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Thousands Volunteer To Join Iraqi Army; Baby Hatches Inundated In China; Oscar Pistorius Deemed Mentally Fit; The Art of Movement: Curiosity Rover; In Brazil, Recife Residents Kicked Out Of Homes For Highway Project

Aired June 30, 2014 - 8:00   ET

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


AMARA WALKER, HOST: I'm Amara Walker at CNN Center. Welcome to News Stream where news and technology meet.

An independent panel says Oscar Pistorius was not mentally incapacitated on the night he killed his girlfriend.

And the Dutch comes from behind to knock out Mexico at the World Cup.

Also, Facebook runs an experiment to see whether it can change the emotions of its users.

A panel of doctors has found that Olympic sprinter Oscar Pistorius is mentally fit to stand trial for the murder of his girlfriend. The results

of a month long psychiatric assessment were presented as court resumed in Pretoria South Africa Monday.

The report found that Pistorius was not mentally incapacitated when he shot and killed Reeva Steenkamp. Pistorius has admitted to the shooting,

but insists he mistook Steenkamp for a burglar and has pleaded not guilty to the murder.

Now the defense has resumed its case. Kelly Phelps is in Pretoria joining me live now with the very latest.

So, Kelly, let's start with this panel's findings. What does it mean for the trial?

KELLY PHELPS, CNN LEGAL ANALYST: Well, essentially it puts the trial back into much the same position that it was before this referral process

happened. Mr. Pistorius had never really tried to rely on a defense of incapacity, but the state ordered -- or applied for the referral in order

to close the gap for him to later rely on it. And that gap has now been closed.

But with regard to the other evidence of his psychiatric expert the triggered this whole process, that still remains intact. And that will

still be relevant to the defense that he has been trying to rely on being that of mistaken belief and self-defense.

WALKER: Now the defense has continued to call witnesses to the stand. We also heard from the orthopedic surgeon of Pistorius. What kind of

testimony is the court hearing right now?

PHELPS: Well, with regard from the orthopedic surgeon, we heard about the severe impact of his disability on him, both in terms of the way he

perceives his vulnerability, but also very importantly in terms of his physical capabilities when he's faced with danger.

We finished with that witness and we've now moved on to a much anticipated witness, that being the sound expert. And if you recall, the

state placed a lot of emphasis in the case on the so-called ear witnesses who claimed to hear Ms. Steenkamp screaming. And they've really based

their entire case of intention for murder on those witnesses. And the defense is now putting forward the sound expert to cast doubt on the

reliability of their memory of what they heard and whether in fact they could have been mistaken that they thought they were hearing a woman

screaming when in fact it was Mr. Pistorius screaming himself.

WALKER: Yeah, Kelly, you know just to jog our memory, I mean, there have been so many dramatic moments in that court room just before this

hiatus. We saw the prosecutor really digging his teeth into Pistorius's testimony. We heard from neighbors with very differing accounts. We saw

those text messages that Steenkamp sent to Pistorius saying that she was afraid of him.

At this point can you say any side has the momentum?

PHELPS: No. It's very difficult to say that until the state is -- the defense, sorry, is actually concluded their case, because we know that

the state has the burden of proving their case beyond a reasonable doubt. All the defense has to do is create some reasonable doubt. And we'll

only know whether they've succeeded at that at the end of their case.

Having said that, just in terms of momentum on a day by day level, they certainly have started with momentum today with the resumption of

their case. Two very important witnesses, both very composed witnesses clearly experts in their field, the first witnesses managed to fare quite

well and remain resolute in the face of cross examination. And it will be very important to see how the sound expert fares in cross examination as

well.

WALKER: Kelly Phelps watching the trial for us as she has been from the beginning. Thank you so much. As this trial enters its final stretch.

Kelly, thank you.

Well, Hong Kong residents have had their say about democratic reform and the right to elect their own leader without Beijing's interference.

And the Occupy Central movement says nearly 800,000 support reform, that's about 22 percent of registered voters in Hong Kong.

And on Tuesday, well tens of thousands of people are expected to take part in an annual protest to voice their frustration at Beijing's

continuing influence in Hong Kong's affairs.

Lets get more now from the main organizer of that unofficial referendum, Robert Chung, joining me live from Hong Kong. He is a director

of the public opinion program at the University of Hong Kong. Robert, thank you so much for joining us.

ROBERT CHUNG, UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG: My pleasure.

WALKER: So, first of all, tell us more about this referendum and why you chose to get involved as one of the main organizers of it.

CHUNG: OK. You know, Hong Kong has been very much a free society. In terms of democracy, we are still very backward. So it's very important

for Hong Kong people's voices to be heard by some means. So myself and our team in the University of Hong Kong has been running public opinion polls

for a very long time, 23 years. But in terms of more sort of a focus expression of popular opinion, we think we need another platform, that

means we think civil referendum is the platform so we've organized it.

WALKER: So this is about making the selection of Hong Kong's chief executive more democratic. Tell us about how the process works as it

stands right now and what the people are fighting for?

CHUNG: Now for a civil referendum, we basically posed two questions, very simple questions for the people to vote. Of course we are not an

official voting office, so we just do it in a very unofficial way.

But we have very strict in terms of people's identity verification and of course you ask them to vote. And we have platforms, electronic

platforms as well as stations, physical stations. So at the end of that period, three long (ph) period, we have 800,000 people coming out to make a

voice.

So the voice of Hong Kong people is loud and clear that they want more democracy, quality democracy according to international standards.

WALKER: 800,000 voters turning out, that is the estimate, about 22 percent of the population. What kind of impact do you think this strong

public sentiment will have in Hong Kong and particularly in Beijing, because it sounds like Beijing is not open to this proposal.

CHUNG: Well, I think Beijing has been pretty nervous about the situation in Hong Kong in the past few years, especially when we have the

new chief executive in office and he seems to be a bit -- not performing too well in terms of popularity. So he's not getting the command of the

people, or perhaps not even the respect of most people.

So, Beijing is a little bit nervous when they are now talking about constitutional development in Hong Kong.

So, I think at this time for the common people in Hong Kong really to come out to tell the government of the local and the Beijing government, we

are a civic society. We are calm. We are educated and we are fit for more democracy.

So it seems that a lot of Hong Kong people has come out very peacefully and rationally in the past week or so to tell Beijing and local

government that we want democracy in a very peaceful way.

WALKER: So the underlying issue is what, the autonomy of the Hong Kongers is under threat?

CHUNG: Well, I will put it this way, Beijing after they hand over I think has been treating Hong Kong people fairly well. But you know society

and history goes forward, so we are developing, Hong Kong is developing, so is China herself, so people are expecting more because the basic promise

direct democracy for Hong Kong people actually very soon after the handover. It seems that this timetable is being delayed and delayed and

delayed.

So, I will think that this because the governments, I mean the local and the Beijing government are a bit nervous about future development. So

that is not good for Hong Kong people. Hong Kong people deserve more than they are asking what they are deserve.

WALKER: Not to mention these pro-democracy protests are also expected on this Tuesday.

I mean, are you optimistic that change may be on the way?

CHUNG: Well, I am always an optimistic person. I think Hong Kong is an agent for change for Chinese societies both in mainland and of course

Hong Kong and other local and overseas societies.

I think we, if we look at the history in the long run, then actually all Chinese societies are progress, even meaning China herself. So I think

we are doing a very good demonstration to the world and to the Chinese societies that we are doing a very good demonstration to the world and to

the Chinese societies that we could do better.

So I'm optimistic that perhaps in five or 10 years time, China will be quite like Hong Kong.

WALKER: All right, Robert Chung with the University of Hong Kong, really appreciate your perspective and good luck to you and you on your

efforts, thank you very much.

CHUNG: Well, you know, Hong Kong is a special administrative region of China. It operates under the one country, two systems principle, giving

it autonomy from the mainland.

Now the city's relationship with mainland China is sometimes strained. And some citizens worry about Beijing encroaching on Hong Kong's political

affairs.

In June, China issued a warning in a controversial white paper saying that the region does not have full autonomy. Indeed, Hong Kong's leader is

elected by a small committee and approved by Beijing.

Now Occupy Central wants Hong Kongers to have the right to directly elect their next leader, but Beijing says it'll only allow elections with

approved candidates. And officials there call the recent unofficial referendum illegal.

But by 2017, Hong Kong citizens have been promised they will be able to vote for their own leader. Here's a catch, though, only candidates

approved by Beijing will be allowed on the ballot.

Kristie Lu Stout spoke to a panel in Hong Kong about electoral reform in the region.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KRISTIE LU STOUT, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: What are the prospects for universal suffrage 2017 in Hong Kong. And will a vote take

place without Beijing screening the candidates?

ALBERT HO, ORGANIZER, OCCUPY CENTRAL MOVEMENT: That is the problem there. They can give you, you know, the right to vote, you know -- one

person, one vote, you know, but subject to a specially designed screening process. So you can only be given the choice to vote for persons

previously anointed by Beijing, OK, before you know open election.

MICHAEL DEGOLYER, DIRECTOR, HONG KONG TRANSITION PROJECT: This is why the definition of patriotism and the requirement of patriotism is so

interesting and so critical, because clearly they're saying that's the fundamental requirement. And we have to be assured that whoever is being

nominated to run is patriotic according to our definition, i.e. willing to follow orders.

DOUGLAS YOUNG, DESIGNER: Doesn't that seem reasonable? I mean, it is a country, after all. You know, you don't want riots. You don't want --

you want a reasonable degree of stability. I mean, the -- I mean, I'm not really into politics or anything, so may be I'm not an expert on this. But

what you've just asked reminded me of what my mother reminded me of yesterday, which is come have lunch with me at least once a week or else,

you know.

I mean, I'm an artist, I'm a rebel. I've been arrested by the police over some designs, you know, so I know what censorship and restriction is

all about. But I don't expect -- I mean, I expect a high degree of freedom in Hong Kong, but I don't expect it to be infinite.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WALKER: All right, turning now to the high profile phone hacking trial in the UK. And a London court has decided two defendants will face a

retrial. Former News of the World journalist Andy Coulson and Clive Goodman face charges of conspiracy to commit misconduct in a public office.

Last week, a jury was unable to reach a decision on all of the charges. Both men have plead not guilty.

Coulson has been convicted to conspiracy to hack phones.

All right, up next here on New Stream, Mexico was so close to its entry into the quarterfinals, but the Dutch pulled off a dramatic

turnaround at the very last minute. We'll bring you all the World Cup highlights.

Plus, it turns out Facebook can manipulate your mood. And it's under fire for doing just that without your consent. More on that after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WALKER: Welcome back.

It was a day of late drama at the World Cup. The Netherlands faced Mexico Sunday. Mexico struck first thanks to this stunning goal. And with

just a few minutes to go it looked like one of the favorites were going out. And then Wesley Sneijder smashed in the equalizer to keep the Dutch

in the tournament. Mexico were stunned.

But it was about to get worse. The referee awarded the Netherlands a penalty and the Dutch converted from the spot to reach the quarterfinals

and send Mexico home.

In the other match, Brian Ruiz gave Costa Rica the lead over Greece. Then they had to hang on with just 10 men after Duarte was given a second

yellow card and sent off. It allowed Greece to lay siege to the Costa Rican goal. And deep into stoppage time, well they scrambled in the

equalizer to send the match into extra time.

It went all the way to a penalty shootout. And Costa Rica's goalkeeper was the hero after that brilliant save. It allowed Costa Rica

to be sent to the quarterfinals for the first time ever.

Well, today Algeria faced Germany for the first time since 1982. And back then Algeria made their World Cup debut with the shocking 2-1 win over

mighty West Germany.

So, will history repeat itself? Let's bring in Alex Thomas who is live in Rio.

I mean, Alex, this has been a World Cup of so many surprises and so many upsets. What's on tap for this day?

ALEX THOMAS, CNN SPORTS CORRESPONDENT: Well, Amara, it really is Africa v. Europe in a clash of two matches that you'd think might go one

way, as you suggest, but because of this World Cup and all the surprises it has thrown up, it may go another.

It all kicks off on this penultimate day of round of 16 action in Brazil's capital, Brasilia, a 1:00 local kickoff France against Nigeria.

Nigeria the first African team to reach the knockout stages for the third time in a World Cup finals. But they've never got beyond that to the

quarterfinals like Ghana did four years ago. Every World Cup cycle we keep predicting a breakthrough for one of these African sides. It hasn't

happened yet.

France with eight goals in their opening two group games, but then those goals dried up against Ecuador, so which Les Blues side is going to

turn up today? We'll have to wait and see.

Later in Porto Alegre, it's the mighty Germans up against Algeria. As you mentioned, not only did Algeria shock West Germany back in 1982, they

also have a friendly win over them back in the 1960s, I believe.

So a bit of a curious 100 percent record for Algeria over Germany who normally have a winning record against all the teams they play.

So Germany and France the favorites. But don't write off one of the African teams at least pulling off some sort of upset. We've already seen

so much surprise and intrigue at this World Cup, Amara.

WALKER: You cannot write off any team at this point.

Alex, you know we've seen a lot of players praying on the pitch. We saw them on Sunday praying before the penalty shootout. Also, Ramadan

began this weekend, so how are the Muslims players handling all of this at the World Cup?

THOMAS: That's right, Ramadan started on Sunday. It lasts for 30 days, of course. And it means a complete fast, you can't even take any

water until after sunset. And we've been also seeing, haven't we, in these World Cup matches how there have been drinks breaks introduced because of

the high temperatures, the high humidity especially, so much fluid lost through an athlete's body in the pace and the frantic nature of these

matches.

So it's been very tough.

We know it's not just some of the Muslim countries like Algeria that are going to be affected by this, because there are Muslim players even on

some of the European teams like France, Switzerland and Germany as well.

Some of them have already said they're going to postpone Ramadan. It's obviously up to an individual to decide whether or not they want to

observe this religious holiday strictly, or whether they can postpone it or not.

But it's starting to become quite a sensitive topic. Let's hear what the Algeria coach said in reaction to questions about this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

VAHID HALILHODZIC, ALGERIAN NATIONAL TEAM COACH (through translator): All of this is their freedom of choice. It's a private matter. And when

you ask this question you lack respect and ethics. This is a private issue that has to do with private freedom of expression and players. And they

will do exactly as they wish. And I would like the show to stop, stop this controversy.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

THOMAS: So anger from the Algerian coach, there are questions which personally I feel are quite legitimate. No one is questioning anyone right

to observe their own religion, but there is a legitimate sporting question, isn't there, about how athletes can cope if they're fasting and not taking

water during extreme heat and extreme competitiveness of World Cup matches, Amara.

WALKER: Yeah, very interesting topic there.

Alex Thomas with the latest from Rio. Alex, thank you.

Well, you know Facebook is under fire after saying that it experimented on its users. Researchers at the company wanted to see if

Facebook could influence the emotions of its users. Now one of the researchers later said our goal was never to upset anyone.

But that was exactly what the experiment was designed to do. Facebook wanted to see whether people could be influenced by positive or negatives

posts on Facebook. So, in 2012 they manipulated the newsfeeds of almost 700,000 people and some saw more positive posts while some saw more

negative posts. The result, people who saw more positive posts were more likely to write a positive post. And people who saw more negative content

were slightly more likely to write their own negative post.

Well, of course people were understandably upset to learn that Facebook was playing with their emotions. But it's worth noting that

Facebook often tinkers with its newsfeed, changing the mix of stories users see to spark more engagement.

All right, still to come on News Stream, it's supposed to be a safe place for desperate parents to leave children they can no longer care for.

But one father is turned away and security tried to stop our Anna Coren from filming. We'll tell you why.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WALKER: One government run orphanage in China is using security to enforce new rules on people who want to anonymously give up their children.

The orphanage's baby hatch opened in June, but the facility has been overwhelmed by the number of children being left there, especially those

with disabilities and medical conditions.

CNN's Anna Coren reports from Jinan.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ANNA COREN, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: On the side of a road, an hour's drive from the nearest city, a young father is making the hardest

decision of his life. Wrapped in his arms, a baby boy with fluid on the brain, a condition that without surgery causes brain damage and can lead to

death.

The 21-year-old migrant worker wants to leave his son at a baby hatch, a drop-of center attached to an orphanage. But the staff here won't let

him.

We're allowed. We're allowed to do this. We're allowed to speak to him.

He walks away defeated and distraught.

As we begin talking to him, security intervenes.

Who are you?

The guards try to stop us filming.

Don't touch the camera. Don't touch the camera. Don't touch the camera.

As the father walks away, he breaks down in tears. Eventually he stops sobbing.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: ...with this day, there's still hope.

His home doesn't have any money. He doesn't have any money.

COREN: As the guards continue to harass us, our producer asks why he's being turned away. One of them yells, "we have rules. He's not from

the city so he can't leave his baby here."

Unable to get help, he leaves cradling his disabled son and a bag filled with baby clothes.

Since this baby hatch opened in Jinan eastern China a month ago, it's been inundated with abandoned children. According to state media, in the

first 11 days 106 children were dropped off, all of them suffering a medical condition or disability. Many of the dropoffs are happening at

night. And where a 6-year-old girl was dumped from a moving car, social media erupted increasing scrutiny of the 32 hatches operating across China.

When this program was launched back in 2011, the government was happy to talk about it believing it was addressing the problem of child welfare

in this country. Well, now it appears there is a gag order in place as everyone that we've approached to speak to about this subject has refused

saying they're not allowed.

But one of the founders of child welfare policy strongly defends the program.

"We had to work out a more humane way to accept these orphans, explains Professor Wang. "Babies were being thrown into trash cans on the

side of the road and in front of hospitals because parents are too poor to care for them. That's why we built the hatches.

The government claims there are 500,000 orphans, but experts believe the real figure is in the millions.

And while there are plans to build more orphanages and foster care homes, critics say that's not the solution. Instead, they want China to

improve its social safety net so parents with disabled children are given medical, educational and financial support so they don't have to resort to

this level of desperation.

Anna Coren, CNN, Jinan, China.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WALKER: Just a heartbreaking story there.

Well, coming up on News Stream, a bold decoration from the militant group ISIS. We take you live to Iraq for the latest situation on the

ground as the battle against Sunni militants continues.

Plus, the dark side of construction for the World Cup in Brazil. We met residents who say they were forced from their homes for a project that

hasn't even been built. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WALKER: I'm Amara Walker at CNN Center, you're watching News Stream. And these are your world headlines.

The murder of -- the murder trial of Oscar Pistorius has resumed in South Africa after a month long break. Proceedings were halted in May when

the court ordered Pistorius to undergo a 30 day psychiatric evaluation. And that review has determined Pistorius was not mentally incapacitated

when he shot and killed his girlfriend Reeva Streenkamp. Both the prosecution and defense have accepted the findings.

A come back by The Netherlands at the World Cup with this stunning strike. They were facing elimination at the hands of Mexico, but a late

equalizer was quickly followed by a penalty. The Dutch scored from the spot and set up a quarterfinal with Costa Rica.

Former News of the World journalists Andy Coulson and Clive Goodman will face a retrial on charges of conspiracy to commit misconduct in public

office. That after a London jury deadlocked on those charges last week. Both men have pleaded not guilty. Coulson was, however, convicted of

conspiracy to hack phones.

Well, the militant group ISIS says it is establishing a caliphate in territory it has captured in Syria and Iraq. A spokesman says the area

extends from Aleppo in northwest Syria to just north of Baghdad.

Now ISIS also said it now wants to be called Islamic State. This comes as the Iraqi military says it has routed the extremist militants out

of the city of Tikrit 140 kilometers north of Baghdad. But resident's in Saddam Hussein's hometown say they've seen no Iraqi troops and the

militants are in control.

ISIS has been calling on Muslims to swear allegiance to their new Islamic State.

Nima Elbagir joins us now from the Iraqi capital Baghdad. Nima, what's the latest?

NIMA ELBAGIR, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, we now understand, Amara, that the battles are becoming further entrenched for

Tikrit. Clashes continue as both sides claim victory. But really the sense we're getting from eyewitnesses and residents on the ground is that

neither is fully in control of this crucial town.

For ISIS, it really is about just being able to say that they are that one crucial step closer to the capital. And for the Iraqi government, it

is just unthinkable that they would have to cede even more strategic territory.

For now, what they're trying to do is really just plug the breaches where they can and that's where the new recruits, the volunteers that have

been signing up in their thousands are coming in.

But Amara, the questions that are arising -- are they well equipped enough? Have they been trained well enough? How long is this training

period that has allowed for them to be sent to the front lines so quickly?

We went down to Taiji (ph) training camp to get a sense of some of that reality there on the ground. Take a look Amara.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ELBAGIR: They're chanting, "we're coming for you. We are coming." New Iraqi recruits learning the basics of military life.

Although they can't quite help themselves and the chants becomes a dance.

Others, nearly 1,000 shipped out this morning to fight for their country.

Under a makeshift canopy, more volunteers wait in the stifling heat.

They've been calling them tactical withdrawals, but whatever you want to call them, the reality is that the Iraqi army has been ceding key

territory to extremist militants. They're hoping that volunteers like the ones behind me here, can now start to turn that tide.

Colonel Shihab Hamoud Nasr (ph) tells us over the last few weeks volunteers have been signing up in their thousands, over 23,000 at the last

count, from the very young to the very old.

Even as we are interviewing Colonel Nasr (ph) more recruits flood in.

This old man is in his 70s. He interrupts us to remind the colonel that he's come every day for much of the last two weeks. When, he asks,

will it be his turn?

When god wills, he's told. When god wills.

There is no shortage of enthusiasm. Another man in his 60s recites poetry telling me they will wear their hearts as shields.

They will, of course, need much more than that if they're to survive battle with the hardened extremist forces raging through their country.

The average training period, the colonel says, is between a week to 10 days at most, the rest they must get on the ground.

Some families, though, tell us it is sometimes even shorter than that.

Fallah al-Araiby has been washing cars on this Baghdad corner for years. His son used to work alongside him, but he's gone to fight at the

front line. Which front line, al-Araiby says, he doesn't know.

After three days of training his son Ali (ph) was given a rifle, ammunition and a helmet, enough al-Araiby says, to do what his country

needs him to do -- fight.

He's not worried, though, he says just proud.

And they are still coming in their droves.

As we drive back to the capital, another group of young men passes us. They have been sent home to await the call to arms. Undaunted, they grin

at the camera. Victory, they say, by gods will, is ours.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ELBAGIR: The Iraqi government has now taken possession of that first batch of ordered Russian fighter jets. They're hoping that it's in the

skies that they will finally be able to stall some of this unrelenting ISIS momentum -- Amara.

WALKER: So, Nima, as Iraq is looking at these military options Nuri al-Maliki has vowed to meet this deadline to form this new government that

would be more inclusive of the Sunnis and the Kurds. But can you explain to us why it's so important to have a political solution as well as a

military one?

ELBAGIR: Well, the sense is that much of the reasoning behind ISIS's success is it isn't just down to their military strength, although they are

realistically extraordinarily well equipped, they're very battle hardened, they've just come from fighting Bashar al-Assad's army in Syria, many of

them, and that is not an easy fight by any means.

But it's also the reality that they have had the support of a lot of the Sunni tribal groups on the ground, because the Sunnis have said, and

have been very critical of al Maliki in the past, claiming that he has marginalized them and that they have felt disenfranchised by al Maliki's

Shia government. So their hope is to undercut some of that Sunni support base to ISIS and bring it back over to the government side. And without a

political solution that would allow for that, then any military gains just can't be sustainable.

Also, we're hearing from U.S. administration officials that they're looking to this political process to produce a credible government that

would allow for their involvement in a much more stepped up way militarily, because what the U.S. can't afford right now is to be seen to be siding

with a government that doesn't as yet have legitimacy, Amara.

WALKER: Yeah, it's a very complex situation and clearly time is of the essence as ISIS continues to make advances.

Nima Elbagir live for us there in Baghdad. Nima, thank you.

Well, stunning allegations are emerging regarding Blackwater. According to The New York Times, documents obtained by the paper show the

U.S. State Department began investigating the security contractor's operations in Iraq back in 2007. Now the inquiry reportedly was abandoned

after Blackwater's top manager in Iraq threatened that he could kill the U.S. government's chief investigator and no one would be able to do

anything about it. But just a few weeks later, Blackwater guards fatally shot 17 civilians in Baghdad.

North Korea is proposing an end to hostilities with South Korea, but with conditions attached the Seoul is very likely to reject.

On Monday, State television released photographs of North Korean leader Kim Jong un with military advisers after reported rocket launches.

A statement from Pyongyang suggests that all hostile military activities come to a halt this week and urges the south, among other things, to cancel

planned military drills with the United States.

Separately, North Korea has announced that it will put two detained Americans on trial. Now they are accused of, quote, "perpetrating hostile

acts." CNN's Will Ripley has more.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

WILL RIPLEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Information is always slow to come out of North Korea, a nation that is shrouded in secrecy. But a four

sentence statement Monday morning from the North Korean state run news agency spelled out some very bad news for two Americans who are being

detained there. Matthew Miller and Jeffrey Fowle are accused of perpetrating hostile acts. That is how the North Korean government is

working it.

We know that these two men entered the country separately in April. In early April, Miller went in alone on a private tour, and according to

the North Korean government mouthpiece, the state run media, he tore up his visa and sought asylum in that country. Although, because the U.S. and

North Korea have no diplomatic relations, getting Miller's side of the story has been impossible so far.

Fowle, we know, who is a married father of three from Ohio was traveling in North Korea with a tour group. And his crime, according to

several news reports is that he left his bible in his hotel room. That crime could potentially land him in prison for years in North Korea.

Just look at the case of another American who is being held there right now, Kenneth Bae, a Korean-American missionary, he is serving 15

years hard labor for religious acts inside of North Korea. This is a country that very tightly controls religion. All of the churches are state

run. And so any perceived outside influence, someone trying to bring a different religion into North Korea, well that's a very serious crime that

could end up as a very serious punishment in that country.

The United States working with the Swedish embassy trying to get as much information as they can, but the reality is for these detained

Americans the U.S. government can do very little to control this situation as it unfolds. And the two Americans prepare for a trial in North Korea.

Will Ripley, CNN, Tokyo.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WALKER: All right, after the break we look at humanity's latest effort in the search for life on Mars and one curious creature behind it.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WALKER: The Mars rover Curiosity is trying to unlock the secrets of the Red Planet. It's now been on Mars for just over one Martian year,

that's 687 Earth days.

Curiosity has cutting edge tools to help it navigate Mars and sends valuable information back to NASA.

Max Foster has this look at the mission in CNN's Art of Movement.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MAX FOSTER, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Its movements are painstakingly slow, methodical, deliberate, but when you have capabilities

like this robot you get to take your time.

MATT HEVERLY, MOBILITY SYSTEMS: Curiosity is a plutonium powered rover driving around the surface of Mars.

FOSTER: In late 2011, NASA launched a rocket carrying the largest rover ever sent to Mars. Its mission, to search for evidence of past or

present life.

At 2.2 meters tall and nearly three meters wide, its about the size of a small SUV. To get a robot this size to the Red Planet took more than

eight months of space travel and a daring landing sequence that had never been successfully completed.

Once Curiosity successfully touch down, it was ready to display its talents. But first it needed instruction.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: When we command the rover, we build a series of commands here on Earth which we then send to Mars. The rover receives

these commands and then executes them.

FOSTER: Here, at NASA jet propulsion laboratory, engineers plan and test Curiosity's every movement by using a full-scale replica of the robot

in a simulated Mars environment. They only have one chance to get it right.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: When send the commands to Mars, we build an entire day's worth of commands and then we have to hit send and then we go off as

humans and go to bed and then the rover drives and it navigates the surface of Mars.

FOSTER: Curiosity's main job is to conduct experiments. So it's equipped with enough gadgets and tools to be considered a mobile

laboratory. High resolution cameras scan the surroundings and create 3D images.

Its robotic arm, also equipped with a camera, can drill into rocks and retrieve particles so the composition can be analyzed on board. It can

even fire a laser to help analyze the composition of rocks and that's just a fraction of its capabilities.

The wheels are designed to dig into all sorts of terrain. And as Curiosity's lead driver demonstrates, the design gives them an added

benefit.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The wheel, actually, has a Morose Code pattern that spells JPL that we leave in our tracks as we drive. We can use these

as the features for our visual odometry to know how far we've moved.

FOSTER: The wide array of parts and equipment are quite impressive, but the engineers and scientists who work with Curiosity believe it's the

brains of the rover that make it their most powerful research tool.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The most important part is, I think, the rover's ability to make its own decisions. That's what makes it truly a robot in

my opinion is that we can command motors to move any way we want, but when you allow a vehicle to survey its surroundings and make decisions based

upon the information that it receives that we haven't received as a human, it really gives the robot a level of autonomy, that lets it do things that

you can't do just with a regular machine.

FOSTER: Curiosity has already made progress towards its mission. It's found evidence that Mars could have potentially supported simple

microbial life. Scientists expect to find more as the rover ventures further, at its own pace, of course.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WALKER: And very cool stuff.

All right, still to come here on News Stream, houses were torn to the ground and the residents force to move -- after the break, we'll tell you

why some Brazilians are not celebrating the World Cup.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WALKER: Hello and welcome back.

At the World Cup, teams are battling it out for a place in the quarterfinals, but some in Brazil are not feeling the excitement, hundreds

of residents were kicked out of their homes to make way for a new road to a football stadium. Fred Pleitgen has more.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

FRED PLEITGEN, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Recife has a worldclass football arena that was supposed to have worldclass roads

leading to it. Instead, there's this, more than 200 families were evicted to build an expressway that was never finished.

Paula Olivera (ph) and Marcus Andres Dos Santos (ph) lost their property. They show me where their houses used to stand.

"We were still living in the house," he says, "when the tractors came and started taking down all the trees. The encircled us and literally

forced us out."

They gave us this video that shows those machines leveling their home last year. They say they haven't received a penny in compensation.

Now, they spend most of their time in Paula's father's shack near their old house.

The original plan was to double this bus terminal in size and build the road to make it easier for fans to get to the Recife stadium.

The expansion of the bus terminal and the access road were supposed to be part of a large mobility project for the World Cup. But now the

tournament is already in the knockout stages. And construction hasn't even started here yet, leaving many of those who are evicted angry and

frustrated.

When contacted by CNN, the state government said most people are happy with the compensation they've received and that residents will benefit from

the infrastructure in the future.

But Anna Maria Romalio (ph), a professor who studies the impact of the World Cup, says the problems in Recife are symptomatic of Brazil's

preparations.

"Much like here, many people in Brazil were removed from their land and then nothing was built," she says. "And it's not only the removals

themselves, it's the way they were carried out. It was cruel and stripped residents of their rights."

Paula and Marcus Andres (ph) say the fact the road is not even close to finished makes things even more bitter for them.

"It's like another slap in the fact," she says. "We're poor and the government can do what they want with us. We're humans and we were

stripped of our rights. And look, they left this mess."

When the World Cup ends, what will remain is these people's anger, an unfinished project and many promises broken. Fred Pleitgen, CNN, Recife,

Brazil.

(END VIDEOATPE)

WALKER: Yeah, very difficult situation for the residents there.

Well, let's talk about the weather -- World Cup weather. And Samantha Moore is at the world weather center. Let me guess? Hot, muggy, maybe

some rain?

SAMANTHA MOORE, CNN WEATHER CORRESPONDENT: I know, we certainly had the problems with the heat and humidity during many of the games the last

few days, especially. And you can see right now many temperatures in the 20s already today. Of course, further south you go the cooler it is, like

in Porto Alegre where it's 14 degrees and we've seen those showers for much of the morning. And of course we're getting ready to play our final match

in that location.

You can see as far as the temperature as we head through this afternoon we're going to see those temperatures up around 30 again in

Fortaleza and all along the coast. The temperatures will be in the upper 20s.

Where it is cool and rainy is here to the south near Porto Alegre. We have that frontal system that is pulled up -- stationary for the most part.

It has been meandering around here, dumping some very heavy rain across this region.

And then we have the scattered showers up the coast and then we have the heavier rain over in the Amazon basin near Manaus. So that's where

we'll see some of those showers once again today.

So let's take you into Brasilia where we're expecting dry conditions for that first match of the afternoon. France versus Nigeria. It should

be around 27 degrees at match time. And winds fairly light at nine kilometers per hour, relative humidity. Comfortable, 34 percent. So not

so bad. And those temperatures warm up during the afternoon.

Now for the Germans, this is going to be like Germany for them, so they may play very well against Algeria. I know we're expecting them to

play well, too. 13 degrees at game time, 26 mile per hour -- I should say kilometer per hour winds. So rather breezy. Humidity, of course, very

high, because it's going to be raining for much of the game with that frontal system that has just pulled up right over the region.

So here's the way we should see it add up as the day progresses. Fairly light the next 24 to 48 hours. And then a little heavier up along

the Amazon basin and just scattered showers up and down the coast, which is very typical for this time of year, obviously.

Sao Paulo, we're looking at 21 degrees with those showers off and on. Argentina versus Switzerland, this is as we head to tomorrow's first match

of the afternoon. The winds around 13 kilometers per hour.

And then in Salvador, the second match on Tuesday should be nice and warm. Really ideal conditions, plenty of sunshine with temperatures right

around the mid-20s for that game, or a little below.

Let's take you into Wimbledon where the game -- the play over the weekend had to be delayed. They had to cover those outside courts and

discontinue play on the Center Court with the cover pulled over so that they would stay dry, the courts would stay dry.

But it has been an incredibly active pattern. The big rainmakers pushed off to the east, but there is another one that could be pushing in

the next 24 hours.

But it's dry for now in London. So the play is underway. They have a lot of catching up to do. 14 single matches scheduled for today, trying to

catch up from all the rain delays they had over the weekend.

Winds out of the south at 17 kilometers per hour. And it looks like we're still going to have to deal with some rain from time to time as we

head into our Tuesday. And then drier conditions for Wednesday -- for Thursday and Friday. So hopefully, we will be able to catch up here.

Wednesday, Thursday we'll be dry -- excuse me -- a wet Tuesday, a hand for them. So they're going to have to dodge those showers on Tuesday and

hopefully play catchup later in the week.

It has been a very wet pattern and that storm that pushed off to the east brought in some impressive rainfall in Switzerland, Amara, from 121

millimeters. So wet stuff across much of Europe.

WALKER: Samantha Moore, thank you from the world weather center.

And before we end, I'd like to leave you with a striking photo. I want to show you a Dutch player celebrating after scoring a later, late

goal to send his country through to the quarterfinals of the World Cup and sending Mexico out with just seconds to go.

We showed you the video of the celebration earlier, yeah, but it's hard to beat this perfectly captured photo.

Talk about a last minute victory. Huge region to celebrate.

Well, that is News Stream, but the news continues at CNN. World Business Today is next.

END