voice-over): Patton also saying she never denied the conversation took place but pointing out that she was denying the group confirmed during

the call that President Trump used the "N" word.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PATTON: There were a lot of times that we talked about this tape because Omarosa was literally obsessed with it. She brought it up constantly.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIP (voice-over): The Trump campaign taking legal action against Omarosa for breaching a non-disclosure agreement she signed in 2016.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MANIGAULT-NEWMANI: I have to be very careful because as of today, Donald Trump has decided to sue me or to bring litigation against me to silence me

and to not allow me to tell my story.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIP (voice-over): This coming as President Trump intensifying his feud with Omarosa on twitter writing, "Good work by General Kelly for quickly

firing that dog." The White House fighting back against critics who say the tweet is yet another racist attack against African-Americans.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SANDERS: This has absolutely nothing to do with race. The president is an equal opportunity person that calls things like he sees it. He always

fights fire with fire.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PHILLIP: And at least one Republican senator is commenting on the President Trump's tweet and pushing back. Senator Jeff Flake, who is a

constant critic of President Trump sent out this message saying, "This kind of language is unbecoming of a president and Republicans should not be okay

with it." Meanwhile, President Trump today is going to be out of sight. He has no public events on his schedule for the second day in a row, Kristie.

LU STOUT: Abby Phillip there. And as the White House struggles with issues of diversity, it was celebrated across the U.S. last night in a series of

election wins. Minnesota could end up sending the first Somali-American to Congress. Ilhan Omar won the Democratic primary for the seat being vacated

by Congressman Keith Ellison.

If she is elected, Omar would join Michigan's Rashida Tlaib as the first Muslim women in Congress. And history in Vermont where Christine Hallquist

become the first openly transgender nominee for a major party for governor. (Inaudible) Hallquist, a former energy company executive, will square off

against the states current Republican governor in November.

The fighting in and around Ghazi, Afghanistan has reportedly ceased, but those fleeing the city are describing widespread destruction and death.

We'll discuss the humanitarian situation there with a U.N. coordinator.

[08:30:00] (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KRISTIE LU STOUT, CNN NEWS STREAM SHOW HOST: I'm Kristie Lu Stout in Hong Kong. You're watching "News Stream" and these are your world headlines.

The death toll is now 39 in the bridge collapse in Genoa, Italy. Rescuers have worked all night and into the day digging through rubble to look for

survivors. Two children are among the dead, one of them killed along with the parents. The bridge collapsed Tuesday during a torrential rainstorm.

Turkey is firing back at U.S. sanctions. The government has slapped heavy new tariffs on imports from the U.S., including alcohol, cars, and tobacco.

The Turkish president has also called for a boycott of U.S. electronics. Washington and Ankara are at odds over American pastor's continued

detention in Turkey.

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte is calling on the Chinese government to tone down its behavior in the South China Sea. Speaking from Manila, he

warned the heavily contested region could become a flashpoint. The Philippines and China have engaged in territorial disputes for decades.

Floods and landslides have killed 43 people in Kerala in Southern India. Authorities warn the death toll could rise. The area has been inundated by

heavy monsoon rains. Kerala's Cochin International Airport has suspended all flights for four days.

After days of fighting, the Afghan government claims that the Taliban has been pushed out of the outskirts of Ghazni although an activist in the

region is hearing otherwise. The Interior Ministry spokesman says life is returning to normal for the residents there.

Taliban militants stormed the city on Friday, trying to establish a strategic base with an easy access of Kabul to the north and provinces to

the south and the west.

We are beginning to see the impact of the fighting. The civilian death toll is still not quite clear. The new video is showing bodies lying in the

streets. Hospitals have been struggling to keep up wit the number of wounded.

Joining me now from Kabul is the U.N. acting Humanitarian Coordinator for Afghanistan, Dr. Rik Peeperkorn. Thank you so much for joining us here on

the program, because we need to get information on what's happening in Ghazni. First of all, is the fighting ongoing and what is known about the

human toll from the clashes there?

RIK PEEPERKORN, U.N. ACTING HUMANITARIAN COORDINATOR FOR AFGHANISTAN: Thank you very much for having me. The fighting, according to our

information, seems to have subsided in the city center, although in the outskirts, fighting is still going on.

The humanitarian toll is quite extensive, according to estimates, and these are estimates here, not confirmed. The civilian casualties range 110 to

150.

LU STOUT: Wow. And as you say, the fighting is believed to still be going on. There are reports of the roads being blocked. So, do we now have a

situation where the civilians of Ghazni, they're trapped in the city, unable to get out, and aid agencies are not able to get into the city to

help them?

PEEPERKORN: Yes. That's according to Highway Number One connecting Kabul to Ghazni. It's still unsafe to travel for a lot of civilians and aid

workers. So we need, indeed, to get to ensure that these routes -- well, that they will become safe.

I think what needs to happen now as soon as possible to save lives and reduce more (INAUDIBLE) for priority activity for (INAUDIBLE) response.

First, to extract the war wounded and dead bodies to make sure that triage, better triage can be done, and that the severely wounded can go to places

of better care.

Two, that the provincial hospital which is doing a great job, is be strengthened. Some NGOs brought in already medical supplies. The U.N. also

through the World Health Organization has been able to provide medical supplies for trauma kids, covering at least for 3,000 patients, but that

hospital needs to be strengthened. The Ministry of Public Health sent in an expert team.

Three, we need to send in foods and water as soon as possible and make sure that the power lines get restored. And fourth but not last is that if

needed to extract the vulnerable groups and thinking about pregnant women, disabled, and children when needed.

[08:35:06] LU STOUT: Medical kits, trauma kits are needed in the city. Food and water. The ability for aid organizations to go in and to extract

as you call the vulnerable. That is what's needed right now.

I wonder if we could focus in the situation with food because there are reports of food shortages. Do we have a situation with Ghazni effectively

cut off from the rest of the world? A city of 270,000 people. Could the people there run out of food if these clashes go on?

PEEPERKORN: Well, what we understand, that food is really indeed running scarce, same with water. Although there are still -- some of the shops have

opened up, what we understand too, against very high high prices. So it's really an issue. So that's why humanitarian (ph) community is trying to

organize itself.

It's organizing itself right now and making sure, have to make sure that the food supplies come in. As I said, some of the medical supplies in the

medical field, this is already happening, et cetera. We need to ensure that the roads to Ghazni get safe for aid workers and for NGOs to help the

people in Ghazni in the areas that you just described.

LU STOUT: Your teams are telling you that the fighting is still going on in Ghazni. The humanitarian need is very dire in Ghazni. Is the U.N.

calling for some sort of a truce, a temporary pause to the fighting so that the civilians can gain access to need and that medics can be able to go in

and help the vulnerable?

PEEPERKORN: Well, a truce and/or a temporary pause would be very useful and I think is being worked on. What we understand, again, at the moment

fighting specifically in the city center has subsided but still going on in the outskirts. What we really want, the humanitarian community is calling

for on all parts of conflict.

First, respect lives and the rights of civilians, to spare civilian infrastructure. Also equally important that communities in need can

actually have access to assistance and aid workers, and that aid workers and medical workers wild be protected and can have access to the people in

need.

So, part of this is -- a very small scale happening. There is a number of NGOs in Ghazni, approximately 25 in the province, and a number are active

in the city. They would like to expand that work, also with assistance from the U.N., and desperately focusing on that right now.

LU STOUT: Doctor Rik, we will leave it at that, but thank you very much indeed for the update on the situation in Ghazni, because information is

very hard to come by and also just the effort that you're putting in to help civilians caught up in these clashes. Thank you so much, sir, and take

care.

Now, the prime minister of India, Narendra Modi, is kicked off his country's 71st Independence Day with a pretty out of this world goal. We

got the details, next.

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[08:40:00] LU STOUT: All right. Welcome back. Coming to you live from Hong Kong, this is "News Stream." And there are tributes from around the

world for the Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin. The 76-year-old is said to be gravely ill and now in home hospice care. That's according to a source.

Source says close friends and family including singer Stevie Wonder have visited the legend on Tuesday. Social media has been flooded with well-

wishes and prayers from the likes of Bill Clinton, Mariah Carey, Rod Stewart, and many fans are sharing their own memories as well.

Now, the Indian prime minister, Narendra Modi, says that India will launch its first ever manned mission to space by 2022. He made that pledge in his

Independence Day address to the nation. Modi says it is a dream for the country to send a citizen to space before India celebrates 75 years as an

independent nation.

In July, the Indian Space Research Organization said it successfully tested a crew escape system technology that is of course critical for human

spaceflight.

SpaceX (INAUDIBLE) is giving us a look inside its Crew Dragon capsule and introducing the astronauts who will fly it. Now, both SpaceX and Boeing are

designing the spaceship to fly people to the International Space Station.

The aim here is to replace the retired U.S. shuttle fleet and avoid paying Russia for rides to the space station. The four NASA astronauts ready to

fly in the Crew Dragon visited the factory on Monday and crude test launches are set for next year.

Before we go, Lonely Planet is ready to give us the world's top 500 food experiences from beef brisket from Texas to dim sum in Hong Top. Topping

the list is pintxos in San Sebastian, Spain.

Season foodies (ph) will tell you it is not just their taste that makes it so great. It is also the experience of hopping from bar to bar along the

narrow streets of San Sebastian where you can try each kitchen's unique flavor. Some are absolutely classic. Others are inventive modern

interpretations.

In second place on the list is Malaysia's curry laksa. And third, sushi from Tokyo, Japan. As for our ow hometown favorite, dim sum, here in Hong

Kong, it placed number 10 on the list above Singapore's chili crab and above Beijing's peking duck.

That is it for "News Stream." I'm Kristie Lu Stout. Don't go anywhere, though. "World Sport" with Amanda Davies is next.

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[08:45:00] (WORLD SPORT)

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