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Will We See More MERS Cases This Week?; Will Nasal Strips End Triple Crown Bid?; Will Sudan Reconsider Death for Christian Woman?; Will Eric Shinseki Keep His Job?; How Will Pope Be Received in Middle East?; Pope Francis to Travel to the Middle East; Gunmen Storm Libya's Parliament; One Way Ticket to Mars?; Top Pop Five of the Week

Aired May 18, 2014 - 18:00   ET

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

MIGUEL MARQUEZ, CNN ANCHOR: You are in the CNN NEWSROOM. I'm Miguel Marquez.

This hour, we are fast forwarding to the week ahead. We'll take a look at stories you'll be talking about and hearing about this coming week.

Let's begin with our five questions for the week ahead.

Question number one: will we see more MERS cases this week? A third case of the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome confirmed in the U.S. A man in Illinois who had contact and a business meeting with an infected Indiana man has tested positive for MERS. But what makes this case worrisome, it was the first case passed on two people on U.S. soil.

CNN's senior medical correspondent Elizabeth Cohen visited the CDC for a rare look how the world's top scientists are working to combat the spread of the virus.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ELIZABETH COHEN, CNN SENIOR MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Miguel, it's going to be a big week at Centers for Disease Control. They have to finish interviewing more than 500 passengers who rode in planes with the patient in Florida who has MERS, they have to find out, are they feeling sick. Are they willing to have a blood test?

Now, I was at CDC's emergency operation center where they're handling the response.

(voice-over): On this monitor, a map displays the 34 states where the passengers live.

DR. MARTIN CETRON, CDC DIVISION OF GLOBAL MIGRATION & QUARANTINE: We are basically trying to reach everybody. We're administering a short questionnaire that you have here, making sure they're well.

COHEN (on camera): So, what kind of questions are you asking?

CETRON: Have you had a fever? That's a temperature greater than 100.4. Have you had any cough?

COHEN (voice-over): The passengers likely aren't sick. They didn't have close and prolonged contact with the MERS patient. Most at risk: family members and health care workers.

That's why this box was rushed here. It contains specimens from health care workers who came in contact with the MERS patient.

(on camera): That box of specimens arrived here at the CDC's viral disease lab. Now, we're not allowed in because this is bio-safety hazard level two and that means no visitors. But all day inside here, they worked on two MERS specimens from Florida.

So, two people fly from the Middle East to the United States and bring MERS here. And look at the response that it generates.

DR. THOMAS FRIEDEN, CDC DIRECTOR: We're all connected. A single plane flight can bring a virus or bacteria from any part of the world to any other part of the world.

COHEN: We mentioned lab specimens from Florida. So, about 20 health care workers came in contact with this gentleman in Florida who has MERS. And so, the hospital told those 20 workers, hey, stay home for 14 days in case you also have MERS.

So, for 14 days, these health care workers have had to take their temperature twice a day, they've had to keep in touch with the hospital, let them know, do they have a sore throat? Do they have a cough? Now, if these workers, if their final test is negative for MERS, they can go back to work later this week -- Miguel.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

MARQUEZ: Thank you very much, Elizabeth Cohen.

Question number two, will California Chrome get to finish his bid to become the first Triple Crown winner in 36 years? The Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner may not run in the Belmont stakes. Why? Funny thing about horse racing, every state has its own rules and California Chrome has been racing with nasal strips for better breathing.

It's perfectly legal in Kentucky and Maryland but apparently not in New York where the Belmont will be run. And because of that, California Chrome's trainer has been hinting the horse may not run next month.

Joining me now is Laura Rutledge from CBS Sports and Gene Menez, horseracing analyst for "Sports on Earth".

Gene, I'll start with you. The latest we have from the New York state officials is that racing stewards will make the decision on allowing nasal strips. But first, someone has to be -- requests that they'd be approved. What are you hearing?

GENE MENEZ, HORSE RACING ANALYST, SPORTS ON EARTH: Well, they're definitely going to at least apply for the nasal strips to be approved for the race. And we'll find out this week, or soon thereafter. You know, the connections of California Chrome might be adamant about wearing nasal strips during the race, but there's a difference between being adamant about wearing them and whether or not you're going to hold your horse out of the Triple Crown and I would find that to be hard to believe.

MARQUEZ: Yes. Well, Laura -- I mean, seriously, are the California Chrome owners really not going to run for the Triple Crown here?

LAURA RUTLEDGE, CNN SPORTS: Well, at this point, I'm not sure if it's just even they're creating some more drama around this. I mean, who isn't going to tune into the race now? We've got to see what California Chrome does.

And I think this nasal strip situation has just drawn so much attention toward what's going to happen. But, you know, this horse is on the brink of history. As you said before, since 1978, nobody has done this, nobody has won the Triple Crown.

Why would they limit this horse? Why would they not let it have that opportunity? I don't know. I think they would still let it race.

But I also think the New York gaming commission has to approve these nasal strips.

MARQUEZ: Interesting. I hear a prediction there.

Gene, we almost had this erupt two years ago with I'll Have Another. Didn't New York want to ban that derby and Preakness winner for the same reason?

MENEZ: They did. And New York got out of its way. I'll Have Another -- the connections of I'll Have Another were prepared to run without nasal strips before the horse had to scratch the day before the race because of injury. So, we'll see.

This, you know, as Laura said, too many people with too much at stake for this horse not to run. You're talking about the New York Racing Association. They've increased the purse of the Belmont for $1.5 million. This is the signature race on an improved race day card. They could have 150,000 people there on race day.

Of course, the connections of California Chrome going for the first Triple Crown since 1978, there are a lot of people who need this horse to race at the Belmont.

MARQUEZ: All right. Laura, California Chrome on a six-race winning streak with the strips. Can he win a race that long especially without them?

RUTLEDGE: Well, I want to know where my nasal strips are, because if they helped California Chrome this much, I want to try them, too. But in all seriousness, I do think that people forget, horses have personalities. They have things that they like to do.

And for whatever reason, California Chrome, as well as we mentioned, I'll Have Another in 2012, they like the feeling of having these nasal strips on. Basically, what they do is what nasal strip dozen for people, open the nasal passages. So, it allows him to get more air as he's racing. You know, I say that it really does have a lot to do with what he's been able to do. Horses, like people, we have our things we like. We have our superstitions and random things that we do, and I think I'm going to try nasal strips next time I get a chance.

MARQUEZ: All right. Gene, Laura, if we do this again, we're all going to wear nasal strips and see how to that goes. Thank you very much and may the fastest horse win. Thank you.

RUTLEDGE: Thanks.

MENEZ: Thank you.

MARQUEZ: Question three, will the government of Sudan change its mind and choose not to execute a woman for sticking to her Christian faith? The country's highest court last week sentenced the woman to death for the crime of refusing to denounce her religion. The law in Sudan is Sharia law, which forbids mixed faith marriages.

The woman who is pregnant was ordered to convert to Islam. She said no. Her husband feels powerless.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DANIEL WANI, CONVICTED WOMAN'S HUSBAND (through translator): Considering I'm an American citizen, I'm disappointed with the American embassy's position from the beginning of the whole case. At the start of the issue, I reported but they didn't take much interest, particularly the consul. They said they didn't have time. In fact, last time they said they didn't care much about the case. They came late. They intervened when they saw the issue was getting press attention. But the intervention was late.

MUHAMMAD AL-NOUR (through translator): Of course, from the 11th, the conviction to Thursday, there was great pressure. Pressure on Mariam, pressure on her defense team. There were calls saying that she must be returned, threats that they were missionary groups saying if she not returned, you will pay the price -- I mean, direct threats.

From our point of view, we're proud of our Islam, proud to be Muslims and defend Christians which is the utmost show of reconciliation between Islam and Christianity. We're in this until the end and nothing will stop us from helping Mariam and we're proud to be representing her. Far from any discrimination between Islam and Christianity, we will continue with the case until the end.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MARQUEZ: Question number four, is veterans affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki going to lose his job this week? Opinions were divided on CNN's "STATE OF THE UNION" earlier today. The question was posed by our own Candy Crowley.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CANDY CROWLEY, "STATE OF THE UNION" HOST: Should Shinseki resign, yes or no?

ANITA DUNN: Yes.

CROWLEY: You can't do that, right? How did he do on Capitol Hill?

DUNN: Not good.

CROWLEY: There you go.

DUNN: He's going to make that decision with the president. What is true is that people need -- you know, this administration needs to deal with this and need to just not send management there but they need to address the real problems of those backlogs, and quickly.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MARQUEZ: Now, another V.A. physician says firing Shinseki isn't the answer and he should be kept on the job help fix the problems.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DR. SAMUEL FOOTE, RETIRED VA PHYSICIAN: If we switched the secretaries, then the focus will be away from fixing the problem to who's the new secretary going to be, and then he'll have a three, six, nine-month grace period because he's a new guy. I think our best bet at this point is to keep the secretary on board, but I think the president needs to keep him on a pretty short leash and be sure that he's doing his job.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MARQUEZ: Now, question number five, how will Pope Francis be received on his visit to the Holy Land? The pope is set to leave Saturday on a trip to Jordan, Israel, and the Palestinian territories. Christians are very small minority in this part of the Middle East. "The Boston Globe" reports the post invited two friends, a Jewish rabbi and a Muslim, to be part of his delegation.

Our senior Vatican analyst John Allen says officials are very worried about the pope's safety on this trip.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOHN ALLEN, CNN SR. VATICAN ANALYST: Pope Francis leaves next Saturday on a brief, but very intense three-day visit to Jordan, Israel, and the Palestinian territories -- what Catholics traditionally call the Holy Land. And every time a pope goes to that corner of the world, it's sort of a religious and spiritual and political high wire act. He's going to be trying to give a shot in the arm to the beleaguered Christian minority there. He's going to be trying to improve relations with both Muslims and Jews and trying to move the ball on peace between the Israelis and the Palestinians. Now, the other piece of the puzzle with this very free-wheeling and spontaneous pope is security concerns. You know, there is real concern, both from the Vatican side and also on the side of the local officials and the places Francis is going to be, about how to keep him safe when you've got a pope who notoriously will leave his security personnel in the dust when he sees a baby off in the distance he wants to kiss or a disabled person he wants to embrace. So, there is, I can tell you, we are being told that there is real intense consultation going on right now about how to keep the pope safe.

But at the same time, I can also tell you that officials in the three places he's going to be, that is Jordan, Palestinian territories and Israel, they are incredibly committed to the idea that they do not want any embarrassment while the pope is on their soil. So, you can bet your bottom dollar that whatever it takes to keep this pope out of the firing line is what these people are going to do.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MARQUEZ: Always sensible and on it John Allen -- thank you very much.

Just last hour, we learned about a potentially huge business deal, one that could affect not just how you watch TV but also how much you pay for it.

Also another massive deal, Apple was ready to spend big bucks for a company linked to one the biggest names in hip-hop. Could they seal the deal this week?

Stay with our fast forward look at the week ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

MARQUEZ: A huge announcement today from AT&T and DirecTV. The boards of both companies finalized a deal to merge the telecom giant, a deal that has to be approved by federal regulators. If it's finalized, it will be worth around 50 billion bucks. Under terms of the agreement, AT&T will acquire DirecTV in a stock and cash deal, set at $95 a share. It would create a company with unique capabilities in mobile, video, broadband services.

Now, joining me to talk is Heritage Foundation chief economist, Stephen Moore.

Stephen, let's get right to what consumers of these companies want to know. How it's going to affect them?

STEPHEN MOORE, HERITAGE FOUNDATION: Well, you know, it's interesting, Miguel, because a few days ago the rumors of the merger started to surface, so for the last couple of days the Internet has just been abuzz with angst by customers of DirecTV saying they're not so sure that they want to be customers now of AT&T. You know, there's this kind of angst that AT&T's not customer-friendly and so on.

There is this kind of fear among scores of people who are the customers of DirecTV. But, look, I actually think this is a really interesting merger. For one interesting reason, Miguel, how are more and more Americans getting their TV? They're getting it on this, right? On their cell phone.

And when you think about it, what we've got here is a merger between one of the major telephone companies, right, and a major producer, satellite company, that provides TV feed. So I think that's going to accelerate this trend where the telephone becomes a TV.

MARQUEZ: Yes, except people feel in their bones there might be something wrong with the trend in the industry. I mean, you're a free marketeer guy. With the Time Warner-Comcast deal, and now AT&T and DirecTV, is there a concern here about too much power especially in the media concentrated in too few hands?

MOORE: Great question, Miguel. There is going to be a super scrutiny by federal regulators in terms of antitrust provisions and so on. I, myself, am not concerned about it. I mean, one area that's the Wild West in terms of an industry is the communications and telecommunications. I mea, you have literally hundreds of companies now providing Internet service, providing TV, that are providing telecommunications.

You know, think about YouTube, think about Netflix. I mean, those are just two giant companies that are invading this industry. So, I don't think that we have to worry about too much consolidation. In fact, I think that they're going to be hundreds of companies competing to keep prices low and in fact, if you look at what's happening at internet prices and so on, they've been falling, not rising.

MARQUEZ: Yes. And Joe consumer, Josefina consumer, they want fast Internet service. It's extraordinarily expensive to do. So you need large companies. But at same time, you have a few companies controlling that pipeline, that band with pipeline. I mean, isn't that a concern for the industry, for consumers, for the country?

MOORE: It may be but, again, I don't have that concern. I mean, look, I think you can have so much competition, if you don't want to get your TV from satellite, which is what DirecTV is, you can get it from cable, you can get it from regular networks and so on. I think there is a lot of competition in the field. And I think this kind of merger, look, I'm not an expert, but I think this is what we call vertical integration, where you now have the telephone company merging with the TV company to create a kind of cheaper product potentially for Americans as they move towards these mobile devices getting their TV and video.

MARQUEZ: It's fascinating to watch this change so quickly.

MOORE: But, you know, the problem, Miguel, is that the regulators in an industry like this, that is so fast-changing, they're always behind the curve. I'm not sure they're able to keep up with this industry.

MARQUEZ: We certainly feel that.

Stephen Moore, thank you very much for sage advice as always.

MOORE: Thank you. Take care.

MARQUEZ: Besides the likely waves, the AT&T/DirecTV merger will create, what other big news can we expect this week on Wall Street?

Here's CNN's Alison Kosik.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ALISON KOSIK, CNN BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Miguel.

We're keeping a close eye this week on the possible Apple and Beats deal. There were reports earlier this month that Apple was in talks to buy the high-end headphone company for $3 billion. Now, there's talk that it could be finalized this coming week. If does go through, it would be apple's biggest acquisition ever and departure for the company that's known for creating its own products, not buying them from others.

It's also a big week for housing. We get reports on new and existing home sales. Investors will be looking closely to see if the spring selling season is getting off to a good start. Housing had been leading the economic recovery but lately, other reports have shown a bit of a slowdown.

And, finally, it's that time of year when business leaders from all across the country descend on college campuses to share words of wisdom with graduates. This week, Federal Reserve chief Janet Yellen will deliver the commencement speech to New York University grads. Even though Yellen likely won't be giving any insights on monetary policy, the business world will be watching to see what advice or inspiration she has to share.

Miguel, that's what's coming up in business news.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

MARQUEZ: What will it take to bring home the girls stolen from their school in Nigeria? We're live from Nigeria ahead to see what this week could bring in the fight against Boko Haram. And the 9/11 memorial sharply divided some people. It has its share of critics but this week, the public will get to decide whether it's a fitting tribute to those who died in that terrible attack on America.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

MARQUEZ: The desperate hunt for hundreds of kidnapped girls in Africa is growing both in size and scope. In Paris this week, African leaders cemented a plan for all the countries surrounding Nigeria to share intelligence and border surveillance. They not only want to find the girls, hopefully safe, they're cracking down hard on groups that claim to have them.

CNN's Zain Asher is in Abuja, capital of Nigeria right now.

Zain, how big a deal is this new cooperation, and what are people there on the ground saying about it? ZAIN ASHER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: And, Miguel, the summit was about Nigeria working its neighboring countries to prevent the spread of Boko Haram. So, you mentioned more surveillance at the borders. You mentioned more intelligence sharing between bordering countries.

But, you know, when you talk to people on the ground, they feel it's one thing for west African leaders to say all of this at a well- publicized summit, that cameras are rolling, but it's another thing to implement the measures. I actually spent the day at a church in Abuja talking to people, and they tell me that they've lost faith in the Nigerian government because all they've gotten about a rescue operation or a possible rescue mission is really just scant information. It's all they have to rely on at this point is their prayers.

I've been talking to teachers in the northern part of Nigeria, just to figure out what they've been going through all this time.

One teacher, one principal at an elementary school, in Maiduguri, which is in the same state where those girls were taken, frankly tells me that some of his peers are the teachers at nearby schools have actually been shot in front of their students. He's afraid to continue teaching. He tells me the only reason he continues teaching, continues going to school is because he believes education is the only thing that is going to break the cycle of poverty which he believes is the root cause of terrorism and extremism -- Miguel.

MARQUEZ: It is amazing to see people operating in these conditions. We also understand that one of the big challenges to the mission is that the Nigerian government is filled with Boko Haram spies. Do we know anything? Does that sound right to you?

ASHER: Well, you know, I've been talking to Nigerian government officials, they tell me they have acknowledged that problem. They're investigating it. But there has long reports that Boko Haram spies have basically infiltrated the Nigerian government and the Nigerian military.

So, here's the problem, people are asking, you know, how does Boko Haram get their funding, where do they get their weapons from, where do they get their arms from, why are their attacks so well- coordinated? And also, in some attack, Boko Haram soldiers basically show up wearing Nigerian military uniforms. So, obviously poses a major challenge when it comes to intelligence-sharing, but also when it comes to carrying a covert rescue mission when you're not really sure if there are informants in your team and who to trust -- Miguel.

MARQUEZ: Oh, Zain Asher, thank you very much for staying up for us. So, we hope you have good news to report soon. Thank you.

In just three days, the National September 11th Memorial Museum officially opens to the public.

Our Kate Bolduan got a sneak peek into the museum that documents the day that forever changed America.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

KATE BOLDUAN, CNN ANCHOR: This is unbelievable.

JOE DANIELS, PRES., NATIONAL SEPTEMBER 12 MEMORIAL MUSEUM: This is the front of this fire truck. This is the cab.

BOLDUAN: You wouldn't know.

DANIELS: Wouldn't know. It's completely burned out and destroyed.

BOLDUAN (voice-over): And likely, one of the most emotional stops in the museum. This art installation mimics the blue sky on that fateful morning. Behind it, the still unidentified remains of 9/11 victims. The move, met with mixed emotion from their families.

DANIELS: That a still shocking statistic is that 1,100 family members never got any human remains back to bury, never got go through the ritual of laying their loved ones to rest. It's not a public space at all. Only family members are allowed back behind the wall.

BOLDUAN: Throughout the museum, chilling reminders of the day, handmade flyers for the missing, a cross emerging from the wreckage. Every day items simply left behind.

DANIELS: We helped through these artifacts and images tell that story of just -- it was panic, people were getting out as fast as they could.

BOLDUAN (on camera): It seems very appropriate that you end here at the last column.

DANIELS: And it's, again, goes right back to resiliency, seeing messages of hope and remembrance on this very tall column that's still standing strong.

BOLDUAN: Survivors, family members, first responders and recovery workers, the museum will be opened 24 hours a day for them the next few days to allow them to have a first look on their own time. It opens to general public mid next week. You may be surprised which aspect of the museum really hits you hardest. It's a raw look and a raw experience.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

MARQUEZ: Pope Francis is not shy about mingling with the adoring crowds when he's out in public. It's making some people very, very nervous about a trip he'll take this week to one of the most turbulent regions in the world.

And then, would you like to go to Mars? What if I told you, you can go, but you won't be coming back. Ahead, hear from six people who are planning to take that one-way trip.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

MARQUEZ: Live from tomorrow, just after 1:30 in the morning, looking at a picture of Jerusalem's Western Wall, this week Pope Francis is paying a visit to the Middle East. A huge trip for the Vatican leader who has inspired Catholics around the world. All eyes will be on the Pope during this visit this week. He'll reach out to the small Christian minority there and visit key sites in the holy land.

The 77-year-old pontiff is planning to hold several masses and meet with leaders of Jewish and Muslim faiths. Officials are worried about the Pope's safety as he travels through parts of Jordan, Israel, and the Palestinian territories.

With me now, CNN religion commentator, Father Edward Beck.

Father, Pope Francis is known for popping out of the Popemobile, kissing babies, doing just about anything he wants. Good idea in the Middle East?

REV. EDWARD BECK, CNN RELIGION COMMENTATOR: Well, we've also heard he is going to shun the bullet proof limousine. He's already said no to that.

MARQUEZ: Really?

BECK: Yes. So it's not going to be a bulletproof car. He wants a little car. He is going to use, they're saying, unless he can be dissuaded of this, the open air Popemobile? And we know he likes to walk -- away from security detail and wade into the crowds. So the security detail is going to have to really be on their game because you know it's a tinder box there and there's so many controversial issues right now.

MARQUEZ: I mean, do you have personal concerns about it? You've seen him in several situations, both in Rome. I mean, he goes -- I mean, look, this is a guy that if you wanted to target him, it would be pretty easy to do. He's our in Rome all the way, at the Vatican, certainly in Rio he was kissing every baby. People running up alongside the Popemobile.

BECK: Yes.

MARQUEZ: I mean, is this -- I mean, are you personally concerned?

BECK: I'm concerned, but, Miguel, I don't think he really cares. I mean, if he goes out a martyr, he goes out a martyr. His real concern is that he be accessible to people and they be able to be accessible to him. And so I think he's willing to take the dangerous path in order for that to happen. He's not going to be isolated and protected because he doesn't think that's what a pastor does. This is a pastor.

MARQUEZ: Right. He will be meeting with Muslims in the area. How do you suspect those meetings will go? How will he be received not just by the people he's meeting with but by the street?

BECK: Well, it's a real troika of controversy. Because he's meeting with the Muslim leader at the temple mount, or the noble sanctuary as the Muslims like to call it. But he's also meeting with orthodox Christians, the head of the orthodox church, and he's meeting with Jewish leaders. Now all three are problematic.

I'll give you one example. So the Cenacle which is the place of the Last Supper, where Jesus had the last supper reportedly, it's now controlled by orthodox Jews, so they don't allow the Christians to pray at the Cenacle anymore. So the Pope, of course, wants to have mass there. That's where Jesus had the last supper. All kinds of protests about him having mass there. They don't even allow Christian prayer there. He's going to have mass there. But it's controversial.

There's all kind -- he's going to visit the Palestinian refugee camp in the West Bank. Now there's a big wall that they put up, as you know, separating the West Bank, the occupied territory, from Israel, the rest of Jerusalem. Some are saying, if Pope Francis really wants to be prophetic he should stand at the wall and say, Mr. Netanyahu, take down this wall. Will he do that? Probably not.

But, I mean, it's a real source of division, so the divisions are between Christian factions there and Jewish factions and Muslim factions.

MARQUEZ: It may be a dumb question, but I'm expert at them, why is it so difficult for a Pope to go to the holy land?

BECK: It's difficult because the tension, when the break came in what was it? 1054, between the east and the western church, it was about the papacy. That's why we had the split, the great schism. And so now for those two leaders to come together it's two religious traditions with all of this history of animosity, saying can we get along? Have you been in the Holy Sepulchre church?

MARQUEZ: Yes, I have.

BECK: OK. So you know six denominations dominate in that church.

MARQUEZ: Yes.

BECK: They fight with each other. I saw two priests go at with fists. In the Holy Sepulchre. So what kind of witness is this? They have to give the Muslim family the key to the church to lock and unlock it because they can't trust any of the Christian denominations to do it.

MARQUEZ: You know, I wasn't really focused on this trip, but now after this discussion this is going to be really interesting.

BECK: I think it is going to be.

MARQUEZ: Father Edward Beck, thank you very much.

BECK: Thank you, Miguel.

MARQUEZ: Would you be willing to leave friends and family to walk on the surface of another planet? What if I told you you would not be coming back? Would you do it? You'll find out ahead.

And then in Libya, is it teetering on the edge of becoming a failed state? Gunmen running wild in the streets and posing a threat to lawmakers. We'll have a live report about what could happen in Tripoli this week.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

MARQUEZ: Right now a fresh wave of deadly attacks erupting in Libya. Hours ago gunmen stormed Libya's parliament in Tripoli after lawmakers had ended their session and left the building.

Two militia groups claim responsibility for the attack, witnesses say violence is spreading across Tripoli and appears to be some of the worst since the 2011 revolution that ousted Moammar Gadhafi. Two people were killed today and dozens injured. Four rockets reportedly slammed into a Libyan TV station. This comes as a retired general vows that his self-declared Libyan national army will keep attacking Islamist fighters in the city of Benghazi.

Right now the U.S. ambassador to Libya, Deborah Jones, is out of the country on a preplanned leave.

Let's go live to Tripoli. Joining me on the phone is CNN producer and reporter, Jomana Karadsheh.

Jomana, you visited the U.S. embassy in Tripoli many times. Is it safe for the ambassador to return to the embassy now or still too risky?

JOMANA KARADSHEH, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Miguel, the embassy in Tripoli is one of the most fortified places I've seen here. It actually reminded me of a place we both know. Baghdad's green zone, with black walls and a sizable Marine contingent in addition to our security personnel protecting it. It's on the outskirts of Tripoli.

Now while the situation here is very fluid and unpredictable, before this recent fighting erupted we have seen the U.S. ambassador, Deborah Jones, very active here in Tripoli. Frequently out and about, and she's meeting with Libyans from all walks of life but usually in situations like this, as you know, diplomatic missions do restrict movement and an embassy official I spoke to earlier today said that everyone is fine and so far, there did not appear to be any plans to evacuate.

MARQUEZ: And what is your sense of things, Jomana? You have been there so long and done so much good work there. Are things sliding into general chaos or is this sort of a one-off situation? And are they moving in the right direction?

KARADSHEH: Miguel, this is a very dangerous situation, especially what we're seeing happening here today in Tripoli, which seems to be a parallel move to what's happened in Benghazi over this weekend. These are different forces, militia forces, that are saying that they are going to now stand up and fight Islamist forces that seem to have gained more and more power and influence in Libya over the past couple of days. So both these groups in Tripoli and Benghazi, we're not sure how much coordination there is between both. They're saying this is it. They are going to stand up, they are going to fight, and they have started what they call as a battle to purge Benghazi of extremist forces and here in Tripoli, they want to overthrow the country's parliament that they say is controlled by Islamists.

It's a very dangerous situation, Miguel, with both sides here, two political camps, liberal and Islamists, both backed by militias that are armed to the teeth, and this could be a very ugly scenario.

MARQUEZ: All right, Jomana Karadsheh, for us in Tripoli, thank you very much. Keep yourself safe.

Ever wanted to see a UFO? Morgan Spurlock is heading to a place where they might not see one but they could hear it. In this week, the wedding of the century, or the year at least, about to happen in Europe with the upper cross from the world of hip-hop in attendance. That made our "Pop 5" list ahead. Part of your fast forward look at the week ahead.

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MARQUEZ: And now for the way, way forward, giving you a major heads up about something coming up not this week or next week, but soon enough to start thinking about it.

So who hasn't dreamed about be an astronaut? 705 people are applying for a shot to be the first humans to visit Mars, but -- there's always a but. And that but is namely, they won't be coming back. 200,000 people applied for the mission. Its sponsored by Mars I, a nonprofit that aims to blast off in a decade.

CNN's Jason Carroll talked to six people about that one-way ticket to Mars.

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JASON CARROLL, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Forever is a very long time. And I'm wondering if psychologically you have really thought about the idea of possibly being there for the rest of your life.

GREG SACHS, CEO, EMPOWER SOLAR: I, for one, personally would like to come back. I'm cautious about leaving that I have behind here altogether for the rest of my life.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: People are going to be put under pressure, we're going to be put into teams, we're going to have to learn -- we're going be in isolated areas of training several months a year, you know, for the next seven years. We're going to find out whether or not we can tolerate it before we ever go. And so I think that's important to realize is, you know, we're not just picking someone off the street and sending them tomorrow.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: As for the fact that it's a one-way trip, I feel like I mean I could die today getting hit by a car or I could do something amazing with my life.

CARROLL: We do already know some of the -- some of challenges, problems, challenges you're going to face, extracting water, you know, you've got this idea of, you know, very powerful storms, windstorms, radiation. I mean there are some of the things that we know already are going to be some challenge, no?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: By the time the humans get sent for the Mars One settlement, we will have tested out a lot of things and we'll have habitats waiting if we don't have the oxygen and the water and everything else prepared and waiting, the humans aren't watched.

CARROLL: Right. Right. You all have family. And I'm wondering what conversations are you all having similar conversations with family or loved ones?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I see this not so much as turning my back on something or leaving things behind but looking forward to something else.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The friends and family seems a little less important than just being able to never go outside again. That's what would be the biggest hardship for me, never feeling the sun or the wind on your skin ever again.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm torn. You know I do not know if I have what it will take to turn my back on my family. But this is the only thing, you know that would make me even think about trying.

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MARQUEZ: Well, you can see the whole interview at CNN.com/tech.

Not everyone is ready to go into space in search of aliens. A lot of people are perfectly happy to keep looking from here on earth. In the new episode "INSIDE MAN" Morgan Spurlock heads to a satellite farm to help alien hunters and trying to find them.

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MORGAN SPURLOCK, CNN HOST, INSIDE MAN: Exciting, huh? A brand-new telescope. You can listen further than anything that's every heard in the history of hearing anything in space.

Maybe I should put that another way. If the strongest transmitter on earth were positioned smacked in the middle of our galaxy, this powerful telescope could still hear it even though it would be 23,000 light-years away.

So we're in the process of putting in the new receiver that is incredibly delicate. It's brand new and requires a lot of very dainty hands because it is very, very expensive and very delicate. Last thing you want is clumsy me screwing everything up. So be careful.

Incoming. Now we've got it up, it's running. Now we just have to wait for (INAUDIBLE) to phone home. (END VIDEO CLIP)

MARQUEZ: Cool, cool. You can watch the search, too. You can join the search, too, tonight on "INSIDE MAN, UFOS" at 10:00 p.m. Eastern time.

Got a date night coming up? You need to know what big movies are out this week? We have you covered. Our "Fast forward" rolls on with a look at top movies and five can't-miss events coming up this week.

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MARQUEZ: What would you do if you found out you only had 90 minutes to live? That's the premise of a new Robin Williams film "Angriest Man in Brooklyn." Mila Kunis, Peter Dinklage, love him, and James Earl Jones, also love him, also star in the movie which hits theaters Friday.

Also Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore reunite on the big screen in "Blended." A story about a blind date that goes horribly wrong. But the most highly anticipated movie, "X-Men: Days of Future Past."

Our pop culture expert and co-host of HLN's "Dr. Drew on Call," Samantha Schacher, has the details on the star-studded film in your "Pop Five."

SAMANTHA SCHACHER, HLN'S "DR. DREW ON CALL": Lots buzz-in in pop culture next week. So what should you actually tune into? Here's my "Pop Five." I've done the research so you don't have to.

Kicking it off at number five, comic book fans rejoice, the highly anticipated blockbuster, "X-Men: Days of Future Past" hits theaters this Friday and the reviews are as stellar as the cast. Hugh Jackman, Michael Fassbender, Jennifer Lawrence, Halle Berry, Ellen Page, Ian McKellen, Anna Paquin, and James McAvoy -- wow -- will be sure to captivate alongside the adrenaline rushing action-packed sequences from director Bryan Singer. And this film is really funny. I think you will all enjoy it.

Coming in at number four, Coldplay fans, the day you have all been waiting for, the sixth album, "Ghost Stories" drops Monday. Will listeners be looking for hidden messages in the song regarding his conscious uncoupling?

Coming in at number three, a really important TV movie I think no one should miss is next Sunday on HBO, 9:00 p.m., the "Normal Heart" is emotional, a raw drama based on the Mary Kremer's Tony Award-winning play that tells the story of the onset of the HIV/AIDS crisis in New York City in the early 1980s. Ryan Murphy directs as well as produces alongside Brad Pitt. Actress Mark Ruffalo, Julia Roberts, Matt Bomer, and Taylor Kitsch's performances let me tell you should surely earn them Golden Globe nominations next year.

So if you can't catch it on Sunday at 9:00 p.m., make sure you DVR it.

Coming in at number two, for all the sports fans, another double dose of playoffs both NBA and NHL. Catch the NBA East and West Conference finals on either TNT, ESPN or ABC, depending on the game, and of course round three of the Stanley Cup Playoffs on NBC 4.

The number one thing that everybody is buzzing about in pop culture next week, whether you love them, hate them, refuse to call them, Kimye, Kim Kardashian and Kanye West wedding is all over social media. Now the big event takes place on Saturday but the details are under lock and key. So according to both "Entertainment Weekly" and "People" magazine, they speculate the rehearsal dinner will take place in Paris, France, then their exclusive guests will be flown in private planes to Florence, Italy for the nuptials.

It will be intimate and not televised. And you are all wondering what will her dress look like? Who will attend? And will they stay married for longer than 72 days? I sure hope so. And we do wish them all the best.

For CNN, I'm Samantha Schacher.

MARQUEZ: Well, wedding in Florence seems pretty romantic. Thanks, Samantha.

That's your "Fast Forward" into the week ahead. I'm Miguel Marquez.